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A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

HISTORY 

OF 

ALLEGAN  COUNTY, 
MICHIGAN 


ILLUSTRATED 


COMPILED  UNDER  THE  EDITORIAL  SUPERVISION  OF 

DR.  HENRY  F.  THOMAS 

ALLEGAN 


CHICAGO  NEW  YORK  LOS  ANGELES 

THE  LEWIS  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 
1907 


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PREFACE. 


In  the  preparation  of  this  History  of  Allegan  County  a  large  number 
of  persons  have  contributed  directly  to  the  completion  of  the  undertaking, 
either  by  furnishing  material  or  by  suggestions  and  narratives  from  personal 
knowledge  and  experience.  It  is  impossible  to  name  all  who  have  thus 
assisted.  Of  the  county  officers.  Judge  Padgham  has  allowed  the  use  of 
some  articles  from  his  pen  and  also  has  assisted  actively  in  the  preparation 
of  the  chapter  on  the  Bench  and  Bar.  The  county  clerk,  Mr.  Brower,  as 
also  the  county  treasurer,  Mr.  Ilall,  the  register,  Mr.  Dunn,  and  probate 
judge,  Mr.  Williams,  have  offered  their  records  for  examination.  Mr. 
McDougal,  the  county  surveyor,  drafted  the  county  map  which  is  used  in 
the  work.  Nearly  all  the  township  clerks  have  contributed  to  the  work  by 
furnishing  a  list  of  the  principal  township  officers.  Among  others  who 
have  given  their  assistance  whenever  called  upon  to  this  work  should  be 
mentioned  Gen.  B.  D.  Pritchard,  Willard  Higgins,  E.  C.  Reid,  Mr.  W.  W. 
Warner,  Miss  C.  Wilkes,  Mr.  I.  G.  Thorpe.  The  data  for  the  fraternal 
orders  and  churches  has  in  most  instances  been  furnished  by  an  officer  of 
each  organization.  Credit  should  also  be  given  Miss  Frances  Muff  for 
valuable  assistance  in  collecting  data. 


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CONTENTS 


CHAPTKU   I. 


Oisiuiiziition  ana  CJivil  Govcrniiic lit— Early  History  of  Micliigaii— First  Townsbip 
Meeting — Ooui't  House— Provitdons  for  tlie  IFoor — ForoiatioJi  of  tbo  Town- 
ships— Toivnsbip  Organizatiou — Plainfield  —  Martin  —  Wayland  ■ —  Leighton — 
Ot  sego — W  litson — D  orr— Hopkins- A II  egan — Tro  wbri  djuc — Chesli  ire  —  Monterey 
Salem — Heatli  —  Pino  Plains  —  Newack — Manliua — Fillmore — Ovei'isel— Lee — 
(.'lyiie — Ganges — -Casco — Saiigatiiek — Laketoim   \-'17> 

CHAPTBK   TT. 

Tlie  County  from  1830  to  the  Close  of  the  Civil  War— Deea,le  of  the  "  Thirties  "— 
Erie  Canal — Overland  Koads — Black  Hawk  War — Early  Settlement— Saitga- 
tinek — Southeastern  Allegan  County — Distribution  of  Population — ^Doteli  Colo- 
nization    26-52 

CHAPTER   III. 

Allcgiin  Villafm  and  Vicinity— Site  Purchased  by  George  Ketchuin,  Stephen  Viekery 
and  Anthony  Cooley— Investment  of  Eastern  Capital— -Samnel  Hobbard  and 
C.  C.  Trowbridge,  Proprietors— Allegan  in  1837 — Allegan  Company— Settlers 
of  1S35 — Progress  and  Present  St atai— Fires,  Pire  and  Water  Departments — 
Biographies    53-117 

CHAPTER  r\'. 

The  Kailroail  Era  (1868-190fi) — Canals,  Plank  Boada  and  Early  Railroad  Attempts 
— Kalamazoo  &  Allegan  Eailrond  first  of  the  Con nty— Allegan  &  Southeastern 
Bailroad — Tnprease  of  Population  During  Railroad  Era — Population  by  Na- 
tivity—Valuation of  Rcid  and  Personal  Property 118-132 

CHAPTER  V. 

(Vrtors  of  Population —  tioneral  Considerations — ■  Saugatuek  Village  —  Douglas  — 
FciiTnille— Ganges  To«nahip—Bravo— Pearl— Pullman— Centers  in  Ganges  nrnl 
riisfii— Caspo  Township — Centers  in  ManlinB  Township — Centers  in  Northeast 
AlU'saiL  County- Wayland  Township — Hopkins  Township— -HopkinsbiiTg— Dorr 
Tinviisbir — Salem  Township — Monterey  Township — Heath  Township — Grnnfs- 
..|,a|)— Piainwcll  —  Otsego  —  Leighton  Townsliip  —  Martin  Township  —  Valley 
TnwoBliip — Clioahire   Township — Trowbridge   Township — Cylde  Township ...  123-494 

CHAPTER  VI. 


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VI  CONTEXTS 

I'^niit  Prodin!tiQU  for  Tliri;e  Deeados— i'reseat   Status— »aiigatiitk  and  Ganges 
PuiiiulogiCiil  Sueittj'   41*u-ij01 

(JHAPTEli   Vll. 
Maniifai^liirizig— (Statiatiira   foi'   IHUii— Pu.pi;r  Muiiufactiii'i! aU^-jLtii 

UHAPTEK  \'1U. 

EducatioD — History  of,  in  Michigan— State  Primary  Fund — Tax  ApportioniULnt  bj 
Toivjisliips  and  CJitiea — I'irat  Schools  in  Allegtuu  County — Township  System  and 
Districts — The  "Union  School" — County  JNorroal  Training  Uaases — t,om 
pulsory  Education — Supervision  of  Schools— School  Districts  ot  the  Tunu 
ships    5(17  ji9 

CHAPTEK  IX. 

X'illaye  Mthuols — Alk-gHii — Alk'gun  (jraduates — PlainwclJ — Piaiuivell  High  School 
Ahuiini — Saugntiick — Saugatutk  High  School  Graduates — J'eunvillo — Buriiip's 
Coruors— Wayland  (520-532 

CHAPTER  X. 

Banks — Allegan   Bank   Established — Allegan   State  Savings   Bank — Pirst   National 

Bank  and  other  Financial  Institutions — List  for  iyi)U 533-535 

CHAPTPIE  XI. 

History  of  the  Press — First  Paper  and  First  PuMisher^Allegau  Journal  and  Later 

Publications— Plainn-ell— A  Little  History 536-543 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Medicine  and  Snigi'ry — First  Active  Physician  of  Comity.  Dr.  Liusford  E.  Coatcs, 
Otsego — Allegan's  First  Physician — Practicing  Physicians  of  1880 — Present 
Licensed  Physicians  543-54S 

CTfAPTKli  XIII. 

Coiuts  iind  Limvevs— State  Jiididal  System  as  Applied  to  County— Cireii it  Court 
of  AiJcgan  C<iniity— County  Courts  and  .Indges— Allognii  County  Bar- List  of 
Attorneys  and  Dates  of  Ad'mission 547-552 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Polities  in  AUegnn  County — Half  a  Century  Ago — Presidential  and  Gubernatorial 
Votes,  1R3(i-l  906— Organisation  of  Republican  Party  at  Jackson  (1854)  — 
Changes  in  Party  Votes — Tho  Greenback  Inbup — Prohibition 553-556 

CHAPTER  XV. 

liihraries  and  Literary  Clubs — Allegan  Library — Henika  Library,  Wayland — Ladies' 
Lihraiv  ARsociation,  Plainivoll — Sangatnek  Woman's  Club — Ladies'  Library 
Club,  Wayland— Woman's  History  Club,  A llogan— Treble  Clef  Society 557-561 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Fraternities — Allegan  Masonic  Lodges — Plainwell,  Wayland,  Dorr,  Saugatuek  and 
Pennville  Lodges  of  Masonry — I.  O.  O.  P.  Lodges  at  Allegan,  Plainwell,  Way- 
land,  Salem,  Sangatnefc,  Watson,  Hamilton,  Fennville,  Moline,  Martin,  Leasure, 
Pullman,  Otsego,  Hopkins  and  Monterey — Daughters  of  Bebekah,  Allegan — 
K.  O.  T.  M.— L.  O.  T.  M. — Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen 562-569 


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CHAPTER  XVII. 

Pioneers — List  of,  Alphabetically  Arraugeil 570-572 

CHAPTEU  XVlli. 

Churches — First  Meetings  and  Organization  of  Baptist  Cliiireh— (JhurcliGS  at  Otsego, 
Piaiamelij  Allegan,  Trowbridge  and  Watson— Oongregatioual  Ohurchea  at  Otsego, 
Allegan,  Sangatuek,  Douglas,  Dorr,  Dorr  Center,  Wayland  and  Hopkins — 
Methodist  Churches  at  Allegan,  Mill  Grove,  Otsego,  Plaimvcil,  Ganges,  Chesliire, 
Monterey,  Hopkins  Station,  Burnip's  Corners,  Martin,  ahelbyviile,  Wayland  ,and 
Dorr — Presbyterian  Churches  at  Allegan  and  Plain  we  11-— United  Presbyterian 
Churches — Protestant  Episcopal  Chnrches — Swedish  Lutheran  Church — German 
Methodist  and  Lutheran  Churches — United  Brethren  Church — Seventh  Day 
Adventist  Churches — Dutch  Reformed  Churches— Church  of  Christ — United 
Brethren  in  Christ 573-597 

CHAPTEE  XIX. 

Military  Boeords— Oilieors  from  Allegan  County  in  ( 
diers  ill  Civil  W^ai' — Allegan  County  Soldiers  i 
diers '   Monument   


CHAPTEE  XX. 

Official  Lists — Congressmen,  Secretary  of  State,  State  Treasurer,  University  Eegent, 
Commissioner  of  Land  OfSce,  Railroad  Commissioner,  State  Senators,  Legis- 
lative Representatives,  Probate  Judges,  County  Gierke,  Registers  of  Deeds, 
County  Treasurers,  Sheriffs,  Prosecuting  Attorneys,  Circuit  Court  Gommis- 
sionerB,  Surveyors,  Drain  Commissioner,  Coroners,  Members  of  Constitutional 
Conventions  and   Toivnship   Officials 616-655 


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INDEX 


Abbott,  Allen  A 423 

Agan,  StuuTt   H6 

Agrieultuce — General  eonsiderations, 
495;     ditching     and     draining     of 

lands,  496;  alio  plants 499 

Aldriph,  Turner,   Jr.,    41;    completes 

first  saw  mill  in  county 43 

Allegan  Bank    533 

Allegan  Company   54-56 

Allegan  County — Formation  of,  5; 
first  settlera,  6,  32;  original  county 
organized,  for  aivil  parposes,  as 
AJlegan.  township,  6;  first  town- 
ship meeting,  7;  first  election, 
county  gov-ernmont  organized,  8; 
accommodations  for  eonnty  offi- 
cers, 9-11;  movement  for  court 
house,  11-12;  corner  stone  laid,  and 
building  completed,  13;  new  jail 
and  sheriff's  house,  14;  provisions 
for  the  poor,  14-16;  formation  of 
townships,  lB-19;  township  organi- 
zation, 19-25;  county  from  1830  to 
close  of  Civil  war,  26-52;  railroad 
era,  118-119;  population,  26,  120- 
131;  valuation  of  real  and  personal 
propertr,  122;  contors  of  popula- 
tion, 123-124,-  Saugatuck  Village, 
124;  Douglas,  129;  Pennville,  147; 
Bravo  and  Pearl,  175;  Pullman, 
178;  population  centers  in  Ganges 
and  Caseo,  190;  centers  in  Manliua 
township,  247;  Wayland  village 
and  township,  257;  Hopkins  town- 
ship, 285;  Door  township,  338; 
Monterey  township,  360;  Graafs- 
chap,  369;  Plainwell,  393;  Otsego, 
416;  agriculture,  495-497;  dairy  in- 
dustrioB,  497-498;  horticulture,  498- 
501;  manufacturing,  502-506;  edu- 
cation, ,507-532;  banks  and  bank- 
ing, 533-535;  newspapers,  536-542; 
medicine  and  surgery,  543-546; 
courts,  judges  and  lawyers,  547- 
552;  politics,  553-556;  libraries  and 
literary  clubs,  557-561;  fraterni- 
ties,    562-569;     pioneers,    570-572; 


churthes,     573-597;     military    rec- 
ords, 698-615;   civil  officials 616-655 

Allegan  County  court  house — Vote 
favoring  (1888),  12;  completed...      13 

Allegan  County  Democrat  (1) 530 

Allegan  County  Democrat  (2) 538 

Allegan  County   Record 540 

Allegan  Gazette    537 

Allegan  High  School  graduates. .531-523 

Allegan  Journal    536 

Allegan  Library  and  Literary  As- 
sociation        557 

Allegan  News   538 

Allegan  Press    538 

Allegan  State  Savings  Bank 53S 

Allegan  Township — First  township 
meeting  of,  7;   same  as  county,  8; 

organization     22 

Allegan    Tribune    538 

Allegan  Village— Site  of,  purchased, 
53;  eastern  capital  invested  and 
Allegan  company  formed,  54;  de- 
scription in  1837,  55;  village  in- 
corporated, 56;  rapid  growth,  57; 
history  since  pioneer  times,  59; 
present  status,  60;  fires,  fire  de- 
partment and  water  works,  61-62; 

schools  of,  520-523;  officials 650-651 

Almond,  James   483 

Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen.   569 

Anderson,   Anders    491 

Anderson,   Charles  1 444 

Anderson,   John    49 

Argenta     50 

Ashley,  David  "Winfield 387 

Asylum  for  the  Insane  (See  Poor  Farm). 

Atman.   John   A 373 

Atwood,   P.    P 181 

Averill,  Edward    341 

Averill,   Lucius    L 343 

Bailey,   James   E 221 

Baird   familv   315 

Baird,    Kendall    0 316 

Baird,  Philander  0 316 

Baird,    Eobert    A 316 

Baker,    Jaelison     308 


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Bdthiis,    \W[  d 

Bank  a — EBtdbli&liiueiit  of  iJlegaii 
Bank  and  Aileg^n  State  Savings 
Bank  533,  First  National  Bant 
anil  First  btate  Bank  ot  Allegan, 
"    "  "    '       'at     lit     i.oimt(      banks 


Banl 


H 


Bar-lcn,    laints    K  2 

Barlow    Juhn  N  S 

Barrett     CharleB    L  -i 

Barrett,  Mari  in  4 

Baitz    Englebreeht  3 

Bassett     (  harles   B  5 

Bates,  Hon    Erastus  Npwtou  1 

Bean     Jioob  1 

Bench    and    But — 4ildreHS   of    Tiulge 

Philip     Padglnm    on    relation    of 

fetite    judicial   system   to   Allegin 

county,    547 ,     oirciut    court,    54S 

cnuTitr        "lurtH         ^549  Alligim 

Miiinti      bill        i4'l     12      Georgi     T 


Bigelon     Dr    E    M 

Bingliam     Hoiate    R 

Bintham     \^  illiara    V 

Blaik   Hawk   War 

Bliik,    Tames   E 

BInB    Herbert   L 

Booth     Henr^     H 

Boss     Dr     Henr-i 

Boia   Jacob  D 

Bonn  linn    Henrr 

Bon  lei    Ke\     Geoige    A. 

Bnikntt    Ei-n 

Bnilld 

Bniniril     Thomas   W 

Braiiiard     T\arii>n 

Brii  11 

Breiilonstein     Rc\     "Willn 

Brenker    Henri 

Bniikman     Henrv 

BriiikH    Taal 

Bntttin    <  apt    R    f 

Bntton     Call  m 

Brodoi-k     Ransom    M 

BrofT    Andrew 

Pronks    Randall  W 

Brown      Allon 

Brown    George  R 

Brown    Tames 

Brrniwin    Dr    EuRPne  F 


Bulthuis,  Abel  3 

BiirlmgamB,   Joseph  W  £ 

Burnett,   William  W  1 

Burnip  's  Corners  distru  t  si  hool           5 

Bush,  Charles  A  i 

Buskirk,  Henry  P  3 

Buskirk,  William  3 

Bntler,  Charles  \^ilbpr  3 
Butler   William  &— First  SettlPi   of 

Isaugatiick 
Buys    Cornelius 
Bn-\s    Peter 

(a,U     neorgi    \\  1 

talkins,  Dr    Abram  R 
faJkins    Harmon   W  ■= 

(.anipbell    Dr    Tames  D  - 

(  aspo    Townslii]: — Organization,    H'l 


Brvs 


Dr    T 


Bncklei     Chester  s 
Buege    Francis   John 
Biigden 


idli' 


Fd 


(  liimborHiii    Toscpli 

I  hiiini    De  ^  itt   C    (Tudge) 

(  beshire    Toiinahip — Organization 

I  bii  ifc"  Roatl — First  overland  rout 

11  roHs  Michigan 
(bi'hesttr     Fred   I 
fbidiester    Ira 
fbuuh   of   Christ     WaiHnd 
CbuHJies  '>'■ 

Tireuit   Court   Commissioner') 

(  u  il  Wir  (See  Militarv  Bei-ordsl 

fHrU     4rthur   H 

Clark    ^har]e8   C 

(  lark     Eh    Foster 

Clark    Ho\ov  K 

Clark     Taimison 

niiisen    Hernnn 

CUde  Center  (Sec  Peail) 

f hde    Townahni — Organizifinn 

Coats   Dr   Linsford  B  4' 

CoJbum    Auitm    T 

Ciilbnrn     Tolin   H 

CongreSHmen 

Commiasionei   of  Land  Office 

Comnton     (leorgi    H 

Comatock    (icn    Horapp  H  ''^4 

Congregational   Church  "iT 

fnnrad    TTfuri 

Conrad     Sul   L 

Constitution    Con\  entions — Member 

of 
fooch    Frank 

r  ook    TTpurv  '^- 

Cool     Martin 
(  ook    Thomas  M 
roole\      \nthom 


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Lraue,  John  H 

Crarj,  Isiat.  h 

Crawtord,  Beniamin 

Cnspe,   Jolin 

Lrosbj     B    E 

Cross    Eev    Joseph 

Lross    Oiieu   b 

tuiiimings     Cliatlea    Washington 

Dairy  Industries 

Daugherty,   l^ugene    A 

Daughters  ot  Kebekah  (,See  10  0 

Daijilson,  Charles  I 

DenjiDg,   Alton  S 

DeniJjig,    Eiutrson   H 

Uendei,  Fred  J 

Dcnrlel,    William    H 

I>Kk    Johu    W 

Dokpv    Ji.m(f>   W 

Don 

Dorr    lownaliip — Organi7ati0D,    3, 

his tor V 
Douil     lohn  r 

DOUl,lH'! 

Dow     Hem  J    C 

Drainage 

Dunhara,    'Mlas 

Diitpli   Hetoriiied   Churi,h — Organi 

tioii  ot   in  iillmore  township   a! 
litirLlies  it    ffit    Saogatuek    a 

0^erlS(l    3%     Hamilton  an.l  Si 


jll       bnilield,    Heuj\ 


H 


Dull. 


i  eoTge   J 


tast   baugatuik 
1  Jgell,   Robert  B 
t  dncition — LarU      Hi8tor> 
MlilllKlll       '»<      '^Mt      brim 


bill 


Noiiti^l  rrainiug  CLi^tiCS, 
)1 !  <  ompnlaory  education,  513 
j14  supervision  of  scboola  514 
board  of  iTaminers  51j  county 
ct  mniissioners  SI")  athool  dia 
tripts  in  1837  an<  1840  516 
stitiH  of  BchoolB  m  1S7T,  517, 
present  school  districts  ot  \llegin 
nmnti  » 17  SI'S,  -(ehoola  ot  Alle 
gan  and  bigh  si,hool  graduates, 
'120  52^  schools  of  Saugatuek  and 
high  school  gradnates  538  Penn 
Mile  Bthoolt  and  high  acnool  grad 
nates  529  530  Bnrnip  s  Corners 
district  aphool  530  531 

Eggleston     Samuel    M  521 

Elbnger     lohn   G  311 


194 


i9b 


iibun    Jobn  C 

t  infield,  frank  4^0 

Tenner,    W  illtam   Perry  449 
PennvUle— History    J48,   schools  539  j30 

reniiMlle   Herald  542 

Ferris     Mai  ms    4  4 1 1 

1  illinore    Township— Organization  24, 53 

lirst  atate  and  Savings  Bank  084 

IJhsh,   "Valentine   b  273 

Fisk,  Col    Toneph  57 

Fingg    John    4  171 

FletUtr    Aaran  207 

Pletchei     Bev    John  39!) 

iorbes  famiU  41 

Forward  Movement  Settlement  1«S 

Foadiek     lamps   H  IbO 
tester    Dr    Samuel                         41,47  48 

]■  outer   famiU  iO 


Canges  Tnnnship — Organization,  25 

Gnrdnei,   Humphrey  ' 

t  ardiier    H\uufbie>     Tr 

(  anelinl     Hon    Tan  W 

Gates    Frank   B 

GermiiD    John  T 

ttrraan    Ijiitherin   (  hureh^AUcgin, 

,01      S  ilein 
(  ernnn     M     E     Chureh— First    8o 

titties     jtll     Monterey 
t  eske     August 
Gibson     41ciandei' 
Cibson     (  harles   Bruce 
Gidkv    Charles   ]S 

Cilbert    Arthur  C  ' 

Cilbirt    Dwight  L 

Oilbert     Fred  [ 

C  ilbcrt   Lauren  C  ■ 

Gilbert,  MilCT  B  '• 

Gilbert    Olner  L  : 

Gilkey,   I    W 

CiUigan    Thomas  ■ 

Gilpin,  Tames  IT 
Oilpin  William  T 
Glenn 

OoodeJl     Tnhn  * 

Gorton    Tacob  ^\ 
Cothain     ( hirle*! 
f  oHChei     (  enrge   V 
(  ovsmment   land   Sales   in   Allegan 

Countv 
Traafsehap 
Graham     John   B 
Trandv     FhiUip 
Crcen    Henrv  Lewia 
Green    William  ' 

(  liffitb     Milton   D 


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(jun   i  la  ins 

Uun    Plains    lownsliiii — J^it 
niccting  uf,  m,  piontti   o 

Higgrr,    Edward 

^*fcfc"'i    Tlioinaa 

JIaiJiilton 

HtuloD,  Dr   tdward  O 

H'jiihoii    (jharles   H 

Hare,  George  A 

Hirrjsoii,  Grant  C 

Hart,  Mrs   SI   E 

Haub,   Jatoti 

Hawks,    Moses 

Heailev     Aaion 

Hpith,  J^iiik  P 

Heath    Tnn  iisliip— Orginizil 


fl.i 


[i>li 


\\  illi  im 
JlLndLrsoii,  Uomld 
Jiimka  librin 
HeibLFt,    1'     H 
HcBB    ^\  iJliam  H 
Hicks,   Goiduii   L 
Hi.ks,  M    V\ 
H,gf,m«    WilliiJ 


11  Uh 


ii,ksou,  Williaui 
Jiuobs,  Omu  \ 
lames,  Archibald 
Tjjiies    %    P 


4U8       Indies  ^!^ee  BlbcIi  a 
aoS       Kahoord     lohn 


3>4       Kenlield 


KLtehniD,  (ivai\ 
Iviog,    Tohn 
Kingabun,   A 
Kirbi     TprviB  I 


294      Kliukeis 


llyftim-j 

kr, 

John 

lloll  iikI 

'oiin  1(  1 

Ji  laltt 

jloiii 

IIollis     J 

Inn 

11 B    T 

Jloopor, 

V 

m    B 

J1U0[>GC, 

\\ 

illnm 

H 

H„,nilil 


r    J 


Kidioiird     John 
K<mI     \ithiii 
Kuifelibuiiii,  ll\iu 


IndependPTit  Ordpr  Odd  Fellows — 
A-lkgan  lodges  'id'i  Plamwcll 
\\a^^^nd  and  S  ilem,  566,  Rungi 
til  k  A\  itson  Hamilton,  Fenn 
\ini  yr.liiii  Martin  and  Loaaiire 
Otsego,    Hopkins 


\lnl 


ind 


ohtds   of  Ethpkih    Allegan 

Inghnni     Charles   t 
Ties    G(orjre  T 
Ties   fainih 


Association     1  Hi 


Ladies'   Librin    Chib    \\a^l 

L  iketiiwn    To«  nshii.— Organ 

1  iiiib    Ilern    I 

I  iinoKiiA,    La«ird 

Linioreii^     Isini 

Line     Herxehel   D 

T  an,   Marcus 

Li\,  George  T 

Lii    T)r    H    =* 

Li\t(iii     Arthui     I 

I  111  HI     Ransom   Aaron 


1  I 


s   ^Se( 
i     I, 


Ijeighton,  Dr    Nelson  B 

Leighton    Township— Organ! z-ition 

Lemmea,    Tohn    H  '■ 

Libraries    and    Literary    Clubs— Alle 

gan  librarj    557,  Henrika  hbrarv 

\\iiland,     )ifi      Ladies      Library 

issociation,  Plainwell,    058      Sin 


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gatuck  Woman 's  Club,  538; 
i-ailies'  Library  Club,  Waylaail, 
659;  Woman's  Hiatocy  ClasB,  Al- 
legan,  560;   Treble  Olef  Society. .   561 

Lieclitj,   Fred    114 

i-insley,    Jobu    P 333 

ljiusl«y,   John   W 332 

Literary  Clubs    (See    Libraries    anil 
Literary  Clubs). 

Littlejohn,   Plavius  J j8,55U 

Littlejohn,  Preil   jy 

Littlejobn,   John    J      .      go 

Littlejohn,  P.  O ',','_'_     gi) 

Littlejohn    family    53 

Loew,   Charles    Wuslcy 355 

Loew,   Silas    354 

Lomas    City    357 

Lonsbuiy,   Perlej-    E 434 

Loomis,    M.    D igg 

Lovall,    Samuel   H ..   3(J5 

Loveriilge,   Setli    W leg 

Lubbers,    John    ^-iS 

Liinibering    [\\\\   495 

Lyman,    E.    Guy 3i(j 

LyoB,    Lucius— Original    field    notes 
of  Otsego  towuBMp  survey 40 


Mahoney,  Uaniel  ] 

Manhus         Ton  nshi])— Organization, 

24     population  centers  of 

Mann,   Kalph   K  ^ 

Manutactmiug— status     of     (19Uo), 

i02,    establishments   and   dates   of 

founding   502  503,  ijapcr  mauufae 

tiue  503  5 

Maish   Hjv  4 

M  irshall     James  n 

Martin  Town-ihip — Organization      20, 

Masonri  —Allegan      and      Plamwcll 

lodges,  562,    Wailind    and    Dorr, 

)<jJ    Singatuek  and  Ftnn\il]e  3 

Matthews,    \rchibaJd  4 

Mf Alpine,   Daniel  3 

MiAlpine     Tames   Madison  3 


Milvinnon    Brothers  ' 

Ml  Nitt     (  harles    L  ; 

MeVftp,   Chailes 

Mead     Henrv  j 

Medicue   nnd   Burger*     (See    Phjsi 

Metbodist  Churc-h — Churches  at  Al 
legan  5S1  Mill  Grove,  Otsego  and 
Plainwell,  ^S2  Ganges,  SS*),  Ches 
hire  Monterey,  Hopkins  Station 
Burnip  1  Corners  and  Martin,  5S4 
"ihelbwille     dnd     Wavland      58t, 


Meyers,   Gerrit    

Michigan — Early  history  of,  1-3; 
survey  of  pubiie  lands  commenced, 
3;  principal  meridian  of 

Michigan   ulsehange    

Michigan  Paper  tympany,  Plainweli 

Michin,    William    

Military  Records — Allegan  county 
officers  in  Civil  war,  598-602;  Al- 
legan county  soldiers  in  CivO  war, 
602-614;  Allegan  county  soldiers 
in  Spanish-American  war 614 

Miller,  I'ranz  A 

Mix,  General  Elisha 

Moline     

Monterey  Township— Organization, 
33;    liistorj-    

Montieth   faJnily    

Moran,    Peter    

Murphy,  John    

Myers,  George   B 

Nash,   Eugene    D 

New    Richmond    

New  Rochester   

Newark    Township — No    records    of 

Newnham,  Richard  L     

Newspajiers — Allegan  Count j  Demo 
erat  (Moses  Hawks,  publisher), 
first  newspaper  in  coantv,  530, 
Allegan  and  Otsego  papers,  338 
541;  press  of  Plainwell,  541,  news 
papers  of  Saugatuck,  Hopkins 
Way] and   and   Fennville  541 

Nichols,   Albert   L 

Nichols,  Stephen  D 

Nicolai,  WUIiam  F 


295 


Odell,    Stephen  484 

Otsego — Development    of   water   pow- 
er at.  48;  bridge  built,  49;  history, 

416;   officials    6.52 

Otsego   Courier    539 

Otsego  Hall   48 

Otsego    Herald    540 

Otaego  Township— Organization,  21; 
original  field-notes  of  survey. .  .40;  51 

Otseao   Union    MO 

Overhiscr,   Oharles   Henry 190 

Ovprhiser,  Henry   214 

Overhiser,    Lonson    Marion 213 

Overhiser,   William   Albert 219 

Overisel     Township — OrganiEation.24;  -52 
Overseers  of  the  Foor— First 14 

Pad«h»m,  Philip   (Judge) ...  ,81,  .547, 553 

Page,  Trayton   414 

Parr,  Rev.  -Tohn  H 375 

Patterson.   William  J 364 

Pearl    1T5 

Pearl,  Simeon  0 175 


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Peniold    Heiin 
Ferham   Georgo  W 
Peterson    H    O 
Fhelpa,  W    O 
Phillipe    James   H 
Phillipb    Selden  E 
Physn  wna   anil   Surgeons— First   ae 
tive     [ill  J  sii.  lan     ot     countj      (Dr 
Linsfoul    B     toatea),    543,    Alle 
gan  a  first  practitioner  (Dr   B    M 
Bigelow)    543    other  pioneers,  544 
practi;,mg  ph^Bieians  (188(1),  with 
ilate    of    location      544       list     of 
Ittenaeil  plij^iiiina  >4o  141) 

Pier  (o\e  (See  Ganges) 
Pierie   James  H  355 

Pierte    Ke\     John  D  oil 

Pine   Gio\f  Sumtnarv  52(1 

Pine  Plains  lownsliip — Organization     2i 
Pioneer  Life  42, 43,  57U 

Pioneers  570  5(2 

Plainfielil  Township — Organization         20 
Plainn  ell— History    ^t3  3t6    schools 

525  5_8,  oifiualB  ti5-i 

Plainwell   Enterprise  541 

Plainwtll   txprens  541 

Plainwell  High  feehool  Alumni       i)2 >  j-S 

Plainwell  In.lepemlent  j41 

Plainwell   Inileptndent   Ki]iiil>li  )41 

Plainwell   Lea.ler  i41 

Plainwell  ISews  41 

Plainiiell  Republic  j41 

Plainwell  Shoe  (  ompanv  407 

Plank  Koa.l  393 

Pliiinnitr    Andrews  20S 

PliimmerMlle  190 

PnlitKS — Half  a  century    ago     noS 

]nesi  lentiai       and       gubernatorial 

votes    183t)  1906     5')4      Repubhoan 

{WitT  organized  at  Taelison  (1S54) 

.55 1      conteats    since     553      Green 

buck  anil   Prohibition  parties     555  o5G 

Fopnlation^20   51  (Southeistern  Al 

leganl  120 

Poor   Farm- — Purchase   of   and   eree- 

timi  of  bnildings 15-16 

P.iorhouse  (See  Poor  Parni). 

Post.  Elisha  A 108 

Presbyterian    Chwreh-^Allegan,   586; 

Plainwell     587 

Presidents      (Village      Boards)— See 

Village  Officials. 
Press  (See  Newspapers). 
Pritchard,   General    B.    D.— 64;    his 
neconnt   of    the    capture    of    .Teff 


Davis 


533 


Probate   Judges    618 

Prosecuting   Attorneys    620 

Protestant    Episcopal    Church — Dio- 
cese   of    Michigan,    589;    Allegan 

and    Baugatuek     590 

Prouty,   Leaniler   8 57 


Riber    William    4  i"  > 

Eaiiroad  (.ominissicners  Olo 
Railroads — K  ilamazoo      &.     Allegan, 
first  Allegan  county  railroad,  118, 
Mlegan    &.    Southeastern     (Miohi 

gan    Central)  119 

Basniussen   Fred  T  490 

Basmuasen    Pettr   <  4''l 

Eaymond    Prank  "^  iii 

Eavmi)nd     Hattie     ^  1/- 

Sibel    Albert  O  ibl 

Beeil     Fordyi-e    D  Ub 

Eeed     Kogur    E  133 

Registers   of   Deeds  618 
Reid    >dwi    Campbell                       73  odi 

Rem     Captain    Robert  1  4 
Representatues    (in   Legislature)         lili 

Re-\noldH      Kmes    Morton  482 

Rue     fharles  422 

RiehmoBd  -47 

Rogers     V  ilmund   S  4iS 

Rogers    William  M  -O  i 

Ronan     Thomas   ^\  ■*_  t 

Rodman     Albi  "■   (" 

Round    Rollin  (  'Hj 

Kowe    Clarence   H  t 

Rowe    E    (  '- 

Rowe    Dr    flilliam   1  ■>> 

Rowe     ■ftilliam    ^\      '  -i' 

Ruehle  family  3b( 

Ruelile     Ceorge  "60 

Kuroerv    family  31( 

Russell     Tamts,   TaLk^^n  4S 

Russell     Jonathan  H 

Russell    William   D  I    > 

R^no    Dr    L    H  1 

Salein   Tentir  3i3 

'^aleni   Township — Organization     23 

hi'toiy  333 

Siugntui-k — First  settlement  of  32 
tannery,  warehouse  and  dock  es- 
tablished, 33;  Singapore,  34-35; 
lighthouse  erected,  35;  tanneries 
and  saw  mills,  36;  grist  mills,  37; 
nlat  laid  off  by  William  C.  But- 
ler, 125;  its  rival,  Singapore,  125; 
postal  and  phone  facilities,  125- 
126;  incorporation  of  village,  126; 
as  a  summer   resort,  127;   schools, 

528.529;    officials    654 

Saugatuck    Commercial    541 

Sangatuek    Commereial -Record    542 

Saugatuck  High  School    graduates. 529-530 
Saugatuck  Township— Early   records 

destroyed    ^^ 

Saugatuck    Wnmn.n's    Club 558 

Saugatuck  and  Ganges  Pomologieal 
Society    ■'''"' 


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XIV  J 

aaiigatiiek     and     Gingis     Itltphone 

tJonipauj'     . .  1 

Scherraerhorn,    Cliarlps    U  4 

Sehlientz,  Jacob  3 

Sehram,   Albert    4.  1 

Schultz,   Chriatopher  1 

Schultz,   Fred  1 

Secretary   of   State  6 
Seventh  Day  Ad\ent!9t  Lhurch — Or 
ganisatjon    of     at    Allegan,    59S 
churches  at  Monterey    Otsego  anil 

Douglas     ...  5 

Shafer,    Aaron  - 

Shafer,   Henry  E  3 

Shattuck,   De   Witt   tlmton  2 

Shea,   John    . .  ^ 

Sheffer,   Clark   M  2 

SlierifEs    * 

Sherwood,   Hull  41 

Sherwood   familj 

SUeox,   F.    J..  i 

Sileox,    WUUain    H  i 

Silo    plants    . .  ■* 
Silver  Creek  (See  Argenta) 

StmoneoD,   Simon  1 
Singapore    (desartetl    \illage}         34  1 

Slagel,  Jacob  F  3 

Slenk,    John    H  3 

Smith,   Frederick    1  3 

Smith,   John   T  i 

Smith,   Sherman   I  3 

Snell,  Eli    ' 

SoMierB'   Monument  t 
Spanish- Ameri  Bin    War     (Set     Mili 

tary  Eecords) 

Spencer,   Warner    \\  'i 

StafEoril,   Martic   A  1 

Stafford,    Silas  5 

Staring,   George  1 

Starring,   Andrew    J  1 

State   Senators  fl 

State   Treasurer  0 

Stickel,  William  Henry  £ 

Stockdale,  Hon.  Davil  i 

Stockdale,    John    B  2 

Stockdale,  Samnel   Gagen  J 

Stockdale,   William  2 

Stone,    Gilbert    M  1 

Stone,  John  W    (Judge)  5 

Stow,  William  H  2 

Stratton,   George  3 
Streeter,   Thomas   E     Sr                     58 

Sturgis,   John   W  4 
Supervisors  (See  Township  Officiale) 

Surveyors   ....  E 

Sutter,   Christian  5 

Swaney,  Sylvester  1 

Swedish    Lutheran    Church  ^ 
Symons,    Charles 


lavlor    George  K 

I'D 

Taylor,   Eev    James  F 

1-ip 

J-en    Late,   Herman 

377 

Thew,   Joseph 

551 

Thomas,  George  S 

349 

Thomi?,   Dr    Henry  t 

493 

Thomas    ttdliam  J 

403 

Thompson    Dr     Ljrenius 

4li 

Thorpe,    Ira    Q 

98 

Tietenthal    Daniel 

335 

Tieu,  Henrj   H 

S'SS 

Township  Clerks  (bee  Township  Ofti 

cials) 

lownship   Offit-uls 

02 

'635 

Township  Treasurers  (bee 

Townahij 

Officials) 

16  19,  or 

ginjzation    of 

19  25 

Tooker,   Plm>    H 

319 

Trautman     Victor 

151 

Treble   Clef   Sonet j 

561 

Trowbridge     (.     C 

'H 

Trowbridge   I  owQship— Organization 

L     22 

Trutsch,  Joseph   4ntom 

458 

Tucker    A    Brink 

421 

Tucker,   John 

346 

United    Brethren    Church — Cheshiri 

592, Dorr  and  Salem 
United  Brethren   in  Christ 
United   Presbiterian    Church 
Unnersit^   Regent 
Upd-\kp    Theodore  S 
Usher,    Ambrose    C 


231) 


Van  Blarcum    William  238 

■V  an  Keurcn,  James  A  115 

Van  Baalte   Eei    A   C  53 

Van  \  alfcenburg    Charles  F  174 

Vickery    Stephen  53 

Village  Clerks  (See  ViUage  Officials) 
Village   Officials  650  655 

Villa^  Recorders   (See  Village  OfHcials) 
"Village  Treasurers  (See  Village  Offi 

Wade    lohn  P  147 

Wade    Hon    Theodisius  15n 

Wadsworth    John  202 

Wadsworth    Van    Benslaer  IW 

Wait    Amos   B  314 

Walter    L    C  28% 

Walters    William  401 

Ward     F    M  177 

Warner     Ceorge    T  549 

Warner    William   W  101 

Wflshburn     Herbert    A  435 

Watkina    Framis   R  428 
Watson  Ton  nshiji — Organization  21 

531  532 

Wajland   Saturday   Globe 542 


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Wajlanil        lg«nsliii — DigjnizjtioD  White,  Lieut.  William 139 

21;  history  and  prtsent  status  237       Wicks,  Dr.   Almond  H 305 

Wayland     Village  —  History,  257,                Wiley,  Hon.  D.  W 129,  501 

aeboolH,  531  5i(2,   officiila  654  655       Wilkes,  G.  E 552 

Weber,  Henrj  357  Williams,  Frank  Hawley  (.Tndga) ...     74 

Webster,   Leonard  M  464      WilUante,  WilUam  B.   (Judge) 74,  550 

Wedge,   Jndaon   D  i?'!       Wilaon,  Mrs.  Annie  C 163 

Weed,   Natlnniel  50       Wilson,   Thomas    162 

Weed,  Perry  P  151       Winehell,  James   469 

Weeks,  Alanaon   8  83      Wing,  Fay  C 542 

Weeks,  Harold  C  S3       Wing  famUy   203 

Welch,  Charles  B  156      Wolfinger,   C.    Elmer 292 

Welch,  H.  Gr  148,  500       Woman's  History  Class,  Allegan 500 

Wellington,   George    \nibrose  180      Wyr.n,  John  160 

West,   N.   B  57       Wynne,  Edwiu  P 110 

Wetmore,  AlbPTt  D  107 

Wetmore,  Chester  107       Young,  Dr.  Clarence  W 104 

Whitbeek,   Allen   T  109       Young,   H.   Oscnr 104 

White,  C.  C  46       Young,  .Toseph  E 106 

White,  Henun  1  1.7 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


CHAPTER  I. 

ORGANIZATION  AND  CIVIL  GOVERNMENT. 

Strictly  speaking,  the  settlers  of  Allegan  county  were  not  pioneers. 
The  majority  of  them  were  people  of  more  or  less  education  and  culture, 
trained  and  accustomed  to  the  usages  of  civilization.  In  the  settling  of  the 
country  there  was  no  interim  between  savagery  and  civilization.  The 
pioneers  did  not  come  and  build  their  cabins  and  defend  them  with  their 
rifles  for  some  years  until  the  civil  officers,  courts,  schools  and  churches 
made  their  appearance.  This  was  necessary  in  some  settlements  but  not 
here.  In  Allegan  county  civil  government  sprang  into  being  almost  at 
once.  The  settlers  brought  civilization  with  them.  They  brought  the 
common  law  with  them,  and,  in  harmony  with  the  legislative  statutes,  they 
saw  to  it  at  once  that  the  community  should  be  governed  thereby.  The 
machinery  that  governed  populous  and  organized  communities  was  elastic 
and  adaptable,  and  could  be  readily  extended  to  this  new  county.  Utilizing 
it,  the  people  provided  for  courts,  public  buildings,  for  roads,  and  every 
possible  institution  necessary  to  a  civilized  country.  And  the  result  was 
that  Allegan  county  soon  became  a  populous  link  in  the  great  chain  of 
similar  political  communities  stretching  'from  the  Atlantic  beyond  the 
Mississippi,  maintaining  without  a  break  the  institutions  of  civilization  at 
the  standards  of  older  states  and  counties. 

A  resume  of  the  early  history  of  Michigan  up  to  the  time  of  the 
organization  of  the  Territory  will  be  valuable  for  understanding  the  history 
of  organization  and  the  beginnings  of  Allegan  county,  which  is  but  a  more 
detailed  continuation  of  the  larger  story  of  the  state. 

In  1778-9  George  Rogers  Clark,  a  young  Virginian  of  extraordinary 
character,  who  has  well  been  called  the  Hannibal  of  the  West,  captured  Kas- 
kaskia  and  Vincennes,  thus  cutting  off  the  supplies  of  the  Indians.  He  had 
been  sent  out  by  the  government  of  Virginia,  and  that  state  therefore  laid 
claim  to  all  the  territory  northwest  of  the  Ohio  river,  which  was  the  same 
territory  ceded  to  Great  Britain  by  France  in  the  treaty  of  1763. 

On  March  i,  1784,  through  her  authorized  delegates  in  Congress, 
Virginia  ceded  this  territory  to  the  United  States.     She  stipulated  that  it  be 


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2  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

divided  into  states,  but  specified  no  boundaries.  By  virtue  of  ancient  royal 
charters,  New  York,  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  also  claimed  large 
territories  north  of  the  Ohio  river,  but  these  claims  were  all  transferred  to 
the  United  States,  Connecticut  alone  reserving  a  tract,  which  was  called 
the  Western  Reserve.  Thus  the  general  government  obtained  jurisdiction 
over  the  Northwest  Territory  and  the  lands,  subject,  however,  to  the 
proprietary  rights  of  the  Indians. 

When  Congress  assumed  the  jurisdiction  there  was  no  established  gov- 
ernment anywhere  in  the  territory.  The  French  commandants  of  the  posts 
had  administered  the  laws  dictated  by  France,  the  British  succeeded  them 
and  proclaimed  the  common  law  of  England  to  be  in  force.  Virginia  also 
had  extended  her  laws,  but  there  were  no  courts  to  enforce  any  of  them. 
The  question  of  forming  some  kind  of  government  for  the  newly  acquired 
territory  at  once  attracted  the  attention  of  Congress. 

At  first  a  report  was  made  providing  for  the  formation  of  the  territory 
into  ten  states,  with  fanciful  names,  but  no  action  was  taken  upon  it.  This 
was  Thomas  JeiTerson's  scheme.  From  the  time  of  its  acquirement  by  the 
government  til!  1787  there  was  no  organized  control  over  the  Northwest 
Territory.  The  people  who  were  settling  in  it  were  left  to  struggle  along 
as  best  they  could.  But  on  April  23,  1787,  a  committee  in  Congress  reported 
an  ordinance  for  the  government  of  the  new  territory.  It  was  discussed 
from  time  to  time,  and  very  greatly  amended,  and  finally  on  the  13th  of  July 
it  passed  Congress.  This  is  the  celebrated  Ordinance  of  1787,  a  document 
which  next  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  perhaps  has  occasioned 
more  discussion  than  any  other  on  account  of  its  sound  principles,  states- 
manlike qualities  and  wise  provisions. 

On  May  7,  1800,  Congress  divided  the  Northwest  Territory  by  a  line 
running  from  the  mouth  of  the  Kentucky  river  to  Fort  Recovery.  All  the 
region  east  of  this  line  was  still  to  be  Northwest  Territory,  and  that  on  the 
west  was  erected  into  the  Indiana  Territory.  It  will  be  seen  that  this  division 
threw  about  one-half  of  the  Michigan  country  into  Indiana,  and  left  the 
other  half  in  the  Northwest  Territory.  All  that  portion  of  the  east  Michigan 
country  which  lay  north  of  the  line  drawn  through  the  southerly  bend  of 
Lake  Michigan  was  organized  as  Wayne  county  of  the  Northwest  Terri- 
tory, and  its  settlers  supposed  that  their  fortunes  were  thenceforth  identified 
with  those  of  Ohio. 

The  Northwest  Territory  was  rapidly  filling  with  settlers,  and  in 
accordance  with  the  provisions  made  for  admission  into  the  Union,  the  whole 
population,  including  Wayne  county,  were  agitating  the  question  of  state- 
hood. On  April  30,  t8o2,  Congress  passed  an  enabling  act,  the  first  of  its 
kind,  according  to  which  Ohio  might  frame  a  constitution  and  establish  a 
state  government.  In  harmony  with  the  enabling  act,  a  convention  met  at 
ChiUicothe,  Ohio,  November  ist  to. frame  a  constitution  for  the  new  state. 
The  constitution  was  adopted  on  November  29th. 

The  act  enabling  the  people  of  Ohio  to  form  a  state  provided  that 
Wayne  county  might  be  attached  to  the  new  state  if  Congress  saw  fit. 
Congress  did  not  see  fit,  but  on  the  contrary,  attached  it  to  Indiana  Terri- 
tory, and  in  1803  Governor  Harrison  formed  a  new  Wayne  county,  which 
comprised  almost  all  of  what  is  now  Michigan,  North  and  east  if  was 
bounded  by  Canada,  but  on  the  other  sides  it  was  bounded  by  a  "north  and 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COL'XTY  3 

south  line  through  the  western  extreme  of  Lake  Michigan"  and  "an  east  and 
west  line  through  the  southern  extreme  of  the  same." 

But  the  Michigan  country  thus  united  was  too  strong  to  remain  long 
a  part  of  a  territory,  and  hence,  on  January  ii,  1805,  Michigan  territory  was 
formed  by  act  of  Congress.  It  was  bounded  on  the  west  by  a  line  extending 
through  the  center  of  Lake  Michigan,  and  on  the  south  by  a  line  running 
east  from  the  southern  extreme  of  the  same.  It  will  be  seen  that  at  this  time 
Michigan  was  deprived  of  a  strip  of  land  on  the  west  shore  of  Lake 
Michigan,  which  as  Wayne  county  Congress  had  given  her.  Had  she  con- 
tended for  that  as  persistently  as  she  did  for  the  strip  on  the  southern 
boundary  she  would  have  sought  something  more  valuable.  For  Chicago  is 
situated  in  that  very  strip.  That  spot  was  comparatively  worthless  then, 
and  the  future  is  hidden  from  states  as  from  individuals.  It  is  interesting, 
however,  to  think  what  would  have  been  the  results  if  Michigan  had 
retained  the  boundary  lines  which  she  had  as  Wayne  county. 

It  will  assist  in  understanding  the  division  of  Allegan  county  into  town- 
ships and  the  organization  of  civil  government  by  referring  to  the  formation 
of  the  various  counties  up  to  the  time  the  history  of  Allegan  begins. 

Of  Wayne  countv  we  have  already  spoken.  Monroe  county  was  formed 
in  1817 ;  Mackinac  in  1818 ;  Oakland  in  1820 ;  Washtenaw  in  1826 ;  Chippewa 
in  1826 ;  Lenawee,  from  Monroe,  in  1826.  To  Lenawee  county  was  attached 
all  the  territory  (comprising  the  greater  part  of  southern  Michigan)  to 
which  the  Indian  title  had  been  extinguished  by  the  Qiicago  treaty  of  1821. 
In  September,  1S28,  this  already  vast  domain  was  further  increased  by  the 
addition  of  all  the  lands  to  which  the  Indian  title  had  been  extinguished  by 
the  Carey  Mission  treaty  of  1828.  This  entire  area,  comprising  about  ten 
thousand  square  miles,  was  constituted  and  organized  as  the  township  of  St. 
Joseph,  being  attached  to  Lenawee  county. 

By  an  act  approved  October  29,  1829,  twelve  counties  were  carved  from 
this  immense  township.  The  boundaries  of  counties  could  not  be  laid  ofl 
until  the  land  survey  liad  been  completed,  and  the  survey  could  not  be 
undertaken  until  the  country  came  into  the  possession  of  the  government 
through  the  extinguishment  of  the  Indian  title.  The  Indians  had  ceded 
nearly  all  the  land  south  of  Grand  river  and  west  of  the  principal  meridian 
at  the  treaty  of  182 1,  so  that  the  surveys  of  this  region  into  townships  was 
completed  between  the  date  of  this  treaty  and  the  formation  of  the  counties. 

The  survey  of  the  public  lands  of  Michigan  was  begun  in  1815.  Due 
honor  should  be  accorded  the  employes  of  the  government  who  made  the 
survey,  for  this  work  had  to  be  done  before  people  could  begin  to  live  upon 
the  land  and  form  such  associations  with  one  another  as  constitute  a  county. 
Only  on  condition  of  this  preliminary  work  having  been  done  can  definite 
individual  ownership  exist,  and  those  mutual  rights  and  duties  of  men  with 
each  other  be  established  which  make  an  organic  body  such  as  a  county  or 
township  possible.  The  legislative  council  of  Michigan  were  able  to  declare 
where  and  what  the  area  of  this  county  should  be,  because  the  United  States 
measurers  of  land  had  already  laid  their  measuring  chain  upon  the  land  out 
of  which  the  county  was  to  be  made. 

In  1796  Congress  enacted  the  law  in  accordance  with  which  all  the 
public  lands  were  to  be  surveyed.  The  system  embodied  in  this  act  is  known 
as  the  "Rectangular  System.'"     The  entire  territory  of  the  present  state  of 


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4,  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Michigan  has  been  surveyed  and  divided  into  townships  in  accordance  with 
this  system  and  with  reference  to  a  certain  "meridian"  and  '"base  line." 

The  meridian  spoken  of  so  freq^uently  in  determining  the  location  of 
counties  and  townships  was  a  north  and  south  line  known  in  the  U.  S. 
survey  as  "the  principal  meridian  of  the  peninsula  of  Michigan."  It  is  a 
line  running  due  north  from  the  mouth  of  the  Auglaize  river,  near  Defiance, 
Ohio,  and  coincides  with  the  eastern  boundary  of  Hillsdale  coimty.  The 
"base  line,"  or  the  east  and  west  line  from  which  reckoning  was  made  in  the 
survey,  is  a  line  crossing  the  principal  meridian  on  the  parallel  of  42  degrees 
and  25  minutes,  or,  in  other  words,  the  line  forming  the  southern  boundary 
of  Allegan  and  other  counties  to  the  east  of  it.  With  this  principal  meridian 
and  this  base  line  established,  the  surveyors  of  the  general  government  began 
to  go  over  the  public  land  of  the  peninsula  of  Michigan  with  compass  and 
chain,  and  to  mark  trees  and  set  posts  for  the  boundaries  of  townships  and 
sections  and  quarter-sections.  These  surveyors  knew,  of  course,  no  names 
of  counties  and  townships  as  we  know  them  now,  neither  did  they  give 
names  at  all  to  townships  or  groups  of  townships  as  they  surveyed  them. 
They  recorded  and  dated  carefully  day  by  day  their  measurements  and  topo- 
graphical notes  in  their  note-hooks,  thus  creating  the  original  "Field  Notes," 
which  in  Allegan  county  and  every  county  today  are  of  such  primary  and 
incalculable  importance  for  titles,  deeds,  mortgages  and  all  transactions 
involved  in  buying,  selling  or  owning  of  land.  As  they  tramped  over  the 
surface  of  the  country,  measuring  and  marking  it  off  into  portions  each 
exactly  six  miles  square,  making  a  township,  they  gave  no  names  to  the 
townships,  but  merely  numbered  them  in  their  relation  to  meridian  and  base 
line,  according  to  the  ingenious  but  simple  system,  the  principles  of  which 
were  struck  in  the  land  ordinance  of  1785,  but  which  appeared  fairly  well 
developed  in  the  Congressional  act  of  1796. 

The  laying  off  of  the  base  line  and  the  meridian  and  the  laying  off  of  all 
the  territory  south  of  the  base  line,  as  well  as  part  of  the  country  north  of 
it,  had  been  completed,  evidently,  before  the  act  previously  referred  to, 
according  to  which  a  large  part  of  southern  Michigan  was  blocked  off  into 
counties.  The  act  of  October  29,  1829,  constituted  with  their  present  boun- 
:!aries  the  following  counties:  Ingham,  Eaton,  Barry,  Jackson,  Calhoun, 
Kalamazoo,  Van  Biiren.  Hillsdale,  Branch,  St.  Joseph,  Cass  and  Berrien. 
It  will  be  understood  that  this  act  provided  only  for  the  erecting  of  the 
counties  by  territorial  limits;  it  did  not  organize  civil  governments  in  each. 
Most  of  the  counties  mentioned  did  not  have  a  white  settler  at  the  time,  and 
the  territory  was  merely  blocked  off  into  convenient  squares  for  the  organi- 
zation of  separate  governments  when  the  time  should  come. 

Allegan  coimty  was  not  carved  out  at  this  time,  doubtless  because  the 
survey  had  not  yet  been  completed  of  all  the  townships  west  of  Barry.  The 
outside  lines  of  the  towns  bordering  on  Barry  county  were  surveyed  in 
1825  by  John  Mullett  and  Lucius  Lyon,  what  are  now  Gun  Plains,  Way- 
land  and  Martin  being  outlined  in  that  order,  and  also  the  boundaries 
of  the  present  Dorr  township  were  laid  off.  But  the  remaining  townships 
were  not  surveyed  until  1830.  A  large  territory  of  the  country  adjacent  to 
Grand  river  must  have  been  blocked  off  about  this  time,  for  by  an  act 
approved   March  2,   1831,  the  legislature   laid  off  the  boundaries  of  the 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COLXTY  5 

following  counties;  Clinton,  Ionia.  Kent,  Allegan,  Ottawa,  Gratiot,  Mont- 
calm, Oceana,  Saginaw,  Midland,  Gladwyn,  Arenac,  Isabella. 

At  this  time,  then,  Allegan  county  was  given  form  and  name;  just 
preceding  the  advance  of  settlers  into  this  region,  for  when  the  act  was 
passed  not  more  than  four  families  were  permanently  located  in  the  new 
county.  But  from  that  time  on  the  survey-townships  grouped  together  by 
the  legislature  might  be  conveniently  referred  to  as  Allegan  county.  The 
portion  of  the  act  defining  the  boundaries  of  the  county  is  as  follows  : 

"That  the  country  included  m  the  following  limits,  to  wit :  north  of  the 
base  line  and  south  of  the  line  between  townships  four  and  five  north;  west 
of  the  line  between  ranges  ten  and  eleven  west  of  the  meridian,  and  east  of 
the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  into  a  separate 
county,  hy  the  name  of  Aliegan." 

So  much  for  the  marking  of  boundaries.  The  township  or  section 
lines  within  the  county  had  been  or  were  being  marked  at  this  time.  This 
was  all  preliminary  to  actual  settlement  and  civil  organization.  But  civil 
government  can  have  no  real  existence  except  among  people,  and  since  there 
were  no  inhabitants  to  speak  of  in  Allegan  county,  civil  government  was  not 
yet  a  necessity. 

Nevertheless,  the  legislature  had  wisely  provided  for  any  chance  settler 
in  this  region  that  he  should  not  be  beyond  the  reach  of  justice,  even  though 
it  might  be  necessary  to  travel  a  hundred  miles  to  get  it.  On  November  4, 
1829,  a  few  days  after  the  twelve  counties  in  southwestern  Michigan  were 
laid  off  as  mentioned  above,  the  legislature  provided  for  the  organization 
of  civil  government  in  two  counties  of  this  territory  and  attached  all  the  rest 
of  the  unorganized  country  to  them  for  judicial  and  other  civil  purposes. 
St.  Joseph  and  Cass  counties  were  constituted  with  all  the  rights  and  privi- 
leges of  other  civil  counties  of  the  Territory,  a  court  was  established  in  each, 
and  provision  made  for  the  election  of  civil  officers.  Each  of  these  county 
governments  had  jurisdiction  far  beyond  its  own  boundaries.  To  St.  Joseph 
county  were  attached  the  counties  of  Kalamazoo,  Calhoun,  Branch,  Barry 
and  Eaton  (which  had  been  surveyed),  and  al.so  all  of  the  unsurveyed 
country  north  of  the  base  line  to  the  straits  of  Mackinac,  and  included 
between  the  principal  meridian  on  tlie  east  and  the  line  between  ranges  12 
and  13  on  the  west.  This  latter  line  cut  off  the  two  eastern  blocks  of  town- 
ships in  this  county,  so  that  so  much  of  Allegan  county  was  attached  to 
St.  Josepli  county  for  civil  purposes.  If  any  settlers  along  the  river  in  what 
are  now  Gun  Plains  and  Otsego  townships  or  any  of  the  towns  north  of 
them  (provided  there  were  settlers  at  that  time)  had  desired  to  attend  court 
for  a  settlement  of  differences,  it  would  have  been  necessary  for  the  litigants 
to  travel  through  the  woods  nearly  fifty  miles  to  White  Pigeon. 

To  Cass  county  were  attached,  for  hke  reasons,  both  Berrien  and  Van 
Euren  counties,  and  all  the  country  north  of  those  counties  to  Lake  Michigan, 
a  strip  of  land  extending  along  almost  the  entire  eastern  shore  of  Lake 
Michigan.  A  glance  at  the  map  will  show  that  this  included  all  that  portion 
of  Allegan  county  lying  directly  north  of  Van  Buren  county ;  in  other  words, 
all  the  townships  not  included  in  these  attached  to  St.  Joseph  county.  So 
that  the  county  seat  for  an  inhabitant  of  the  west  two-thirds  of  the  county 
was  fixed  at  that  time  in  Cass  county. 


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6  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

On  November  5,  1829,  the  day  after  the  passage  of  the  act  just  men- 
tioned, the  legislature  went  a  step  further  in  providing  a  temporary  civil 
arrangement  for  all  this  unorganized  country  of  western  Michigan.  It  was 
provided  that  the  counties  of  Kalamazoo  and  Barry  and  all  the  unsurveyed 
country  north  of  them  (including  the  east  part  of  Allegan  county)  should 
be  organized  into  a  civil  township  named  Brady. 

The  first  settlers  of  Allegan  county,  Giles  Scott,  Turner  Aldrich  and 
others,  in  the  southeastern  corner  of  the  county,  were  for  some  months 
citizens  of  this  Brady  township  of  St.  Joseph  county.  The  first  town 
meeting  of  this  large  territory  was  held  at  the  house  of  Abram  J.  Shaver,  in 
Kalamazoo  county,  but  there  is  no  record,  and  it  is  unlikely  that  any  person 
from  the  limits  of  present  Allegan  county  attended. 

By  the  same  act  the  west  two-thirds  of  the  county  became  a  part  of 
another  civil  township,  belonging  to  Cass  county.  Van  Buren  county  and 
all  the  country  lying  north  of  it,  as  already  described,  were  formed  into  a 
township  by  the  name  of  Penn.  So  far  as  Allegan  county  is  concerned, 
these  townships  of  Penn  and  Brady  have  an  empty  significance,  for  whole 
counties  were  soon  organized  within  their  limits  and  their  names  were 
abolished  or  applied  to  restricted  boundaries. 

The  rapid  progress  of  settlement  across  western  Michigan  beginning 
with  the  thirties  brought  about  the  organization  of  one  county  after  the 
other,  so  that  by  the  time  the  Territory  was  admitted  to  statehood  there 
was  a  solid  block  of  settled  and  organized  counties  from  Detroit  to  Lake 
Michigan.  The  establishment  of  civil  government  is  a  ready  index  of  this 
process  of  settlement,  and  it  will  be  interesting  to  note  the  various  changes 
of  civil  condition  which  preceded  the  organization  of  Allegan  county  into 
a  separate  and  independent  political  entity. 

By  the  act  approved  July  30,  1830,  the  township  of  Brady  ceased  to 
be  a  part  of  St.  Joseph  county,  for  on  that  date  the  county  of  Kalamazoo 
was  organized,  and  all  the  remaining  portion  of  country  to  tlje  north 
hitherto  mentioned  as  forming  Brady  township,  as  well  as  Calhoun  and 
Eaton  counties,  was  attached  to  Kalamazoo  county  for  legal  purposes. 

Thus  the  east  side  of  Allegan  remained  a  legal  part  of  Kalamazoo 
county,  and  the  western  portion  was  attached  to  Cass  county,  until  the 
important  legislative  act  of  March  29,  1833.  Then  for  the  first  time  the 
Allegan  county  as  we  know  it  was  recognized  as  a  legal  entity. 

This  act  provided  that  all  that  district  of  comitry  which  had  been  set 
off  into  a  separate  county  by  the  name  of  Allegan  (according  to  act  of 
March  2,  1831)  should  be  a  township  by  the  name  of  Allegan,  "attached  to 
the  county  of  Kalamazoo  for  all  legal  purposes  whatsoever,"  and  that  the 
first  township  meeting  should  be  held  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Foster. 

The  civil  history  of  the  county  of  Allegan  thus  really  begins  with 
the  history  of  Allegan  township.  For  three  years,  while  the  first  mills 
were  being  erected  along  the  Kalamazoo  and  Pine  creek,  the  first  roads 
were  being  laid  out,  the  first  postoffices  established,  and  the  institutions  of 
civilization  securing  firm  foothold,  the  twenty-four  township  areas  com- 
prising Allegan  county  were  grouped  together  for  civil  purposes  under  the 
name  of  Allegan  township. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COLWTY  7, 

First  Township  Meeting. 

The  first  township  meeting  of  the  township  of  Allegan,  designated  by 
the  legislative  act  just  mentioned,  brings  into  notice  the  first  men  con- 
nected with  the  civil  history  of  the  connty,  who  were,  of  course,  likewise 
among  the  first  settlers.  This  township  meeting  was  held  April  6,  1833, 
at  the  house  of  Dr.  Samuel  Foster,  whose  pioneer  home  was  on  section 
'Z-i,  of  what  is  now  Otsego  township  and  was  within  the  present  corporate 
limits  of  the  village  of  the  same  name.  Hull  Sherwood  was  moderator 
of  the  meeting,  and  the  other  town  officials  chosen  were ;  Cyrenius  Thomp- 
son, clerk;  Charles  Miles,  supervisor;  Ebeiiezer  Sherwood,  Calvin  White, 

D.  A.  Plummer,  assessors ;  Martin  W.  Rowe,  collector ;  Giles  Scott  and 
H.  C.  White,  overseers  of  the  poor ;  Turner  Aldrich,  Norman  Davis,  R. 
Sherwood,  commissioners  of  highways:  M.  W.  Rowe,  constable;  Orlando 
Weed,  Ebenezer  Sherwood.  U.  Baker,  Abijah  Chichester,  overseers  of 
roads;  S.  Foster,  C.  Miles,  S.  Thompson,  school  inspectors. 

These  township  officers  were  elected  in  accordance  with  the  territorial 
laws  governing  the  selection  of  such  oflficials.  The  full  complement  was 
chosen  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of  the  law,  not,  surely,  because  they 
were  all  needed  to  conduct  the  business  of  such  a  thinly  settled  region  as 
Allegan  county  was  at  the  time.  It  is  probable  that  nearly  all  the  citizens 
of  the  township,  with  the  exception  of  the  few  located  near  the  mouth  of 
the   Kalamazoo,  were  required  to  fill  the  numerous  offices. 

July  8,  1833,  a  general  election  was  held,  and  the  voters  of  the  town- 
ship cast  ballots  for  a  delegate  to  Congress  (Lucius  Lyon)  and  a  member 
of  the  legislative  coimcil.  Twenty-two  votes  were  counted.  The  citizens 
who  took  part  in  this  election  and  in  the  second  township  meeting  in 
April,  1834,  were  residents  about  Otsego.  At  the  township  meeting  of 
April  6.  1835.  held  at  the  schoolhouse  near  the  mouth  of  Pine  Creek,  the 
name  of  Alexander  L.  Ely  of  Allegan  village  appears  as  school  commis- 
sioner, and  also  that  of  William  G.  Butler,  the  Saugatuck  pioneer,  as  con- 
stable.   By  that  time  the  citizenship  all  along  the  river  was  represented. 

The  new  names  added  to  the  official  list  at  the  town  meeting  of  1834 
were  Almerin  L.  Cotton.  John  L.  Shearer.  Ezekiel  Metcalf.  and  John  H. 
Adams,  Jonathan  Russell.  Friend  Ives.  Dan  Arnold ;  and  those  at  the  elec- 
tion of  1835:  Oka  Town,  Silas  Dunham,  Benjamin  Plimimer,  Randall 
Crosby,  William  Still.  L.  S.  Prouty,  R.  S.  Crosby. 

VVith  the  township  election  of  1835  the  official  record  of  Allegan  town- 
ship as  a  civil  division  of  Kalamazoo  county  ceases.  Its  territory  was 
organized  the  following  year  as  Allegan  coimty.  with  a  civil  government 
of  its  own.  Already  in  October.  1834,  the  governor  had  appointed  three 
commissioners  to  locate  a  county  seat  for  the  prospective  county.  These 
commissioners,  whose  names  were  Oshea  Wilder.  Cyrus  Lovell  and  Isaac 

E.  Crary.  taking  into  consideration  the  advantages  of  the  new  and  enter- 
prising village  of  Allegan,  its  central  location  in  the  county  as  a  whole  and 
with  respect  to  the  river  Kalamazoo,  decided  that  the  seat  of  government 
should  be  located  there  and  the  governor  subsequently  made  proclamation 
to  that  effect.  No  marked  dissent  to  this  decision  was  made  by  the  citizens, 
and  consequently  Allegan  county  has  never  had  a  "coimty  seat  contest." 
Allegan  has  retained  the  prestige  undisputed  for  over  seventy  years. 


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S  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

August  12,  1835.  a  meeting  was  held  at  Otsego  to  undertake  the  pre- 
liminary steps  of  county  organization,  Elisha  Ely  was  chairman  of  the 
meeting,  and  John  L.  Shearer  secretary.  The  first  resolution  of  the 
meeting  declared  the  expediency  of  immediate  organization  of  the  county. 
Then  nominations  were  made  for  the  principal  county  offices— Elisha  Ely 
and  John  Anderson  for  associate  judges;  Alexander  L.  Ely  for  county 
clerk;  J.  L.  Shearer  for  sheriff;  Martin  L.  Barber,  for  surveyor;  Oka 
Town  for  judge  of  probate.  A  committee,  consisting  of  Eber  Sherwood, 
D.  A.  Plummer  and  Joseph  Fisk,  was  chosen  to  forward  the  resolutions  to 
the  governor  and  council. 

The  resolutions  were  acted  upon  by  the  legislature  and  a  ineasure 
approved  during  the  same  month  for  the  organization  of  the  county.  The 
commissions  for  the  officers  mentioned  in  the  resolutions  were  signed  by 
Stevens  T.  Mason  on  August  25th. 

September  i,  1835,  the  civil  machinery  of  Allegan  county  went  into 
operation.  The  county  still  had  but  a  single  township,  so  that  the  olificers 
of  the  latter  had  jurisdiction  over  as  wide  a  territory  as  the  county  officers. 
Accordingly  when,  shortly  after  the  organization  of  the  county,  an  election 
was  held  on  the  adoption  of  the  new  state  constitution  and  the  election  of 
the  first  state  officers,  notice  was  given  to  both  "the  electors  of  the  town- 
ship of  Allegan  and  the  county  of  Allegan."  The  election  was  held  at 
Otsego  on  October  5th  and  at  Allegan  on  the  following  day.  Allegan's 
strength  of  political  numbers  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  Elisha  Ely,  the 
village's  candidate  for  the  legislature,  won  against  I_insford  B.  Coats,  the 
candidate  from  the  southeastern  part  of  the  county,  by  31  to  30  votes. 

With  this  election,  which  resulted  in  the  adoption  of  the  constitution, 
the  state  government  of  Michigan  became  in  force.  Nevertheless  Congress 
did  not  accept  the  state  into  the  Union  until  January  26,  1837,  so  that  for 
over  a  year  Michigan  was  in  the  anomalous  position  of  being  a  state,  yet 
not  a  member  of  the  Union. 

The  county  government  having  been  organized,  it  has  gone  on  without 
interruption  to  the  present  time.  The  business  of  a  county  is  much  the 
same  everywhere,  and  in  a  history  extending  through  a  period  of  over 
seventy  years  it  is  hardly  proper  to  select  the  administration  of  one  year 
for  special  mention,  any  more  than  it  is  possible  to  describe  the  routine 
transactions  of  each  successive  year.  Concerning  the  personnel  of  the 
county  officials,  it  is  hoped  that  the  official  lists  published  in  another  part 
of  this  volume,  and  the  individual  mention  of  some  wha  have  held  public 
position,  will  prove  a  satisfactory  record  of  the  men  who  liave  faithfully 
administered  the  affairs  of  county.  The  courts  and  those  connected  with 
them  will  be  treated  in  a  special  chapter.  It  now  remains  to  continue  the 
general  subject  of  organization  by  describing  the  court  house  and  other 
public  buildings  and  institutions  of  the  county,  and  then  taking  up  the 
formation  of  the  townships  and  the  early  affairs  of  each. 

The  proprietors  of  Allegan,  in  platting  the  village,  made  provision 
for  the  county  seat  by  the  dedication  of  a  square  of  land  to  afford  sites  for 
the  county  biuldings.  The  plat  as  recorded  by  the  proprietors,  Samuel 
Hubbard  and  C.  C.  Trowbridge,  June  23,  1837,  designates  this  public 
square,  and  ten  years  later  these  same  men  deeded  this  land  to  the  board 
of  supervisors,  and  this  deed  was  supplemented  by  another  deed  to  the 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY  9 

board  from  the  village  of  Allegan,  waiving  its  claims  and  titles  to  "as 
much  of  the  public  square  *  *  *  as  may  be  wanted  or  used  for  county 
buildings  and  necessary  appurtenances,  and  this  grant  is  for  no  other  pur- 
pose." It  is  not  likely  that  the  county's  title  in  this  land  could  ever  be 
disputed,  even  though  the  county  buildings  do  not  cover  the  entire  site. 

Court  House. 

The  county  of  .■\llegan  paid  out  $32  in-  rent  for  the  use  of  the  first 
schooihoiise  in  the  village  to  serve  as  a  court  room  from  the  organization 
of  the  county  through  the  years  1837  and  1838.  County  buildings  lacked 
the  character  of  permanence  and  adequacy  during  the  first  few  years.  Tlie 
inevitable  schooihoiise  had  multiple  uses  in  those  days,  and  the  first  temple 
of  justice  was  likewise  the  building  where  the  pioneer  children  met  for 
instruction  and  where  on  other  days  divine  worship  was  held.  This  school- 
house  that  must  go  down  in  history  as  Allegan's  first  court  house  stood, 
when  built,  on  the  south  side  of  Trowbridge  street,  just  east  of  Pine  street. 
At  the  time  of  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the  present  beautiful  court 
house,  Mr.  Phillip  Padgham.  in  an  address,  referred  to  the  old  structure  as 
follows:  "It  now  stands  in  plain  view  of  us  all,  on  the  south  side  of  Hub- 
bard street,  directly  across  from  this  public  square,  and  is  occupied  by 
James  Forward  as  a  salesroom  for  agricultural  implements.  Its  age  is  an 
excuse  for  its  appearance,  and  its  size  compares  with  that  of  its  new  rival 
relatively  as  the  amount  of  business  to  be  transacted  therein.  It  has  out- 
lived many  of  the  pioneers  who  built  and  used  it,  and  is  one  of  the  few 
landmarks  remaining  that  remind  us  of  the  early  history  and  struggles  of 
the  heroic  little  band  that  located  the  site  of  our  beautiful  village." 

Only  court  sessions  were  held  at  the  schoolhouse.  Inquiry  as  to 
where  the  various  offices  of  clerk,  treasurer,  register,  etc.,  were  kept  leads 
only  to  the  general  answer  that  they  were  kept  at  the  residence  or  place  of 
business  of  the  incumbent  at  the  time.  We  can  imagine  a  citizen  of  the 
time  passing  from  the  office  of  the  count}'  clerk  to  the  treasurer's  and  going 
clear  across  town.  The  grand  jury  in  1838  met  in  a  room  of  the  Michigan 
Exchange,  opposite  from  the  northwest  corner  of  the  public  square. 

Until  i88g  the  word  "court  house"  did  not  convey  the  meaning  that  it 
did  in  most  counties,  denoting  the  usually  ample  building  in  which  all  the 
courts  and  the  county  administration  were  housed.  For  many  years  the 
courts  were  held  in  one  place,  the  county  offices  were  in  another,  and  the 
jail  in  still  another. 

Judge  Padgham,  in  the  address  already  quoted,  has  given  the  story  of 
the  various  quarters  occupied  by  the  circuit  court  after  it  ceased  to  be  held 
in  the  schoolhouse.  "Several  terms  of  the  circuit  court  were  held  in  the 
old  school  building,  and  afterwards  the  circuit  court  held  its  session  in  a 
building  known  as  the  Methodist  chapel,  which  was  located  near  the 
present  site  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  (Trowbridge  and  Walnut 
streets).  The  chapel  was  afterwards  burned  down,  and  the  different 
courts  for  a  time  were  held  in  a  basement  to  the  building  occupied  by  the 
jailer.  This  basement  was  fitted  up  for  county  offices  and  was  used  for 
county  and  court  purposes.  It  stood  on  the  north  side  of  Hubbard  street 
in  the  southwest  corner  of  this  public  square.  The  courts  were  next  held 
in  the  basement  of  the  Baptist  church.    This  church  was  a  brick  building. 


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10  IIISTCM^Y  01-   ALLEGAX  COUNTY 

the  upper  part  being  unfinished,  and  in  1854  the  county  purchased  the 
building  of  the  Baptist  society  for  court  purposes,  and  the  upper  part  was 
then  finished  off  for  a  court  room,  and  the  sessions  of  the  circiut  court 
were  held  there  until  the  building  was  condemned  by  the  village  and  county 
authorities,  in  the  year  1887.  The  court  then  moved  its  quarters  to  the 
dining-  room  of  the  Chaffee  block,  where  two  sessions  of  the  court  were 
held,  and  since  then  to  the  present  time  {1889)  the  circuit  court  has  occu- 
pied the  room  over  Delano's  store  on  Locust  street,  known  as  Grange  hall. 
The  business  of  the  court,  instead  of  being  disposed  of  in  one  day  as  m 
November,  1836.  has  increased  to  such  an  extent  that  it  now  has,  some- 
times, a  session  of  three  or  four  weeks  with  a  jury,  besides  cases  heard 
and  determined  bv  the  judge  himself.  But  the  present  place  of  holdmg  the 
court  is  not  verv'much  in  advance  of  the  modest  old  building  which,  as  I 
said  before,  has'  retired   to  the   business  of  sheltering  agricultural  imple- 

This  scantiness  of  accommodations  for  the  county  government  was  not 
due  to  a  lack  of  enterprise  on  the  part  of  those  in  authority,  but  obviously 
the  wealth  of  the  people  during  the  early  decades  did  not  warrant  large 
expenditures  for  such  purposes.  It  was  perhaps  a  reflection  of  the  wdling- 
ness  to  mortgage  the  future  felt  throughout  the  state  during  the  boom 
period  of  the  thirties  that  led  the  board  of  supervisors  at  their  meetmg  m 
November.  1837,  to  propose  the  raising  of  the  sum  of  fifteen  thousand 
dollars  to  be  expended  on  public  buildings.  The  proposition,  if  submitted 
to  the  vote  of  the  people,  failed  to  receive  their  assent,  and  the  first  prac- 
tical moves  for  countv  buildings,  undertaken  a  year  or  so  later,  indicated 
that  the  era  of  extravagance  was  over  and  the  time  of  economy  was  in  full 
realization.  ... 

The  supervisors  at  their  meeting  in  November.  1837.  had  authorized 
the  sheriff  to  procure  quarters  for  the  confinement  of  "debtors  and  crim- 
inals." at  not  greater  charge  than  one  hundred  dollars  a  year.  April  25, 
1839.  the  board  of  countv  commissioners  (who  had  succeeded  the  super- 
visors:  for  which  see  official  lists)  directed  that  S.  F.  Littlejohn  submit  a 
plan  for  the  construction  of  a  jail,  a  house  for  the  jailer,  and  a  room  to 
serve  for  county  purposes,  at  a  total  cost  of  not  more  than  $1,200.  Mr. 
Littlejohn  was  given  the  contract  for  the  erection  of  this  the  first  county 
building.  It  was  completed  and  accepted  February  27,  1840.  The  late 
Judge  W.  B.  Williams  thus  described  this  structure:  "The  first  court 
house,  jail  and  sheriff's  residence  was  erected  upon  the  southwest  corner 
(of  square).  It  consisted  of  a  small  frame  building  with  a  lean-to  of  logs 
attached.  The  lean-to  was  the  jail,  the  upper  floor  of  the  upright  was  the 
sheriff's  residence,  and  the  lower  floor  the  court  room.  The  budding  was 
used  for  a  jail  and  sheriff's  residence  until  condemned  by  a  grand  jury  as 
a  nuisance.  The  jail  was  low,  damp  and  unheaithy,  and  some  of  the  prison- 
ers who  were  fond  of  quiet  and  rest  complained  that  'they  did  not  dare 
turn  over  in  bed  for  fear  of  rolling  out  of  jail.' "  The  total  cost  of  this 
building  was  $1,567.98.  t--       u       1      1 

The  county  offices  were  next  given  a  separate  building.  Five  hundred 
dollars  was  appropriated  October  15.  1846.  and  the  following  January  it 
wa.s  directed  that  a  fire-proof  brick  building,  one  story,  and  containing  three 
rooms,  be  erected.     Thomas  M.  Russell  constructed  this  building,  under 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COLXTY  11 

the  direction  of  Henry  H.  Booth,  Ralph  R.  Mann  and  David  D.  Davis. 
The  total  cost  was  $528.50,  and  it  was  completed  in  October,  1847.  It 
stood  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the  square,  near  the  later  county  offices, 
and  the  probate  judge,  the  treasurer  and  county  clerk  and  register  had  their 
offices  there.  The  part  of  the  jail  previously  occupied  by  county  offices  was 
then  remodeled  for  a  court  room. 

The  next  provision  was  for  a  suitable  court  quarters.  As  already  men- 
tioned, the  supervisors — after  failing  to  secure  a  specific  tax  for  the  build- 
ing of  a  court  house^negotiated  the  purchase  of  the  unfinished  Baptist 
church,  which  was  remodeled  for  court  purposes  at  a  cost  of  $1,106.63. 

Soon  the  old  log  jail  became  unfit.  A  proposition  to  raise  five  thousand 
dollars  for  a  new  one  was  submitted  to  the  people  in  the  spring  of  1859, 
and  was  carried.  It  was  decided  to  locate  it  on  a  lot  in  the  block  west 
and  opjjosite  the  public  square,  the  building  to  be  of  brick  with  stone  foun- 
dations, 40  by  50  feet  on  the  ground  and  two  stories  high,  the  west  side 
for  jail  purposes  and  the  front  for  the  sheriff's  residence.  This  building 
was  completed  by  January,  1862,  at  a  cost  of  $4,890. 

A  few  years  later  the  building  for  county  offices  was  reported  of  not 
"sufficient  capacity/'  as  "dilapidated,"  and  generally  inadequate  for  its  pur- 
poses, Ab  attempt  was  made  at  this  time,  1867,  to  obtain  the  consent  of 
the  people  to  erect  a  court  house  and  office  building,  but  the  board  finally 
had  to  be  content  with  the  erection  of  quarters  for  the  county  offices  alone. 
The  agitation  was  continued  for  several  years  before  anything  definite  was 
brought  about.  In  October,  1870,  the  supervisors  resolved  to  submit  the 
question  of  raising  $6,000  for  the  purpose  to  the  people  at  the  following 
April  election.  The  proposition  was  carried.  The  office  building  was 
erected,  the  two-story  brick  building  still  standing  on  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  the  square,  and  at  this  writing  not  used  for  any  permanent  offices. 
It  was  first  occupied  January  i,  1872,  and  its  total  cost  to  the  county,  includ- 
ing furniture  and  fixtures,  was  $9,561.25.  The  lower  floor  was  occupied 
by  the  register  and  treasurer,  and  the  upper  by  the  clerk  and  judge  of 
probate. 

Such  were  the  count}'  buildings  before  the  modern  structures  now  in 
use.  Until  the  latter  part  of  the  eighties,  the  square  was  adorned  by  the 
office  building  just  described  in  the  northwest  corner,  and  in  the  opposite, 
the  southeast,  comer  stood  a  village  engine  house.  West  of  the  sqiiare 
stood  the  brick  jail  which  has  only  recently  been  replaced,  and  north  of  it 
was  the  court  house,  remodeled  from  the  old  church  and  soon  to  prove 
unsafe  and  be  condemned. 

January  7.  1887.  a  committee  of  the  boarils  of  supervisors,  to  whom 
had  been  intrusted  the  investigation  of  ways  and  means  for  obtaining  a 
new  court  house,  made  the  following  report: 

"Your  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  consideration  of  the  motion 
to  submit  to  the  voters  of  said  county  a  proposition  to  raise,  by  tax,  a  fund 
for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  court  house  for  the  said  county,  do  respect- 
fully submit  a  report  thereon  as  follows:  And  it  having  become  necessary 
to  build  a  court  house  for  the  county  of  Allegan  for  the  reason  that  the 
present  court  house  is  not  only  unsafe,  but  is  lacking  in  the  requisites  nec- 
essary for  the  transaction  of  the  business  of  the  county,  consider  that  a 
new  court  house  should  be  erected,  and  for  that  purpose  the  sum  of  $45,000 


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Ig  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

should  be  raised  by  tax,  and  would  recommend  that  at  the  township  election 
next  ensuing  a  proposition  be  submitted  to  the  voters  of  the  county  to 
spread  a  tax  of  one  mill  on  the  dollar  of  the  state  equalized  valuation,  each 
year,  for  the  tenn  of  three  vears." 

The  result  of  this  motion  is  given  in  a  resolution  offered  Apnl  24, 
1888:  "Whereas,  it  appears  fron  the  canvass  of  votes  cast  at  the  last 
spring  election  for  and  aga  tl  e  proposed  new  court  house  that  the  prop- 
osition was  defeated  b  a  all  ajority  of  115;  And,  whereas,  it  further 
appears  that  in  the  to  v  1  p  f  baugatuck  the  vote  against  the  proposition 
was  mainlv  the  result  of  a  s  derstanding  of  the  voters  therein  in  rela- 
tion to  a  matter  entirel  fore  gn  to  the  court  house  question,  thereby  defeat- 
ing the  will  of  the  people  of  the  county  on  the  matter;  And,  whereas, 
believing  that  a  new  court  house  is  necessary  at  the  earliest  possible  moment 
for  the  preservation  of  the  records  of  the  county  and  accommodation  of 
the  business  thereof;  Therefore  resolved,  that  at  the  next  general  election 
to  be  held  on  the  sixth  day  of  November,  1888,  there  be  submitted  to  the 
voters  of  Allegan  county  for  their  action  a  proposition  authorizing  the 
building  of  a  new  court  house  not  to  exceed  in  cost  when  built  and  fur- 
nished with  necessary  furniture  the  sum  of  $44,000." 

This  motion  was  lost,  but  the  following  offered  the  next  day,  was  car- 
ried: "Whereas,  it  appears  that  Allegan  county  has  no  court  house  and 
from  the  records  of  said  county  it  appears  that  said  county  is  now  payirig 
$547.50  for  a  night  watch  to  guard  the  county  records,  and  $300  is  paid 
for  rent  of  a  room  for  the  circuit  court,  with  prospects  of  being  obliged  to 
pav  more ;  and  also  about  $250  in  repairs  for  the  owners  of  building  that 
is  iiow  rented:  Therefore,  be  it  resolved,  that  at  the  next  general  election  to 
be  held  in  November,  1888.  there  be  submitted  to  the  voters  of  Allegan 
county  a  proposition  authorizing  the  building  of  a  new  court  house  not 
to  exceed  in  cost  when  built  and  finished  with  all  the  necessary  apparatus 
and  furniture  $44,000.     *     *     « 

"If  on  canvassing  the  votes  a  majority  of  the  votes  cast  shall  favor  the 
raising  of  said  money  for  building  said  court  house  the  sum  of  $15,000 
shall  be  spread  on  the  tax  rolls  of  Allegan  county  for  the  year  1889,  and 
$15,000  on  said  rolls  in  1890,  and  the  balance  spread  on  the  tax  rolls  of 
Allegan  county  in  1891." 

Following  is  the  tabulated  vote  taken  on  this  proposition  at  the  Novem- 
ber election : 

Yes.  No.  Y'es,  No. 

Allegan    1.04Q  10     Manlkis    71  37 

Casco    82  137      Martin    37  124 

Cheshire    iSi  32       Monterey    198  32 

Clyde    44  l?      Overisel    56  55 

Dorr 62  94      Otsego    21  636 

Fillmore    45  103      Pi"e   Plains 104  23 

Ganges    59  180      Salem    156  11 

Guns   Plains   117  19-!      Saugatuck    56  280 

Heath    112  29      Trowbridge    93  118 

Hopkins 182  95      Watson   108  139 

Laketown   ti  S7      Wayland    113  130 

Lee    41  89 

Leighton  142  61  Total   3,120        2,681 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  1* 

Court  house  committee  were  Charles  Johnson,  Frederick  Schracier 
and  A.  E.  Calkins.  The  building  committee  were  Charles  Johnson.  A.  E. 
Calkins,  Frederick  Schrader,  John  Crispe  and  B.  F.  Granger.  S.  L  Osgood 
was  the  architect. 

The  laying  of  the  court  house  comer-stone,  August  29,  1889,  was  a  cele- 
bration attended  bv  a  great  number  of  people  from  over  the  county  and 
from  abroad.  Some  of  the  addresses  made  on  that  occasion  have  been 
quoted,  and  altogether  it  was  an  event  of  more  than  ordinary  importance. 

The  building  committee's  report  on  January  9,  1890,  thus  describes 
the  progress  of  the  building :  "That  since  the  report  at  the  special  session 
of  this  Board,  June  last,  the  work  has  progressed  with  commendable  fidelity, 
both  as  to  character  of  work  and  material,  until  the  building  is  enclosed 
except  the  tower,  which  has  been  carried  above  the  roof  and  covered  with 
a  temporary  roof.  Considerable  work  has  been  done  inside.  Steam  connec- 
tions nearly  completed.  The  delay  of  the  glass  has  greatly  annoyed  the 
contractor,  but  expect  this  will  soon  be  completed  and  the  plastering  soon 
commenced.  Whole  amount  paid  contractor  to  date  $28,969.85,  which  is 
85  per  cent,  due  him  at  last  estimate." 

June  10,  1890.  the  committee  reported  in  part  as  follows:  "That  since 
their  report  made  at  the  January  session  of  the  Board  the  contractor  has 
pushed  forward  the  work  of  construction  so  that  it  is  now  completed,  and 
he  is  prepared  to  give  up  the  keys  into  your  hands.  provide<l  the  work  proves 
satisfactory  to  your  Board.  The  committee  met  frequently  during  the 
progress  of  the  work  and  unite  in  expressing  their  full  appreciation  of  the 
fidelity  and  honest  effort  on  the  part  of  Mr.  J.  M.  Crocker  to  present  to 
this  county  a  building  so  constructed,  from  foundation  to  turret,  that  will 
bear  the  closest  scrutiny,  and  in  a  style  of  finish  rarely  excelled  in  far  more 
costly  buildings.  Your  inspection  will  convince  you  of  this  fact.  Your 
committee  take  pleasure  in  stating  that  they  have  not  seen  any  attempt  to- 
put  in  anv  reprehensible  work,  but  always  the  best  care  and  skill  attainable." 

The  financial  report  on  the  completion  of  the  court  house  was  as  follows : 

Contractor,  Mr.  Crocker $42,035.49 

Decorating   410.00 

G.  R.  Furniture  Co 370-Oo 

Desks,  rail  and  tables 282.75 

Rill  of  chairs 144.00 

Mantel  and  grates 245.00 

Additional  plumbing 6Q.91 

Locks,  registers,  etc 3^-25 

Book  racks  1 50.00 

Furnishing  ladies'  room 5^-28 

Paving  boiler  and  fuel  room 5i-20 

Total  cost  $43,854.88 

After  more  than  forty  vears  of  use.  the  old  jail,  with  its  ivy-grown  front.- 
was  declared  obsolete.  Its  unfitness  was  ground  for  a  resolution  hv  the  board 
of  supervisors  on  January  13,  1905,  reading  partly  as  follows:  ''Your  com- 
mittee would  therefore  respectfully  recommend  that  the  proposition  to  raise 


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14  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

the  sum  of  $25,000  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  new  jail  and  sheriff's 
residence  be  submitted  to  the  electors  of  Allegan  county  at  the  spring  election 
of  this  year  1905,  said  $25,000  to  be  raised  as  follows :  $12,500  to  be  raised 
in  the  year  1905,  and  $12,500  to  be  raised  in  the  year  1906;  provided, 
however,  that  the  sum  aforesaid  of  $25,000,  together  with  the  $1,500  already 
on  hand  in  the  jail  fund,  shall  be  all  the  money  that  shall  be  used  in  the 
construction  of  said  jail  and  sheriff's  residence.  Raised  in  this  way,  it 
would  mean  a  rate  of  less  than  seven-tenths  of  a  mill  on  each  $1  assessment 
of  the  county ;  or,  to  a  man  paying  on  a  house  and  lot  assessed  at  $500,  the 
cost  of  building  a  jail  as  proposed  would  be  only  33  cents  each  year  for  two 
years." 

This  report,  submitted  to  the  board  by  Albert  L.  Nichols,  J.  W.  Sturgis 
and  L.  B,  Scholten,  was  adopted,  and  the  proposition  was  referred  in  proper 
form  to  the  voters  for  action.  The  result  of  the  vote  taken  the  following 
April  17,  1905,  is  thus  tabulated: 

Ranges.  Yes.  No.      Ranges. 


Yes. 

Xo. 

42,1 

406 

5i(>  . 

498 

845 

467 

Yc>. 

No. 

334 
446 

205 
457 

14  262  161  2.826  2,194 

The  architect  of  the  new  jail  was  Mr.  Hall,  of  Detroit,  and  Crocker 
and  Knapp  were  awarded  the  contract  for  its  construction.  The  special 
committee  appointed  to  supervise  the  building  were  Roscoe  N.  Ellis,  John 
Lubbers,  Fred  C.  Wilcox,  Alvah  H.  Tracy,  Daniel  D.  Harris;  the  member- 
ship did  not  remain  the  same  throughout,  however. 

At  the  session  of  the  hoard  of  supervisors,  June  28,  1906,  the  fol- 
lowing report  was  adopted : 

Gentlemen  :  Your  committee  on  the  building  of  the  new  jail 
would  respectfully  submit  the  following  report:  The  jail  has  been 
accepted  with  a  guarantee  that  some  work  that  coidd  not  be  finished  till 
the  old  jail  was  out  of  the  way,  should  be  completed  as  specified.  The 
jail  has  been  built  at  a  cost  of  $54,940.09.     *     *     * 

Roscoe  N.  Ellis, 
Albert    L.     Nichols, 
John  Lubbers, 
Daniel  D.  Harris, 

Committee. 
Provisions  For  The  Poor. 

At  the  first  township  meeting,  April  6,  1833,  when  Allegan  town- 
ship comprised  the  entire  county,  Giles  Scott  and  H.  C.  White  were  elected 
overseers  of  the  poor.  Such  officers  were  elected  at  each  township  meeting 
until  county  organization.  Doubtless  their  office  was  a  sinecure,  being 
both  without  duty  and  without  pay.  But  even  when  the  county  was  young 
and  its  inhabitants  were  few,  there  were  some  poor  among  them,  and 
some  public  provision  had  to  be  made  for  their  care.  The  board  of  super- 
visors in  1837  constituted  a  poor  fund  of  one  hundred  dollars,  this  being 
the  first  definite  provision  for  the  destitute,  and  in  the  following  year  a 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  15 

pauper  was  supported  nearly  a  month  at  the  pubHc  charge.  Until  1839 
each  township  cared  for  its  own  poor,  but  in  that  year  it  was  voted  to 
make  paupers  a  county  charge. 

No  systematic  method  of  caring  for  the  poor  was  adopted  until  1849. 
Previous  to  that  time,  the  paupers  being  few,  the  need  of  a  regular  institu- 
tion for  their  care  was  not  seriously  felt.  In  that  year  a  proposition  was 
made  before  tbe  board  that  a  farm  be  purchased  at  an  expense  not  greater 
than  twelve  hundred  dollars.  No  action  was  taken,  and  the  matter  remained 
in  an  unsettled  state  for  a  number  of  years,  the  superintendents  of  the  poor 
meanwhile  making  such  provisions  as  they  were  able  by  obtaining  temporary 
quarters  for  those  in  their  charge. 

Finally  a  committee  was  appointed  to  examine  farms  suitable  for  the 
purpose,  and  its  report,  made  January  14,  1866,  recommended  the  purchase 
of  the  quarter  section  owned  by  J.  P.  Pope,  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 5,  Allegan  township.  In  accordance  with  the  report,  tlie  farm  was  pur- 
chased for  $7,000,  the  deed  being  recorded  June  15,  1866,  This  has  since 
been  the  site  of  the  poorhouse  and  institutions. 

The  farm  as  first  purchased  soon  proved  inadequate,  and  a  committee 
urged  the  erection  of  a  poorhouse.  This  structure  was  erected  during  1868, 
and  was  reported  completed  in  January,  1869,  at  a  cost  of  $2,090.07.  This 
was  only  one  of  the  smaller  buildings  of  the  group  as  contemplated  when 
all  the  buildings  should  be  completed,  and  it  was  soon  found  that  the  new 
structure  was  insufBcient  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  institution,  and  that  the 
old  building  was  rapidly  falling  into  decay.  Accordingly,  in  January,  1870, 
the  board  of  supervisors  instructed  the  superintendents  of  the  poor  to  pro- 
cec:'  with  the  erection  of  the  main  building.  This  was  built  within  contract 
time,  ana  c->s  accepted  as  complete  on  October  13,  1870,  the  total  cost  being 
$7,461,97. 

The  next  building  to  be  erected  on  the  farm  was  an  asyhim  for  the 
insane.  The  consideration  of  this  matter  was  introduced  before  the  board  of 
supervisors  in  1874.  The  asylum,  a  two-story  brick  building,  with  four 
rooms  in  the  basement  and  sixteen  above,  was  first  occupied  Januarj-  i, 
1876.  its  cost  being  $1,328.62. 

That  the  chihlren  of  the  institution  might  have  a  building  apart  from 
the  adult  inmates,  a  juvenile  building  was  next  constructed.  The  super- 
visors took  the  first  steps  for  the  building  of  this  addition  in  January,  1877. 
and  the  building  was  completed  ready  for  occupancy  before  the  end  of  the 
year.    The  total  cost  of  this  building  was  $1,633.39. 

The  following  actions  taken  by  the  board  of  supervisors  in  recent  years 
indicate  the  material  improvements  at  the  county  farm : 

Oct.  20.  1898. — "  .  .  .  Your  committee  further  finds  that  in  the 
main  building  every  available  room  is  occupied,  also  the  so-called  insane 
building,  and  it  is  impossible  to  classify  the  inmates  as  they  should  be.  The 
sick  and  also  those  who  are  afflicted  with  contagious  diseases  ought  to  be 
separated,  but  it  is  totally  impossible  with  the  limited  room  at  present.  And 
the  committee  thereupon  would  recommend  that  upon  investigation  to  see 
if  practical,  the  old  school  building  be  moved  on  the  groimds  in  front  of 
what  is  called  the  'insane  asylum,'  as  near  as  practical  to  a  place  that  is  most 
convenient  to  be  heated  and  secure  as  much  as  possible  from  fire,  and  it  be 
elevated  enough  on  a  stone  foundation  so  it  can  be  heated  from  the  main 


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16  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY 

building;  and  we  recommend  that  it  be  so  connected,  and  said  building  be 
used  as  a  hospital  as  far  as  necessary,  especially  for  the  isolation  of  con- 
tagious diseased  patients,  the  expense  not  to  exceed  $50.  We  also  recom- 
mend that  the  poorhouse  be  connected  with  a  telephone  at  a  cost  not  ex- 
ceeding $25  and  the  regular  rates  for  use  of  same. 

"H.  J,  Klomparens, 
"Frank   Sommeb, 
"g.  h.  koofman, 

"Committee." 

Jan.  10,  1899. — "Whereas,  your  honorable  body,  at  the  October  session 
of  1898,  did  vote  to  move  the  building  known  as  the  school  building  situated 
at  the  county  farm  and  the  repairing  and  the  heating  of  the  same,  and  to 
put  telephone  into  the  county  poorhouse,  but  failed  to  appropriate  the  money 
for  so  doing ;  and  inasmuch  as  the  superintendents  of  the  poor,  in  com- 
pliance with  the  action  there  taken,  have  contracted  for  the  moving  of  said 
school  building  and  caused  to  be  put  into  the  poorhouse  a  telephone,  there 
being  no  fund  for  that  purpose,  we,  the  undersigned  superintendents  of  the 
poor,  do  recommend  that  the  sum  of  five  hundred  and  twenty-five  ($525) 
dollars  be  taken  from  the  county  contingent  fund  to  be  used  as  a  building 
fund  for  the  moving,  repairing  and  heating  of  said  building,  to  be  paid  by 
the  county  treasurer  on  orders  drawn  by  the  superintendents  of' the  poor, 
said  orders  to  be  for  the  moving,  repairing,  or  heating  of  said  building." 

The  amount  asked  for  was  voted  by  the  board. 

Farm  and 
House, 
1885.  1891.  1895.         1901.         1906. 

Expense  of  poorhouse.. $3,968.58     $3,227.07     $3.14978     $5,523     $7,580.56 

Expense    of    farm 1,688.70        1,251.49  850.01       

Total  No.  inmates 93  88  100  107  to8 

Average  number 65  48  50  62  68 

The  platting  of  the  territory  now  comprised  within  Allegan  county  into 
township  blocks  six  miles  square,  and  the  further  subdivision  of  each  town 
into  thirty-six  sections,  was  the  work  of  the  surveyors  of  the  government. 
As  already  stated,  the  first  of  this  work  was  done  in  1825,  but  most  of  it  was 
not  completed  until  1830  and  later.  The  township  lines  of  Gun  Plains  were 
run  in  1825,  but  the  sections  were  not  run  until  March,  1831,  by  Sylvester 
Sibley.  John  Mullett  was  also  the  surveyor  of  the  township  of  Martin  on  the 
north,  in  January,  1826,  while  Mr.  Sibley  followed  in  1831,  making  the  sec- 
tion lines.  Lucius  Lyon's  name  is  connected  with  the  survey  of  Wayland 
township  in  1826,  while  Mr.  Sibley's  work  on  the  section  lines  was  done  in 
March,  183 1.  The  same  men  were  connected  with  the  surveys  of  Leighton. 
and  the  dates  are  approximately  the  same,  as  would  also  be  true  of  Dorr 
township,  except  that  Mr.  Lyon  also  did  the  sectional  work  in  the  spring  of 
1831.  Mr.  Mullett  was  connected  with  the  survey  of  the  east  line  of  Otsego 
in  1825 ;  the  south  line,  the  base  line,  was  traced  out  by  William  Brookfield 
in  1827 ;  the  north  and  west  lines  by  Mr.  Lyon  late  in  1830,  and  he  then  con- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  17 

tinned  with  tlie  subdivision  of  the  township  into  sections.    Thus  the  survey 
went  on  with  the  other  townships  until  every  section  in  the  county  was  de- 

Wc  have  referred  to  the  various  townships  by  the  names  of  the  present. 
These  names  designate  both  the  survey  and  the  civil  townships.  But  at  the 
time  only  the  survey  townships  existed.  The  organization  of  a  separate  civil 
government  within  the  town  boundaries  had  not  been  attempted ;  such  or- 
ganization, like  the  organization  of  the  county  itself,  had  to  wait  upon  the 
increase  of  population  and  multiplication  of  material  and  social  interests.  It 
is  a  very  interesting  process  to  follow  the  division  of  the  county's  territory 
into  civil  townships,  for,  taken  in  chronological  order,  it  denotes  with  tol- 
erable accuracy,  the  movement  of  population  into  each  division. 

For  several  months  after  the  county  was  organized  its  territory  consti- 
tuted one  township.  The  legislature  possessed  the  power  to  divide  the  county 
into  convenient  areas  for  government  purposes,  and  on  March  23,  1836,  the 
first  act  for  the  creation  of  civil  townships  was  approved.  At  this  date  four 
townships  came  Into  existence.  The  division  was  clearly  made  with  reference 
to  the  position  of  population  at  that  time.  The  settlers  were  mainly  grouped 
along  the  river  from  Allegan  to  the  southeast.  Therefore,  the  first  civil  town- 
ship on  the  east  was  the  column  of  four  survey -townships  along  the  east 
line  of  the  county.  To  this  the  name  Flainfield  was  given.  The  next  col- 
umn to  the  west  was  formed  into  a  civil  township  by  name  Otsego.  Plain- 
field  and  Otsego  were  each  six  miles  wide  from  east  to  west,  and  twenty-four 
miles  long. 

But  the  third  town,  next  west  of  Otsego,  was  made  twelve  miles  wide, 
or,  in  other  words,  two  columns  of  survey-townships  were  used  to  make  this 
one  civil  town.  This  was  Allegan  township.  What  remained  of  the  county 
after  these  three  townships  were  formed,  consisting  of  one  fuli-width  column 
and  the  narrow  column  along  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  became  one  town- 
ship to  which  was  given  the  name  Newark. 

To  make  these  four  original  townships  the  coimty  was  divided  vertically 
from  north  to  south  into  four  strips.  But  these  elongated  towns  did  not  long 
remain.  Rapid  settlement  soon  called  for  the  organization  of  townships  with 
smaller  boundaries. 

The  first  division  was  made  March  6,  1838,  when  the  civil  township  of 
Manlius  was  organized,  its  first  town  meeting  to  be  held  at  the  hou'e  of 
Ralph  R.  Mann.  As  botmded  on  that  date,  Manlius  was  survey -town'  hip  3 
north,  in  range  15.  its  present  territory.  But  an  act  of  March  15,  18  ;r,  de- 
tached the  remaining  three  townships  in  the  same  coltmin  from  Newark  and 
constituted  them  a  part  of  the  civil  township  of  Manlius.  So  that  r/hat  are 
now  Fillmore.  Clyde  and  Lee  were  also  a  part  of  Manlius  until  separated  to 
form  other  town  areas, 

Plainiield  was  the  next  to  be  divided.  March  22,  1839.  the  lowest  sur- 
vey-township in  the  column  was  constituted  a  civil  township  by  itielf.  retain- 
ing the  name  Flainfield,  while  the  three  other  towns  were  linkjd  together 
under  the  name  of  Martin.  Flainfield,  which  was  changed  t<  its  present 
name  of  Gun  Plain  on  March  19.  1845,  was  the  first  townsh'p  to  assume 
permanently  the  boundaries  by  which  it  is  defined  today. 

February  16,  1842,  is  the  next  date  of  township  division.  Both  Otsego 
and  Allegan  suffered  contraction  on  that  date.     Otsego  fared  as  Flainfield 


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18  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

had  three  years  before.  The  bottom  town  was  constituted  the  Otsego  as 
known  today,  while  the  other  three  towns  remained  under  the  name  of 
Watson.  On  the  same  day  the  two  lower  survey-towns  of  Allegan  were  set 
off  and  named  Trowbridge,  embracing  just  twice  the  area  of  the  present 
township  of  that  name. 

Gun  Plain  and  Otsego  were  tlie  first  towns  whose  settlement  and  devel- 
opment had  progressed  far  enough  to  receive  independent  organizations.  We 
must  next  look  at  the  town  of  Martin,  which  the  legislature  soon  divided. 
Martin  was  constituted  with  its  present  area  on  March  9,  1843,  while  the 
two  towns  to  the  north  were  at  the  same  time  made  Wayland  township. 

March  16,  1847,  several  changes  were  made  on  the  map  of  Allegan 
county.  Watson  township  was  constituted  with  its  present  boimdaries,  and 
the  two  northern  towns  of  its  previous  area  were  made  Dorr  township.  On 
the  same  day  Allegan  lost  three  of  its  township  areas  by  the  formation  of 
Monterey,  a  right-angled  township,  covering  the  area  of  the  present  Mon- 
terey, Salem  and  Overisel.  By  the  same  act  Ganges  was  formed  from 
Newark,  consisting  of  the  two  lower  towns  on  the  lake  shore,  that  is,  the 
present  Ganges  and  Casco. 

March  9.  1848,  the  north  half  of  Wayland  was  set  off  and  given  the 
name  Leighton.  Thus  the  four  townships  on  the  east  line  of  the  county  were 
organized  with  their  present  limits. 

By  its  separation  from  Manlius,  Fillmore  township  was  constituted  with 
its  present  boundaries  March  15,  1849.  But  on  the  following  year,  March 
28,  its  area  was  doubled  by  the  cutting  oH  of  the  present  Overisel  from 
Monterey  and  placing  it  with  Fillmore. 

March  28,  1850,  was  created  the  original  Pine  Plains  township.  This 
contained  the  two  lower  survey-townships  in  range  15  {Clyde  and  Lee), 
previously  a  part  of  Manlius,  and  all  of  the  present  Valley  township  that  lay 
west  of  the  Kalamazoo  river.  It  was  unusual  to  boimd  a  township  other- 
wise than  by  its  rectangular  outlines,  and  making  the  river  a  boundary  took 
off  a  triangular  piece  of  land  and  left  it  with  the  original  township.  By  this 
time  the  original  Allegan  township  had  been  much  reduced  from  its  area 
of  eight  survey-townships.  Trowbridge  had  been  taken  off  in  1842,  Mon- 
terey in  1847,  and  Pine  Plains  in  tSso,  so  ail  that  remained  was  the  present 
Allegan,  the  irregular  piece  of  land  along  the  east  side  of  the  next  town  to  the 
west,  and  the  present  Heath  township. 

But  on  March  18,  i8.=;i,  Allegan  township  was  constituted  with  its 
present  boimdaries,  and  on  the  same  day  the  township  of  Heath  was  created. 
For  twenty  years  Heath  contained  the  fractional  township  east  of  the  Kala- 
mazoo just  described.  In  1871  Valley,  or  Pine  Plains  as  it  then  was,  was 
squared  off  by  the  addition  of  this  triangle. 

April  2.  1851,  the  legislature  divided  the  original  Trowbridge,  and 
named  its  western  half  Cheshire,  since  which  time  both  towns  have  retained 
their  present  areas  and  names. 

Until  1852  the  formation  of  townships  was  a  matter  controlled  entirely 
by  the  legislature.  Of  course  the  legislature  usually  acted  in  accordance 
with  petition  from  the  citizens  of  the  proposed  town,  and  generally  acceded 
to  the  wishes  of  the  inhabitants,  but  no  town  came  into  official  existence 
until  the  legislature  so  enacted.  In  1852  this  power  of  township  creation 
was  transferred  from  the  legislature  to  the  board  of  supervisors  of  each 


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HrSTORY  OF  AF.LEGAX  COUNTY  19 

county,  and  continued  with  that  hody  until  i860,  wlien  it  was  once  more 
resumed  by  the  legislature. 

December  29,  1852,  Dorr,  which  had  contained  two  town  areas  since 
T847,  was  divided,  the  north  half  retaining  the  name  of  Dorr,  and  the  name 
Hopkins  was  given  the  south  half.  This  was  the  first  township  formed  bv 
the  board  of  supervisors. 

As  we  have  seen,  Monterey  originally  embraced  three  survey-town- 
ships; in  i8fo  it  was  reduced  to  two.  and  on  October  10.  1855,  the  super- 
visors set  off  its  north  half  as  Salem  township,  leaving  Monterey  with  its 
present  boundaries. 

In  the  meantime,  the  extreme  southwestern  town  of  the  county  had 
been  organized.  Casco  was  set  off  from  Ganges  December  27,  1854,  the 
townships  then  assuming  their  present  areas. 

Only  a  few  more  townships  remained  to  be  organized.  October  14. 
1856,  Overisel  was  created  by  being  set  off  from  Fillmore,  to  which  it  had 
been  attached  in   [850. 

Original  Newark  township  had  been  greatly  reduced  since  it  was 
first  constituted  in  1836.  All  that  now  remained  were  the  two  upper  frac- 
tional townships  along  the  lake.  These  were  separated  and  Lake  Town 
was  organized  October  13,  1858.  The  remaining  town  continued  to  be 
known  as  Newark  until  1861,  when  the  legislature  changed  its  name  fo 
Saugatuck. 

Pine  Plains  was  the  last  to  be  subdivided.  January  4.  1859,  the  town- 
ship of  Lee  was  set  off,  and  the  following  October  12th  the  two  remaining 
towns  were  formed  as  Clyde  and  Pine  Plains,  Pine  Plains  still  lacked 
the  northeastern  corner,  which  was  given  it  in  1871.  The  name  of  Pine 
Plains  was  changed  to  Valley  in  January.  1898. 

The  townships  as  they  now  apoear  on  the  map  were  constituted  with 
their  present  boimdaries  at  the  following  dates,  beginning  in  the  south- 
eastern corner  of  the  county  and  reading  from  bottom  to  top:  Gim  Plains, 
March  22.  1839:  Martin.  March  9,  1843;  Wayland.  March  9.  1848:  Leigh- 
ton,  March  9,  1848;  Otsego,  Feb.  t6.  1842:  Watson,  March  16.  1847; 
Hopkins,  Dec.  29,  1852;  Dorr,  Dec.  29,  1852;  Trowbridge,  April  2,  1851 : 
Allegan,  March  18.  1851 ;  Monterey.  Oct.  10,  1855:  Salem,  Oct.  10,  i8t;5; 
Cheshire.  April  2.  185 1 :  Valley,  Oct.  12.  1859;  Heath,  March  18.  1851 
(except  the  separation  of  the  corner  strip  in  1871"):  Overisel.  Oct.  14, 
1856;  Lee.  Ian.  4.  iSsq;  Clyde.  Oct.  12.  185Q:  Manliiis.  March  15,  1849; 
Fillmore,  March  15.  1849;  Casco,  Dec.  27,  1854;  Ganges.  Dec.  27,  1854; 
Saugatuck,  Oct.  13,  1858;  Laketown,  Oct.  13,  1858. 

Township  Organization. 

As  each  of  the  townships  was  formed,  as  previously  described,  town- 
ship government  was  instituted.  At  the  first  town  meeting  following  the 
act  for  organization,  there  were  usually  present  and  active  in  the  pro- 
ceedings the  citizens  who  by  right  should  be  regarded  not  only  as  the 
pioneers  of  the  particular  township,  but  the  men  upon  whom  devolved 
the  civic  and  industrial  responsibilities  of  the  locality  during  its  earlv 
years.  There  is  a  peculiar  fitness_therefore  in  naming  so  far  as  possible  the 
first  set  of  officers  chosen  by  the  townships  at  their  first  town  meetings. 


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20  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUN'TY 

The  personnel  of  the  principal  township  officials  during  the  subsequent 
years  will  be  found  tabulated  elsewhere  in  the  volume,  under  Civil  Lists, 
to  which  the  reader  is  referred.  But  the  first  set  of  officials  gives  us 
acquaintance  with  men,  many  of  whom  are  mentioned  prominently  in  con- 
nection with  other  affairs,  and  many  of  whose  descendants  remain  in  the 
county  to  this  time. 

For  this  purpose  it  will  be  well  to  describe  the  organization  of  the 
townships  with  reference  to  their  origin.  Plainfield,  Otsego,  Allegan  and 
Newark,  being  the  four  large  divisions  from  which  all  the  twenty-four 
townships  have  been  formed,  the  plan  will  be  to  describe  the  organization 
of  Plainfield  and  then,  in  order,  of  each  of  the  towns  taken  from  its  original 
area,  and  so  on  with  Otsego,  Allegan  and  Newark. 

Plainfield. 

In  the  various  acts  creating  tlie  townships,  among  other  provisions, 
the  legislature  designated  the  place  where  the  first  township  meeting  should 
be  held.  The  house  of  Isaac  Aldrich  was  designated  for  the  holding  of 
the  first  town  meeting  in  Plainfield.  The  act  dividing  the  county  into  four 
civil  townships  was  approved,  it  will  be  remembered,  March  23,  1836,  and 
the  town  meeting  was  held  two  weeks  later.  On  April  4,  not  only  the  citi- 
zens living  in  the  present  town  of  Gun  Plain,  but  all  who  lived  in  the  other 
three  towns  to  the  north  line  of  the  county,  were  entitled  to  attend  and 
participate  in  this  meeting.  Of  course  the  majority  of  those  present  were 
of  the  Gun  Plain  neighborhood,  where  was  then  the  nucleus  of  the  settlers. 
In  this  respect  the  town  meeting  was  the  first  one  in  the  civil  history  of 
Gun  Plains  township,  and  its  record  usually  begins  the  civil  history  of  that 
town.  But  in  a  minor  degree  the  same  record  is  a  part  of  the  civil  his- 
tory of  each  of  the  other  three  towns,  which  at  the  time  were  attached  to 
Pla'infield. 

The  business  of  this  first  town  meeting  began  by  the  clioice  of  tem- 
porary officers  in  the  persons  of  John  Murphy,  moderator;  William  Forbes, 
clerk;  John  Anderson,  clerk  of  election.  The  first  township  officers  chosen 
in  the  meeting  were :  John  Murphy,  supervisor ;  William  Forbes,  town 
clerk;  William  Still,  collector:  Curtis  Brigham,  John  Anderson.  Peter 
Dumont,  John  Murphy,  justices  of  the  peace:  Orlando  Weed,  Justus  B. 
Sutherland,  Chester  Wetmore,  highway  commissioners;  Curtis  Brigham, 
John  Anderson.  William  Forbes,  school  commissioners ;  Charles  Bush. 
Friend  Ives,  Elisha  B.  Seeley,  assessors:  Peter  Dumont.  Chester  Wetmore, 
overseers  of  the  poor ;  Friend  Ives,  Elisha  B.  Seeley.  Warren  Caswell,  fence 
viewers;  William  Still,  Peter  Dumont,  S.  H.  Upson,  Chester  Wetmore. 
Orrin  Orton.  Warren  Caswell.  Leman  G.  Orton.  John  H.  Adams,  con- 
stables ;  Charles  Bush.  Charles  Ives,  Elisha  Tracy.  Elisha  B.  Seeley.  path- 
masters. 

Martin. 

When  Martin  was  set  off  in  1830.  with  the  two  townships  on  tiie 
north  attached  for  civil  purposes,  the  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the 
house  of  John  H.  Adams,  mentioned  above  as  constable  in  tlie  first  Plain- 
field  election,  on  April  13,  1839.  The  township  ofilicers  elected  by  the. 
seventeen  voters  present  were;  Cotton  M.  Kimball,  supervisor;  Timothy 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COLWTV  31 

Gregg,  town  clerk;  John  H.  Adams,  treasurer;  George  W.  Barnes,  John 
H.  Adams,  Mumford  Eldred,  assessors;  Nicholas  Shellman,  collector; 
George  W.  Barnes,  John  C.  White,  Cotton  M.  Kimbail,  school  inspectors; 
Abraham  Shellman,  Adam  W.  Miller,  Walter  Monteith,  highway  com- 
missioners; Timothy  Gregg,  Abraham  Shellman,  directors  of  the  poor; 
George  W.  Barnes,  Abraham  Shellman,  justices  of  the  peace;  Nicholas 
Shellman,  Oziel  H.  Rounds,  constables. 

Wayland. 

The  township  of  Wayland,  with  the  present  Leighton  attached,  was 
organized  March  9,  1843.  The  first  township  meeting  was  held  at  the  house 
of  Isaac  Barnes,  April  i,  1844.  The  township  officers  elected  were:  George 
W.  Barnes,  who  was  one  of  the  first  of  Martin's  officials,  was  elected  super- 
visor; Luther  Martin,  town  clerk;  Oziel  H.  Rounds,  treasurer;  Steven  S. 
Germond.  Solomon  Filkins,  assessors ;  Isaac  Barnes.  George  W.  Barnes, 
school  inspectors ;  Nelson  Chambers,  Joseph  Heydenburk.  directors  of  the 
poor;  Isaac  Barnes,  Oziel  H.  Rounds,  Nelson  Chambers,  highway  com- 
missioners; George  W.  Barnes,  Steven  S.  Germond,  Oziel  H.  Rounds,  Nel- 
son Chambers,  justices  of  the  peace;  Calvin  Lewis,  Nelson  M.  Pollard,  con- 
stables; Joel  Bronson,  Samuel  E.  Lincoln,  Solomon  Filkins.  W'ilHam  S. 
Hooker,  overseers  of  highways. 

Leighton  was  organized  as  a  separate  township  March  9,  1848.  and 
the  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  Green  Lake  schoolhouse,  April  3. 
1848.  Township  ofl!icers  elected:  George  W.  Lewis,  supervisor;  Samuel 
B.  Hooker,  clerk;  George  W,  Lewis,  treasurer;  John  Woodward,  Jehu 
Wilson,  assessors;  Seth  A.  Lucas.  Alfred  Mann,  school  inspectors;  Levi 
S,  Bagnell,  Samuel  E,  Lincoln.  Jehu  Wilson,  highway  commissioners; 
Homer  Hulett,  Seth  A.  Lucas.  Alfred  Mann,  justices  of  the  peace:  William 
S,  Hooker,  John  Woodward,  poormasters;  Philetns  W.  Wood,  John  Good- 
speed,  constables;  John  Woodward,  Steven  Hartwell,  roadmasters. 

Otsego. 
Otsego,  In  its  original  form,  containing  the  three  towns  to  the  north, 
had  its  first  town  meeting  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Foster,  April  6,  1833. 
Township  officers  chosen ;  Qiarles  Miles.  Supervisor ;  Cyrenius  Thompson, 
town  clerk;  Martin  W.  Rowe.  collector;  Eber  Sherwood,  Calvin  C.  White. 
D.  A.  Plummer,  assessors;  Giles  Scott,  Calvin  C.  White,  overseers  of  the 
poor;  Turner  Aldrich,  Norman  Davis.  Roval  Sherwood,  highway  commis- 
sioners: Charles  Miles,  Samuel  Foster.  Cyrenius  Thompson,  school  in- 
spectors; Martin  W.  Rowe.  constable:  Orlando  Weed,  Eber  Sherwood.  U. 
Baker.  Abijah  Chichester,  overseers  of  roads. 

Wat.son. 
Watson,  cut  off  from  Otsego,  with  the  two  towns  to  the  north,  and 
organized  February  16.  184.2.  had  its  first  tow  nmeeting  at  the  house  of  Eli 
Watson,  April  4,  1842.     The  first  town  oflScers  were:  Amos  D.  Dunning, 


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22  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGA\  COUNTY 

supervisor;  Eli  P.  Watson,  clerk;  Eli  Watson,  treasurer;  Peter  Richart, 
John  J.  Lardner,  assessors;  William  H.  Warner,  William  S.  Miner,  Amos 
D.  Dunning,  school  inspectors ;  Charles  Benson,  director  of  the  poor ;  Jesse 
D.  Stone,  Harvey  N.  Barker,  highway  commissioners;  Erastus  Condon, 
William  Allen,  justices  of  the  peace;  Jesse  D.  Stone,  J.  Baker,  constables. 

Doer. 

Dorr,  also  containing  the  present  town  of  Hopkins,  was  set  off  from 
Martin  in  1847,  and  the  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  school  house  in 
district  number  3,  April  5,  1847.  Fourteen  votes  were  cast  for  the  follow- 
ing officers :  John  Parsons,  supervisor ;  Jonathan  O.  Round,  clerk ;  William 
H.  Warner,  treasurer;  Edward  Moore,  William  H.  Warner,  school  in- 
spectors; Orrin  Goodspeed,  Erastus  Condon,  Jonathan  Brewer,  highway 
commissioners;  William  H.  Warner,  Harvey  N.  Baker,  directors  of  the 
poor;  William  H.  Warner,  Edward  Moore,  Harvey  N.  Baker,  justices  of 
the  peace:  Orrin  Goodspeed,  John  Parsons,  Jason  Baker,  Jonathan  O. 
Round,  constables ;  Jonathan  O.  Round,  Jonathan  Brewer,  John  Parsons, 
Edward  Moore,  overseers  of  highways. 

Hopkins. 

Hopkins,  after  obtaining  separate  organization  in  December,  1852,  held 
its  first  town  meeting  at  the  log  house  on  section  26  in  school  district  No. 
I,  in  April,  1853,  the  first  officers  being:  J.  O.  Round,  supervisor;  John 
Parsons,  clerk;  Erastus  Condon,  treasurer;  Hiram  Loomis,  William  R, 
Ingerson,  highway  commissioners;  John  Truax,  Jason  Baker,  justices  of 
the  peace;  D.  C.  Ingerson,  M.  Vanduzen,  school  inspectors;  Thomas  Wil- 
son, T.  J.  Crampton,  directors  of  the  poor;  O,  Perry,  W.  R.  Ingerson, 
constables. 

Allegan. 

The  original  Allegan  township,  comprising  two  columns  of  townships 
through  the  center  of  the  county,  held  its  first  town  meeting  following  the 
act  of  organization  in  the  village  of  Allegan,  in  April,  1836.  The  officials 
chosen  were :  Alexander  L.  Ely,  supervisor ;  Nathaniel  Llvermore,  clerk ; 
Joseph  Fisk,  Elisha  Ely,  Elisha  Moody,  Enoch  S.  Baker,  justices  of  the 
peace ;  Elisha  Moody,  Hiram  Abbott,  Joseph  Fisk,  assessors ;  Elisha  Moody, 
Ehsha  Ely,  Enoch  S.  Baker,  highway  commissioners;  Lyman  Fisk,  Elisha 
Ely,  overseers  of  the  poor;  Sylvester  Aldrich,  Benjamin  McCoy.  Enoch 
S.  Baker,  school  commissioners;  Alexander  L.  Ely,  William  C.  Jenner, 
Joseph  Allen,  school  inspectors. 

Trowbridge. 

Trowbridge,  set  off  from  Allegan  in  1842.  embracing  also  the  area 
of  the  present  Cheshire,  had  its  first  town  election  at  the  Prouty  school 
house,  district  No.  i,  in  April,  1842.  Those  elected:  John  Weare,  super- 
visor; Sidney  Smith,  clerk;  John  Billings,  Sr.,  treasurer;  J.  H.  Blackman, 
John  Weare,  Walter  H.  Rood,  Leander  S.  Prouty,  justices  of  the  peace: 
William  Porter,  William  Granger,  John  Orr,  highway  commissioners ;  H. 


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HISTORY  Oi'  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  23 

B.  Seymour,  John  Billings,  John  (_i.  Colburn,  scliool  inspectors;  Richard 
Weare,  Riley  Granger,  Leander  1'.  Ross,  Benjamin  Colburn,  constables. 

ClIESIIIEE. 

Cheshire,  as  set  off  from  Trowbridge  and  separately  organized  held 
its  first  town  meeting  in  April,  1852.  Otticers:  James  G.  Lindsley;  super- 
visor;  Harvey   Munger,   clerk;   Marcus   Lane,    treasurer;    Marcus    Lane, 

C.  W.  Lindsley,  S.  Strong,  Dustin  Murcli,  justices  of  the  peace;  Marcus 
Lane,  Dustin  Murch,  S.  Strong,  highway  commissioners;  C.  Lindsley,  S. 
Strong,  school  inspectors;  Caleb  Ward,  A,  B.  Eaton,  directors  of  poor; 
Ezra  Whaley,  A.  B.  Eaton,  constables, 

Monterey. 

Monterey,  as  orgaiiized  from  Allegan  in  1&47,  had  its  citizens  in  the 
present  Salem  and  Overisel  as  well  as  in  its  own  proper  area.  The  first 
town  meeting  was  held  April  19,  1847,  and  those  elected  were:  John 
Chase,  supervisor;  Noah  Briggs,  clerk;  Frederick  Day,  treasurer;  James 
M.  McAlpine,  Horace  Wilson,  N.  H.  Brown,  Gil  Bias  Wilcox,  justices  of 
the  peace;  Gil  Bias  Wiicox,  James  M.  McAlpine,  George  W.  Kibby,  high- 
way commissioners;  John  Chase,  Henry  Wilson,  school  inspectors;  Thu- 
runi  Ross,  Joseph  Tanner,  directors  of  the  poor;  George  M.  Kibby,  Silas 
Reed,  Harvey  Kenyon,  Horace  Dexter,  constables. 

Salem. 

Salem,  as  set  off  fi-oui  Monterey,  October  10,  1855,  with  its  present 
boundaries,  held  its  first  town  election  at  the  house  of  James  Burnip,  April 
7,  1856,  with  the  following  results:  L.  P.  Brown,  supervisor;  Henry  Bear, 
clerk;  James  Burnip,  treasurer;  Henry  Wilson,  John  Schwagert,  justices  of 
the  peace;  A.  A.  Goodman,  Robert  Pettingall,  Aaron  Bassett,  highway 
commissioners;  A.  A.  Goodman,  Isaiah  Mannes,  school  inspectors;  Thomas 
Henton,  director  of  the  poor;  Florida  Henton,  A.  A.  Goodman,  Abner 
Hunt,  Jacob  Brandigan,  constables. 

HliATH. 

Heath,  set  off  from  Allegan  in  March,  1851.  held  its  first  town  meet- 
ing in  April,  1851,  with  the  foliowing  results:  James  M.  Heath,  supervisor; 
John  M.  Heath,  clerk;  George  P.  Heath,  treasurer;  Simon  Howe,  Samuel 
Bigsby,  James  Albro,  James  M.  Heath,  justices  of  the  peace;  Simon  Howe, 
school  inspector;  L.  P.  Ross,  Harvey  Howe,  directors  of  the  poor;  Daniel 
Rhodabaugh,  Charles  Howe,  L.  P.  Ross,  Henry  Ammerman,  constables. 

Pine  Plains. 

Pine  Plains,  as  organized  in  1850,  had  the  present  Lee  and  Clyde  at- 
tached to  its  territory,  and  even  then  had  a  very  limited  popnlation,  as  may 
be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  at  the  first  town  meeting  held  April  i,  1850, 
only  two  officers  were  chosen,  namely:  Timothy  Coates,  supervisor;  EH 
Hathaway,  clerk. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COU\TY 


Of  the  original  township  of  Newark,  comprising  two  columns  of  town- 
ships, none  of  the  township  records  remain,  and  only  the  first  supervisor, 
Daniel  A.  Plummer,  can  he  named. 

Manlius. 

Manlius,  which  was  set  off  by  itself,  in  1838,  held  its  first  town  meeting 
at  the  house  of  R.  R,  Mann  April  i,  1839,  with  the  following  persons 
elected  as  officers :  John  Allen,  supervisor :  James  A.  Poage,  clerk ;  Samuel 
Town,  Orrin  Ball,  John  Allen,  assessors;  R.  R.  Mann.  John  Allen,  Truman 
D.  Austin,  commissioners  of  highways;  Orrin  Ball,  constable  and  collector; 
Samuel  Town,  Paul  Shepard,  Isaac  Vredenberg,  school  inspectors;  Paul 
Shepard,  treasurer;  R.  R.  Mann,  Samuel  Town,  James  A.  Poage,  J.  W. 
Palmer,  justices  of  the  peace;  R.  R.  Mann.  Isaac  Vredenberg,  directors  of 
the  poor :  John  Allen,  James  McCormick.  overseers  of  highways ;  Truman 
D.  Austin,  poundmaster.     Only  ten  voters  were  in  the  town  at  the  time. 

Fillmore. 

Fillmore  was  a  part  of  Manlius  until  1849.  and  no  doubt  from  1841. 
when  its  area  was  attached  to  Manlius,  until  1849,  some  of  its  residents 
served  as  officers  in  Manlius  and  voted  at  its  town  meetings.  The  first 
town  meeting  was  held  in  Fillmore  as  a  separate  town  in  April,  1849,  at 
which  time  Isaac  Fairbanks  was  chosen  supervisor:  Benjamin  Fairbanks, 
clerk;  Anton  Schomo,  treasurer;  Isaac  Fairbanks,  Anton  Schorno.  George 
N.  Smith,  George  Harrington,  justices  of  the  peace. 

OVERISEL. 

Overisel,  being  attached  to  Fillmore  in  1850.  took  part  in  the  town 
meetings  of  the  latter  until  its  separate  organization  in  1856  gave  it  power 
to  hold  town  meetings  of  its  own.  The  first  meeting  was  held  at  the 
school  house  in  district  No.  i,  April  6,  1857,  when  the  following  were 
chosen  oificers:  C.  J.  Voorhorst,  supervisor;  Jan  Boers,  clerk;  Hendrick 
Broiiwers,  treasurer;  Lucas  Daugermond,  Hendrick  Brouwers,  school  in- 
spectors: Harm  Walters,  R.  Van  Dan,  Hendrick  Bellman,  highway  com- 
missioners: Gerret  J.  Wolterink,  Barteld  Vredeveld,  justices  of  the  peace; 
Egbert  Nykerk.  Harm  Schepers,  directors  of  the  poor;  Mannes  Hulsman, 
Albert  Woerding,  constables. 

Lee. 

Lee,  at  first  a  portion  of  Newark,  from  1847  to  1850  a  part  of  Man- 
lius. and  then  until  1859  a  part  of  Pine  Plains,  contributed  its  township 
activity  in  various  directions.  At  its  first  township  meeting  after  organiza- 
tion, held  April  4.  1859.  the  officers  elected  were:  Thomas  Raplee,  super- 
visor; E.  H.  Heath,  clerk;  H.  B.  Rice,  treasurer:  H.  B.  Rice,  Henry  David- 
son. Thomas  Raplee.  John  Orr,*  justices  of  the  peace:  Michael  Hoy.  David 

"  Sulisequentlj  cfpclared  an  alien. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY  25 

W.  Matthews,  highway  commissioners;  Henry  Davidson,  school  inspector; 
David  W.  Matthews,  Winchester  Jenkins,  Michael  Hoy,  constables ;  H.  B. 
Rice,  Winchester  Jenkins,  Michael  Hoy,  overseers  of  highways. 

Clyde. 

Clyde,  detached  from  Pine  Plains  in  1859,  held  its  first  town  election 
April  2,  i860,  there  being  thirteen  voters  present,  who  cast  their  ballots 
for:  Ralph  Parrish,  supervisor;  George  G.  Smalley,  clerk;  E.  H.  Heath, 
treasurer;  C.  T.  Billings,  justice  of  the  peace. 

Ganges. 

Ganges,  taken  from  \ewark  in  1847,  embracing  also  the  present  Casco, 
held  its  first  town  meeting  at  the  house  of  Orlando  Weed,  April  5,  1847, 
with  the  following  results,  27  votes  being  cast  in  all :  A.  H.  Hale,  super- 
visor; S.  H.  Weaver,  clerk;  Levi  Looniis,  treasurer;  N.  D.  Plummer,  G.  F, 
Hughes,  justices  of  the  peace;  Daniel  Piatt,  A.  H.  Hale  school  inspectors; 
J.  W,  Wadsworth,  Nathan  Slayton,  directors  of  the  poor;  J.  W,  Wadsworth, 
J.  B.  Goodeve,  assessors;  Nathan  Slayton,  Roswell  Daily,  J.  B.  Goodeve, 
commissioners  of  highways ;  John  Lutz,  Henry  Baragar,  S.  H.  Weaver, 
O.  C.  Thayer,  constables ;  Henry  Baragar,  David  Updj'ke,  N.  D.  Plummer, 
C.  O.  Hamlin,  Timothy  McDowell,  pathmasters. 

Casco. 

Casco,  taken  from  Ganges  in  1854,  completed  its  civil  organization  at 
the  first  town  meeting  held  in  April,  1855,  when  Timothy  McDowell  was 
elected  supervisor.  The  records  of  the  meeting  and  early  township  af- 
fairs were  destroyed  by  fire  in  1869. 


Saugatuck,  really  the  nucleus  of  the  original  Newark,  which  name  it 
retained  imtll  1861,  had  a  continuous  civil  history  from  1836,  but  the  carlv 
records  were  destroyed. 

[,.\KETII\VN. 

Laketown,  set  off  from  all  that  remained  of  the  original  Newark,  in 
October,  1858,  held  the  first  town  meeting  April  4.  1859,  when  the  fol- 
lowing officers  were  elected:  John  Rouse,  supervisor;  Gerrit  Ruttgers, 
clerk;  A.  J.  Neerken,  treasurer;  A.  J.  Neerken,  John  Rouse,  Harm  Rouse, 
Albert  Klomparens.  school  inspectors;  Reinderd  Boorenkamp,  Gerrit  Rutt- 
gers, John  Lucas,  highway  commissioners;  A,  J.  Neerken,  H.  J.  Brinkman, 
John  Ruttgers,  Harm  Klomparens,  justices  of  the  peace;  Gerrit  Heneveld, 
B.  J.  Brinkman,  Derk  Ten  Cate,  Hendrick  Bakker,  constables;  G.  H. 
Lubbers,  Gabriel  Rosbach,  Harm  Bouws,  overseers  of  highways. 


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CHAPTER  II. 
THE  COUNTY  FROM  1830  TO  THE  CLOSE  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 

The  decade  of  the  thirties  was  the  foundation  period  of  Allegan 
county.  Not  only  is  this  true  of  the  county,  but  this  ten  years,  during  which 
the  territory  became  a  state  of  the  Union,  marks  the  actual  period  of  the 
making  of  Michigan.  For,  as  another  writer  has  stated,  "the  real  builders 
of  the  commonwealth  of  which  we  are  so  proud,  were  not  the  French  ex- 
plorers, post  traders  and  missionaries;  they  were  not  the  British  soldiers 
and  adventurers  who  followed  them ;  they  were  not  even  the  mixed  popu- 
lation of  Canadian  habitants,  American  fishermen  and  fur  merchants  who 
occupied  the  territory  under  the  American  flag  during  the  first  quarter  of 
the  century;  but  the  true  founders  of  Michigan  were  the  men  who  came 
within  its,  limits  during  the  half  dozen  years  preceding  the  admission  of 
Michigan  into  the  Union." 

The  census  of  1837,  the  first  census  compiled  after  the  admission  of  the 
state,  and  the  first  census,  either  territorial  or  federal,  whose  returns  apply 
to  Allegan  county,  showed  that  1,469  persons  were  living  in  the  county  at 
that  date.  The  federal  census  of  1840  increased  this  number  to  1,783. 
Nearly  fifteen  hundred  people  had  come  into  the  county  during  the  first 
seven  years  of  its  settlement.  If  we  interpret  the  word  "pioneers"  strictly 
as  those  who  located  in  the  county  before  1840,  so  as  to  be  included  in  the 
census  of  that  year,  the  "founders  of  Allegan  county"  would  be  less  than 
two  thousand  inhabitants  included  within  its  limits  at  that  time.  This 
population  has  since  increased  to  nearly  forty  thousand,  and  there  have 
been  correspondingly  many  developments  and  phases  of  the  life,  institu- 
tions and  industries  of  the  people.  But  it  may  truthfully  be  said  that  the 
foundations  of  the  county  were  laid,  and  well  laid,  by  the  pioneers  of  the 
thirties. 

Many  interesting  queries  might  be  made  concerning  the  early  popula- 
tion of  the  county.  What  influences  directed  them  hither?  From  what 
parts  of  the  Union  did  they  come  chiefly  and  how  did  their  previous  en- 
vironment affect  their  relations  and  work  in  this  county?  By  what  routes 
did  they  come,  overland  or  bv  water?  Where  were  the  first  settlements 
made,  and  what  were  the  conditions  that  favored  the  grouping  of  popla- 
tion  and  enterprise  at  one  point  at  the  expense  of  another?  How  did  the 
pioneers  live  during  the  period  of  semi -isolation  from  the  comforts  and 
usages  to  which  they  had  been  accustomed  ?  These  and  many  other  ques- 
tions must  be  answered  if  we  hope  to  get  a  true  picture  of  Allegan  county 
26 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUXTY  27 

during  its  formative  period.  Tlicn  it  will  be  an  easy  passage  from  the  prim- 
itive to  those  stages  of  gradual  development,  first  along  one  line  and  then 
another,  by  which  the  county  and  its  people  have  reached  their  twentieth 
century  culmination  of  progress  and  civilization. 

Er!e  Canal. 

In  1825  the  Erie  canal,  after  eight  years  in  building,  was  opened  to 
traffic,  and  the  waters  of  Lake  Erie  flowed  across  the  state  of  New  York 
into  the  Hudson  river.  The  dream  of  Henry  Hudson  in  seeking  a  north- 
west passage  up  the  river  that  bears  his  name  was  realized  after  more  than 
two  centuries.  Only  instead  of  the  spice-laden  orient,  the  new  way  led  to 
the  far  more  desirable  and  potentially  richer  American  west.  The  land- 
bound  commerce  of  the  Atlantic  seaboard  found,  in  this  direction,  outlet  to 
the  eager  west,  and,  borne  along  the  same  channel,  the  grain  harvests  of 
the  inland  were  brought  to  the  markets  of  the  world.  It  was  no  uncommon 
thing  for  fifty  ark-Hke  boats,  loaded  with  passengers  and  freight,  to  depart 
from  the  eastern  terminus  of  the  Erie  canal  in  a  single  day,  passing  to  the 
west  at  the  rate  of  four  miles  an  hour.  Before  the  waters  were  turned  into 
the  "Big  Ditch"  the  toilsome  urging  of  creaking  wagon  had  not  carried 
a  fraction  of  the  commerce  that  passed  along  this  waterway. 

The  Erie  cana!  not  only  gave  a  tremendous  impetus  to  western  expan- 
sion and  development,  but  it  changed  its  direction.  Herein  lies  the  sig- 
nificance of  the  canal  in  the  history  of  southern  Michigan,  including  Alle- 
gan county. 

Before  1825  the  trend  of  westward  emigration  had  been  down  the 
Ohio  valley.  The  great  water  courses  were  fringed  with  settlements,  when 
the  inland  countrv  was  still  an  unbroken  wilderness.  The  regions  border- 
ing the  riverways  and  great  lakes  were  populous  before  a  tree  had  been 
felled  for  a  settler's  cabin  on  the  fertile  prairies  and  woodland  of  northern 
Indiana  and  southern  Michigan.  In  proof  of  this  witness  the  admission  of 
Indiana  to  statehood  ten  years  before  the  first  settler  came  to  her  northern 
tier  of  counties.  Southern  Michigan  was  aside  from  the  current  of  emigra- 
tion, and  its  settlement  was  delayed  while  settlers  were  nverrunning  the 
country  to  the  south  and  the  prairies  of  Illinois. 

Overland  Roads. 

There  were  no  roads  in  southern  Michigan  even  for  several  years 
after  the  completion  of  the  Erie  canal.  A  map  of  the  highways  of  traffic 
of  the  United  States  in  the  year  1825  shows  a  network  of  routes  along  the 
Ohio  valley,  but  none  north  of  the  watershed  into  the  great  lakes,  which 
would  bring  emigrants  within  many  miles  of  Allegan  and  its  adjacent 
counties. 

The  homeseekers  who  travelecl  across  Lake  Erie  to  its  western  end 
would  on  their  arrival  at  Detroit  find  one  generally  used  road  to  the  west 
That  led  southwest  to  Monroe,  up  the  valley  of  the  Maumee,  past  Defiance, 
Ohio,  through  Fort  Wayne.  Indiana,  thence  northwesterly  around  the  lower 
end  of  Lake  Michigan  to  Chicago  or  farther  west.  Fort  Wayne  was  the 
converging  point  for  several  other  roads  leading  from  different  points  along 
the  Ohio  river.     The  great  bulk  of  the  pioneers  who  settled  the  northern 


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28  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Indiana  and  extreme  southwest  Michigan  counties  came  by  way  of  Fort 
Wayne.  This  accounts  for  the  more  cosmopolitan  character  of  the  popu- 
lation of  that  region  than  is  found  in  most  other  counties  of  southern 
Michigan.  Through  Fort  Wayne  passed  streams  of  emigrants  not  only 
from  the  New  England  states  and  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  but  also 
from  Maryland,  Virginia,  the  Carolinas  and  Kentucky. 

Railroads  at  that  time  had  not  become  a  factor  in  directing  and  assist- 
ing emigrants.  In  1830  only  36  miles  of  railroad  were  in  operation  in  all 
the  United  States.  Only  two  years  before  had  the  first  mile  of  the  Balti- 
more &  Ohio  been  built.  The  decade  of  the  twenties  was  prolific  of  rail- 
road charters  and  plans,  but  only  the  beginnings  were  made  of  the  rail- 
road building  which  soon  absorbed  the  energies  of  the  nation.  In  fact,  the 
part  of  the  railroad  in  southern  Michigan  was  that  of  development  rather 
than  settlement.  When  the  first  railroad  penetrated  Allegan  county,  its 
population  was  nearly  twenty  thousand.  The  lands  had  been  taken  up  and 
the  pioneer  period  was  practically  over. 

It  should  also  be  mentioned  that  a  large  number  of  emigrants,  instead 
of  debarking  at  Detroit  and  taking  the  Fort  Wayne  route,  made  the  entire 
circuit  of  the  lakes  by  way  of  Mackinac.  This  route  was  long,  exposed  to 
many  risks,  and  blocked  by  ice  a  considerable  portion  of  the  year,  hence  not 
so  feasible  as  would  seem  on  first  thought.  In  fact,  it  can  be  stated,  after 
an  examination  of  the  records  of  early  settlement  in  this  county,  that  the 
presence  of  a  large  body  of  navigable  water  on  its  western  limits  played 
only  a  minor  part  in  the  pioneer  settlement  of  the  county.  Lake  Michigan 
even  during  the  twenties  offered  its  broad  area  to  a  considerable  commerce 
between  the  east  and  the  west,  but  carried  on  its  bosom  only  a  small  share 
of  homeseekers  who  penetrated  tlie  wilderness  of  Allegan  county.  And 
inasmuch  as  the  first  necessities  and  purposes  of  the  pioneers  were  home- 
making  and  preparation  of  the  country  for  industry  and  enterprise,  it  was 
not  for  severaf  years  after  the  first  settler  came  that  the  river  and  lake 
traffic  began  to  develop. 

But,  with  few  exceptions,  so  far  as  an  investigation  of  the  early  rec- 
ords prove,  the  first  settlers  of  this  county  came  overland.  For  those  who 
crossed  Lake  Erie  by  boat,  Detroit  was  the  point  of  departure  for  the  in- 
land. During  the  decade  preceding  the  settlement  of  Allegan  county,  roads 
were  being  constructed,  as  one  writer  describes  it,  in  fan-shaped  direction 
from  Detroit,  into  the  coimtry  lying  north,  west  and  southwest  from  that 
city.  Along  these  highways,  each  year  extended  further  into  the  wilder- 
ness, passed  the  caravans  whose  members  were  the  makers  of  Michigan. 
Some  of  these  roads  were  cut  from  one  settlement  to  another  by  the  parties 
immediately  interested.  Many  more  were  orderd  laid  out  by  the  Terri- 
torial authorities,  many  pages  of  the  territorial  laws  being  taken  up  by 
these  road  acts.  Foremost  in  importance  of  all  the  roads  of  southern 
Michigan,  forming  the  backbone  of  overland  communication,  was  the  De- 
troit-Chicago road,  a  military  and  post  road  constructed  by  the  national  gov- 
ernment. Most  of  the  other  roads  of  the  southern  portion  of  Michigan 
were  constructed  with  reference  to  this  "trunk  line,"  intersecting  it  and 
starting  from  it  as  an  initial  point. 

This  famous  thoroughfare,  while  it  did  not  touch  Allegan  county,  was 
of  such  importance  to  the  settlement  of  southern  Michigan  that  it  calls  for 


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HISTORY  OF  AI.LEGAX  COUNTY  3» 

some  description.  The  "Chicago  Road,"  by  which  name  it  is  best  known, 
was  essentially  an  overland  extension  of  the  Erie  canal.  It  was  a  national 
highway  built  to  connect  two  important  strategic  points,  to  afford  rapid 
transportation  of  military  supplies  and  armies  from  the  western  teniiinus 
of  the  waterways  at  Detroit  to  Fort  Dearborn  on  Lake  Michigan.  It  was 
one  of  the  fruits  of  the  Fort  Dearborn  massacre  of  i8i2,  which  convinced 
the  authorities  that  the  territory  about  southern  Lake  Michigan  could  no 
longer  be  left  exposed  on  an  isolated  frontier,  and  that  the  two  lakes  must 
be  tied  together  by  a  highway  across  the  Michigan  peninsula.  Empowered 
by  the  constitution  to  establish  post  roads,  the  general  government  de- 
signed this  road  as  an  important  section  of  the  postal  route  between  the 
east  and  the  west,  and  for  the  twenty  years  before  the  railroad  came  the 
New  York -Chicago  mail  was  carried  by  stage  over  this  road.  But  its  char- 
acter as  a  government  highway  was  almost  lost  sight  of  in  the  importance 
it  attained  as  an  emigrant  route.  The  coming  of  the  mail  coach  never  lost 
its  novelty  or  ceased  to  be  the  event  of  the  day  for  the  people  dwelling 
along  the  road,  but  the  almost  continual  line  of  settlers'  wagons  became  one 
of  the  commonplaces  of  life  at  that  time  and  attracted  little  attention. 

In  accordance  with  congressional  legislation  for  the  construction  of  a 
military  and  post  road  between  Detroit  and  Chicago,  in  1825  the  president 
was  authorized  to  appoint  commissioners  to  survey  and  mark  the  route. 
In  1827  congress  appropriated  twenty  thousand  dollars  for  the  construction 
of  the  road.  It  was  originally  intended  that  the  road  should  be  built  in  a 
straight  line  between  the  designated  termini,  but  the  commissioners  soon 
found  that  with  the  money  at  hand  they  could  hardly  make  a  beginning  of 
the  undertaking  on  that  basis.  So  they  were  forced  to  follow  a  more  his- 
toric, and  more  devious,  route. 

Long  before  the  surveyor  with  his  transit  and  the  contractors  with 
their  axmen,  bridgebuilders  and  teamsters  had  begim  a  single  highway  in 
Michigan,  the  animals  and  the  Indians  had  worn  practicable  trails  through 
all  parts  of  the  country.  Some  of  these  were  short  and  some  extended  for 
many  miles.  Of  the  latter  was  the  trail  extending  around  the  southern 
end  of  Lake  Michigan  as  far  east  as  Detroit.  Since  the  war  of  1812  the 
Indians  dwelling  in  Illinois  had  been  accustomed  to  make  their  annual  pil- 
grimages along  this  route  to  Canada,  where  the  British  government  paid 
them  their  annuity  earned  by  loyalty  to  that  government  in  its  war  against 
the  Americans.  The  Detroit-Chicago  Indian  trail,  therefore,  had  historic 
importance  long  before  any  marks  of  civilization  had  been  impres.sed  along 
its  course. 

Accordingly,  when  the  government  surveyors  foimd  the  appropriation 
inadequate,  they  determined  to  follow  this  old  Indian  trail,  straightening 
some  of  its  windings  whenever  they  could,  but  in  general  marking  the 
route  by  its  long  used  paths.  The  engineers  who  began  the  work  of  mark- 
ing this  road  in  1825  did  not  "make"  the  road:  they  merely  designated  its 
course  by  clearing  a  roadway  through  the  trees.  As  late  as  1829  the 
pioneers  along  its  middle  sections  called  the  road  little  better  than  an  In- 
dian trail. 

From  Ypsilanti  this  road  bent  south  and  passed  through  the  southern 
tier  of  counties.  It  was,  from  that  point,  not  a  direct  route  to  Allegan 
county.    But  its  historical  importance  lies  in  the  fact  already  indicated,  that 


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30  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

it  was  the  first  continuous  overland  route  planned  across  the  peninsula, 
and  shortly  after  it  was  surveyed  the  territory  followed  the  example  of  the 
general  government  by  ordering  the  survey  of  numerous  other  highways 
into  every  portion  of  the  territory  that  was  being  taken  up  by  settlers.  Tap 
roads  reached  from  the  Chicago  road  in  all  directions.  Many  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Kalamazoo  county  came  along  the  Chicago  road  as  far  as  Branch 
county,  thence  turning  to  the  northwest  along  an  old  Indian  trail  made  into 
a  highway.  But  beginning  with  the  thirties  roads  were  marked  from 
Ypsilanti  and  that  vicinity  in  a  due  west  line,  through  Jackson,  Marshall, 
Battle  Creek,  and  it  was  along  this  route  that  most  of  the  early  settlers 
reached  Allegan  county.  In  1832,  as  an  example,  the  legislature  ordered 
commissioners  to  lay  out  a  road  from  the  mouth  of  the  Battle  Creek,  via 
Gull  prairie  in  Kalamazoo  county,  along  the  Kalamazoo  river  to  its  mouth. 
The  acts  of  the  legislature  for  the  laying  out  of  such  roads  cannot  be  taken 
as  authority  that  they  were  actually  laid  out.  In  some  cases  the  funds 
were  not  sufficient,  or  the  commissioners  did  not  begin  their  work  within 
the  specified  time,  and  for  other  reasons  only  those  roads  for  which  there 
was  a  real  necessity  and  active  demand  were  marked.  But  it  is  known  that 
a  road  existed  from  the  early  thirties  from  Ypsilanti  westward  through 
the  points  above  named.  From  this  highway,  often  called  the  ''territorial 
road,"  branched  several  trails  traversed  by  emigrant  wagons  in  reaching 
Gull  prairie  and  Allegan  county. 

The  Foster  family,  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  the  pioneer  names  at 
Otsego,  furnish  an  interesting  example  of  travel  at  that  time.  Their  home 
was  originally  in  \^ermont  state.  After  Dr,  Foster  had  investigated  this 
portion  of  Michigan  and  made  preparations  for  removal,  he  and  his  family 
went  overland  and  by  water  to  Troy,  New  York,  where  they  transferred  to 
a  boat  on  the  Erie  canal,  which  conveyed  them  to  Buffalo.  Thence  a 
steamer  took  them  across  the  lake  to  Detroit,  where  their  journey  through 
the  wilderness  began.  With  their  goods  loaded  on  a  wagon,  they  drove 
along  the  Chicago  road  through  Dearborn  to  Ypsilanti,  and  thence  followed 
the  territorial  road  to  Battle  Creek.  They  were  two  weeks  in  passing  over 
the  first  stage  of  their  route,  142  miles.  At  Battle  Creek  Dr.  Foster  and 
his  party  built  two  log  cabins,  which  were  the  first  houses  in  that  place. 
After  remaining  there  a  short  time,  they  came  through  the  wilderness  by 
way  of  Gull  prairie,  and  arrived  at  Otsego  in  the  spring  of  1832,  being  the 
first  family  to  settle  on  the  site  of  the  present  village  of  Otsego. 

No  settlements  had  been  made  along  the  roads  west  of  Detroit  further 
than  Ypsilanti  in  1825  (always  excepting  the  settlement  about  Niles.  re- 
sulting from  the  establishment  of  the  Carey  Mission).  But  by  1835,  along 
the  territorial  road  west  of  Ypsilanti,  were  the  villages  of  Ann  Arbor. 
Lima,  Grass  Lake.  Jacksonburg,  Sandstone,  Marshall,  Battle  Creek,  Corn- 
stock,  Kalamazoo,  St.  Joseph  on  the  lake ;  while  away  from  the  main  route 
were  numerous  other  little  hamlets  springing  up  under  the  rapid  progress 
of  immigration. 

The  question  has  been  asked,  what  caused  the  quick  settlement  of 
southern  Michigan  during  the  early  thirties,  and  what  influences  directed 
the  population  to  the  confines  of  Allegan  county.  The  question  involves 
the  entire  subject  of  "western  expansion,"  which,  beginning  shortly  after 
the  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  was  the  most  remarkable  epoch  in  the  coun- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  31 

try's  history  during  the  first  half  of  the  nineteenth  century.  It  was  a  na- 
tional movement,  due  to  the  awakening  of  the  people  to  their  broad  oppor- 
tunities. The  restless  energy  and  enterprise  of  America  could  no  longer  be 
contained  within  the  narrow  limits  of  the  thirteen  colonies,  and  henceforth 
flowed  through  all  the  gateways  of  the  eastern  slope  to  the  broad  areas  of 
the  west. 

As  already  indicated,  improved  transportation  was  perhaps  the  great- 
est impulse  to  this  westward  movement.  During  the  decade  of  the  thirties 
more  than  seven  hundred  miles  of  canals  had  been  opened  to  navigation  in 
New  York,  Pennsylvania,  and  Delaware,  and  nearly  fifteen  hundred  miles 
were  nearing  completion  in  these  and  other  middle  states  and  Ohio.  Canals 
were  in  greater  favor  than  railroads,  and  every  state  west  of  the  Allegha- 
nies  was  bending  its  efforts  to  the  opening  of  navigable  waterways  between 
all  important  centers. 

]3lack  Hawk  Wak. 

This  war  must  be  mentioned  in  a  history  of  Allegan  county  although 
the  hostilities  took  place  several  hundred  miles  away,  and  so  far  as  known 
no  one  from  this  county  participated  actively  in  the  war.  But  the  impor- 
tant result,  so  far  as  the  development  of  Allegan  and  other  Michigan  coun- 
ties was  concerned,  is  set  forth  in  the  following  extract  from  the  Detroit 
Journal  of  August  29,  1832: 

"The  Indian  disturbances  on  our  frontier  have  no  doubt  operated  ex- 
tensively in  retarding  emigration  to  this  territory.  Though  emigrants 
might  have  come  here  at  any  time  during  the  present  season  without  any 
possible  danger  from  liostile  Indians,  we  are  happy  to  say  that  there  is 
now  no  cause  of  alarm  from  the  depredations  of  those  deluded  people,  even 
in  the  most  distant  parts  of  our  territory,  where  their  ravages  have  been 
confined.  That  portion  of  Michigan  which  is  settled,  and  to  which  emi- 
gration is  chiefly  directed,  has  not  been  molested.  The  settlements  are  quiet 
and  prosperous,  and  the  same  inducements  to  those  who  wish  to  better  their 
circumstances,  bv  locating  on  the  fertile  plains  and  prairies  of  the  west,  are 
still  held  out." 

The  presence  of  bands  of  Pottawatomies  and  Ottawas  in  Allegan  and 
surrounding  counties  gave  the  principal  cause  of  anxiety  to  Michigan  set- 
tlers and  caused  a  check  of  migration  among  those  who  feared  to  leave 
security  in  the  east  and  cast  their  lot  with  a  country  whose  Indian  inhabit- 
ants might  be  aroused  to  outrage  and  war.  These  conditions  are  well  out- 
lined in  a  letter  from  one  of  the  militia  leaders  to  the  commanding  general, 
written  at  White  Pigeon  in  St.  Joseph  county : 

"The  injury  done  to  this  part  of  the  territory  by  the  exaggerated  re- 
ports of  danger  from  hostile  bands  of  Indians  will  not  be  cured  for  two 
years  to  come,  and  the  unnecessary  movements  of  our  militia  is  calcu- 
lated to  spread  far  and  near  this  alarm.  I  will  venture  to  assert,  and  in 
making  this  assertion  I  am  supported  by  the  best  of  evidence,  that  there  has 
not  been  a  band  of  hostile  Sacs  within  one  hundred  miles  of  our  western 
boundary,  and  that  the  Rock  river  swamp  to  which  the  main  body  of  the 
hostile  force  has  fled  for  security  is  more  than  two  hundred  miles.  The 
stories  that  are  told  of  suspicious  movements  amongst  the  Pottawatomies 
and  that  a   Sac  chief  has  lately  been  to  some  of  their  villages  is  tndy 


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32  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUMTY 

ridiculous,  and  I  trust  you  are  too  well  acquainted  witli  the  situation  of  the 
Indians  here  to  turn  a  listening  ear  to  such  idle  trash.  The  Indians  are 
like  ourselves,  they  see  an  unusual  movement  amongst  us  and  like  other 
idlers  they  flock  together  to  talk  the  matter  over.  The  fact  is,  two  years 
since  the  small  parties  of  Indians  scattered  over  this  part  of  the  territory 
were  directed  by  me,  as  agent,  to  collect  themselves  on  their  reservations 
out  of  the  way  of  the  white  people.  This  they  are  now  doing,  being  fright- 
ened bv  our  movements,  and  this  is  the  cause  of  all  the  suspicion  towards 
them."' 

E.\RL\'  Si'ITTLEMENT. 

The  first  permanent  settlement 
mouth  of  the  Kalamazoo  river.  Wi 
some  of  the  pioneers  of  western  Michigan  followed,  making  the  entire 
journey  by  water  instead  of  coming  from  Detroit  overland.  If  the  settle- 
ment of  the  counties  bordering  on  the  lake  shore  had  been  generally 
effected  in  this  manner,  we  should  find  the  bulk  of  the  pioneers  located  along 
the  shore  and  gradually  extending  inland  aiong  the  river  and  most  eligible 
sites.  Actual  history  shows  the  reverse  to  be  true,  population  having 
pushed  its  way  down  the  river  from  the  southeast. 

Saugatuck. 

However,  the  motives  that  brought  William  G.  Butler  and  family 
around  the  lakes  and  induced  him  to  build  his  cabin  on  the  site  of  Sauga- 
tuck village  in  the  spring  of  1830,  makes  his  location  an  exception  that  only 
proves  the  general  rule  of  the  direction  of  settlement  in  the  county.  Mr. 
Butler  was  a  Connecticut  Yankee,  and  his  first  object  in  locating  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river  was  not  permanent  settlement,  but  the  Indian  trade. 
In  this  he  was  merely  the  successor  of  various  other  American  and  French 
traders  who  had  carried  on  their  business  with  the  Natives  at  this  location  for 
the  previous  ten  years. 

The  mouth  of  the  Kalamazoo  river  was  doubtless  known  to  explorers 
during  the  eighteenth  century,  and  it  is  possible  that  Marquette  and  La- 
Salle  and  the  Jesuit  priests  who  followed  them  may  have  noted  the  river  at 
that  point.  Hunters  and  traders  passed  over  all  the  Michigan  country  from 
an  early  date,  and  there  were  several  posts  in  Allegan  county  during  the 
twenties.  Louis  Campau.  a  Frenchman,  had  a  post  at  the  mouth  of  Rabbit 
river,  east  of  New  Richmond.  The  American  Fur  Co.  established  a  post 
at  Peach  Orchard  on  the  Kalamazoo  about  1825,  this  location  later  being 
known  as  McCormick's  landing,  about  four  miles  above  Saugatuck.  The 
trade  with  the  Indians  was  quite  profitable,  and  the  trading  post  remained  a 
feature  of  the  county's  early  history  until  the  Indians  were  removed. 

When  Mr.  Butler  came  he  established  a  store  in  his  log  cabin,  which 
stood  about  the  center  of  the  present  village,  at  the  intersection  of  Mason 
and  Butler  streets.  Being  the  only  white  settler  in  the  neighborhood,  he 
was  engaged  for  several  years  in  trading  with  the  Indians.  But  it  seems 
that  Mr.  Butler  was  more  than  a  trader,  and  perhaps  from  the  first  had 
entertained  hopes  of  founding  a  village  at  this  point,  since  it  clearly  pos- 
sessed many  'advantages  that  would  give  it  importance  as  a  commercial 
and  industrial  center  when  the  country  should  be  settled.    Though  he  may 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  33 

have  located  here  for  the  temporary  purposes  of  other  traders,  who  usually 
moved  on  as  soon  as  the  tide  of  civilization  caught  up  with  them,  he  soon 
resolved  upon  permanent  settlement,  and  for  this  reason  is  to-  he  regarded 
as  the  earliest  of  Allegan  county's  pioneers.  His  isolation  from  all  society 
except  the  Indians  during  the  first  years  was  almost  complete,  and  it  is 
said  that  on  one  occasion  he  journeyed  as  far  as  Elkhart,  Indiana,  to  get  a 
supply  of  flour. 

Originating  in  an  Indian  trading  post,  the  settlement  at  Saugatuck 
grew  and  reached  a  permanent  basis  of  prosperity,  first,  as  a  warehouse  and 
shipping  point  for  river  and  lake  traffic;  second,  as  the  location  of  several 
early  mills,  and  tanneries;  and  later  as  a  lumber  and  shipbuilding  center. 
During  the  period  that  we  are  now  considering  the  importance  of  Sauga- 
tuck was  based  on  these  enterprises. 

Edward  Johonnett  and  E.  R,  Crosby  are  mentioned  as  the  next  settlers 
after  Butler.  They  established  the  first  industry,  a  tannery  on  the  banks 
of  the  river,  and  from  this  time  for  over  half  a  century  tanning  was  one  of 
the  leading  industries  of  the  west  portion  of  the  county.  With  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  tannery  in  1834,  other  settlers  came  to  the  place.  Daniel 
Plummet  was  a  carpenter  whose  services  were  naturally  much  in  demand  in 
a  new  community.  He  put  up  a  house  on  Hoffman  street  that  stood  for 
many  years. 

The  tannery  and  three  dweUing  houses  stood  on  the  low  shore  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river  in  July,  1834,  when  Stephen  D.  Nichols  and  H.  H. 
Comstock  came  up  the  river  on  a  prospecting  trip  from  St.  Joseph,  Mich., 
having  come  up  the  lake  by  boat.  These  two  men  realized  the  advantages 
of  the  location,  especially  since  settlers  had  begun  arriving  at  the  mouth  of 
the  river  mi  their  way  to  the  inland  settlements.  Nichols,  besides  taking 
up  a  quarter  section  of  land  in  section  -17,  made  a  contract  with  his  partner 
to  erect  a  warehout^e  and  pier  at  the  mouth  of  the  river.  After  deciding  on 
his  location  and  plans  Nicbois  brought  his  family  from  the  east  and  in  the 
same  year  made  settlement  on  the  north  bank  of  the  river  near  its  mouth. 
The  construction  of  the  warehouse  and  dock  was  begun  at  once.  It  is  an 
interesting  fact  that  all  the  sawed  lumber  for  this  and  the  other  structures  at 
Saugatuck  and  the  mouth  of  the  river  up  to  this  time  were  brought  down 
the  river  from  the  sawmill  at  the  mouth  of  Pine  creek,  a  settlement  that 
must  attract  our  attention  next  after  that  at  Saugatuck. 

The  establishment  of  a  warehouse  and  dock  at  the  mouth  of  the  river 
was  an  event  of  great  consequence  to  that  portion  of  the  county,  and  is 
furthermore  interesting  for  the  light  it  throws  on  the  causes  of  the  settlers 
not  coming  into  the  county  by  this  route  in  greater  numbers.  The  voyage 
around  the  lakes  was  at  any  time  dangerous,  as  already  indicated,  but 
previous  to  the  building  of  dockage  facilities  only  a  few  boats  would  ven- 
ture into  the  river  to  land  passengers  and  freight.  Had  the  same  induce- 
ments been  held  out  to  the  lake  traffic  at  the  beginning  of  the  county's  his- 
tory as  were  at  a  later  period,  it  is  likely  that  a  much  greater  per  cent  of 
settlers  would  have  entered  the  county  by  this  route  and  also  would  have 
increased  the  prestige  of  the  settlements  along  the  lower  course  of  the  river 
at  the  expense  of  those  further  up.  The  building  of  Nichols'  warehouse 
was  the  beginning  of  the  river  and  lake  traffic,  and  from  that  date  Sauga- 
tuck and  vicinity  came  into  prominence  as  an  intermediate  shipping  depot 


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U  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

where  the  traffic  from  the  river  and  that  from  the  lake  converged.  As 
soon  as  grist  and  lumber  mills  began  producing  more  than  a  local  supply 
along  the  upper  courses  of  the  river,  the  surplus  product  was  sent  down 
the  river  and  here  was  embarked  for  transportation  around  the  lakes. 

Nichols  also  built  a  store  near  his  warehouse,  and  his  location  took  on 
a  commercial  aspect  that  excited  some  jealous  fears  in  Butler  and  his  asso- 
ciates up  the  river,  who  feared  the  rivalry  of  the  enterprise  at  the  mouth. 
Hoping  to  secure  a  share  in  the  proceeds  of  the  warehouse  business,  Butler 
first  established  a  dock  and  a  warehouse  about  two  miles  from  the  mouth 
of  the  river,  and  when  that  failed  because  of  its  unfavorable  location,  he  put 
up  a  similar  establishment  on  the  south  side  of  the  river  opposite  that  of 
Nichols.  This  was  in  1842,  and  but  for  unforseen  developments  during 
the  next  few  years  the  locality  at  the  river's  mouth  might  have  become  an 
emporium  of  no  small  importance.  The  river  traffic  was  then  at  its 
height,  and  the  products  of  much  of  the  inland  country  as  far  as  Otsego 
found  their  way  to  market  by  the  river  and  lake  transportation.  Then  in 
1846  the  railroad  reached  Kalamazoo,  from  which  point  it  pushed  on  to 
Chicago  within  the  next  four  years,  and  from  that  time  the  trade  of  the 
eastern  half  of  the  county  was  directed  over  the  roads  south  to  this  new 
trunk  line  of  transportation.  The  river  traffic,  while  it  still  maintained  a 
great  volume  for  many  years,  originated  mainly  along  the  lower  course  of 
the  river,  and  no  longer  had  the  peculiar  importance  of  the  early  years. 

While  this  portion  of  the  history  is  devoted  to  a  general  survey  of 
early  settlement  and  growth,  leaving  the  detailed  history  of  the  villages  for 
later  consideration,  one  result  of  this  period  of  commercial  enterprise  at 
the  mouth  of  the  river  was  so  peculiarly  the  outgrowth  of  the  time  that 
some  facts  relating  thereto  will  aptly  'illustrate  the  very  matter  just  re- 
ferred to. 

The  lost  and  forgotten  village  of  Singapore  seems  to  have  originated 
and  experienced  its  chief  phase  of  prosperity  during  the  thriving  days  when 
the  settlements  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  were  the  depot  and  shipping  cen- 
ter for  the  greater  portion  of  the  county.  Oshea  Wilder  and  sons,  of  New 
York,  were  the  promoters  of  the  village.  They  built  a  saw  mill,  induced  a 
number  of  settlers  to  come  and  buy  lots,  and,  in  the  flush  of  local  and  gen- 
eral prosperity  of  the  time,  went  so  far  as  to  found  a  bank,  which  belongs 
among  the  wild-cat  enterprises  of  the  time,  though  no  stigma  attached  to 
its  conduct.  But  it  failed  in  the  general  crash  of  the  late  thirties,  and  the 
other  enterprises  of  Wilder  and  sons  went  with  it.  All  village  activity  and 
life  was  soon  snuffed  out,  but  the  mill  remained  until  the  supply  of  timber 
for  any  profitable  business  was  exhausted,  and  in  1875  it  too  was  removed. 
James  G.  Carter  &■  Co.  had  succeeded  the  original  firm  of  Wilders  and 
conducted  the  chief  interests  of  the  place. 

The  plat  of  the  village  of  Singapore  was  laid  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
river  at  the  horseshoe  bend  in  section  4,  and  only  a  short  distance  north  of 
the  new  government  cut  into  the  lake.  It  extended  north  to  the  section 
line,  and  was  half  a  mile  wide.  The  physical  map  acompanying  the  plat  in- 
dicates the  "sand  hills  80  to  100  feet  high"  south  of  the  village  on  the  penin- 
sula, and  also  "sand  hills  50  to  60  feet  high"  between  the  river  and  the  lake. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  describe  the  usual  features  of  such  a  plat.  But 
block  27,  located  on  the  bank  of  the  river  where  it  bends  south,  was  desig- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAK  COUNTY  35 

natod  as  "containing  three  acres,  owned  by  the  New  York  and  Michigan 
Company,  on  which  a  steam  saw  mil!  is  now  erecting." 

The  plat  is  dated  "Singapore,  February,  1838,  surveyed  by  O.  Wilder," 
This  quotation  is  also  of  interest:  "This  map  adopted  by  the  subscribers, 
trustees  of  Singapore  City  Co.,  April  16,  1838.  (Signed)  Sam  Hubbard. 
Witness:  Edmund  S.  Munroe,  Pliny  Cutler,  Franklin  Brown."  The  map 
was  recorded  in  Allegan  February  5,  1839. 

Singapore  was  not  the  only  village  laid  out  in  this  vicinity  during 
those  thriving  days.  A  navigable  river,  expanding  into  a  spacious  lake 
harbor,  facilities  for  what  then  seemed  an  ever  increasing  trade,  magnificent 
ship-building  timber  and  lumber:  besides  a  copious  supply  of  tan  bark — 
these  were  the  most  promising  bases  of  wealth  production  and  natnrally 
attracted  commercial  enterprise.  Moreover,  it  was  in  the  spirit  of  the 
times,  so  buoyantly  active  and  trustful  of  the  future,  to  found  banks  on 
paper  currency,  to  lay  out  village  plats  in  the  wilderness  and  depict  them 
on  paper  as  a  coming  metropolis,  and  to  engage  in  all  enterprises  as  though 
there  was  no  limit  to  their  possibilities.  It  is  merely  an  interesting  item 
of  antiquity  that  such  villages  as  Kalamazoo  Harbor,  near  the  river's 
mouth ;  Naples,  near  Singapore ;  City  of  Breese,  probably  near  Breese 
Point  landing,  several  miles  above  Saiigatuck,  were  once  platted,  but  never 
had  either  enterprise  or  inhabitants.  Rightly  studied,  it  appears  that  all 
these  village  speculations  were  but  phases  of  the  national  and  peculiarly 
Michigan  frenzy  of  promotion  and  speculation,  which  collapsed  into  the 
calamitous  panic  of  1837. 

Leaving  aside  these  village  speculations,  there  was  and  always  has 
been  substantial  industry  at  the  mouth  of  the  river.  Even  with  the  opening 
of  the  new  government  channel  and  the  improvement  of  the  harbor  the 
shipping  industry  has  not  attained  the  importance  it  had  in  the  years  fol- 
lowing the  building  of  Nichols'  warehouse.  Lake  boats  then  began  making 
regular  stops  and  carried  away  the  flour,  the  hides,  lumber  and  other 
products.  Flat  boats  were  poled  up  and  down  the  river,  even  as  far  south 
as  Kalamazoo,  Rafts  of  lumber  were  floated  on  to  the  lake  and  towed 
away  to  the  larger  centers.  But  the  otitside  ship-owners  did  not  long  have 
a  monopoly  on  the  lake  traffic.  Lake  boats  were  built  at  Saugatuck,  begin- 
ning with  the  lumber  vessel  Crook,  constructed  by  James  McLaughlin,  a 
ship  carpenter,  who  settled  at  the  village  about  1837.  After  the  failure 
of  the  Wilders,  Carter  &  Co.  built  the  Octavia  at  Singapore,  and  at  the 
same  place  Porter  &  Co,  constructed  the  C.  C.  Trowbridge  in  1842. 
a  flat-bottomed  steamboat,  intended  for  river  navigation,  but  soon  found 
too  large  for  that  purpose  and  transferred  to  the  lake  trade.  It  is  not 
difficult  to  conceive  the  magnitude  of  the  shipping  industrv  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river  when  there  were  no  railroads  anywhere  in  this  part  of  the 
state,  when  the  market-stuffs  from  Wayland.  Otsego.  Allegan  and  inter- 
mediate points  were  hauled  overland  or  brought  by  river  to  this  port. 

The  government  early  recognized  this  as  a  lake  port  by  the  erection,  in 
1838,  of  a  stone  lighthouse  on  the  south  side  of  the  entrance,  Stephen  D. 
Nichols  being  the  first  keeper.  It  was  replaced  in  1859  by  a  brick  structure, 
and  in  1875  a  wooden  tower  was  buiU  on  the  end  of  the  south  pier. 

The  earliest  of  productive  industries  of  this  vicinity  was,  as  we  have 
seen,  the  Johonnett  &  Crosby  tannery.     The  country  was  noted   for  its 


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36  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

hemlock  bark.  The  opportunities  for  tanning  brought  to  Saiigatuck  one 
of  its  most  prominent  citizens.  Stephen  A.  Morrison  came  here  from 
Vermont  in  1837  to  start  a  tannery,  but  instead  bought  the  Johonnett  & 
Crosby  plant,  and  later  moving  it  to  the  south  side  of  the  village  on  the 
lake,  continued  its  operation  for  forty  or  more  years.  This  was  the  only 
tannery  in  the  vicinity  for  some  years.  A  tannery  northeast  of  Saugatuck, 
in  section  3,  was  established  in  1844  by  A.  S.  Wells  and  O.  R.  Johnson, 
who  conducted  it  until  1854.  The  Wallins,  C.  C.  Wallin  and  F.  B.  Wallin, 
who  came  here  during  the  fifties,  bought  this  tannery  in  section  3,  at  the 
little  place  afterwards  called  Wallinville,  and  later  bought  the  tannery 
established  in  the  early  sixties  at  Douglas  by  Daniel  Gerber. 

Allegan  county  resources  of  pine  and  hardwood  timber  were  its 
greatest  asset  during  the  pioneer  era.  These  great  forests  in  this  and 
other  counties  proved  a  serious  obstacle  to  the  development  of  agricultural 
interests  so  long  as  the  fertile  timberless  prairies  west  of  Lake  Michigan 
remained  unoccupied.  In  this  we  see  one  chief  reason  why  Illinois  was 
settled  and  developed  in  advance  of  Michigan.  But  in  a  few  years  the 
people  of  Illinois  and  other  prairie  regions  began  to  import  lumber,  and 
then  the  lumber  industry  of  Michigan  became  a  source  of  wealth,  continuing 
as  long  as  the  forests  lasted.  Until  the  railroads  were  built  the  practicable 
means  of  transporting  lumber  to  market  was  by  water.  The  Grand,  the 
Kalamazoo  and  the  St.  Joseph,  with  their  tributaries,  penetrated  far  inland 
over  southwestern  Michigan,  rendering  a  vast  timber  area  accessible  to 
market.  The  creeks  and  small  streams  were  available  for  carrying  timber 
only  during  the  high-water  season,  but  the  Kalamazoo  and  other  rivers 
had  enough  volume  for  use  nearly  all  the  year  round.  Hence  all  along  the 
Kalamazoo  we  find  the  lumber  industry  developed  into  a  leading  activity. 

The  vicinity  of  Saugatuck,  while  not  the  iirst  in  the  county  to  produce 
lumber,  soon  became  a  center  of  the  industry,  both  as  a  producer  and  as 
a  lumber  shipping  point.  In  1836  Benjamin  Plummer  built  a  dam  across  the 
little  outlet  of  Goshorn  lake,  in  section  3  of  Saugatuck  township,  and  put 
up  a  sawmill,  which  he  and  Edward  Johonnett  began  operating  the  next 
year.  This  doubtless  cut  lumber  only  for  local  supply  at  first.  Mr. 
Plummer,  who  abandoned  the  mill  in  1846,  was  long  afterward  a  resident 
of  Ganges. 

In  1846  M.  B.  Spencer  built  a  steam  sawmill  in  Saugatuck  village. 
He  also  had  a  lumber  yard  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  evidently  for  the  easy 
transfer  of  lumber  to  lake  vessels.  Wells  &  Johnson  succeeded  to  his 
business  in  1850.  In  1856  H.  D.  Moore  invested  capital  at  Saugatuck  and 
for  twenty  years  was  an  extensive  lumber  manufacturer  and  dealer,  his 
plant  being  located  on  the  north  side  of  the  village  along  the  river.  Another 
mill  was  built  in  Saugatuck  in  1852  by  Dunning  &  Hopkins. 

The  sawmill  at  Singapore  has  been  mentioned.  A  mill  was  built 
about  1851  by  Jonathan  Wade  as  the  nucleus  of  the  village  whicb  he  was 
then  promoting  on  the  south  side  of  Kalamazoo  lake.  William  F.  Dutcher 
later  bought  this  mill  and  the  site  has  ever  since  been  covered  by  milling 
interests,  the  Douglas  basket  factory  being  on  the  ground  at  present.  This 
mill,  together  with  one  built  on  the  east  side  of  the  village  plat  about  i86r, 
and  the  tannery  were  the  nucleus  of  Douglas'  early  industrial  activity. 

It  was  natural  that  few  grist  mills  would  be   found  along  the  lower 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COL'XTY  37 

course  of  the  river  while  the  lumbering  industry  remained  supreme,  and  a 
large  proportion  of  the  mill  products  of  the  interior  villages  were  trans- 
ported to  market  via  Saugatuck.  The  first  such  mill  in  Sauagtuck  was  built 
by  George  P.  Heath  in  1866  and  was  burned  in  1879.  It  was  situated  on 
the  river  between  Hoffman  and  Main  streets  and  was  the  only  grist  mill  in 
the  village.  During  the  sixties  a  grist  mill  was  also  added  to  Douglas' 
industries,  Crawford  McDonald  being  its  first  proprietor.  In  1892  a  roller 
mill  was  built  at  the  south  end  of  the  village,  and  it  was  operated  as  such 
for  about  seven  years,  when  the  machinery  was  moved  to  Allegan,  now 
being  used  in  the  Chaffee  building.  The  mill  building  was  then  converted 
into  the  Butler  House  by  Capt.  Phelps,  a  veteran  of  the  lake  marine,  its 
present  proprietor. 

Saugatuck  has  many  objects  and  persons  associated  with  the  lake 
transportation  service.  The  business  no  longer  retains  the  importance  it 
once  held.  A  loaded  lumber  schooner  passing  down  the  river  now  would 
attract  attention  from  all  sides,  though  forty  years  ago  that  was  an  every- 
day occurrence.  The  himber  business  has  gone,  and  though  fruit  has 
taken  its  place,  the  transportation  of  the  latter  is  not  concentrated  at  this 
point,  Holland,  New  Richmond,  Fennville,  Glenn  and  other  railroad  stations 
and  lake  ports  each  taking  a  share  in  the  business. 

The  lumber  carrying  trade  ceased  about  1878,  and  since  then  shipping 
has  been  confined  to  fruit  and  farm  products.  In  this  business  Saugatuck 
has  a  rival  in  Glenn  Pier,  in  this  county,  which,  it  is  claimed,  is  as  impor- 
tant a  shipping  point  for  fruit  as  South  Haven,  and  draws  to  it  much  of  the 
product  of  Casco  and  Ganges  townships. 

One  of  the  veterans  of  the  lake  service  still  living  at  Saugatuck  and 
vicinity  is  W.  G.  Phelps,  proprietor  of  the  Butler  House  at  Saugatuck,  and 
who  came  to  the  village  in  1868.  At  that  time  the  two  steamers,  Helen 
Marr  and  Aunt  Betsy,  were  still  running  on  the  river  between  Saugatuck 
and  Allegan,  and  the  river  traffic  was  of  considerable  importance.  Some 
of  the  vessel  owners  and  masters  and  their  boats  as  recalled  by  Mr.  Phelps 
are  as  follows : 

Capt.  Ed.  Castain,  who  died  in  Chicago  last  year,  was  a  son-in-law  of 
Ira  Chaffee  of  Allegan,  and  owned  and  operated  the  "Ira  Chaffee."  An- 
other well  known  figure  was  Dr.  L.  B.  Coates,  a  nephew  of  the  doctor  of 
the  same  name  of  Otsego.  He  owned  the  La  Vinda,  Hattie  Earle,  and,  in 
partnership  with  Stockbridge  &  Johnson,  the  O,  R.  Johnson,  which  was 
built  in  1868,  The  latter  firm  during  the  seventies  built  some  of  the  largest 
vessels  on  the  lakes.  Their  shipyard  was  located  near  the  south  end  of 
Butler  street  in  Saugatuck. 

Capt.  R.  C.  Brittain,  who  was  an  extensive  seafarer  in  early  life,  came 
here  about  1870  and  established  a  shipyard  in  which  were  built  man\'  well 
known  boats — the  J.  S.  Severns,  J.  C.  Suit,  H.  A.  Root,  Frank  Woods. 
O.  E.  Parks,  R.  C.  Reed,  R.  C.  Brittain,  several  river  boats  that  ran  to 
New  Richmond,  besides  several  tugs. 

Others  who  should  be  mentioned  were  Ami  Coates,  owner  and  master ; 
Charles  and  Thomas  McVea,  and  Capt.  Robert  Reed,  who  died  last  summer. 
Of  those  veterans  of  the  service  still  living  in  the  county,  mention  should 
be  made  of  Capt.  Richard  Ames^  who  lives  near  the  interurban  road ;  Capt. 
Johnson,  a  resident  of  Ganges,  formerly  a  prominent  owner  and  master. 


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38  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

who  is  one  of  the  best  informed  men  in  the  county  on  matters  relative  to 
this  subject;  Capt.  Alex.  Gibson,  living  southeast  of  Douglas,  and  with  him 
Thomas  Snow,  a  typical  sailor,  on  whose  water  and  weather-worn  consti- 
tution age  seemingly  makes  no  impression. 

Of  the  other  interests  about  the  mouth  of  the  river  during  the  period 
under  consideration  little  need  here  be  said,  since  the  disappearance  of  the 
timber  supply  and  other  developments  were  productive  of  changes  that  are 
properly  considered  under  what  we  have  denominated  the  Kailroad  era. 
The  fruit  business  had  not  assumed  any  commercial  importance  until  the 
seventies,  although  peaches  and  other  friiits  were  grown  for  home  con- 
sumption at  an  early  date  in  this  part  of  the  county.  Purely  agricultural 
pursuits  were  not  followed  to  any  large  extent.  The  beautiful  country 
along  the  lake  shore  and  away  from  the  river  in  the  south  part  of  the 
township  was  owned  in  large  blocks  as  late  as  1870.  Of  the  adjacent 
county  on  the  north,  especially  in  southern  Laketown,  hardly  any  settle- 
ment was  made  until  the  sixties,  and  it  is  more  properly  considered  with 
the  Hollanders'  colony.  And  the  settlement  further  up  the  river  about 
New  Richmond  will  be  described  on  later  pages. 

Southeastern  Allecsajs:  Couktv. 

An  account  of  the  settlement  and  early  development  of  that  portion 
of  Allegan  county  lying  within  a  radius  of  a  few  miles  of  the  villages  of 
Plainwell  and  Otsego  presents  many  different  features  from  those  adorning 
the  early  historj'  of  the  Saugatuck  region.  Containing  the  bulk  of  the 
pioneer  population,  whose  activities  found  a  varied  scope  in  transforming 
the  new  country  into  an  abode  of  civilization,  southeastern  Allegan  is  most 
characteristic  in  those  processes  and  events  by  which  southern  Michigan 
became  a  rich  and  populous  part  of  the  commonwealth. 

If  the  limits  of  this  history  were  not  defined  by  the  artificial  boundaries 
fixed  by  the  government  surveyors  and  by  the  legislature  in  blocking  off 
the  county  area,  it  would  be  very  logical  to  describe  the  settlement  of  this 
portion  of  the  county  along  with  the  settlement  of  the  country  immediately 
to  the  south,  especially  Gull  Prairie,  in  Kalamazoo  county.  In  fact,  there 
is  a  very  close  connection  subsisting  between  these  localities.  Most  of  the 
early  settlers  came  to  the  Gun  Plains  and  Pine  Creek  neighborhoods  by 
way  of  Gull  Prairie,  and  more  than  that,  some  of  them  had  been  settlers 
on  Gull  Prairie  before  transferring  their  residence  to  Allegan  county.  The 
accounts  that  have  been  handed  down  of  the  early  settlement  of  Gun  Plains 
and  Otsego  townships  tend  to  bear  out  the  statement  that  the  first  settle- 
ment of  those  localities  was  an  extension  of  the  Kalamazoo  county  settle- 
ments. The  vast  tide  of  immigration  that  flowed  across  southern  Michigan 
during  the  thirties,  having  occupied  the  most  available  portions  of  Kala- 
mazoo county,  was  protruded  across  the  southern  border  of  this  county, 
and  within  two  or  three  years  an  enterprising  population  was  located  about 
the  junction  of  the  Gun  and  Kalamazoo  rivers.  The  first  settlements  were 
made  on  the  prairies  of  Kalamazoo  county  in  1829.  Two  years  later  the 
first  settlers  reached  Allegan  county. 

This  explanation  of  the  movement  of  population  into  southeastern 
Allegan  leads  us  to  repeat  the  question,  What  influences  directed  the  settlers 


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HISTORY  01'  ALLEGAN  COUXTY  39 

to  this  region?  If  the  movement  of  population  in  this  state  depended  on 
overcrowding  and  the  pressure  of  famine — instances  of  which  have  been 
numerous  in  older  countries — it  would  be  easy  to  affirm  that  the  first 
settlers  came  to  Allegan  county  because  they  wore  crowded  from  other 
localities  and  were  undergoing  a  sort  of  exile  in  seeking  homes  in  the 
wilderness  in  this  manner.  But  the  remarkable  movement  of  popidation 
into  southern  Michigan  was  an  entirely  voluntary  movement.  Most  of  the 
settlers  came  from  comfortable  homes  in  the  east,  where  with  less  toil  than 
was  meted  out  to  them  in  the  west  they  could  have  continued  to  enjoy  a 
fair  degree  of  material  prosperity  and  the  advantages  of  a  more  advanced 
social  state.  But  the  spirit  of  Western  expansion,  the  desire  to  take  part 
in  the  building  up  of  a  new  country,  was  a  mightier  and  more  intelligent 
force  than  that  which  actuates  the  famine-stricken  hordes  whose  migrations 
have  changed  the  history  of  other  portions  of  the  world.  Independent, 
self-reliant,  thrifty  and  enterprising,  the  pioneers  of  Michigan  selected 
their  homes  according  as  the  advantages  of  the  locality  attracted  them, 
and  when  not  satisfied  they  passed  on  to  exercise  their  choice  elsewhere. 

The  bulk  of  the  pioneers  were  seeking  agricultural  lands.  A  much 
smaller  proportion,  especially  during  the  thirties,  gave  particular  attention 
to  the  manufacturing  and  the  commercial  possibilities  of  the  country.  This 
is,  indeed,  but  a  restatement  of  the  well  known  fact  that. trade  and  industry 
always  follow  the  pastoral  or  agricultural  activities.  With  the  tilting  of 
the  soil  as  their  chief  aim,  the  settlers  of  southern  Michigan  naturallv 
chose  those  regions  where  they  could  plant  their  crops  with  the  least  diffi- 
culty and  reap  their  harvests  with  least  delay.  No  lands  were  more  attrac- 
tive for  this  end  than  the  so-called  "prairies"  and  the  "oak  openings"  for 
which  southern  Michigan  is  famous.  Cooper,  in  his  romance,  "Oak 
Openings."  whose  scenes  are  laid  along  the  Kalamazoo  river,  has  made 
tho.se  features  of  the  landscape  familiar  to  a  world  of  readers. 

Kalamazoo  county  has  a  number  of  these  prairie  and  oak  opening  areas. 
Prairie  Ronde,  Grand.  Gourdneck.  Gull  and  others  were  eagerly  sought  by 
the  first  settlers.  Gull  prairie,  lying  between  Kalamazoo  and  the  county 
line  on  the  north,  received  a  considerable  quota  of  settlers  during  the  first 
years  of  the  thirties.  The  advantage  of  settling  on  these  spots  is  evident. 
It  required  little  clearing  to  make  them  tillable,  and  if  the  settler  arrived 
in  the  spring  he  could  make  a  crop  the  same  year  and  have  time  for  other 
labors  besides. 

So,  likewise,  when  homeseckers  began  exploring  the  country  now 
contained  in  Allegan  county,  they  very  quicklv  picked  out  the  lands  which 
might  be  described  as  prairies  or  openings.  Topograohy.  therefore,  played 
no  small  part  in  the  first  settlement  of  the  county.  When  we  recollect  that 
the  western  part  of  Allegan  coimty  was  to  a  large  extent  pine  and  other 
heavy  timbered  lands,  with  a  light  sandy  or  clay  soil,  and  that  the  same 
was  true  to  an  only  less  extent  of  much  of  the  eastern  half  of  the  coimtv, 
it  will  be  understood  how  favorably  impressed  were  the  pioneers  with 
the  few  prairie  and  oak  opening  areas  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the 
coimty. 

Lying  in  the  angle  made  by  the  junction  of  the  Gun  and  Kalamazoo 
rivers  was  the  most  extensive  and  fertile  clearing  in  the  coimtv.  Gun 
Plains-,  as  it  has  always  been  called,  was  a  bnrr-oak  opening  of  the  finest 


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40  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COL'NTY 

quality  and  prairie-like  in  its  appearance.  Frequently  but  two  or  three 
trees  were  found  standing  upon  an  acre.  Its  soil,  rich  and  friable  in  nature, 
yielded  readily  to  cultivation  when  once  broken.  On  the  south  side  of  the 
Kalamazoo,  east  of  the  present  Otsego  village,  were  other  small  areas  of 
oak  openings,  and  the  southwest  corner  of  Martin  township  was  also 
characterized  by  similar  areas.  An  examination  of  the  original  land  entries 
shows  that  these  places  were  the  first  to  be  purchased.  With  these  facts  in 
mind,  it  is  easy  to  understand  the  first  groupings  of  population  in  the 
county. 

The  area  of  Allegan  county,  with  the  relatively  few  exceptions  noted 
above,  has  not  easily  been  reduced  to  tillage.  It  has  been  a  stupendous 
task  to  clear  the  land  of  its  forest  covering  and  make  it  agriculturally 
profitable.  The  small  holdings  of  many  of  the  agricultural  settlers  indicate 
that  they  realized  the  difficulties  confronting  them.  While  the  fruits  of  the 
soil  have  been  foremost  among  the  resources  of  the  county  since  the  decline 
of  lumbering,  this  condition  is  in  itself  the  highest  praise  of  the  industry 
and  thrift  of  the  farming  population,  who  through  years  of  labor  have 
wrought  out  homesteads  and  contributed  to  their  own  and  the  general 
prosperity. 

These  facts  caused  the  other  resources  of  the  county  to  appear,  by 
contrast,  relatively  important  to  the  early  settlers,  and  it  is  not  strange, 
therefore,  to  find  industrial  activities  assuming  a  large  share  of  their  enter- 
prise. While  in  such  counties  as  Kalamazoo  and  others  to  the  south  the 
farming  class  comprised  nearly  the  entire  pioneer  population,  in  Allegan 
county  we  find  a  relatively  large  number  who  were  interested  in  milling, 
in  the  lumber  business,  in  the  promotion  of  villages  and  in  trade.  A  great 
deal  of  money  came  from  the  east  for  investment  in  various  enteqjrises  in 
Allegan  county,  and  the  results  may  be  seen  in  various  centers  of  the  county. 

No  more  interesting  document— and  it  is  the  earliest  important  historical 
record  concerning  the  county — illustrating  very  concisely  some  of  the 
observations  just  made,  can  be  found  than  the  notes  appended  to  the 
original  field-notes  of  Otsego  township  by  Lucius  Lyon,  after  completing 
the  survey  in  January,  1831.  A  transcription  of  these  notes  may  be  found 
in  the  county  surveyor's  records. 

"The  township  of  which  the  foregoing  are  the  field  notes,"  says  Mr. 
Lyon,  "is  a  fine  tract  of  land  for  a  new  settlement.  Three  families  have 
already  located  themselves  within  it.  and  more  are  coming  in  the  spring. 
So  that  before  the  close  of  next  summer  this  township  will  probably  contain 
thirty  families. 

"Sections  28,  31  and  33  contain  some  groves  of  valuable  pine  timber, 
which  is  much  needed  in  the  oak  opening  country  to  the  south  and  east. 

"A  Mr.  Turner  Aidrich  is  now  erecting  a  sawmill  on  Pine  creek,  in 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  28,  and  it  is  understood  is  designing  to  cut 
off  most  of  the  pine  before  the  land  comes  into  market.  In  this,  however, 
the  inhabitants  about  here  feel  an  interest  in  preventing  the  waste  of  this 
timber  and  hope  he  will  be  disappointed  by  the  early  sale  of  the  land. 

"Messrs,  Sherwood  and  Scott  are  also  making  preparations  to  erect  a 
sawmill  and  grist  mill  on  Pine  creek  near  its  mouth,  on  section  21. 

"There  is  also  a  mill  site  on  Gun  river,  in  section  24,  and  the  south  part 
of  section  13:  and  another  good  one  on  the  grand  rapids  of  the  Kalamazoo 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  41 

river,  in  tiie  west  part  of  section  23 ;  and  another  in  sections  5  and  6,  on  a 
stream  running  southwest  into  the  Kalamazoo  river. 

"Water  power  is  abundant.  The  soil  of  the  land  is  generally  good,  the 
surface  rolling,  and  in  some  places  hilly.  The  timber  is  beech,  sugar,  maple, 
oak,  ash,  linn,  black  walnut,  with  iroiiwood,  and  in  some  places  briars  and 
vines.  Everything  considered,  this  township  may  well  be  designated  first 
rate. 

"Of  its  geology  and  mineralogy  little  can  be  said.  No  rock  appears 
in  sight  in  this  township,  though  in  many  places  there  are  deep  ravines 
and  favorable  places  for  observation.  A  deep  stratum  of  earth  covers  the 
whole.  But  if  an  opinion  may  be  formed  from  the  configuration  of  the 
surface  and  the  character  of  the  pebbles  seen,  the  underlying  rock  ts  probably 
calcareous  sand  rock.  No  metals  are  found,  but  several  springs  indicate  the 
existence  of  iron  ore. " 

These  notes  of  Mr.  Lyon  place  us  very  close  to  the  beginning  of  civil- 
ization in  Allegan  county.  Except  W.  G.  Butler  at  the  mouth  of  the  river, 
there  was  no  other  permanent  white  settlement  in  the  county  when  he  wrote. 
Who  were  the  men  he  mentions,  and  where  did  the  next  pioneers  settle 
and  what  were  their  first  steps  in  the  development  of  this  wilderness? 

The  Sherwood  family  have  been  intimately  identified  with  the  history 
of  Allegan  county  for  more  than  three-quarters  of  a  century.  They  came 
from  Rochester,  Monroe  county,  N.  Y.,  as  did  many  other  pioneers,  and 
took  the  lead  in  introducing  here  the  spirit  of  enterprise  and  industry  so 
typical  of  their  home  locality.  Being  acquainted  with  ni ami factu ring  and 
mil!  enterprises,  they  were  attracted  to  this  coimty  largely  by  reason  of 
the  opportunities  in  that  direction.  Hull  Sherwood  was  the  senior  member 
of  the  family.  There  were  live  sons.  Eber.  Hull,  Royal,  Lebbeus,  and 
Edmund,  all  married  except  the  last  two,  and  one  of  his  daughters  was 
the  wife  of  Giles  Scott,  who  is  accorded  a  place  of  prominence  among  the 
pioneers  because  he  was  the  first  actual  settler  in  this  part  of  the  county. 

Turner  Aldrich,  Jr.,  mentioned  by  the  surveyor,  was  from  Erie  county. 
N.  Y.  Having  been  a  practical  lumhennan  from  youth,  he  came  to  this 
county,  as  Mr.  Lyon  states,  to  establish  a  sawmill. 

The  coming  of  the  Foster  family  to  Otsego  has  been  described  in 
another  connection.  Dr.  Samuel  Foster,  the  head  of  the  family,  was  a 
physician,  but  also  a  thorough  business  man,  and  after  coming  to  this 
county  gave  most  of  his  attention  to  farming  and  the  development  of  the 
material  interests,  besides  taking  a  foremost  part  in  civil  affairs.  His  fam- 
ily consisted  of  himself  and  wife,  sons  Samuel  D.,  Gould  C.,  Benjamin  W., 
George  H.,  and  three  daughters. 

Members  from  each  of  these  three  families  had  explored  Allegan 
county  in  1829-30,  each  one  seeking  the  advantages  of  location  most  favor- 
able to  his  purposes.  The  mill  sites  mentioned  by  the  surveyor  attracted 
the  Sherwoods  and  Mr.  Aldrich,  while  it  is  probable  that  Dr.  Foster  took 
note  of  the  excellent  farming  land  of  the  vicinity  as  well  as  the  milling 
possibilities,  and  doubtless  looked  forward  to  the  time  when  development 
would  make  tliis  a  rich  and  populous  region. 

Giles  Scott,  who  was  the  first  to  arrive  with  his  famih-.  located  on  the 
southeast  corner  of  section  21  in  Otsego  township.  The  date  of  his  arrival 
was  in.the  early  fall  of  1830.    A  few  days  later  Turner  Aldrich  came,  seiect- 


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42  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  C(X:XTY 

ing  as  the  site  for  his  mill  and  residence  a  spot  on  the  banks  of  Pine  creek 
in  the  northwest  comer  of  section  28,  Jess  than  a  mile  from  Scott's.  Some 
of  the  Sherwootls  mnst  have  come  about  the  same  time,  though  it  is  said 
most  of  the  family  came  in  the  fall  of  1831.  They  located  about  the  mouth 
of  Pine  creek.  Mr.  Aldrich  was  accompanied  by  several  other  persons, 
among  whom  was  Uri  Baker,  later  of  Martin  township.  Thus,  at  the  begin- 
ning of  1831.  there  was  a  settlement  aJong  Pine  creek  of  not  less  than  fifteen 
persons,  a  nucleus  of  population  with  great  possibilities  of  enterprise  and 
growth. 

Arriving  in  a  wilderness,  at  the  end  of  the  year's  harvest  season,  with 
limited  supplies  such  as  could  be  transported  overland,  confronted  with  the 
necessity  of  providing  home  shelter  and  preparing  for  a  period  of  pro- 
ductive labor  with  the  beginning  of  spring,  this  pioneer  community  faced 
conditions  and  undertakings  which  it  is  difficult  at  this  time  to  realize  in 
accurate  detail.  Here,  as  in  other  parts  of  the  county,  the  daily,  usual  life 
was  a  constant  exertion  against  the  forces  of  wikliiess,  requiring  fortitude 
and  strength  of  a  kind  that  the  modern  life  knows  little.  Improvement  was 
in  many  respects  very  gradual.  It  was  a  toilsome  and  slow  process  to 
transplant  civilization  to  the  wilderness  of  Allegan  county-  The  contrasts 
between  the  present  and  the  past  of  seventy-five  years  ago  are  striking  and 
even  wonderful :  none  the  less,  we  dare  not  suppose  for  that  reason  that 
the  transformation  was  of  fairy-like  swiftness  and  ease  of  accomplishment. 

The  first  thing,  of  course,  after  the  newly  arrived  settler  had  made  his 
family  as  comfortable  as  possible  temporarily,  was  to  build  the  traditional 
log  cabin.  In  obtaining  material  for  his  house  the  builder  must  select 
trees  which  were  not  too  large,  or  they  could  not  be  handled  convenientlv : 
not  too  small,  or  the  cabin  would  be  a  house  of  saplings.  The  process  of 
felling  the  trees,  splitting  the  logs,  hewing  them  so  as  to  have  flat  walls 
inside,  notching  them-  at  the  ends  so  as  to  let  them  down  on  each  other, 
slanting  the  gables,  riving  out  lapboards  or  shingles,  putting  on  roof  poles, 
binding  the  shingles  to  them,  sawing  out  doors  and  windows,  making  the 
fireplace,  and  manv  other  things  necessary  in  building  a  log  cabin — this 
process  is  yet  familiar  to  the  oldest  settlers. 

After  the  settlers  had  housed  their  families  they  made  a  shelter  for 
their  stock,  which  was  often  done  by  setting  poles  in  the  ground,  with 
crotches  at  the  upper  end;  poles  were  laid  from  crotch  to  crotch,  other 
poles  laid  across,  and  the  roof  covered  with  marsh  hay  until  it  was  thick 
enough  to  shed  water.  Poles  were  slanted  against  the  sides,  and  hay  piled 
on  them  in  the  same  manner.  The  door  could  be  left  open  or  closed  bv 
any  means  convenient.  This  made  an  exceedingly  warm  shelter,  though  it 
was  so  dark  that  the  animals'  eyes  sometimes  suffered  from  it.  Swine 
could  he  left  to  shelter  themselves,  and  they  usually  found  some  sheltered 
nook  in  the  groves  and  forests  or  among  the  thick  grass,  where  thev  made 
themselves  comfortable,  though  some  of  them  ran  wild. 

After  the  primitive  log  cabin  came  the  frame  building.  It  was  the 
sawmill  which  marked  the  first  move  away  from  pioneer  life.  For  as  soon 
as  the  sawmill  was  accessible  to  any  community  frame  buildings  were 
practicable.  Yet,  with  all  the  wealth  of  lumber  woods  and  the  numerous 
sawmills  constructed  in  the  county,  the  log  cabin  was  almost  as  familiar  a 
dwelling  in  Allegan  county  as  in  other  counties  of  southern  Michigan.   Log 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY  43 

buildings  are  by  no  means  an  nncomnioii  sight  at  this  day,  although  most 
of  them  are  iimised  and  merely  decaying  landmarks  of  a  more  primitive 
time.  As  late  as  twenty-five  years  ago  there  was  at  least  one  log  school- 
house  in  use  in  the  county,  so  that  many  now  in  the  prime  of  life  can  bespeak 
a  more  than  passing  acquaintance  with  the  log-cabin  epoch. 

The  sawmill  brought  comforts  and  conveniences  into  the  pioneer 
existence,  but  it  also  heralded  the  beginning  of  the  lumber  industry,  which 
for  half  a  century  was  the  chief  source  of  wealth  in  the  county. 

Turner  Aldrich's  sawmill,  which  was  completed  in  the  spring  of  1831. 
was  the  first  in  the  county.  Situated  on  Pine  creek,  from  which  it  obtained 
its  water  power,  it  drew  its  supply  of  timber  from  the  pine  woods  described 
by  Mr.  Lyon  as  lying  in  sections  28,  31  and  33.  This  was  a  primitive  mill, 
as  were  all  the  early  ones  in  the  county,  but  its  sawed  product  went  into 
many  of  the  first  dwelling  houses  in  various  parts  of  the  count;-.  The  first 
mill  was  burned  in  July,  1832,  but  was  at  once  rebuilt  by  Mr.  Aldrich. 
Cyrenius  Thompson  and  Charles  Miles  were  operating  it  at  the  time  it 
burned,  and  Orlando  Weed,  another  pioneer,  leased  the  reconstructed  mill. 

The  establishment  of  a  mill  in  a  remote  settlement  was  no  light  under- 
taking. The  special  machinery  had  to  be  transported  for  long  distances, 
since  only  the  woodwork  could  be  made  on  the  spot.  Aldrich  brought  his 
saw  and  mill  irons  with  him  when  he  came.  The  construction  of  a  dam 
and  race,  the  hewing  out  and  setting  up  of  the  mill  timbers  and  installing 
the  machinery  was  a  task  requiring  time,  skill  and  labor.  While  Mr. 
Aldrich  was  building  his  mil!  the  Sherwoods  were  planning  the  erection 
of  both  a  saw  and  grist  mill  at  the  mouth  of  Pine  creek.  The  sawmill  was 
ready  for  operation  during  the  winter  of  1831-32.  and  was  the  second  mill 
in  the  county.  The  construction  of  a  grist  mill  was  a  more  difficiUt  matter. 
The  various  processes  in  the  manufacture  of  flour  required  several  .sets  of 
machinery,  all  of  which  had  to  be  brought  overland  from  Detroit.  Oka 
Town,  the  county's  first  probate  judge,  and  three  other  men,  with  wagons 
and  four  ox  teams,  drove  to  Detroit  for  this  machinery,  and  it  required 
tliree  weeks  to  make  the  entire  joiirnev.  The  mill  was  put  in  operation  in 
1834,  and  at  once  began  a  large  custom  business,  supplying  with  breadstuffs 
a  territory  whose  residents  up  to  this  time  had  been  obliged  to  make  long 
journeys  to  mill  their  humble  grist.  This  first  mill  was  on  the  west  side  of 
Pine  creek,  and  remained  there  till  moved  to  the  east  side  about  thirty-five 
years  ago. 

The  account  of  the  settlement  of  southeastern  Allegan  county  has  so 
far  been  concerned  with  the  Pine  creek  neighborhood.  It  is  in  harmony 
with  the  mutations  of  human  affairs  that  this  settlement,  once  the  lat^est 
of  the  county  in  population  and  industries,  has  now  little  to  distinguish  it 
from  the  surrounding  agricultural  district.  It  was  nbt  only  the  first  place 
of  settlement  in  this  part  of  the  county,  but  for  several  years  quite  over- 
shadowed in  importance  the  Otsego  and  Gun  Plains  settlements.  It  was 
the  evident  intention/  especiallv  on  the  part  of  the  Sherwoods.  to  promote 
a  thriving  village  here.  Hull  Sherwood  in  fact  laid  out  a  plat  at  the  mouth 
of  Pine  creek  and  gave  it  the  name  of  New  Rochester.  Born  of  a  time 
when  the  enthusiasm  for  the  founding  of  villages  and  for  development 
enterprises  of  all  kinds  reigned  supreme.  New  Rochester  held  a  commanding 
position  until  the  severe  economic  conditions  following  the  panic  of  1837 


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44  HISTORY  Ol^"  ALLEGAX  COUNTY 

reduced  every  enterprise  to  a  struggle  for  mere  existence.  It  seems  tliat  in 
a  new  country,  where  opportunities  are  everywhere  equal  and  the  onlj- 
discriminations  are  those  exercised  by  natural  conditions,  the  efforts  of  men 
would  be  tested  and  proved  by  the  merit  of  usefulness,  and  that  the  indi- 
viduals and  institutions  that  survived  would  really  be  the  fittest.  If  this 
holds  true  with  regard  to  the  settlements  now  in  discussion,  it  is  evident  that 
either  men  of  greater  foresight  and  enterprise  applied  themselves  to  the 
development  of  Otsego,  or  that  New  Rochester  was  placed  at  some  disad- 
vantage by  reason  of  location  and  soon  arrived  at  the  point  of  "arrested 
development,"  thence  declining  as  its  rival  advanced. 

Anticipating  the  regular  order  of  events  somewhat  in  order  to  afford 
a  brief  resume  of  New  Rochester's  history,  the  village  on  section  21  vied 
almost  equally  with  Otsego  throughout  the  decade  of  the  thirties.  Giles 
Scott  had  a  tavern  on  his  place,  there  were  the  niilis  already  mentioned,  there 
was  a  store,  the  first  schoolhouse  was  located  in  that  vicinity.  In  1840  there 
were  about  a  dozen  families  residing  on  the  village  plat,  while  the  adjacent 
country  was  quite  well  settled. 

When  Dr.  Foster  and  family  arrived  in  the  county  in  the  fall  of  1831. 
he  pre-empted  a  large  part  of  section  23  in  Otsego  township  and  built  his 
log  house  on  the  south  bank  of  the  river,  his  being  the  first  habitation  on  the 
site  of  the  present  village.  That  house,  as  the  gathering  place  for  the 
pioneers  at  the  first  town  meeting  held  in  the  county,  as  the  first  postoffice 
in  the  county,  and  the  home  of  a  man  of  great  influence  in  affairs,  was  the 
nucleus  around  which  much  history  was  formed. 

The  year  1832  was  marked  by  two  important  events,  though  for  a  time 
neutralizing  in  their  effects.  One  was  the  Black  Hawk  war  scare,  elsewhere 
described,  which  checked  immigration  from  the  east  to  Michigan  Territory 
and  resulted-  in  little  progress  being  made  for  a  time  by  the  settlements. 
The  other  was  the  placing  of  lands  of  Allegan  county  on  the  market  through 
the  general  land  office.  We  have  used  the  word  "pre-empt"  to  designate 
the  occupation  of  land  by  those  who  settled  previous  to  this  time.  That 
word  literally  means  a  taking  possession  before  buying,  and  that  was  what 
the  first  settlers  had  to  do.  At  a  later  date,  especially  when  the  country 
west  of  the  Missouri  river  was  being  settled,  such  settlers  were  called 
"squatters."  Previous  to  1832  those  who  came  to  Allegan  county  "squatted" 
on  the  land  which  they  selected  for  a  homestead,  and  owned  it  by  "squatters' 
rights"  only,  not  being  able  to  obtain  legal  title  until  the  opening  of  the 
general  land  sales.  Gun  Plains  township,  however,  its  section  lines  having 
been  run  in  March,  1831,  was  subject  to  entry  in  that  year.  Sylvester  Sibley, 
the  surveyor  of  the  section  lines,  made  the  first  purchase  of  land  in  tlie 
county  in  June  of  that  year,  his  choice  being  on  section  30.  The  only  other 
purchasers  of  this  year  were  S.  C.  Wells,  in  section  t8.  and  Hull  Sherwood. 
in  section  15.    None  of  these  became  actual  settlers  on  their  purchases. 

Of  all  the  transactions  with  which  the  early  settlers  were  concerned 
none  were  more  important  than  the  government  land  sales.  The  first  public 
lands  in  Michigan  disposed  of  under  government  regulations  were  sold  at 
Detroit  in  1818.  In  1823  the  Detroit  land  office  was  divided  and  a  land 
office  established  at  Monroe,  at  which  all  entries  of  land  west  of  the  principal 
meridian  were  made  up  to  1831.  Lands  could  not  be  placed  on  sale  until 
after  the  completion  of  the  official  survey,  and  since,  as  we  have  seen,  Lucius 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  45- 

Lyon  did  not  complete  the  survey  of  Otsego  township  until  January,  1831, 
and  other  parts  of  the  county  were  not  finished  until  after  that  date,  it  is 
probable  that  no  Jand  in  Allegan  was  sold  at  the  Monroe  land  office.  From 
1831  to  1834  the  land  office  for  southwest  Michigan  was  located  at  White 
Pigeon,  in  St.  Joseph  county,  to  which  point  all  those  buying  lands  during 
those  years  had  to  go  to  make  their  payments  and  obtain  legal  title  to  their 
pre-emptions.  After  1834  the  Allegan  county  settlers  entered  their  lands  at 
Kalamazoo,  where  the  land  office  for  this  part  of  the  state  was  continued 
until  1858.  The  United  States  law  required  that  every  piece  of  land  should 
be  put  up  at  auction,  after  which,  if  not  bid  off.  it  was  subject  to  private 
entry  at  one  dollar  and  a  quarter  per  acre.  It  was  an  unwritten  law  among 
the  settlers  that  each  pre-emptor  should  have  the  privilege  of  making  the 
only  bid  on  his  land.  This  right  was  universally  respected  among  the 
settlers,  no  one  bidding  on  another's  claim.  It  occasionalh'  happened,  how- 
ever, that  an  eastern  man,  unaccustomed  to  the  ways  of  the  west,  essayed 
to  bid  on  the  home  of  a  settler,  but  was  soon  convinced,  in  frontier  fashion, 
that  such  action  was  a  distinct  contravention  of  western  custom.  The  land 
speculator,  in  particular,  was  persona  non  grata  with  the  settlers,  and  in 
.some  parts  of  the  country  associations  known  as  "squatters'  unions"  were 
formed  to  protect  the  settler  in  his  claims  and  when  necessary  to  use  force 
in  compelling  the  speculator  to  desist  from  his  sharp  practices.  It  was 
owing  to  the  fact  that  the  public  auction  of  land  enabled  the  speculator  to 
bid  in  as  virgin  soil  and  at  the  usual  price  of  a  dollar  and  a  quarter  an  acre 
lands  that  had  been  settled  and  improved  by  an  industrious  pioneer,  that  the 
system  of  public  sales  was  finally  abolished. 

Since  so  much  importance  has  been  ascribed  to  the  events  of  the  year 
1832.  it  will  he  a  matter  of  interest  to  know  who  were  in  southeastern 
Allegan  at  that  time  and  had  manifested  a  substantial  interest  in  the  county 
by  entering  land.  An  examination  of  the  original  entries  reveals  many 
familiar  names,  both  those  who  have  taken  part  in  the  developments 
describe<l  on  the  preceding  |)ages  and  others  who  pla_\'  large  parts  in  the 
subsequent  narrative. 

It  is  important  to  remember  that  the  early  settlers  located  within  easy 
distance  of  the  river.  This  is  proved  not  only  bv  the  land  entries,  but  also 
finds  interesting  proof  in  the  school  districts.  When,  late  in  1836.  Otsego 
township  was  divided  into  three  districts,  their  territory  consisted  of  sections 
7.  S,  9,  13  to  26.  and  the  north  half  of  27,  28,  29 — all  of  which  lies  within 
a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  river. 

So  we  find  all  the  land  entries  of  1832  close  to  the  Kalamazoo  river. 
Following  up  the  course  of  the  river  from  the  west,  we  find  on  section  17 
Abijah  Chichester,  whose  name  appears  often  in  the  annals  of  this  part  of 
the  county.  Next  comes  the  name  of  Hull  Sherwood,  who  in  the  fall  of 
T832  had  entered  land  on  section  20.  as  well  as  in  several  other  sections 
adjoining.  Of  the  land  entrants  of  1832  the  Sherwood  family  figure  most 
prominently.  At  the  Pine  creek  settlement  in  section  2t  were  Giles  Scott, 
Warren  Caswell,  Henry  L.  Ellsworth.  Horace  H.  Comstock.  there  being 
five  different  names  among  the  land  entries  of  that  vear  in  that  section. 
Hull  Sherwood,  Jr..  E.  P.  Hastings  and  Erastus  A,  Jackson  had  land  in 
section  22.  Horace  H.  Comstock  entered,  in  Seotember  of  that  vear.  the 
entire  section  23.  except  the  island  in  the  river.     These  were  all  the  entries 


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4G  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

of  that  year  along  the  Kalamazoo  river.  But  it  is  of  interest  to  note  how 
the  land-seekers  were  attracted  by  the  pine  groves  and  other  advantages 
along  Pine  creek.  Sections  28,  29,  31,  32  and  33  all  touch  this  stream. 
Turner  Aldrich,  Charles  Miles,  John  H.  Smith  and  John  Gibbs  had  entered 
land  in  section  28.  On  section  29  was  an  entry  by  Hull  Sherwood,  on 
section  31  were  Royal  Sherwood  and  Thomas  W.  Barnard,  in  section  33 
were  Horace  H.  Comstock  and  Eber  Sherwood,  and  in  section  33  was  John 
Yeomans,  who  had  come  to  the  county  with  Turner  Aldrich 

Since  we  are  not  regarding  the  artificial  limits  of  townships  in  this 
discussion  of  early  settlement,  we  may  proceed  up  the  river,  crossing  the 
town  line  into  Gun  Plains  township,  and  discover  who  have  located  land 
and  made  settlement  in  that  vicinity  in  the  year  1832.  We  have  referred  to 
the  first  land  purchases  having  been  made  here  in  1831,  and  in  1832  there 
were  these  additional  entries:  C.  C.  White  in  section  17,  Norman  Davis  in 
section  19,  Orlando  Weed  in  section  20,  and  Hull  Sherwood  in  section  31. 
All  but  the  last  of  these  locations  were  on  the  fertile  Gun  Plains. 

The  settlement  on  Gun  Plains  was  very  small  in  1832,  and  the  interests 
of  the  settlers  were  very  closely  interwoven  with  those  of  the  pioneers 
farther  down  the  river  in  Otsego  township.  Dr.  Cyrenius  Thompson,  whose 
name  is  given  first  place  in  the  pioneer  history  of  Gun  Plains  township, 
was  one  of  the  first  purchasers  of  land  in  this  township  in  addition  to  those 
already  named  as  making  entries  in  1831  and  1832.  Dr.  Thompson,  who 
was  a  native  of  Ohio  and  a  graduate  of  a  medical  college  in  Vermont,  had 
come  to  Gull  prairie  in  Kalamazoo  county  in  1830,  but  becoming  dissatisfied 
with  his  prairie  farm,  moved  to  Allegan  county  during  the  winter  of  1831-32 
and  bought  a  part  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  20  in  Gun  Plains.  But 
at  first,  as  elsewhere  mentioned,  he  turned  his  attention  to  milling,  he  and 
Charles  Miles  leasing  the  Aldrich  sawmill  on  Pine  creek  in  March,  1832, 
and  operating  it  until  its  destruction  by  fire  in  the  following  July,  He  had 
lived  in  a  cabin  near  the  mill,  and  after  the  fire  he  hauled  the  boards  and 
timbers  with  which  the  shanty  had  been  constructed  to  his  land  on  Gun 
Plains  and,  reconstructing  his  house,  gave  the  township  its  first  residence. 
The  house  was  a  rude  story  and  a  half  affair,  the  boards  running  up  and 
down  and  fastened  with  wooden  pins  in  lieu  of  nails.  The  floor  was  of 
loose  boards  laid  on  the  beaten  earth.  But  makeshift  of  a  dwelling  though 
it  may  seem  to  this  generation,  it  soon  became  as  important  a  center  to  the 
settlers  of  this  neighborhood  as  Dr.  Foster's  house  in  Otsego.  When  Calvin 
C.  White  and  John  H.  Adams  came  to  improve  their  land  purchases  in  this 
vicinity,  they  boarded  at  Dr.  Thompson's,  and  when  the  postoffice  was 
established  in  1833  Dr.  Thompson  was  the  first  postmaster  and  kept  the 
office  in  his  house. 

Most  of  the  settlers  came  to  this  neighborhood  from  Gull  prairie,  where 
they  had  lived  a  short  time.  This  was  true  of  C.  C.  White  and  also  of 
Jonathan  Russell,  who  came  from  Connecticut  to  Gull  prairie  in  1830,  but 
in  1832  sold  his  land  and  improvements  there  and  bought  land  in  section  19 
of  Gun  Plains.  He  cultivated  the  first  land  in  the  township  during  that 
summer,  and  in  the  fall  his  and  Dr.  Thompson's  were  the  only  dwellings  in 
the  township. 

The  above  forms  as  complete  a  description  of  the  settlements  in  south- 
eastern Allegan  in    1832  as  can  be  drawn  from  the  records  of  the  time. 


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HISTORY  OF  AIXEGAK  COUXTY  47 

Excepting  W.  G.  Butler  in  his  solitude  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  there 
were  no  other  settlements  in  the  county  at  the  time.  In  continuing;  the 
narrative  of  subsequent  developments,  the  first  figure  to  come  prominently 
into  the  arena  of  affairs  is  Gen.  Horace  H.  Comstock,  whose  land  entries 
have  been  mentioned,  and  who  for  a  number  of  years  played  an  influential 
part  in  the  upbuilding  of  Kalamazoo  and  Allegan  counties. 

To  quote  from  his  biographer,  A.  D.  P.  Van  Buren,  General  Comstock 
came  to  Kalamazoo  county  "from  Cooperstown,  Otsego  county.  New  York, 
in  1831,  an  ambitious  young  man  with  plenty  of  money.  *  *  ■t  f^p  fu^, 
nished  money  to  build  the  flour  mill  at  Comstock;  associated  Jiidge  Eldred 
with  him,  who  furnished  the  millstones;  made  the  millwright  a  partner 
and  set  him  to  building  the  mill ;  built  a  schoolhouse  and  gave  it  to 
the  people,  who  in  turn  named  the  township  after  him.  From  the  first, 
Comstock's  highest  ambition  was  to  make  the  village  he  had  founded  a 
county  seat.  And  although  he  soon  learned  that  it  had  been  established  at 
Kalamazoo,  he  directed  his  best  efforts  to  have  that  decision  changed. 
*  *  *  He  pushed  forward  his  work.  Soon  a  landing  was  stretched 
along  the  river's  bank  opposite  the  town  and  up  sprang  a  commodious  ware- 
house hard  by  it;  a  hotel  and  flour  mill  were  built  at  Otsego,  while  down 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Kalamazoo  arose  a  large  storehouse  for  use  in  receiving 
goods  shipped  to  and  from  the  busy  marts  of  the  new  city."  The  principal 
object  of  all  these  efforts  failed  and  Kalamazoo  remained  the  county  seat. 
He  was  thrice  elected  senator  from  Kalamazoo  county,  and  during  a  few 
years'  residence  at  Otsego  he  was  elected  in  1849  to  the  house  of  representa- 
tives from  Allegan  county. 

Comstock's  career  concerns  us  especially  in  the  part  he  played  to  pro- 
mote business  enterprises,  and  as  the  capitalist  who  furnished  the  money 
for  others  to  carry  out  his  plans.  His  visit  to  Saugatuck  with  S.  D.  Nichols 
in  1834,  resulting  in  the  building  of  the  warehouse  at  the  mouth  of  the  river, 
has  been  alluded  to  in  this  narrative.  But  the  principal  field  of  his  enterprise 
in  this  county  was  about  Otsego,  where,  according  to  the  statement  just 
quoted,  he  erected  a  mill  and  hotel,  and  we  have  already  mentioned  his 
extensive  land  entries  in  this  vicinity,  Comstock  was  a  type  of  the  pioneer 
capitalists  who  at  different  places  did  very  much  to  develop  Allegan 
county's  industrial  interests.  The  pioneer  farmer,  who  improves  his  virgin 
acres  with  his  individual  labor,  seldom  has  the  backing  of  capital.  Through 
the  united  labors  of  many  such  self-reliant  and  sturdy  tillers  of  the  soil  the 
wilderness  in  time  blossoms  and  a  fair  and  prosperous  community  is  given 
to  civilization.  But  in  Allegan  county  capital  was  needed  to  convert  the 
forest  resources  into  wealth  and  develop  the  manufacturing  possibilities. 
So  that  those  who  opened  their  money  chests  and  laid  the  plans  share  in  the 
total  achievement  with  those  who  actually  did  the  work  and  bore  tiie 
burdens  of  pioneering. 

It  has  been  stated  that  Dr.  Foster  pre-empted  section  23  of  Otsego 
and  built  the  first  house  on  the  site  of  the  village.  But  the  land  was  entered 
in  the  name  of  H.  H.  Comstock,  who  no  doubt  furnished  the  money  for  its 
purchase  and  entered  actively  into  the  work  of  developing  the  water  power 
and  promoting  a  village  at  the  rapids  of  the  Kalamazoo.  He  had  a  postoffice 
established,  with  Dr.  Foster  as  postmaster.  The  New  Rochester  settlement, 
however,  for  several  years  held  the  leading  position  in  population,  business 


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!8  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

and  industry.  Some  well  known  men  had  settled  in  that  vicinity.  Orsannis 
Eaton  established  a  store  on  the  village  plat  in  1834,  and  in  the  fall  of  1836 
John  Hawks  added  a  grocery  store  to  the  mercantile  enterprise  of  the  place. 
The  manufacture  of  lumber  continued  along  Pine  creek.  In  1835  J.  S. 
Higgin.s  built  a  .sawmill  in  section  31,  on  a  branch  of  the  creek,  and  it  is 
said  that  the  first  lumber  to  construct  a  frame  house  in  Battle  Creek  was 
sawed  at  this  mill.  Willard  Higgins  (see  sketch),  who  owns  the  land  where 
the  mill  stood,  hauled  this  lumber  to  Battle  Creek  and  returned  with  a 
supply  of  provisions.  The  importance  of  New  Rochester  was  furthered  by 
the  building  of  the  first  bridge  across  the  Kalamazoo  river  at  that  point. 

In  the  meantime  there  was  even  greater  progress  in  the  vicinity  of  Dr. 
Foster's  residence,  and  Comstock  money  and  enterprise  was  making  a  village 
center  there.  After  Dr.  Foster  the  next  influential  settler  there  was  Dr. 
Lintsford  B.  Coats,  whose  name  is  connected  with  the  professional,  the 
educational,  the  business  and  the  political  affairs  of  the  county,  and  in  a  way 
to  suggest  that  the  doctor  was  a  man  of  solid  ability  and  a  leader  among  his 
fellows.  Since  Dr.  Foster  and  Dr.  Thompson  did  not  regularly  engage  in 
their  profession  after  coming  to  this  county.  Dr.  Coats  is  to  be  considered  the 
first  active  practitioner  of  the  county.  He  had  a  big  circuit,  riding  all  over 
the  county.  Coming  to  the  site  of  Otsego  village  in  the  fall  of  1833,  he 
erected  there  the  first  framed  house.  In  the  following  year  three  men  came 
to  this  portion  of  the  township,  though  they  did  not  settle  on  the  village  site, 
who  deserve  r^p-'-iti  for  their  long  residence  and  worthy  citizenship.  One 
of  them  was  Oka  iOwn,  whose  name  is  already  familiar  to  the  reader, 
settling  on  land  a  mile  east  of  Otsego  on  the  Plainwell  road,  and  the  other 
two  were  Albert  Eldred.  from  Vermont,  and  Jeremy  Lindsley.  of  New 
York,  who  settled  on  sections  25  and  26,  respectively. 

The  first  store  on  the  site  of  Otsego  was  opened  in  1835  by  Chester  and 
Lester  Buckley.  Besides  the  postoffice.  Dr.  Foster  kept  a  tavern  called 
"Otsego  Hal!,"  which  was  later  enlarged  and  long  known  as  the  Lutkins 
House,  on  Allegan  street  near  Farmer  street,  and  is  still  standing,  though 
not  used  as  hotel  for  forty  years.  But  the  enterprise  which  undoubtedly 
formed  the  basis  for  village  growth  originated  with  the  fertile  brain  of 
General  Comstock  and  found  sanction  among  the  last  acts  of  the  territorial 
legislature.  An  act  approved  March  28,  1835,  authorized  "H.  H,  Comstock 
and  his  heirs  and  assigns"  to  construct  a  dam  across  the  Kalamazoo  river 
at  Otsego.  It  was  provided  that  it  should  contain  a  lock  not  less  than  75 
feet  long  and  14  feet  wide,  and  that  all  craft  should  have  passage  toll  free. 
This  provision  was  very  necessary  at  that  time  when  the  river  was  the 
principal  transportation  route  for  its  entire  navigable  length,  hardly  less  for 
Kalamazoo  county  than  for  Allegan.  The  dam  and  race  were  constructed 
and  the  power  was  first  used  in  sawing  lumber  in  1836.  Three  years  later 
Mr.  Comstock  built  the  flour  mill  already  mentioned  by  his  biographer. 

The  development  of  the  water  power  resulted  almost  immediately  in  the 
grouping  of  population  and  community  affairs  about  this  point.  J.  S. 
Higgins,  the  proprietor  of  the  sawmill  on  Pine  creek,  built  a  tavern  near 
the  corner  of  Farmer  and  Orleans  streets.  District  No.  2  built  its  school- 
house  only  a  few  blocks  away  from  the  river,  and  with  these  enterprises  the 
village  of  Otsego  was  fairly  started.  All  that  remained  was  to  block  off 
the  land  into  lots  and  streets,  which  was  done  in  the  latter  part  of  1836,  and 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  49 

another  village  was  born,  the  subsequent  fortunes  of  which  will  be  described 
in  detail  in  a  succeeding  chapter.  The  second  bridge  over  the  Kalamazoo 
was  built  at  Otsego  about  1837. 

Having  considered  the  history  of  beginnings  along  the  Kalamazoo  river 
and  Pine  creek  in  Otsego  township  up  to  a  time  when  village  life  had  begun 
and  civilization  may  be  said  to  have  been  established  on  a  iinn  basis,  it  is 
now  time  to  turn  our  attention  again  to  the  triangular  region  east  of  and 
along  the  courses  of  the  Kalamazoo  and  Gun  rivers  above  their  junction. 
Here,  as  already  explained,  was  situated  the  real  agricultural  Eden  of  the 
entire  county,  and  there  are  some  marked  points  of  difference  between  the 
settlements  here  and  those  at  Otsego  and  Pine  creek.  Though  a  postoffice 
was  established  in  Dr.  Thompson's  house  only  shortly  after  the  opening  of 
the  office  at  Otsego,  village  life  and  manufacturing  industry  for  many  years 
held  a  relatively  unimportant  place  as  against  agriculture,  which  flourished 
on  the  fertile  "plains."  Barring  the  extensive  tracts  of  marsh  land  along  the 
course  of  Gun  river,  it  appears  that  the  tillable  area  of  this  township  was 
entered  and  developed  by  settlers  sooner  than  was  true  of  any  other  township. 
The  pioneer  farmers  had  many  advantages.  Of  course,  even  there  the 
clearing  of  the  brush  and  the  breaking  of  the  soil  which  had  been  undisturbed 
for  centuries  were  heavy  tasks,  but  hardly  greater  than  those  that  confronted 
all  the  settlers  of  southern  Michigan.  But  with  a  navigable  river  for  trans- 
portation of  their  products,  with  the  sawmills  a  few  miles  away  to  furnish 
them  lumber  in  quantity,  and  in  the  same  locality  grist  mills  to  grind  their 
wheat  and  corn,  the  farmers  on  Gun  Plains  had  a  much  shorter  road  to 
substantial  prosperity  than  the  settlers  in  other  parts  of  the  county.  Even 
the  marshes  were  turned  into  account,  and  for  a  long  time  furnished  the 
year's  supply  of  marsh  hay  with  only  the  expense  of  time  and  labor  to  cut 
and  store  it. 

Among  the  pioneers  who  took  advantage  of  these  resources  and  oppor- 
tunities were  some  men  who  not  alone  prospered  in  the  tilling  of  the  soil,  but 
were  of  the  sturdy  character  and  native  ability  that  gave  them  influence  and 
position  in  the  community.  The  Ives  family,  members  of  which  are  still 
prominent  residents  of  this  section  of  the  comity,  was  represented  by  Friend 
Ives,  who  entered  land  in  sections  20  and  21  in  1833,  and  whose  name  is 
found  in  the  early  records  of  civil  affairs  in  his  township.  John  Anderson, 
who  was  one  of  the  first  justices  erf  the  peace  and  long  the  postmaster  of 
Plainwell.  located  near  the  site  of  Plainwell  village  in  the  summer  of  1834. 
The  Forbes  family  has  been  represented  in  the  township  since  1834,  William 
and  John  Forbes  being  the  first  residents.  They  were  among  the  first  of 
the  sons  of  Scotland  to  settle  in  AUegau  county,  and  that  race  still  fonns 
a  sturdy  element  in  several  parts  of  the  county.  William  Forbes  was  a 
surveyor  by  profession,  doing  much  work  in  the  county  in  an  official  and 
private  capacity.  He  had  first  settled  on  Gull  prairie,  but  in  the  fall  of  1833 
purchased  part  of  the  land  in  section  18  previously  entered  by  Lucius  Lyon. 
In  the  following  year  he  welcomed  as  neighbor  a  fellow  countryman,  James 
Flockhart,  who  settled  on  section  19,  and  also  his  brother,  John  Forbes,  who 
bought  a  farm  in  section  18.  To  William  Forbes  must  be  ascribed  the  first 
attempt  to  found  a  village  in  Gun  Plains  township.  In  1837  he  platted  some 
land  in  the  southwest  corner  of  section  18  and  named  it  Plainfield.  Several 
lots  were  sold,  hut  nothing  ever  came  of  the  village,  which  seems  to  have 


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50  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

had  less  cause  for  existence  than  some  other  village  enterprises  that  failed. 
He  also  built  a  sawmill  on  the  site,  getting  power  from  Gun  river.  WiUard 
Higgins  ran  it  during  the  forties,  shortly  before  it  was  removed. 

On  the  sections  bordering  the  Kalamazoo  river  in  the  southern  portion 
of  the  township  were  a  number  of  settlers  who  deserve  mention.  It  was 
natural  that  settlers  in  passing  along  the  road  leading  north  from  Gull 
prairie  would  fix  upon  the  desirable  locations  along  the  route.  This  road 
passed  through  what  was  known  as  the  Silver  creek  settlement,  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  present  railroad  station  of  Argenta.  This  was  one  of  the  most 
populous  parts  of  the  township  during  the  thirties.  This  was  the  place  of 
settlement  and  subsequent  residence  till  the  death  of  John  Murphy,  who 
bought  eighty  acres  of  land  in  section  34  in  1835.  For  forty  years  he  was 
prominent  politically  and  a  successful  farmer.  He  was  the  first  supervisor 
of  his  township  and  the  first  elected  sheriff  of  the  county,  and  later  served 
one  term  in  the  legislature.  While  building  his  own  house,  he  and  his 
family  lived  in  the  house  of  Elisha  B.  Seeley,  in  section  33.  It  is  related  in 
Mr.  Murphy's  biography  that  Mrs.  Murphy,  while  sitting  at  her  spinning 
wheel,  taught  her  own  and  the  Seeley  children  their  first  lessons  after 
reaching  this  county,  and  it  is  claimed  that  this  was  the  first  formal  instruc- 
tion given  in  Gun  Plains  township. 

About  this  time,  on  Silver  creek,  was  built  the  first  sawmill  in  the 
township,  by  Nathaniel  Weed.  A  mile  or  so  up  the  road  from  the  Murphys, 
Dan  Arnold,  of  Vermont  state,  setded  in  1833,  and  on  a  little  farther,  in  the 
same  year.  Silas  Dunham  built  a  house  on  section  32,  not  far  from  the 
present  village  of  Plainwell,  and  opened  one  of  those  pioneer  taverns  which 
were  found  indispensable  to  the  homeseekers.  To  give  the  name  "hotel"  to 
one  of  these  houses  would  convey  an  erroneous  comparison  to  the  modern 
reader.  The  pioneer  tavern  had  distinctions  of  its  own  that  must  class  it 
with  the  period  of  which  it  was  the  outgrowth,  and  both  passed  away 
together.  Silas  Dunham  took  part  in  early  township  affairs  and  his  house 
was  often  used  as  a  meeting  place  for  the  settlers. 

Another  early  tavern  in  the  township,  and  the  one  at  which  was  held 
the  first  Plainfield  town  meeting,  was  Isaac  Aldrich's.  who  lived  in  section  35. 
A  neighbor  of  his,  on  the  same  section  and  near  the  river,  was  Justus  B. 
Sutherland,  who  brought  his  family  from  New  York  by  way  of  the  Erie 
canal  and  Lake  Erie  steamer,  and  during  the  summer  of  1834,  while  building 
a  log  house  on  his  land,  lived  in  Dunham's  tavern.  Near  by  lived  William 
Still,  also  a  well  known  name. 

Of  the  many  who  came  on  the  high  tide  of  immigration  in  1835  and 
1836,  no  personal  mention  can  be  made  in  this  general  sketch.  Yet  some 
of  them  have  continued  as  honored  residents  to  the  present  day.  among 
whom  might  be  named  the  Gilkey  family,  John  F.  and  William  Y.  Gilkey 

locating  in  the  township  about  1836,  and — —  Tracy,  who  was  living 

in  the  Silver  creek  neighborhood  in  1836. 

The  settlement  at  Silver  creek  from  almost  the  beginning  was  distin- 
guished by  community  sentiment.  The  formation  of  School  District  No.  i 
and  the  building  of  a  schoolhouse,  which  was  the  focal  point  of  the  neigh- 
borhood, did  much  to  create  common  ties  among  the  people,  and  from  that 
time  to  this  Silver  Creek,  or  Argenta,  as  the  railroad  station  is  known,  has 
been  a  definite  locality  in  the  county.     Archibald  James,  an  active  citizen 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY  51 

from  his  settlement  in  the  township  in  1835,  moved  his  residence  to  this 
point  in  1861  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  a  mercliant  and  postmaster  of 
Silver  Creek. 

The  settlements  in  southeastern  Allegan  did  not  extend  far  away  from 
the  main  water  courses  imtil  the  pioneer  period  was  well  gone.  The  oak 
openings  of  southwestern  Martin  township  have  been  described  as  likely  to 
attract  some  of  the  early  settlers.  Yet  it  was  not  untii  the  early  months  of 
1836  that  Mumford  Eldred  bought  and  settled  upon  land  in  the  northwest 
corner  of  section  29.  Other  early  comers  to  that  neighborhood  were  Dr. 
Calvin  White,  more  of  a  fanner  than  active  practitioner,  whose  land  was 
on  sections  28  and  33,  and  his  home  was  the  first  postoffice  in  the  township; 
Cotton  M.  Kimball,  who  also  came  in  1836  and  built  a  house  near  a  mill  site 
in  section  15,  and  three  years  later  was  elected  the  first  supervisor  of  the 
township. 

Best  known  of  the  early  residents  were  the  Monteith  family,  from  whom 
Monteith  station  derived  its  name.  Thomas  Monteith,  Sr.,  and  his  sons, 
William  T.,  Walter  and  Thomas,  moved  from  New  York  state  to  the  middle 
west  in  the  fall  of  1835,  and  the  following  spring  the  father  purchased  the 
entire  section  32  and  William  T,  about  half  of  section  29  in  Martin  township. 
The  sons  settled  here  and  began  the  work  of  improvement  in  the  next  >ear. 
Members  of  the  family  have  been  conspicuous  as  land  owners  and  citizens 
in  that  portion  of  the  township  ever  since. 

DlSTRTDUTION  Of  POi>ULATION. 

Having  given  the  main  facts  in  the  history  of  early  .settlement  in  south- 
eastern Allegan,  this  sketch  may  be  concluded  with  some  figures  as  to 
population.  Of  the  three  townships  considered,  Otsego  led  in  population 
from  the  first.  There  were  thirty-four  taxpayers  in  June,  1836,  and  at  the 
close  of  the  decade  there  were  about  fifty  families.  By  1850  the  population 
had  increased  to  818,  and  there  were  158  dwelling  houses  in  the  township. 
This  was  a  sixth  of  the  total  population  of  the  county  at  the  time.  During 
the  decade  preceding  the  Civil  war  the  number  of  inhabitants  almost 
doubled  in  the  township,  while  in  the  county  at  large  population  increased 
threefold.  Gun  Plains  township,  being  more  of  an  agricidtural  district  and 
with  no  villages  until  after  1850,  in  that  year  had  587  inhabitants,  which 
had  increased  to  1,068  by  i86o.  In  1850  Martin  township  still  had  a  limited 
population,  329,  a  very  small  proportion  of  the  5,125  inhabitants  then  living 
in  the  county.  Sixty-four  families  were  enumerated  in  that  year.  In  1844 
there  were  forty-four  names  on  the  assessment  roll  as  taxpayers.  Population 
increased  to  794  in  i860.  In  1850  the  three  townships,  or  the  area  which  we 
have  called  southeastern  Allegan,  contained  1,734  inhabitants,  or  slightly 
over  one-third  of  the  entire  population  of  the  county  at  the  time.  Ten  years 
later,  while  the  enumeration  of  the  three  townships  showed  3,291.  the  number 
in  the  county  rose  to  16,087.  showing  a  relatively  greater  increase  in  other 
portions  of  the  county  than  in  the  southeast  corner. 

Dutch  Colonization. 
In  1850  there  were  fifteen  organized  townships.    The  most  populous  of 
these   were  Otsego,  Allegan  and  Gun  Plains,  the  three  oldest  centers  of 


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53  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

settlement,  and  Fillmore  township,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  county, 
comprising  the  present  area  of  Fillmore  and  Overisel.  Each  of  these  had 
more  than  five  hundred  inhabitants.  Wayland,  Trowbridge,  Watson  and 
Martin  were  in  about  the  same  class  so  far  as  population  was  concerned. 

The  large  figures  for  Fillmore  township's  population  in  1850  call  for 
explanation.  Until  the  middle  forties  this  part  of  the  county  was  hardly 
settled  at  all,  while  five  years  later  more  than  five  hundred  people  were  living 
in  the  territory  now  known  as  Overisel  and  Fillmore.  The  history  of  this 
movement  holds  an  important  place  in  the  annals  of  Michigan. 

In  1846  a  colony  of  Hollanders,  members  of  the  Dutch  Reformed 
church,  and  led  by  their  ministers,  although  their  immigration  could  not  be 
termed  a  strictly  religious  movement,  left  their  fatherland  and  came  to 
America,  Rev.  A.  C.  Van  Raalte.  one  of  their  ministers,  had  visited  this 
country  in  advance  and  on  the  advice  of  men  owning  land  in  western 
Michigan  had  examined  the  country  about  the  month  of  the  Kalamazoo  and 
around  Black  lake  in  Ottawa  county.  When  he  returned  with  the  first 
colony  of  about  a  hundred  immigrants  in  1846,  the  center  of  their  settlement 
was  located  on  Black  lake,  the  site  of  the  city  of  Holland,  and  their  colony 
was  the  origin  of  that  place.  Holland  has  always  remained  a  center  of  Dutch 
influence  and  enterprise  in  Michigan  and  its  growth  and  prosperity  are  in 
largest  measure  dependent  on  this  people's  presence  and  activity. 

One  of  the  few  survivors  of  the  original  Van  Raalte  colony  is  Mr. 
Henry  Cook,  of  Allegan,  who  accompanied  his  father.  Harm  Cook,  on  the 
migration  to  Michigan  in  1846.  In  the  personal  history  of  Mr.  Cook,  as 
also  in  the  sketches  of  several  other  residents  of  the  nortnwestern  portion 
of  the  county,  will  be  found  some  interesting  details  of  this  settlement. 

The  first  colony  was  followed  by  others  and  soon  a  large  scope  of 
comitry  about  Holland  as  the  village  center  was  occupied  by  the  Dutch 
people.  Within  a  year  or  so  they  were  buying  land  and  beginning  the 
process  of  home  making  in  the  northern  portion  of  Allegan  county,  and  thus 
it  is  that  we  find  a  population  of  over  five  hundred  settled  there  in  1850. 


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CHAPTER  III. 

AIJJCGAX  \[LLAGE  AXD  VICIXITY. 

The  beginnings  at  Allegan  are  later  in  time  than  the  other  localities  of 
settlement  previously  described,  but  owing  to  the  enterprise  of  the  projectors 
of  the  village  and  the  advantages  of  its  site,  coupled  with  its  selection  as  the 
county  seat,  Allegan  soon  took  precedence  among  the  centers  of  the  county. 
Allegan,  perhaps  more  tlian  any  other  village;  was  the  product  of 
invested  capital,  whose  active  representatives,  however,  were  on  the  ground 
personally  directing  and  participating  in  the  building  of  a  village. 

Nature  designed  the  site  of  Allegan  for  village  purposes.  The  Song 
horseshoe  bend  in  the  river,  by  which  the  swift  current  after  flowing  more 
than  a  mile  from  the  entrance  of  the  "horseshoe"  is  bent  back  to  within  a 
few  hundred  yards  of  its  beginning,  is  an  ideal  situation  for  the  development 
of  water  power  and  was  so  recognized  by  the  founders  of  the  village.  This 
peculiar  adaptability  of  topography  to  the  enterprise  of  man  must  be  set 
down  as  the  originating  cause  of  Allegan's  existence.  That  the  judgment 
of  the  founders  was  not  at  fault  is  proved  by  the  fact  that  the  "peninsula" 
within  the  bend  is  well  covered  with  manufacturing  enterprises  of  all  kinds, 
the  majority  of  them  depending  on  water  power. 

George  Ketchum,  Stephen  Vickery  and  Anthony  Cooley  were  the 
original  purchasers  oi  most  of  the  land  on  which  AUegan  village  was  built. 
Their  purchases  were  made  in  the  late  summer  and  fall  of  1833.  In 
November  of  tliat  year  there  came  on  from  Rochester,  N.  Y..  Elisha  Ely, 
■evidently  a  man  of  means,  who  possessed  the  confidence  of  other  investors 
and  was  a  capable  executive.  He  bought  an  undivided  third  of  the  land 
owned  by  Ketchum,  Vickery  and  Cooley,  and  also  agreed  to  develop  the 
water  power  and  build  a  sawmill.  In  the  following  spring  Mr.  Ely  turned 
the  active  management  and  ownership  of  his  property  and  enterprises  over  to 
his  son,  Alexander  L.,  who  thereafter  figured  prominently  in  village  and 
county  affairs.  In  1834  these  men— Ely,  Ketchum,  Vickery  and  Cooley^ 
projected  a  village,  employing  Osliea  Wilder  to  survey  the  plat.  It  was  due 
to  the  irregularities  in  this  first  survey  that  the  streets  of  Allegan  run  in 
such  bizarre  directions  and  with  such  intricate  angles.  In  1837  F.  J. 
Littlejohn  was  employed  to  revise  the  plan  and  rectify  the  survey,  but  owing 
to  the  rapid  settlement  of  the  two  tiers  of  blocks  previously  surveyed  he 
was  unable  to  change  materially  the  work  of  his  predecessor. 

7'here  now  comes  an  important  change  in  the  fortunes  of  the  settle- 
ment— for  it  was  no  more  than  a  settlement  as  vet.     The  investment  of 


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54  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGA.X  COUNTY 

eastern  capital  and  the  promotion  of  man  it  f  act  u  ring  and  village  sites  in  the 
new  regions  of  Michigan  were,  as  we  have  seen,  favorite  methods  of 
capitalistic  enterprise  at  that  prosperous  period, 

George  Ketchuni,  of  Marshall,  Michigan,  one  of  the  original  owners  of 
Allegan  site,  seems  to  have  been  the  agent  in  introducing  a  change  in  the 
proprietorship  of  Allegan.  Having  been  employed  by  Samuel  Hubbard, 
a  resident  of  Boston  and  a  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  Massachusetts,  to 
purchase  Michigan  lands,  Mr.  Ketchum  besides  buying  land  in  his  name  on 
various  sections  in  the  vicinity  of  Allegan,  also  recommended  to  Judge 
Hubbard  the  purchase  of  an  interest  in  the  village  site.  Several  others  were 
interested  in  the  deal,  including  Charles  C.  Trowbridge,  of  Detroit,  one  of  the 
best  known  names  in  the  public  life  of  Michigan. 

Hubbard,  Trowbridge,  Edmund  Monroe  and  Pliny  Cutler,  of  Boston, 
purchased  the  two-thirds  interest  in  the  village  owned  by  Ketchum,  Vickery 
and  Cooley,  the  title  being  vested  in  Judge  Hubbard.  A.  L.  Ely  retained 
his  third  interest,  but  soon  after,  to  secure  a  loan  of  several  thousand  dollars 
from  Judge  Hubbard,  he  surrendered  his  title  to  Mr.  Trowbridge. 

Thus  it  comes  about  that  Samuel  Hubbard  and  C.  C.  Trowbridge  are 
named  as  the  proprietors  of  Allegan  village,  although  the  others  mentioned 
had  financial  or  active  interests  in  its  development.  The  association  of  these 
men  was  called  "The  Allegan  Company,"  which  though  unincorporated, 
during  its  existence  furnished  the  capital  and  exercised  the  executive  control 
for  Allegan's  growth  and  development.  In  this  respect  the  early  history  of 
Allegan  exhibits  some  points  of  marked  contrast  from  villages  which 
may  be  said  to  have  grown  up  naturally  and  by  the  aggregation  of  individual 
enterprise  and  effort— a  process  described  on  other  pages.  The  latter  type 
of  village  formation  seems  to  possess  more  of  the  qualities  of  democracy 
and  individualism,  and  as  a  whole  more  of  the  elements  of  continuance 
and  stability.  The  history  of  towns  and  cities  that  have  been  "boomed" 
by  railroads,  and  commercial  bodies  and  other  corporate  firms  exhibits  a 
depressing  number  of  failures.  Where  they  have  succeeded,  it  is  generally 
due  to  the  substantial  character  of  the  population,  who  instead  of  relying 
wholly  on  the  resources  of  the  promoting  company,  have  built  up  indepen- 
dent enterprises  and  have  turned  from  the  pap  of  outside  capital  to  solid 
home  industry  and  business.  Though  the  Allegan  Company  must  be  given 
credit  for  founding  the  village  and  bringing  in  money  and  settlers  to  give  it 
a  fair  start,  so  far  as  Allegan's  permanent  prosperity  is  concerned  the  com- 
pany failed  of  its  ptirpose. 

The  principals  in  the  Allegan  Company  about  the  same  time  purchased 
about  20,000  acres  of  land  in  AHegan  and  surrounding  counties  and  for  the 
exploitation  of  this  property  carried  on  operations  under  the  name  of  the 
"Boston  Company."  The  two  companies  were  nominally  independent  though 
their  interests  were  harmonious  and,  locally,  the  people  seldom  discriminated 
between  the  words  "Boston"  and  "Allegan,"  but  referred  to  the  concerns 
as  "the  Company."  Thus  the  companies  became  identified  not  only  with  the 
early  growth  of  Allegan  village  but  with  much  of  the  surrounding  country, 
and  for  this  and  reasons  to  be  mentioned  later  it  has  been  deemed  proper  to 
consider  as  one  subject  the  history  of  "Allegan  and  vicinity." 

T3ie  revised  Allegan  plat,  above  referred  to,  was  certified  to  by  Samuel 
Hubbard  and  C.  C.  Trowbridge  June  23,  1837.    On  the  engraved  "Plan  of 


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HISTORY  Ol-""  ALLEGAN  COCXTY  55 

Allegan"  made  by  F,  J,  Littlejohn  appeared  the  following  interesting  pros- 
pectus : 

"Allegan  is  situated  at  the  foot  of  the  Rapids  upon  Kalamazoo  river  at 
the  head  of  steamboat  navigation  and  20  miles  from  Lake  Michigan.  It 
is  the  country  seat  .  .  .  and  surrounded  by  heavy- timbered  farming 
lands  of  superior  quality.  The  town  is  high  and  healthy  and  is  the  natural 
outlet  for  the  surplus  products  of  the  upper  Kalamazoo,  a  district  of  country 
eighty  in  length  by  fifty  in  width.  There  are  extensive  bodies  of  excellent 
pine  and  whitewood  over  Allegan  which  will  then  be  converted  into  lumber. 
Its  settlement  was  commenced  in  1835  and  there  are  now,  April  1837,  700 
inhabitants.  Mills,  furnaces  and  various  kinds  of  machinery  are  in  operation 
or  being  erected  upon  water  power  which  may  be  considered  as  fully  equal 
to  that  of  Rochester,  New  York.  A  steamboat  is  expected  to  run  this  season 
from  Aliegan  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kalamazoo  river.  Several  important  state 
roads  have  already  been  established  centering  at  Allegan  and  one  or  more 
railroads  will  terminate  at  the  same  point.  There  are  also  in  its  immediate 
vicinity  two  fine  beds  of  clay  for  making  brick  and  extensive  marie  beds  for 
burning  lime  and  a  large  body  of  superior  sand  for  manufacturing  glass. 
Allegan  from  its  various  natural  and  acquired  advantages  will  doubtless  rank 
ere  long  among  the  most  populous  towns  of  the  west." 

This  rather  glowing  prospectus  is,  so  far  as  we  are  able  to  learn,  the 
earliest  written  description  of  the  village.  To  arrive  at  its  true  historical 
value,  one  must  read  it  as  an  advertisement,  which  was  no  doubt  freely  cir- 
culated in  east  and  west  to  induce  settlers  to  locate  here  and  invest  capital 
for  the  development  of  "its  various  natural  and  acquired  advantages."  That 
Allegan  was  the  natural  outlet  (however,  sharing  the  honor  with  Saugatuck) 
for  the  products  of  the  upper  Kalamazoo  remained  true  until  the  building 
of  the  Michigan  Central  R.  R.  to  Kalamazoo,  which  reversed  the  current 
of  traffic.  Its  important  position  as  a  center  of  the  lumber  in<lustry  continued 
as  perhaps  the  most  valuable  asset  of  the  village  until  the  seventies.  The 
estimate  of  population  acquired  in  two  years'  time,  if  accurate,  illustrates  how 
rapidly  the  village  grew  under  the  impulse  of  the  Company.  But  with  the 
total  popiUation  of  the  county,  at  the  census  of  1837,  estimate<l  at  1469,  it 
seems  hardly  probable  that  half  the  number  were  residents  of  Allegan  village. 
The  fact  that  the  Elys  and  other  settlers  were  from  Rochester,  New  York, 
furnished  a  ready  comparison  between  the  water  power  of  the  two  places. 
No  steamboat  ran  from  Allegan  to  the  mouth  during  the  thirties,  but  the  "C. 
C.  Trowbridge"  was  built  at  Singapore  by  the  Aliegan  Company  about  1842 
for  the  piirpose  of  river  navigation.  It  was  found  unsuited  for  its  purpose 
and  after  two  trips  was  taken  off.  The  state  roads  mentioned  as  centering 
at  Aliegan  were  most  valuable  aids  to  the  development  of  the  village  as  a 
commercial  center.  But  the  prospectus  safely  spoke  of  the  railroads  as  a 
future  accession.  The  proprietors  had  a  railroad  surveyed  from  Allegan 
to  Marshall  in  1838,  but  it  fared  as  many  other  railroad  ventures  undertaken 
about  that  time.     Allegan  had  to  wait  thirty  years  for  a  railroad. 

The  Company  also  established  a  bank  (elsewhere  described),  with  the 
"wild  cat"  features  of  paper  issues  and  unsecured  capital.  Disaster  soon 
overtook  this  institution,  and  therewith"  the  prestige  and  usefulness  of  the 
Company  began  to  decline.  The  bank  and  other  enterprises  were  the  prod- 
uct of  the  era  of  speculation  and  inflated  values  then  prevailing  everywhere. 


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56  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Relying  on  the  rosy  prospects  of  the  future,  values  were  forced  far  beyond 
reasonable  figures.  It  is  doubtful  if  some  of  the  prices  at  which  village 
property  was  then  held  could  be  matched  at  the  present  day. 

Perhaps  the  most  serious  phase  of  the  matter  was  the  relations  of  de- 
pendency between  the  people  and  the  Company.  It  was  the  Company's  vil- 
lage, and  the  inhabitants  pinned  their  faith  in  the  resources  and  management 
of  the  Company.  It  was  said  that  "everybody  owed  the  Company"  and 
"Company  orders"  were  legal  tender  throughout  the  community.  This  was 
not  a  healthy  economic  condition.  The  Company  was  carrying  too  heavy  a 
load — being  not  only  the  financial  backers  but  relieving  the  inhabitants  of 
much  of  the  initiative  and  business  responsibility  which  are  the  foundation 
of  civic  as  well  as  individual  character.  In  the  end  both  the  Allegan  and 
Boston  companies  were  involved  in  financial  embarrassments  little  less  than 
bankruptcy.  The  Boston  Company  was  practically  dissolved  in  1844  when 
its  lands  were  inventoried  and  a  division  made  among  the  individual  owners. 
In  1849  the  village  property  of  the  Allegan  Company  was  sold  at  auction 
and  the  proceeds  divided. 

The  passing  of  the  Company  was  undoiibtedly  a  good  thing  for  the 
village.  Left  to  struggle  for  themselves,  without  recourse  to  outside  capital, 
the  people  soon  found  their  real  level  and  began  to  progress  by  individual 
enterprise.  The  period  of  fallacious  hopes  had  passed  here  as  throughout  the 
state,  and  permanent  advancement  began. 

So  far  we  have  presented  the  Company's  relations  to  Allegan  in  a  rather 
negative  light.  The  successful  issues  of  its  control  were  by  no  means  in- 
considerable. In  1835  and  '6  a  temporary  dam  was  constructed  across  the 
river  in  the  same  location  as  the  present  one.  A  race  was  cut  across  the  nar- 
row neck  of  land  to  the  opposite  channel  of  the  river.  A  sawmill  was  erected, 
converting  the  pine  and  hardwood  into  lumber  for  the  settlers'  homes. 
During  the  winter  of  1835-36  the  upper  part  of  the  peninsula  where  the 
business  portion  of  the  village  now  stands  was  cleared  of  its  trees  and 
here  among  the  pine  stumps,  on  the  village  lots  which  had  been  first  offered 
for  sale  the  preceding  June,  many  small  frame  houses  sprung  up  to  shelter 
the  rapidly  incoming  settlers.  In  1836  the  Company  erected  a  small  frame 
building  for  the  use  of  the  Presbyterian  society  organized  in  the  spring  of 
that  year.  It  was  burned  down  in  a  fierce  fire  two  or  three  weeks  after 
being  first  occupied.  Tn  the  same  spring  the  large  frame  schoolhouse  else- 
where described,  used  for  church  purposes  and  as  the  first  courthouse,  was 
built. 

A  ferry  was  first  used  to  cross  the  river  to  the  village  site,  but  in  1837 
a  bridge  was  built  on  the  site  of  the  present  bridge  near  the  Allegan  House 
on  the  south  side  of  the  village. 

Through  the  enteqirise  of  the  Company  the  village  was  incorporated  in 
1838,  antedating  by  nearly  thirty  years  any  other  village  incorporation  in 
the  county.  At  that  time,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  Company's  enterprises 
were  brisk,  that  a  large  number  of  people  were  earning  their  support  as  em- 
ployes of  the  Company,  and  that  the  financial  stringency  had  not  yet  reached 
the  village,  Allegan  was  flourishing.  Only  a  year  or  so  after  incorporation, 
however,  the  decline  of  the  Company's  fortunes  brought  about  a  situation 
where  it  was  clearly  seen  that  Allegan  had  been  advanced  more  rajjidly  than 
the  pioneer  conditions  of  this  part  of  Michigan  warranted.    There  was  more 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  57 

produced  than  could  be  consumed  or  marketed.  Population  had  l)een  con- 
centrated and  organized  before  the  surrounding  country  was  settled.  After 
the  panic  of  1837  trade  all  over  the  country  became  duil,  and  demand  being 
confined  to  the  necessities,  over-production  resulted.  This  state  of  affairs 
bore  specially  hard  on  Allegan,  which  had  been  founded  and  promoted  as 
a  producing  center,  whose  prosperity  depended  on  a  ready  market  for  its 
output  with  the  outside  world.  As  yet  commerce  in  Michigan  had  no  rail- 
roads to  carry  it  east  or  west.  The  only  route  in  this  county  lay  down  the 
river,  and  Chicago  being  yet  a  village,  and  other  parts  of  the  west  not  yet 
asking  for  Michigan's  products,  it  is  evident  that  each  commvmity  was 
strongest  when  it  was  most  nearly  self-sustaining,  offering  in  the  market 
only  so  much  as  necessary  to  offset  its  own  pioneer  needs.  In  view  of  these 
facts,  there  seems  no  overstatement  in  the  words  of  an  early  writer  who  said 
the  hard  times  "produced  a  paralysis  on  the  growth  of  the  village  and  en- 
tailed much  suffering  and  hardship  upon  the  people."  Not  only  was  the 
growth  of  the  place  retarded  for  several  years,  but  it  would  seem  that  its 
population  actually  decreased. 

In  the  meantime  the  bulk  of  Allegan's  pioneers  had  come  and  made 
homes  in  and  about  the  village.  Those  who  were  actively  connected  with  the 
founding  of  the  village  have  been  mentioned.  The  first  family  to  come  in  as 
settlers  was  that  of  Leander  S.  Prouty,  who  arrived  in  April.  1834.  Elisha 
Ely  had  gone  to  his  old  home  in  Rochester  and  induced  the  Proutys.  Andy 
J.  Pomeroy  and  one  or  two  others  to  return  with  him  to  Allegan  where 
the  work  of  improvement  lingered  through  lack  of  labor.  This  party  came 
from  Kalamazoo  to  Allegan  by  rafts,  that  being  a  better  thoroughfare  than 
the  forest  trails.  The  Prouty  house  was  built  on  what  is  now  Bratly  street, 
between  Hubbard  and  State,  and  on  an  acre  of  ground  they  planted  the  first 
garden  crop  raised  on  the  village  site.  I'efore  fall  the  Company  had  built 
them  a  log  house,  where  they  lived  and  kept  a  sort  of  public  house  for 
boarding  the  men  in  the  employ  of  the  Company.  That  first  winter  in  Al- 
legan, when  all  the  peninsula  save  an  acre  or  two  was  covered  with  pine 
woods,  when  only  two  or  three  mnd-and-stick  chimneys  sent  their  smoke  aloft 
into  the  clear,  frosty  air,  when  hardly  more  than  a  dozen  white  persons 
made  up  the  social  community,  when  luxuries  were  the  necessities,  and 
necessities  luxuries,  may  be  remembered  with  profit  by  all  who  live  in  this 
time  of  comfort  and  enlargement  of  life's  advantages. 

In  the  spring  of  1835  the  village  began  growing  rapidly.  It  is  stated 
that  the  popidation  then  numbered  about  60  persons,  so  that  the  increase 
during  the  next  two  years  was  not  far  from  a  thousand  per  cent.  Col.  Joseph 
Fisk,  of  Rochester.  New  York,  who  arrived  in  1835.  soon  made  himself  a 
factor  of  prominence  in  the  place.  His  first  log  house  was  replaced  in  a  few 
years  by  the  Allegan  House,  at  the  corner  of  Brady  and  State  streets,  which 
is  now  one  of  the  oldest  buildings  in  the  village  and  after  long  service  as 
a  hotel  is  now  a  tenement  house.  He  and  Alva  Fuller  opened  a  store  near 
the  east  end  of  Hubbard  street,  and  in  1837.  in  partnership  with  Sidney 
Ketchimi,  resident  agent  of  the  Allegan  Company,  he  built  the  first  grist 
mill,  where  the  Oliver  furniture  plant  is  now  located. 

When  the  late  N.  B.  West  came  to  Allegan  in  August,  1836,  the  Al- 
legan House  was  the  only  tavern,  but  William  Booher  was  then  erecting  the 
Michigan  Exchange,  on  the  corner  of  Trowbridge  and  Walnut  streets.    The 


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68  HISTORY  OF  ALLKGAX  COUNTY 

Michigan  Exchange  is  still  standing,  though  no  longer  known  by  that  name, 
and  now  thoroughly  remodeled  and  used  as  a  tenement  house.  Mr.  West 
lived  in  Allegan  almost  continuously  until  his  death  about  a  year  before  this 
writing,  nearly  seventy  years,  and  from  one  of  the  earliest  carpenters  in  the 
village  became  a  successful  manufacturer  of  doors  and  other  building  mate- 
rial, so  that  he  left  a  considerable  fortune  to  church  and  educational  purposes 
and  his  heirs  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

In  the  description  of  the  village  accompanying  the  "Plan  of  Allegan," 
already  spoken  of,  mention  is  made  of  a  furnace  among  the  manufacturers. 
This  was  established  by  Alby  Rossman  and  Hyman  Hoxie,  pioneers  of 
1836.  Their  machine  shop  and  furnace,  located  on  the  race,  was  the  first 
plant  of  the  kind  in  the  village,  and  served  a  great  variety  of  wants  among  the 
early  settlers.  Mr.  Rossman  was  identified  with  manufacturing  in  the 
village  for  thirty  years,  and  was  also  a  farmer  and  influential  citizen. 

Little  more  than  nominal  mention  can  be  made  of  those  who  came 
in  1835  and  1836.  All  contributed  something  to  the  growth  of  the  village, 
and  some  made  their  activity  and  influence  so  useful  and  conspicuous  that 
their  careers  are  closely  interwoven  with  the  subsequent  history  of  the  village. 

Of  those  who  came  in  1835,  William  Jones  was  the  first  minister  of  the 
gospel  in  the  village;  George  Y.  Warner  was  the  first  attorney;  Ira  Chaffee 
at  once  became  useful  as  a  mill  operator  to  the  Company,  from  1841  con- 
ducted the  sawmill  built  by  the  Company  as  its  owner,  and  besides  leaving  a 
reputation  as  one  of  the  most  successful  lumber  manufacturers  of  the  county, 
his  name  became  familiar  in  the  county  and  this  part  of  the  state  through 
the  "'Chaffee  House,"  which  be  built  in  1872  and  which  ranked  as  the  leading 
hotel  of  the  village  for  many  years.  Its  site  is  now  occupied  by  the  Masonic 
Temple.  Doane  D.  Davis  came  in  1835,  was  a  carpenter  and  contractor  and 
also  served  in  official  positions. 

The  only  living  pioneer  of  1835  is  T.  E.  Streeter,  who,  a  child  of  four 
years  when  he  arrived,  has  spent  practically  all  his  life  in  the  village  and  .is 
the  only  link  between  the  present  and  the  years  when  Allegan  belonged  to 
the  Company  and  all  affairs  were  only  beginnings.  He  and  his  brothers,  J,  K. 
and  A.  L...  accompanied  their  father,  Elias  Streeter,  to  this  place  from  New 
York,    The  latter  was  for  a  time  in  the  employ  of  the  Allegan  Company. 

Others  who  came  in  1835  and  were  long  connected  with  the  village 
were:  W.  C.  Jenner,  the  tir.st  shoemaker;  John  Askins,  the  first  millwright; 
James  Dawson,  a  resident  of  fifty  years,  and  an  early  carpenter  and  joiner ; 
J.  W.  Bond,  a  painter.  The  trades,  the  professions,  and  the  business 
callings  were  soon  filled,  and  in  a  single  year  Allegan  was  almost  on  a  par 
with  villages  throughout  southern  Michigan. 

The  high  tide  of  immigration  was  reached  in  1836.  The  following 
year  came  the  financial  panic,  and  cessation  of  immigration  everywhere. 
The  Littfejohn  family  were  the  most  conspicuous  arrivals  in  1836.  For 
seventy  years  it  has  been  represented  in  the  life  of  the  village,  and  business 
and  professional  ability,  close  connection  with  community  affairs,  and 
high  personal  character  have  marked  its  individual  members.  Flavins  J. 
Littlejohn  was  a  college  graduate,  the  first  one  mentioned  among  Allegan's 
pioneers.  He  re-sitrveyed  the  village,  as  already  stated,  and  soon  after 
entere<l  the  practice  of  law,  and  from  that  time  until  liis  death  in  1880,  his 
name  is   found  in  connection  with   public  office  and   affairs.     There   were 


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HISTORY  OI'  ALLEGAX  CCJUXTV  59 

other  brothers,  Philo  B.,  Silas  F.,  Philetus  O.,  and  the  father,  John,  also 
prominent  in  the  village  and  county.  r    ,     c    ^ 

Other  settlers  in  1836  were  Lyman  W.  Watkins,  one  of  the  first  nier- 
citants-  Rev  W  C  H.  Bliss,  a  cabinet  mai<er  by  trade,  which  he  was  the 
first  to'  follow  in  the  village.  For  many  years  he  was  a  circuit  rider,  and 
performed  many  and  arduous  duties  for  the  sake  of  religion,  being  still 
remembered  for  his  aggressive  and  wholesome  Christianity.  Ur  u.  u. 
Goodrich  the  first  physician,  as  mentioned  in  the  chapter  on  Medicine, 
arrived  in  1836.  In  this  year  came  Duncan  A.  McMartin,  a  worthy  citizen 
for  half  a  century.  .      1  ■     n. 

A  man  of  substance,  enterprise  and  eminent  public  spirit  arrived  in  the 
person  of  Henry  H.  Booth,  whose  name  is  mentioned  in  connection  with 
county  and  village  offices,  and  also  as  the  donor  of  the  Fine  Grove  Seminary, 
an  educational  institution  that  supplemented  Allegans  public  schools  before 
the  organization  of  the  graded  schools.  Milo  Winslow  a  successful  mer- 
chant intil  his  death,  Alanson  S.  Weeks,  father  of  W.  C.  and  H.  C.  Weeks, 
J.  B.  and  Leonard  Bailey  are  only  a  few  of  the  many  who  came  during  the 
"boom"  time  of  1836.  . 

Allegan's  history  since  pioneer  times  may  be  briefly  sketched.  Many 
departments  of  village  life  and  activity  are  described  in  other  chapters, 
and  many  facts  of  great  interest  are  to  be  found  in  the  personal  histories 
Up  to  the  dose  of  the  Civd  war,  Allegan  village  and  vicinity  increased 
but  slowlv  in  population  and  business  activities.  The  poijulation  of  the 
village  in'1850  was  httle  more  than  that  claimed  111  1838. 

The  lumber  industry  and  its  afKliated  business  were  the  main  interests 
of  the  village,  aside  from  those  essential  to  any  center  of  population.  ^  Unti 
traffic  was  directed  south  bv  the  construction  of  the  Michigan  Central 
Railroad,  .Allegan  benefited  greatly  from  the  river  transportation.  That 
fell  off  during  the  forties,  but  as  long  as  the  lumber  business  continued  the 
river  remained  a  source  of  profit  to  the  village. 

During  the  war  the  village  experienced  the  setbacks  and  stagnation 
along  all  lines  that  were  feh  in  ah  parts  of  the  country.  After  the  war  came 
a  "toom."  Railroads  were  built  in,  lumbering  was  still  active,  manufac- 
turing showed  increased  prospects,  settlers  were  Hocking  m  to  take  up  and 
develop  the  farming  community,  and  every  pursuit  and  profession  found 
broadened  scope  and  activity.  Population  figures  alone  show  an  almost 
phenomenal  increase.  The  entire  township  in  i860  had  less  than  a  thousand 
inhabitants.  Ten  years  later  the  village  alone  had  a  population  of  2,374, 
the  greater  number  having  come  between  1865  and  1870. 

The  decade  from  1870  to  1880  marked  the  passing  of  hunbering  as  a 
stable  resource  of  the  coinitv.  In  1880  there  were  fewer  inhabitants  in 
the  village  than  in  1870.  From  the  early  seventies  until  the  close  of  the 
eighties  there  was  no  marked  progress.  One  of  the  best  evidences  of  the 
change  beginning  with  the  latter  tlate  is  seen  in  public  and  private  buildmgs 
and  improvement  of  village  apfjearances.  It  will  be  remembered  that  m 
1889  the  new  court  house  was  built— a  credit  to  village  and  entire  county. 
The  best  buildings  of  the  village  have  been  erected  in  the  past  fifteen  years. 
Two  excellent  school  buildings,  a  new  jail,  two  beautiful  churches,  not  to 
mention  the  residences,  can  be  pointed  out  with  pride  as  evidences  of  the 
material  prosperity  of  the  village. 


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tiO  HiSTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COtjNTV 

At  the  present  writing  Allegan  is  experiencing  a  better  and  more  sub- 
stantial revival  of  business  than  at  any  time  iii  its  history.  This  is  not  a 
fatuous  opinion  from  an  enthusiastic  citizen,  but  is  a  practical  judgment 
formed  from  the  actions  of  conservative  men  of  hard  business  sense  who 
do  not  embark  in  new  enterprises  and  lend  their  support  to  business  pro- 
motion without  substantial  reasons.  With  its  many  natural  advantages, 
and  with  a  proper  degree  of  progressiveness  on  the  part  of  the  capital  and 
property-owning  class,  Allegan's  future  seems  to  be  cast  among  the  wealth- 
producing  and  prosperous  small  cities  of  Michigan. 

Concerning  the  industrial  and  business  situation  in  AHegan  at  this  time, 
the  following  quotation  from  the  annual  address  of  the  president  of  the  board 
of  trade  will  prove  of  interest: 

"Just  one  year  ago  tonight  the  citizens  of  Allegan  met  here  for  the 
purpose  of  becoming  unitedly  effective  in  promoting  the  material  welfare 
of  our  village,  to  increase  the  industries,  to  add  to  the  number  of  employes, 
to  encourage  in  general  all  that  tends  to  thrift  and  happiness,  and  for  the 
purpose  of  a  united  co-operation  among  ourselves  for  a  greater  Allegan. 
I  take  this  opportunitj'  to  congratulate  the  association  upon  the  success  it 
has  made  in  the  first  year  of  its  existence,  and  herewith  extend  my  thanks 
to  the  secretary  and  directors  for  their  willingness  to  do  their  work,  so 
often  in  demand. 

"We  have  succeeded,  as  you  know,  in  locating  one  industry  (the  French 
Plate  Glass  Co.,  of  which  Mr.  A.  Wertzler  is  president),  which  we  have 
reason  to  believe  will  be  of  great  benefit  to  the  town,  and  in  securing  the 
active  co-operation  and  assistance  of  many  public-spirited  citizens  in  carry- 
ing out  the  object  of  the  association, 

"My  experience  in  the  past  year  makes  me  beheve,  and  I  would  sug- 
gest, that  the  future  work  be  divided  to  the  following  commitees : 

"Home  industries,  to  keep  in  touch  with  local  factories,  to  aid  and 
help  them  in  difficulties,  should  any  arise. 

"Foreign  Industries,  to  continue  the  work  of  interesting  out-of-town 
manufacturers  in  Allegan  as  a  location  for  business  of  any  kind. 

"Advertising,  to  keep  the  name  of  the  town  and  its  advantages  before 
the  public,  and  to  do  everything  legitimate  to  boom  Allegan. 

"Finance,  to  provide  funds  for  the  backing  of  the  association  in  its 
work." 

The  new  officers  of  the  board  of  trade  and  the  committees  are  named 
as  indicating  the  men  who  are  behind  the  movement  of  progress  in  the 
village : 

President,  Gnstav  Stern;  vice-president,  T.  M,  Cook;  secretary.  Fred 
Littlejohn;  treasurer,  Leonard  Stein;  board  of  directors,  Messrs.  Edwy 
C.  Reid,  C.  W.  Young,  M.  D.  Owen,  J.  P.  Badour.  O.  S.  Cross,  Ira 
Montague,  W.  W.  Vosburgh,  J.  F.  Marty,  J,  E.  Young,.  A.  L.  Robinson. 

Finance— F.  I.  Chichester,  Dan  Stern,  F,  H.  Williams,  C.  G.  Messinger, 
S.  D.  Pond,  Fred  Lhtlejohn. 

Local  Industries — J.  E.  Young,  Siebe  Baker,  C.  W.  Young,  J.  f.  Fire- 
stone. E.  A.  Post.  H.  D.  Pritchard, 

Foreign  Industries— M.  D.  Owen,  Edwy  C.  Reid,  J.  P,  Badour.  I.  C, 
Montague,  A.  L.  Robinson,  David  Burgess,  H,  H.  Cook. 

Soliciting — F.  I.  Chichester,  Leonard  Stein.  Ira  Montague,  <).  S.  Cross. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY  61 

Advertising — W.  W.  Vosburgli,  C.  F.  Davison,  ().  S.  Cross,  Frank 
Andrews. 

Railways—E.  WilHams,  T.  M.  Cook,  ^L  C.  Sherwood,  T.  S.  U|)dyke. 
Art  lis  W.  Sherwood, 

Good  Roads—Edwy  C.  Reid.  Harry  Liitts.  G.  L.  Hicks.  Chas.  J,  Morst, 
Charles  E.  Bond. 

So  long  as  a  village  consists  of  a  collection  of  dwelling  houses,  stores, 
shops  and  mills,  arranged  more  or  less  in  order  along  streets,  its  class 
as  a  center  of  population  must  be  considered  rather  that  of  the  hamlet 
than  that  of  a  first-class  village.  Allegan,  as  already  stated,  was  incor- 
porated with  village  government  in  1838,  so  that  it  was  the  first  center 
in  the  county  to  become  independent  in  a  measure  of  the  township  system. 
But  for  nearly  thirty  years  this  village  government  did  not  signify  the 
village  improvements  that  it  does  now.  It  was  not  till  1863  that  the  first 
practical  effort  was  made  to  protect  the  village  from  fires.  Fire  protection  is 
one  of  the  first  things  sought  in  an  organized  conimunit)-  and  without  it 
a  village  cannot  hope  to  grow  or  to  induce  valuable  industries  to  locate. 
Allegan  had  many  fires  in  its  early  history.  One  in  1836  destroyed  some 
of  the  first  buildings  erected  on  the  site.  In  1863-4  equipment  to  the 
extent  of  a  hand  engine,  hose,  and  hook  and  ladder,  was  purchased  antl 
installed  in  an  engine  house  built  on  the  southeast  corner  of  the  courthouse 
square.  In  1869  occurred  the  conflagration  which  destro}-ed  the  west 
side  of  Brady  street.  This  aroused  the  authorities  to  action.  First,  the 
fire  department  was  thoroughlv  reorganized,  and  three  companies,  an  engine, 
a  hose,  and  a  hook  and  ladder  company  were  placed  on  effective  footing  and 
disciplined. 

The  second  result  of  the  fire,  was  the  institution  of  water  works.  Xego- 
tiations  took  place  between  the  village  officials  and  the  originator  of  the 
Holly  system  of  water  works,  and  in  March.  1871.  the  citizens,  by  a  vote 
of  225  to  130.  favored  the  installation  of  the  system  and  the  bonding  of 
the  village  to  the  amount  of  $25,000  to  carry  the  proposition  into  effect. 
Double  turbine-engines  were  first  used  for  forcing  the  water,  and  mains 
were  laid  through  the  business  district  and  graduall\-  extende<l  to  the 
residence  districts.  By  1873  the  works  had  been  proved  satisfactory,  and 
the  engine  companj-  of  the  fire  department  was  then  dispensed  with,  the 
pressure  in  the  mains  being  sufficient.  Before  the  system  was  complete 
nearl\-  $50,000  had  been  expended  by  the  village. 

Even  with  water  works  and  alert  fire  department,  the  village  was  not 
exempt  from  (ire.  March  12,  1884.  the  most  disastrous  fire  in  the  village's 
history  swept  tip  the  south  side  of  Hubbard  street,  driven  by  a  strong  wind 
from  its  starting  place  in  a  wooden  building  about  opposite  the  new  Sher- 
man House,  and  when  its  progress  was  stopped  bv  the  fire  wall  at  the 
corner  of  Brady  and  Locust.  leaped  to  the  north  siile  and  consumed  most 
of  the  structures  on  both  sides  of  Locust  street  north  to  Trowbridge.  The 
fire  wall  alone  is  said  to  have  prevented  its  progress  toward  the  manufac- 
turing; district. 

This  was  the  last  large  fire  in  Allegan.  The  burned  district  was  cleared 
of  debris  and,  like  American  communities  in  general,  the  work  of  rebuild- 
ing soon  commenced.  Thus  it  is  that  the  business  portion  of  the  village 
is  quite  new,  most  of  the  brick  blocks  being  less  than  twenty  years  old; 


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Ij,a  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAK  COUNTY 

The  village  hall  and  fire  house,  on  Trowbridge  street,  dates  from 
1888.  The  resolution  calling  for  its  eonstruction  was  offered  in  the  council 
December  2,  1887,  and  the  following  September  the  contract  was  awarded 
at  $6,450.  The  first  floor  contains  the  hose  carts  and  hook  and  ladder 
and  other  apparatus,  while  the  upper  floor  is  for  council  rooms  and  clerk's 
office. 

The  water  works  have  been  from  time  to  time  improved  and  extended. 
In  March,  1896,  the  village  voted  an  issue  of  bonds  not  to  exceed  $7,000 
for  repairing  and  improvement.  September  11,  1901,  at  a  special  election, 
it  was  voted  (242  to  67)  to  bond  the  village  to  the  amount  of  $15,000  for 
the  installation  of  new  pumps  at  the  water  works. 

In  April,  1903,  the  proposition  carried  by  popular  vote  to  bond  the 
village  $26,000  for  the  improvement  of  the  water  works  and  tlie  water 
power. 

Thomas  E.  Stkeeter,  Sr. — No  history  of  Allegan  county  would  be 
complete  without  mention  of  Thomas  E.  Streeter.  His  residence  in  the 
village  covers  a  longer  period  than  any  other  citizen,  while  his  interest  in 
public  life  and  his  enterprise  in  business  have  constituted  an  important 
factor  in  the  substantial  upbuilding  and  improvement  of  this  portion  of 
the  state.  Wherever  he  is  known  he  is  honored  and  he  is  best  liked  where 
best  known. 

He  was  born  in  Rocliester,  New  York,  July  9,  1832.  His  father,  Elias 
Streeter,  was  a  native  of  Phelps  township,  Cattaraugus  county.  New  York, 
where  his  parents,  Thomas  and  Ruth  StrePter,  spent  a  number  of  years. 
His  early  life  was  passed  uneventfully.  He  had  good  home  training  which 
developed  those  qualities  of  fortitude  and  perserverance  which  enabled  him 
in  later  life  to  fill  so  successfully  the  role  of  a  pioneer.  He  early  engaged 
in  lumbering  pursuits  in  the  Empire  state  and  while  still  a  resident  of  the 
east  he  was  married.  It  was  in  1825  that  he  wedded  Miss  Julia  Ann 
Bowen,  of  Springville,  Cattaraugus  county.  New  York.  He  first  came  to 
Michigan  in  the  interests  of  the  Boston  Company  as  its  representative  in  the 
lumber  business  and  he  was  also  actively  connected  with  building  opera- 
tions and  in  furthering  the  interests  of  the  village  of  Allegan  in  many 
substantial  ways.  He  arrived  here  in  1835  when  the  county  was  largely  a 
wilderness,  which  had  been  punctured  to  only  a  slight  degree  by  the  white 
settlers  who  had  come  to  the  west  to  plant  the  seeds  of  civilization  in  a 
region  which  had  hitherto  been  under  the  domain  of  the  red  race.  Mr. 
Streeter  co-operated  in  many  movements  for  the  public  good  and  he  left  the 
impress  of  his  individuality  upon  the  general  upbuilding  and  development. 
He  was  likewise  known  as  a  representative  and  enterprising  business  man 
and  was  an  expert  in  building  dams,  constructing  many  of  them  in  the 
county  during  the  years  of  his  active  business  career  here.  His  wife  was 
identified  with  the  Society  of  Friends  or  Quakers  and  was  a  lady  who 
exemplified  in  her  life  the  spirit  of  kindliness  and  gentleness  inculcated 
by  that  religious  sect.  In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were  five  sons 
and  five  daughters,  but  only  four  of  the  family  are  now  living:  Thomas 
E.,  of  this  review;  Mrs.  Jane  Currie,  of  Ohio;  and  Mrs.  Nellie  Davis  and 
Mrs.  Mary  Fosdick,  twins.  The  father  died  in  Allegan,  July  22,  1868,  and 
thus  passed  away  one  of  the  representative  pioneer  settlers  of  the  county. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  G3 

Thomas  £.  Streeter  was  only  three  years  of  age  when  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Michigan,  at  which  time  there  was  but  one  house  in  the  village 
of  Ailegan.  Mr.  Streeter  is  without  exception  the  oldest  resident  of  the 
village,  his  connection  therewith  antedating  that  of  any  other  settler  by  ten 
years.  He  has  watched  the  transformation  of  this  part  of  the  state  from 
a  wilderness  into  a  rich  farming  district  and  has  seen  the  village  developed 
from  a  tiny  hamlet  into  a  thriving  town.  There  were  Indians  living  in 
Allegan  county  at  the  time  of  his  arrival  and  there  were  many  wild  animals 
that  roamed  through  the  forest,  while  various  kinds  of  wild  game,  including 
deer,  and  many  fowls  were  to  be  had  in  abundance.  It  was  amid  such 
environments  and  surroundings  that  Thomas  E.  Streeter  spent  his  boy- 
hood days,  sharing  with  the  family  in  the  hardships  and  privations  incident 
to  pioneer  life,  and  also  enjoying  many  pieastirea  that  are  unknown  in  this 
day.  He  acquired  his  early  education  in  the  first  school  established  in 
Allegan,  it  being  located  on  what  is  now  Brady  street,  just  north  of  the 
City  Hotel,  the  first  teacher  being  a  Mr.  Warner,  Mr.  Streeter  continued 
to  attend  the  schools  of  his  time  until  he  reached  the  age  of  seventeen 
years.  After  coming  to  young  manhood  he  worked  in  a  sawmill  and 
later,  when  his  financial  resources  had  become  sufficiently  large,  he  made 
purchase  of  a  farm  which  is  now  within  the  village  limits.  For  some  time 
he  was  thus  actively  connected  with  general  agricultural  pursuits  and  later 
he  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  conducting  first  the  old  Exchange  Hotel, 
which  be  afterward  sold  and  purchased  the  Allegan  House,  which  he  owned 
for  sixteen  years,  carrying  on  the  business  there  during  most  of  tiiat  time. 

In  1859  Mr.  Streeter  with  two  companions,  furnished  an  outfit  con- 
sisting of  a  team  and  a  saddle  horse,  which  they  shipped  across  the  lake 
to  Chicago,  and  from  that  point  proceeded  overland  to  Denver,  Colorado, 
going  by  way  of  the  Platte  river  to  Fort  Kearney,  Wyoming,  and  thence  to 
their  destination.  On  arriving  in  Denver  their  joint  capital  consisted  of 
one  dollar  and  a  quarter.  They  disposed  of  their  saddle  horse  for  a  barrel 
of  whiskey  and  some  plug  tobacco  and,  having  tents,  they  located  there 
and  erected  a  shanty  for  a  store,  after  which  they  sold  the  goods  for  which 
they  had  made  the  trade.  Subsequently  Mr.  Streeter  engaged  in  building 
operations  there  and  built  many  of  the  crude  houses  of  the  early  tlay  in 
Denver,  residing  there  for  two  years.  He  was  very  successful  in  his  busi- 
ness undertakings  in  the  west.  He  returned  to  Allegan,  where  he  has 
since  lived.  He  tells  of  many  exciting  experiences  in  the  west  with  the 
Indians  and  relates  many  events  connected  with  tlie  establishment  of  the 
now  prosperous  and  beautiful  city  of  Denver.  He  conducted  the  first  trial 
ever  held  in  Denver,  he  being  instrumental  in  securing  the  judge,  prosecut- 
ing attorney  and  jury,  while  he  acted  as  counsel  for  the  defense,  who  was 
charged  with  the  theft  of  a  gun.  Through  Mr.  Streeter's  efforts  he  was 
acquitted.  This  proceeding  was  conducted  strictly  in  keeping  with  pioneer 
and  frontier  conditions,  and  came  to  pass  before  the  days  of  the  vigilance 
committee.  In  1863  be  entered  the  army  as  a  sutler  and  so  continued  for 
about  a  year.  In  all  that  he  undertook  hen\et  with  success  and  his  pros- 
perity is  attributable  in  large  measure  to  the  fact  of  his  ready  recognition 
and  utilization  of  opportunities. 

He  has  been  particularly  prominent  in  the  improvement  of  the  village 
both  through  private  business  interests  and  also  furthering  an\'  movement 


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(il  HISTORY  Ol-  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

instituted  for  the  general  good.  In  1884  he  built  the  Allegan  Opera  House, 
which  he  still  owns,  while  his  son,  Thomas  E.  Streeter,  Jr.,  is  now  acting 
as  manager.  He  also  has  about  forty  acres  of  land  on  Miner  Lake  in 
Allegan  township,  which  he  has  converted  into  a  fine  summer  resort.  He 
has  there  a  number  of  boats,  also  sheds  for  horses  and  all  conveniences  for 
the  entertainment  of  large  or  small  parties  who  desire  to  spend  the  day 
there.  He  is  likewise  buiiding  at  this  place  at  the  present  time  a  summer 
residence  of  cement  blocks  thirty  by  thirty-two  feet,  and  containing  seven 
rooms,  to  be  occupied  by  his  family  during  the  summer  months. 

Mr.  Streeter  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  influential  and  substantial 
residents  in  the  county  and  village  of  Allegan  and  has  long  been  recognized 
as  a  leader  in  those  movements  which  have  had  direct  bearing  upon  the 
welfare  and  progress  of  the  county.  His  fellow  townsmen  also  called  him 
to  a  number  of  local  offices.  Prior  to  the  Civil  war  he  was  constable  of 
the  village  of  Allegan  and  also  deputy  sheriff  under  Sheriff  Benjamin 
Pratt  and  Sheriff  Jacob  Grover.  He  was  likewise  marshal  of  the  village  of 
Allegan  for  two  different  terms. 

On  January  24,  1864,  in  Allegan,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Thomas 
E.  Streeter  and  Miss  Eliza  M.  Streeter,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah 
R.  (BuUard)  Streeter,  of  New  York.  They  had  three  children,  of  whom 
two  are  living,  Jennie  having  died  in  early  girlhood.  The  sons  are  Thomas 
E.  and  Horace  V.  The  former,  bom  in  Allegan,  married  Nellie  Hinton, 
of  Salem  township,  this  county,  while  Horace  V.,  also  a  native  of  Allegan, 
wedded  Jennie  Cary,  of  Mendon,  Michigan,  who  died  leaving  three  children, 
E'aith,  Violette  E.  and  Paul  H. 

Mr.  Streeter  has  from  time  to  time  invested  in  property  here,  making 
judicious  sales  also,  and  has  always  owned  more  or  less  real  estate.  In 
his  business  interests  he  has  been  usually  successful.  No  man  has  been 
more  closely  associated  with  the  history  of  the  county,  and  from  among  the 
ranks  of  quiet,  persevering,  yet  prominent  citizens — prominent  on  accoimt 
of  what  he  has  accompli  she  d^th  ere  is  no  man  more  deserving  of  mention 
in  a  volume  of  this  character.  His  acquaintance  is  very  wide  and  he  numbers 
his  friends  among  young  and  old.  rich  and  poor,  for  his  social  nature  and 
a  genial  disposition  have  made  him  popular. 

General  B.  D.  pRiTCHARD.^For  a  life  of  general  and  widely  varied 
activity  and  conspicuous  success  and  pronjinence  in  his  different  roles,  per- 
haps no  man  in  Allegan  county  is  better  known  than  Fienjamin  D. 
Pritchard.  Past  the  age  of  seventy,  after  fifty  years  of  unremitting  activity 
he  stands  hale  and  hearty,  the  picture  of  health  and  vigor  in  life's  decline. 

Born  in  Nelson,  Portage  county,  Ohio,  in  1835,  he  received  his  early 
education  in  the  public  schools  and  in  Western  Reserve  College,  and  in 
1856,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  came  to  Allegan.  He  was  one  of  a  re- 
markable group  of  men  who  came  to  the  village  before  the  war,  and 
became  active  factors  in  the  history  of  the  village  in  succession  to  an  earlier 
group  that  may  be  called  the  real  pioneers,  conspicuous  among  whom  were 
the  Elys  and  Littlejohns  and  others.  Mr.  Pritchard  be^n  the  study  of 
law  in  1858,  and  after  graduating  from  the  law  departmer"-  if  the  State 
University  in  i860  came  home  to  enter  a  partnership  with  the  m,.  ""  'R 
Williams,  who.  had  also  come  to  the  village  in  the  middle  fifties  and  wa,-> 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  65 

already  entered  upon  that  career  of  political  and  legal  success  wJiicli  places 
him  among  the  conspicuous  figures  of  the  village  and  county. 

Soon  the  war  came  on.  involving  momentous  decisions  in  the  life  of 
every  man.  The  natural  leaders  in  civic  life  were  expected  to  take  the  lead 
in  directing  the  people  in  war,  and  it  was  soon  a  question  with  the  firm 
of  Williams  and  Pritchard  which  one  should  take  the  field.  Though  Mr. 
Williams  was  urgent  in  demanding  the  sacrifice  for  himself.  Mr.  Pritchard 
considered  his  own  independence  and  comparative  freedom  from  re- 
sponsibilities as  superior  reasons  for  being  the  first  to  enter  active  service, 
and  he  was  soon  engaged  in  the  recruiting  of  a  company  of  Allegan  county 
men  for  the  cavalry  service.  This  became  Company  L  of  the  Fourth 
Michigan  Cavalry,  of  which  he  was  commissioned  captain  August  13,  1862. 
His  military  career  was  brilliant.  In  active  service  through  the  south,  he 
was  promoted  from  captain  to  lieiitenant-colonel  of  his  famous  regiment, 
and  as  its  acting  commander  took  part  in  the  culminating  event  of  the 
war,  the  capture  of  the  deposed  president  of  the  Confederacy,  for  which 
achievement  he  was  brevetted  a  brigadier-general  of  the  United  States 
Volunteers.  The  capture  of  Jefferson  Davis  and  the  subsequent  contro- 
versy over  that  episode  made  General  Pritchard  a  national  figure.  For 
some  fifteen  years  after  the  war  the  capture  of  the  Confederate  president  in 
disguise  excited  a  profuse  and  often  bitter  discussion  between  the  partisans 
in  the  north  and  south.  In  General  Pritchard's  report  to  Washington  lie 
told  in  detail  the  story  of  the  capture  of  Davis,  and  some  fifteen  years  later 
he  felt  it  proper  to  say  a  final  word  concerning  his  part  in  the  matter.  The 
article  which  he  then  wrote,  and  which  was  published  in  the  Allegan 
Journal,  is  still  in  his  judgment  the  most  accurate  version  of  the  affair. 
This  account,  which  has  not  before  been  published  in  the  history  of  the 
county,  has  been  deemed  of  sufficient  importance  to  be  reproduced  in  its  es- 
sential details,  and  is  quoted  at  the  conclusion  of  this  personal  sketch. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  General  Pritchard  returned  to  Allegan  and 
resumed  practice  of  law  with  Mr.  Williams.  Rut  as  elsewhere  stated. 
General  Pritchard's  success  had  been  gained  principally  in  other  lines  than 
the  law.  In  public  life  he  has  been  eminent.  In  t866  he  was  elected  on 
the  Republican  ticket  commissioner  of  the  state  land  office,  being  re-elected 
two  years  later.  He  was  elected  state  treasurer  of  Michigan  in  1878.  also 
holding  this  office  two  terms. 

In  business  General  Pritchard  is  best  known  as  a  banker.  In  1870 
he  organized  the  First  National  Bank  of  Allegan  and  was  its  presi- 
dent imtil  1905,  since  which  time  he  has  been  president  of  the  First  State 
Bank,  as  mentioned  on  other  pages  of  this  work.  He  also  owns  a  farm 
south  of  the  village,  and  keeps  in  active  touch  with  these  and  many  other 
interests. 

In  1864  General  Pritchard  married,  in  Ohio,  Miss  Mary  B.  Kent,  a 
native  of  that  state.  Mrs.  Pritchard  died  in  1890,  leaving  two  children. 
Bertha  P.,  wife  of  C.  R.  Wilkes,  of  Allegan,  and  Harrv  D.,  cashier  of  the 
First  State  Bank.  The  latter  married  Miss  Gale  Wheeler,  of  Allegan,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Dudley  H.  and  Kent  B. 

General  PriWhard  is  one  of  the  prominent  Odd  Fellows  of  the  state, 
havine  been  grand  treasurer  of  the  order  for  the  past  twentv-five  years. 


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66  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

He  is  a  charter  member  of  Bassett  Post  No.  56,  G.  A.  R.,  having  served 
several  terms  as  its  commander. 

Gen.  B.  D.  Pritchard's  Account  of  the  Capture  of  Jeff  Davis. — 
The  orders  under  which  I  acted  were  received  from  Col.  R.  H.  G,  Miiity, 
commanding  the  second  division  of  the  cavalry  corps,  military  division' of 
the  Mississippi,  and  from  whom,  on  the  afternoon  of  Sunday,  May  7,  1865, 
I  received  direct  orders  to  report  immediately  to  him  in  person  for  instruc- 
tions. On  my  arrival  he  detailed  to  me  the  information  received  by  Gen- 
eral Wilson  from  his  forces  in  the  direction  of  Augusta,  regarding  the 
movements  southward  of  the  principal  parties  connected  with  the  Con- 
federate government  and  the  desire  to  effect  their  capture,  if  possible,  direct- 
ing me  to  proceed  with  my  regiment,  the  4th  Michigan  cavalry,  from  its 
crip  near  Macon,  Georgia,  down  the  southerly  side  of  the  Ocmulgee  river 
a  listance  of  75  or  100  miles,  to  take  possession  of  all  the  fords  arid  ferries 
tJlow  Hawkinsvihe,  and  to  picket  the  river  and  scout  the  country  north  and 
south  of  the  river  as  thoroughly  as  the  strength  of  my  command  would 
permit.  Certain  places  appearing  upon  the  maps  were  thought  to  be  de- 
sirable points  for  establishing  the  headquarters  of  my  regiment,  but  that 
matter  was  left  to  my  own  discretion  upon  arriving  upon  the  grouiid ;  and, 
if  pursuit  became  necessary,  I  was  authorized  to  disregard  all  points  and 
communications,  and  pursue  as  far  as  might  be  deemed  necessary  even  to 
the  gulf  or  the  ocean.  In  obedience  to  the  orders  above  stated,  which  were 
verbal  and  sfrictly  secret,  I  moved  with  my  command  from  camp  at  Macon 
at  8  o'clock  the  same  evening,  pursuing  the  main  highway  leading  down  the 
south  side  of  the  Ocmulgee  river,  in  the  general  direction  therewith,  leav- 
ing everything  in  camp  which  might  in  any  way  impede  our  free  and  rapid 
movemert.  As  this  article  is  not  intended  to  describe  in  detail  the  inci- 
dents of  the  march,  I  will  simply  say  that  we  pressed  forward  by  rapid 
forced  marches,  night  and  day,  only  halting  long  enough  to  feed  and  rest 
our  horses,  until  on  the  9th  day  of  May  at  3  o'clock  p.  m.,  when  we  arrived 
at  Abbyville,  75  miles  from  Macon,  where  we  first  struck  the  trail  of  what 
proved  to  be  the  train  of  the  Davis  party,  and  which  had  gone  on  in  the 
direction  of  Irwinsville  the  night  before.  Here  we  also  met  Lieut. -Colonel 
Harnden,  commanding  a  detachment  of  the  tst  Wisconsin  cavalry,  with 
whom  a  brief  consultation  was  held,  when  it  was  decided  that  we  could 
not  plan  any  concerted  action  for  the  two  commands,  and  that  each  had 
better  act  independently ;  and  then  we  separated.  Col.  Harnden  with  his 
command  pursuing  the  train  on  the  direct  road  to  Irwinsville  with  the 
announced  intention  on  his  part  of  pressing  through  to  that  place  that  night 
before  going  into  camp.  I  continued  my  march  down  the  river  after  sending 
Company  H  of  my  regiment,  under  Lieut.  Fisk,  to  take  possession  of 
Brown's  ferry,  one  mile  and  a  half  above  Abbyville. 

After  moving  three  miles  further  we  met  persons  who  gave  us  addi- 
tional information  regarding  the  character  of  the  train,  and  also  of  the  roads. 
Learning  that  there  was  another  road  leading  into  Irwinsville  from  a  point 
known  as  Wilcox's  Mills,  about  15  miles  below  Abbyville,  I  decided  to 
press  forward  by  this  road  in  the  direction  of  Irwinsville,  believing  that 
if  Mr.  Davis  was  traveling  apart  from  the  train,  as  he  was  reported  as 
doing,  communicating  with  it  from  time  to  time,  he  would  be  likely  to  be 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUKTY  67 

traveling  on  the  road  which  I  proposed  to  take;  and  if  Col.  Harnden  pressed 
through  to  Irwinsville  as  he  expected  to  when  we  separated  we  would 
place  them  between  us  and  thus  greatly  increase  the  chances  of  a  capture. 
I  accordingly  ordered  a  detail  of  150  of  the  best  mounted  men  of  my  regi- 
ment, and  seven  officers  beside  myself,  but  the  full  detail  of  enlisted  men 
was  not  filled  owing  to  the  jaded  condition  of  the  horses.  At  4  o'clock 
I  put  the  column  in  motion,  moving  still  down  the  river  road  a  distance 
of  12  miles  to  Wilcox's  Mills,  where  a  halt  of  one  hour  was  made  to  feed 
and  cool  the  horses.  From  thence  we  proceeded  by  a  blind  woods  road 
through  an  almost  unbroken  pine  forest  for  a  distance  of  eighteen  miles,  to 
Irwinsville,  where  we  arrived  at  about  i  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  May 
lOth.  The  roads  were  first  closely  examined  in  all  directions,  bnt  no  traces 
could  be  discovered  of  the  passage  of  a  train  or  a  mounted  force,  at  which, 
we  were  much  surprised,  as  we  had  confidently  expected  to  either  meet 
Col.  Harnden  at  that  point  or  fall  in  rear  of  his  command  and  concluded  at 
first  that  the  train  must  have  taken  some  other  course ;  but,  upon  inquiry, 
and  passing  ourselves  as  Confederates,  we  soon  learned  that  a  considerable 
party  had  gone  into  camp  just  at  dark  the  evening  before,  about  a  mile  and 
a  half  out  of  town  on  the  Abbyville  road.  I  at  first  thought  it  must  be  the  ■ 
ist  Wisconsin,  but  upon  furdier  inquiry  learned  that  they  had  tents  and 
wagons  which  I  knew  was  not  the  case  with  Col.  Harnden's  command.  I 
at  once  turned  the  head  of  the  colurnn  in  that  direction,  impressing  a  negro 
for  a  guide,  moving  my  command  up  to  within  about  a  half  mile  of  the- 
camp,  where  I  halted  under  cover  of  a  small  eminence  and  dismounted  25 
men  and  sent  them  under  command  of  Lieut.  Purinton.  with  instructions- 
to  make  the  circuit  of  the  camp  and  gain  a  position  on  the  road  in  rear  of 
the  enemy,  to  cut  off  escape  in  that  direction,  to  gain  the  position  desig- 
nated, undiscovered  if  possible,  hut,  if  discovered  and  alarm  was  raised.  I 
would  charge  the  camp  from  the  front,  and  he  was  to  move  upon  the 
camp  from  any  position  he  might  then  hold ;  but  if  no  alarm  was  raised  I 
should  take  it  for  granted  that  he  had  successfully  executed  his  orders, 
where  he  should  remain  quiet  until  I  should  assault  the  camp,  as  I  had  not 
then  decided  whether  I  would  attack  at  once  or  delay  until  the  appearance 
of  daylight — but  finally  determined  upon  the  latter  course  as  the  moon  was 
getting  low  and  the  deep  shadows  of  the  forest  would  render  it  easy  for 
parties  to  elude  us  in  the  darkness.  After  waiting  in  our  position  about 
an  hour  and  a  half,  and  until  the  appearance  of  early  dawn,  I  put  the  col- 
umn quietly  in  motion  and  was  enabled  to  approach  within  a  very  few 
rods  of  the  tents  before  discovery,  when  a  charge  was  ordered,  and  in  an 
instant  the  camp,  with  its  inmates,  was  wholly  within  our  power  without 
the  necessity  of  firing  a  shot.  The  surprise  was  so  complete  that  not  the 
slightest  show  of  resistance  was  made.  th6  men  not  even  having  time  to 
grasp  their  weapons  which  were  lying  at  their  sides.  The  camp  was  located 
in  the  thick  pine  forest  close  by  a  small  swamp.  A  chain  of  mounted  sen- 
tries, composed  of  a  force  specially  designated  for  that  duty,  swept  rapidly 
around  the  camp  on  the  instant  when  the  main  force  dashed  into  it,  thus 
barring  all  possibility  of  escape  after  the  comoletion  of  the  circuit.  This 
chain  of  sentries,  under  the  command  of  an  officer,  were  to  maintain  their 
position  until  all  of  the  prisoners  were  gathered  in  and  placed  under  guard. 
Immediately  after  taking  possession  of  the  camp  my  adjutant,  Lieut.  Dick- 


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(iS  HISTORY  OV  ALLEGAX  COUXTY 

inson,  notified  me  that  there  were  ladies  in  the  tent,  when  I  directed  him  te- 
station guards  at  each  of  the  tents  and  allow  none  of  the  men  to  enter 
them.  All  of  the  men  with  the  party,  except  Mr.  Davis,  I  believe,  were 
sleeping  on  their  blankets  outside  of  the  tents  in  different  parts  of  the  camp, 
partially  undressed,  and  as  soon  as  they  were  aroused  sprang  from  their 
beds  and  were  immediately  placed  under  guard  and  allowed  time  to  put  on 
the  balance  of  their  clothing,  which  consumed  several  minutes,  after  which 
the  prisoners  were  gathered  together  and  placed  under  a  regular  detailed 
guard.  But  before  this  was  fully  completed,  and  before  any  of  the  persons 
occup\ing  the  tents  had  completed  their  toilet  and  come  out.  or  a  list  of 
the  names  of  the  captured  parties  had  been  made  up,  a  volley  was  fired  down 
the  road  and  across  the  swamp  alluded  to.  and  about  eighty  or  one  hun- 
dred rods  north  of  the  cainp,  where  the  force  of  twenty-five  dismounted 
men  imder  Lieut.  Purinton  were  stationed.  I  at  once  ordered  the  men  to 
resume  their  places  in  the  column.  Leaving  Adjutant  Dickinson  with  a 
sufficient  force  in  camp  to  gather  the  rest  of  the  prisoners  in  and  guard 
them  until  my  return,  I  in  person  pushed  forward  across  the  swamp  with 
the  balance  of  the  command  to  the  aid  of  Lieut.  Purinton,  whom  I  sup- 
posed to  be  engaging  the  force  guarding  the  train,  but  which  proved  to  be 
the  ist  Wisconsin  cavalry  under  Col.  Hamden,  whose  men  had  come  upon 
the  force  under  Lietit.  Purinton.  and  through  a  misunderstanding  in  the 
challenge  and  response  each  had  taken  the  other  for  the  enemy,  it  still  be- 
ing so  dark  that  they  could  not  distinguish  the  uniform,  and  as  I  came  up 
the  road  in  column,  mounted,  we  received  a  raking  fire  from  a  dismounted 
force  concealed  behind  trees  and  logs  v.'hich  killed  one  man  and  severely 
wounded  Lieut.  Eoutlle.  This  sad  mistake  was  not  discovered  until  two 
men  were  killed  in  the  4th  Michigan  cavalry  and  eight  or  ten  men  wounded 
in  the  rst  Wisconsin  cavalry.  As  soon  as  the  firing  ceased.  I  returned  to 
the  camp  and  as  I  recrossed  the  swamp  T  was  met  by  Lieut.  Dickinson,  who, 
in  a  hurried  way,  informed  me  that  he  had  carried  out  my  order,  and 
who  said  we  had  captured  an  oldish  man  whom  he  believed  was  Jeff  Davis, 
and  that  he  came  out  of  one  of  the  tents  dressed  up  in  woman's  clothes  and 
attempted  to  escape  as  a  woman.  I  got  the  impression  that  Mr.  Davis  had 
refused  to  reveal  his  name  up  to  that  time,  but  will  not  be  positive  on  that 
point. 

I  rode  on  up  to  the  point  where  the  prisoners  were  gathered  under 
guard,  and,  as  I  approached  them,  I  was  accosted  by  this  man,  who  proved 
to  be  Mr.  Davis,  with  the  inquiry  if  I  was  the  oiiiicer  in  command,  I  re- 
plied that  I  was,  and  asked  him  in  return  whom  I  was  to  call  him.  He  re- 
plied that  I  might  "call  him  what,  or  whoever  I  pleased."  when  I  replied 
that  I  would  call  him  Davis ;  and  after  a  moment's  hesitation  he  said,  "That 
is  my  name."  He  then  drew  himself  up  in  a  very  dignified  and  imposing 
manner  and  exclaimed,  "I  suppose  you  consider  it  bravery  to  charge  a  train 
of  defenseless  women  and  children,  but  it  is  theft,  it  is  vandalism,"  Davis 
had  thrown  off  the  garments  constituting  his  disguise,  and  was  clad  in  a 
suit  of  Confederate  gray  at  the  time  of  my  meeting  him.  I  then  proceeded 
to  take  an  inventory  of  our  capture,  when  I  ascertained  that  we  had  cap- 
tured Jeffer.son  Davis,  wife  and  four  children;  John  H.  Reagan,  his  po.'^t- 
master  general ;  Cols.  Johnson  and  Lubbock,  aides-de-camp  on  Davis'  staff : 
Burton  N.  Harrison,  his  private  secretary ;  Major  Murand,  Capt.  and  Lieut. 


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HLSTORV  Ol'  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  G9 

Hathaway,  Jeff  D.  Howell,  brother  of  Mrs.  Davis,  and  midshipman  in  the 
rebel  navy;  thirteen  private  soldiers.  Miss  Maggie  Howell,  sister  of  Mrs. 
Davis;  two  waiting  maids  and  several  servants.  We  also  captured  five 
wagons,  three  ambulances,  about  fifteen  horses  and  twenty-five  or  thirty 
mules.  The  train  was  principally  loaded  with  commissary  stores  and  private 
baggage,  with  a  few  arms  and  a  few  boxes  of  fixed  ammunition.  After 
allowing  time  for  the  prisoners  to  breakfast,  we  started  on  our  return,  taking 
the  direct  road  back  to  Abbyville,  where  we  arrived  at  dark  on  the  evening 
of  the  same  day  and  encamped  for  the  night.  During  the  night  I  recalled 
the  remainder  of  my  regiment,  which  had  been  left  on  the  day  previous 
under  command  of  Captain  Hathaway  to  picket  the  line  of  the  Ocmulgee 
river  and  scout  the  country,  at  the  same  time  sending  carriers  forward  to 
Macon  announcing  the  results  of  our  expedition.  On  the  morning  of  the 
nth  we  resumed  our  march  in  the  direction  of  Macon,  and  on  the  after- 
noon of  that  day,  when  a  few  miles  below  Hawkinsville,  we  met  the  rest 
of  our  brigade  just  coming  out  from  Macon,  and  received  from  them  the 
first  knowledge  we  had  of  President  Johnson's  proclamation,  accompanied 
by  General  Wilson's  order  offering  a  reward  for  the  capture  of  Davis  and 
others.  Retaining  my  independent  command  I  continued  my  march  to- 
ward Macon,  hatting  for  the  night  two  or  three  miles  above  Hawkinsville. 
Moving  on  again  early  in  the  morning  of  the  I2th,  we  arrived  within  fifteen 
or  twenty  miles  of  Macon,  where  we  again  encamped  for  the  night. 

At  this  place  occurred  some  incidents  which  I  deem  sufficiently  impor- 
tant to  warrant  a  full  and  specific  statement.  It  will  be  remembered  by 
tliose  acquainted  with  the  fact  that  the  cavalry  command  under  General 
Wilson  had  drawn  no  regular  government  supplies  since  leaving  camp  on 
the  Tennesee  river  March  22d,  and  had  been  dependent  wholly  upon  the  re- 
sources of  the  country  for  substance,  and  my  command  was  expected  to  sub- 
sist by  foraging  while  on  this  expedition ;  but,  as  the  country  through  which 
we  passed  was  very  sparsely  settled  and  a  great  portion  of  the  land  covered 
with  pine  forests  and  unproductive,  we  found  it  very  difficult  to  gather  the 
necessary  supplies  for  our  men  and  horses,  and  my  men  were  really  in  a 
suffering  condition  for  food,  and  as  there  was  a  surplus  of  provisions  in  the 
train,  I  decided  to  distribute  that  surplus  among  my  men.  After  we  had 
got  settled  in  camp  that  evening,  I  went  to  Mr.  Davis  and  informed  him  of 
my  purpose,  requesting  him  to  have  his  cook  set  apart  from  his  supplies  a 
sufficient  quantity  to  fully  supply  his  party  for  a  certain  number  of  hours, 
by  which  time  we  would  reach  Macon,  when  they  could  be  amply  provided 
for,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis,  who  were  both  present  during  the  conversation, 
strenuously  objected  to  the  course  I  proposed,  arguing  that  all  the  supplies 
in  their  wagons  were  private  property,  and  that  I  had  no  right  to  take  them 
in  the  manner  proposed,  and  Mrs.  Davis  said  she  felt  certain  that  when  we 
got  to  General  Wilson's  headquarters  all  their  property  would  be  returned 
to  them  and  they  be  permitted  to  proceed  on  their  journey.  After  dis- 
cussing the  matter  in  rather  spirited  manner  for  a  little  time,  I  told  Mr. 
Davis  if  he  did  not  feel  disposed  to  have  his  servant  set  apart  the  necessary 
amount  of  supplies  I  would  direct  my  commissary  to  do  so,  after  which  I 
would  distribute  the  remainder.  Mr.  Davis  became  very  angry  at  that  and 
said  he  had  never  expected  to  be  compelled  to  undergo  such  indignities  as 
that,  and  if  he  could  have  got  possession  of  his  arms  at  the  time  of  his  cap- 


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ro  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

ture  he  would  not  have  been  compelled  to.  To  which  I  replied  (perhaps  a 
little  acrimoniously,  for  I  had  become  somewhat  irritated  at  his  course)  that 
I  did  not  think  the  garments  worn  by  him  on  that  occasion  were  particu- 
larly adapted  to  rapid  locomotion  or  the  use  of  fire  arms;  to  which  Mrs. 
Davis  retorted,  very  sharply,  saying:  'T  want  you  to  understand  distinctly 
that  Mr.  Davis  assumed  that  disguise  at  my  instance."  This  admission  of 
Mrs.  Davis  in  regard  to  her  husband's  disguise  was  wholly  voKmtary  and 
drawn  out  under  the  circumstances  above  staled,  and  was  the  first  con- 
versation which  I  had  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  in  person  in  regard  to  the 
disguise  worn  by  the  husband  at  the  time  of  the  capture,  and  is  the  same 
conversation  referred  to  by  General  Wilson  in  his  "Annals  of  the  War,"  as 
occurred  at  the  time  I  first  met  Mr.  Davis  in  camp,  immediately  after  the 
capture.  General  Wilson  is  correct  in  regard  to  the  substance  but  in  error 
as  to  time  and  place.  On  the  morning  of  the  13th  we  resumed  our  march 
and  arrived  at  Macon  at  three  o'clock  p.  m.,  and  received  orders  from  Gen- 
eral Wilson  to  provide  myself  with  a  detail  of  three  officers  and  twenty 
men  from  my  regiment  and  prepare  to  start  for  Washington  at  once  in 
charge  of  the  Davis  party.  We  left  Macon  by  special  railway  train  at 
seven  o'clock  p.  m.,  having  turned  over  all  private  soldiers  captured  with 
the  Davis  party  e^xcept  two,  and  receiving  an  accession  of  Clement  C.  Clay 
and  wife.  Proceeding  by  the  way  of  Atlanta  we  reached  Augusta  at  sun- 
set May  14th,  and  there  received  Alexander  H.  Stephens  and  General 
Wheeler  and  staff,  of  the  rebel  army,  whom  I  also  took  through  as  pris- 
oners. We  then  proceeded  by  boat  via  Savannah  and  Hilton  Head  to 
Fortress  Monroe,  where  we  arrived  at  noon  on  the  19th  day  of  May. 
Anchoring  out  in  the  harbor,  I  proceeded  in  person  on  shore  and  telegraphed 
the  adjutant  general  notice  of  my  arrival  and  received  orders  to  remain  at 
anchor  off  shore  and  wait  further  orders.  We  remained  on  board  ship  until 
the  22d  of  May,  disposing  meanwhile  of  all  the  prisoners  excepting  Davis, 
Clay,  and  families,  as  per  orders  from  the  secretary  of  war.  On  the  after- 
noon of  May  22d  Davis  and  Clay  were  transferred  to  the  casement  of 
Fortress  Monroe  and  mvself  and  men  assigned  to  quarters  within  the  fort, 
Mrs.  Davis  and  children  and  Mrs.  Clav  still  remaining  on  board  the  steamer 
Clyde. 

Aley  Rossman  was  for  many  years  a  prominent  and  honored  resident 
of  Allegan  and  his  life  was  one  of  such  signal  usefulness  to  his  fellowmen 
as  to  cause  his  death  to  be  the  occasion  of  deep  and  widespread  regret.  At 
all  times  he  was  mindful  of  the  public  interests  and  his  efforts  were  of 
direct  benefit  in  the  community.  Bom  in  Aurelius  township.  Cayuga 
county,  New  York,  on  the  14th  of  June.  1812,  he  was  a  son  of  George 
and  Ruth  (Wood)  Rossman,  natives  of  New  York  and  Canada  respectively. 
The  father  had  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  his  life 
was  devoted  to  farming  and  mechanical  pursuits.  On  leaving  the  Emnire 
state  he  removed  to  Ohio  at  an  early  day  and  his  wife  died  there  in  Madison 
county.  Subsequently  he  returned  to  New  York  and  his  death  occurred 
at  Mount  Morris  in  Genesee  countv. 

Alby  Rossman,  the  youngest  of  the  six  children,  was  thus  early  left 
an  orphan  and  was  eight  years  of  age  when  he  went  to  live  with  a  sister 
at  Springport,   New  York,   where  he  remained   for  a  year,   during  which 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY  71 

time  lie  attended  a  school  that  was  two  miles  distant  from  his  home.  After 
leaving  his  sister  he  went  to  Auburn,  New  York,  and  was  there  appren- 
ticed to  learn  the  trade  of  a  machinist.  He  worked  in  a  furnace  and 
machine  shop  for  three  years  and  afterward  continued  at  his  trade  as  a 
journeyman  until  1836.  In  that  year  he  came  to  Michigan,  locating  first 
at  Marshall,  Calhoun  county,  where  he  remained  for  six  months,  during 
which  time  he  buiit  and  operated  a  furnace.  In  it  iie  ran  the  first  iron  and 
cast  the  first  plow  made  in  Michigan.  He  then  came  to  Allegan  and  estab- 
lished a  furnace,  in  which  he  made  the  first  sled  manufactured  in  this 
county.  Subsequently  he  enlarged  the  scope  of  his  activities  by  adding  to 
his  plant  a  machine  shop,  which  he  established  and  conducted  in  connection 
with  his  furnace  for  twenty-nine  years.  He  was  thus  a  most  prominent  factor 
in  industrial  life  of  the  community  and  he  belonged  to  that  class  of  represent- 
ative men  who,  whiJe  promoting  individual  interests,  also  advance  the  general 
welfare.  After  continuing  in  the  machinist's  business  for  twenty-nine  years 
he  sold  out  and  built  a  small  store  and  several  houses.  He  was  one  of  a 
company  that  erected  the  Chaffee  Block,  which  at  that  time  was  the  finest 
in  the  village.  In  1869,  however,  the  building  was  destroyed  by  fire  and 
he  thus  suffered  a  severe  loss.  In  that  year  he  removed  to  his  farm  which 
he  had  purchased  of  the  Boston  Company,  and  he  laid  out  fifteen  acres 
in  village  lots  called  the  Rossman  addition.  He  was  thus  connected  with 
the  material  development  of  the  city  and  his  labors  were  of  immense  benefit 
in  its  growth  and  progress.  Moreover  he  figured  prominently  in  other 
ways  in  connection  with  the  welfare  and  progress  of  the  town.  He  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace  and  held  the  office  for  five  years,  rendering 
decisions  which  were  strictly  fair  and  impartial  and  won  him  the  commenda- 
tion of  all  law-abiding  citizens.  He  also  served  as  aklemian  and  village 
marshal  and  was  superintendent  of  the  water  works,  the  building  of  which 
was  done  under  his  supervision. 

Mr.  Rossman  was  married  in  1832  to  Miss  Angeline  Dickinson,  a 
native  of  New  York,  and  unto  them  were  born  two  children.  The  son, 
George  W.,  married  Elizabeth  Newcomb,  of  Ganges,  Michigan,  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Jane  (Harrison)  Newcomb.  who  were  natives  of  England. 
George  W.  Rossman  passed  away  in  January,  1889,  and  his  wife  died  in 
September  of  the  same  year.  They  left  one  daughter,  Kate  E.,  who  is 
now  the  wife  of  Franz  Le  Isle,  of  Allegan  and  she  has  two  children, 
Elizabeth  Camilla  and  Mary  Rossman.  Mary  A.  Rossman  is  the  widow  of 
Captain  Frederick  Hart,  who  was  the  secretary  of  the  Michigan  State  In- 
.surance  Company  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  T877,  and  he  won  his  titte  as 
captain  of  the  Adrian  Guards.  He  was  also  prominent  in  Masonry  and 
attained  the  Knight  Templar  degree.  In  1848  Mr.  Rossman  was  called  upon 
to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  first  wife.  He  afterward  wedded  Mrs.  Electa 
Dickinson,  the  widow  of  George  W.  Dickinson.  Mrs.  Ttickinson  had  a 
daughter,  Cynthia,  now  the  wife  of  Henry  C.  Smith.  Mrs.  Rossman's 
parents  were  Chester  and  Cynthia  (Granger)  Hooker,  natives  of  Cayuga 
county,  New  York.  She  has  three  grandchildren.  Dr.  Charles  H.  Smith, 
of  Chattanooga,  Tennesee,  married  Edith  Hyde  and  has  one  son,  Lawrence 
H. ;  Annie  E.,  the  wife  of  G.  H.  Buchanan,  by  whom  she  has  three 
children,  A.  Louisa,  Laura  E.  and  Lillian  Lucile;  and  Glenn  D,,  married 
Louie  Myers,  of  Springfield,  Ohio,  and  they  have  one  son,  Roger  L. 


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73  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Mr.  Rossmaii  was  a  strong  advocate  of  Democracy,  giving  unfalter- 
ing support  to  the  party  from  the  time  he  cast  his  first  presidential  ballot 
for  Andrew  Jackson.  His  last  vote  was  cast  for  Grover  Cleveland.  He 
was  a  most  liberal  and  public -spirited  man  and  contributed  largely  to  the 
erection  of  the  churches  and  schools  of  his  community,  being  deeply  inter- 
ested in  everything  pertaining  to  tbe  upbuilding  and  welfare  of  village 
and  county.  He  died  in  Ailegan  in  1893,  at  the  age  of  eighty— a  most 
venerable  and  honored  man,  whose  life  at  all  times  had  commanded  the 
confidence,  trust  and  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens  and  who  left  behind  him 
an  untarnished  name. 

E.  C.  RovvE,  whose  intense  and  well  directed  activity  have  made  him 
one  of  the  prominent  business  men  of  Allegan  county,  is  one  of  the 
stockholders  iy  the  Rowe  Brothers  Manufacturing  Company.  This  enter- 
prise is  of  the  utmost  value  in  the  town  as  a  factor  in  its  commercial  and 
industrial  actinty,  and  in  the  management  of  the  business  Mr.  Rowe  has 
displayed  thoiough  understanding  of  the  trade  in  its  practical  branches  as 
well  as  keen  business  discernment  that  residts  in  securing  upon  the  market 
a  ready  sale  of  the  product.  His  life  record  began  in  Hastings  township, 
Barry  county,  Michigan.  FTis  father,  Joseph  Rowe,  was  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, and  when  a  young  man  sailed  for  America.  On  the  voyage  he  was 
married  on  shipboard  to  Elizabeth  Watson,  and,  bringing  his  bride  to 
Michigan,  he  resided  for  some  time  in  Barry  county,  where  he  followed  the 
trade  of  a  stone  mason,  which  he  had  learned  in  his  native  land.  He  is 
now  engaged  in  that  business  in  Grand  Rapids.  In  the  family  are  two 
sons  and  two  daughters,  E.  G.  Rowe  being  the  youngest.  The  others  in 
order  of  birth  are:    Mrs.  Minnie  Fry,  Mrs.  Hattie  Cable  and  J,  Henry. 

At  the  usual  age  E.  C.  Rowe  began  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
near  his  father's  home,  and  when  he  had  put  aside  his  text-books  he  learned 
the  trade  of  spindle  carving  at  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  in  which  he  con- 
tinued for  seven  years.  During  the  last  three  years  of  that  time  he  was 
in  business  on  his  own  account  as  a  partner  in  the  Furniture  City  Dowel 
Company,  at  Grand  Rapids.  At  length  the  partnership  was  dissolved  and 
Mr.  Rowe  and  brother  removed  the  machinery  to  Allegan,  where  he  organ- 
ized the  Rowe  Brothers  Manufacturing  Company,  being  associated  with 
his  brother,  J.  Henry.  After  a  short  time,  however,  the  latter  sold  his 
interest.  The  incorporation  took  place  in  1905  with  L  P.  Griswokl  as 
president;  J,  Henry  Rowe,  vice-president  and  manager;  Dr.  C.  W.  Young, 
secretary,  and  Fred  I.  Chichester,  treasurer.  In  1906  the  following  officers 
were  elected:  B.  B.  Sutphin,  president;  Dr.  William  E.  Rowe,  vice-presi- 
dent; Dr.  C.  W.  Young,  secretary;  Fred  I.  Chichester,  treasurer,  and  E.  C. 
Rowe,  manager.  The  company  does  all  kinds  of  wood  work,  spindle  work 
and  carving,  and  has  a  well  equipped  plant  supplied  with  the  latest  improved 
machinery  necessary  for  work  along  this  line.  Its  product  is  now  quite 
extensive  and  is  found  to  be  most  salable,  for  there  is  a  constant  demand 
for  the  output. 

Mr.  Rowe  was  married  in  Grand  Rapids,  in  1903,  to  Irene  Brannam. 
who  was  bom  irt  Lake  City.  They  now  have  one  daughter,  Eva  E.,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  Allegan.  Mr.  Rowe  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  interested 
in  the  success  and  growth  of  his  party,  yet  not  desiring  office  for  himself. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUXTY  73 

Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the  Maccabees.  He  is  regarded  as  one 
of  the  leading  young  men  of  the  village,  energetic  and  enterprising,  with 
keen  insight  into  business  conditions  and  ready  recognition  of  opportuni- 
ties, all  of  which  characteristics  combine  to  make  him  a  successful  man. 

Edwy  Campbell  Reid,  whose  energy  reaches  out  to  many  fields  of 
activity  wherein  the  general  public  has  benefited,  while  at  the  same  time 
he  has  promoted  individual  success,  is  now  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
Allegan  Gazette,  and  is  recognized  as  a  man  of  influence,  who  has  had 
much  to  do  with  molding  pubiic  thought  and  opinion.  He  has  been  par- 
ticularly prominent  in  locai  political  circles  and  at  the  present  writing  is 
serving  as  postmaster  of  Allegan.  Born  in  Brantford,  Ontario,  Canada,  he 
is  descended  in  the  paternal  line  from  ancestors  who  through  several  gen- 
erations had  lived  in  New  Jersey.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  Norfolkshire. 
England.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Reid  removed  from  Canada  to  Michigan 
when  he  was  eighteen  months  old,  so  that  his  education  was  acquired  in 
the  Peninsular  state,  which  has  been  the  scene  of  all  of  his  business  experi- 
ence. He  attended  the  schools  of  Otsego.  Allegan  comity,  to  the  age  of 
sixteen  years,  when  he  put  aside  his  text-books  and  entered  upon  an  ap- 
prenticeship at  the  Otsego  Herald.  Since  that  time  his  work  has  been  mainly 
in  the  newspaper  field,  in  which  he  has  been  successively  part  owner  and 
publisher  of  the  Otsego  Record,  compositor  on  the  Kalamoj^oo  Telegraph, 
foreman  in  the  office  of  the  Allegan  Democrat,  foreman  of  the  Allegan 
Jotimal,  and  finally  partner  and  publisher,  with  Don  C.  Henderson,  of  the 
last  named  paper.  Thus  he  made  consecutive  advancement,  becoming  well 
known  in  the  field  of  journalism,  as  each  forward  step  brought  him  a 
broader  outlook  and  great  opportunities,  which  he  has  greatly  improved. 
On  the  first  of  April,  1882,  the  partnership  with  Mr.  Henderson  was  dis- 
solved and  with  the  aid  of  friends  Mr.  Reid  established  the  Allegan  Gazette, 
which  he  has  since  built  up  into  a  prosperous  and  influential  journal. 
Allegan  is  near  enough  the  center  of  the  Michigan  southern  fruit  belt  to 
make  horticulture  an  important  interest  here,  and  Mr.  Reid  has  been  closely 
identified  with  the  industry.  He  has  given  much  attention  in  his  paper 
to  the  subject  of  fruit  growing  and  marketing,  and  has  thus  disseminated 
many  useful  ideas  among  the  horticulturists  of  this  part  of  the  state.  He 
is,  moreover,  personally  deeply  interested  in  the  subject  and  was  for  many 
years  secretary  of  the  State  Horticultural  Society,  and  has  been  one  of 
the  most  efficient  promoters  of  the  fine  exhibits  made  by  that  society  at 
the  state  fairs  and  at  the  Detroit  Exposition. 

In  politics  Mr.  Reid  has  always  been  a  Republican.  He  has  been 
active  in  committee  and  convention  work  in  his  own  vicinity  and  his  opin- 
ions have  frequently  been  decisive  factors  in  the  settlement  of  some  im- 
portant questions.  He  has  also  been  a  frequent  attendant  at  state  conven- 
tions, either  as  a  delegate  or  in  his  newspaper  capacity.  His  fellow  towns- 
men have  called  him  to  various  positions  of  public  trust  and  honor.  He  was 
for  eight  years  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  state  asylum  for 
the  insane  at  Ionia  and  acted  as  president  of  the  board  a  portion  of  that 
time.  In  June,  1898,  he  was  appointed  by  President  McKinley  oostmaster 
at  Allegan  and  by  re- appointment  of  President  Roosevelt  still  fills  the 
position  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  general  public.     He  is  the  censor 


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7-t  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY 

of  the  county  political  boss  in  the  Republican  party  and  is  a  man  of  much 
prominence  whose  influence  is  widely  felt  and  who  always  stands  for 
public  improvement  and  progress. 

Mr.  Reid  was  married,  in  1876,  to  Miss  M.  A.  Borradaile,  of  Sodus, 
New  York,  who  died  June  to,  1906.  leaving  two  children.  Mr.  Reid  is 
an  active  and  helpful  member  of  the  Congregational  church  at  Allegan,  and 
affiliates  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Foresters,  the 
Maccabees  and  the  United  Workmen.  He  is  likewise  a  member  of  the 
executive  committee  of  the  Michigan  Republican  Press  Association.  His 
clear  views  and  sound  judgment,  his  thorough  understanding  of  existing 
conditions  in  business  and  political  circles,  and  his  desire  for  permanent 
improvement  and  development,  supplemented  by  untiring  effort  along  those 
lines  have  made  Mr.  Reid  one  of  the  influential  and  representative  men 
of  Allegan  county,  while  a  cordial  disposition  and  social  nature  have 
rendered  him  popular  with  his  fellow  townsmen, 

Frank  Hawlky  Williams  is  serving  for  the  third  term  as  judge  of 
the  probate  court  of  Allegan  county,  and  is  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
State  Association  of  Probate  Judges.  He  has  a  wide  and  favorable 
acquaintance  throughout  Michigan,  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  dis- 
tinguished citizens  of  Allegan  countv,  who  has  left  and  is  leaving  the  im- 
press of  his  individuality  upon  public  thought  and  action  for  the  better- 
ment of  the  interests  of  this  part  of  the  state.  His  record  stands  in  contra- 
distinction to  the  old  adage  that  "a  prophet  is  not  without  honor  save  in  his 
own  country."  and  therefore  there  is  particular  interest  attaching  to  his 
career  since  he  is  a  native  son  of  the  place  where  he  has  passed  his  entire 
life  and  so  directed  his  ability  and  force  as  to  gain  recognition  as  one  of 
the  representative  citizens  of  the  county.  He  is  actively  connected  with 
the  profession  which  has  important  bearing  upon  the  progress  and  stable 
prosperity  of  anv  section  or  community  and  one  which  is  considered  as  con- 
serving the  Dublic  welfare  by  furthering  the  ends  of  justice  and  lUaintaining 
individual  riehts. 

Judge  Williams  was  born  in  Allegan,  July  12,  1864.' and  is  a  grandson 
of  Deacon  Erastus  Williams,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of 
Massachusetts.  The  grandfather  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  at  one 
time  lived  at  Stockbridge,  Massachusetts,  but  subsequently  removed  to 
Pittsfield,  New  York,  about  1822.  He  served  as  captain  of  a  volunteer 
company  at  Stockbridge  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Elizabeth  Lumley,  was  a  native  of  Wales. 

Their  son.  the  late  William  B.  Williams,  the  father  of  the  judge,  was 
born  in  Pittsfield.  Monroe  countv.  New  York.  July  28,  1826.  and  died  in 
Allegan  on  the  4th  of  March.  lOOS-  He  acquired  a  common-school  educa- 
tion in  his  native  state  and  also  attended  the  high  school  at  Pittsfield,  In 
early  manhood  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits  through  the  summer 
months,  while  in  the  winter  seasons  he  engaged  in  teaching.  In  1850  he 
entered  upon  the  study  of  law  in  Rochester,  New  York,  and  in  rS^T  was 
graduated  from  an  institution  then  known  as  the  State  and  National  Law 
School,  at  Ballston  Spa.  In  the  soring  of  1852  he  became  a  partner  in  a 
law  firm,  with  which  he  had  studied  for  two  years,  and  in  January,  T8s=i,  he 
removed    to   Allegan,    where   he    remained    until    his    death,    continuing    in 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUXTY  75 

active  practice  of  his  profession  until  about  three  years  prior  to  his  demise. 
In  1856  he  was  elected  judge  of  probate  of  Allegan  county  and  was  re- 
elected in  i860.  In  August,  1862,  thinking  that  his  first  duty  was  to  his 
country,  he  enHsted  as  a  private  of  Company  B,  19th  Michigan  infantry, 
of  which  he  was  elected  first  lieutenant.  Before  reaching  the  rendezvous  of 
the  regiment  he  was  ordered  to  bring  a  company  to  Detroit  and  as  Company 
I  of  this  command  was  attached  to  the  5th  Michigan  cavalry  with  Captain 
Williams  in  command.  In  1863  he  resigned  on  account  of  physical  dis- 
ability caused  by  serious  illness,  and  in  1864,  as  commander  in  camp,  he  or- 
ganized the  28th  Michigan  infantry,  of  which  he  w^s  in  charge  until  the 
regiment  left  for  the  front,  when  he  was  appointed  by  the  governor  to 
take  the  vote  of  the  regiment  and  that  of  Michigan  soldiers  at  Louisville, 
Kentucky.  He  was  also  appointed  a  member  of  the  Iioard  of  visitors  of 
the  University  of  Michigan. 

In  1866  he  was  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket  to  represent  the  Alle- 
gan district  in  the  state  senate,  and  in  the  spring  of  1867  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  state  constitutional  convention  and  aided  in  framing  the 
organic  law  of  the  commonwealth.  He  served  in  that  body  as  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  miscellaneous  provisions  and  was  on  the  committee  of  the 
judiciary.  As  a  member  of  the  latter  he  submitted  a  proposition  for  a  di- 
vision of  the  state  into  judicial  circuits  for  the  purpose  of  providing  three 
judges  for  each  circuit  which  should  alternate  with  one  another  in  holding 
terms  of  court  en  banc  which  would  relieve  the  supreme  court  of  a  very 
large  amount  of  business  at  a  very  little  expense.  After  some  slight 
changes  this  proposition  was  adopted  by  the  committee  and  became  a  part 
of  the  ill-fated  constitution  of  1867.  In  1868  Mr.  Williams  was  re-elected 
a  member  of  the  state  senate  and  served  in  that  body  as  president  pro  tem 
and  as  chairman  of  the  judiciary  committee.  He  was  very  active  in  the 
senate  in  this  term,  being  recognized  as  one  of  its  leaders  and  leaving  the 
impress  of  his  individuality  upon  the  legislation  that  was  enacted  during 
that  time.  In  1868  he  was  made  a  delegate  to  the  national  convention  at 
Chicago,  and  in  1872  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  what  is  now  known 
as  the  state  board  of  corrections  and  charities,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
for  about  two  years.  Following  the  death  of  Congressman  Foster  he  was 
elected  to  congress  by  the  Republicans  of  the  fifth  district  and  served  for 
two  terms,  retiring  on  the  expiration  of  that  period,  on  the  4th  of  March. 
1877.  In  1843  he  was  a  member  of  the  committee  of  the  Pacific  Railroad. 
In  May,  1877,  he  was  appointed  commissioner  of  railroads  of  the  state  of 
Michigan  and  held  the  office  for  about  six  years.  He  was  a  Republican  from 
1855  until  his  death,  and  prior  to  the  organization  of  the  partv  he  was  a 
Whig,  casting  his  first  presidential  ballot  for  General  Winfield  Scott,  and 
loyalty  and  patriotism  guided  his  every  public  act  and  he  had  the  keen  com- 
mon sense  that  enabled  him  to  use  the  practical  means  at  hand  in  working 
toward  the  ideal,  so  that  he  accomplished  results  and  oromoted  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  commonwealth.  He  held  membership  in  C.  J.  Bassett  Post 
No.  56,  G.  A.  R.,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Episcooal  church. 
serving  as  vestryman  of  the  church  in  Allegan  from  1858  until  his  demise. 
He  was  also  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Ackley  Institute,  a 
church  school  at  Grand  Haven.  Michigan,  for  young  ladies,  acting  in  that 
capacity  from  the  organization  of  the  institution. 


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76  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY 

In  Rochester,  New  York,  in  September,  1855,  William  B.  Williams 
was  married  to  Miss  Marietta  Osborn,  a  niece  of  N'eheraiah  Osborn,  the 
buiMer  of  the  city  hail  in  Detroit  and  of  the  state  capitol  in  Lansing.  In 
their  family  were  five  children:  Marian  L.,  the  wife  of  Frank  L.  Rudd,  of 
Detroit;  William  B.,  who  is  living  in  Manitoba;  Ella,  the  wife  of  T.  S.  Up- 
dyke,  of  this  county;  Theodore  O.,  of  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  and 
Frank  Hawley. 

The  last  named  entered  the  common  schools  at  the  usual  age  and 
passed  through  successive  grades  until  he  was  graduated  from  the  high 
school  of  his  native  village  in  1881.  He  spent  the  summers  of  1881,  1882 
and  1883  in  working  on  his  father's  farm  near  Allegan,  and  in  the  winter 
of  1881-2  he  was  a  student  under  H.  W.  Foster,  preparing  for  the  univer- 
*sity.  He  taught  in  district  schools  and  also  as  a  substitute  in  the  normal 
and  high  schooSs  at  Allegan  in  the  winter  of  1882-3,  and  thus  earned  enough 
money  to  pay  his  tuition  for  one  year  at  the  university,  pursuing  an  en- 
gineering course.  Because  of  limited  financial  resources  he  had  to  leave 
the  institution  at  the  end  of  the  first  semester  in  February,  1885,  after  which 
he  became  a  clerk  and  student  in  the  law  office  of  his  father.  On  the  21st 
of  October,  1886,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  became  a  partner  of  the 
law  firm  of  W.  B.  Williams  &  Son.  He  had  charge  of  the  Kellogg  estate, 
which  he  controlled  until  his  election  to  the  office  of  judge  of  probate.  In 
the  summer  vacations  he  made  use  of  his  engineering  knowledge,  and  in 
the  summer  of  1887  was  employed  as  transitnian  to  survey  the  extension  of 
the  Columbus,  Lima  &  Milwaukee  Railroad  to  Saugatuck.  He  was  also  ap- 
pointed village  surveyor  of  Allegan  October  3,  1887,  and  was  reappointed 
each  year  until  March,  i8gi,  and  made  a  compilation  of  village  surveys  and 
a  permanent  record  of  the  same.  In  May,  1891,  he  was  appointed  city  en- 
gineer of  Big  Rapids,  going  to  that  place  to  do  such  work  as  was  re- 
quired, and  acting  in  that  capacity  until  May,  1895.  In  March,  1894,  he  was 
appointed  village  attorney  of  Allegan,  Michigan,  holding  the  office  for  one 
year.  In  March,  1896,  he  was  re-appointed  and  served  until  March,  1898. 
On  the  3d  of  September,  i8g6,  after  a  vigorous  campaign  Mr.  Wdliams 
was  unanimously  nominated  for  the  office  of  probate  judge  of  Allegan 
county,  and  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  nineteen  hundred  and  seventy- 
two.  At  a  meeting  of  the  judges  of  probate  within  the  district  of  the  Kala- 
mazoo asylum  he  was  elected  secretary  of  a  preliminary  organization  with 
a  view  to  perfecting  a  state  organization.  At  Lansing,  in  March,  1897.  he 
was  unanimously  chosen  as  president  of  the  state  organization  of  probate 
judges  and  held  that  office  until  October,  1899.  In  1900  he  was  made  sec- 
retary and  treasurer  of  the  above  society,  which  office  he  stil!  holds.  At 
the  meeting  in  Detroit  in  1898  he  recommended  that  a  committee  be  ap- 
pointed to  revise  the  probate  blanks  of  the  state.  The  association  adopted 
the  recommendation  with  the  provision  that  Judge  Williams  should  appoint 
the'  committee  and  act  as  chairman.  Judge  Jewell,  of  Kent  county,  and 
Judge  Maynard,  of  Eaton  county,  were  named  as  his  co-laborers  on  the 
committee  and  the  second  revision  was  carried  through  and  adopted  by 
the  state.  Judge  Williams  was  unanimously  renominated  by  the  Repub- 
licans of  Allegan  coimty  for  a  second  term  as  judge  of  probate,  August  22, 
1900,  and  re-elected  by  majority  of  twenty-fonr  hundred  and  thirty-six.  He 
was  again  elected  in  1904  with  a  majority  of  thirty-eight  hundred  and  forty- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY  77 

one,  and  still  holds  the  office.  He  was  elected  president  of  the  village  of 
Allegan  in  March,  1906. 

Judge  Williams  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Republican  party  and 
has  always  remained  as  one  of  its  stalwart  advocates,  casting  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  Benjamin  Harrison,  in  1888.  He  was  secretary  of  the 
Republican  county  committee  from  1894  until  1896,  was  chairman  from 
1898  until  1900,  and  was  delegate  at  large  from  Allegan  county  to  the  state 
convention  held  at  Grand  Rapids  in  June,  1900,  tie  was  made  a  Mason  in 
1893  and  held  many  offices  in  Allegan  lodge,  No.  iii,  being  elected  master 
in  December,  1898,  serving  for  three  years.  He  is  now  high  priest  of 
Eureka  Chapter,  No.  50,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  and  chairman  of  committee 
on  appeals  in  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  state.  He  has  also  attained  the  thirty- 
second  degree  of  the  Scottish  Rite. 

The  specific  and  distinctive  office  of  biography  is  not  to  give  voice  to 
a  man's  modest  estimate  of  himself  and  his  accomplishments  but  rather  to 
leave  the  perpetual  record  of  establishing  his  character  by  the  consensus  of 
opinion  of  his  fellowmen.  That  Judge  Williams  occupies  a  notable  posi- 
tion among  the  able  lawyers  of  Allegan  county  is  shown  by  the  many  times 
his  professional  associates  have  honored  him  with  official  preferment  in  their 
fraternal  organizations,  and  that  the  public  accords  him  prominence  is  dem- 
onstrated by  his  re-elections  to  the  position  which  he  is  now  filling  and  also 
by  the  respect  which  is  uniformly  tendered  him. 

Ira  Chichester  was  a  representative  of  one  of  the  old  families  of  the 
county.  He  was  a  son  of  Abijah  and  Betsey  (Olmstead)  Chichester,  who 
were  farming  people.  The  father  removed  from  Connecticut  about  1805, 
and  settled  in  Otsego  county.  New  York,  where,  aside  from  his  farm  labors, 
he  engaged  in  teaching  school,  winning  a  reputation  in  his  community  for 
strict  integrity,  as  well  as  ability  as  an  educator.  In  1834  he  left  Unadilla, 
New  York,  and  made  his  way  westward  to  the  town  of  (jtsego,  in  Allegan 
county,  Michigan,  settling  upon  a  farm  which  he  had  purchased -Jour  miles 
below  the  village.  Here  his  wife  died  in  1837.  He  survived  until  1856. 
when  he  passed  away  in  Gun  Plain,  Allegan  county.  In  their  family  were 
seven  children,  three  sons  and  four  daughters. 

This  number  included  Ira  Chichester,  who  was  born  in  Unadilla,  Otsego 
county.  New  York,  March  6,  1823.  He  was  therefore  about  twelve  years 
of  age  at  the  time  of  the  removal  of  the  family  to  the  farm  purchased  in 
Otsego  township,  Allegan  county.  Upon  this  farm  he  was  reared  to  man- 
hood, acquiring  only  such  education  as  the  early  district -schools  afforded, 
but  this  he  supplemented  by  much  private  study,  and  throughout  his  entire 
life  he  added  to  his  knowledge  by  reading,  observation  and  experience,  be- 
coming a  well  informed  man.  In  common  with  the  other  members  of  the 
family  he  experienced  the  hardships  and  privations  incident  to  pioneer  life, 
and  shared  with  the  family  in  the  arduous  task  of  developing  a  farm.  He 
became  also  a  teacher  in  the  pioneer  schools,  and  otherwise  occupied  him- 
self as  a  carpenter  and  joiner.  His  brother,  Aaron  Chichester,  who  was  a 
surveyor  by  profession  and  for  several  years  held  the  position  of  county 
surveyor,  instructed  Ira  Chichester  in  that  science,  and  he  surveyed  much 
of  the  county  of  Allegan.  He  afterward  became  county  surveyor,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  for  several  terms,  during  which  time  he  made  a 


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IS  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

trip  to  the  Grand  Traverse  region  to  inspect  and  approve  the  construction 
of  a  state  road.  His  home  hfe  was  marked  by  constant  industry.  With  the 
exception  of  the  year  i860  he  represented  his  township  on  the  board  of 
supervisors  from  1858  until  1866,  inclusive.  During  his  service  occurred  the 
great  Civil  war,  and  the  duties  that  devolved  upon  him  were  of  a  most 
arduous  nature.  The  families  of  deceased  and  disabled  soldiers  received 
his  earnest  aid,  and  all  have  cause  to  esteem  him  with  gratitude  for  the 
assistance  which  he  rendered  in  those  days  of  trial  and  suspense.  For  ten 
consecutive  years  he  held  the  office  of  county  treasurer,  being  first  elected  in 
1866,  followed  by  four  re-elections.  In  all  of  the  political  positions  to  which 
he  was  called  he  was  chosen  as  a  Republican,  having  joined  the  party  at  its 
formation  in  1856.  He  continued  his  allegiance  thereto  until  his  death,  and 
was  always  deeply  concerned  in  its  welfare  and  willing  to  help  in  party  in- 
terests financially  or  otherwise.  His  interest  in  education  was  deep  and  sin- 
cere, and  in  both  towns  which  he  resided  he  gave  much  time  to  the  care 
of  the  schools.  He  was  director  of  the  Otsego  Union  schools  in  1861,  and 
remained  a  director,  or  at  least  a  member  of  the  school  board,  until  his  re- 
moval to  Allegan  in  1867.  Soon  after  he  took  up  his  abode  in  the  latter 
place  his  services  were  solicited  by  Allegan  people  in  a  similar  capacity,  and 
he  was  a  member  of  the  school  board  for  eight  or  ten  consecutive  years,  re- 
signing in  1887,  when  he  went  to  Europe  with  most  of  his  family,  spending 
a  year  in  travel.  At  the  founding  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Allegan  in 
1871  Mr.  Chichester  became  a  stockholder,  and  so  remained  until  his  death. 
He  was  also  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors,  and  was  many  times 
chosen  vice-president.  He  likewise  extf-nded  his  banking  interests  to  Pe- 
toskey,  where  his  interests  were  cared  for  by  his  son  Leon.  Save  for  the 
supervision  of  his  invested  interests  and  his  connections  in  the  banking 
business  Mr,  Chichester  lived  practically  retired  from  active  business  after 
1877. 

In  June,  1854,  when  thirty-one  years  of  age,  Mr.  Chichester  was  mar- 
ried to  Mies  Ann  Mary  Ives,  daughter  of  Friend  Ives,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  citizens  of  Allegan  county  of  his  day.  For  twenty-six  years  they 
remained  husband  and  wife,  and  Mrs.  Chichester  then  passed  away  in  New 
Hampshire,  losing  her  life  in  an  accident  while  traveling.  In  the  family 
were  four  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  while  two  survive, 
Leon,  of  Petoskey,  and  Fred  I.  Chiphester,  of  Allegan,  both  of  whom  were 
associated  with  their  father  in  banking  for  some  years  prior  to  his  death. 
On  the  14th  of  December,  1882,  Ira  Chichester  wedded  Mrs.  Esther  E. 
Robinson,  of  Plainwell,  who  still  survives  him.  He  passed  away 
in  August,  1903.  One  who  kne'w'him  well  said  of  him:  "Mr.  Chichester 
was  altogether  a  man  of  unique  character.  He  was  quiet  in  his  ways  of 
life  and  little  inclined  to  controversy,  yet  he  was  a  man  of  very  positive 
opinions,  and  he  had  a  highly  terse  and  original  way  of  stating  them.  He 
disliked  shams  as  heartily  as  he  was  averse  to  display,  and  was  as  honest 
and  unalloyed  all  through  as  he  appeared  to  be  at  the  surface.  Geniality 
was  a  marked  characteristic,  which  was  heightened  by  his  quickness  of  wit 
and  his  strikingly  pithy  ways  of  expressing  his  thought.  He  quickly  grasped 
the  fullness  of  a  proposition  or  condition  of  things,  and  as  readily  formed 
an  opinion,  to  which  he  stanchly  adhered  while  manifesting  full  respect 
for  the  views  of  others.    He  was  generous  in  his  helpfulness  to  the  needy, 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY  79 

but  of  his  charities  and  his  assistance  of  those  deserving  help  one  would 
never  hear  from  his  own  hps.  He  was  the  truest  of  friends  and  the 
gentlest  of  men  in  his  treatment  of  others — charitable  toward  their  failings, 
but  with  no  tendency  to  condone  wrong  in  them.  Accumulating  a  consid- 
erable fortune,  and  for  many  years  lending  the  money  he  gained  by  hard 
work  and  plain  living,  the  writer  in  more  than  forty  years'  acquaintance 
with  him  never  once  heard  the  charge  of  oppression,  made  against  him  by 
any  debtor,  and  he  never  invoked  the  law  until  there  was  no  other  course 
remaining,  while  in  many  cases  he  subjected  himself  to  actual  loss  rather 
than  cause  distress.  While  not  accepting  some  of  the  dogmas  of  religious 
bodies  and  uniting  with  no  church,  he  nevertheless  was  deeply  religious  in 
thought  and  of  singular  purity  of  life  all  his  days.  He  was  optimistic  about 
everything,  having  an  abiding  faith  that  all  things  would  work  out  final 
good;  and  as  for  the  future  he  had  that  simple  faith  which  Whittier  ex- 
pressed in  saying: 

"  'I  know  not  where  his  islands  lift 
Their  fronded  palms  in  air. 
1  only  know  I  cannot  drift 

Bcvond  his  love  and  care."  " 

Fred  I.  CnjCHESTtiR,  cashier  and  largest  stockowner  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Allegan,  was  born  in  Otsego,  Michigan.  August  28,  1866. 
Honored  and  respected  by  all,  there  is  no  man  who  occupies  a  more  en- 
viable position  in  financial  circles  in  this  county,  which  fact  is  due  not  alone 
to  the  success  he  has  achieved  but  also  to  the  straightforward  methods  he 
has  ever  followed.  It  is  true  that  he  entered  upon  a  business  already  estab- 
lished, but  in  the  control  of  this  he  has  enlarged  its  scope  and  developed  it 
along  modern  lines,  his  success  resuhing  from  close  application,  indefat- 
igable energy  and  a  thorough  mastery  of  the  principles  of  banking.  He 
was  only  four  months  old  when  his  parents  removed  from  Otsego  to  Alle- 
gan, and  he  acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools  there,  passing 
through  successive  grades  until  he  had  completed  the  high  school  course. 
He  afterward  pursued  a  law  course  in  the  University  of  Michigan  with 
the  class  of  1887,  but  never  engaged  in  the  practice  .of  his  profession.  He 
spent  one  year  in  traveling  in  Europe,  and  in  August,  1888,  entered  the  First 
National  Bank  as  bookkeeper.  Subsequently  he  became  teller  and  later  suc- 
ceeded his  brother.  Leon  Chichester,  in  1891,  as  cashier,  in  which  capacity 
he  has  since  served,  and  has  the  entire  matiagement  of  the  concern. 

On  the  iSth  of  June,  1890,  Mr.  Chichester  was  united  in  marriage,  in 
Allegan,  to  Miss  Clara  B.  Sherwood,  a  daughter  of  Austin  W.  and  Cath- 
erine (Mayhew)  Sherwood.  By  this  union  there  is  one  child,  Leon  S.,  who 
was  born  in  Allegan.  Mr.  Chichester  is  a  Republican  with  intimate  knowl- 
edge of  party  issues,  yet  without  aspiration  for  office.  He  is  a  worthy 
scion  of  his  race,  and  while  keeping  in  touch  with  modern  conditions  of 
life  and  of  business  activity,  he  yet  manifests  many  of  the  sterling  traits 
which  characterized  his  father  and  made  Ira  Chichester  a  leading  and  most 
respected  citizen  of  Allegan  county. 

Fred  Littlejohn,  now  engaged  in  the  mortgage,  loan  and  real  estate 
business  in  Allegan,  was  born  in  this  village  December  30,  1868,  and  is  a 


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80  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

representative  of  one  of  the  old  and  prominent  pioneer  families,  the  name  of 
Littlejohn  being  associated  with  the  county's  history  from  an  early  epoch  in 
its  development.  The  father,  John  Ltftlejohn,  was  born  in  Harper's  Ferry, 
Virginia,  and  came  to  Michigan  with  his  parents  in  pioneer  times.  The 
grandfather  was  P.  O.  Littlejohn,  a  son  of  Colonel  John  Littlejohn,  who 
was  bom  at  Martha's  Vineyard,  Massachusetts,  CJctober  lo,  1790.  He  ac- 
quired an  academic  education,  and  before  he  attained  bis  majority  had 
gained  considerable  reputation  as  a  teacher  in  the  district  schools  of  his  na- 
tive place.  After  the  outbreak  of  the  war  of  1812  he  ofTered  himself  as  a 
volunteer  defender  of  the  Union  and  was  commissioned  lieutenant.  He 
was  wounded  at  the  famous  battle  of  Lundy  Lane,  and  was  commended  for 
his  bravery  by  General  Scott,  the  commanding  officer.  Following  the  close 
of  hostilities  he  engaged  actively  in  business,  being  connected  with  the  con- 
struction of  the  Erie  canal  and  successfully  executing  large  contracts  and 
winning  an  enviable  name  for  integrity,  honesty  and  upright  character.  To 
him  belongs  the  credit  of  building  the  most  difficult  link  in  the  first  impor- 
tant railroad  in  this  country— the  inclined  plane  between  Albany  and 
Schenectady,  New  York.  He  was  also  conspicuous  in  the  building  of  the 
Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad  and  the  James  river  and  Kanawha  canal.  About 
the  year  1840  he  removed  to  Allegan,  where  he  invested  considerable  cap- 
ital, taking  up  the  work  of  developing  the  resources  of  this  place  with  his 
customary  energy  and  enterprise.  One  of  the  commendable  results  of  his 
business  capacity  and  diligence  was  the  building  of  the  first  flour  mill  of 
considerable  size  in  the  county.  Impaired  health,  however,  obliged  him  to 
live  retired  from  active  business  during  the  last  decade  of  his  life  and  he 
passed  away  while  on  a  visit  in  Omaha  in  January,  1868.  Colonel  Little- 
john was  twice  married.  He  first  wedded  Miss  Amy  Dewey,  who  died 
seven  years  later,  and  in  1833  he  wedded  Miss  Eleanor  Newkirk,  of  Mont- 
gomery county,  New  York,  where  she  was  born  November  23.  1799.  She 
lived  to  an  advanced  age. 

P.  O.  Littlejohn,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  removed  from  the 
south  to  Michigan,  clearing  a  farm  in  Allegan  county,  upon  which  he  lived 
until  his  death.  He  was  very  active  in  township,  county  and  state  affairs, 
and  a  prominent  and  influential  man  in  his  day,  leaving  the  impress  of  his. 
individuality  for  good  upon  the  public  life  and  improvement  of  this  portion 
of  the  state.  He  married  Ellen  Kerby  in  this  county,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  three  children,  of  whom  John  J.  Littlejohn  was  the  eldest.  The 
two  living  are  Mrs.  W.  F.  Clarke,  who  resides  in  Allegan  county,  and 
Mrs.  Dr.  F.  M.  Calkins,  who  is  living  in  Kalamazoo,  Michigan. 

John  J.  Littlejohn  was  brought  to  Allegan  county  when  about  five  or 
six  years  of  age  and  was  reared  amid  the  wild  scenes  and  environments  of 
the  frontier.  He  acquired  his  education  in  this  county,  where  he  followed 
farming  for  many  years  and  the  latter  part  of  his  life  was  devoted  to  the 
livery  business  in  the  village  of  Allegan,  in  which  he  was  engaged  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  which  ocurred  in  1899,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years.  He 
held  various  township  offices  and  like  his  father  and  grandfather  was  an  in- 
fluential factor  in  public  life  and  one  whose  aid  could  be  counted  upon 
to  further  any  progressive  public  movement.  He  married  Miss  Emma 
Defendorf,  who  was  born  in  Rochester,  New  York,  and  came  to  Michigan 


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HISTORY  0¥  ALLEGAN  COUXTY  81 

with  her  parents.  Nelson  and  Mary  (McKelvey)  Defendorf,  Unto  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  John  j.  Littlejohn  were  born  two  children. 

Fred  Littlejohn,  the  only  living  representative  of  the  family  at  this 
writing,  pursued  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Allegan,  passing  through 
successive  grades  until  he  had  become  a  high  school  student.  In  his  youth 
and  early  manhood  he  followed  various  occupations  and  later  engaged  in 
the  livery  business,  with  which  he  was  connected  from  1887  until  1904.  In 
the  latter  year  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  mortgage,  loan  and  real  estate 
business,  in  which  he  has  prospered,  having  dealt  quite  extensively  in  farm 
land.  He  is  thoroughly  conversant  with  realty  values  in  this  part  of  the 
state  and  has  negotiated  many  important  property  transfers. 

In  1903,  in  Allegan,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Littlejohn  and 
Miss  May  Damerell,  who  was  born  in  Kalamazoo,  and  is  a  daughter  of  W. 
J.  and  Mary  (Mills)  Damerell.  They  now  have  one  child,  Virginia,  born 
in  Allegan.  Mr.  Littlejohn  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  affiliation  and  is 
socially  connected  with  the  Masons  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias  of  Allegan, 
and  the  Elks  of  Kakraazoo.  His  entire  life  has  been  passed  in  the  village 
where  he  yet  resides  and  where  he  has  so  directed  his  labors  that  his  record 
is  in  harmony  with  that  of  his  ancestry— one  of  the  most  prominent  and 
honored  pioneer  families  of  Allegan  county. 

Judge  Philip  Padgham,  who  since  the  ist  of  January,  1893,  has  oc- 
cupied the  bench  of  the  circuit  court,  stands  as  an  able  defender  of  the 
rights  and  liberties  of  the  people,  for  his  knowledge  of  the  law  is  broad 
and  comprehensive,  and  he  discharges  his  duties  with  a  sense  of  conscien- 
tious obligation  that  has  received  the  endorsement  of  the  general  public 
with  re-election.  Judge  Padgham  was  born  in  Wittersham  parish,  in 
County  Kent,  England,  March  24,  1839,  his  parents  being  Thomas  and 
Elizabeth  (Underdown)  Padgham.  The  father  was  a  farmer  and  laborer 
and  came  from  England  to  the  new  world  with  his  family  in  the  year  1851, 
settling  at  the  town  of  Farmington,  Ontario  county,  New  York,  where  he 
resided  for  a  time.  In  the  family  were  twelve  children,  who  are  now 
widely  scattered  over  several  states  of  the  Union,  including  Ohio,  New 
York,  Iowa,  Michigan  and  South  Dakota. 

Judge  Padgham  attended  the  boys'  school  in  Wittersham  parish  until 
ten  years  of  age.  His  curriculum  embraced  little  beyond  reading,  writing 
and  spelling,  and  with  his  parents  he  left  England  for  America  in  March, 
185 1.  His  father  had  always  been  used  to  hard  labor  and  did  not  think 
it  necessary  for  a  boy  to  have  more  education  than  the  judge  bad  acquired 
up  to  the  time  he  left  England.  He  was  a  poor  man  with  a  large  family,  so 
that  the  son  was  put  to  work  as  soon  as  they  reached  the  United  States. 
Judge  Padgham  therefore  did  not  attend  school  very  much  for  a  number 
of  years,  but  when  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  realizing  the  necessity 
and  value  of  an  education  if  one  would  win  advancement  in  life,  he  re- 
solved to  further  attend  school.  Contrary  to  the  wishes  of  his  father  he 
obtafned  a  chance  to  do  chores  for  his  board  and  the  privilege  of  attending 
school  in  the  villag-e,  and  for  two  terms  was  a  student  there.  In  the  fol- 
lowing year  he  spent  two  terms  in  the  academy  at  Macedon,  New  York, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1858  came  to  Michigan,  where  he  secured  a  situation  as 
teacher,  being  thus   employed  until   March,   1859,   at   Blissfield,   Lenawee 


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8S  HISTORY  OK  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

county.  In  the  spring  of  the  latter  year  he  removed  to  Centerville,  St. 
Joseph  county,  Michigan,  where  he  entered  the  high  school  as  a  pupil,  and 
the  following  autumn  he  engaged  in  teaching  in  Burr  Oak  township,  in  St. 
Joseph  county,  where  he  remained  as  teacher  for  two  years.  In  June, 
1861,  he  was  married,  and  on  the  ist  of  September,  of  the  same  year,  he 
entered  upon  his  work  as  a  teacher  in  Centerville  school,  where  he  remained 
until  1868.  Ambitious  for  further  advancement  along  intellectual  lines, 
while  teaching  in  Centerville  he  devoted  his  evening  hours  to  reading  law 
and  in  June,  1868,  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  practiced  for  a  short  time 
in  Centerville,  and  in  June,  1869,  removed  to  Plainwell,  Allegan  county, 
where  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Silas  Stafford,  an  old  lawyer  of  that 
place.  The  relation  was  maintained  until  May,  1873,  when  Judge  Padgham 
withdrew  and  entered  into  a  partnership  with  the  late  Judge  Dan  J.  Arnold, 
who  was  afterward  elected  circuit  judge  of  the  county  and  circuit.  In 
the  meantime  Judge  Padgham  was  elected  and  served  for  two  terms  as 
prosecuting  attorney  for  Allegan  county  and  built  up  a  large  practice,  in 
which  he  continued  actively  until  January  i,  1893,  when  he  succeeded 
Judge  Arnold  upon  the  bench  of  the  circuit  court.  He  has  since  presided 
over  this  court  and  his  record  on  the  bench  has  been  in  harmony  with  his 
record  as  a  man  and  also  as  a  lawyer — distinguished  by  unswerving  in- 
tegrity and  a  masterful  grasp  of  every  problem  presented  for  solution.  In 
early  youth  Judge  Padgham  became  imbued  with  a  desire  to  become  a 
lawyer  and  by  many  years  of  hard  study  and  by  depriving  himself  of  many 
pleasures  that  other  young  men  enjoyed,  he  at  length  prepared  for  the  bar 
and  entered  upon  a  practice  which  proved  very  satisfactory  both  from  a 
pecuniary  and  professional  standpoint.  It  was  not  confined  to  Allegan 
county  alone  but  reached  out  into  many  of  the  adjoining  comities  of  the 
state  and  also  to  the  supreme  court  of  the  state.  He  prepared  his  cases  with 
great  thoroughness  and  care,  presenting  his  cause  in  a  strong,  clear  light, 
reasoning  and  common  sense,  and  through  his  logical  arguments  and  sound 
deductions  he  won  many  notable  forensic  contests  and  became  recognized 
as  one  of  the  ablest  members  practicing  at  the  bar  of  southern  Michigan. 
The  offices  which  he  has  held  have  largely  been  in  the  line  of  his  profession. 
In  1870  he  was  elected  circuit  court  commissioner  of  Allegan  county  and 
served  for  two  terms.  In  1874  he  was  chosen  by  popular  suffrage  to  the 
office  of  prosecuting  attorney  and  also  acted  in  that  capacity  for  two  terms. 
He  was  president  of  the  village  about  1888,  after  having  served  for  a  term 
as  a  member  of  the  city  council.  In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  stalwart 
Republican  and  up  to  the  time  he  went  upon  the  bench  was  usually  on  the 
stump  during  the  state  and  national  campaigns. 

On  the  9th  of  June,  1861,  at  Burr  Oak,  St.  Joseph  county,  Michigan, 
Judge  Padgham  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  C.  Landon,  whose  parents  had 
removed  to  that  township  from  Niagara  county,  New  York,  about  the  year 
1854,  The  judge  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  Society,  with 
which  he  united  in  1872,  at  Plainwell,  Allegan  county,  while  later  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity  in  the  village  of  Alle- 
gan. He  is  associated  with  the  Episcopal  church  at  Allegan,  having  been 
a  member  and  vestryman  for  more  than  twenty-five  years,  while  at  the 
present  writing  he  is  junior  warden  of  the  church  of  the  Good  Shepherd. 
Born  and  reared  upon  a  farm,  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits  until  he 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  S3 

entered  upon  a  career  as  a  teacher  in  Centerville  and  since  that  time  he 
has  always  taken  great  deUght  in  getting  away  into  the  country  whenever 
possible.  While  in  the  active  practice  of  law  he  was  largely  deprived  of 
that  privilege  but  since  taking  his  place  on  the  bench  he  has  endeavored  to 
spend  as  much  time  as  possible  on  his  farm,  which  he  owns,  within  a  mile 
of  the  courthouse  of  Allegan,  and  it  is  a  great  pleasure  to  him  to  loot 
over  the  place  there,  the  fields  and  the  stock,  watching  the  growth  that 
comes  on  from  the  time  of  early  spring  planting  until  crops  are  harvested  in 
the  late  autumn  and  thus  getting  near  to  nature's  heart.  His  life  has 
been  one  of  continuous  activity,  in  which  has  been  accorded  due  recognition 
of  labor.  Starting  out  in  life  ere  he  had  had  but  limited  educational  privi- 
leges working  at  farm  labor  for  several  seasons  and  then  becoming  im- 
bued with  a  laudable  ambition  to  obtain  something  better,  he  has  steadily 
advanced  in  those  walks  of  life  demanding  intellectuality,  business  ability 
and  fidelity,  and  today  commands  the  respect  and  esteem  not  only  of  his 
community  but  throughout  the  state  wherever  he  is  known. 

Harold  C.  Weeks. — The  business  interests  of  Allegan  find  a  worthy 
representative  in  this  native  son  of  the  village,  who  is  now  conducting 
abstract  and  real  estate  offices.  He  was  born  on  the  3d  of  October,  1847. 
and  is  a  son  of  Alanson  S.  Weeks,  and  a  grandson  of  Samuel  and  Susan- 
nah Weeks,  Alanson  Weeks  was  born  at  Wheelock,  Caledonia  county,  Ver- 
mont, January  10,  181 1.  and  obtained  such  education  as  was  afforded 
through  the  meager  facilities  of  that  day.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he 
was  apprenticed  to  the  trade  of  a  painter  and  chairmaker,  serving  his  time 
with  Ira  Church  as  his  master.  In  the  spring  of  1834,  in  company  with 
his  brother,  Corridon,  he  started  for  Michigan,  traveling  with  a  horse  and 
buggy.  The  journey  covered  four  weeks  and  was  unmarked  by  an  inci- 
dent of  special  importance.  They  arrived  in  Detroit  on  the  12th  of  August, 
1834,  and  there  attended  the  funeral  obsequies  of  Governor  Porter,  the  last 
territorial  governor  of  Michigan.  After  a  short  residence  at  Detroit  they 
started  westward  their  destination  being  Kalamazoo,  then  known  as  Bron- 
son.  There  Mr.  Weeks  remained  during  the  autumn  and  winter,  working 
at  his  trade.  In  the  spring  of  1835  he  made  his  first  visit  to  Allegan,  and 
being  favorably  impressed  with  its  natural  resources  and  advantages,  de- 
cided to  make  his  home  here.  Accordingly  he  purchased  a  farm  on  section 
5,  Trowbridge  township,  and  then  returned  to  Kalamazoo,  where  he  re- 
mained until  the  spring  of  1836,  when  he  purchased  property  in  the  village 
of  Allegan  and  made  a  permanent  settlement. 

The  following  year,  1837,  Alanson  S.  Weeks  was  married  to  Harriett 
N.  Peckham,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in  Franklin  county 
in  1819.  About  1827  her  father  removed  to  Canada,  and  in  1836  Mrs. 
Weeks  came  to  Michigan  in  company  with  her  brother-in-law,  J.  P,  Aus- 
tin. She  was  a  noble  type  of  the  pioneer  women  and  endured  cheerfully  ail 
of  the  hardships  and  privations  of  the  early  days.  She  died  in  1855,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-six  years,  leaving  her  husband  and  four  children  to  mourn 
her  loss,  the  youns'est  being  a  babe  of  but  two  months.  For  seven  years  the 
father  cared  for  his  children  alone,  attending  to  his  household  duties  after 
the  day's  work  in  the  fields  was  done.  To  his  children  he  was  a  father  in 
all  that  the  name  implies.     He  early  taught  them  lessons  of  morality  and 


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industry,  and  thereby  to  him  they  are  largely  indebted  for  the  enviable  posi- 
tion they  held  during  their  lives  among  the  representative  men  of  Allegan 
county.  The  eldest  son,  William  C.  Weeks,  enlisted  as  a  private  of  the 
Union  army  in  the  spring  of  1862,  becoming  a  member  of  Company  I,  5th 
Michigan  cavalry.  He  participated  in  many  of  the  decisive  battles  of  the 
war  and  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant.  At  the  battle  of  Five 
Forks  he  was  severely  wounded,  losing  a  foot,  and,  being  captured,  was 
confined  in  Libby  prison  from  March,  1864,  until  August  of  the  same  year. 
In  July,  1865,  he  was  mustered  out  and  returned  to  Allegan,  where  lie  re-^ 
sided  until  his  death.  In  1868  he  was  elected  register  of  deeds  and  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  the  position  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  sat- 
isfaction of  the  people,  while  in  1871  he  was  re-elected  to  the  same  position. 
For  many  years  he  was  closely  identified  with  the  interests  of  Allegan  and 
was  elected  president  of  the  village  in  1876.  The  second  son.  Harrison  S. 
Weeks,  entered  the  Military  Academy  at  West  Point;  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years,  and  was  graduated  with  high  honors  at  the  age  of  twenty-two.  He 
was  then  commissioned  a  second  lieutenant  in  the  8th  United  States  cavalry 
and  was  stationed  for  some  time  at  Fort  Union,  New  Mexico. 

In  his  political  views  Alan  son  Weeks  was  originally  an  old-line  Whig 
but  afterward  became  a  stalwart  champion  of  the  Republican  part}'.  He 
was  everywhere  known  as  a  man  of  unquestioned  integrity,  who  had  many 
virtues  and  few  faults.  He  was  one  of  those  citizens  whose  identification 
with  any  community  would  always  prove  productive  of  good.  He  be- 
came a  pioneer  resident  of  Allegan  and  his  labors  and  influence  were  valued 
factors  in  promoting  general  progress  and  improvement.  He  is  today  held 
in  loving  memory  by  many  who  knew  him  and  it  is  with  pleasure  that  we 
present  to  our  readers  this  record  of  his  life.    He  died  October  18,  1880. 

Harold  C.  Weeks,  the  third  son  of  the  family,  acquired  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  Allegan  and  afterward  attended  Olivet  College,  at 
Olivet,  Michigan,  pursuing  special  courses.  Subsequently  he  engaged  in 
clerking  in  a  drug  store  and  contemplated  learning  the  druggist's  business, 
but  on  account  of  ill  health  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  real-estate  busi- 
ness. In  1870  he  purchased  the  abstract  records  of  Allegan  county  in  con- 
nection with  his  older  brother,  William  C.  Weeks,  and  he  has  since  been 
engaged  in  the  abstract  and  real-estate  business.  In  connection  with  other 
interests  along  those  lines  they  follow  agricultural  pursuits  on  a  large  scale 
and  also  engaged  in  the  breeding  of  Durham  cattle,  some  of  their  stock  being 
equal  to  the  best  Kentucky  bred.  Mr.  Weeks  of  this  review  still  owns  the 
farm  of  seven  hundred  acres  which  is  located  about  two  and  a  half  miles 
from  the  village  of  Allegan  and  gives  considerable  time  and  attention  to  the 
care  and  improvement  of  that  property.  He  has  dealt  extensively  in  real 
estate,  negotiating  many  important  property  transfers. 

In  1874,  in  Allegan,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Harold  C.  Weeks  and 
Miss  Rose  Mix,  a  daughter  of  the  late  General  Elisha  and  Amelia  (Ed- 
monds) Mix,  who  are  represented  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Weeks  now  have  one  child,  Alice  M.,  who  was  born  in  Allegan,  and  in 
the  social  circles  they  occupy  an  enviable  position,  the  hospitality  of  the 
best  homes  being  freely  accorded  them. 

Mr.  Weeks  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  who  was  trustee  of  the  village 
board  for  six  years.    He  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  the  welfare  of 


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his  township,  his  village  and  his  county,  and  is  held  in  high  esteem.  His 
business  affairs  have  been  carefully  conducted  and  success  has  resulted  as 
the  reward  of  his  enterprise,  diligence  and  careful  management.  He  rep- 
resents one  of  the  old  and  prominent  families  of  this  part  of  the  state  and 
fully  sustains  the  honorable  family  record. 

Dh.  William  E.  Rowe,  who  practices  along  modern  scientific  lines, 
having  a  large  patronage  in  Allegan  and  the  surrounding  country,  was  born 
in  Van  Buren  county,  Michigan,  in  1857.  His  father.  Dr.  Sylvanus  Rowe, 
was  born  in  Steuben  county.  New  York,  and  died  at  Lawrence,  Van  Buren 
county,  Michig-an,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years.  He  was  a  graduate  of 
the  Eclectic  Institute  of  Medicine  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  of  the  class  of  1848, 
and  practiced  first  in  Leclair,  Scott  county,  Iowa,  while  later  he  established 
his  home  in  Lawrence,  Van  Buren  county,  Michigan.  He  was  a  physician 
of  much  skill  and  ability  and  won  a  liberal  support  from  the  public.  In 
the  diagnosis  of  his  cases  he  was  most  careful  and  accurate  and  in  admin- 
istering remedial  agencies  he  seemed  to  secure  the  best  possible  results.  He 
was  also  a  leader  in  public  affairs  of  his  township,  and  has  been  the  pro- 
moter of  many  measures  and  movements  which  have  been  of  direct  benefit. 
He  delivered  many  campaign  addresses  and  was  an  earnest  worker  in  be- 
half of  the  Republican  party,  believing  (irmly  in  its  principles.  For  several 
years  he  served  as  president  of  the  village  board  and  exercised  his  official 
prerogatives  in  support  of  general  improvement  and  progress.  He  married 
Helen  Carpenter,  a  native  of  Essex  county.  New  York,  who  died  in  Law- 
rence, Michigan,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years.  Their  onh'  daughter 
and  younger  child  was  Mrs.  Effie  Agrell,  of  Chicago. 

Dr.  Rowe,  the  only  son,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Van 
Buren  county,  and  after  pursuing  a  high  school  course  he  entered  the 
University  of  Michigan,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1879 
on  the  completion  of  a  course  in  medicine  and  surgery.  He  then  practiced 
for  eight  years  in  his  native  village  of  Lawrence,  after  which  he  came  to 
Allegan,  where  he  has  remained  continuously  since,  making  a  specialty 
of  abdominal  surgery  in  addition  to  a  general  practice.  His  knowledge  is 
comprehensive  and  he  continually  keeps  abreast  with  the  advancement 
made  by  the  medical  fraternity  through  research  and  investigation. 

In  1887  Dr.  Rowe  was  married  in  Allegan  to  Miss  Emma  H.  Rowe,  a 
daughter  of  Anson  and  Julia  (Look)  Rowe,  of  Iowa.  In  his  political  views 
the  doctor  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  and  has  served  as  county  physician  for 
ten  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  lodge  and  chapter  of  Masons,  and  is  a 
past  master  in  the  former.  He  was  one  of  the  leaders  in  the  organization 
of  the  Maccabees  tent,  and  was  at  one  time  its  commander.  He  is  public 
spirited  and  has  not  confined  his  attention  alone  to  his  professional  duties 
but  has  also  become  connected  with  various  manufacturing  interests  which 
have  had  direct  bearing  upon  the  growth  and  commercial  activity  of  the 
village.  He  is  willing  at  all  times  to  aid  in  furthering  any  good  enterprise, 
and  what  he  has  done  for  Allegan  makes  him  numbered  among  its  repre- 
sentative men. 

General  Elish.\  Mix,  whose  name  is  on  the  roll  of  Allegan  county's 
honored  dead,  was  a  distinguished  soldier  who  won  his  title  by  gallant 


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1  the  Civil  war.  Moreover,  he  possessed  that  sterling  strength  of 
character  which  prompted  him  when  a  young  man  to  brave  hardships- and 
privations  uncomplainingly  in  an  effort  to  secure  a  livelihood  during  the 
hard  times  which  were  felt  throughout  the  country,  and  in  his  later  years 
he  carefully  and  capabiy  conducted  business  interests  that  gained  for  him 
a  goodly  measure  of  prosperity,  and  at  the  same  time  won  for  him  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  those  with  whom  he  was  associated.  He  was 
born  in  Watertown,  Connecticut,  in  1818,  and  was  the  eldest  son  in  a 
family  of  ten  children,  whose  parents  were  James  and  Lucy  (Steel)  Mix. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  West  Hartford,  Connecticut,  served  as  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  1812  and  held  many  important  positions  of  public  trust  in 
West  Hartford,  where  he  was  regarded  as  a  most  upright  and  honest  man 
and  valued  citizen.  In  early  life  he  learned  the  trade  of  cloth  dressing, 
which  he  followed  for  a  number  of  years.  He  had  several  sons  who  distin- 
guished themselves,  both  in  commercial  affairs,  and  in  the  military  service 
of  their  country. 

General  Mix  was  reared  in  Watertown,  Connecticut,  to  the  age  of 
eighteen  years,  after  which  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to 
New  Britain,  Connecticut.  During  the  hard  times  of  1836  he  walked  to 
Cayuga  county.  New  York,  where  he  worked  for  one  season  as  a  farm 
hand.  The  succeeding  year  he  returned  to  his  father's  home  at  Terryville, 
Connecticut,  where  he  was  employed  in  a  tnmk  lock  factory  for  a  consid- 
erable period.  In  1840,  his  health  becoming  impaired,  he  shipped  before 
the  mast  for  a  sea  voyage  on  a  Liverpool  boat,  thinking  that  he  would  be 
benefited  thereby.  He  afterward  enlisted  for  the  Florida  war,  and  subse- 
quent to  that  period  of  hostilities  he  returned  to  Terryville,  where  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  a  contractor  as  foreman,  being  thus  engaged  until 
1845. 

In  the  meantime,  in  1843,  General  Mix  was  married  to  Miss  Amelia 
Edmonds,  daughter  of  James  and  Eliza  (Pickwick)  Edmonds,  who  was 
the  eldest  of  eight  children  and  the  only  one  living  in  Allegan  county.  In 
1846  General  Mix  removed  with  his  family  to  New  Haven,  Connecticut, 
to  take  charge  of  a  clock  factory,  and  there  remained  until  1854,  when  he 
came  to  Michigan.  Here  he  took  up  the  occupation  of  farming,  in  which 
he  was  continuously  engaged  until  1862.  He  had  watched  with  interest 
the  prepress  of  events  in  the  south  following  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
war,  and  no  longer  able  to  content  himself  at  home  while  his  country's 
honor  was  imperiled,  he  enlisted  in  the  Eighth  Michigan  Cavalry.  Soon 
afterward  he  was  promoted  to  major,  later  to  lieutenant  colonel  and  then 
to  the  full  colonelcy  and  command  of  his  regiment.  He  was  brevetted 
brigadier  general  for  long  and  meritorious  service  and  was  mustered  out 
in  September,  1865,  after  the  close  of  the  war.  For  a  time  he  was  in 
command  of  a  large  force  in  central  Tennessee  and  at  all  times  he  was 
a  brave  and  gallant  officer,  inspiring  those  who  served  under  him  with 
much  of  his  own  courage  and  zeal.  He  was  respected  by  all  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact  and  served  with  distinction  in  various  commands  during 
his  long  and  active  connection  with  the  army. 

When  the  war  was  over  General  Mix  again  came  to  Michigan,  where 
he  remained  until  1874,  when  with  his  family  he  returned  to  Terryville, 
Connecticut,  where  he  resided  for  four  years,  engaged  in  the  lock  manufac- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  87 

turing  business.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  again  came  to  this 
state  and  was  for  some  years  engaged  in  surveying  and  himbering.  His 
last  years,  however,  were  spent  quietly  in  Allegan  in  the  enjoyment  of 
rest,  which  was  richly  earned  and  well  merited. 

To  General  and  Mrs.  Mix  were  born  three  children,  of  whom  two  are 
living — Rose,  the  wife  of  Harold  C.  Weeks,  who  is  mentioned  elsewhere  in 
this  volume;  and  Elisha,  who  married  Fannie  A.  Williams,  a  direct 
descendant  of  a  passenger  on  the  Mayflower.  They  have  five  children, 
Moseiy  W.,  Ralph  W.,  James  E.,  Laura  A.  and  Clara. 

The  death  of  General  Mix  occurred  October  lo,  1899,  and  thus  passed 
away  one  of  the  distinguished  officers  of  the  Civil  war  and  a  man  whom 
to  know  was  to  respect  and  honor.  In  his  business  life  he  was  thoroughly 
reliable,  winning  his  success  through  industry  and  merit,  and  in  citizenship 
he  stood  for  progress  and  improvement,  for  patriotism,  for  civic  virtue  and 
for  civic  pride.  In  his  family  he  was  a  devoted  husband  and  father, 
reserving  his  best  traits  for  his  own  fireside,  and  there  his  ioss  has  been 
most  deeply  feh,  although  his  memory  is  still  honored  and  cherished  by 
all  who  knew  Him.  Mrs.  Mix  still  resides  in  Allegan,  where  she  is  much 
esteemed. 

Ezra  Brackett. — -The  unostentatious  routine  of  private  life,  although 
of  vast  importance  to  the  welfare  of  a  community,  has  not  figured  to  any 
great  extent  in  the  pages  of  history.  But  the  names  of  men  who  have 
distinguished  themselves  by  the  possession  of  those  qualities  which  mainly 
contribute  to  the  success  of  private  life  and  to  the  public  stability,  and  who 
have  enjoyed  the  respect  and  confidence  of  those  around  them,  should  not 
be  permitted  to  perish.  Their  example  is  more  valuable  to  the  majority  of 
readers  than  that  of  heroes,  statesmen  and  writers.  Such  are  the 
thoughts  that  involuntarily  come  to  our  minds  when  we  consider  the  life  of 
him  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch  and  who  is  today  one  of  the  most 
prominent  and  leading  citizens  of  Allegan  county.  Ezra  Brackett  was  born 
in  Convis,  Calhoun  county,  Michigan,  January  17.  1848,  and  is  a  repre- 
sentative of  one  of  the  old  and  prominent  pioneer  families  of  that  county. 
His  grandfather,  Ezra  Brackett.  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  being 
commissioned  Captain  of  Light  Infantry.  His  father,  Ezra  Brackett.  was 
born  in  EJbridge,  New  York,  and  came  to  Michigan  in  1837,  shortly  after 
the  territorial  government,  settling  in  Calhoun  county,  where,  in  the 
midst  of  the  wilderness,  he  cleared  and  developed  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres.  He  cut  the  first'tree  upon  the  place  and  the 
stump  was  left  standing.  Mr.  Brackett  of  this  review  remembers  in  his 
childhood  days  of  playing  around  that  stump,  which  stood  in  the  dooryard. 
and  is  still  to  be  seen  there — a  mute  reminder  of  the  forest  which  once 
covered  the  district  and  of  the  work  done  by  the  pioneers  in  clearing  the 
land.  At  the  time  of  Ezra  Brackett's  arrival  there  were  only  three  other 
men  hving  in  the  neighborhood,  and  all  of  the  hardships  and  privations 
of  pioneer  life  had  to  be  endured.  He  had  to  take  his  grain  and  other 
products  of  his  farm  in  a  pack  on  his  back  to  Albion,  a  distance  of  nineteen 
miles,  and  in  the  same  way  he  brought  back  provisions  for  his  familv. 
subseotiendy  he  worked  on  the  construction  of  the  Michigan  Centra!  Rail- 
road  from  Jackson  to  Marshall,   and  also  worked  on  the   Erie  canal   at 


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88  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Lockport  and  measurecl  every  stone  there  on  the  construction  of  the  locks 
before  commg;  to  the  west.  His  educational  privileges  were  extremely 
limited,  for  up  to  the  time  that  he  had  attained  the  age  of  fourteen  years 
he  had  attended  school  for  only  two  terms.  He  was,  however,  a  self-made 
man  and  self-educated  as  well,  for  by  reading,  observation  and  experience 
he  added  greatly  to  his  knowledge.  He  was  a  most  interested  student  of 
ancient  history'  and  was  considered  an  authority  upon  the  subject,  for  he 
informed  himself  concerning  the  events  which  marked  the  world's  progress 
in  former  years.  He  was  a  most  highly  esteemed  and  respected  citizen  and 
was  very  active  in  the  welfare  of  his  town  and  county.  He  held  many 
offices  of  trust  in  his  township  and  his  fellow  townsmen,  recognizing  his 
worth  and  ability,  accorded  him  the  honor  and  distinction  that  was  due 
him.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  and  he  wielded  a  wide  influence  in 
community  affairs,  ever  standing  for  justice,  truth,  rieht  and  progress. 
He  died  in  1889,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years,  having  been  born  in  1805. 
and  thus  passed  away  one  of  the  prominent  early  residents  of  Michigan, 
who  aided  in  reclaiming  the  state  from  the  rule  of  the  savages  and  utilizing 
it  for  the  purposes  of  civilization.  In  early  manhood  he  wedded  Miss 
Mary  Davison,  who  was  born  in  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  and  was  a  daughter 
of  John  Davison,  a  merchant  and  banker  of  that  place.  She  was  born  in 
1807  and  died  in  1882,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  vears.  In  the  family  were 
eleven  children,  but  onlv  three  are  now  living — Charles,  who  resides  uDon 
the  old  homestead,  which  he  owns:  Albert,  who  is  located  at  Findlay.  Ohio, 
and  Ezra,  who  is  the  j-oungest  of  the  family. 

Ezra  Erackett  remained  in  his  native  place  to  the  age  of  seventeen 
years,  and  in  the  meantime  acquired  his  preliminary  education  in  the  district 
schools.  He  afterward  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  study  in  Olivet  College, 
at  Olivet,  Michigan,  and  subsequently  continued  his  education  in  Milton 
College  in  Wisconsin,  In  earlv  manhood  he  engaged  in  teaching  school 
for  three  vears  in  Illinois,  Indiana  and  Michigan,  and  then  entered  the 
ministry  of  the  Seventh  Day  Adventist  church,  oreaching'  for  five  years  in 
the  last  two  mentioned  states.  On  account  of  ill  health  he  then  retired  to 
his  farm  and  subsequently  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Monterey  township. 
Allegan  county,  which  comorised  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  and  was 
pleasantly  located  about  eight  miles  north  of  the  village  of  Allegan,  When 
he  made  the  purchase  about  two-thirds  of  the  farm  was  under  cultivation, 
and  in  addition  to  carrying  on  general  agricultural  uursuits  he  also  had  a 
good  sized  apple  orchard.  He  subsequently  sold  this  place  and  bought 
another,  where  he  makes  a  specialty  of  raising  stock,  and  in  the  davs  when 
Merino  sheep  were  largely  raised  he  was  one  of  the  most  extensive  sheen 
owners  of  the  county  and  still  has  a  few  upon  his  place.  He  is  likewise 
a  breeder  of  thoroughbred  horses  and  cattle,  makiuEr  a  soecialty  of  Shetland 
ponies,  Percheron  horses  and  Red  Polled  cattle.  His  farm  is  well  stocked 
and  in  fact  is  eauipped  with  every  modern  accessory  and  convenience 
known  to  the  model  farm  of  the  twentieth  century  and  comnrises  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres.  In  1895  he  moved  to  the  village  of  Allegan  and 
purchased  property,  residing  in  one  of  the  most  modern  residences  in  the 
village.  He  goes  to  and  from  his  farm  each  day  to  superintend  the  work, 
which  is  carefully  conducted  and  brings  him  an  excellent  financial  reti'rn. 

On    March   26.    1873,   in   Monterey   township,    Allegan   county,    Mr. 


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HISTORY  OF  AI.LEGAX  COUXTY  811 

Brackett  was  married  to  Miss  Ella  M.  Lay,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Allegan 
May  27,  1853,  her  parents  being  George  T.  and  Mary  (Barber)  Lay,  Her 
father  was  born  October  28.  1822,  near  Lockport,  in  Niagara  corinty. 
New  York,  and  was  a  son  of  Abner  Lay,  who  removed  to  that  place  from 
Vermont  when  a  young  man,  at  which  time  western  New  York  was  a  dense 
wilderness.  He  afterward  took  an  active  part  in  the  war  of  1812,  being 
engaged  in  a  number  of  battles  in  the  vicinity  of  Buffalo  and  Black  Rock. 
He  married  Mehitable  Talbot,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  a  lineal 
descendant  of  one  of  three  brothers  who  were  among  the  earliest  settlers 
of  the  Bay  state. 

George  T.  Lay,  father  of  Mrs.  Brackett,  was  a  youth  of  ten  years 
when  he  accompanied  his  oarents  on  their  removal  to  Erie  county.  Penn- 
sylvania, and  at  that  tender  age  he  assisted  his  father  in  clearing  the 
homestead,  enduring  with  the  family  the  many  hardships  and  privations 
of  pioneer  life.  He  remained  there  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he 
left  the  cleared  and  well  improved  farm  in  Pennsylvania  to  seek  his  fortune 
farther  west.  He  first  made  his  way  to  Jackson.  Michigan,  at  that  time  the 
terminus  of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad,  and  carrying  his  satchel  in 
hand,  he  then  traveled  on  foot  through  different  towns  and  finally  arriving 
in  Allegan  in  May,  1844.  The  best  outlet  Kalamazoo  then  had  for  her 
flour  was  by  shipping  it  in  keelboats  to  Allegan  and  transferring  it  from 
boats  above  the  dam  to  boats  below  and  thence  down  the  river  to  Lake 
Michigan,  Mr.  Lay  took  passage  on  board  the  keelboat  Pioneer  and  spent 
his  first  summer  in  Michigan  sailing  up  and  down  the  Kalamazoo  river. 
He  next  became  connected  with  the  lumber  trade  and  for  the  succeeding 
nine  years  worked  at  it  in  all  of  its  branches,  from  taking  the  tree  from  the 
stump  in  the  forests  of  Allegan  county  to  retailing  the  lumber  on  the  docks 
at  the  head  of  Lake  street,  Chicago.  After  residing  in  Allegan  for  a  few 
years  and  exercising  great  economy  as  well  as  industry  he  became  able  to 
purchase  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  25,  Monterey 
township.  Instead  of  paying  for  his  land  immediatelv  he  used  what  means 
he  had  in  hiring  men  to  chop  down  the  trees.  He  also  worked  in  this  way 
himself  and  thus  succeeded  in  soon  clearing  one  hundred  acres.  The  first 
and  second  crops  raised  thereon  paid  for  the  land  and  cleared  the  farm  of 
all  indebtedness,  and  he  continued  to  add  to  his  holdings  until  he  had 
acquired  about  fourteen  hundred  acres.  On  the  5th  of  October,  i8=;t.  Mr. 
Lay  was  married  to  a  daughter  of  Chester  and  Nancv  Barber.  Sh"  was 
born  in  Old  Canaan,  Connecticut,  July  id.  1825,  and  at  the  age  of  nine 
years  accompanied  her  father's  family  to  Freedom,  Portage  county.  Ohio', 
and  thence  to  Allegan  in  1844. 

Following  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lav  remained  in  Allegan  until 
after  the  birth  of  their  first  child.  May  27,  18;^.  It  was  this  daughter 
who,  at  the  age  of  twenty  vears,  became  the  wife  of  Ezra  Brackett.  Mr. 
Lav  was  verv  .siiccessful  in  life  and  verv  prominent  and  infiuential  in  nublic 
affairs  in  Monterey  township.  He  also  proved  an  important  factor  in 
different  industries  of  the  county  and  his  business  integrity  was  above 
question.     He  died  at  his  home  in  Allesran  March  13,  iqot. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brackett  h^ve  been  born  three  children — IJovd 
Clavton  and  Ezra  Carelton.  both  born  In  Monterev,  and  Lela.  who  was  born 
in  Allegan  and  died  aged  eleven  months.    The  family  are  prominent  in  the 


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90  HiSTOri/  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

community  and  Mr.  Brackett  is  one  whose  life  history  is  indeed  commend- 
able and  exemplary.  Reared  amid  pioneer  conditions  and  early  familiar 
with  many  of  the  hardships  incident  to  life  on  the  frontier,  he  has  made 
good  use  of  his  opportunities  as  the  years  have  gone  by,  and  is  today  a 
prominent  representative  of  agricultural  interests.  For  many  years  he  has 
participated  in  business  life  of  the  county  and  has  so  directed  his  affairs 
as  to  merit  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  entire  community,  while  no 
word  of  censure  has  ever  been  uttered  against  his  actions. 

Thomas  M.  Cook. — Among  the  native  sons  of  Allegan  who  have  found 
in  its  business  conditions  opportunity  for  successful  enterprise  and  industry, 
is  numbered  Thomas  M.  Cook,  who  is  now  engaged  in  dealing  in  coal.  He 
was  born  January  27,  1864,  a  son  of  Martin  Cook,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
the  Netherlands.  He  came  to  America  from  Holland  when  ten  years  of 
age,  crossing  the  Atlantic  in  184G  with  his  parents.  The  _grandfather  of 
our  subject  was  Harm  Cook,  who  was  born  in  1799,  and  died  in  Holland, 
Michigan,  in  1847.  He  married  Jane  Dunnewind,  a  native  of  Holland, 
bom  in  1800.  Her  death  occurred  in  Holland,  Michigan,  in  i860.  When 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harm  Cook  came  to  the  new  world  they  brought  with  them 
their  seven  children,  and  they  traveled  with  a  party  of  about  one  hundred 
colonists,  who  were  under  the  leadership  of  a  minister,  Dr.  Van  Realte. 
They  were  dissatisfied  in  the  old  country  with  business  and  other  conditions, 
and  the  minister  came  to  America  to  select  a  location  and  then  brought  the 
colony  to  the  new  world,  all  settling  in  Ottawa  county,  Michigan,  where 
they  named  the  town  of  Holland  in  honor  of  their  native  country.  That 
portion  of  the  state  was  then  an  unbroken  wilderness,  but  now  there  is  a 
flourishing  city  at  the  headwaters  of  Macatawa  bay,  with  open  navigation 
to  Lake  Michigan.  Harm  Cook  moved  into  the  second  shanty  on  his 
arrival  in  the  fall  of  1846  which  was  built,  and  later  erected  a  log  cabin 
and  began  to  clear  a  farm,  but  on  account  of  overwork  was  taken  ill  and 
died  in  1847.  The  members  of  the  family  are:  Herminia,  deceased;  John, 
deceased,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  enlisting  in  Company  I,  Fifth 
Michigan  Cavalry,  on  the  21st  oi  August,  1862,  and  was  serving  as  a 
teamster  when  discharged  on  account  of  disability  September  16,  1863; 
Henry,  who  is  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  work;  Albert,  who  lives  in 
Allegan;  Martin,  father  of  our  subject,  and  two  who  died  in  childhood. 

Martin  Cook  was  a  youth  of  ten  years  when  the  family  arrived  in  the 
new  world.  Soon  after  his  father's  death  he  removed  to  Allegan  county, 
Michigan,  where  he  followed  a  diversified  life  until  he  was  elected  township 
treasurer,  which  position  he  held  for  twelve  years.  He  was  likewise  county 
treasurer  for  two  years,  and  held  the  position  of  turnkey  in  the  state  prison 
for  two  years,  and  for  five  years  was  a  railway  mail  clerk.  In  1892  he 
took  up  his  abode  in  Ionia,  Michigan,  where  he  still  resides,  now  filling  the 
position  of  turnkey  of  the  prison.  He  wedded  Mary  C.  Krise,  who  was 
born  in  old  Holland.  In  their  family  were  ten  children,  nine  of  whom 
survive,  namely:  Thomas  M.,  Mrs.  H.  D.  Lewis,  Henry  J.,  Mrs.  L.  H. 
Pritchard,  Fred,  who  is  living  in  Ionia  with  his  father;  Harm,  Susan, 
Jennie  and  Martin,  all  of  whom  are  residents  of  Ionia. 

Thomas  M.  Cook  was  reared  in  Allegan  county  and  is  indebted  to  the 
public  school  system  of  his  native  village  for  the  educational  privileges  he 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY  91 

enjoyed.  Since  putting  aside  his  text  books  he  has  been  identified  with 
business  interests  in  Allegan,  and  in  1885  established  a  coal  and  wood  yard, 
which  he  has  conducted  with  excellent  success.  In  1890  he  became  the 
distributing  agent  for  the  Standard  Oil  Company,  and  he  is  recognized  as 
one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  his  village  and  county,  carefully  conduct- 
ing his  interests  and  winning  a  libera!  patronage  by  reason  of  honorable 
methods  and  straightforward  dealing. 

On  the  7th  of  May,  1884,  Mr.  Cook  was  married  in  Ionia,  Michigan, 
to  Agnes  K.  Harwood,  who  was  born  in  Berlin,  Ionia  county,  this  state. 
They  now  have  two  living  children :  Grover  C,  who  was  born  in  Ionia, 
and  Edmond  M.,  born  in  Allegan.  They  both  received  schooling  in 
Allegan,  and  also  attended  the  school  at  Big  Rapids,  Michigan.  At  the 
present  time  Edward  M.  is  taking  a  law  course  at  the  University  of  Michigan 
at  Ann  Arbor. 

Mr.  Cook  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  prominent  representatives 
of  Democracy  in  Allegan  county,  and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  Demo- 
cratic state  central  committee.  He  has  likewise  been  a  member  of  the 
village  board  and  was  president  of  the  village  in  1905  and  in  1906.  During 
those  years  Allegan  has  witnessed  a  healthy  boom,  having  secured  several 
new  factories  and  many  improvements.  His  labors  in  behalf  of  the  party 
have  been  far-reaching  and  beneficial,  his  work  being  of  a  most  effective 
character.  He  was  president  of  the  Allegan  County  Agricultural 
Society  in  1906,  in  which  year  a  very  successful  fair  was  given  and  a  debt 
of  several  hundred  dollars  against  the  society  was  paid.  He  belongs  to 
various  fraternal  organizations,  holding  membership  relations  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Elks,  Maccabees,  the  National  Protective  Legion  and 
the  Foresters.  He  has  held  all  the  offices  in  the  first  named  and  has  been 
representative  to  the  Grand  Lodge.  He  is  also  president  of  the  Allegan 
Boat  &  Park  Company,  who  have  a  fine  new  excursion  boat  running  to 
Cook  park  above  the  city,  which  was  named  in  his  honor.  He  is  also  vice- 
president  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  which  institution  is  an  active  body 
organized  to  promote  the  welfare  of  Allegan  and  is  doing  much  good  in 
that  direction.  Mr.  Cook  is  very  widely  known  and  public  opinion  is 
altogether  favorable  regarding  his  business  record  and  his  private  life, 
while  even  his  political  opponents  recognize  the  honesty  of  hts  convictions 
and  his  fidelity  to  a  course  which  he  believes  to  be  .right. 

Joseph  Ciiamberlin,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Allegan  county,  con- 
nected with  its  agricultural  development  and  for  many  years  a  respected 
citizen  but  now  numbered  among  the  honored  dead,  was  born  in  Wayne 
county.  New  York,  December  2,  1823.  His  parents  were  Jeremiah  and 
Margaret  (Moore)  Chamberlin,  natives  of  New  York.  The  father  was 
engaged  in  farming  in  Wayne  county  in  his  earlier  years,  and  in  1832 
journeyed  to  Ohio,  establishing  his  home  in  Columbia  township,  Lorain 
county,  upon  a  tract  of  land  of  eighty  acres  which  at  the  time  of  his 
purchase  was  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  timber.  There  in  the  midst 
of  the  forest  he  erected  a  log  cabin  and  began  to  hew  out  a  farm  but  was 
not  long  permitted  to  enjoy  his  new  home,  his  death  there  occurring  in 
1838.  His  political  allegiance  was  given  to  the  Democracy  and  he  served 
as  township  trustee.    He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Baptist  church 


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<,2  HrST[)RY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

and  were  people  of  genuine  personal  worth,  who  enjoyed  and  received  the 
respect  and  good  will  of  all  with  whom  they  came  in  contact.  Mrs.  Cham- 
berlin  died  in  Monterey  township,  this  county,  in  1888,  at  the  very  advanced 
age  of  eighty-two  years,  having  spent  her  last  days  in  the  home  of  her  son, 
William  A.  Chamb'erlin.  In  the  family  were  six  children,  but  only  one  now 
survives,  John,  who  is  a  resident  of  Ohio. 

Joseph  Chamberlin  was  educated  in  a  Ic^  schoolhouse  in  Lorain  county. 
Ohio,  having  been  but  eight  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  parents'  removal 
from  the  Empire  state.  He  was  reared  to  the  occupation  of  farming  and 
when  sixteen  years  of  age  became  a  sailor  by  going  upon  the  lakes,  where 
he  remained  for  five  seasons,  and  during  that  time  he  won  promotion  until 
he  became  captain  and  was  owner  of  a  vessel,  sailing  from  Cleveland  to 
Buffalo  and  to  Canadian  points.  After  leaving  the  lakes  he  turned  his 
attention  to  farming  in  Lorain  county,  settling  on  eighty  acres  of  land, 
while  later  he  operated  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  There 
he  continued  to  engage  in  general  agricultural  pursuits  until  his  removal  to 
Michigan.  He  settled  in  Monterey  township.  Allegan  county,  among  its 
early  residents,  and  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  which 
he  began  clearing  and  cultivating.  For  a  considerable  period  he  was  actively 
and  successfully  engaged  in  general  farming,  placing  his  fields  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  In  1877.  however,  he  removed  to  Allegan,  where  he 
resided  until  his  death. 

Mr.  Chamberlin  was  twice  married.  He  first  wedded  Harriett  Weton, 
and  thev  had  one  son,  Clifton.  For  his  second  wife  he  chose  Martha  A. 
Brooks,'  and  unto  them  was  born  a  daughter,  May,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Thomas  Armstrong,  and  after  his  death  became  the  wife  of  Milton 
Griffith.  Mrs.  Chamberlin  had  a  brother,  Alphonso.  who  enhsted  in  the 
Civil  war  from  New  York  state  and  now  lives  in  Emmet  county,  Michigan, 
where  he  took  up  a  soldier's  claim  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Chamberlin  occurred  on  the  18th  of  January.  1902. 
He  had  held  the  office  of  school  director  and  had  affiliated  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party  but  was  not  an  active  politician  in  the  sense  of  office  seeking. 
He  preferred  to  concentrate  his  energies  upon  his  business  interests  and 
whatever  success  he  achieved  was  due  entirely  to  his  own  labors,  for  he 
started  out  in  life  empty-handed  and  by  persistency  of  purpose  and  unfalter- 
ing energy  constantly  worked  his  way  upward,  becoming  in  the  course  of 
years  a  prosperous  and  prominent  agriculturist  of  Allegan  county,  and  one 
who  commanded  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  men  under  all 
circumstances. 

Theodore  S.  Upovke  is  accorded  a  position  of  prominence  in  business 
circles  in  Allegan  by  reason  of  his  enterprise  and  industry,  and  while  he  has 
devoted  the  greater  part  of  his  attention  to  real  estate  and  the  insurance 
business,  he  is  yet  a  valued  factor  in  other  fields  of  business  endeavor,  and 
various  industries  have  felt  the  stimulus  of  his  co-operation  and  benefited 
ty  his  sound  judgment.  A  native  son  of  the  village,  he  was  born  in 
December,  1858,  and  is  the  only  child  of  Renssalaer  S.  and  Ermina  (Stone) 
Updyke.  The  father  removed  from  the  Empire  state  to  Michigan  after 
learning  the  miller's  trade  in  the  east.  He  had  followed  that  pursuit  on  the 
Hudson  river,  and  subsequent  to  his  removal  to  Michigan  he  settled  in 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  93 

Allegan,  where  he  again  engaged  in  the  milling  business  until  1870.  He 
then  took  up  his  abode  in  Iowa,  where  he  purchased  a  farm,  making  it  his 
home  throughout  his  remaining  days.  There  he  died  in  1878,  when  about 
fifty-eight  years  of  age,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  1820.  He  was  three 
times  married,  his  first  union  being  with  Mary  Herald,  a  native  of  New 
York.  Unto  them  were  born  two  children,  who  are  yet  living:  William  H., 
a  resident  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  and  Mary  H.,  who  lives  in  Connecticut. 
For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Updyke  chose  Ermina  Stone,  who  was  born  in 
Canada  and  died  in  Allegan  in  1868.  She  had  come  to  Michigan  with  her 
parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  W.  Stone,  who  were  early  residents  of  this 
village.  The  on!y  child  of  this  marriage  is  Theodore  S.  Updyke.  The 
father  was  a  third  time  married  and  is  survived  by  one  child  :>(  that  union, 
F""red  Updyke. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Allegan  Theodore  S.  Updyke  mastered  the 
common  branches  of  English  learning,  and  on  the  removal  of  the  family  to 
Iowa  he  continued  his  education  in  the  schools  of  that  state.  When  he  had 
attained  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  returned  to  his  native  village  and 
accepted  a  clerkship  in  the  postoffice  under  his  uncle,  George  R.  Stone, 
who  was  postmaster  at  that  time.  After  a  year,  however,  he  went  to  the 
southwest,  visiting  New  Mexico  and  Arizona.  He  made  his  headquarters, 
however,  at  Albuquerque,  New  Mexico,  and  was  engaged  in  the  railway 
postal  service  for  two  years,  after  which  he  resigned  his  position  and  went 
to  Kansas.  There  he  conducted  a  hardware  business  and  subsequently 
became  cashier  in  the  Medicine  Valley  Bank,  in  Medicine  Lodge,  Kansas, 
devoting  three  years  to  that  work,  after  which  he  removed  to  Lake  City 
and  subsequently  to  Ashland,  Kansas,  where  he  engaged  in  the  hardware 
and  lumber  business.  In  1889  he  returned  to  Michigan  and  became  chief 
clerk  for  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad,  with  headquarters  at  Grand  Rapids, 
where  he  remained- until  1905.  In  the  latter  year  he  came  to  Allegan,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  general  insurance  business.  Here  he  has 
secured  a  fine  clientage,  writing  large  amounts  of  insurance  annually  and 
negotiating  many  important  realty  transfers.  He  has  tlioroughlv  informed 
himself  concerning  land  values  in  this  village  and  throughout  the  county 
and  is  thus  enabled  to  make  good  purchases  and  sales  for  his  clients,  and 
thereby  realize  a  very  desirable  conmiission  for  himself.  A  man  of  business 
ability,  he  has  not  confined  his  energies  to  one  line  of  undertaking,  however, 
but  has  reached  out  into  other  fields,  thus  broadening  his  activity  and 
accomplishing  greater  resuhs.  Various  industries  of  Allegan  have  been 
stimulated  through  his  co-operation  and  sound  business  judgment.  He  is 
now  a  director  in  the  Bane-Mosher  Company,  and  also  in  the  Allegan 
Foundry  &  Machine  Company,  while  of  the  Michigan  Engine  Company  at 
Allegan  he  is  secretary  and  treasurer. 

In  1884  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Theodore  S.  Updyke  and  Miss 
Ella  Williams,  the  wedding  ceremony  being  performed  in  Allegan.  The 
lady  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Hon.  William  B.  Williams,  mention  of  whom 
is  made  elsewhere  in  this  work  in  connection  with  the  sketch  of  her  brother, 
Frank  H.  Williams,  who  is  judge  of  the  probate  court  of  Allegan  county. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Updyke  now  have  one  child,  a  son,  George  W.,  who  was  born 
in  this  village  and  passed  through  successive  grades  in  the  public  schools  of 
Allegan  until  he  liad  completed  the  high  school  course,  after  which  he 


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94  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  CUUKTY 

entered  Howe's  Military  School  in  Indiana,  where  he  was  graduated  in 
1906.  He  is  now  completing  his  education  in  the  University  of  Michigan  at 
Ann  Arbor.  In  politics  Mr.  Updyke  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  and  while 
in  Ashland,  Kansas,  which  is  the  county  seat  of  Clark  county,  he  served 
as  mayor  of  the  city  for  one  term.  In  Masonry  he  has  attained  high  rank, 
having  taken  the  thirty-second  degree  of  the  Scottish  rite,  and  he  has  held 
various  offices  in  different  Masonic  bodies.  He  is  an  exemplary  representa- 
tive of  the  craft  and  is  thoroughly  familiar  with  its  tenets  and  teachings. 
Weil  directed  effort  in  business  life,  laudable  ambition  and  keen  discernment 
have  been  salient  features  in  his  success,  making  him  one  of  the  representa- 
tive and  prominent  residents  of  Allegan. 

Gordon  L.  Hicks,  who  is  engaged  in  the  conduct  of  an  agricultural 
implement  business  and  also  handles  hardware,  buggies  and  wagons,  is 
classed  with  those  whose  enterprise  and  labor  have  promoted  the  commercial 
activity  and  consequent  prosperity  of  Allegan.  His  birth  occurred  in  Kala- 
mazoo county,  Michigan,  January  15,  T851,  his  parents  being  Henry  B.  and 
Hulda  (Everett)  Hicks,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Vermont.  The 
father  came  from  the  Green  Mountain  state  to  Michigan  in  1836,  and  was 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Allegan,  being  employed  in  the  first  mill  ever 
built  there.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Richland  township,  Kalamazoo 
county,  and  there  rented  a  farm,  which  he  operated  until  his  success  justified 
his  purchase  of  a  farm  at  Spring  Brook,  in  the  same  township.  The  place 
was  then  a  wilderness,  but  he  cleared  and  cultivated  it  and  followed  farming 
there  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1892,  when  he  was  eighty-five  years 
of  age.  He  was  an  honored  pioneer  of  the  county,  for  he  worked  persist- 
ently and  earnestly  to  secure  its  development  and  aid  in  its  reclamation  from 
the  wilderness  through  transforming  it  into  good  farming  property.  His 
wife  passed  away  about  a  year  prior  to  his  demise.  In  their  family  were 
nine  children,  who  reached  adult  age,  while  six  are  now  living:  Gilbert, 
who,  enlisting  from  Iowa,  served  for  three  years  and  six  months  in  the 
Civil  war,  and  now  lives  in  Emmet  county,  Michigan;  Mrs.  Mary  Swears; 
Calvin  C,  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead  in  Spring  Brook,  Kalamazoo 
county,  Michigan ;  Martha,  who  resides  in  Detroit,  this  state ;  Fannie,  the 
widow  of  Dr.  French,  and  Gordon  L. 

In  the  schools  of  his  native  county  Gordon  L.  Hicks  acquired  his  early 
education  and  afterward  attended  Albion  College  and  Parson's  Business 
College  at  Kalamazoo.  Subsequently  he  carried  on  farming  in  Kalamazoo 
county  for  two  years,  and  in  1875  removed  to  Trowbridge  township,  this 
county,  where  he  devoted  his  attention  to  general  agricultural  pursuits  until 
1892.  In  that  year  he  removed  from  the  farm  to  the  village  of  Allegan  and 
began  dealing  in  agricultural  implements  and  kindred  goods.  He  prospered 
in  this  venture  and  afterward  added  a  line  of  buggies,  wagons,  thresh- 
ing machines  and  hardware,  and  he  now  has  a  well  appointed  store  and  is 
enjoying  an  excellent  trade.  In  1892  he  was  elected  secretary  of  the 
Farmers'  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  Allegan  and  Ottawa  counties, 
which  office  he  still  fills  in  connection  with  his  other  business  interests. 

Mr.  Hicks  withholds  his  support  from  no  movement  or  measure  which 
he  deems  of  public  benefit  and  his  allegiance  is  unswervingly  given  to  the 
Republican  party.    For  the  past  twelve  years  he  has  acted  as  justice  of  the 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  95 

peace  and  liis  decisions  have  been  strictly  fair  and  impartial,  being  based 
upon  the  law  and  the  equity  in  the  case.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason  and  a 
Maccabee,  belonging  to  the  former  organization  for  twelve  years  and  to 
the  latter  for  sixteen  years,  and  at  all  times  he  is  loyal  to  the  beneficent 
spirit  of  both. 

In  1873,  in  Vickeryville,  Biishnell  township,  Montcalm  county,  Michi- 
gan, Mr.  Hicks  was  married  to  Miss  Fannie  Kirven,  and  they  now  have  two 
sons  and  a  daughter.  Henry  G.,  born  in  Trowbridge  township,  this  county,  is 
now  engaged  in  the  harness  business  in  Allegan.  Floyd  H.,  also  a  native 
of  the  same  township,  is  a  veterinary  surgeon,  practicing  in  Allegan,  and  he 
married  Anna  Williamson,  of  Gun  Lake,  the  wedding  being  celebrated  in 
Wayland  township.  Bessie  M.,  the  youngest,  was  born  in  Trowbridge 
township,  and  is  a  student  in  Ypsilanti  Normal  College.  The  family  is 
widely  and  favorably  known  in  this  locality,  the  members  of  the  household 
occupying  an  enviable  social  position. 

Austin  J.  Colburn. — Among  the  enterprising,  energetic  and  successful 
business  men  of  Allegan  is  numbered  Austin  J.  Colburn,  who  belongs  to 
that  class  of  representative  Americans  who,  while  promoting  individual 
success  also  contribute  to  general  progress  and  advancement.  His  birth 
occurred  in  Trowbridge  township,  Allegan  county,  February  18,  i860.  His 
father,  John  H.  Colburn,  a  native  of  HoUis,  New  Hampshire,  came  to 
Michigan  with  his  parents  at  the  age  of  six  years  and  died  in  1900,  aged 
sixty  years.  The  grandfather  was  John  G.  Colburn,  who,  on  his  removal 
to  the  middle  west,  settled  on  a  farm  in  Trowbridge  township,  Allegan 
county,  after  spending  one  year  in  the  village  of  Allegan.  He  began 
clearing  and  improving  a  farm,  being  one  of  the  pioneer  residents  of  the 
township,  where  he  continued  to  carry  on  agricultural  pursuits  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  about  eighty-two  years  of  age. 

John  H.  Colburn  was  reared  amid  pioneer  scenes  and  environments 
in  Allegan  county  and  early  became  familiar  with  farm  labor,  turning  his 
attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  on  his  own  account  after  he  had  attained 
his  majority.  He  married  Miss  Rachel  Austin,  who  was  born  at  Painted 
Post,  New  York,  and  still  survives  him.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Isaac  G. 
Austin,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Michigan,  who  settled  in  Trowbridge  town- 
ship as  early  as  1846.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  H.  Colburn  were  born  five 
children,  of  whom  four  are  now  living:  Mrs.  Mary  Van  Kuren,  Austin  J., 
Mrs.  Ella  Wood  and  Glenn  G.,  who  lives  upon  the  old  homestead  in 
Trowbridge  township,  which  is  still  owned  by  the  family. 

Austin  J.  Colburn  acquired  his  education  in  the  district  schools  of  his 
native  township  and  followed  farming  to  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  upon 
his  father's  land.  He  then  purchased, a  farm  in  Allegan  township,  where 
he  carried  on  the  work  of  tilling  the  soil  and  cultivating  the  crops  for  fifteen 
years,  but  thinking  that  he  would  find  commercial  pursuits  more  congenial, 
he  removed  to  the  village  of  Allegan  in  1900  and  accepted  a  clerkship  with 
the  Grange  Co-operative  Store,  being  with  them  about  five  years.  In  1904 
the  Allegan  Hardware  Supply  Company  was  incorporated,  with  fohn 
Winchell,  of  Cheshire  township,  as  president;  Harry  M.  Luts,  of  Allegan 
township,  vice-president  and  treasurer;  Austin  J.  Colburn,  secretarv.  and 
I.  A.  Brown,  manager.     Mr.  Colburn  has  since  been  identified  with  the 


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<)(i  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  tOUNTY 

hardware  business,  and  his  labors  have  been  an  important  factor  in  the 
development  of  what  is  now  one  of  the  leading  commercial  interests  of  the 
town. 

In  1885  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Colburn  and  Miss  Hattie 
Wood,  of  Allegan,  who  died  in  1903,  leaving  one  son,  Harlan  A.,  who  was 
bom  in  Allegan  township  in  1891.  In  1905  Mr.  Colburn  wedded  Miss 
Lucy  Miner,  of  Allegan.  He  and  his  family  attend  the  Baptist  church,  and 
he  belongs  to  Home  Lodge  No.  290,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  AHegan,  of  which  he 
is  a  vice-grand  at  the  present  writing,  in  1906.  In  politics  he  is  a  prominent 
Republican  in  the  local  ranks,  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  village  council 
and  at  the  present  writing  is  a  trustee  of  the  village  board.  He  has  shown  in 
business  life  that  he  is  quick  of  apprehension  and  readily  comprehends  intri- 
cate business  conditions.  He  is  genial  in  manner,  is  popular  with  those 
who  know  him,  and  is  much  esteemed  by  his  many  friends. 

George  E.  Jewett,  deceased,  who  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  fore- 
most factors  of  Allegan  county,  was  born  in  Lincoln  county,  Maine,  on  the 
20th  of  December,  1828,  and  passed  away  in  Allegan  township  March  22, 
1892.  His  parents  were  Nathaniel  and  Alice  (Erskine)  Jewett.  also  natives 
of  Lincoln  county.  The  father  there  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  and 
in  milling,  and  spent  his  entire  life  in  the  Pine  Tree  state,  where  he  reared 
his  family  of  five  children.  George  E.  being  the  second  in  order  of  birth. 
The  father  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812.  and  was  one  of  the  prominent 
and  influential  men  of  his  county.  The  grandfather.  James  Jewett,  wedded 
Lydia  Hilton,  and  their  family  also  numbered  five  children. 

George  E.  Jewett  remained  in  his  father's  home  in  Maine  until  sixteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  began  earning  his  own  living  in  connection  with  the 
lumber  trade  in  the  state  of  his  nativity.  He  was  thus  engaged  until  his 
removal  to  Michigan  in  1848.  Following  his  arrival  here  he  assisted  in 
erecting  a  sawmill  on  the  Kalamazoo  river  in  Allegan  county  and  was 
afterward  employed  in  the  mill  until  1853,  when  he  purchased  what  is  now 
known  as  the  old  Jewett  homestead.  He  first  bought  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land,  which  was  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  timber. 
In  eight  months'  time  he  had  cleared  ninety  acres  of  this  and  on  that  tract 
he  erected  a  comfortable  and  attractive  residence.  For  a  long  period  he 
carried  on  general  farming,  raising  grain,  fruit  and  stock,  and  year  after 
year  brought  him  good  financial  returns,  for  he  was  practical  in  his  methods 
and  his  energies  were  so  directed  that  they  brought  the  best  possible 
returns. 

In  1855  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  George  E.  Jewett  and  Miss 
Constance  A.  Bingham,  of  Allegan  county,  a  daughter  of  Ehjah  and  Caroline 
B.  (Buck)  Bingham,  who  were  natives  of  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont, 
respectively.  Her  father  was  engaged  in  merchandising  in  the  east,  and  in 
1836  came  to  the  west,  settling  in  Allegan,  where  he  served  as  the  first 
register  of  deeds  and  county  clerk  of  Allegan  county.  He  also  held  the 
office  of  notary  public  under  the  administration  of  three  different  governors 
of  Michigan  and  was  a  prominent  and  efficient  man  of  his  time.  He  was 
a  scholar  of  broad  general  information  and  his  ability  well  fitted  him  for 
the  position  of  leadership  that  was  accorded  him.  Later  in  life  he  went  to 
Buffalo,  New  York,  where  he  died  very  suddenly,  while  his  wife  passed 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAK  COUNTY  97 

away  in  Aliegan  in  August,  1837.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
and  Mrs.  Jewett  is  the  only  one  now  living.  She  was  a  teacher  prior  to 
her  marriage  and  is  a  lady  of  innate  culture  and  refinement.  Her  eldest 
sister  was  the  first  adult  white  woman  that  died  in  Allegan  township. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jewett  were  born  four  children,  all  natives  of 
Allegan.  Karl  B.  married  Grace  E.  Tomlinson,  and  has  three  children, 
Harry  E.,  Helen  W.  and  Max  B.  Alice  E.  became  the  wife  of  Frank  N. 
Gardiner,  and  died  March  14,  1905,  leaving  one  son,  George  Jewett.  She 
was  an  artist  of  unusual  ability,  possessing  natural  talent  and  displaying 
much  skill  in  her  portrait,  landscape  and  animal  paintings.  She  acquired 
her  education  in  art  in  Boston,  Massachusetts.  Van  Gilbert  married 
Antoinette  Suilivan,  of  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  and  they  have  tliree  children — 
Mary  Constance,  Ruth  Victoria  and  a  son  yet  unnamed.  George  Hartley 
married  Jessie  L.  Reed,  and  was  formerly  a  traveling  salesman,  but  now 
manages  his  mother's  extensive  farm. 

In  addition  to  his  business  interests  George  E.  Jewett  was  president 
of  the  Farmers'  Mutual  Insurance  Company  for  Allegan  and  Ottawa 
counties  and  was  adjuster  of  the  same  for  many  years  prior  to  his  death. 
He  also  acted  as  director  of  the  Allegan  County  Co-operative  Association 
for  fifteen  years  and  was  chairman  of  the  executive  committee.  He  was 
classed  with  the  foremost  farmers  of  his  county  and  he  was  connected  with 
the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  in  various  ways,  taking  their  products  and  ship- 
ping them  and  assisting  them  in  bettering  their  financial  conditions.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Prohibitionist,  being  a  stanch  advocate  of  the  cause  of 
temperance.  During  the  Civil  war.  while  incapacitated  for  field  duty  on 
account  of  an  accident  to  one  of  his  eyes,  he  gave  liberally  of  his  money 
and  time  for  furthering  the  cause.  His  life  was  noble,  his  actions  manly 
and  sincere,  and  his  fidelity  to  high  principles  was  above  question.  All 
who  knew  him  entertained  for  him  warm  regard  and  his  memory  is  still 
cherished  by  many  friends  as  well  as  his  immediate  family. 

Clarence  H.  Rowk,  who  in  1906  was  appointed  to  the  position  of 
superintendent  of  the  county  farm,  was  born  in  Watson  township,  Allegan 
county,  October  4,  1877.  His  father,  Charles  Henry  Rowe,  is  also  a  native 
of  Watson  township,  while  the  grandparents  came  from  New  York  to 
Michigan  and  settled  in  Allegan  county  at  an  early  day,  Charles  H.  Rowe 
was  married  to  Miss  Delia  Pulsifer,  likewise  a  native  of  Watson  township, 
and  they  still  reside  upon  a  farm  in  that  township.  Three  children  have 
been  bom  to  them,  namely:  Ira,  a  farmer  living  in  Trowbridge  township, 
who  married  Edith  St.  German,  and  has  two  children,  Harold  and  Erma; 
Edith,  the  wife  of  Delbert  Pressley,  of  Hopkins  township,  by  whom  she  has 
one  child,  Lilla;  and  Clarence  H. 

In  the  country  schools  of  Watson  township  Clarence  H.  Rowe  acquired 
his  early  education  and  was  reared  upon  the  home  farm,  where  he  remained 
until  twenty-five  years  of  age,  when  he  left  the  parental  roof  and  was 
employed  as  a  farm  hand  in  various  localities  until  April,  1906,  when  he 
became  superintendent  of  the  Allegan  county  poor  farm.  He  is  a  practical 
agriculturist,  understanding  thoroughly  the  best  methods  of  tilling  the  soil 
and  producing  crops,  and  he  is  thus  well  qualified  for  the  position  which  he 
is  now  filling. 


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98  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

In  1901,  in  Monterey  township,  Mr.  Rowe  was  married  to  Miss  Edna 
Keel,  who  was  born  in  that  township,  where  her  father,  John  Keel,  settled 
at  an  early  day.  Mr,  and  Mrs,  Rowe  now  have  an  interesting  little  son, 
Bernard,  who  was  born  in  Hopkins  township.  In  his  political  views  Mr. 
Rowe  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  while  fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  His  entire  life  has  been  passed  in  this 
county  and  he  has  always  followed  farming  and  is  accounted  one  of  the 
enterprising  and  progressive  young  agriculturists  of  the  community. 

Ira  G.  Thorpe,  at  one  time  a  prominent  representative  of  the  educa- 
tional interests  of  Michigan  and  now  a  school  commissioner  residing  in 
Allegan,  was  born  in  Girard  township.  Branch  county,  this  state,  June  12, 
1861.  He  is  a  son  of  George  P.  and  Ellen  (Whalen)  Thorpe,  the  former  a 
native  of  New  York  and  the  latter  of  Ireland.  They  now  make  their  home 
at  Mill  Grove,  Allegan  county.  He  came  to  this  county  in  1878,  settling 
on  section  21,  Valley  township,  and  in  1881  he  removed  to  the  vicmity  of 
Mill  Grove,  settling  upon  a  farm  which  is  now  the  property  of  his  son  Ira, 
He  still  lives  upon  the  place,  which  he  has  devoted  to  the  cereals  best 
adapted  to  soil  and  climate.  He  was  married  in  early  manhood  to  Miss 
Ellen  Whalen,  who  at  the  age  of  about  forty-five  years  became  a  resident 
of  Allegan  county.  Seven  children  grace  this  marriage:  Anna,  now  the 
wife  of  Elliott  Pullman ;  Ira  G.,  Mary,  Morris  W.,  who  wedded  Flora  Peet, 
and  lives  upon  the  farm  now  owned  by  our  subject;  Albert,  who  makes  his 
home  in  Kalamazoo,  Michigan ;  Jennie,  the  wife  of  Scott  Day,  also  living 
in  Allegan ;  and  Frederick,  who  is  located  in  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan. 

Ira  G.  Thorpe  acquired  his  early  education  in  the  Branch  county  district 
schools  in  Cornell's  district  to  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  after  which  he  became 
a  student  in  the  brick  school  near  Union  City,  and  later  attended  the  Union 
high  school.  He  completed  his  early  education  in  this  county  and  in  1879 
began  teaching  in  school  No.  4  in  Valley  township.  In  the  succeeding  fall 
he  attended  school  in  Allegan,  after  which  he  again  engaged  in  teaching  at 
district  No.  4  in  Valley  township.  Two  years  later  he  went  to  teach  at 
Mil!  Grove,  where  he  remained  for  five  terms,  and  then  to  district  No.  2, 
in  Heath  township.  In  the  summer  of  1885  he  attended  the  Wayland 
Nomial  School,  where  he  studied  under  Professor  J.  W.  Humphrey.  In  the 
fall  of  1885  he  taught  the  Dunningville  school  and  thence  went  to  Diamond 
Springs,  where  he  engaged  in  teaching  for  four  years.  There  he  met  Miss 
Carrie  A.  Collins,  who  was  teaching  there,  and  who  became  his  wife  in 
1887.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Chester  C.  Collins,  an  early  settler  in  Michi- 
gan and  a  farmer  by  occupation.  Mrs.  Thorpe  was  born  in  Allegan  and 
was  a  competent  teacher  in  her  early  womanhood.  In  the  meantime  Mr. 
Thorpe  attended  a  normal  school  at  Wayland,  and  during  his  vacations  he 
taught  in  various  schools.    He  afterward  became  principal  at  Hamilton. 

In  the  fall  of  1893  Mr.  Thorpe  entered  the  Normal  School  at  Ypsilanti 
as  a  student  and  graduated  in  1896  on  the  completion  of  a  four  years' 
course,  receiving  at  that  time  a  life  certificate  as  a  teacher.  He  studied  very 
hard,  acquainting  himself  with  branches  of  learning  in  which  he  had  never 
had  opportunity  to  familiarize  himself  before,  and  out  of  a  class  of  two 
hundred  and  sixty-five  he  was  chosen  as  instructor  in  the  history  department 
for  the  coming  year  at  the  college.     During  that  year  he  pursued  three 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  99 

post  graduate  courses  on  as  many  subjects.  In  1S97  he  became  superin- 
tendent of  the  Martin  school  in  this  county,  continuing  as  such  until  1900, 
when  his  health  failed  him  and  he  retired  to  his  farm.  In  1903  he  was 
elected  school  commissioner  of  Allegan  county,  which  office  he  now  holds, 
his  ability  being  widely  recognized.  As  a  public  educator  he  gained  rank 
among  the  foremost  representatives  of  the  profession  in  this  part  of  the 
state,  and  in  the  schoolroom  was  an  excellent  disciplinarian,  at  the  same 
time  imparting  clearly  and  readily  to  others  the  knowledge  that  he  had 
acquired. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thorpe  have  been  born  three  children:  Ralph  C, 
who  was  born  in  Ypsilanti;  and  Avis  lone  and  George  Ira,  both  of  whom 
were  born  in  Allegan.  The  family  attend  the  Methodist  church  and  Mr. 
Thorpe  holds  memberslrip  with  the  Maccabees.  In  politics  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  while  on  the  farm,  from  1900  until  1903,  he  was  supervisor  of 
his  township  for  two  years,  and  also  township  clerk  and  school  inspector 
in  Heath  township  in  1886  and  1887.  He  regards  a  public  office  as  a  public 
trust — and  no  trust  reposed  in  him  has  ever  been  betrayed  in  the  slightest 
degree.  He  has  faithfully  performed  every  duty  that  has  devolved  upon 
him  of  a  public  nature  and  in  his  life  he  has  displayed  those  sterling  traits 
of  manhood  that  everywhere  command  confidence  and  regard, 

Milton  D,  Griffith  is  the  owner  of  an  excellent  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  in  Allegan  township,  the  greater  part  of  which  is  under 
cultivation,  and  in  addition  to  tilling  the  fields  he  has  a  fine  fruit  orchard 
of  apples,  which  is  carefully  cultivated  and  adds  materially  to  his  income. 
He  is  also  making  a  specialty  of  dairy  farming,  and  this  branch  of  his 
business  is  proving  profitable. 

A  native  son  of  Michigan,  Mr.  Griffith  was  born  in  the  township  of 
Springport,  in  Jackson  county,  in  1853,  and  is  a  son  of  Marshall  Griffith, 
a  native  of  Vermont,  who  came  to  Michigan  when  twelve  years  of  age 
with  his  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniel  Griffith,  who  settled  in  Jackson 
county  at  what  is  now  called  Springport.  The  grandfather  there  purchased 
and  improved  three  hundred  acres  of  land  and  was  one  of  the  prominent 
citizens  of  those  days.  He  acted  as  postmaster  for  many  years  and  was 
influential  in  public  affairs,  leaving  the  impress  of  his  individuality  upon  the 
upbuilding  and  progress  of  the  county.  He  cleared  most  of  his  farm  with 
the  assistance  of  his  sons  and  he  also  found  time  and  opportunity  to  further 
the  moral  development  of  the  community.  He  helped  to  build  the  Griffith 
Methodist  church  at  Springport  and  was  very  active  and  helpful  in  church 
work,  while  in  all  life's  relations  he  was  highly  esteemed  for  his  many  good 
qualities. 

Marshall  Griffith,  father  of  our  subject,  was  reared  upon  the  old  home 
farm  in  Jackson  county  and  later  purchased  a  farm  in  Springport  township 
about  a  mile  from  his  father's  place.  He  bought  his  land  from  the  govern- 
ment and  it  was  all  wild  and  unimproved  when  it  came  into  his  possession, 
but  with  characteristic  energy  he  began  its  development.  He  married 
Cynthia  Benson,  and  they  afterward  removed  to  Tompkins  township  in 
Jackson  county,  which  is  now  regarded  as  the  homestead  property  of  the 
family,  the  place  being  now  occupied  by  Melvin  Griffith,  a  brother  of  our 
subject.     After  living  thereon  for  a  number  of  years  the  father  sold  the 


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property  to  his  son  Melvin  and  removed  to  Eaton  Rapids,  where  he  resided 
for  two  years,  when.  In  March,  1905,  he  passed  away,  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years.  His  widow  and  some  of  her  children  now  reside  upon  the  old  home 
farm  in  Tompkins  township,  Jackson  county,  Michigan.  Mr.  Griffith  was 
an  active  member  of  the  Methodist  church  of  Tompkins,  and  lived  an  earnest, 
consistent  Christian  Ufe.  Tn  the  family  were  five  children,  three  of  whom 
survive:  Milton  D.,  of  this  review;  Rev.  Arthur  A.  Griffith,  who  is  a 
minister  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  Melvin. 

Milton  D.  Griffith  was  reared  upon  the  old  homestead  in  Springport 
township  to  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  when  he  removed  with  his  father  to 
the  farm  in  Tompkins  township,  there  remaining  until  twenty-five  years  of 
age,  when  he  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account.  Going  to  northern 
Michigan  he  engaged  in  lumbering  and  in  milling  in  the  employ  of  others, 
but  subsequently  he  returned  to  the  homestead  farm  in  Tompkins  township, 
Jackson  county,  where  he  carried  on  general  agricultural  pursuits  until  1902. 
He  then  came  to  Allegan  township  and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  to 
which  he  added  in  1906  a  tract  of  one  hundred  acres,  so  that  he  is  now 
the  owner  of  an  excellent  farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres,  the  greater 
part  of  which  is  under  cultivation.  He  annually  harvests  good  crops  and 
he  also  has  a  fine  fruit  orchard,  containing  apples.  He  likewise  keeps  forty 
five  head  of  cattle  and  is  making  a  specialty  of  dairy  farming,  and  in  the 
summer  season  makes  about  fifteen  pounds  of  butter  per  day. 

Mr.  Griffith  has  been  married  twice.  In  1875  he  wedded  Julia  Mason 
in  Jackson  county,  Michigan,  and  unto  them  were  born  three  children,  who 
are  yet  living:  Herman,  Hubert  and  Earl.  In  1900  he  was  again  married, 
his  second  union  being  with  May  E.  Chaniberlin,  a  daughter  of  the  late 
Joseph  Chaniberlin,  who  is  mentioned  on  another  page  of  this  work.  Mr. 
Griffith  has  led  a  very  busy  life  and  through  earnest  toil  and  economy,  by 
capable  management  and  diligence  he  has  gained  a  place  among  the  sub- 
stantia] farmers  of  his  community  and  is  much  esteemed  for  what  he  has 
accomplished  and  for  his  genuine  personal  worth. 

Hknry  Lewis  Green,  whose  public-spirited  interest  in  the  general 
welfare  has  been  manifest  in  his  devotion  to  the  duties  that  have  devolved 
upon  him  in  a  public  connection,  and  who  is  justly  classed  with  the  repre- 
sentative men  of  Allegan  county,  was  bom  in  Bethel,  Branch  county, 
Michigan,  in  1841.  His  father,  Silas  Green,  was  a  native  of  Seneca  county, 
New  York,  and  on  leaving  the  Empire  state  went  first  to  Ohio  and  subse- 
quently came  to  Michigan,  settling  in  Branch  county  in  1835.  There  he 
took  up  a  claim  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  which  he  cleared 
and  farmed,  making  his  home  thereon  until  about  1850,  when  he  removed 
to  Barry  county,  where  he  again  purchased  a  tract  of  land  and  followed 
farming  until  1853.  He  was  then  called  to  his  final  rest,  passing  away  at 
the  age  of  fifty-three  years.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Elizabeth  H6we,  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  died  at  the  comparatively  early 
age  of  thirty-seven  years.  In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were  seven 
children,  of  whom  Henry  L.  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  Only  three 
of  the  number  are  now  living,  namely :  Mrs.  Martha  Bronson,  Mrs.  Hannah 
E.  Lawrence,  of  Birmingham,  Ohio,  and  Henry  L. 

On  the  old  homestead  farm  Mr.  Green,  of  this  review,  spent  his  early 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  101 

boyhood  days.  He  was  only  thirteen  years  of  age,  however,  at  the  time  of 
his  father's  death.  He  afterward  returned  to  Branch  county,  Michigan, 
where  he  was  employed  in  various  ways,  scorning  no  occupation  that  would 
yield  him  an  honest  living.  At  the  time  of  the  Civil  war,  however,  he  put 
aside  all  business  and  personal  considerations  and  offered  his  services  to  the 
government,  enlisting  with  the  boys  in  blue  of  Company  B,  First  Michigan 
Infantry,  in  i86i.  He  joined  the  army  as  a  private  for  three  years  and  on 
the  expiration  of  that  term  he  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran  in  March,  1864.  It 
was  his  intention  to  serve  until  the  close  of  the  war.  but  on  account  of  illness, 
in  March,  1865,  he  was  honorably  discharged.  He  made  a  most  creditable 
record  as  a  soldier  and  hatl  the  usual  experiences,  hardships  and  privations 
of  military  life. 

After  being  mustered  out  he  again  returned  to  Barry  county,  Michigan, 
and  purchased  the  old  homestead  there.  He  then  continued  farming  in  that 
locality  until  1880,  when  he  went  to  northern  Michigan,  where  he  remained 
for  seven  years,  taking  up  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land.  He  after- 
ward sold  this  place,  having  in  the  meantime  secured  a  farni  of  forty-seven  . 
acres.  The  year  1888  witnessed  his  arrival  in  Allegan,  and  since  1899  h\^ 
has  continuously  filled  a  public  office,  serving  during  this  period  as  township 
clerk.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  unswerving  in  his 
advocacy  of  the  party  and  its  principles.  He  is  also  a  devoted  member  of 
Charles  J.  Bassett  Post  No.  56,  G.  A.  R.,  in  which  he  has  served  as  senior 
vice  commander. 

Mr.  Green  was  married  in  1868,  in  Hastings,  Barry  county,  to  Miss 
Mary  McClellan,  who  was  born  in  that  place  and  is  a  daughter  of  John 
Lewis  McClellan,  who  located  in  Barry  county  during  the  early  epoch  in 
its  history.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Green  have  become  the  parents  of  four  children. 
George  Ernest,  who  was  bom  in  Hastings,  Barry  county,  married  Mabel 
Leman,  by  whom  he  has  one  child,  Lyle,  who  was  born  in  Chicago.  Mary 
Effie,  a  native  of  Hastings,  became  the  wife  of  W.  A.  Swartout,  and  had 
two  children,  Charles  Vere  and  Cecil  Ernest,  both  born  in  Emmet  county, 
Michigan.  Her  second  husband  is  Dr.  C.  W.  Young.  Henry  Aldine,  also 
a  native  of  Hastings,  Michigan,  wedded  Mary  Strayer  and  has  two  children. 
Lillie  May  and  George  H.  Olla  Belle,  born  in  Hastings,  is  the  wife  of 
Malcolm  Harper  and  has  one  child. 

Mr.  Green  is  accounted  one  of  the  valued  public  officials  of  Allegan, 
being  most  faithful  and  loyal  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties.  Over  his 
political  record  and  private  life  there  falls  no  shadow  of  wrong  or  suspicion 
of  evil,  while  his  military  service  alone  would  entitle  him  to -representation 
in  this  volume. 

William  W.  Warner,  whose  practice  extends  to  various  courts  and 
embraces  a  large  clientage,  makes  his  home  in  Allegan,  and  is  numbered 
among  the  leading  members  of  the  bar  of  this  county.  He  was  born  in 
Hampden  county,  Massachusetts,  November  11,  1840,  a  son  of  Theron  and 
Myra  (Hubbardl  Warner,  who  were  likewise  natives  of  the  old  Bay  state. 
The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  but  for  twenty  years  was  in  public 
life,  filling  many  important  positions  of  trust  at  New  Marlboro,  Massachw- 
setts,  his  continued  service  being  evidence  of  his  ability  and  fidelity.  He 
died  in  New  Marlboro  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years,  after  whicli  his  widow 


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102  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

came  to  Michigan  and  passed  away  in  Allegan  at  the  age  of  seventy -four. 
Of  their  family  of  six  children  three  are  yet  living— Mrs.  Mary  L.  Goodrich, 
Mrs.  Carrie  E.  Goodrich  and  William  W.  One  son,  Henry  E.,  was  killed 
in  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson  during  the  Civil  war  on  the  27th  of  May,  1863. 
He  had  enlisted  as  a  member  of  Company  K,  Forty-ninth  Massachusetts 
Infantry,  the  regiment  being  commanded  by  Colonel  William  Francis 
Bartlett,  who  afterward  became  major  general  and  who  was  a  brave  and 
distiriguished  soldier,  making  a  record  worthy  of  note.  He  was  honored 
by  the  placing  of  a  bronze  statue  in  the  rotunda  of  the  state  house  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts. 

William  W.  Warner  benefited  by  the  excellent  public  school  system  of 
Southwick,  Hampden  county,  Massachusetts,  in  his  early  youth  and  after- 
ward entered  East  Hampton  Academy.  In  the  fall  of  1861,  when  not  yet 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  offered  his  services  in  defense  of  the  Union, 
enlisting  as  a  member  of  Company  H,  Thirty-first  Massachusetts  Regiment. 
He  served  until  January  27,  1865,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged,  having 
done  active  duty  with  the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  in  which  he  saw  much 
arduous  and  onerous  service.  Following  the  close  of  the  war  he  came  to 
Allegan,  Michigan,  in  November,  1866,  and  from  1869  until  1871  was  a  law 
student  in  the  University  of  Michigan,  being  graduated  in  the  latter  year 
from  that  institution.  He  was  also  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1871  and  returned 
to  Allegan,  where  he  has  since  practiced  his  profession,  advancing  until 
winning  an  honorable  position  among  the  representatives  of  the  bar  in  this 
county.  He  is  also  a  solicitor  in  chancery  and  he  practices  in  all  the  courts 
and  has  had  a  practice  in  obtaining  pensions  for  old  soldiers  and  in  the 
conduct  of  government  claims.  He  is  likewise  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business  and  in  mortgage  loans. 

In  1872,  in  Allegan,  Mr.  Warner  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  E. 
Goodrich,  a  native  of  this  village  and  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Osman  D.  Goodrich, 
a  distinguished  pioneer  physician  of  Allegan  county.  Her  father  was  a 
native  of  New  York  and  was  graduated  from  the  Berkshire  Medical  Insti- 
tute at  Pittsfiekl,  Massachusetts,  in  1834.  Soon  afterward  he  took  up  his 
abode  in  Huron  county,  Ohio,  where  he  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  and  in  March,  1836,  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  the  Hon. 
Elisha  Ely,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Allegan,  he  decided  to  remove  to  this 
place  and  did  so  in  May  of  that  year.  Shortly  after  his  arrival  his  wife 
and  child  were  taken  ill,  and  this,  in  addition  to  other  hardships  and  priva- 
tions, rendered  his  early  experience  in  the  county  bitter  indeed.  There  was 
but  one  house  within  ten  miles  of  Allegan,  and  north  and  south  of  the  village 
was  an  unbroken  wilderness.  There  was  not  a  dwelling  before  the  shores 
of  Lake  Michigan  were  reached.  Pioneer  life  and  its  attendant  privations, 
in  connection  with  his  arduous  duties  as  a  physician,  involving  long  rides 
through  the  summer's  sun  and  winter's  cold,  made  sad  inroads  upon  his 
health,  and  in  September,  1845,  he  was  obliged  to  relinquish  his  practice  and 
bend  his  efforts  toward  the  restoration  of  his  own  health.  He  therefore 
went  to  Berlin,  Hartford  county,  Connecticut,  and  resided  there  and  in  New 
Haven  until  September,- 1855,  During  his  residence  in  the  east  he  investi- 
gated the  principles  of  homeopathy  and  adopted  its  practice.  Upon  his 
return  to  Allegan  he  again  established  himself  in  his  profession,  becoming 
the  first  homeopathic  physician  in  the  county.    Hts  practice  became  large  and 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  103 

important  for  a  pioneer  community,  and  though  it  involved  many  personal 
risks  and  hardships  he  never  faltered  in  the  performance  of  any  professional 
duty  He  was  frequently  obliged  to  ford  streams  and  to  follow  Indian 
trails  through  the  forest.  His  wife  was  Emeline  Dickinson,  of  Berlin, 
Harper  county,  Connecticut,  who  died  in  1872.  The  foUowmg  year  he 
married  Jane  E.  Shepard,  who  passed  away  in  1879.  By  his  first  wife  he 
had  two  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warner  has  been  bom  a  daughter,  Lilhan,  who 
was  born  in  Allegan,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  classical  department  of  Ann 
Arbor  high  school,  and  is  further  pursuing  her  studies  at  the  University  of 
Michigan.  In  politics  Mr.  Warner  was  a  Republican  until  1896,  since  which 
time  he  has  voted  with  the  Democracy.  He  served  as  school  director,  was 
for  six  years  on  the  township  board,  and  has  been  civil  magistrate  for  eight 
years.  He  regards  a  public  office  as  a  public  trust  and  is  ever  most  loyal  and 
faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties.  He  belongs  to  Charles  J.  Bassett 
Post  No.  56,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which  he  has  served  as  commander.  In  all  lifes 
relations  his  course  has  been  such  as  to  win  him  honor  and  respect,  while  in 
his  professional  career  he  has  gained  a  gratifying  measure  of  success. 

George  W.  Cady  makes  his  home  in  the  village  of  Allegan.  He  was 
born  in  Portage  county,  Ohio,  March  28,  1837.  His  father,  Peter  Catly, 
was  born  in  Canada,  and  died  in  Allegan.  He  removed  from  Ohio  to  Michi- 
gan in  1856,  settling  in  Monterey  township,  where  he  followed  farming. 
Subsequently  he  took  up  his  abode  in  the  village  of  Allegan,  where  his  last 
days  were  passed.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Hannah  Mcintosh, 
and  is  a  native  of  Portage  county.  She  still  survives  her  husband  and  makes 
her  home  in  Allegan. 

George  W.  Cady  acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Oliio, 
and  in  early  Ufe  followed  lumbering.  He  came  to  Michigan  with  his 
parents  and  continued  actively  in  the  lumber  business  until  1861,  when  with 
the  country's  other  loval  sons  of  Michigan  he  offered  his  services  to  the 
government  and  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  Third  Michigan  Cavalry  for 
three  years.  He  served  his  full  term  and  then  re-enlisted,  remaining  at 
the  front  in  the  same  regiment  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  under 
command  of  Generals  Grant.  Rosecrans  and  other  distinguished  leaders 
and  was  mustered  out  in  Texas,  having  in  the  meantime  participated  in 
many  important  engagements,  which  had  direct  bearing  upon  the  final 
outcome  of  the  war. 

When  the  country  no  longer  needed  his  services  Mr.  Cady  resumed 
lumbering,  in  which  he  continued  for  two  or  three  years,  when,  his  labors 
having  brought  him  sufficient  capital,  enabled  him  to  purchase  a  farm.  He 
then  became  owner  of  a  tract  of  land  in  Monterey  township,  Allegan  county, 
whereon  he  devoted  his  attention  to  general  agricultural  pursuits  until  1880, 
when  he  removed  to  Allegan  township  and  followed  farming.  His  farm 
is  just  south  of  the  village  of  Allegan  and  he  also  has  a  fruit  orchard.  Upon 
this  place  he  continued  to  reside  until  1904,  when  he  went  to  the  village  of 
Allegan,  where  he  still  resides.  He  yet  owns  his  farm,  however,  and  gives 
to  it  his  personal  supervision, 

Mr.  Cady  was  married  in  1868  in  Allegan  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Moon, 
who  was  born  in  Van  Buren  county,  Michigan,  a  daughter  of  Robert  Moon. 


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104  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Unto  them  have  been  born  two  children :    Rose,  the  wife  of  John  Stegemaii, 
Jr.,  by  whom  she  has  two  children,  Clara  and  Louise;  and  L.  Y, 

Mr.  Cady  is  a  public-spirited  man  and  withholds  his  aid  and  co-opera- 
tion from  no  movement  that  is  intended  to  benefit  the  community.  In  1898 
he  became  superintendent  of  the  county  poor  and  has  held  the  office  to  the 
present.  While  living  in  Monterey  township  he  was  supervisor  and  was 
also  supervisor  for  Allegan  township  at  one  time,  discharging  his  duties  with 
promptness  and  fidelity  in  these  various  connections.  He  belongs  to  the 
Masonic  fraternity  and  to  C.  J.  Bassett  Post  No.  56,  G.  A.  R.,  in  which  he 
is  a  past  commander,  and  has  held  other  offices.  He  is  as  true  and  loyal  in 
citizenship  in  days  of  peace  as  when  he  followed  the  old  flag  upon  the 
battlefields  of  the  south,  and  as  one  of  the  progressive  residents  of  AHegan 
county  and  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war  he  well  deserves  mention  in  this 
volume. 

Clarence  W.  Youxg,  D.  D.  S.— Among  the  representatives  of  profes- 
sional life  in  Ailegan  is  Dr.  Ciarence  W.  Young,  now  successfully  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  dentistrj'.  His  life  record  began  in  Hastings,  Barry  county, 
Michigan,  in  1869.  His  father,  H.  Oscar  Young,  also  a  native  of  this  state, 
was  born  in  Battle  Creek,  and  is  still  living,  being  now  engaged  in  business 
as  a  contractor  and  builder  at  Hastings.  In  the  period  of  the  Civil  war  he 
enlisted  as  a  member  of  Company  C,  First  Michigan  Engineers  and 
Mechanics  of  Michigan,  and  served  for  three  years  and  three  months,  being 
honorably  discharged  on  the  6th  of  June,  1865,  after  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  made  sergeant  in  his  company  and  did  faithful  and  capable  service 
for  the  Union.  After  the  war  he  returned  to  Hastings,  where  he  has  resided 
continuously  since,  and  for  a  long  period  he  was  identified  with  its  building 
operations.  He  married  Miss  Annie  E.  Hams,  who  was  born  in  New  York 
and  also  survives.  However,  they  have  lost  two  of  their  four  children. 
Those  still  living  are  Clarence  W.  and  William  A,,  the  latter  a  native  of 
Hastings  and  now  a  merchant  of  Bellevue,  Michigan. 

At  the  usual  age  Dr.  Young  entered  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
town  and  passed  through  successive  grades  until  he  had  completed  the  high 
school  course  by  graduation.  He  afterward  studied  dentistry  for  a  year  in 
Hastings,  having  determined  upon  its  practice  as  a  life  work,  and  later  he 
attended  a  dental  college  in  Chicago,  being  graduated  in  1891  from  the 
Chicago  Dental  College.  In  April  of  the  same  year  he  came  to  Allegan  and 
opened  an  office,  since  which  time  he  has  successfully  practiced  with  a 
constantly  growing  patronage.  He  keeps  in  touch  with  the  most  advanced 
methods  of  the  profession,  has  a  well  equipped  office  and  in  his  work  dis- 
plays the  peculiarly  delicate  mechanical  skill,  the  knowledge  of  scientific 
principles  and  the  business  qualifications  which  are  indispensable  concomi- 
tants to  success  in  the  dental  profession.  He  is  also  interested  in  various 
industries  of  Allegan  and  is  now  sole  owner  of  the  plant  operated  under  the 
na,me  of  the  Allegan  Foundry  &  Machine  Company.  At  the  present  time 
this  plant  is  being  enlarged,  so  that  its  scope  of  business  will  be  even  greater 
than  before.  He  is  likewise  secretary  of  the  Baines-Mosher  Cabinet  Com- 
pany, manufacturers  of  kitchen  cabinets,  and  likewise  is  secretarv  of  the 
Rowe  Brothers  Manufacturing  Company.    He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  105 

all  of  these  different  concerns  and  is  financially  interested  therein.     He  is  a 
man  of  sound  judgment,  keen  foresight  and  unfaltering  energ\-. 

Fraternally  Dr.  Young  is  a  Mason  and  also  represents  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  while  his  political  allegiance  is  given  to  the  Democratic  party.  He 
is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  village,  willing  at  all  times 
to  aid  any  interest  for  the  public  good,  while  his  co-operation  in  its  com- 
mercial and  industrial  life  has  heen  of  utmost  benefit  to  the  town. 

Okien  S.  Cross,  an  able  member  of  the  Allegan  county  bar,  who  since 
1902  has  served  as  county  prosecuting  attorney,  was  bom  in  Bangor,  Michi- 
gan, in  1873.  His  father,  Cornelius  W.  Cross,  a  native  of  Ohio,  came  to 
Michigan  prior  to  his  marriage  and  settled  in  iiangor.  His  wife,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Addie  Wilson,  was  born  in  Wisconsin,  and  died  in 
1887,  at  the  age  of  forty-three  years.  In  their  family  were  seven  children, 
namely;  Perley  W.,  Orien  S.,  Merl  H.,  Melvin  L.,  Harry,  Amasa  and  Hugh. 

Orien  S.  Cross  pursued  his  early  education  in  the  schools  of  Bangor, 
and  later  attended  the  University  of  Michigan,  where  he  was  graduated 
from  the  Law  Department  in  the  class  of  1896.  His  ambition  was  to  be 
a  lawyer  and  he  realized  that  a  good  fountlation  was  eminently  essential, 
so  he  decided  to  pursue  the  study  of  law  further.  He  returned  to  the 
University  and  took  a  post-graduate  course  and  secured  his  second  degree 
from  the  University  in  1897,  obtaining  a  Master's  Degree  of  Law.  He 
entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  in  June,  1897,  at  Paw 
Paw,  Michigan,  while  in  October  of  that  year  he  removed  to  Allegan,  where 
he  has  since  practiced  with  much  success.  A  liberal  clientage  was  soon 
accorded  him,  for  he  demonstrated  his  ability  to  successfully  cope  with  the 
intricate  problems  of  the  law  and  to  present  his  cause  in  a  clear,  forcible  and 
logical  manner  that  never  fails  to  impress  court  or  jury,  and  seldom  fails  to 
win  the  verdict  desired. 

in  September,  1898,  he  foriued  a  partnership  with  Horace  H.  Pope, 
and  under  the  firm  name  of  Pope  &  Crt>ss  their  law  business  was  carried 
on  until  June,  1906,  at  which  time  the  partnership  was  dissolved  by  mutual 
consent.  ^  In  April,  1900,  Mr.  Cross  was  appointed  by  the  conunon  council 
of  the  village  of  Allegan  to  the  office  of  village  attorney,  and  he  was  reap- 
pointed in  1901,  1902  and  1903.  In  July.  1902.  he  wa's  nominated  by  the 
Republicans  as  their  candidate  for  the  office  of  prosecuting  attornev,  and 
was  elected  at  the  November  election  without  opposition,  the  Democrats  not 
placing  any  candidate  for  the  office  on  their  ticket.  He  was  re-elected  to 
the  same  office  in  1904.  He  discharges  the  <luties  of  the  office  without  fear 
or  favor,  and  has  been  unusually  successful  in  securing  convictions  in  his 
cases.  His  official  reports  to  the  attorney-general  show  that  one  thousand 
two  hundred  and  eighty-four  persons  have  been  convicted  while  only  nine- 
teen cases  were  lost  by  a  verdict  of  not  guilty.  The  crimes  of  which  persons 
were  convicted  include  burglary,  briber)-,  horse-stealing,  forgery,  murder 
and  other  serious  crimes.  He  prepares  his  cases  with  great  thoroughness  and 
skill,  is  logical  in  his  argument,  strong  in  his  deductions,  and  his  devotion  to 
his  client's  interests  is  proverbial. 

_  Mr.  Cross  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  other  local  orders.  Interested  in  community  affairs 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Allegan  fire  department  and  one  of  the  directors  and 


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10(i  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

the  attorney  for  the  Allegan  Board  of  Trade,  he  stands  for  progress  in  all 
that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  county  and  city. 

Joseph  E.  Young. — The  industrial  interests  of  Allegan  county  find  a 
worthy  representative  in  Joseph  E.  Young,  the  senior  partner  of  the  firm  of 
Young  &  Stratton  Brothers,  proprietors  of  a  flour  and  grain  mill.  He  is  a 
wide-awake,  alert  and  enterprising  business  man,  watchful  of  opportunities 
and  conducting  his  interests  along  modern  lines  resulting  in  success.  He 
was  born  in  Pipestone  township,  Berrien  county,  Michigan,  in  1847.  His 
father,  Jacob  V.  W.  Young,  a  native  of  the  Empire  state,  came  from  New 
York  to  Michigan  with  his  father,  Joseph  Young,  and  settled  in  Calhoun 
county.  Following  his  marriage,  which  was  celebrated  in  this  state,  he  re- 
moved to  Berrien  county  and  worked  on  the  river  as  a  boatman  for  a  few 
years.  After  remaining  in  tliat  county  for  some  time  he  returned  to  Calhoun 
county  and  subsequently  took  up  his  abode  in  Kalamazoo  county,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming  until  his  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death,  when  he  was 
seventy  years  of  age.  He  married  Mahala  Ferguson,  who  was  bom  in  Ken- 
tucky and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  In  their  family  were  four 
children,  Joseph  E.,  Mrs.  Mary  Isted,  DeWitt  and  Mrs.  Nina  Barry. 

Joseph  E.  Young  acquired  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
Kalamazoo  county,  and  prepared  for  life's  practical  and  responsible  duties 
by  learning  the  miller's  trade  at  Augusta,  where  he  was  employed  for  fifteen 
years.  He  then  started  in  business  on  his  own  account  at  Howland,  Kala- 
mazoo county,  and  subsequently,  in  connection  with  his  brother-in-law, 
Luther  Stratton,  purchased  a  mill  in  Bedford  township.  Calhoun  county, 
where  they  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  flour  for  eight  years.  On  the 
expiration  of  that  period  Mr.  Young,  in  1888,  came  to  Allegan,  and  with 
another  brother-in-law,  C.  L.  Harvey,  purchased  a  flour  mill,  which  they 
conducted  under  the  firm  style  of  Young  &  Harvey  for  eight  years.  Mr, 
Young  then  went  to  Reed  City,  Michigan,  where  he  operated  a  flour  mill 
for  six  months,  when  he  returned  to  Allegan  and  purchased  another  mill 
here  in  connection  with  Frank  E.  Stratton,  a  brother  of  his  former  partner, 
Luther  Stratton.  The  firm  name  of  Young  &  Stratton  was  then  assumed. 
They  were  successfid  in  the  conduct  of  this  enterprise  and  later  F.  S. 
Stratton,  a  brother  of  F.  E.  Stratton,  joined  the  firm,  and  the  style  was 
then  changed  to  Young  &  Stratton  Brothers,  at  which  time  they  also 
enlarged  the  mill  and  added  many  modern  facilities.  It  is  now  equipped 
with  the  latest  improved  machinery  known  in  the  manufacture  of  flour  and 
they  continue  to  do  an  extensive  business  in  the  conduct  of  a  flour  and 
grain  mill.  The  partners  of  the  firm  are  enterprising  men,  thoroughly  con- 
versant with  the  trade,  and  in  the  management  of  their  business  show  keen 
discrimination  and  unfaltering  enterprise. 

In  1877,  in  Kalamazoo  county,  Michigan,  occurred  the  marriage  of 
Joseph  E.  Young,  and  Miss  May  Stratton,  a  daughter  of  Asa  Stratton,  of 
that  county.  They  now  have  three  children.  Gertrude,  who  was  born  in 
Kalamazoo  county,  is  the  wife  of  William  Howe,  a  resident  of  Allegan 
township,  and  they  have  one  child.  Ida,  born  in  Calhoun  county,  is  the 
wife  of  Ned  Killian,  who  is  principal  of  the  high  school  at  LeadviUe,  Colo- 
rado. Vem,  born  in  Allegan,  is  at  home.  The  family  attend  the  Presby- 
terian church,  and  Mr.  Young  is  a  Republican  in  politics.     He  has  served 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  107 

as  supervisor  of  the  village  of  Allegan,  and  for  the  past  ten  years  has  been 
a  member  of  the  school  board,  in  which  capacity  he  is  still  serving.  He 
possesses  an  enterprising  spirit  which  enables  him  to  overcome  difficulties 
and  obstacles,  and  realizing  that  "there  is  no  excellence  without  labor"  he 
has  put  forth  strenuous  effort  toward  the  upbuilding  of  a  business  which  is 
now  large  and  profitable. 

Albert  D,  Wetmore,  deceased,  who  for  many  years  was  actively  and 
successfully  engaged  in  general  agricultural  pursuits  and  stock-raising  in 
Allegan  county,  was  born  in  Otsego  county,  New  York,  in  1833,  a  son  of 
Chester  and  Mary  (Dumont)  Wetmore,  the  former  a  native  of  Connecticut 
and  the  latter  of  the  Empire  state.  In  the  year  1836  they  emigrated  to 
Michigan,  taking  up  their  abode  in  Allegan  county  when  this  section  of 
the  state  was  an  almost  undeveloped  wilderness.  They  first  settled  in  Gun 
Plains  township  but  after  a  year  removed  to  Allegan  township,  taking  up 
their  abode  on  section  4.  The  father  is  remembered  as  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  and  public-spirited  of  the  pioneer  residents  of  the  county,  and 
in  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1872,  the  community  lost  one  who  for 
vears  had  labored  for  its  upbuilding  and  who  wherever  known  was  held 
in  highest  honor  and  respect.  He  was  a  consistent  and  devoted  member  of 
the  Baptist  church  and  was  a  stanch  adherent  of  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party.     His  wife  passed  away  in  March,  1868. 

While  not  a  wealthy  man,  Chester  Wetmore  endeavored  to  give  his 
children  liberal  educational  advantages  that  they  might  be  well  equipped  for 
life's  important  and  responsible  duties  and  thus,  after  completing  his  pre- 
liminary studies  in  the  district  schools,  Albert  D.  Wetmore  was  accorded  the 
privilege  of  attending  the  State  Normal  School  at  Ypsilanti.  On  attaining 
his  majority  he  received  from  his  father  eighty  acres  of  land,  which  he  at 
once  commenced  to  improve  and  later,  as  his  financial  resources  increased, 
he  added  to  his  holdings.  When  twenty-three  years  of  age  he  visited 
Kansas,  Nebraska  and  Iowa  on  a  prospecting  tour  but  returned  to  Michigan, 
feeling  better  satisfied  than  ever  before  with  the  Wolverine  state.  In  the 
fall  of  1861,  putting  aside  all  business  and  personal  considerations,  lie  en- 
listed in  the  defense  of  the  Union,  as  a  private  of  Company  C,  Thirteenth 
Michigan  Infantry,  and  was  ordered  to  the  south,  where  he  engaged  in 
genera]  skirmishing  until  the  severe  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing.  With 
his  regiment  he  participated  in  seventeen  battles  and  skirmishes,  including 
the  siege  of  Corinth  and  the  different  engagements  on  the  march  to  the 
sea  under  the  command  of  General  Sherman.  He  was  at  the  battle  of  Stone 
River  and  Crawford's  Springs  and  in  the  siege  of  Chattanooga,  and  for 
meritorious  service  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  sergeant  and  afterward 
to  lieutenant  in  1864.  He  was  constantly  in  active  dutv  with  the  exception 
of  four  months,  when  he  was  ill  in  the  hospitals  in  Nashville  and  Louisville. 
He  escaped,  however,  without  woimds,  and  after  a  most  honorable  and 
creditable  service  of  nearly  four  years  he  returned  to  his  home  and  resumed 
agricultural  pursuits. 

Soon  after  the  war  Mr.  Wetmore  was  married  in  1866,  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth M.  Hudson,  a  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Louisa  (Wilson)  Hudson,  of 
Rochester,  New  York.  They  had  three  children.  Chester,  who  is  a  grad- 
uate of  the  University  of  Michigan  of  the  class  of  1888,  taught  school  in 


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108  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY 

Allegan  for  some  time  and  in  1891  went  fo  California,  wliere  has  has  since 
engaged  in  teaching,  being  now  located  at  San  Francisco.  Mary  R.  is  a 
graduate  of  the  University  of  Michigan,  in  which  she  won  the  degree  of 
M.  D.  and  she  is  now  a  teacher  in  the  Agricultural  College  at  Lansing,  this 
state.  Elizabeth  H.  is  a  graduate  of  the  Ypsilauti  State  Normal  School 
of  the  class  of  1892,  was  a  teacher  at  Traverse  City,  Michigan,  for  two 
years  and  at  Stevens  Point,  Wisconsin,  for  four  years,  while  since  1898 
she  has  been  successfully  engaged  in  teaching  in  the  schools  of  Allegan. 

Mr.  Wetmorc,  the  father,  filled  many  offices  of  trust  and  honor  during 
his  lifetime.  His  polhical  allegiance  was  given  to  the  Democracy,  while 
fraternally  he  was  connected  with  the  Masons  and  with  the  Grand  Armv 
of  the  Republic.  He  possessed  keen  discrimination  and  excellent  executive 
force  and  allowed  no  obstacle  or  difficulty  to  bar  his  path  to  success  if  it  could 
be  overcome  by  honorable  and  persistent  effort.  All  who  knew  him  re- 
spected him  for  his  fidelity  to  a  high  standard  of  conduct  and  manly  prin- 
ciples and  his  name  was  ever  one  to  awaken  respect  throughout  the  com- 
munity. 

Elish,\  a.  Post  is  an  inventor  and  undertaker,  residing  in  the  village 
of  Allegan,  having  established  his  present  undertaking  business  here  in 
1896.  He  was  born  in  New  York  in  1855,  and  is  a  son  of  Albert  Post, 
likewise  a  native  of  the  Empire  state.  Having  arrived  at  years  of  maturity 
the  father  wedded  Nancy  Crowner.  a  native  of  Washington  county,  New 
York,  and  in  the  year  1861  they  removed  with  their  family  to  Michigan, 
settling  in  Van  Euren  county,  where  the  father,  who  was  a  wheelwright 
by  trade,  followed  that  occupation  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
when  he  was  seventy-three  years  of  age.  His  wife  survived  him  and 
reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-six  years.  In  their  family  were  eleven 
children,  of  whom  five  are  still  living :  Chauncey,  who  resides  in  Van 
Buren  county:  Harrison,  a  resident  of  Pennsylvania:  Mrs.  Lucinda  Holmes, 
also  living  in  Van  Buren  county ;  and  Ehjah  J-  and  Elisha  A.,  twins.  The 
brother  of  our  subject  is  a  graduate  of  the  Hahnemann  Homeopathic  Medi- 
cal College,  of  Chicago,  and  is  now  conducting  a  sanitarium  in  Benton 
Harbor,  Michigan. 

Ehsha  A.  Post,  whose  name  introduces  this  record,  was  a  vouth  of 
six  years  at  the  time  of  the  removal  of  the  familv  to  Michigan.  His  early 
educational  privileges  were  supplemented  by  study  in  Chicago  and  in  early 
life  he  engaged  in  the  milling  business  on  his  own  account  in  Kalamazoo 
county,  Michigan.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Van  Buren  county,  where 
he  was  also  engaged  in  the  milling  business  and  later  he  conducted  a  hard- 
ware, furniture  an<l  undertaking  store  in  that  countv.  In  1896  he  removed 
to  the  village  of  Allegan,  where  he  established  his  undertaking  business 
and  here  he  has  received  a  good  patronage.  He  possesses  considerable 
inventive  genius  and  has  invented  and  now  manufactures  the  following 
articles:  A  paper  casket  known  as  the  antiseptic  paper  casket  of  gal- 
vanized steel :  a  detachable  handle  for  caskets ;  and  a  galvanized  grave  vault. 
He  also  has  a  patent  on  an  endless  steel  spring  for  buggies,  and  all  of  these 
he  manufactures. 

In  1877,  in  Van  Buren  county,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Post  and 
Miss  Emma  Lossing.  a  native  of  Indiana.     Their  two  children,  Clara  N. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY  109 

and  Naomi  B.,  were  both  born  in  Van  Biiren  county,  Mr.  Post  is  a 
Eepublican  and  served  for  two  terms  as  alderman  of  the  village.  He  is, 
moreover,  an  enterprising  citizen,  pub  lie- spirited  and  much  esteemed  for 
his  devotion  to  the  general  good  as  well  as  for  his  individual  character 
which  manifests  many  sterling  qualities.  His  success  has  been  by  no  means 
the  result  of  fortimate  circumstances  but  has  come  to  him  through  energy, 
labor  and  perseverance  directed  by  an  evenly  balanced  mind  and  by  honor- 
able business  principles. 

Allen  L.  Whitukck.- — On  the  roster  of  county  officials  of  Allegan 
county  appears  the  name  of  Allen  L.  Whitheck.  who  is  now  serving  as 
sheriff,  in  which  connection  he  has  made  a  creditable  record,  winning  the 
commendation  of  the  general  public.  He  was  born  in  the  state  of  New 
York  in  1862.  His  father,  Cornelius  Van  Allen  Whitbeck,  who  came  from 
New  York  to  Michigan  in  1865.  settled  in  Manlius  township,  Allegan  county, 
where  in  the  midst  of  the  forest  he  cleared  a  farm  and  set  out  thirty-one 
acres  to  fruit,  including  peaches,  plums,  pears  and  cherries.  He  also  fol- 
lowed general  farming  and  there  carried  on  his  business  interests  until 
his  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death,  when  he  was  fifty-two  years  of  age. 
He  married  Betsy  Barrus,  a  native  of  New  York,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
sixty-two  years.  In  their  family  were  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  of 
whom  four  are  yet  living.  John  Van  Allen,  the  eldest,  who  was  sheriff  of 
Allegan  county  for  four  years,  his  term  expiring  in  1900.  is  now  following 
farming  and  fruit  growing  in  this  comity.  William,  who  is  a  fruit  raiser, 
fruit  dealer  and  commission  merchant,  is  now  and  has  for  the  past  two 
years,  been  sergeant-at-arms  in  the  state  capitol  at  I-ansing. 

Allen  L.  Whitbeck,  whose  name  introduces  this  record,  was  reared 
upon  the  home  farm  in  this  county,  having  been  brought  to  Michigan  by  his 
parents  when  only  three  years  of  age.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the 
public  schools  and  after  putting  aside  his  text-books  he  followed  farming 
on  the  old  homestead,  which  he  still  owns  and  operates.  He  successfully 
conducted  his  agricultural  interests  until  elected  sheriff  of  Allegan  county 
in  1905,  since  which  time  he  has  left  the  hard,  active  work  of  the  fields  to 
others,  while  he  is  discharging  the  duties  of  his  office  in  a  most  capable 
and  loyal  manner.  He  is  a  very  popular  man.  genial  and  cordial  in  dispo- 
sition, and  is  much  respected  throughout  the  county.  His  political  allegiance 
is  given  to  the  Republican  party  and  for  some  time  he  has  been  recognized 
as  one  of  its  local  leaders.  He  served  as  treasurer  of  his  township  for  four 
years,  or  two  terms,  and  was  state  trespass  agent  for  four  years. 

Pleasantly  situated  in  his  home  life,  Mr,  Whitbeck  was  married  in 
1883.  in  Fennville,  Michigan,  to  Miss  Linda  Jane  Truax,  who  was  born  in 
Waylaiid  township,  Allegan  county,  a  daughter  of  \\'illiam  and  Marv 
(Briggs)  Truax,  both  of  whom  are  residents  of  Wayland  township,  although 
the  father  has  practically  retired  from  active  farm  work.  Tn  their  family 
were  six  children,  namely:  Mrs.  Whitbeck;  Henrv  A,:  Emma  E,,  the  wife 
of  George  Haves;  Ellen  L.,  the  wife  of  John  Van  Blois;  Marv  K,.  the  wife 
of  Dr.  H,  J.  Turner;  and  William  Watson.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs,  Whitbeck 
were  born  four  children,  of  whom  three  are  living,  Claud  Van  Allen,  Anna 
Frances  and  Mary  Reno. 

Mr,  Whitbeck  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  has  served 


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as  master  of  the  blue  lodge.  He  is  well  known  in  Allegan  county,  where 
his  entire  life  has  been  passed  and  where  he  has  so  directed  his  labors  as 
to  win  a  gratifying  measure  of  business  success,  and  at  the  same  time  gain 
the  respect  and  good  will  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

Edwin  P.  Wynne,  numbered  among  the  progressive  and  enterprising 
young  farmers  of  Allegan  township,  was  born  in  that  township  August 
19,  1870,  and  is  a  son  of  Brown  Wynne,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Holland. 
He  came  to  America  at  the  age  of  twelve  years  in  company  with  his 
parents,  the  family  home  being  first  established  in  New  York.  Brown 
Wynne  removed  from  the  Empire  state  to  Michigan  prior  to  his  marriage 
and  has  since  followed  farming.  He  settled  first  in  Allegan  township  and 
carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  there  until  1861,  when  his  patriotic  spirit 
was  aroused  and  he  offered  his  services  to  the  government,  joining  the  boys 
in  blue  of  the  Sixth  Michigan  Heavy  Artillery.  He  served  for  four  years, 
or  until  the  dose  of  the  war  as  a  private,  participating  in  many  important 
engagements  and  at  the  battle  of  Port  Hudson  he  was  wounded  in  the 
hip.  After  the  war  he  returned  to  Allegan  county  and  purchased  a  farm, 
to  the  development  and  improvement  of  which  he  gave  his  attention  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  then  sold  that  property  and  removed  to  Monterey 
township,  where  he  resided  until  iS85,  when  he  returned  to  Allegan  town- 
ship and  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  17,  his 
time  and  energies  being  devoted  to  the  tilling"  of  the  soil  and  the  care  of 
the  crops  Upon  that  place  until  1905,  when  he  removed  to  the  village  of 
Allegan,  where  he  is  now  living,  retired  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years, 
having  through  his  fonner  connection  with  agricultural  interests  acquired 
a  comfortable  competence.  He  wedded  Mary  Foster,  who  departed  this 
life  about  ten  years  ago.  Their  children  were:  Nellie,  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Simpson,  by  whom  she  has  two  children,  Cecil  and  Leonard ;  Edwin  P., 
of  this  review ;  and  Grace,  the  wife  of  Glenn  Seabright,  and  the  mother  of 
two  children,  Winnie  and  Mart, 

Edwin  P.  Wynne  has  always  resided  in  Allegan  county  and  his  life 
record  is  therefore  well  known  to  many  of  its  citizens.  After  acquiring  a 
public  school  education  he  devoted  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  farm 
work  and  has  always  been  thus  engaged.  He  is  a  young  man,  progressive 
and  enterprising,  and  now  resides  upon  the  farm,  which  his  father  settled 
on  when  he  removed  to  Allegan  township.  He  married  Miss  Stella 
Blanchard,  of  Valley  township,  and  they  have  one  child,  Grettelle.  Mr. 
Wynne  is  a  Republican,  voting  for  the  candidates  of  the  party  since  age 
conferred  upon  him  the  right  of  the  ballot.  He  is  well  liked  in  the  com- 
munity where  he  is  recognized  as  a  public-spirited  citizen  and  as  a  diligent 
and  wide-awake  business  man,  whose  qualities  argue  well  for  his  future 
success. 

Eugene  D.  Nash,  justice  of  the  peace  in  Allegan,  was  born  in  New 
York,  November  6,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Augustus  W.  and  Susan  L. 
(Demmon)  Nash,  the  former  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  who  removed  from 
New  York  to  Michigan  and  settled  in  Cass  county,  while  later  he  took  up 
his  abode  in  Van  Buren  county,  making  his  home  at  Paw  Paw.  He  married 
Miss  Susan  Demmon,  a  native  of  New  York,  and  a  granddaughter  of 
Lewis  Morris,  who  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  111 

pendence.  She  lived  to  the  age  of  seventy-two  years,  and  Augustus  W.  Nash 
reached  about  the  same  age.  In  their  family  were  seven  children,  of  whom 
four  yet  survive.  Albert,  living  in  Salt- Lake  City,  Utah,  was  jrostmaster 
there  during  President  Harrison's  administration.  He  was  also  state  senator 
for  four  years  and  is  a  very  prominent  and  influential  resident  there. 
Charles  resides  in  Otsego,  this  county.  Eugene  D.  is  the  third  of  the 
family.  Clayton  is  a  deputy  United  States  marshal,  now  in  Washington, 
D.  C. 

Eugene  D.  Nash  acquired  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Paw  Paw. 
and  in  1863,  in  response  to  the  coimtry's  call  for  aid,  enlisted  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years  as  a  member  of  Company  C,  Thirteenth  Michigan  Volunteer 
Infantry.  He  joined  the  army  as  a  private  for  three  years,  or  during  the 
war,  and  was  under  General  Sherman's  command  on  the  march  from 
Atlanta  to  the  sea.  He  saw  other  arduous  service  and  was  mustered  out 
at  Washington,  after  participating  in  the  Grand  Review,  which  marked  the 
close  of  the  war  in  1865,  where  company  after  company,  battalion  after 
hattalion,  and  corps  after  corps  marched  by  the  reviewing  stand,  on  which 
stood  the  president  and  other  distinguished  men  of  the  nation  to  greet 
the  return  of  the  victorious  army. 

When  the  war  was  over  Mr.  Nash  came  to  Allegan  county  and  engaged 
in  lumbering.  He  also  operated  the  shingle  mill  at  Bravo,  and  subse- 
quently became  station  agent  for  the  Pere  Marquette  Railroad  at  that 
place.  He  likewise  acted  as  telegraph  operator  and  resided  there  for  twenty 
years,  proving  a  popular  official  of  the  road,  always  courteous  to  its  patrons 
and  faithful  to  the  corporation  which  he  represented.  He  afterward  became 
supervisor  of  his  township  and  was  the  postmaster  at  Bravo  for  some 
years.  He  likewise  had  a  fine  fniit  orchard  in  that  locality  and  thus  his 
attention  was  devoted  to  various  interests  in  all  of  which  he  was  found 
faithful  and  diligent.  Called  to  the  office  of  county  treasurer  he  served 
for  two  terms,  from  1896  until  1900,  and  in  the  former  year  removed  to 
Allegan,  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1904  he  was  appointed  justice  of 
the  peace,  which  office  he  still  holds,  presiding  over  his  court  in  capable 
manner,  his  decisions  being  characterized  by  strict  fairness  and  impar- 
tiality. He  also  derives  a  good  income  from  his  farm  and  fruit  orchard 
of  one  hundred  acres  at  Bravo.  He  is  much  esteemed  as  a  prominent  and 
influential  man  in  affairs  of  the  village  and  county  and  his  devotion  to  the 
general  good  is  above  question. 

Mr.  Nash  was  married  in  1861,  at  Decatur,  Michigan,  to  Miss  Amelia 
Buck,  who  was  born  in  New  York.  They  have  two  living  children  and 
have  lost  two.  Those  still  surviving  are:  William  A.,  who  was  born  near 
Paw  Paw,  in  Van  Euren  county,  Michigan,  and  Mary  Ella,  also  born  in 
Van  Buren  county,  and  is  the  wife  of  John  Collins,  a  resident  of  Oregon, 
by  whom  she  has  one  child,  Amelia. 

Mr,  Nash  has  always  been  a  stalwart  Republican  in  poUtics  and  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  active  workers  in  the  party 
ranks  in  this  locality.  He  belongs  to  Charles  J.  Bassett  post,  No.  56, 
G.  A.  R.,  at  Allegan,  and  before  removing  to  this  village  served  as  com- 
mander of  the  post  at  Pennville.  Ere  he  attained  his  majority  he  donned 
the  blue  uniform  of  the  nation  in  defense  of  the  old  flag  and  has  ever  been 
equally  loyal  in  his  support  of  the  country  and  her  institutions.     Those 


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112  lilSTURY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUXTY 

matters  which  are  questions  of  civic  virtue  and  civic  pride  receive  liis 
endorsement  and  co-operation  and  he  stands  for  all  that  is  progressive  and 
beneficial  in  citizenship. 

John  King. — It  is  customary  when  the  life  record  of  an  individual  is 
ended  to  review  the  history  and  note  the  points  worthy  of  emulation  and 
to  voice  the  praise  which  is  his  due.  Investigation  into  the  life  record  of 
Mr.  King  shows  many  traits  worthy  of  emulation,  for  he  lived  an  active 
and  useful  life  and  though  he  did  not  seek  to  figure  prominently  in  public 
afEairs  he  was  always  a  faithful  citizen  and  firm  friend  and  a  good  neighbor. 
He  was  born  in  England,  and  while  in  his  native  land  was  a  cattle  drover 
and  farmer.  It  was  subsequent  to  his  marriage  that  he  came  to  the  Unitetl 
States,  for  in  England  he  had  wedded  Miss  Hannah  Weaving,  also  a 
native  of  that  country.  The  voyage  across  the  Atlantic  accomplished,  they 
continued  their  journey  into  the  interior  of  the  country  and  became  resi- 
dents of  Allegan  township,  Allegan  county,  Michigan,  where  Mr.  King 
purchased  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land,  which  he  cleared,  developed 
and  cultivated  with  the  assistance  of  his  children.  The  farm  when  it  came 
into  his  possession  was  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  timber  and  in 
the  midst  of  the  forest  he  established  his  home,  after  which  he  began  to 
clear  away  the  trees  and  prepare  the  land  for  cultivation.  As  acre  after 
acre  was  thus  prepared  for  the  plow  he  planted  his  seed  and  in  due  course 
of  time  harvested  good  crops.  He  always  remained  upon  his  fann,  con- 
tinuing its  management  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  on 
the  fourth  of  October.  1900,  when  he  was  seventy-five  years  of  age.  For 
more  than  two  years  he  had  survived  his  wife,  who  died  April  28,  1898, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  She  was  a  faithful  companion  and  help- 
mate on  life's  journey  and  they  lived  together  happily  as  man  and  wife 
for  a  long  period,  rearing  their  family  of  six  children,  three  sons  and 
three  daughters.  Annie,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  Alexander  Blaine,  a 
resident  of  Trowbridge  townshi]>,  and  they  have  two  children,  Marlow 
and  Bertha.  Frank  married  Etta  Cook.  Fannie  is  the  wife  of  Thad  Cook, 
and  has  two  children,  Floyd  and  Roy.  William  wedded  Ann  Ingalls. 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  Curtis  E.  Buck,  and  to  her  we  are  indebted  for  this 
history  of  her  parents.  John  completes  the  family.  In  connection  with  his 
sister,  Mary,  he  owns  eighty  acres  of  land  which  they  work  together.  This 
farm  was  cleared  by  her  first  husband,  George  W.  Fritz.  The  place  is 
now  carefully  cultivated  and  the  able  manner  in  which  the  business  interests 
are  conducted  brings  to  the  brother  and  sister  a  good  financial  income. 

Herschel  D.  Lane,  is  the  owner  of  an  excellent  farm  of  one  hundred 
acres  in  Allegan  township,  where  he  carries  on  general  farming  and  raises 
all  kinds  of  fruits.  For  the  past  ten  years  he  has  also  been  an  extensive 
breeder  of  thoroughbred  Durham  cattle,  and  he  likewise  conducts  a  dairy 
business.  He  is  thus  living  a  life  of  intense  and  well  directed  activity  that 
has  gained  for  him  a  place  among  the  prosperous  agriculturists  of  his 
native  county. 

His  birth  occurred  in  Cheshire  township,  September  29,  1861,  his 
parents  being  Marcus  and  Hariett  (Miller)  Lane,  The  father  was  born 
at  Hume,  Allegany  county,  New  York,  March  15,  1827,  and  in  1851  came 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEUAK  COLWTY  113 

to  Michigan,  mailing  iiis  way  to  Allegan  county  where  lived  a  hrother 
whom  he  assisted  in  clearing  a  tract  of  land  and  putting  in  a  crop  of  corn 
which  was  planted  among  the  roots  and  stumps.  The  result,  however 
was  most  gratifying,  for  eighteen  hundred  bushels  were  harvested.  It  was 
not  the  mtention  of  Marcus  Lane,  however,  to  make  iVIichigan  his  home 
for  he  started  for  IlHiiois.  Meeting  with  his  brother  in  Buffalo,  however, 
he  was  induced  by  him  to  come  to  this  state  and  after  a  short  stay  here 
he  determined  to  remain  in  Michigan.  Accordingly  he  purchased  forty 
acres  of  land  in  Cheshire  township,  whereon  he  erected  a  log  house.  The 
lumber  used  in  its  construction  was  brought  from  Pine  Grove  and  the 
creek  lay  between  his  cabin  and  the  source  of  the  lumber  supply  He 
proceeded  to  the  lumber  yard  with  an  ox  team  and  on  hii  return  found 
the  water  in  the  creek  so  high  that  he  had  to  swim  his  oxen  in  order  to 
make  the  crossing.  Such  were  the  experiences  which  the  early  pioneers 
met  and  few  residents  of  these  later  days  can  comprehend  the  hardships 
and  privations  which  were  met  by  the  early  setders.  After  his  cabin  was 
completed  Mr.  Lane  returned  to  the  Empire  state,  and  on  the  25th  of 
September,  1851,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Hariett  F  Miller  a 
daughter  of  George  and  Mirze  Miller.  Two  weeks  after  the  wedding  ias 
celebrated  they  started  for  the  new  home  in  Michigan.  Upon  their  arrival 
they  took  an  inventory  of  their  stock  of  goods  which  they  had  to  begin 
hte  with  and  found,  beside  a  few  household  effects,  that  they  had  one  cow 
and  three  dollars  m  money,  but  with  strong  hearts  and  courageous  purpose 
they  set  to  work  to  make  a  home  in  the  midst  of  the  wilderness  and  were 
successful  m  their  undertakings.  Mr.  Lane  engaged  in  buying  and  seUing 
land  owning  at  times  several  hundred  acres.  He  carefully  manipulated 
his  business  interests  and  by  judicious  investment  and  profitable  sales 
acquired  a  handsome  competence.  Prior  to  his  death  he  engaged  in  the 
hardware  business  with  one  of  his  sons  in  Bloomingdale,  Michigan  and 
was  there  livmg,  when,  in  1893,  he  was  called  to  his  Snal  rest  In  the 
family  were  seven  chddren.  of  whom  four  yet  survive:  George  M  who 
IS  living  in  Chicago,  Illinois ;  Al  E.,  who  owns  and  operates  the  old  home 
farm  m  Cheshire  township;  Herschel  D.,  of  this  review;  and  Lena,  the  wife 
ot  Albert  Hodgman,  who  is  engaged  in  general  merchandising  in  Bloom- 
ingdale. The  mother  still  survives  and  also  resides  in  Bloomingdale  Mr 
Lane  the  father,  was  a  most  devoted  member  of  the  Baptist  church  in 
Cheshire  township,  doing  all  in  his  power  to  promote  its  growth,  extend  its 
influence  and  advance  its  upbuilding.  In  politics  he  was  an  earnest  Reptib- 
lican  and  held  various  offices  of  trust,  the  duties  of  which  he  performed  in 
most  prompt  and  capable  manner. 

t™.„S':™'"'.  °'  '''"','  '"'"  """^  "P°"  *«  °'<1  home  farm  in  Cheshire 
township,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  He  worked  with  his 
ather  in  a  sawmill  during  the  periods  of  vacation,  and  after  his  school 
days  were  ended  lie  was  employed  for  three  years  in  a  printing  office  in 
Bloommgdale,  Michigan.  Subsequently  he  became  a  clerk  in  a  drurstore 
there  and  in  ,879  he  removed  to  the  village  of  Allegan,  where  he  secured 

maSr  Je  flrt"'"'  ""=  °'  '='°'^'  '""^^-  "'"  »''™  """ 

It  was  in  Allegan  township,  December  24,  1884,  that  Mr    Lane  was 

united   in  marriage   to  Miss   Edith  Jewett,  a  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and 


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114  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Laura  (Shedd)  Jewett.  The  father  was  a  brother  of  the  late  George  E, 
Jewett,  who  came  to  this  county  at  an  early  day  and  was  a  very  progressive 
and  successful  farmer  here  and  a  prominent  and  influential  factor  in  public 
life,  holding  many  offices  of  honor  and  trust  in  the  township  and  county. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lane  has  been  born  a  daughter,  Laura,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  Allegan  township,  November  i8,  1899. 

Following  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lane  lived  upon  the  farm 
belonging  to  his  father-in-law  for  one  year,  after  which  they  removed  to 
the  old  Lane  homestead  in  Cheshire  township,  where  they  resided  for 
seven  years.  In  1893  he  purchased  his  present  farm  of  one  htmdred  acres 
in  Allegan  township,  where  he  now  resides.  His  time  and  energies  are 
given  to  general  farming  and  to  the  raising  of  all  kinds  of  fruit.  For 
the  past  ten  years  he  has  also  been  a  breeder  of  thoroughbred  Durham 
cattle,  having  now  thirteen  registered  cattle  on  his  place  and  he  is  con- 
tinually increasing  the  number.  He  also  has  a  dairy  business  which  is 
profitable,  being  capably  conducted,  so  that  the  products  of  the  dairy  tind 
a  ready  sale  on  the  market.  The  various  branches  of  his  business  are 
thus  returning  to  Mr.  Lane  a  good  income  and  he  conducts  his  interests 
in  keeping  witli  the  spirit  of  modem  progress.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
politics  and  was  for  three  years  a  superintendent  on  the  county  board  for 
the  poor.  Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason  and  a  Knight  of  Pythias,  and  in  both 
lodges  has  held  various  offices.  Wherever  known  he  is  recognized  as  a 
man  of  genuine  personal  worth,  of  business  capacity  and  enterprise,  whose 
life  record  is  creditable  to  the  county  of  his  nativity. 

Fred  Liechti,  living  on  section  11,  Allegan  township,  is  a  native  son 
of  Switzerland,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  the  land  of  the  Alps  on  the 
14th  of  September,  1839.  He  is  the  only  surviving  member  of  a  family  of 
three  children,  all  of  whom,  however,  reached  years  of  maturity.  His 
parents  were  Benedict  and  Elizabeth  (Leffrel)  Liechti.  The  father  died 
in  Switzerland,  and  the  mother  afterward  came  to  America,  spending  her 
last  days  in  the  home  of  her  son,  Fred. 

In  the  land  of  his  birth  Mr.  Liechti  remained  until  twenty-two  years 
of  age,  and  then,  hoping  to  benefit  his  financial  condition  in  America,  he 
crossed  the  Atlantic  in  1861  and  took  up  his  abode  in  Ohio,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming.  The  same  year,  his  spirit  of  patriotism  being  aroused 
in  behalf  of  the  Union,  he  enlisted  as  a  member  of  Company  B,  Fifty- 
third  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  joined  the  army  as  a  private  for 
three  years'  service,  and  after  being  at  the  front  two  years  was  honorably 
discharged  on  account  of  disability. 

After  leaving  the  army  Mr.  Liechti  came  to  Michigan  in  1863  and 
was  first  employed  in  a  sawmill  in  the  village  of  Allegan  until  1865,  when, 
turning  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  he  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  11,  Allegan  township.  He  cleared  most 
of  this  and  has  since  sold  forty  acres,  but  now  has  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  all  of  which  is  under  cultivation.  He  has  worked  hard  and  is  a 
successful  farmer,  having  now  a  good  property  which  is  all  developed  and 
improved. 

Mr.  Liechti  was  married  to  Miss  Louise  Frey,  who  was  born  in  Switz- 
erland in  the  same  locality  in  which  her  husband's  birth  occurred. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  115 

Her  father  was  Jacob  Frey,  who  emigrated  to  America  and  settled  in 
Michigan  in  1863,  his  home  being  on  section  11,  Allegan  township,  not 
far  from  the  farm  of  our  subject.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Liechti  have  been 
born  ten  children,  of  whom  eight  are  living,  as  follows :  Louise,  now  the 
wife  of  George  Swegert,  of  Hopkins  township,  by  whom  she  has  a 
daughter,  Martha;  Mary,  the  wife  of  A.  L.  Rockwell,  by  whom  she  has 
four  children,  Pearl,  Maud,  Laura  and  Mary;  Frederick,  who  married 
Carrie  Johnson,  and  has  two  children,  Ermie  and  Corinne ;  Rose,  the  wife 
of  John  Martin,  by  whom  she  has  two  children,  Bertrand  and  Beatrice; 
Alice,  the  wife  of  George  Miller,  by  whom  she  has  two  children,  Lucille 
and  Roland ;  Cora,  George,  and  Letta.  All  were  born  in  Allegan  township, 
Mr,  Liechti  holds  membership  with  C.  J,  Bassett  post.  No.  56,  G.  A.  R., 
at  Allegan,  and  he  is  as  true  and  loyal  in  his  citizenship  as  when  he  fol; 
lowed  the  old  flag  on  southern  battlefields  and  defended  the  Union  cause. 
He  has  never  had  occasion  to  regret  his  determination  to  seek  a  home  in 
the  new  world,  for  here  he  found  the  opportunities  which  he  soiiglu  and 
which  have  enabled  him  to  become  the  possessor  of  a  good  home  and  com- 
fortable competence.  He  realized  that  labor  is  the  basis  of  all  success  and 
through  unremitting  diligence  he  worked  his  way  upward. 

James  A.  Van  Keuren,  who  carries  on  general  agricultural  pursuits 
in  Allegan  township,  was-  born  in  this  township  June  10,  1853,  his  parents 
being  Phiio  and  Mary  J.  (Smith)  Van  Keuren,  the  latter  a  daughter  of 
the  Rev.  Alfred  Smith,  a  minister  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  church.  The 
father  came  to  Michigan  in  1838  from  the  state  of  New  York  and  found 
here  largely  an  undeveloped  wilderness,  in  which  the  work  of  improvement 
and  cultivation  had  scarcely  been  begun.  His  first  purchase  brought  him 
sixty  acres  of  land,  which  he  afterward  sold,  but  from  time  to  time  he 
made  other  purchases.  He  was  a  successful  pioneer,  closely  identified  with 
the  early  growth  and  progress  of  the  county,  and  in  his  private  business 
interests  he  prospered,  becoming  owner  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  rich  and  productive  land.  He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years, 
while  his  widow  still  survives  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 

The  public  school  system  of  Allegan  township  afforded  to  James  A. 
Van  Keuren  the  opportunities  he  enjoyed  in  his  youth  for  the  acquirement 
of  an  education.  His  father  instructed  him  in  the  work  of  the  farm  and 
he  early  took  his  place  behind  the  plow  and  has  done  all  parts  of  farm 
work.  He  was  for  ten  years  in  Casco,  where  he  cleared  about  sixty  acres 
of  land,  and  upon  his  father's  death  he  returned  to  Allegan,  where  he  now 
owns  and  occupies  a  part  of  the  old  homestead  property,  having  charge  of 
the  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  He  is  a  very  diligent  and 
industrious  man  and  a  much  respected  citizen,  who  in  all  of  his  business 
transactions  is  strictly  upright  and  honorable. 

In  1875,  in  Allegan,  Mr.  Van  Keuren  was  married  to  Miss  Ada  Boylan, 
who  was  born  in  New  York  and  in  her  girlhood  days  came  to  Michigan 
with  her  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Boyian.  Six  children,  three  sons 
and  three  daughters,  have  been  born  unto  our  subject  and  his  wife,  as 
follows:  Mary,  the  wife  of  Tracy  Shirley,  by  whom  she  has  two  children, 
Floyd  and  Eunice;   Philo,  who  married   Mary  Busterfield,   and  has  two 


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IIG  HISTORY  Ol'   ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

children,  Ellen  and  Shirley;  Jennie,  the  wife. of  George  Kelley  and  the 
mother  of  one  daughter,  Helen ;  Walter,  Lizzie  and  Alfred,  all  yet  at  home. 
Mr.  Van  Keuren  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  views  but  is  without 
aspiration  for  office,  for  he  prefers  to  give  his  attention  in  undivided  manner 
to  his  general  farming  pursuits,  in  which  he  is  now  meeting  with  a  gratify- 
ing measure  of  success. 

Stuart  Agan,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Allegan  township,  was 
bom  in  Pennsylvania,  January  7,  1852,  and  is  a  son  of  Stuart  and  Mariette 
(Nieman)  Agan.  The  father  came  to  Michigan  in  1854,  when  his  son, 
Stuart,  was  but  two  years  of  age  and  settled  in  Allegan  township,  where 
he  began  clearing  and  developing  a  farm,  and  while  engaged  in  this  task 
he  was  killed  by  the  falling  of  a  tree  which  he  was  cutting  in  the  spring  of 
1855,  being  but  about  thirty-five  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  demise. 
His  widow  survived  him  for  a  long  period  and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
two  years.  In  their  family  were  six  sons  and  a  daughter,  but  only  three 
are  now  living:  Samuel,  who  resides  in  New  Agar  township,  Newago 
county,  Michigan;  Stuart,  and  Ira,  who  is  living  in  Ailegan  township. 
Following  the  death  of  the  fatlier  the  mother  remained  upon  the  farm, 
which  she  operated  with  the  assistance  of  hired  help. 

When  Stuart  Agan  of  this  review  was  only  eight  or  nine  years  of 
age,  he  began  working  at  farm  labor  and  throughout  his  entire  life  has 
been  connected  with  general  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1885  he  purchased 
forty  acres  of  land  to  which  he  afterward  added  a  twenty-acre  tract  and 
later  he  bought  another  twenty-acre  tract,  so  that  he  now  has  altogether 
eighty  acres  of  rich  and  productive  land  situated  in  Allegan  township, 
where  he  is  carefully  and  successfully  conducting  general  farming. 

On  December  26,  1872,  in  Allegan  township,  Mr.  Agan  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Clara  Pullman,  who  was  born  near  Rochester,  New 
York,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Ellery  and  Eliza  (Avighause)  Pullman.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Agan  now  have  a  son  and  daughter,  Ernest  Gilbert,  who  was 
born  in  Allegan  township,  and  wedded  Hattie  Blanz  of  Allegan  township ; 
and  Peari  Edna,  who  wedded  Clyde  Lorburg. 

Mr.  Agan  is  connected  with  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees.  He  is  a 
well-to-do  farmer,  much  respected  in  the  community  where  he  has  spent 
the  greater  part  of  his  hfe,  having  for  more  than  a  half  century  lived  in 
Allegan  township,  so  that  he  has  witnessed  the  greater  part  of  its  growth 
and  upbuilding.  Many  changes  have  occurred  and  a  marked  transforma- 
tion has  been  wrought  and  in  the  work  of  agricultural  development  he  ha.s 
borne  his  share,  while  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  general  good  he  is 
known  as  a  public- spirited  citizen. 

FORDYCE  D.  Reed,  a  progressive  farmer  and  nuich  esteemed  citizen  of 
Allegan  township,  began  his  life  record  in  Orleans  county.  New  York,  in 
1850,  and  was  the  younger  of  the  two  surviving  children  of  Daniel  W.  and 
Electa  (Hubbard)  Reed.  The  father  was  born  in  Chesteriield,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  in  early  life  became  a  resident  of  the  Empire  state,  where 
he  followed  farming  throughout  his  remaining  days.  He  there  died  at  the 
age  of  seventy-five  years,  while  his  wife,  who  was  a  native  of  Goshen, 
Massachusetts,  passed  away  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  vears.  Their  daughter, 
Pamelia.  is  now  the  widow  of  Jolm  R.  Seelev.  of  Holly,  New  York, 


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HISTORY  OF  AIXEGAX  COUNTY  117 

ForiJycc  D.  Reed  was  reared  upon  the  old  homestead  iti  the  Empire 
state  and  there  remained  until  twenty-five  years  of  age,  when,  in  1875,  he 
came  to  Allegan  county  and  settled  in  Watson  township.  He  was  there 
employed  at  farm  labor  until  1899,  when  he  removed  to  his  present  farm 
in  Allegan  township.  In  1880  he  had  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land 
situated  on  section  13,  and  twelve  or  fourteen  years  later  he  bought  an 
additional  eighty-acre  tract,  but  in  1904  he  sold  sixty  acres  of  the  tract,  so 
that  he  now  owns  a  good  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  in  Allegan  township, 
besides  eighty  acres  in  Watson  township.  He  has  cleared  about  one-half 
of  this  and  he  is  now  engaged  extensively  and  successfully  in  buying  and 
selling  stock,  to  which  business  he  has  devoted  his  energies  for  the  past 
twenty-five  years.  In  the  community  he  is  well  known  as  a  leading  stock 
man  and  progressive  farmer  and  his  success  is  well  merited,  having  come  as 
the  direct  reward  of  his  earnest  labor. 

In  1S75,  in  Allegan,  Mr.  Reed  was  married  to  Miss  Ahnina  Z.  Andruss, 
a  daughter  of  William  B.  Andriiss,  who  was  born  in  Cazenovia,  New  York, 
and  came  to  Allegan  about  1848.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reed  now  have  four 
children:  Millie  A.,  the  wife  of  Fred  Durand,  by  whom  she  has  one  son, 
Milford;  Daniel  William,  who  wedded  Nina  Hare;  May  Electa,  the  wife 
of  Glenn  Miner,  by  whom  she  has  two  children,  Avis  and  Laurel ;  and 
John  Martin,  who  completes  the  family. 

Mr.  Reed  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  Democracy 
and  is  prominent  in  the  local  ranks  of  his  party.  He  served  as  supervisor 
of  Watson  township,  acting  in  that  capacity  for  two  and  a  half  years  to 
fill  out  an  unexpired  term  and  then  serving  for  two  full  terms.  Fraternally 
he  is  connected  with  the  Maccabees,  the  Gleaners  and  the  Grange,  and  is 
popular  with  his  brethren  of  these  organizations,  tn  his  farm  life  he  is 
exemplifying  the  spirit  of  progress,  which  is  as  manifest  in  agricultural 
circles  as  in  other  lines  of  Imsiness  and  he  is  now  one  of  the  prosperous 
stockmen  of  the  county,  owning  and  controlling  good  interests. 


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CHAPTER  IV. 
THE  RAILROAD  ERA   (1868-1906). 

Transportation  being  the  key  to  population,  it  is  natural  to  ascribe  great 
importance  to  the  period  beginning  with  the  building  of  the  first  railroad 
into  Allegan  county  in  the  sixties.  Up  to  that  time,  the  methods  of  trans- 
portation were  by  the  river  and  the  overland  traffic  which  had  been  greatly 
accelerated  by  the  building  of  the  plank  road  in  1854. 

In  the  thirties  a  Clinton  and  Kalamazoo  River  Canal  had  been  pro- 
posed under  the  agitation  for  internal  improvements.  F.  J.  Littlejohn  made 
the  survey  in  this  county,  Allegan  village  being  the  western  terminus  and 
head  of  river  navigation.  Only  a  few  miles  of  the  eastern  end  of  the  canal 
were  constructed,  and  before  the  movement  toward  construction  of  great 
commercial  highways  had  been  resumed  after  the  panic,  canals  had  fallen 
into  disfavor  as  compared  with  railroads. 

About  the  same  time  a  railroad  had  been  planned  for  Allegan  county. 
Its  early  construction  had  been  expectantly  referred  to  in  the  "Plan  of 
Allegan"  elsewhere  quoted.  The  Allegan  and  Marshall  Railroad  was  in- 
corporated March  4,  1836,  two  of  the  directors  being  John  R,  Kellogg  and 
Alex.  L.  Ely.    No  part  of  the  road  was  ever  graded. 

After  the  Michigan  Central  was  completed  across  the  southwest  corner 
of  the  state  in  1848,  various  plans  were  formed  to  tap  this  line  by  a  road 
running  north  into  the  developing  country,  north  of  Kalamazoo.  One  line 
was  projected  from  Lawton,  passing  through  Allegan  to  Grand  Rapids,  and 
another  from  Kalamazoo  via  Allegan  to  Grand  Rapids.  The  time  was  not 
yet  ripe  for  these  lines. 

The  first  railroad  to  penetrate  Allegan  county  was  the  Kalamazoo  and 
Allegan  R.  R.  Joseph  Fisk  of  Allegan  and  W.  C.  Edsell  of  Otsego  were 
directors  in  the  company.  Before  the  road  had  been  completed  to  Allegan 
the  name  was  changed  to  tlie  Kalamazoo,  Allegan  &  Grand  Rapids  R.  R., 
the  incorporation  being  amended  so  as  to  allow  the  road  to  be  extended 
to  Grand  Rapids.  The  first  division  of  the  Hne  was  completed  to  Allegan 
and  the  first  train  came  into  the  village  November  23,  1868,  Thanksgiving 
day.  Work  was  at  once  begun  on  the  northern  division,  and  trains  began 
running  to  Grand  Rapids  in  March,  1869.  The  road  was  leased  in  that 
year  to  the  Michigan  Southern  R.  R.  Co.,  and  has  been  operated  as  a  part 
of  the  L.  S.  &  M.  S.  system  ever  since. 

The  next  complete  section  of  railroad  in  the  county  was  the  line  from 
Allegan  to  Holland,  now  a  part  of  the  Pere  Marquette.  This  piece  of 
railroad  has  had  a  varied  career.  It  was  built  by  the  Michigan  Lake  Shore 
R.  R.  Co.,  which  was  a  consolidation  of  three  other  companies,  effected  in 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  119 

1869.  Though  the  survey  from  Allegan  to  Muskegon  was  not  adopted  till 
August,  1869,  the  work  was  pushed  with  such  vigor  that  the  road  between 
these  points— a  distance  of  57  miles — was  opened  July  i,  1870.  The  road 
went  into  the  hands  of  a  receiver  in  1874,  and  in  1878  a  reorganization  was 
effected  under  the  name  of  Grand  Haven  R.  R. 

This  branch  is  now  a  feeder  of  the  Pere  Marquette  system,  the  main 
line  of  which  in  this  county  was  constructed  about  1871,  under  the  name 
of  the  Chicago  &  Michigan  Lake  Shore  R.  R.  The  company  was  organ- 
ized at  St.  Joseph,  Michigan,  in  May,  1869,  to  construct  a  railroad  north 
along  the  lake  shore.  The  line  was  completed  as  far  as  Pentwater  by  Jan- 
uary, 1872.  With  the  hard  times  of  1873  all  large  enterprises  suffered,  and 
this  road  was  turned  over  to  the  bondholders  in  1874,  and  the  company 
was  not  reorganized  until  1877,  when  the  Chicago  &  West  Michigan  R.  R. 
Co.  came  into  existence.  This  name  was  retained  by  the  railroad  until 
it  passed  under  the  Pere  Marquette,  which  extended  the  system  by  com- 
pleting a  line  to  Chicago. 

The  Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana  R.  R.  was  built  along  the  general  route 
planned  during  the  forties.  However,  Allegan  village  was  left  to  one  side, 
and  the  line  ran  by  a  more  direct  route  from  Kalamazoo  through  Plainwell 
to  Grand  Rapids.  This  section  of  the  road  was  first  ptit  in  operation  in 
October,  1870. 

Only  one  other  railroad  line  remains  to  be  described — that  extending 
from  Allegan  southeast  to  Battle  Creek  and  now  a  part  of  the  Michigan 
Central.  Long  known  as  the  Allegan  &  Southeastern,  the  line  from 
Allegan  to  Monteith  was  the  only  portion  ever  constructed  of  the  Mansfield, 
Coldwater  &  Lake  Michigan  R,  R.,  an  ambitious  project  that  failed  dis- 
astrously in  the  main.  The  eleven  miles  from  Allegan  to  &fonteith  were 
constructed  by  Col.  Joseph  Fisk  of  Allegan,  the  local  contractor,  in  ninety 
days,  being  completed  in  September,  1871.  It  was  planned  to  build  this 
road  from  Mansfield,  Ohio,  to  Allegan,  Michigan.  In  1875  eleven  and  a 
half  miles  were  in  operation  from  Allegan  to  Monteith,  and  the  official 
railroad  map  of  1875  shows  it  as  a  stump  line  projecting  east  of  Monteith 
a  few  miles  and  under  lease  for  operation  purposes  by  the  Grand  Rapids 
&  Indiana.  August  28,  1877,  the  road  was  sold  under  foreclosure  of 
mortgage,  the  name  then  changing  to  the  Allegan  &  Southeastern  R.  R.  Co. 

It  will  be  noted  that  for  a  few  years  from  1868,  Allegan  county  was  a 
center  of  phenomenal  activity  in  railroad  construction.  All  the  steam  lines 
now  in  the  county  were  built  at  that  time,  and  the  only  added  line  of 
transportation  since  then  was  the  electric  line  from  Holland  to  Saugatuck, 
built  in  1896. 

The  directions  of  improvement  and  upbuilding  since  the  beginning  of 
the  railroad  era  have  been  various.  Many  figures  go  to  show  that  the 
county,  rebounding  from  the  disasters  of  the  Civil  war.  entered  upon  an 
epoch  of  industrial  expansion  such  as  had  not  been  eqiialled  in  the  preced- 
ing quarter  of  a  century.  Having  endured  and  maintained  its  integrity  in 
the  most  desperate  crisis  any  nation  ever  passed  through,  the  people  were 
fairly  lifted  beyond  all  previous  standards  by  their  new  self-reliance  and 
confidence  in  their  ability  to  effect  vast  enterprises.  Railroads  were  built  in 
all  parts  of  the  United  States,  population  flowed  into  new  areas,  and  prog- 
ress continued  along  broad  lines  until  checked  bv  the  panic  of  1873. 


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1^0  HiSTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

A  study  of  population  statistics  shows  many  changes  wrought  in 
Allegan  during  the  era  now  under  consideration.  In  i860  the  population 
of  the  county  was  16,087.  ^y  1^7°  ^^  l^^''  doubled — being  32,105.  This 
remarkable  increase  had  taken  place  in  five  years'  time,  for  the  state  census 
of  1864  showed  only  18,830  inhabitants.  And  during  the  four  years  from 
1870  to  1874  population  was  almost  stationary — being,  respectively,  32,105 
and  32,381.  In  1880  population  had  increased  to  37,815.  and  since  then 
has  been  practically  stationary,  being,  in  1890,  38,961,  and  in  1900,  38,812. 
From  these  figures  it  is  evident  that  Allegan  county's  most  rapid  in- 
crease occurred  at  the  beginning  of  the  railroad  era,  and  in  five  years' 
time  attained  a  population  that  has  since  been  subject  to  only  moderate 
fluctuations.  A  more  detailed  study  of  population  is  presented  in  the  follow- 
ing table : 

Townships  and 

Villages.  1900.  1890.  1880.  ]87o.  iSrio.      1850. 

Allegan 3,807        3,983         3,698        3,642  922         752 

Village   2,667        2.66g        2,305         2,374  .... 

Casco   2,041         1,819         i'550         1,264  296 

Cheshire 1.325  1,457  ^-404  144.1  646 

Clyde    968  850  610  298  74 

Fennville 454  360  ....  ....  .... 

Dorr  1,730         1.670         1,723         1.518  705         124 

Fillmore   2,019        2,151         2,345         ^AS*^'  663         527 

Ganges  i  ,75 1         i  ,477         r  ,403         i  ,255  759        246 

Gun  Plains 2.263  2,525  2,521  2,238  1.068  582 

Plainwell    l.^'i8         1,414         i,.156         1,035  

Heath    898  930  815         i.ooo  382 

Hopkins    i.7.i3         1,821         1,869         r.271  587 

Laketown    989  905  9T0  660  267 

Lee    951  900  654  249        '43 

Leighton    1,187         1,162         i,,36o         1.206  676         112 

Manlius    iJS.I         1,140         1,026  541  349  8a 

Martin    1,140  1,313  I.213  963  793  320 

Monterey    1,361         1.514         1.533         1.284  927         238 

Otsego    3,246        2,936        2,340        2,396         1.428        818 

Village    2,073  1,626  I.ooo  904  .... 

Overisel    1 ,752  i  ,788  1,611  1 ,060  489 

Safem   1,595         1.584         1-574         '.M.l  430 

Saugatuck    2,123        2,233         2,220        2.538  816        246 

Village   707  799  794         1.026  .... 

Douglas   444  404  522  ....  .... 

Trowbridge   1,255         ^,311         1,437         1.3^7  ^97        3i3 

Valley    493  536  643  180  103  34 

Watson     1,117  I.IQ3  ^-414  1,220  902  313 

Wavland    1,895  I.763  1,942  1,963  916         404 

Village   619  523  546  585  

This  table  of  population  will  bear  much  study.  It  .shows  that  certain 
areas  that  received  a  large  proportion  of  settlement  in  early  years  has  fallen 
off  in  the  past  thirty  years,  while  areas  once  thought  unattractive  and  little 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  121 

favored  by  the  permanent  settler  have  increased  from  decade  to  decade  until 
they  now  compare  favorably  with  the  first  settled  districts. 

The  transformation  of  the  former  timber  country  into  a  portion  of  the 
splendid  Michigan  fruit  belt  has  effected  a  marked  redistribution  of  popula- 
tion. A  factor  of  similar  power  in  rearranging  the  population  was,  of  course, 
the  railroad.  To  these  two  factors  may  be  credited  most  of  the  changes 
indicated  in  the  above  table. 

Using  Casco  township  as  an  example,  which  was  once  a  productive 
lumber  region,  but  is  now  equally  famous  as  a  fruit  center,  it  is  seen  that  a 
population  of  296  in  i860  increased  in  ten  years  to  1,264,  ^nd  has  shown  a 
steady  increase  with  each  decade  to  the  present,  when  Casco  is  one  of  the  six 
townships  with  more  than  2,000  inhabitants. 

In  the  case  of  Allegan,  Cheshire,  Fillmore,  Gun  Plains,  Heath,  Hopkins, 
Leighton,  Martin,  Monterey,  Saugatuck,  Trowbridge,  Valley,  Watson  and 
Wayland — fourteen  townships  in  all — the  figures  for  the  last  census  show  a 
falling  ofl'  from  the  highest  figures. 

With  respect  to  nativity  Allegan  county  shows  some  interesting  facts. 
In  1870  out  of  a  total  popidation  of  over  32,000,  5,586  were  of  foreign  birth 
and  8,983  were  of  foreign  parentage.  The  following  table  shows  the  prin- 
cipal sources  of  the  county's  foreign  population  for  the  years  1870  and  1900 : 


Country.  1870. 

British  America 1,214 

England  and  Wales ....    783 

Ireland   505 

Scotland  173 

Germany   1,056 


1900.     CoDNTRY.  1870. 

. . . .     France  35 

.  . .  .      Sweden  and  Norway ...       98 

246     Holland  i  ,522 

101     Poland    (German) 

. . .  .      Poland  (Russian) 


1900. 


Much  interest  attaches  to  the  following  table  as  showing  the 
from  which  the  native  American  population  of  the  county  came,  a: 
cated  by  the  census  of  1870,  The  total  number  of  American  born  !iv 
the  county  that  year  was  26,519.  Divided  according  to  the  slates, 
born  they  were : 


Michigan.  New  York. 
12.43 1  6,584 


Ohio. 

3^375 


Penna. 
970 


Vermont. 
640 


Indiana. 

070 


Distributed  by  townshii)s,  the  foreign  born  for  1870  and  1894  were: 


Township,  1870.     1894. 

Allegan    552        409 

Casco   94         idd 

Cheshire  70 

Clyde 15 

Dorr    336 

Fillmore   713 

Ganges   169 

Gun   Plains   320 

Heath   "97 

Hopkins   148 

Laketown  25 1 

Lee    30 


Township.  1870. 

Leighton 228 

144     Manliiis  86 

63      Martin   94 

84      ^^onterey    123 

343     Otsego   : 254 

619     Overisel    547 

162  Pine   Plains    (Valley)..    '16 

237     Salem    . .' 250 

143     Saugatuck  675 

iq8     Trowbridge   163 

285     Watson 216 

49     Wayland. 139 


1894. 
1.56 


96 


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122 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


During  the  past  forty  years  the  colored  people  have  formed  a  consid- 
erable element  of  the  population.  In  1850  there,  were  only  five  colored 
persons  in  the  county.  In  the  course  of  the  following  decade  a  negro 
colony  began  forming  in  Cheshire  township,  which  has  remained  the  cen- 
ter of  this  population  ever  since.  In  i860  that  township  had  30  colored 
persons.    There  were  16  in  Allegan  and  one  each  in  Wayland  and  Dorr. 

During  and  after  the  war  many  colored  people  came  to  Allegan 
county,  so  that  the  census  of  1870  showed  their  numbers  to  be  as  follows  in 
the  different  townships:  Allegan,  42;  Casco,  i;  Cheshire,  211;  Clyde,  24; 
Gun  Plains,  3 ;  Lee,  8 ;  Leighton,  i ;  Monterey,  i ;  Otsego,  15 ;  Trowbridge, 
31 ;  Wayland,  8. 

This  chapter  may  be  conchided  with  a  comparative  statement  of  equal- 
ized valuations  of  the  townships  for  different  periods  during  the  last  forty 
years : 


KQTfALIZKn  VALUATIONS  OF  I 


riiOi'ERTY  IS  ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 


S' 

'« 

HH5 

3  4 

ono 

3  2 

000 

aa4 

.000  {i.ess. 


,200    81,700  01 


,000     i.oae  n( 


Allpgnn    

Casoo    

ChPBhlie    

Clyde   

Dorr 

FlUmore    

Ganges 

Giraplalns. . . . 

Hopkins 

Heath    

Laketown    . . . 

Leighton   .... 

Montpcej  .... 
Martin    

Ov^riafl". '.'.'.'. 

Salem    '.' 

Saitgalviffk   . . . 
Trowhvldgp  . . 

Waylaoil    .... 

Total...  .*3.OO8.O0e  JT,460,800  Jl.^,040.200  |t3,000  000  |1?  000  000  SIO.OOO.OOO  $20,000, 


,400      l.OOO. 


445  000         im  000 


,000    (2.385, 


.000      1,769, 


.000  803, 


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CHAPTER  V. 
CENTERS  OF  POPULATION. 

The  organization  of  the  townships,  elsewhere  described  was  an  arti- 
ficial process,  following  the  geoiftetrical  lines  of  the  government  survey. 
But  the  grouping  of  population  and  the  formation  of  village  centers  are 
the  result  usually  of  natural  growth.  In  the  following  pages  it  is  our  pur- 
pose to  continue  the  story  of  settlement  and  growth  with  special  reference 
to  the  grouping  of  people  into  communities  and  villages. 

It  is  easy  to  indicate  in  a  general  way  the  heginnings  of  such  a  com- 
munity. A  fertile  and  arable  region  receives  a  large  proportion  of  the 
immigration.  Assuming  that  they  are  pioneers,  it  will  be  almost  a  neces- 
sity that  most  of  them  till  the  soil,  even  though  combining  that  with  an- 
other occupation.  Or  if  a  timbered  region,  those  engaged  in  the  lumber 
industry  would  also  be  subject  to  the  centralizing  influences.  If  the  set- 
tlement was  on  a  much  traveled  thoroughfare,  one  or  perhaps  more  of  the 
pioneer  houses  would  be  opened  for  the  entertainment  of  the  transient 
public.  On  the  banks  of  a  stream  some  one  constructs  a  saw  or  grist  mill. 
At  some  convenient  and  central  point,  a  settler  with  commercial  instincts 
will  open  a  stock  of  goods  such  as  will  supply  the  other  settlers  and  immi- 
grants. A  postoffice  comes  next,  the  postmaster  being  very  likely  the  mer- 
chant or  tavern-keeper.  A  physician,  looking  for  a  location,  is  pleased  with 
the  conditions  and  occupies  a  cabin  near  the  store  or  inn.  A  carpenter  or 
other  mechanic  is  more  accessible  to  his  patronage  if  he  lives  near  the 
postoffice  or  other  common  gathering  point.  If  the  schoolhouse  of  the  dis- 
trict has  not  already  been  built,  it  is  probable  that  it  will  be  placed  at  the 
increasingly  centra!  site.  And  the  first  church  is  a  natural  addition.  Al- 
ready this  nucleus  of  settlement  is  a  village  in  embryo,  and  in  the  natural 
course  of  development  a  variety  of  enterprises  will  center  there,  the  me- 
chanical, the  manufacturing,  the  commercial  an<l  professional  departments 
of  human  labor  will  be  grouped  together  for  the  purpose  of  efficiency  and 
convenience.  By  such  accretions  of  population,  by  diversification  of  in- 
dustry, by  natural  advantages  of  location  and  the  improvement  of  means 
of  transportation,  this  community  in  time  becomes  organized  as  a  village, 
and  with  continued  prosperity,  as  a  city. 

Sometimes  the  development  is  arrested  at  a  particular  stage.  The 
village  remains  a  village,  the  hamlet  ceases  to  grow,  and  we  have  a  center 
of  population  without  .special  business,  industrial  or  civic  development. 
Then  there  are  instances  in  this  county  of  retrogression.     A  locality  that 


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1^4  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

could  once  be  dignified  with  the  name  of  village  has  disintegrated  under  the 
stress  of  rivalry  from  other  centers  or  other  causes,  and  is  now  little  more 
than  a  place  and  a  name. 

Specific  illustrations  of  all  these  processes  are  to  be  found  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  centers  in  Allegan  coimty.  But  in  general  it  may  be  stated  that 
during  the  early  years,  when  communication  was  primitive  and  isolation 
quite  complete  even  between  localities  separated  by  a  few  miles,  the  ten- 
dency was  toward  centralization  in  numerous  small  hamlets  and  villages. 
But  in  keeping  with  the  economic  development  for  which  the  past  century 
was  noted,  and  especially  because  of  the  improvement  of  all  forms  of  trans- 
portation, the  barriers  against  easy  communication  with  all  parts  of  the 
county  were  thrown  down,  and  the  best  situated  centers  grew  and  flour- 
ished at  the  expense  of  the  smaller  centers,  which  gradually  dwindled  into 
comparative  insignificance.  Nothing  has  done  more  to  accelerate  this 
movement  than  the  establishment  of  rural  free  delivery.  The  postoifice  was 
the  central  point  of  community  life,  and  remoteness  from  its  privileges 
was  a  severe  drawback.  Rural  delivery  has  made  every  home  a  postoffice, 
puts  each  home  in  daily  contact  With  the  world,  and  while  it  is  destroying 
provincialism  and  isolation,  it  is  effecting  a  wholesome  distribution  of  pop- 
ulation, rather  than  crowding  into  small  villages.  And  the  very  recent  in- 
troduction into  Michigan  of  the  system  of  public  transportation  of  school 
children  to  and  from  school,  will  remove  another  powerful  incentive  to 
village  life.  When  weak  districts  may  be  consolidated  and  a  large,  well 
graded  and  modern  union  school  be  provided  convenient  and  accessible  to 
every  child  in  the  enlarged  school  area,  families  will  no  longer  find  it 
necessary  "to  move  to  town  in  order  to  educate  their  children." 

These  are  the  principal  considerations  that  should  be  understood  be- 
fore we  enter  on  the  description  of  the  various  centers  which  Allegan 
county  has  produced  in  three-quarters  of  a  century  of  growth. 

Sal'GATLTCK   VlLLAtlE. 

Saugatuck  village  was  an  outgrowth  of  the  settlement  and  the  indus- 
tries about  the  mouth  of  the  river  which  have  been  described  in  connec- 
tion with  the  early  history  of  that  vicinity.  Its  history  illustrates  very  well 
the  process  of  village  formation  described  at  the  beginning  of  this  chapter. 
In  the  case  of  every  village  whose  existence  has  continued  on  a  perma- 
nent basis  there  is  to  be  found  a  reason  why  people  have  grouped  them- 
selves at  that  point.  The  trading,  the  lumbering,  the  shipping,  and  lastly 
the  fruit  interests  have  been  at  the  basis  of  Saugatuck's  growth  and  pros- 
perity, and  the  village  has  declined  and  advanced  abreast  of  these 
interests. 

William  C.  Butler  was  evidently  a  man  of  considerable  sagacity  and 
foresight,  and  understood  some  of  the  important  factors  that  make  a  vil- 
lage. Barring  rivals  in  the  vicinity,  the  site  and  the  conditions  of  trade  and 
industry  gave  fair  prophecy  of  the  building  of  a  considerable  mart  on  the 
Kalamazoo  lake.  It  is  true  that  the  Nichols  warehouse  and  store  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river  and  the  enterprising  village  of  .Singapore  almost  de- 
stroyed Saugatuck's  prestige  for  a  number  of  years,  but  in  time  the  advan- 
tages of  the  location,  the  enterprise  of  its  inhabitants,  or  the  establishment 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTV  135 

of  industries — one  or  all  in  combination — gave  the  village  victory  over  its 
rivals. 

In  1833,  before  he  was  joined  by  any  other  settlers.  Butter  had  a  village 
plat  laid  off  on  the  land  he  had  bought.  This  plat  was  recorded  in  the 
register's  office  of  Kalamazoo  county,  where  was  located  the  county  seat 
for  the  still  unorganized  Allegan  county,  on  July  17,  1834.*  In  the  mean- 
time, however,  Butler  had  sold  an  interest  in  the  village  to  Henry  Hoffman, 
of  Niles;  Jasper  Mason,  of  St.  Joseph,  and  John  Griffith,  of  New  York, 
after  whom  three  of  the  principal  streets  were  named.  The  name  given 
to  the  village  was  Kalamazoo,  and  it  was  popularly  called  such  for  thirty- 
five  years.  It  was  entitled  to  the  name  by  sole  possession  until  1836,  for  up 
to  that  time  the  county  seat  of  Kalamazoo  county  had  been  known  as  Bron- 
son,  in  honor  of  its  founder,  Titus  Eronson;  but  in  1836  the  legislature 
changed  the  name  to  Kalamazoo,  and  thereafter  tlie  little  village  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river  had  no  official  title  to  that  name.  In  1835  a  postoffice 
was  established  upon  the  application  of  R.  R.  Crosby,  the  tanner,  whose 
commission  as  first  postmaster  bore  date  August  4,  1835.  The  postoffice 
was  never  known  as  Kalamazoo  by  the  postal  department.  Mr.  Crosby, 
being  familiar  with  the  Indian  name  "Saugatuck,"  meaning  mouth  of  the 
river,  suggested  that  as  the  name  of  the  postoffice  and  it  was  accepted  by 
the  department.  When  the  village  was  incorporated  in  1868  this  name 
was  given  to  the  village  corporation. 

During  the  latter  thirties  Singapore  overshadowed  Saugatuck  as  a 
commercial  center.  At  one  time  it  is  said  that  the  place  was  almost 
abandoned  of  all  inhabitants  except  S.  A.  Morrison  and  family.  A  number 
of  Indians  dwelt  in  or  about  the  village  throughout  its  early  career.  There 
was  little  or  no  centering  of  the  trade  interests  of  the  vicinity  until  the 
fifties,  and  the  residents  on  the  village  plat  usually  bought  their  goods  at 
the  Nichols'  store  or  at  Singapore.  Wayne  Coats  opened  a  drug  store  in 
1849,  S.  D.  Nichols  established  a  store  in  1851,  Wells  &  Johnson,  mill  pro- 
prietors, started  a  general  store  in  1854,  and  thenceforward  the  village  was 
on  a  permanent  trade  basis.  The  merchants  in  1865  were  John  fhirn,';.  S. 
A.  Morrison,  E.  W.  Phillips,  R.  F.  Kleeman  and  H.  D.  Moore,  and  there 
were  also  two  sawmills,  a  pail-stave  factory,  a  shingle  mill,  and  two  hotels. 

Though  Saugatuck  now  has  nearly  as  good  mail  facilities  as  any  vil- 
lage in  the  county,  the  oldest  residents  can  refer  to  a  time  when  postal  com- 
munication with  the  outside  world  was  extremely  irregular.  For  some 
time  after  the  establishment  of  the  postoffice  mail  came  down  the  river 
from  Allegan  according  as  means  could  be  found  to  convey  it.  Begin- 
ning with  1840,  when  Samuel  Morrison  was  appointed  first  carrier,  there 
was  established  a  mail  route  between  Saugatuck  and  Allegan.  When  the 
railroad  came  through  New  Richmond,  the  mail  was  brought  overland  from 
that  point.  There  were  two  stages  a  day  between  these  points,  and  old  resi- 
dents say  they  were  very  regular  and  made  mail  facilities  hardly  less  than 
those  today.  When  cars  began  running  over  the  Holland-Saugatuck  in- 
terurban  in  i8g6,  the  village  was  given  regular  mail  service  by  way  of  Hol- 
land. 

The    Saugatuck   and    Ganges   Telephone    Company    was   organized    in 

'The  plat  has  since  ilieappenrcd  and  its  whereabouta  not  non-  kiionii. 


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126  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

1893-4  and  put  in  the  first  'phones  in  the  village,  the  first  instrnment  being 
stiil  in  use  in  Mr.  C.  E.  Bird's  house.  This  company  now  has  five  ex- 
changes— Douglas,  FennvtUe,  Saugatuck,  Glenn  and  Ganges,  and  connect- 
ing with  the  exchange  at  Holland,  to  which  point  a  line  was  extended  in 
1896. 

The  postmasters  of  the  village  following  Mr.  Crosby  have  been:    W. 

G.  Butler,  S.  A.  Morrison, Ward,  Samuel  Johnson,  B,  W.  Phillips, 

S.  A.  Morrison,  Hiram  Ellis,  Samuel  Johnson,  William  V.  Johnson,  George 

T.  Arnold,  Cook,  Frank  A.  Winslow,  Dan  Falconer,  I^'rcd  Wade, 

who  has  held  it  for  past  six  years. 

With  the  decline  of  Singapore  and  the  increase  of  industry  and  trade 
at  Saugatuck,  the  latter  assumed  a  corporate  activity  and  became  to  a  large 
degree  distinct  from  its  adjacent  territory.  The  board  of  supervisors,  ac- 
cording to  the  law  at  the  time,  incorporated  Saugatuck  village  in  1868.  At 
the  legislative  session  of  1869-70  the  village  was  reincorporated.  The  char- 
ter was  amended  in  1893,  and  in  1895  the  village  came  under  the  provisions 
of  the  blanket  charter  now  governing  all  villages  of   Michigan. 

The  first  village  election  was  held  in  March,  1868,  and  those  chosen  to 
direct  the  affairs  of  the  village  the  first  year  were ;  H.  B.  Moore,  president ; 
Hiram  R.  Ellis,  clerk ;  Diodet  Rogers,  treasurer ;  R.  B.  Newnham,  marshal, 
and  George  E.  Dunn,  James  Hibbodine,  Solomon  Stanton,  Warren  Cook, 
S.  A,  Morrison  and  Samuel  Johnson,  trustees.  The  principal  officers  down 
to  the  present  time  are  given  in  the  official  lists.  Of  the  first  officers  only 
R.  B.  Newnham  is  still  living. 

Since  incorporation  many  village  improvements  have  taken  place.  Sev- 
eral costly  fires  have  visited  the  village,  and  during  the  seventies  the  villagers 
began  adding  fire  protection.  A  hook  and  ladder  equipment,  purchased  in 
1871,  was  the  nucleus.  Two  hundred  fire  buckets  were  shortly  added.  In 
1873  a  Babcock  extinguisher  was  bought  and  a  fire  company  of  thirty  mem- 
bers organized,  James  M.  Pond  becoming  chief  engineer  and  A,  H.  Gardner 
first  assistant. 

In  1903  the  citizens  voted  to  bond  the  village  for  $8,000,  later  voting  an 
additional  $3,000,  and  with  $3,000  in  the  treasury  a  waterworks  system  was 
installed  that  for  pressure,  efficiency  and  economy  is  not  surpassed  anywhere 
in  the  state,  so  the  citizens  claim.  The  system  has  cost  to  the  present  time, 
about  $14,000. 

The  waterworks  at  Saugatuck  were  put  in  operation  in  1904.  A  reser- 
voir 38  feet  in  diameter  and  I2j^  feet  deep  was  constructed  at  a  height  of 
180  feet  above  the  river  on  Lone  Pine  Hill.  It  is  fed  from  tubular  wells 
driven  into  the  sand,  and  equipment  consists  of  two  sets  of  engines  and 
pumps.  The  mains  are  laid  to  the  village  twenty-one  feet  beneath  the  river 
surface.  The  mains  are  now  laid  in  circuit  around  the  village  and  branches 
are  being  extended  gradually  to  all  residence  and  business  sections.  The 
pressure  is  now  about  75  pounds  to  the  inch. 

Fire  protection  since  the  establishment  of  the  waterworks  has  become 
first  class,  shown  by  a  reduction  of  10  cents  on  the  $100  of  insurance  rates 
for  residence  property.  Saugatuck  Hose  Company  No.  i  is  now  depended 
upon  for  protection,  though  the  village  still  owns  an  engine  and  pumps  used 
under  the  previous  system.    Homer  Adams  is  now  chief  engineer. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUXTY  127 

The  village  hall,  near  the  south  end  of  Butler  street,  which  has  stood 
since  the  seventies,  contains  the  council  rooms  and  quarters  for  fire  apparatus. 

Of  the  business  men  of  the  village,  Mr.  A.  B.  Taylor,  the  banker;  Mr. 
C.  E.  Bird,  who  went  into  the  drug  business  thirty  years  ago ;  Jacob  Metzger, 
C.  Walz  and  Fritz  Walz,  meat  market ;  H,  Schnoble,  hardware ;  J.  A.  Aiiber, 
grocer ;  John  Schaberg,  grocer ;  Sam  Reed,  Blacksmith,  are  to  be  mentioned 
as  the  oldest  of  those  still  in  business.  A.  H.  Stilson,  Fred  Palmer,  H.  W. 
Smith,  John  Loomis,  Joseph  Randall,  now  the  ferryman,  John  Wheeler,  who 
are  now  living  in  and  about  Saugatuck,  were  all  residents  when  J.  K.  Dole 
came  here  in  1856, 

A  tavern  at  the  month  of  the  river,  kept  by  Moses  Nichols,  and  the  hos- 
pitable home  of  S.  A.  Morrison  in  Saugatuck  village,  were  the  only  places  of 
public  entertainment  in  the  year  1840.  It  is  indeed  a  far  cry  from  that  con- 
dition to  the  present  when  Saugatuck  and  vicinity  has  become  one  of  the  pop- 
ular summer  retreats  on  the  Lake  Michigan  east  shore.  The  pioneers  of  the 
Saugatuck  region  could  not  have  foretold  this  phase  of  Saugatuck's  future. 
The  summer  resort  is  a  development  of  the  modem  age,  as  characteristic  of 
it  as  the  log  house  was  of  the  pioneer  epoch.  It  marks  the  reaction  from  the 
extreme  concentration  of  society  which  has  produced  the  cities;  it  is  made 
possible  by  better  facilities  of  transportation.  Thus  the  same  influence  which 
in  earlier  years  tended  to  concentrate  population,  now,  in  its  higher  develop- 
ment, diffuses  society  and  enables  people  to  enjoy  the  benefits  of  organization 
without  the  close  crowding  made  necessary  in  cities. 

Saugatuck's  popularity  as  a  summer  resort  dates  from  the  completion  of 
the  intenirban  line  from  Holland  in  1896.  The  possibilities  of  the  situation 
had  been  recognized  before  that  date,  and  the  electric  line  was  the  result  of 
the  movement  to  develop  the  resort  feature  and  to  afford  a  commercial  outlet 
for  the  village.  Some  cottages  had  been  built  along  the  lake  shore  about 
Douglas  and  Saugatuck  in  the  early  nineties.  These  villages  were  then 
reached  by  daily  stage  from  New  Richmond,  but  as  long  as  direct  rail  com- 
munication could  not  be  had  the  beauties  of  the  Saugatuck  region  were 
within  the  avail  of  few. 

In  the  past  ten  years  Saugatuck  has  become  known  far  beyond  the  limits 
of  the  county.  Eligible  locations  that  a  few  years  ago  could  have  been 
bought  at  little  advance  over  general  land  values  are  now  held  at  "resort" 
prices  and  most  of  the  land  is  now  held  in  small  lots  either  by  individual 
owners  or  by  associations.  Each  year  finds  a  larger  number  of  visitors  in  this 
vicinity,  and  the  impetus  given  to  the  village  can  be  seen  in  many  ways.  The 
merchants  regulate  their  business  to  accommodate  the  summer  increase.  The 
intenirban  doubles  its  service  in  the  summer,  and  many  summer  hotels  and 
boarding  houses  are  conducted  during  the  season.  With  the  opening  of  the 
new  harbor  and  its  improvement  by  dredging  and  adding  docking  facilities, 
both  passenger  and  freight  transportation  will  increase  and,  it  is  believed,  re- 
store much  of  the  old-time  prestige  of  this  vicinity.  During  the  summer  of 
1906  the  passenger  steamer  "City  of  Kalamazoo"  began  plying  between  this 
port  and  Chicago,  though  the  river  has  not  been  sufficiently  dredged  to  allow 
safe  and  ready  passage  of  large  boats. 

Largely  through  the  efforts  of  Congressman  Hamilton  of  this  district  an 
appropriation  was  obtained  to  open  a  new  channel  from  the  north  bend  of  the 
river  to  the  lake  and  the  work  of  cutting  the  channel  and  constructing  new 


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1^8  HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

piers  proceeded  rapidly  during  1905  and  was  completed  in  the  following 
spring.  The  hydraulic  dredge  finished  the  cutting  on  May  18,  1906,  the 
Commercial  Record^  of  Saugatuck,  speaks  of  the  occasion  as  follows : 

"The  yacht  Green  Devil  was  first  to  go  through  the  new  cut,  the  party 
on  board  consisting  of  Capt.  Henry  Perkins,  L.  E.  Veits,  Dr.  G.  H.  Perrin, 
Charles  Parrish,  J.  F.  Davis,  C.  O.  Hauke,  Clarence  Wade,  Chas.  Converse, 
George  Hames,  Carl  Bird,  H.  M.  Bird,  D.  F.  Litdwig.  The  appropriation 
of  $250,000  for  the  harbor  work  will  have  been  exhausted  (except  $9,000) 
when  the  present  contract  is  completed,  after  which  it  will  be  necessary  to 
get  an  extra  appropriation  from  congress  if  any  rev£tments  are  built  or  if 
the  river  from  the  Twin  Cities  to  the  mouth  is  dredged  out. 

"The  new  cut  is  1,200  feet  long,  200  feet  wide  and  about  14  feet  deep, 
while  the  piers  are  1,200  feet  long." 

"Harbor  Day"  was  enthusiastically  celebrated  June  30,  about  8,000 
people  being  present. 

One  of  Chicago's  important  charitable  movements  has  large  real  estate 
interests  about  Saugatuck  and  hitherto  this  has  been  the  headquarters  of  its 
summer  settlement  work.  The  organization  which  is  known  as  the  "For- 
ward Movement  Settlement,"  now  owns  clear  of  debt  the  Forward  Move- 
ment Park  of  130  acres  along  the  lake  shore  at  Saugatuck,  with  a  hotel 
known  as  "Swift  Cottage,"  an  auditorium,  the  Vesta  Putnam  Summer 
Schools  of  five  buildings  for  crippled  children,  other  cottages  and  tents,  a 
water  and  light  system,  and  bouievarded  roadways,  all  being  valued  at  $30,- 
000.  In  Chicago  it  has  a  substantial  settlement  house  and  kindergarten  cot- 
tage and  playground  on  a  lot  95  by  187  feet  at  305  West  Van  Buren  street. 

The  strength  of  the  association  has  been  concentrated  upon  the  summer 
outing  work,  which  is  the  most  extensive  of  any  organization  in  or  about 
Chicago.  The  park  at  Saugatuck  has  been  open  to  the  poor  for  a  period  of 
eight  years.  During  the  last  summer  the  association  gave  outings  of  two 
weeks  or  move  to  more  than  i.ooo  individuals. 

A  class  of  ninety  crippled  children  from  the  Chicago  public  schools 
passed  a  month's  vacation  in  the  Nature  Study  Summer  School,  which  is 
equipped  thoroughly  with  sieeping,  dining  and  laundry  accommodations,  in 
addition  to  a  spacious  school  hall,  furnished  by  Dr.  McFatrich.  They  were 
followed  by  thirty  deaf  children  from  the  schools  who  were  accompanied  by 
their  teachers,  spending  two  weeks. 

Special  groups  from  the  Oak  Park  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  the  West  Side  Y. 
M.  C.  A.  juniors  took  their  vacation  in  tents,  receiving  their  meals  in  Swift 
cottage,  a  small  hotel  erected  by  Mrs.  Anna  M.  Swift.  The  choirs  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church  and  of  the  Cathedral  of  SS.  Peter  and  Paul 
also  were  entertained,  and  families  sent  out  by  Hull  House  and  the  asso- 
ciated charities  were  guests. 

A  total  of  40,000  meals  were  served  at  Swift  Cottage  during  the  months 
of  July  and  August.  Dr.  Miller  and  Miss  Dix  have  cottages  on  the  grotmds, 
and  thirty  sanitary  tents  provide  for  guests  not  finding  room  in  the  dormi- 
tory of  Swift  Cottage. 

The  need  of  an  assembly  hall  for  entertainments  and  meetings  was 
met  by  the  gift  of  Henry  C.  Lytton,  of  Chicago,  who  completed  a  handsome 
structure  seating  500  and  with  an  exterior  porch  overlooking  the  lake. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY  lay 

Douglas, 

The  early  settlement  on  the  village  site  and  the  location  of  milling  and 
other  business  there  has  already  been  described.  The  village  plat  laid  out 
on  section  i6  by  Jonathan  Wade  about  1851  existed  for  some  years  under 
the  name  of  Dudleyville.  A  second  plat  was  laid  out  just  north  of  Wade's 
by  William  F,  Dutcher  and  named  Douglas.  These  names  continued  in 
familiar  use  until  1870,  when  the  inhabitants  had'increased  in  number  and 
built  up  business  to  the  point  where  they  desired  village  incorporation.  The 
board  of  supervisors  incorporated  the  village  of  Douglas  October  14,  1870. 
At  the  first  election,  held  December  5,  1870,  forty-one  votes  were  cast,  and 
the  following  were  constituted  the  first  set  of  officers  to  direct  the  village 
corporation :  President,  C.  A.  Ensign ;  clerk,  D.  C.  Putnam ;  treasurer,  Craw- 
ford McDonald;  trustees,  M.  B.  Spencer,  Homer  Manvil,  D.  W.  Wiley, 
Thomas  Gray,  D.  Gerber,  T.  B.  Dutcher, 

In  the  sixties  a  business  community  began  forming  around  the  miils. 
Wilham  Bush  had  the  first  store,  and  Jonathan  Wade  built  the  Douglas 
House,  With  the  growth  of  the  fruit  industry,  Douglas  became  an  impor- 
tant shipping  point  and  remains  so  today.  A  postoffice  was  established  there 
in  1868,  with  D.  C.  Putnam  as  postmaster,  an  office  he  held  a  number  of  years. 

In  1872  there  were  two  general  merchants,  D.  C.  Putnam  and  Thomas 
Gray.  The  lumber  trade  was  still  important,  from  the  fact  that  Thomas 
Gray,  R.  M.  Moore,  R.  S,  Close  were  engaged  in  that  business.  John  S. 
Payne  had  a  grist  mill ;  D,  Gerber  &  Son  still  conducted  the  tannery  started 
in  the  early  sixties  and  later  owned  by  Wallin  &  Sons.  W,  T.  Hoy  and 
David  McLean  were  the  local  physicians,  the  latter  having  located  there  in 
1864  and  also  having  a  stock  of  drugs.  A  vinegar  factory  was  located  on 
the  point  by  the  bridge.  The  first  lawyer  was  W.  A.  Woodworth,  who  came 
in  1876, 

During  the  seventies  the  manufacture  of  fruit  baskets  and  cases  began, 
an  industry  that  has  grown  until  it  is  now  the  most  important  in  the  village. 
Of  the  early  business  men  several  remain,  among  them  D.  M.  Gerber  and 
the  Dutchers.     The  McDonalds  are  leading  merchants. 

Population  in  Douglas,  as  in  Saugatuck,  began  to  decrease  following 
the  decline  of  lumbering  in  the  seventies.  The  census  of  1880  gave  522 ;  for 
1890,  404;  and  for  1900,  444.  The  village  as  well  as  the  surrounding  coun- 
try is  now  showing  increase,  not  so  much  in  population  as  general  pros- 
perity, rising  property  values  and  better  conditions  of  living.  What  has 
been  said  with  respect  to  Saugatuck  as  a  summer  resort  pertains  of  course 
to  Douglas,  since  all  the  country  between  the  two  villages  and  the  lake  shore 
is  now  largely  in  the  hands  of  resorters  or  devoted  to  that  business. 

Hon,  D,  W.  Wiley  is  a  representative  of  the  agricultural  and  horticul- 
tural interests  in  Saugatuck  township,  following  only  the  most  modern  and 
scientific  methods  in  carrying  on  his  business  interests.  He  was  born  in 
Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  June  27,  1837,  a  son  of  Nicholas  and  Martha 
A.  (Davis)  Wiley,  who  came  to  Michigan  from  the  Buckeye  state  in 
1852.  the  family  home  being  established  near  Kalamazoo,  where  the  father 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  and  carried  on  farming  pursuits  for  several 
years,  subsequent  to  which  time  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Barry  county,  this 


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130  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

state,  and  there  spent  his  remaining  days,  Iiis  death  occurring  in  1895,  when 
he  had  reached  the  very  advanced  age  of  eighty-three  years.  In  the  family 
of  this  worthy  couple  were  seven  children  but  the  subject  of  this  review  is 
the  only  one  living  in  Allegan  county. 

D.  W.  Wiley  was  reared  in  his  native  state  to  the  age  of  fifteen  years, 
when,  in  1852,  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to  this  state. 
He  acquired  his  education  in  the  district  schools  near  his  father's  home,  thus 
fitting  himself  for  the  responsible  duties  of  life  which  he  entered  upon  when 
starting  out  in  life  upon  an  independent  business  career.  He  remained  with 
his  father,  assisting  him  in  the  work  of  carrying  on  the  homestead  property 
until  i860,  at  which  time  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself,  being  then  a 
young  man  of  twenty-nine  years.  Upon  his  arrival  in  this  county  he  pur- 
chased a  half  interest  in  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  his  partner  being  B,  S. 
Williams,  of  Kalamazoo.  In  1867  they  set  out  a  fruit  orchard,  devoting 
forty  acres  of  the  tract  to  the  cultivation  of  peaches,  and  they  also  set  out 
about  three  acres  to  grapes,  raising  the  Concord,  Delaware,  Ives,  Hartford, 
Diana  and  lona  varieties.  In  1874  they  shipped  fifteen  thousand  baskets  of 
peaches  from  their  farm,  and  in  their  work  met  with  creditable  success. 
After  a  few^ears  Mr,  Wiley  disposed  of  his  interest  to  his  partner  and  then 
purchased  hts  present  farm,  comprising  eighty  acres,  and  with  the  exception 
of  a  period  of  a  few  years  spent  in  Kalamazoo,  Mr.  Wiley  has  since  made 
his  home  on  his  farm  to  the  present  time.  This  property  is  devoted  princi- 
pally to  the  raising  of  fruit,  of  which  fifteen  acres  are  devoted  to  peaches, 
while  on  the  place  there  are  fifteen  hundred  pear  trees,  four  hundred  plum 
trees,  two  hundred  and  fifty  apple  trees,  two  hundred  cherry  trees,  two  acres 
of  strawberries,  two  acres  of  blackberries,  three-fourths  of  an  acre  of  rasp- 
berries, and  a  half  acre  each  of  currants  and  gooseberries,  while  the  re- 
mainder of  the  place  is  devoted  to  general  agricultural  pufsuits,  and  in  his 
work  he  follows  practical  and  progressive  methods,  which  always  produce 
the  best  results. 

Mr.  Wiley,  although  leading  an  active  and  busy  life,  has  also  found 
time  for  public  affairs,  and  in  1874-75  he  served  as  representative  in  the 
state  legislature,  which  position  he  filled  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  con- 
stituents, being  elected  to  the  ofiice  by  the  popular  vote  of  his  many  friends 
regardless  of  party  afiliHation.  During  his  term  of  office  he  served  on  a 
number  of  important  committees.  He  was  the  first  president  of  the  village 
of  Douglas  and  for  a  number  of  years  has  served  as  school  director,  the 
cause  of  public  education  finding  in  him  a  stalwart  friend.  In  1870  he 
was  chosen  president  of  the  Agricultural  and  Pomological  Society,  in  which 
office  he  is  now  the  present  incumbent.  Fraternally  he  holds  membership 
relations  with  Dutcher  Lodge  No.  193,  F.  &  A.  M. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's  journey  Mr.  Wiley  chose  Miss 
Lucy  A.  Hall,  who  was  born  in  New  York,  and  their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  four  sons,  of  whom  two  now  survive,  Frank  E.,  a  farmer  of  Allegan 
county;  Oscar  D.,  a  resident  of  Chicago ;  Burton  O,,  who  has  passed  away, 
and  Homer  D.,  also  deceased.  Mr.  Wiley  is  indeed  a  self-made  man,  for, 
starting  out  in  life  empty-handed  he  has  worked  his  way  steadily  upward 
from  the  bottom  round  of  the  ladder  until  he  has  now  reached  the  topmost 
round,  having  in  the  meantime  accumulated  a  good  property  and  a  hand- 
some competence  that  now  supplies  him  in  the  evening  of  his  days  with  all 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  CtJUNTY  131 

of  the  comforts  and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  hfe.  Having  spent  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  in  Michigan,  thirty  years  of  which  have  been  spent  in  Alle- 
gan county,  he  has  here  a  wide  and  favorable  acquaintance  and  is  a  highly 
respected  citizen  of  the  community,  where  he  is  known  for  his  reliability  and 
straightforward  methods  in  every  relation  of  life. 

John  Keen,  a  native  of  Holland,  has  been  a  resident  of  America  since 
1882  and  with  the  exception  of  the  first  year  has  been  continuously  identi- 
fied with  agricultural  and  horticultural  pursuits  in  Saugatuck  township, 
Allegan  county,  where  a  good  property  is  proof  of  his  life  of  industry  and 
thrift.  Mr.  Keen  was  born  in  1857,  a  son  of  George  and  Jennie  (New- 
banning)  Keen,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Holland,  where  they  spent 
their  entire  lives.  Reared  and  educated  in  his  native  country,  John  Keen, 
when  a  young  man  of  twenty-five  years,  crossed  the  Atlantic,  attracted  by 
the  opportunities  of  the  new  world  for  business  advancement.  This  was  in 
1882.  The  same  year,  soon  after  his  arrival  in  this  country,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Sarah  Hoffmyer,  a  native  of  Germany.  The  following  year  he  lo- 
cated on  his  present  farm,  purchasing  forty  acres,  to  which  he  has  since 
added  as  his  financial  resources  have  increased,  until  he  is  now  the  owner  of 
a  good  tract  of  eighty  acres.  It  required  hard,  earnest  and  constant  toil  for 
him  to  convert  the  first  forty  acres  into  productive  fields  and  orchards,  for  the 
land  was  originally  covered  with  timber.  He  cut  down  the  trees,  cleared 
away  the  brush  and  stumps  and  continued  the  work  of  developing  the  farm 
until  it  is  now  a  good  property,  bringing  forth  good  crops  of  fruit  and  grain. 
He  has  set  out  one  hundred  peach  trees,  three  hundred  cherry  trees,  twenty 
fine  apple  trees  and  some  pear  trees,  besides  small  fruit,  and  in  addition  to 
his  horticultural  pursuits,  he  carries  on  general  farming.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Keen  have  become  the  parents  of  seven  children,  Benjamin,  George,  Helen, 
John,  Jacob,  Jennie  and  Lambert.  Mr.  Keen  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  East  Saugatuck  Dutch  Reformed  church  and  may  be  seen  each  Sun- 
day worshiping  with  that  congregation. 

H.  A.  McDonald  is  a  prominent  representative  of  commercial  activity 
in  Douglas,  where  he  has  a  well  equipped  and  tastefully  arranged  mercantile 
enterprise.  He  is  a  native  son  of  Allegan  county,  his  birth  having  occurred 
at  Saugatuck  September  i,  1850.  His  parents  were  Robert  A.  and  Cordelia 
(Vradenburg)  McDonald,  the  former  born  in  Vermont,  while  the  latter  was 
a  native  of  the  Keystone  state.  They  came  to  Michigan  in  1837,  the  family 
home  being  established  in  Saugatuck,  where  the  father  followed  his  trade 
as  a  ship  carpenter,  while  in  the  summer  months  he  sailed  on  the  lakes, 
being  employed  by  the  Singapore  Company.  As  time  passed  and  he  noted 
the  advantages  afforded  to  the  agriculturist  in  this  section  of  the  state,-  he 
decided  to  try  his  fortune  at  that  pursuit  and  accordingly  purchased  one 
hundred  acres  of  land  on  a  part  of  which  the  village  of  Douglas  now  stands. 
In  1855  the  family  removed  to  Iowa,  and  a  year  later  again  took  up  their 
abode  in  Saugatuck  and  there  spent  their  remaining  days. 

H.  A.  McDonald,  whose  name  introduces  this  record,  is  the  onlv  sur- 
viving member  of  the  four  children  born  of  his  father's  family.  He  ac- 
companied his  parents  on  their  various  removals  and  was  a  little  lad  of  six 
years  when  a  permanent  home  was  established  by  the  family  in  Saugatuck, 


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m  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

where  his  birth  had  occurred.  He  was  educated  in  the  pubhc  schools  of  his 
native  village,  and  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  passed  upon  the  old  home- 
stead farm,  where  he  remained  until  he  had  reached  the  age  of  twenty-five 
years.  He  then  started  out  upon  an  independent  business  career,  and  think- 
ing to  find  other  pursuits  more  congenial,  in  1875  he  embarked  in  the  lum- 
ber business,  which  he  followed  in  Allegan  county  and  also  in  Newaygo 
county,  Michigan.  He  continued  in  this  line  of  trade  until  1885,  in  which 
year  he  suffered  a  severe  loss  by  fire.  However,  possessing  a  stout  heart  and 
courageous  spirit,  he  was  undaunted  by  this  obstacle  and  at  once  set  to  work 
to  once  more  gain  a  foothold  in  the  business  world.  He  now  engaged  in 
general  mercantile  pursuits  on  a  very  limited  scale,  but  as  he  prospered  in 
his  undertakings  he  enlarged  the  scope  of  his  activities  by  adding  to  his 
stock  of  goods,  and  in  1890  he  opened  his  mercantile  enterprise  in  Douglas, 
where  he  has  since  continued  with  good  success.  He  studies  the  demands 
of  the  general  public  and  in  this  manner  is  prepared  to  meet  the  varied  tastes 
and  needs  of  all.  He  has  a  well  equipped  store,  in  which  he  carries  a  care- 
fully selected  stock  of  goods  and  is  numbered  among  the  leading  merchants 
of  this  portion  of  Allegan  county,  having  now  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative 
patronage,  owing  to  his  reliable  business  methods  and  his  courteous  treat- 
ment of  his  many  patrons. 

In  1872  Mr.  McDonald  was  happily  married  to  Miss  Abigail  Williams, 
and  unto  them  have  been  born  seven  children,  namely:  Mrs.  W.  R.  Takken, 
Robert  (deceased),  Roy,  Mrs.  J,  P.  Jacobson,  Archie  T.,  Gladys  and  Esther. 
He  is  a  worthy  and  valued  member  of  Dutcher  Lodge  No.  193,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  also  holds  membership  relations  with  the  Eastern  Star  Lodge,  He  is 
likewise  connected  with  the  Maccabees  tent  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
fraternity. 

Since  the  estabHshment  of  his  business  enterprise,  Mr.  McDonald  has 
borne  a  reputation  for  his  honesty  in  all  trade  circles  and  therefore  enjoys 
the  utmost  confidence  and  high  regard  of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  con- 
tact either  in  a  business  or  social  way. 

William  R.  Takken. — In  this  day  and  age  when  bank  failures  are  far 
too  prevalent  and  unscrupulous  speculation  is  indulged  in  with  other  peo- 
ple's money  it  is  gratifying  to  the  public  to  find  a  man  in  whom  trust  can 
be  safely  placed  and  in  whose  care  their  earnings,  accumulated  by  hard 
labor  and  incessant  toil,  are  secure.  Mr.  Takken  is  justly  regarded  as  a 
most  reliable  business  man,  well  qualified  for  the  care  of  the  financial  in- 
terests of  others  as  cashier  of  the  Fruit  Growers'  State  Bank  of  Saugatuck. 
He  has  occupied  this  position  continuously  since  the  organization  of  the 
bank  in  1896  and  is  a  most  popular  and  trustworthy  official. 

Mr.  Takken  was  born  in  Fillmore  township,  Allegan  coimty,  in  1871, 
and  is  a  son  of  R.  and  Gertrude  (Wilterdink)  Takken,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  the  Netherlands.  They  emigrated  to  America  in  1854  when 
both  were  still  single  and  located  in  the  town  of  Holland,  Michigan,  where 
Mr.  Takken  worked  at  his  trade  of  blacksmith ing,  in  which  he  became  quite 
skilled.  He  finally  removed  to  Fillmore,  purchased  a  home  there  and  fol- 
lowed his  trade  in  the  town.  He  was  a  worthy  man,  a  good  husband  and 
father  and  many  excellent  traits  of  character  won  for  him  the  esteem  and 
admiration  of  those  with  whom  he  was  brought  in  contact.   He  was  born  in' 


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HISTORY  Ol'  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  133 

1834  and  died  in  1899.  His  wife,  whose  birth  occurred  in  1835,  came  with 
her  parents  to  this  country  in  1847,  and  the  family  was  an  old  one  in  Mich- 
igan. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Takken  became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  six  of 
whom  are  hving,  namely,  Evart,  Albert,  Gertrude,  Daniel,  Richard  and 
William  R. 

The  last  named  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  township  and  his 
younger  years  were  spent  in  clerical  employment.  He  was  for  some  time 
a  clerk  in  a  store  at  Saugatuck  and  in  1896  he  accepted  his  present  re- 
sponsible position  as  cashier  of  tlie  Fruit  Growers  State  Bank  of  Sauga- 
tuck, upon  its  organization.  This  bank  is  capitalized  for  twenty-five  thou- 
sand dollars  and  was  conducted  as  a  private  institution  until  October,  1906, 
when  it  became  a  state  bank.  The  president  is  A.  B.  Taylor  and  under  the 
management  of  this  gentleman  and  of  Mr.  Takken  the  bank  has  made 
steady  and  substantial  progress  and  is  an  institution  the  value  of  which  to 
the  community  can  hardly  be  overestimated. 

In  March,  1889,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Takken  and  Miss 
Ruby  McDonald,  a  daughter  of  Henry  A.  and  Abigail  (Williams)  Mc- 
Donald. They  now  have  an  interesting  little  daugiiter,  Helen,  who  was 
born  in  1899.  Mr.  Takken  has  been  honored  with  various  local  offices,  his 
fellow  townsmen  recognizing  his  ability  and  fitness  for  such  positions.  He 
has  been  treasurer  of  the  village  of  Saugatuck  for  several  years,  was  town- 
ship clerk  for  two  years  and  has  also  served  on  the  board  of  education  and 
acted  as  its  treasurer.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  Saugatuck  Lodge 
No.  328,  F.  &  A.  M.,  with  Holland  Chapter  No.  134,  R.  A.  M.  He  is  a 
typical  representative  of  the  modern  spirit  of  business  progress  which  util- 
izes each  opportunity  to  the  best  possible  advantage  and  at  the  same  time 
he  has  maintained  a  high  standard  of  business  ethics  in  all  his  relations 
with  the  commercial  world. 

Roger  E.  Reed. — The  spirit  of  progress  which  has  been  a  dominant 
factor  in  the  settlement  and  development  of  Michigan  finds  a  worthy  repre- 
sentative in  Roger  E.  Reed,  who  is  living  in  the  village  of  Saugatuck. 
Born  in  Canada,  his  natal  day  was  June  4,  1868,  and  in  1870  his 
parents  came  to  Allegan  county,  settling  in  Saugatuck.  He  is  a  son  of 
Samuel  C.  and  A.  B.  (Culver)  Reed,  who  were  likewise  natives  of  Canada, 
the  former  born  in  March,  1848.  In  1870  they  came  to  Saugatuck,  since 
which  time  the  father  has  followed  his  trade  of  blacksmithing  in  the  village. 
He  has  likewise  extended  the  field  of  his  activity  by  dealing  in  agricultural 
implements,  buggies,  wagons  and  harness,  and  is  accounted  one  of  the  alert 
and  enterprising  residents  of  the  town.  His  fellow  citizens,  recognizing  his 
ability  and  worth,  have  conferred  upon  him  various  positions  of  piiblic 
honor  and  trust.  He  served  for  two  years  as  president  of  the  village  and 
trustee  for  five  years,  and  whether  in  office  or  out  of  it  his  co-operation  can 
always  be  counted  upon  to  further  any  movement  that  he  deems  will  prove 
of  benefit  to  the  general  public.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  with  which  they  have  been  connected  for  twenty- 
three  years,  and  in  which  Mr.  Reed  has  served  as  steward  and  trustee.  He 
likewise  belongs  to  Saugatuck  Lodge  No,  328,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he  is 
the  present  secretary.  The  family  numbers  two  sons,  Roger  E,  and  David 
S.,  and  the  father  was  also  one  of  two  sons,  his  brother  being  David  A. 


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134  illSTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Reed.  They  were  the  children  of  Robert  and  Mary  Reed,  the  former  of 
Irish  parentage  and  the  latter  of  English  descent. 

Reared  and  educated  in  the  village  of  Saugatuck,  Roger  E.  Reed 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  under  the  direction  of  his  father,  who  was 
a  skilled  workman,  so  that  he  soon  became  an  expert  at  the  anvil.  He  fol- 
lowed that  pursuit  for  five  years  but  at  length  abandoned  the  forge,  and 
in  1885  became  identified  with  E.  E.  Weed  &  Co.,  proprietors  of  a  fruit 
package  factory.  He  spent  eighteen  -years  in  that  establishment  and  for 
five  years  of  the  time  was  a  member  of  the  firm.  During  these  latter  years 
he  invented  and  perfected  a  machine,  on  which  bushel  and  half  bushel  bas- 
kets were  made.  These  machines  were  patented  in  1903,  at  about  the  time 
that  Mr.  Reed  severed  his  connection  with  the  company  and  took  up  his 
present  line  of  business.  He  is  conducting  one  of  the  largest  livery  stables 
in  the  coimty  and  has  recently  erected  a  new  and  commodious  cement  build- 
ing for  this  purpose,  thirty-six  by  one  hundred  feet.  He  keeps  twenty-four 
horses,  high  spirited  animals  which  are  in  good  condition,  and  he  has 
thirty-two  vehicles  of  various  styles  and  uses,  inchiding  some  of  the  most 
modern  design.  His  livery  barn  receives  a  liberal  patronage,  owing  to  his 
reasonable  prices  and  his  earnest  desire  to  please  his  customers.  He  is 
likewise  identified  with  mercantile  interests  of  the  village,  and  since  1903 
he  has  conducted  the  transfer  line.  As  a  merchant  he  deals  in  various 
commodities,  including  coal,  wood,  hay,  straw,  salt,  roofing,  lime,  cement, 
sewer  pipe  and  wood  fiher  plaster,  for  which  he  finds  a  ready  and  profit- 
able sale. 

October  31,  1898,  Mr.  Reed  was  happily  married  to  Miss  Josephine 
Simonson,  a  daughter  of  Simon  and  Marie  Simonson,  and  a  native  of  Saug- 
atuck, where  her  entire  life  has  been  passed.  They  now  have  an  interesting 
little  daughter,  Kari  N.  Mr.  Reed  served  as  deputy  marshal  of  the  village 
of  Saugatuck  for  some  time  but  prefers  to  concentrate  his  energies  upon 
his  business  interests,  which  are  growing  in  volume  and  importance.  He  is 
a  worthy  member  of  Saugatuck  Lodge  No.  328,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  is  well 
known  in  the  village  and  this  part  of  the  county,  where  almost  his  entire 
life  has  been  passed,  and  that  his  stanchest  friends  are  among  those  who 
have  known  him  from  his  boyhood  is  an  indication  that  his  fife  record  has 
been  at  all  times  commendable,  displaying  sterhng  traits  of  manhood. 

Edwin  H.  House,  working  industriously  and  unremittingly  in  the 
operation  and  improvement  of  his  farm  in  Saugatuck  township,  is  making 
steady  progress  in  his  business  career  and  at  the  same  time  finds  opportimity 
to  keep  in  touch  with  the  trend  of  modern  thought,  for  an  air  of  intellectual 
culture  as  well  as  business  activity  pervades  his  home.  He  was  born  May 
6,  1875,  on  the  farm  where  he  still  resides,  his  parents  being  H.  L.  and 
Jessie  M,  (Wright)  House,  who  were  natives  of  Oswego  county,  New 
York,  and  who  were  married  in  1856.  They  became  residents  of  Sauga- 
tuck township,  Allegan  county,  in  August,  1868,  and  Mr.  House  was  one 
of  the  first  to  engage  in  the  cultivation  of  fruit  north  of  the  Kalamazoo 
river.  He  had  faith  in  and  soon  demonstrated  the  possibilities  of  the  county 
for  fruit  production,  showing  that  his  ideas  were  practical  and  that  profit- 
able results  could  be  secured.  He  was  an  active  charter  member  of  the 
Agricultural  and  Pomological  Society,  which  was  organized  early  in  the 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY  135 

'70s,  and  he  carried  on  his  business  interests  along  scientific  lines,  keeping 
pace  with  modern  progress  and  readily  determining  the  practical  from  the 
purely  theoretical.  He  was  therefore  a  man  of  influence  and  stability  in 
his  community  and  was  a  worthy  meiiiber  of  the  Congregational  church,  in 
which  he  held  the  ofiice  of  deacon.  There  was  in  him  an  earnestness  of 
purpose  and  depth  of  character  which  not  only  made  him  a  devoted  and 
helpful  member  of  the  church  but  also  won  for  him  the  respect  of  all  with 
whom  he  came  in  contact.  He  died  July  7,  1897,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two 
years,  and  is  still  survived  by  his  widow,  who  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead. In  her  younger  days  she  engaged  in  teaching  for  several  years  in 
the  Ward  schoolhouse,  this  being  about  1871  and  1873.  She  was  ever  an 
able  helpmeet  to  her  husband,  assisting  and  encouraging  him.  When  they 
took  possession  of  the  farm  it  was  in  its  primitive  condition,  but  Mr.  House 
resolutely  undertook  the  task  of  clearing  and  developing  it,  and  it  is  today 
one  of  the  model  fruit  farms  of  Saugatuck  township.  Here  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
House  reared  their  family  of  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  Dr.  Walter  B. 
House,  who  is  a  practicing  physician  in  Oberlin,  Ohio ;  Rev.  Herbert  E. 
House,  a  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  New  York;  Jessie  M.,  who 
is  engaged  in  missionary  work  in  Huntsville,  Alabama;  Alice  L.,  deceased, 
and  Edwin  H. 

The  last  named  has  had  control  of  the  home  farm  since  his  father's 
death  in  1897.  His  education  has  been  liberal  and  thorough.  In  addition  to 
the  usual  literary  branches,  he  pursued  a  full  course  in  the  Columbia  School 
of  Oratory,  of  Chicago  (now  the  Columbia  College  of  Expression),  and  his 
readings  and  impersonations  are  of  superior  merit.  While  a  student  there 
he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Miss  Philinda  H.  Davis,  who  was  also  a  stu- 
dent and  afterward  a  teacher  in  that  school,  and  who  is  a  daughter  of 
Jerome  Davis.  They  were  married  in  1900  and  have  since  resided  upon 
the  farm  in  Saugatuck  township,  known  as  the  Riverside  Fruit  Farm.  It  is 
conveniently  located  near  the  village  of  Saugatuck  and  is  bordered  by  the 
Kalamazoo  river,  which  in  its  winding  course,  with  banks  crowned  by  or- 
chards, fields,  or  natural  forest  growth,  is  a  beautiful  stream. 

The  buildings  upon  the  place  are  neat,  roomy  and  comfortable  and  the 
farm  presents  a  most  thrifty  and  well  kept  api>earance.  It  comprises 
eighty  acres,  on  which  are  two  thousand  fruit  trees,  the  orchards  contain- 
ing apples,  pears,  peaches  and  cherries.  Mr.  House  is  making  good  use  of 
his  opportunities  and  the  years  are  bringing  to  him  well  merited  success. 
Books  and  periodicals  indicate  the  literary  taste  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  House, 
who  find  congenial  companionship  in  the  master  minds  of  all  ages.  In  com- 
munity affairs  Mr.  House  is  interested  and  is  now  serving  on  the  school 
board  and  the  board  of  review,  while  in  the  Congregational  church  of  which 
he  is  a  member,  he  is  now  serving  as  a  trustee. 

Simon  Simonson,  a  well  known  and  prosperous  farmer  of  Saugatuck 
township  and  one  of  the  large  fruit-growers  north  of  the  Kalamazoo  river, 
manifests  in  his  business  career  the  unfaltering  industry  and  perseverance 
which  have-  ever  been  dominant  characteristics  of  the  Norwegian  race.  A 
native  of  the  land  of  the  midnight  sun,  he  was  born  April  28,  1835,  his  par- 
ents being  Simon  and  Carrie  Hanson,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Nor- 


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136  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

way.    In  their  family  were  six  children,  five  of  whom  came  to  this  country, 
namely,  Hans,  Andrew,  Julia,  Martha  and  Simon. 

The  last  named  remained  a  resident  of  his  native  country  until  about 
twenty-eight  years  of  age  and  during  that  period  acquired  a  fair  education 
in  his  youth  and  was  trained  to  habits  of  industry  and  frugality,  which  have 
in  later  years  borne  rich  fruit  in  his  active  business  life.  The  year  1863 
witnessed  his  emigration  to  the  United  States  and  in  1871  he  bought  his 
first  farm  in  Saugatuck  township.  The  land  was  in  its  primitive  condition 
but  the  sound  of  his  ax  soon  awakened  the  echoes  of  the  forest  and  the 
track  of  the  plow  had  in  a  brief  time  soon  crossed  the  fields.  Tlius  the 
wild  land  was  converted  into  a  productive  farm,  which  soon  brought  him 
substantial  returns  for  his  labor.  To  his  original  purchase  he  kept  adding 
from  time  to  time  as  his  financial  resources  increased  until  he  had  acquired 
one  hundred  acres,  the  last  purchase  being  made  in  1886.  He  is  one  of  the 
extensive  fruit  growers  north  of  the  Kalamazoo  river  and  in  former  years 
he  had  eighty  acres  devoted  to  peaches  and  apples,  but  has  reduced  his 
peach  orchards  to  five  acres.  He  now  has  two  hundred  pear  trees  and 
four  hundred  cherry  treees,  besides  much  small  fruit,  including  straw- 
berries and  blackberries.  In  addition  to  his  work  along  horticultural  lines 
he  carries  on  general  farming  on  an  extensive  scale.  He  has  erected  a 
commodious  and  comfortable  residence  with  a  basement  under  the  house 
and  his  is  one  of  the  attractive  country  homes  of  the  locality. 

January  26,  1866,  Mr.  Simonson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Marie  Olson,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Malena  Olson.  She  was  born  in 
Norway,  and  with  her  parents  came  to  the  United  States  in  1855.  Her 
mother  died  that  year  and  her  father  married  for  his  second  wife  Enger  ■ 
Peterson.  There  were  six  children  by  the  first  marriage  and  three  by  the 
second.  He  became  the  owner  of  eighty  acres  of  land  in  this  county,  on 
which  he  resided  from  1857  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1884.  His 
wife  survived  him  until  1891.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simonson  have  been 
born  seven  children:  Charles,  Caroline  and  Carrie,  all  deceased;  Sophia. 
Josephine,  Herman  C.  and  Martha,  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church  and  are  highly  respected  by  their  neighbors  as  people  of 
genuine  personal  worth.  Mr.  Simonson  has  lived  a  life  of  unremitting 
industrv  and  unabating  energy,  acquiring  all  that  he  now  possesses  through 
his  own  labors. 

Jervib  H.  Kibby  seems  to  be  fitted  by  nature  for  the  hotel  business, 
possessing  a  genial  dispo.sition  and  kindly  snirit — qualities  which  are  essen- 
tial to  the  successful  hotel  proprietor.  He  has  conducted  the  Douglas 
House  at  Douglas,  Michigan,  since  1874,  and  has  gained  a  wide  reputation 
for  the  able  manner  in  which  he  caters  to  the  pubhc  taste.  One  of  Allegan 
county's  native  sons,  be  was  born  in  the  village  of  Allegan  on  the  roth  of 
December.  1843,  his  parents  heins  Barton  and  Hannah  (Star)  Kibbv.  the 
former  a  native  of  New  York  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.-  They  emigrated  to 
Michigan  prior  to  their  marriage,  becoming  pioneer  residents  of  Allegan 
county,  where  they  located  in  the  early  '50s.  They  became  acquainted  and 
were  married  here,  and  Mr.  Kibby,  who  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  an 
expert  mechanic  in  his  line,  became  one  of  the  useful  and  highly  respected 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  137 

residents  of  Allegan.  The  family  numbered  three  sons  and  two  daughters ; 
Lewis,  William,  Jervis,  Mrs.  Julia  Knickerbocker  and  Mary,  deceased. 

Jervis  H.  Kibby  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  the  county  of  his  nativity, 
and  in  his  youth  acquired  a  good  English  education  in  the  public  schools. 
He  was  about  thirty-one  years  of  age  when  he  took  charge  of  the  Douglas 
House,  of  which  he  has  since  been  proprietor.  His  hotel  is  large  and  of 
modern  construction,  thoroughly  up-to-date  in  every  respect.  He  can 
accommodate  from  forty  to  fifty  guests,  and  since  1894  he  has  been  largely 
entertaining  city  people  who  come  to  this  locality  for  the  summer.  He 
has  put  forth  every  effort  to  make  his  house  and  its  surroundings  pleasing 
and  attractive — a  fact  which  his  numerous  guests  appreciate  to  such  an 
extent  that  the  Douglas  House  is  always  occupied  to  its  full  extent  through 
the  summer  months.  Beside  being  a  prosperous  and  popular  host  he  is 
also  a  successful  horticulturist  and  fruit  grower,  and  owns  eighty  acres  of 
excellent  fruit  land,  situated  in  Saugatuck  township,  and  known  as  the 
Uba  Dam  Fruit  Farm,  There  are  three  thousand  peach  trees,  one  thousand 
pear  trees,  one  hundred  cherry  trees  and  a  large  number  of  apple  trees 
upon  his  place,  and  as  he  has  raised  his  fruit  from  good  nursery  stock,  the 
size  and  quality  of  his  products  are  such  as  to  secure  a  ready  sale  on  the 
market.  This  farm  has  been  in  possession  of  Mr.  Kibby  since  1881,  and 
has  been  carefully  controlled  and  successfully  managed  by  him. 

In  1864  occurred  the  marriage  of  Jervis  H.  Kibby  and  Miss  Jane 
Updyke,  a  daughter  of  David  and  Elizabeth  Updyke,  who  were  early 
settlers  of  Ganges  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kibby  have  a  daughter,  Mrs. 
D,  Plummer,  now  of  Chicago.  In  his  fraternal  relations  ^r.  Kibby  is 
connected  with  Dutcher  Lodge  No.  193,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  has  served  as 
trustee  of  the  village  of  Douglas  and  in  community  affairs  is  deeply  inter- 
ested. Not  to  know  Jervis  H.  Kibby  in  Douglas  and  in  this  part  of 
Allegan  coimty  is  to  argue  one's  self  unknown.  His  circle  of  friends  is 
co-extensive  with  the  circle  of  his  acquaintance  and  he  possesses  a  genuine 
worth  and  genial  disposition  which  have  made  him  very  popular. 

F.  H.  Herbert  is  proprietor  of  the  Riverside  Fruit  and  Stock  Farm.  To 
say  that  he  is  a  practical  and  wide-awake  business  man  is  but  just  and 
merited  praise,  and  in  fact  he  deserves  even  more  commendable  language, 
for  he  is  not  a  follower  but  a  leader  in  the  work  of  progress  as  manifest 
in  the  scientific  agriculture  and  deserves  classification  with  the  leading 
representatives  of  horticultural  and  agricultural  hfe  in  this  part  of  the 
country.  His  farm  is  both  attractive  and  profitable  and  has  the  appearance 
of  being  operated  by  a  master  hand.  Indeed,  every  detail  about  the  farm 
presents  an  appearance  of  thrift  and  neatness — a  result  which  is  due  to  the 
efforts  of  Mr.  Herbert,  whose  labors  are  now  most  practical  as  well  as  of 
a  progressive  character. 

A  native  of  Illinois,  F.  H.  Herbert  was  horn  on  the  15th  of  Mav, 
1858,  and  was  brought  to  Michigan  at  the  eatly  age  of  six  years  by  his 
parents,  Henry  and  Sophia  (Herbst')  Herbert,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Germany.  They  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  the  new  world  in  1853  and 
became  residents  of  Chicago.  The  father  is  a  tanner  by  trade  and  in  early 
life  also  acquainted  himself  with  the  butchering  business.  He  is  now  living 
in  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan.    His  family  numbered  eight  children,  but  only 


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138  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

two  reached  years  of  maturity,  and  the  subject  of  this  review  is  now  the 
only  surviving  one  of  the  family. 

As  previously  stated,  F,  H.  Herbert  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Michigan  when  a  lad  of  six  summers  and  was  educated  at  Schoolcraft,  this 
state.  He  learned  the  machinist's  trade  and  followed  that  pursuit  for  five 
years,  relinquishing  it  only  on  account  of  failing  health.  Removing  to 
Saugatuck  he  continued  a  resident  of  that  village  for  three  years  and 
thence  went  to  Douglas,  where  he  remained  until  1878.  In  that  year  he 
made  a  trip  abroad,  visiting  England,  France,  Germany,  Switzerland  and 
Holland,  remaining  in  the  old  world  an  entire  year,  and  visiting  many 
points  of  historic  and  scenic  interest.  On  his  return  he  took  up  agricultural 
pursuits,  but  after  a  brief  period  he  made  a  trip  to  South  Bend,  Indiana, 
and  later  to  Racine,  Wisconsin,  spending  three  years  in  the  latter  city.  He 
finally  located  in  Grand  Rapids,  where  for  fourteen  years  he  was  engaged 
in  the  transportation  business,  and  on  leaving  that  city  he  came  to  his  farm, 
whereon  he  has  since  resided.  It  passed  into  his  control  in  1894,  at  which 
time  it  was  in  a  run-down  state  and  needed  many  improvements  in  various 
ways.  It  is  today  a  model  property  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  as 
the  result  of  the  well  directed  labors  and  keen  business  discernment  of  Mr. 
Herbert.  He  has  upon  his  place  apple  orchards  covering  twelve  acres,  six 
acres  of  peaches,  four  acres  of  pears  and  one  of  pJums,  while  one  and  a 
half  acres  is  devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  strawberries.  The  production  of 
fruit  is  therefore  an  important  branch  of  his  business  and  the  products  of 
the  farm  because  of  the  excellence  of  the  nursery  stock  are  of  high  quality 
and  flavor,  and  bring  a  ready  sale  on  the  market.  Mr.  Herbert  has  also 
stocked  his  farm  with  the  best  blooded  cattle  and  fleet-footed  horses,  and 
he  likewise  raises  poultry  and  keeps  very  fine  varieties  of  chickens.  His 
farni  contains  sixty  acres  under  cultivation  and  one  hundred  and  twent}'- 
five  acres  of  bottom  land,  which  he  uses  for  pasturage. 

On  March  29,  1881,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Herbert  and  Miss 
Annie  Doornkaat,  a  daughter  of  Sebo  and  Alice  Doomkaat.  They  now 
have  one  son,  Joseph,  who  is  upon  the  stage.  Mr.  Herbert  is  a  member 
of  various  fraternal  organizations,  including  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  and  the  Ancient  Order  of  LTnited 
Workmen.  He  is  likewise  an  active  member  of  Dutcher  Lodge  No.  193, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  and  he  and  his  wife  hold  membership  relations  with  the 
Eastern  Star.  Mr.  Herbert  is  a  strong  advocate  of  the  cause  of  temperance, 
whose  life  is  in  conformity  with  a  high  standard  of  moral  ethics  and  who 
in  his  business  and  other  relations  closely  adheres  to  the  golden  rule.  He  is 
a  self-made  man  in  the  best  sense  of  the  term,  owing  his  education  as  well 
as  his  prosperity  to  his  earnest  and  unfaltering  labors,  and  while  leading 
a  busy  life  he  manages  to  keep  in  touch  with  the  trend  of  modern  thought 
and  progress.  The  Riverside  Fruit  and  Stock  Fann  is  now  a  valuable 
property  and  is  the  visible  evidence  of  the  thrift  and  energy  which  have 
found  exemplification  in  the  life  of  its  owner. 

Christopher  Schultz,  a  well-to-do  farmer  of  Saugatuck  township, 
owning  one  tract  of  land  of  fifty  acres  on  section  21,  and  another  tract  of 
sixty  acres  on  section  22,  carries  on  his  work  along  most  practical  lines, 
resulting  in  success.     Bom  in  Germany  in  1841,  he  is  a  son  of  Fritz  and 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  139 

Sophia  (Gustoff)  Scliultz,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  fatherland. 
In  1852  they  emigrated  to  the  United  States  with  their  family,  setthng  first 
in  Chicago,  where  they  remained  for  three  years,  while  in  1855  they  came 
to  Saugatnck,  Michigan,  where  the  father  purchased  forty  acres  of  land 
adjoining  what  is  now  the  village  of  Douglas.  The  tract  was  formerly 
owned  by  Jonathan  Wade,  and  the  land  was  still  in  its  primitive  condition 
but  was  cleared  during  the  occupancy  of  Fritz  Schultz,  who,  however, 
subsequently  sold  it  to  a  Mr.  Williams  in  1864,  and  purchased  a  part  of 
the  land  now  owned  and  operated  by  his  son  Christopher,  becoming  owner 
of  a  forty  acre  tract.  Only  about  three  acres  of  this  had  been  cleared,  so 
he  again  took  up  the  arduous  task  of  reclaiming  raw  land  and  transforming 
it  into  a  productive  tract.  Christopher  Schultz  came  into  possession  of  the 
farm  in  1887  upon  the  death  of  his  mother,  his  father  having  passed  away 
some  years  previously.  There  were  two  sons  in  the  family,  but  Frederick 
is  now  deceased,  leaving  Christopher  Schultz  as  the  only  survivor. 

When  a  youth  of  fourteen  years  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  Saugatuck  township.  He  was,  however,  a  youth  of  only  eleven 
years  at  the  time  of  the  emigration  to  the  new  world.  His  education  was 
acquired  to  some  extent  in  Germany,  in  Chicago  and  in  Michigan,  and  from 
the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  has  continuously  resided  in  or  near  Douglas. 
Previous  to  inheriting  his  present  farm  he  purchase<l  forty  acres  on  section 

21,  and  on  coming  into  possession  of  the  old  homestead  he  took  up  his  abode 
there  and  now  owns  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  situated  on  sections  21  and 

22,  in  Saugatuck  township.  On  the  sixty-acre  farm  he  has  five  acres  set 
out  to  fruit  and  on  the  fifty-acre  farm  a  tract  of  fifteen  acres  is  devoted  to 
hortiailtural  pursuits.  In  the  raising  of  both  fruit  and  grain  he  is  quite 
successful  and  now  has  a  well  developed  and  productive  property.  In  1888 
he  erected  his  present  residence,  which  is  a  modern  home,  built  in  tasteful 
style  of  architecture. 

In  1867  Mr.  Schultz  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Emma  Albright, 
a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Emma  Albright,  and  they  have  become  the  parents 
of  seven  children— Frederick.  Henry.  Lewis,  George,  Charles,  William  and 
Minnie,  the  last  named  the  wife  of  Thomas  Bennet.  Mr.  Schultz  has  held 
the  office  of  road  commissioner  for  three  years  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  school  board  for  two  terms.  No  trust  reposed  in  him  has  ever  been 
betrayed  in  the  slightest  degree  and  on  the  contrary  he  is  ever  conscientious 
in  the  discharge  of  his  pubhc  duties,  which  he  prefers  to  do  to  the  best  of 
his  ability.    Socially  he  is  connected  with  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees. 

Lieutenant  Willi.\m  White. — The  gentleman  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch  bears  a  most  honorable  record  in  both  military  and  private 
circles,  and  his  honesty  and  integrity  is  ever  above  reproach.  He  is  one 
of  three  brothers  who  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  one  of  whom,  David. 
!S  a  resident  of  Saug;atuck,  and  whose  parents  were  George  and  Jane 
(Desson)  White,  both  of  whom  were  natives,  of  Scotland,  but  later  took 
up  their  abode  in  America,  making  their  home  in  Nova  Scotia,  where  both 
the  father  and  mother  passed  away.  Their  family  numbered  six  sons  and 
five  daughters,  but  one  of  the  number  has  passed  away. 

William  White  was  born  in  Nova  Scotia  March  2.  1836,  and  was  there 
reared  and  educated  to  the  age  of  nineteen  years.    Having  heard  favorable 


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140  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAK  COUNTY 

reports  concerning  the  United  States  and  the  opportunities  which  it  offered 
to  young  men  of  ambition  and  enterprise,  Mr.  White,  in  company  with 
his  brother  David,  decided  to  try  his  fortune  in  this  country,  and  accord- 
ingly, in  1855,  made  his  way  to  Michigan,  locating  in  Saugatuck  township, 
and  both  he  and  his  brother  have  since  continued  their  residence  here  to 
the  present  time.  After  a  decade  had  passed,  Mr.  White,  having  saved  his 
.  earnings,  was  thus  enabled  to  start  out  in  life  on  his  own  account  and  made 
a  purchase  of  eighty  acres  of  land,  which  was  in  its  wild  and  uncultivated 
state.  He  at  once  set  to  work  to  clear  his  land  and  develop  his  fields,  and 
soon  his  property  was  placed  in  a  productive  and  improved  condition.  He 
plowed  his  fields,  planted  his  crops,  and  each  year  annually  harvested  crops, 
and  as  time  passed  and  his  financial  resources  permitted  he  further  improved 
his  property  by  the  erection  of  good  buildings,  which  are  modern  and  con- 
venient in  their  construction  and  thus  add  materially  to  the  value  of  his 
farm.  He  later  increased  the  boundaries  of  his  farm  by  the  purchase  of  an 
additional  twenty-acre  tract,  so  that  his  place  now  comprises  one  hundred 
acres  of  good  land,  which  has  greatly  increased  in  value  since  coming  into 
his  possession  and  today  it  ranks  second  to  none  in  Allegan  county.  He 
has  a  fine  orchard,  containing  one  thousand  peach  trees,  four  hundred  pear, 
trees,  three  hundred  apple  trees,  one  thousand  plum  trees,  twenty-five  cherry 
trees  and  twelve  hundred  currant  bushes,  and  thus  it  will  be  seen  that  fruit 
growing  is  an  important  branch  of  his  business.  In  addition  he  carries 
on  general  farming  and  altogether  has  met  with  unbounded  success  in  his 
business  venture. 

His  private  business  interests  were  interrupted  when,  in  1862,  the  call 
was  made  for  loyal  men  who  were  witling  to  give  their  service  in  defense 
of  the  Union  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  War.  Mr.  White  willingly  responded, 
for  he  had  formed  an  attachment  for  his  adopted  country.  He  enlisted  as 
a  private  in  Company  I,  Fifth  Michigan  Volunteer  Cavalry,  but  was  soon 
promoted  to  the  office  of  first  sergeant  in  1863.  In  1864  he  was  taken 
prisoner  at  Stevensville,  Virginia,  and  was  sent  to  Andersonville  prison, 
where  he  was  held  for  one  year,  after  which  he  was  exchanged  and 
returned  to  his  regiment.  In  186.";  he  was  promoted  to  the  office  of  second 
lieutenant,  and  when  he  received  his  discharge  was  serving  as  first  lieutenant. 
With  the  exception  of  the  year  he  was  held  as  a  prisoner  he  took  part  in 
all  the  battles  and  skirmishes  of  his  regiment,  and  during  his  service  was 
never  ill  or  wounded  and  never  missed  a  meal.  At  the  close  of  hostilities 
he  returned  home,  having  made  a  most  creditable  militarv  record. 

Mr.  White  was  imited  in  marriage  to  Miss  Caroline  Martin,  a  daughter 
of  Josiah  and  Amy  Martin,  who  were  numbered  among  the  early  pioneer 
settlers  of  Allegan  county.  Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born 
three  daughters — Mrs.  Jennie  Marwedel,  Mrs.  Mary  A,  Koning.  and 
Bessie,  the  wife  of  WiJliam  G.  Tisdel.  Mr.  White  has  served  as  justice 
of  the  Union  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  war.  Mr.  White  willingJv  responded, 
supervisor  for  two  years,  being  the  present  incumbent  in  that  office.  He 
holds  membership  relations  with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  in  which 
he  has  served  as  senior  vice-commander  and  has  also  been  aide-de-camp 
on  the  state  staff,  thus  maintaining  pleasant  relations  with  his  old  armv 
comrades.  Mr.  White  has  led  a'  very  busy  life  and  is  honored  by  all  with 
whom  he  has  been  associated,   for  he   is  known   for   his  reliability   and 


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HISTORY  OF  AIXEGAN  COUXTY  141 

straightforward  dealing,  and  a  review  of  his  life  history  will  show  that  his 
private  and  political  relations  have,  like  his  military  record,  been  creditable 
and  honorable. 

Herman  Clausek.— Experiment  and  scientific  investigation  have  com- 
pletely revolutionized  the  business  of  fruit  growing  in  the  last  quarter  of 
a  century  and  wonderful  results  have  been  produced  through  the  utilization 
of  modern  methods.  Herman  Clausen  is  among  those  who,  keeping  in 
touch  with  the  spirit  of  modern  progress,  are  winning  success  as  orchardists 
in  Allegan  county.  He  resides  in  Saugatuck  township  and  his  thrift,  enter- 
prise and  close  application  have  caused  him  to  gain  a  position  of  prominence 
in  the  line  of  business  activity,  to  which  he  is  devoting  his  time  and  energy* 

A  native  of  Denmark,  Mr.  Clausen  was  born  March  12,  1855.  He  is 
a  son  of  Christian  P.  and  Dorothy  (Clausen)  Clausen,  who  were  also 
natives  of  Denmark.  Their  family  numbered  three  children,  but  our  subject 
is  the  only  survivor  and  is  the  only  one  that  emigrated  from  Denmark.  He 
was  reared  and  educated  in  that  land,  receiving  liberal  advantages  in  the 
Latin  school  at  Schleswig,  but  as  the  years  passed  by,  leaving  their  impress- 
upon  his  mind,  his  plans  changed  and  his  thoughts  turned  into  another 
direction.  While  yet  in  his  teens  he  served  in  the  Prussian  army  under 
Frederick  in  the  Ninth  Army  Corps  of  the  Flying  Artillery  for  one  year. 
He  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1872,  attracted  by  the  broader  oppor- 
tunities and  greater  advantages  of  the  new  world.  Making  his  way  to 
Chicago,  he  entered  upon  business  life  in  this  country  as  a  traveling  sales- 
man and  was  thus  employed  for  a  number  of  years  by  the  National  Biscuit 
Company.  When  his  savings  justified  his  embarkation  in  business  on  his 
own  account  he  established  a  grocery  and  market,  which  he  conducted 
successfully  until  1904.  and  in  the  meantime  he  had  made  judicious  invest- 
ment in  property  in  Chicago,  where  he  still  owns  considerable  realty.  In 
the  meantime,  however,  he  became  owner  of  farm  land  in  Saugatuck  town- 
ship, Allegan  county,  Michigan.  His  present  farm  was  purchased  in  1902 
and  is  known  as  the  R.  M.  Moore  farm.  Locating  upon  this  place,  Mr. 
Clausen  here  owns  one  hundred  acres  of  first-class  land  and  also  rents  forty 
acres,  so  that  he  is  now  cultivating  one  hundred  and  forty  acres.  On  his 
own  farm  he  has  seven  thousand  peach  trees,  four  hundred  pear  trees, 
three  hundred  cherry  trees,  three  hundred  apple  trees  and  two  hundred  plum 
trees,  while  two  acres  are  devoted  to  small  fruits,  including  blackberries 
and  raspberries.  Mr.  Clausen  intends  pushing  his  fruit-growing  industry  to 
a  high  state  of  perfection  and  of  magnitude,  and  has  already  gained  a  place 
among  the  prominent  agriculturists  of  Allegan  county. 

Mr.  Qausen  was  happily  married  to  Miss  Belvina,  a  daughter  of 
Nathaniel  and  Mary  Stratton,  on  the  22d  of  April,  1884.  She  was  bom 
in  Allegan  county  in  1863.  Her  father  was  a  successful  lumberman  and 
farmer  of  this  part  of  the  state  and  owned  and  operated  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  fine  land.     He  died  in  1902.  bxit  the  mother  still  survives. 

In  his  fraternal  relations  Mr.  Clausen  is  an  Odd  Fellow,  in  sympathy 
with  the  principles  of  that  organization.  He  has  served  his  township  as 
path  master  and  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  worthy  and  valued  citizens 
of  his  adopted  country.  A  man  of  business  abilitv.  he  issagacious  and  far- 
sighted,   readily   recognizing  and   utilizing  opportunities.     The   alert  and 


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U2  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUN'TY 

enterprising  spirit  wiiich  characterized  him  in  his  business  relations  in  the 
western  metropolis  has  been  manifest  in  the  promotion  of  his  agricultural 
pursuits  in  Allegan  county  and  argues  well  for  a  successful  future  in  this 
line. 

Rev,  James  F.  Taylor. — "The  world  is  better  for  his  having  hved," 
was  the  universal  verdict  when  the  Rev.  James  F,  Taylor  passed  from 
this  life.  Really  the  whole  of  his  manhood  was  devoted  to  the  work  of 
the  church  and  yet  this  did  not  entirely  cover  the  field  of  his  activity,  for 
he  stood  for  progress  and  improvement  in  all  those  lines  of  life  which  are 
of  benefit  to  men  and  continually  broadened  his  knowledge  by  reading 
and  investigation.  He  did  much  to  promote  the  horticultural  interests  of 
Michigan  in  his  later  years,  and  was  an  active  worker  in  the  State  Horti-  ' 
cultural  Society.  Far-reaching  and  beneficial  was  his  influence  and  many 
lives  have  been  heljDed  by  his  wise  counsel  and  his  words  of  encotirage- 
ment  and  truth.  He  was  born  in  Penn  Yan,  New  York,  November  4, 
1824,  and  came  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry.  He  was  named  in  honor  of  his 
grandfather,  James  Taylor,  who  came  from  Lough  Brie kl and,  county 
Down,  Ireland,  and  settled  at  New  Windsor,  Orange  county,  New  York, 
about  1770.  When  the  colonies  attempted  to  throw  off  the  yoke  of 
British  oppression  he  joined  Washington's  army  and  participated  in  the 
battle  of  White  Plains  and  other  engagements  with  the  British  troops 
along  the  Hudson  river  that  led  up  to  the  final  victories  that  crowned  the 
American  arms  and  established  American  independence.  In  1816  he 
removed  to  western  New  York,  and  a  year  later  took  up  his  abode  in 
Yates  county.  His  son,  William  Taylor,  became  a  farmer  of  western 
New  York  and  wedded  Margaret  Coleman.  Three  members  of  their 
family  are  still  living:  William  M,,  of  Penn  Yan;  H.  R.,  of  Clifton 
Springs,  New  York ;  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Rappleye,  of  Bellona,  New  York. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  James  F.  Taylor  were  spent  upon  his 
father's  farm,  and  the  outdoor  life  bringing  vigorous  exercise,  undoubt- 
edly laid  the  foundation  for  the  strenuous  work  which  he  was  able  to 
■  perform  in  his  later  professional  career.  He  prepared  for  college  at 
Franklin  Academy,  at  Prattsburg,  New  York,  and  matriculated  in  Amherst 
College  in  1848.  He  was  graduated  from  Union  College,  at  Schenectady, 
New  York,  in  1852,  and  afterward  pursued  theological  and  post  graduate 
courses  at  Princeton  and  Yale,  thus  being  provided  with  the  most  liberal 
educational  privileges.  His  was  a  mind  well  trained  in  the  severest  school 
of  investigation  and  to  which  close  reasoning  became  habitual  and  easy. 
In  June,  1902,  he  had  the  pleasure  of  celebrating  at  Union  College  with  six 
of  his  classmates  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  their  graduation.  He  was 
ordained  to  the  ministry  of  the  Congregational  church  at  Pekin,  Niagara 
county,  New  York,  January  11,  1855,  and  served  as  pastor  of  churches 
of  that  denomination  at  Pekin  from  1854  until  1856;  at  Newark,  Illinois, 
from  1857  until  1859;  at  South  Bend,  Indiana,  in  1859  and  i860;  at 
Chelsea,  Michigan,  from  i860  until  1867;  and  at  Saugatuck  from  1868 
until  1877.  During  his  pastorate  at  Chelsea,  which  covered  the  trying 
period  of  the  Civil  war,  he  was  engaged  for  a  time  on  work  for  the 
Christian  Commmission  with  the  Union  army  in  Kentucky.  After  the 
close  of  the  Saugatuck  pastorate  he  was  frequ'ently  called  upon  to  supply 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  C()U\TY  143 

vacant  pulpits  in  that  vicinity  and,  up  to  the  date  of  his  death,  continued 
active  in  the  work  of  the  church  and  Sunday-school,  having  resigned  the 
superintendency  of  the  Sunday-school  of  the  Congregational  church  in 
Douglas  only  January  i,  1903,  after  twenty  years  of  continuous  service. 
His  wide  acquaintance  with  the  earlier  settlers  in  western  Allegan  county 
caused  him  to  be  called  upon  to  officiate  at  weddings  and  funerals  in 
their  families  long  after  he  gave  up  the  active  work  of  the  ministry,  so 
that  he  was  personally  known  to  a  very  large  portion  of  the  people  of  the 
lake  shore  region.  Impaired  health  having  warned  him  of  the  necessity 
for  an  out-of-dpor  life,  in  1872  he  purchased  the  farm  on  tlie  lake  shore 
southwest  of  Douglas,  to  which  he  removed  his  family  from  Saugatiick 
village  in  (877.  There  he  established  a  very  successful  orchard  and 
nursery,  which  he  continued  to  direct  until  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was 
one  of  the  organizers,  as  well  as  one  of  the  strongest  supporters  of  the 
Saugatuck  and  Ganges  Pomologicai  Society,  and  for  many  years  was  an 
active  worker  in  the  State  Horticultural  Society.  In  all  his  connection 
with  these  and  similar  organizations  he  stood  for  advanceemnt  and  progress 
along  conservative  lines.  His  interest  in  educational  matters  caused  him 
to  be  chosen  continuously  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  school  boards 
of  Saugatuck  and  Douglas  villages,  and  he  was  for  many  years  a  member 
of  the  county  board  of  school  commissioners.  Through  his  educational 
work  he  was  continuously  in  touch  with  the  younger  people  as  they  grew 
up  around  him  and  came  to  exert  a  wider  influence  upon  the  community 
than  falls  to  the  lot  of  most  men,  many  young  men  and  women  having 
received  their  stimidus  toward  effort  for  self -improvement  and  progress 
from  him  and  his  beloved  wife.  Modest  and  unassuming  in  demeanor,  he 
was  everywhere  recognized  among  those  who  knew  him  as  a  man  of 
sterhng  worth,  sound  judgment  and  most  kindly  disposition,  whose  loss  is 
most  keenly  felt  by  the  community.  His  health  in  recent  years  was  such  as 
to  cause  his  friends  but  little  concern  until  the  present  summer,  and  his 
sudden  death,  after  only  two  or  three  days  of  distinct  sickness,  came  as  a 
severe  shock  to  his  many  friends, 

Mr.  Taylor  was  married  at  Penn  Yan.  New  York,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  L. 
Porter,  October  14,  1858,  whose  death,  November  19,  1896,  was  his 
greatest  sorrow.  The  union  was  blessed  with  five  children,  three  of  whom, 
William  A.  and  Mabel  L.  Taylor,  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  Grace  L. 
Taylor,  of  Douglas,  survive,  together  with  two  grandchildren,  Porter  Ross 
Taylor  and  Ritchie  Patterson  Taylor,  of  Washington,  D.  C.  The  son, 
William  A.  Taylor,  is  a  resident  of  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  holds 
the  office  of  pomologist  in  charge  of  field  investigation.  The  daughter. 
Grace  L.,  is  living  upon  and  conducting  the  farm  of  sixty-five  acres,  which  is 
devoted  to  the  raising  of  fniit.  including  peaches,  pears,  apples,  plums 
and  cherries.  Mr.  Taylor  carried  on  his  fruit-raising  interests  along  most 
scientific  lines,  continuing  in  business  as  a  nurseryman  and  horticulturist 
for  ten  years  with  excellent  success,  and  standing  for  improvement  and 
progress  at  all  times.  He  preached  the  gospel  of  advancement  to  the 
fruit-raisers  of  the  state  and  his  influence  was  an  element  for  good  in  this 
line  of  industrial  activity.  Wherever  the  Rev.  James  F.  Taylor  was  known 
he  was  honored  and  respected.  He  was  an  elociuent  and  forceful  preacher, 
a  wise  and  careful  pastor,  and  a  true  and  loyal  friend,  while  in  bis  home 


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Ii4  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

life  he  was  largely  the  ideal  husband  and  father.  Gifted  by  nature  with 
strong  intellectual  force  he  developed  his  latent  powers  and  was  ever  an 
earnest  and  discriminating  student,  who,  in  working  toward  the  ideal,  used 
the  practical  means  at  hand.  His  purposes  were  ever  kindly,  his  sympathy 
unbounded,  and  ail  who  knew  him  felt  honored  by  his  friendship. 

John  W.  Dick,  whose  home  is  one  of  the  fine  farm  residences  of 
Saugatuck  township  and  who  owns  one  hundred  and  fourteen  acres  of 
productive  land,  is  one  of  the  citizens  that  Ohio  has  furnished  to  Allegan 
county.  He  was  born  in  Williams  county,  of  the  Buckeye  state,  August  28, 
1851,  and  is  a  son  of  Peter  and  Barbara  A.  (Saltsgiver)  Dick.  The  former 
was  a  native  of  Germany  and  emigrated  to  the  new  worid  at  the  age  of 
twenty-iive  years,  while  the  latter  was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  Prior  to  his 
marriage  Peter  Dick  located  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  and  subsequent 
to  that  important  event  in  his  life  he  removed  to  Williams  county,  where 
he  resided  until  1858,  when  he  took  his  family  to  Will  county,  Illinois.  It 
was  there  that  the  subject  of  this  review  was  reared  and  educated.  At 
length  selling  out  his  interests  in  Illinois,  Peter  Dick  went  to  Iowa,  where 
he  and  his  wife  spent  their  remaining  days.  Their  family  numbered  nine 
children,  seven  of  whom  reached  adult  age:  George  E.,  Lydia  C.,  John 
W.,  Lewis  D.,  Ross  T.,  Michael  and  William.  The  last  named  is  now 
deceased. 

John  W.  Dick  was  reared  to  farm  life,  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  being  passed  in  a  manner  similar  to  that  of  most  lads  of  the  locality 
and  period.  He  has  never  had  desire  to  change  his  occupation,  but  has 
always  followed  farming,  which  George  Washington  said  "Is  the  most 
useful  as  well  as  the  most  honorable  occupation  of  man." 

On  March  12,  1874,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Dick  and 
Miss  Lorettie  F.  Walker,  who  was  born  in  Michigan  October  3,  1850,  a 
daughter  of  J.  Walker.  In  1877  Mr.  Dick  removed  with  his  little  family 
from  Illinois  to  Allegan  county,  Michigan,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  Here  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  acres  of  land,  which 
was  then  in  its  natural  state,  but  he  has  since  placed  thereon  the  improve- 
ments necessary  to  make  a  fine  and  profitable  farm.  His  land  is  devoted 
to  the  production  of  grain  and  fruit.  He  formerly  had  scvcnty-five  acres 
planted  to  peaches  and  the  remainder  of  the  farm  was  utilized  for  the 
growing  of  apples  and  pears,  but  he  is  now  replacing  his  peach  trees  with 
other  farm  products,  for  certain  diseases  are  prevalent  in  the  peach 
orchards,  and  he  claims,  with  reason,  that  it  is  necessary  to  give  the  land 
a  rest  in  order  to  get  rid  of  the  disease.  In  1895  he  replaced  his  frame 
house  with  a  fine  brick  residence,  erected  at  a  cost  of  four  thousand  dollars. 
It  is  a  beautiful  and  comfortable  dwelling,  tastefully  furnished,  and  one  of 
its  chief  charms  is  its  cordial  hospitality,  which  is  extended  to  the  many 
friends  of  the  family. 

Mr.  Dick  is  an  earnest  advocate  of  Republican  principles,  and  as  every 
pub  He- spirited  citizen  should  do,  feels  an  interest  in  the  political  situation 
of  the  country.  He  has  served  his  township  in  the  capacity  of  highway 
commissioner  and  was  also  moderator  of  the  school  board  for  nine  years.- 
He  holds  membership  in  the  Douglas  Congregational  church,  of  which  he 
is  a  deacon  and  also  a  trustee. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  145 

Jacob  Haub,  deceased,  was  well  known  in  Saugatuck  and  the  western 
part  of  Allegan  county,  so  that  his  life  record  cannot  fail  to  prove  of 
interest  to  many  of  the  readers  of  this  volume.  Born  in  Oberhochstadt, 
Nassau,  Germany,  on  the  20th  of  August,  1839,  he  was  a  son  of  Peter  and 
Agnes  Haub,  who  were  also  natives  of  that  country.  They  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1853,  bringing  with  them  their  family  of  six  children; 
Agnes  and  Elizabeth,  now  deceased ;  Margaret,  Mary,  Jacob,  of  this  review, 
and  Matthew. 

Jacob  Haub  was  a  youth  of  fourteen  years  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  emigration  to  the  new  world,  becoming  a  resident  of  Lee 
county,  Illinois,  where  his  time  and  energies  were  devoted  to  farming. 
He  was  thus  engaged  until  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  when  his 
patriotic  spirit  was  aroused  in  behalf  of  his  adopted  country,  and  in 
August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  defense  of  the  Union,  as  did  so  many  of  his 
fellow  countrymen.  He  became  a  private  of  Company  I,  Eighty-ninth 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  participated  in  all  the  battles  with  his 
regiment  up  to  and  including  the  battle  of  Dalton,  where  he  was  captured. 
He  was  then  incarcerated  for  six  months  in  Andersonville  prison,  suffering 
all  the  hardships  and  horrors  of  southern  prison  life,  which  have  been  so 
graphically  described  by  other  historians  and  yet  which  exceed  any 
word  painting  that  can  be  given.  At  the  end  of  a  half  year  he  was  released 
with  shattered  health,  but  with  patriotism  and  loyalty  undimmed.  He 
was  never  again,  however,  able  to  take  part  with  his  regiment  in  active 
field  service  and  was  honorably  discharged  in  1865.  The  effects  of  his 
army  life  with  its  hardships,  privations  and  exposures,  remained  with  him 
throughout  his  subsequent  years,  and  he  frequently  found  it  necessary  to 
seek  a  change  of  climate  for  the  benefit  of  his  health. 

On  the  20th  of  April,  1869,  Mr.  Haub  was  happily  married  to  Miss 
Anna  J.  Ulbrich,  also  a  native  of  Germany,  born  April  8,  1840.  She  crossed 
the  Atlantic  in  1864,  arriving  in  the  month  of  October.  Unto  this  union 
were  born  five  children,  of  whom  two  are  now  living — Hugo  J.  and 
Anna  I.  The  daughter  is  a  well  educated  and  highly  informed  young 
lady,  who  was  graduated  from  the  grammar -department  of  the  Chicago 
schools  and  later  from  the  Saugatuck  high  school  with  the  class  of  1894. 
After  the  war  Mr.  Haub  remained  in  central  Illinois  until  1867,  when 
he  removed  to  Chicago,  where  he  entered  the  express  business.  In  1S70, 
however,  on  account  of  his  health,  he  removed  to  Colorado,  and  subse- 
quently to  Pentwater,  Michigan.  Later  he  was  at  Brinkley,  Arkansas,  and 
afterward  returned  to  Chicago,  making  all  of  these  changes  of  residence 
on  account  of  his  health.  After  his  return  to  Chicago  he  spent  ten  years 
as  foreman  in  the  Pullman  Car  Shops,  being  a  carpenter  by  trade  and 
becoming  an  expert  mechanic  in  that  line,  so  that  he  was  well  qualified 
to  direct  the  labors  of  others.  In  July,  1891,  he  came  to  Allegan  county, 
locating  in  Saugatuck  township,  where  he  purchased  thirty  acres  of  land. 
In  1896  he  bought  eighty  acres  and  sold  his  first  farm.  His  attention  was 
given  to  agricultural  pursuits  in  this  county  for  about  six  years,  and  on 
the  24th  of  August,  1897,  he  was  called  from  this  Hfe.  He  was  a  devout 
member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church,  of  which  his  family  are  also 
communicants,   and  he  was  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Benevolent  Asso- 


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146  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAJM  COUNTY 

ciation  and  of  th'e  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  In  his  business  life  he 
prospered  and  was  a  self-made  man,  who  through  his  own  efforts  and  untir- 
ing perseverance  advanced  from  a  humble  position  to  one  of  affluence. 
Mrs.  Haub  and  her  son  and  daughter  reside  upon  and  operate  the  farm 
of  eighty  acres,  which  is  devoted  to  the  production  of  grain  and  fruit 
crops  and  which  has  been  brought  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
improvement.  In  1899  they  built  a  fine  residence  in  modem  style  of 
architecture  and  of  handsome  design  and  it  is  now  accounted  one  of  the 
beautiful  country  homes  of  Allegan  county. 

James  H,  Phillips,  proprietor  of  the  Eureka  Lane  Farm,  comprising 
forty-one  acres  of  land,  which  is  devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  fruit,  is  also 
a  prosperous  business  man  of  Chicago,  where  he  conducts  a  furniture 
establishment  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Phillips  &  Feldman,  their  place 
of  business  being  located  at  JSIos.  827-829  West  Madison  street.  The 
place,  which  is  now  owned  and  operated  by  our  subject,  was  settled  by  the 
paternal  grandfather,  James  C.  Haile,  who  in  the  early  '30s  came  to  Michi- 
gan with  his  wife,  Martha  Haile,  who  was  born  in  New  York  state,  and 
settled  in  Saugatuck  township,  this  county,  at  a  very  early  day.  Their 
family  numbered  three  children,  of  whom  all  are  now  deceased.  Mr. 
Phillips'  father  had  a  farm  of  fifty-five  acres  situated  in  Saugatuck  town- 
ship, besides  having  land  in  various  other  places.  He  wedded  Juha  R. 
Haile,  and  to  them  were  born  six  sons  and  two  daughters :  William  G.  and 
Jennie  S.,  both  of  whom  are  deceased;  James  H.,  of  this  review,  and 
John  D.    The  remainder  died  in  early  youth, 

James  H,  Phillips  was  born  in  Allegan,  on  Miner  Hill,  August  16, 
1859,  but  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  where  he  has 
always  made  his  home,  having  since  1886  been  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Phillips  &  Feldman,  in  which  business  he  is  meeting  with  gratifying  success. 
In  1884  he  invested  his  money  in  the  farm  which  is  his  present  property 
and  here  are  seen  commodious  and  substantial  buildings  of  modem  con- 
struction, and  all  erected  by  the  present  owner.  The  farm  is  devoted  to 
the  cultivation  of  fruit,  there  being  four  thousand  and  five  hundred  peach 
trees,  fifty  pear  trees,  twenty  plum  trees  and  fifty  cherry  trees  planted,  in 
addition  to  which  two  acres  are  devoted  to  strawberries,  one-fourth  of  an 
acre  to  grapes  and  an  eighth  of  an  acre  to  raspberries.  The  fruit  raised 
upon  this  farm  is  of  the  best  quality  and  flavor,  and  therefore  commands 
a  ready  sale  upon  the  market. 

In  1885  Mr.  Phillips  chose  as  his  life  companion  and  helpmate  Eva  J. 
Edridge,  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Marie  (Jump)  Edridge  Mrs.  Phil- 
lips was  born  in  Coldwater,  this  state,  in  June,  1863,  and  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Ganges  township.  Her  father  is  of  English  extraction  and 
was  a  miller  by  occupation,  which  pursuit  he  followed  throughout  his 
entire  life.  The  Jump  family  came  from  New  York  to  this  state  in  i860, 
being  numbered  among  her  best  and  most  respected  citizens.  Mrs.  Phillips 
has  but  one  sister — Mrs.  James  Chase.  Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife 
have  been  born  a  son  and  a  daughter,  Jay  H.  and  Hattie  M.,  who  are  at 
present  in  school. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  147 

Fennville. 

The  village  of  Fennville  has  been  an  incorporated  village  since  1882 
and  as  a  railroad  station  and  one  of  the  centers  of  the  fruit  business  of  the 
county  its  importance  has  steadily  increased.  Like  other  villages,  its  begin- 
ning dates  from  the  days  of  the  lumber  industry,  and  its  first  enterprise 
was  a  sawmill.  Henry  Blakeslee  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  settler  on 
the  site,  but  it  was  Elam  A.  Fenn  and  Levi  Loomis  who  erected  a  sawmill 
in  1862  just  west  of  where  the  railroad  now  crosses  the  village  site.  The 
mill  was  destroyed  by  fire,  but  rebuilt  by  Fenn  and  others  and  the  place 
became  quite  a  productive  center  for  the  lumber  business. 

In  1870  came  the  railroad,  hastening  the  lumber  activity  and  the 
general  enterprise  of  the  vicinity.  March  10,  1871,  a  survey  was  taken 
by  Elisha  Mix,  surveyor,  for  the  H.  Fisher  &  Co.  mill  company  to  plat  a 
village  called  "Fennsville,"  in  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  32,  Manlius 
township.  The  plat  was  bounded  by  the  town  line  on  the  south,  but  the 
village  has  since  spread  into  Clyde  township  and  east  to  the  railroad. 

That  part  of  the  village  site  in  Clyde  township  was  also  platted  in 
1871  by  Emerson  &  Co.,  proprietors  of  the  Fenn  mill.  The  entire  village 
was  destroyed  by  fire  in  the  fall  of  1871,  but  rebuilding  was  soon  begun. 
Among  the  early  business  men  were  Stephen  Atwater,  the  first  storekeeper; 
Dr.  Asa  Goodrich,  physician  and  druggist;  Daniel  Thomas,  blacksmith, 
besides  those  engaged  in  the  sawmill  business.  A  postoffice  had  been 
established  near  the  mill  in  1866,  Elam  Fenn  being  the  postmaster,  and 
the  office  being  known  as  "Fenn's  Mill." 

Fennville,  after  the  passing  of  the  lumber  industry,  retained  its  impor- 
tance by  becoming  an  equally  favorite  point  for  the  shipment  of  fruit. 
Twenty-five  years  ago  peaches  and  apples  amounting  to  one  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  bushels  were  shipped  from  this  point,  and  the  business  has 
steadily  grown.  In  the  early  eighties  the  enterprising  citizens  had  their 
village  incorporated.  The  principal  village  officers  are  named  on  other 
pages.  The  population  in  1890  was  360,  and  in  1900  was  454.  Some  of 
those  prominently  connected  with  village  affairs  and  some  of  the  leading 
business  enterprises  arc  mentioned  and  described  in  other  connections. 

John  P.  Wade. — Few  of  the  present  generation,— living  in  the  midst 
of  an  advanced  civilization,  with  modern  school  facilities  and  other  advan- 
tages,—realize  how  much  they  owe  to  the  pioneer,  who  came  in  the  early 
forties  to  the  middle  west,  and  out  of  a  wilderness  shaped  the  foundations 
of  our  great  western  states,  making  it  possible  to  evolve  from  the  rugged 
forest  the  valuable  and  productive  farms  of  today. 

Among  these  pioneers  was  John  P.  Wade,  who  was  born  at  Scituate 
Harbor,  Massachusetts,  December  15,  1822,  where  he  was  reared  and 
educated.  He  is  a  son  of  Snell  and  D.  A.  R.  (Jacobs)  Wade,  both  natives 
of  Massachusetts  and  of  English  descent,  and  a  grandson  of  Isicar  Wade, 
who  was  a  sailor  during  the  Revolutionary  war  under  the  Colonial  govern- 
ment. In  1844  John  P.  Wade  migrated  to  Michigan  and  located  at  Singa- 
pore, where  he  was  engaged  in  a  clerical  capacity,  later  entering  the 
mercantile  line  on  his  own  account,  and  continuing  the  business  until  1858. 
He  then  purchased  his  present  farm  of  seventy  acres,  in  Ganges  township. 


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148 .  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

of  which  only  nine  acres  were  cleared.  He  then  set  about  clearing  and 
improving  the  place,  teaching  school  at  intervals  to  procure  ready  money, 
and  has  evolved  what  is  today  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  all  the  fruit-raising 
district  of  Michigan.  On  this  farm  are  about  four  thousand  trees — apples, 
peaches,  plumsj  cherries  and  pears,  to  say  nothing  of  small  fruits.  Mr. 
Wade  was  also  engaged  incidentally  in  the  nursery  business  for  about  seven 
years,  associated  with  Mr.  Walsh,  under  the  firm  name  of  Walsh  &  Wade. 

Mr.  Wade  has  been  married  twice.  By  his  first  marriage  he  has  one 
daughter,  Charlotte,  now  Mrs.  Steams.  By  his  second  marriage,  which 
occurred  in  185 1  to  Sarah  S.,  daughter  of  John  S.  Barnes,  of  New  York, 
they  have  nine  children,  viz. :  Viola  M.,  wife  of  William  H.  Leonard ; 
Linda  O.,  wife  of  George  Meechani;  Willard  B.,  who  married  Miss  Jennie 
Hendricks;  Theodosius;  Sarah  D.,  the  wife  of  H.  Werden;  Lefy  A.,  the 
wife  of  Amos  Tucker;  May,  deceased;  Josephine,  wife  of  Leon  Shepard; 
and  John  P.,  Jr.,  who  married  Miss  Helen  Dunn. 

From  political  preference  Mr.  Wade  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  held  the 
offices  of  school  inspector  and  commissioner  of  highways,  having  also  been 
a  notary  public  for  the  last  thirty  years.  He  holds  membership  in  Damascus 
Lodge  No.  415,  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  Eureka  Chapter  No.  50,  and  has  the  further 
distinction  of  being  the  oldest  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  in  the  state  of 
Michigan. 

George  L.  Dutcher,  of  Fennviile,  is  one  of  tlie  well  known  business 
men  of  that  place,  where  he  deals  in  coal,  brick,  hay  and  salt,  and  not  only 
has  he  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  business,  but  he  has  established  a 
reputation  for  integrity  and  sound  business  ability. 

Mr.  Dutcher  was  born  in  Douglas,  Michigan,  in  1859,  where  he  was 
reared  and  educated.  His  parents,  Thomas  B.  and  Rebecca  Kline  Dutcher^ 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  respectively.  Thfey  moved  to 
Michigan  in  1836  and  were  one  of  the  early  families  in  the  "fruit  belt." 
Thomas  Dutcher  was  a  resident  of  Douglas  for  a  number  of  years,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  a  successful  lumber  business.  He  also  owned  a  flour 
mill  and  was  identified  with  other  enterprises,  proving  himself  a  worthy 
and  enterprising  citizen.  Douglas  borough  elected  him  president  and  has 
at  different  times  conferred  upon  him  offices  of  trust  and  responsibility. 
In  1894  he  moved  to  Fennviile,  and  in  company  with  his  son,  George  L. 
Dutcher,  our  subject,  purchased  a  grist  mill,  the  property  of  Merchant 
Brothers,  who  had  moved  it  from  Black  Lake.  This  mill  was  owned  and 
operated  by  Mr.  Dutcher  and  his  son  for  nine  years,  when  it  was  sold  to 
Mr.  Hutchinson.  On  May  15,  1903,  the  elder  Mr.  Dutcher  died,  leaving  a 
widow  and  three  children :  Florence,  Belle  and  George  L.,  all  of  whom 
are  still  living. 

George  L.  Dutcher  is  a  member  of  Damascus  Lodge  No.  415,  F.  & 
A.  M.  He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ada  Porter,  to  whom  three 
children  have  been  born;    Florence,  Thomas  E.  and  George. 

H.  G.  Welch. — No  man  in  the  state  of  Michigan  is  better  known 
than  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  record,  for  he  has  been 
instrumental  in  promoting  the  interests  of  fruit  growers  not  only  in  Allegan 
county,  but  all  over  the  state,  having  for  several  years  filled  the  office  of 
deputy  state  inspector  of  orchards  and  nurseries,  his  work  taking  him  into- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  149 

every  section  of  the  state.  He  has  made  a  special  study  oi  fruit  culture 
and  has  familiarized  himself  with  the  diseases  to  which  the  trees  are  subject, 
so  that  he  is  considered  authority  on  all  subjects  pertaining  to  horticulture. 
About  1865  a  disease  in  the  peach  orchards  of  Michigan  became  prevalent 
which  was  known  as  the  yellows,  which  at  one  time  threatened  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  peach  from  this  state.  Again  in  1893-4  another  disease  appeared, 
which  is  known  as  the  little  peach,  and  about  twelve  years  ago  a  disease 
known  as  the  San  Jose  scale  made  its  appearance.  Mr.  Welch  began  to 
study  the  conditions  which  existed  and  by  reading,  observation  and  experi- 
ment found  that  these  diseases  could  be  overcome.  Owing  to  his  knowledge 
along  this  line  he  was  appointed  "yellow"  commissioner  of  Saugatuck 
township,  and  his  successful  efforts  in  this  line  led  to  his  election  to  his 
present  position— that  of  deputy  state  inspector  of  orchards  and  nurseries. 
Mr.  Welch  is  employed  by  the  state  and  it  is  his  duty  to  travel  over  the 
districts  devoted  to  fruit  raising,  which  covers  various  portions  of  the 
state,  for  Michigan  is  noted  as  a  fruit  growing  center.  These  diseases 
cannot  be  discovered  by  the  average  horticulturist,  but  Mr.  Welch's  study 
of  the  subject  enables  him  to  readily  detect  the  affected  trees.  He  visits 
the  various  orchards,  as  directed  by  the  state,  and  as  soon  as  a  defective 
tree  is  found  it  is  cut  down  and  burned  to  avoid  the  spread  of  the  disease. 
It  has  been  found,  however,  through  experiment,  that  a  tree  which  is 
affected  by  the  San  Jose  scale  can  be  saved  by  the  appliance  of  blue  vitriol, 
salt  and  lime  in  proper  proportions.  When  Mr.  Welch  located  in  Sauga- 
tuck township  he  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  this  being  in  1888, 
The  land  was  not  considered  at  that  time  to  be  a  good  fruit  producing  soil, 
owing  to  the  substance  of  clay  found  In  it.  The  owner,  however,  began  to 
make  a  study  of  the  conditions  and  thought  possibly  to  overcome  the 
obstacles.  Accordingly  he  began  to  drain  his  land  and  to  set  out  fruit, 
and  it  was  soon  demonstrated  that  this  region  was  as  good  as  any  in  the 
state  for  carrying  on  horticultural  pursuits.  Soon  others  followed  his 
example  and  made  this  one  of  the  best  districts  of  the  state  for  this  industry. 
On  his  farm  he  has  set  out  forty-two  hundred  and  eighty  peach  trees,  of 
which  four  thousand  arc  in  bearing,  one  hundred  and  fifty  apple  trees,  two 
hundred  pear  trees,  and  two  hundred  plum  trees,  while  seven  acres  are 
devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  strawberries.  In  addition  he  carries  on  general 
agricultural  pursuits,  raising  crops  sufficient  for  feeding  his  stock. 

Mr.  Welch  is  a  native  son  of  Michigan,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Lenawee  county  November  10,  1856,  a  son  of  Ephraim  and  Elizabeth 
(Bossard)  Welch,  both  natives  of  New  York,  The  family  home  was  estab- 
lished in  Michigan  in  1846,  where  the  father  conducted  a  sawmill  through- 
out his  active  business  career.  The  son  came  to  Allegan  county  in  1872  and 
has  always  followed  horticultural  pursuits,  and  now  makes  his  home  with 
his  mother,  to  whom  he  shows  every  possible  attention.  In  the  family 
of  this  worthy  couple  have  been  born  six  children,  three  of  whom  now 
survive — Charles  B,,  H,  G.  and  Mrs.  Dora  Gaylord. 

Mr.  Welch  has  served  as  drain  commissioner  and  as  school  inspector. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Agricultural  and  Pomological  Society,  of  which  he 
is  now  acting  as  treasurer.  He  is  a  worthv  member  of  Dutcher  Lodge  No. 
193.  F.  &  A.  M.,  has  taken  the  Roval  Arch  degree  in  Holland  chapter,  and 
U  a  Knight  of  Pythias. 


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160  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Hon,  Theodosius  Wade,  attorney,  whose  office  is  located  at  Fennville, 
Michigan,  is  widely  known  and  universally  respected  by  the  citizens  of 
Allegan  and  adjacent  counties.  He  traces  his  ancestry  from  an  old  New 
England  family,  who  immigrated  from  England  about  the  year  1611  and 
who  took  a  conspicuous  part  in  favor  of  the  Colonies  during  the  war  of 
the  Revolution,  holding  subsequently  various  offices  of  trust  and  responsi- 
bility under  civil  government. 

Mr,  Wade  was  born  in  Ganges  township,  Allegan  county,  Michigan, 
November  14,  1858,  and  is  the  son  of  John  P.  and  Sarah  S.  (Barnes) 
Wade,  who  are  pioneers  of  Allegan  county.  He  received  a  common  school 
education,  later  attending  school  at  Douglas,  where  he  prepared  himself 
for  the  work  of  a  teacher,  which  calling  he  followed  for  a  short  time. 
Subsequently  he  entered  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  18S8.  The  year  previously  he  had  been  admitted 
to  the  Michigin  bar  in  Mecosta  county. 

In  1903  Mr.  Wade  was  the  choice  of  the  people  of  the  second  district 
of  Allegan  county  as  their  representative  at  the  state  capital,  serving  them 
honorably  and  well.  During  his  two  years'  membership  of  the  assembly  he 
had  the  honor  to  be  the  appointed  chairman  of  the  judiciary  committee  of 
the  house  and  was  spoken  of  in  the  highest  praise  by  the  Lansing  press, 
earning  the  well  merited  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most  capable  and 
conservative  members  of  the  body.  He  devoted  himself  thoroughly  and 
consistently  to  the  work  in  hand  and  came  to  be  known  by  the  frequency 
with  which  he  put  himself  on  record,  earning  thereby  the  respect  of  his 
colleagues  as  a  man  who  did  not  hesitate  to  declare  himself.  As  an  attorney 
and  as  head  of  the  judiciary  committee  his  favorite  discussions  were  points 
of  law  and  minute  discussions  of  the  statutes.  Like  some  of  his  judiciary 
rivals  he  fell  into  the  seeming  error  of  appearing  rather  oracular  in  some 
of  his  decisions,  but  his  thorough  equipment  and  his  unmistakable  sincerity 
gave  weight  to  his  utterances.  No  one  appears  more  chagrined  than  he 
when  he  makes  a  mistake,  and  no  one  is  more  eager  to  champion  a  cause 
which  appeals  to  him  as  right  or  to  denounce  one  that  appears  iniquitous. 
His  honesty  and  good  name  have  never  been  assailed,  either  at  the  state 
capital  or  at  home,  and  he  seems  to  have  retained  to  a  great  extent  his 
boyish  enthusiasm,  even  amid  the  responsibilities  and  discouragements  of 
legislative  work.  As  a  debater  he  exceils,  and  as  an  orator  he  is  in  the 
front  rank. 

Although  in  politics  a  man's  fealty  is  to  the  party  of  his  choice,  and 
to  the  people  whom  he  represents  Mr.  Wade  has  retained  the  respect  of 
both  political  parties.  In  1890  he  was  appointed  counsel  for  Fennville, 
which  office  he  has  held  continuously  up  to  the  present.  June  4,  1890,  he 
was  happily  married  to  Miss  Alice  M.,  daughter  of  N.  L.  Chamberlin. 
Five  children  have  been  born  to  this  union — Wave.  Don  D.,  Theodosius, 
Fredrick  and  Glenn. 

Mr,  Wade  is  a  member  of  Damascus  Lodge  No,  415,  F,  &  A.  M,,  of 
which  he  was  master  in  1902,  and  is  also  a  Royal  Arch  Mason  and  member 
of  Holland  Chapter  No.  143. 

Henry  E.  Lamb,  extensively  engaged  in  the  implement  business  in 
Fennville,  is  a  native  son  of  Michigan,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Ganges 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  161 

township,  Allegan  county.  May  lo,  1868,  a  son  of  James  and  Mary  (Wil- 
kinson) Lamb,  both  natives  of  county  Cork,  Ireland.  They  were  married, 
however,  in  Buffalo,  New  York,  in  1865,  and  the  same  year  took  up  their 
abode  in  Michigan,  locating  in  Ganges  township,  near  Glenn,  where  the 
father  purchased  forty-five  acres  of  land.  In  their  family  were  three 
daughters  and  one  son — Mrs.  Katie  C.  Warren,  Mrs.  Rose  Ketchem,  Mrs. 
Blanch  Weed  and  Henry  E. 

Henry  E.  Lamb  was  reared  and  educated  in  Casco  township,  early 
becoming  familiar  with  the  duties  of  farm  labor.  In  1891  he  purchased  a 
farm  of  fifty-six  acres,  and  he  greatly  improved  the  property  after  it  came 
into  his  possession  by  the  erection  of  modern  and  substantial  buildings. 
He  was  engaged  in  general  agricultural  pursuits  and  in  addition  to  his 
other  interests  was  also  extensively  interested  in  the  raising  of  fruit,  includ- 
ing fourteen  hundred  pear,  one  thousand  peach,  two  hundred  cherry,  two 
hundred  apple  and  fifty  quince  trees,  and  one  thousand  currant  bushes,  and 
this  branch  of  his  btisiness  proved  a  very  gratifying  source  of  income  to 
him.  Mr.  Lamb  has  taken  an  active  and  helpful  interest  in  the  care  and 
development  of  fruit,  and  is  considered  an  expert  in  the  grafting  of  fruit 
trees.  He  is  likewise  engaged  in  erecting  windmills  and  in  dealing  in 
spraying  pumps  of  various  kinds,  and  thus  he  has  not  confined  his  attention 
to  one  line  of  occupation,  but  has  interested  himself  in  various  pursints. 
In  the  fail  of  1906  he  sold  his  farm  and  moved  to  Fennville,  where  he  is 
now  engaged  in  the  implement  business,  in  connection  with  the  line  of 
sprayers,  etc.,  which  he  had  been  handling  on  the  farm. 

Mr.  Lamb  has  been  twice  married.  As  his  first  companion  he  chose 
Miss  Hettie  M.  Wadsworth,  by  whom  he  had  one  son,  whose  birth  occurred 
August  20,  1897.  For  his  second  wife  he  wedded  Gertrude  M.  Wing,  their 
marriage  being  celebrated  March  14,  1901.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Lamb 
is  an  Independent  and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board,  being 
deeply  and  helpfully  interested  in  the  cause  of  education.  His  religious 
faith  is  indicated  by  his  membership  in  the  United  Brethren  church.  Begin- 
ning at  the  bottom  roun<l  of  the  ladder  Mr.  Lamb  has  worked  liis 
way  steadily  upward  year  by  year  until  he  is  today  classed  among  the  fore- 
most representatives  of  agricultural  and  horticultural  interests  in  Ganges 
township,  where  he  enjoys  the  full  confidence  of  his  fellow  men  by  reason 
of  the  fact  that  he  is  ever  found  reliable  and  straightforward  in  all  his 
business  deahngs. 

Pbrky  p.  Weed,  who  is  carrying  on  farming  and  fruit  raising  quite 
extensively  in  Satigatuck  township,  has  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land,  which,  in  its  neat  and  thrifty  appearance,  indicates  his  careful  super- 
vision and  keen  discernment  in  his  business  affairs.  Fifty-five  acres  of  this 
farm  once  belonged  to  his  father's  estate,  and  thirty  acres  of  the  tract  is 
devoted  to  the  raising  of  fruit,  including  peaches,  pears,  apples  and  cherries, 
while  two  acres  are  utilized  for  the  production  of  strawberries.  This  farm 
has  been  the  property  of  Mr.  Weed  since  1876;  and  in  its  care  and  manage- 
ment he  has  displayed  excellent  business  ability,  executive  force  and  close 
application. 

A  native  of  Ohio,  Mr.  Weed  was  born  in  Cleveland  on  October  4, 
1858,  his  parents  being  Joshua  and  Mary  (Saddler)  Weed,  who  were  married 


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152  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

in  1851.  The  paternal  grandfather  was  William  Weed,  who  wedded  Mary 
Nickerson,  Their  family  numbered  two  sons  and  two  daughters :  Lorenzo, 
who  was  boni  in  1815;  Joshua;  Phoebe,  in  1822,  and  Abigail,  in  1828. 
The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  German  by  birth  and 
became  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  while  the  great- 
grandfather in  the  maternal  line  was  a  Hessian,  who  with  his  family 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  at  an  early  period  in  the  settlement  of  the 
new  world.  The  father's  birth  occurred  in  1817,  and  in  early  hfe  he  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade,  which  vocation  he  continued  to  follow  until  he  per- 
manently put  aside  all  btisiness  cares.  Soon  after  his  arrival  in  Saugatuck 
township  he  also  purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty-four  acres  of  land, 
eighty  of  which  now  belongs  to  his  son,  George  E.  Weed,  while  fifty-five 
acres  is  the  property  of  his  son  Perry.  He  became  one  of  the  early  business 
men  of  Saugattick  township  and  his  enterprise  and  diligence  rendered 
him  a  citizen  of  value,  his  labors  contributing  to  general  prosperity  as 
well  as  to  individual  success.  In  1872  he  organized  the  Fruit  Package 
factory,  which  is  now  successfully  conducted  under  the  firm  style  of  E.  E. 
Weed  &  Co.  The  father,  moreover,  was  a  man  of  considerable  importance 
in  community  affairs  and  held  several  offices,  including  that  of  supervisor, 
school  director  and  treasurer  of  the  board.  He  held  membership  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  his  religious  principles  were  as  strongly 
manifest  in  his  business  life  as  in  other  relations,  for  at  all  times  he  was 
strictly  honorable  and  upright.  He  died  in  the  year  1901,  at  the  venerable 
age  of  eighty-four  years,  and  thus  passed  away  one  of  the  valued  and 
respected  pioneer  residents  of  the  county,  whose  life  work  was  a  benefit 
to  the  community  in  which  he  lived. 

Perry  P.  Weed  was  a  lad  of  five  years  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  from  Ohio  to  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  and  when 
nine  years  of  age  he  came  with  them  to  Allegan  county.  Provided  with 
liberal  educational  privileges,  he  supplemented  his  public  school  education 
by  study  in  Oberlin  College,  at  Oberlin,  Ohio,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated. He  there  engaged  in  teaching  violin  music  for  a  year,  after  which 
he  spent  two  years  in  the  Conservatory  of  Music  in  Boston.  In  1883  he 
went  abroad  to  study  the  violin  and  organ  in  Europe,  for  four  years 
studying  under  some  of  the  best  masters  of  Berlin  and  of  Dresden.  Return- 
ing to  his  native  land  in  1887,  he  spent  the  following  year  as  a  teacher  of 
music  in  Delaware  (Ohio)  University,  and  in  18S9  he  went  to  London, 
England,  where  he  studied  and  subsequently  taught  music  for  one  year. 
Returning  to  his  native  country,  he  was  closely  connected  with  musical 
circles  in  Chicago  as  a  teacher  of  the  violin  until  1901,  when  he  abandoned 
his  work  in  connection  with  that  art  and  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural 
and  horticultural  pursuits,  his  time  being  divided  between  the  work. 

In  1900  Mr.  Weed  was  happily  married  to  Miss  Gladys  Grav.  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  C.  and  Anetta  Gray.  Mr.  Weed  has  demonstrated  his 
adaptability  in  the  excellent  manner  in  which  he  has  conducted  his  farming 
and  fniit-raising  interests,  although  his  training  was  in  the  line  of  the  art 
to  which  he  devoted  many  years  and  in  which  he  attained  high  proficiency. 

Sylvester  Swaney,  one  of  the  reliable  farmers  and  old-time  residents 
of  Ganges  township,  has  been  well  known  here  as  a  respected  and  worthv 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY  153 

citizen  for  fifty-one  years.  He  is  a  farmer  of  considerable  ability  and  wide 
and  varied  experience,  both  in  the  line  of  cultivating  fields  and  orchards. 
His  present  well  developed  farm  came  into  his  possession  in  a  wild  state  in 
1855,  and  by  unremitting  industry  and  perseverance  he  has  evolved  what 
we  behold  today  a  splendidly  developed  tract  of  land,  equipped  with  modern 
accessories  and  giving  every  indication  of  careful  and  practical  supervision. 
Mr.  Swaney  began  his  life  record  in  Ohio,  on  the  7tli  of  February,  1837, 
and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Matilda  {Osboni)  Swaney,  the  former  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania  and  tlie  latter  of  Ohio.  Both  were  of  Irish  lineage  and 
they  came  to  Michigan  in  1855.  The  father  purchased  a  tract  of  land  and 
began  the  development  of  a  farm,  whereon  he  reared  his  family,  numbering 
eleven  children.  Only  two,  however,  are  now  living,  the  sister  being  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Meads. 

Sylvester  Swaney  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  state  of  his  nativity 
to  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  Michigan.  He  has  chosen  farm  work  as  a  life  vocation  and  in 
his  undertakings  has  prospered.  As  stated,  he  purchased  his  present  farm, 
then  in  its  primitive  condition,  in  1855,  and  with  characteristic  energy  he 
began  the  development  and  improvement  of  the  land,  clearing  it  of  trees 
and  stumps  and  converting  the  rich  soil  into  productive  fields  and  orchards. 
He  has  had  a  wide  and  varied  experience  in  his  farm  work  and  his  tract 
of  land  of  eighty  acres  is  now  converted  into  fields  devoted  to  the  cultiva- 
tion of  grain  and  also  into  orchards  where  fine  fruit  is  raised.  Although 
his  career  has  been  prosperous  to  a  large  extent  he  has  not  been  free  from 
obstacles  and  difficulties.  He  had  the  misfortune  to  have  two  houses 
destroyed  by  fire,  one  in  1872  and  the  other  on  the  2d  of  August,  1906, 
the  tatter  being  caused  by  a  stroke  of  lightning.  With  resolute  spirit  and 
imfaltering  energy,  however,  Mr.  Swaney  has  begim  the  task  of  rebuilding. 
He  has  upon  his  farm  three  thousand  peach  trees,  one  hundred  pear  trees 
and  one  hundred  apple  trees,  beside  considerable  small  fruit,  and  his  horti- 
cultural interests  constitute  a  gratifying  sottrce  of  income  for  him. 

In  1869  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Swaney  and  Miss  Marinda 
Woodin,  a  daughter  of  F.  W.  and  Maria  (Brazee)  Woodin.  They  had  but 
one  child,  now  deceased.  Mrs.  Swaney  was  born  in  Dutchess  county,  New 
York,  in  1833,  and  her  parents  removed  from  that  county  to  Allegan 
county,  Michigan,  in  1862.  Her  father  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  in  its 
natural  state  and  finally  reclaimed  it  for  the  purposes  of  cultivation.  He. 
too,  had  the  misfortune  to  have  his  home  destroyed  by  fire,  so  that  Mrs. 
Swaney  during  her  life  has  had  three  houses  that  she  occupied  burned, 
Mr.  Woodin  was  born  in  Dutchess  county,  New  York,  in  t8ii,  and  his 
wife.  Maria  Brazee,  was  of  Holland  extraction.  In  their  family  were  nine 
children,  who  reached  mature  years:  Jasper  L.,  who  was  a  veteran  of 
the  Civil  war,  serving  two  years  with  Company  A,  Third  Michigan 
CavaJiy,  but  is  now  deceased;  Frank,  Mary,  Alvira,  Sarah.  Lucy,  Laura, 
Marinda  P.  and  Lydia. 

While  Mr.  Swaney  has  not  filled  any  offices  in  the  township,  or  had 
the  slightest  desire  for  political  honors  or  emoluments,  he  has  nevertheless 
given  his  active  and  moral  support  to  many  movements  for  the  genera! 
good  and  stands  for  reform,  progress  and  improvement.  A  residence  of 
more  than  a  half  century  in  this  county  has  made  him  widely  known  and 


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15i  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUMTY 

largely  acquainted  with  its  history  from  the  period  of  pioneer  development 
to  the  era  of  later-day  progress.  He  has  seen  many  changes  here  as  the 
forests  have  been  cut  down  and  as  the  log  cabins  have  been  replaced  by 
commodious  and  substantial  frame  residences.  He  has  lived  a  busy  and 
active  life,  devoted  entirely  to  his  farm  work,  and  his  success  is  well 
merited. 

Captain  Robert  Re]d,  deceased,  was  one  of  the  well  known  and 
influential  men  of  Saugatuck  township,  being  identified  with  farming  and 
fruit  raising  interests  here  throughout  many  years.  He  was  a  native  of 
Ireland,  having  there  been  born  March  22,  1827.  He  chose  as  his  occu- 
pation the  life  of  a  sailor,  following  the  sea  throughout  the  greater  part 
of  his  active  business  career,  and  for  four  years  during  his  early  life  he 
sailed  upon  the  ocean.  In  1849,  being  then  a  young  man  of  twentj-two 
years,  he  decided  to  emigrate  to  America,  and  accordingly  took  tip  his 
abode  in  the  United  States,  making  his  way  to  Michigan,  where  he  con- 
tinued his  work  as  a  captain  on  lake  vessels  for  thirty  years.  He  owned 
the  scow  called  Granger,  which  plied  between  Chicago  and  various  ports 
along  Lake  Michigan. 

Owing  to  his  industry  and  economy  he  was  in  1853  enabled  to  pur- 
chase land,  becoming  owner  of  sixty  acres  situated  in  Saugatuck  township. 
When  this  land  came  into  his  possession  it  was  still  in  a  wild  and  unculti- 
vated state,  but  he  employed  others  to  clear  and  develop  his  land,  which 
was  soon  placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  also  had  many 
buildings  erected  upon  his  property,  which  afforded  shelter  for  grain  and 
stock,  and  altogether  his  farm  was  soon  placed  among  the  foremost  prop- 
erties of  this  section  of  the  county,  being  situated  on  the  shore  of  Lake 
Michigan.  In  1872,  however,  he  retired  from  sea  life  and  took  up  his 
abode  upon  his  farm,  which,  up  to  this  time,  had  been  carried  on  by  others. 
Mr.  Reid  merely  giving  his  supervision  to  the  work.  When  he  located  upon 
the  farm  he  engaged  quite  extensively  in  horticultural  pursuits,  having  fine 
varieties  of  peaches,  pears,  apples,  cherries,  quinces  and  all  kinds  of  small 
fruit  upon  his  place,  having  about  forty-five  acres  of  his  property  devoted 
to  this  line  of  pursuits,  while  the  remainder  of  his  fann  was  given  over  to 
genera!  farming,  and  in  all  of  his  work  he  was  progressive  and  practical 
and  thus  met  with  desirable  success  in  all  his  undertakings.  He  had  a 
very  wide  acquaintance  among  lake  men  and  was  also  known  as  a  successful 
farmer  and  fruit  grower,  so  that  when  his  death  occurred  on  the  16th  of 
July.  1906,  the  community  lost  one  of  its  most  venerable  and  highly  respected 
citizens,  he  having  reached  the  very  advanced  age  of  seventy-nine  years. 
He  was  a  devoted  and  faithful  member  of  the  Seventh  Day  Adventist 
church  and  in  his  life  exemplified  high  and  many  principles. 

Captain  Reid  was  twice  married,  his  first  union  being  with  Mrs.  Phoebe 
Durham,  nee  Weed,  and  by  this  union  there  were  two  sons,  Robert  and 
Alexander,  deceased,  the  latter  meeting  his  death  by  accident  while  loading 
a  vessel  with  lumber.  For  his  second  wife  Captain  Reid  wedded  Miss 
Jennie  Weed,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Ohio.  She  is  the  only  child  born 
unto  Joshua  and  Rebecca  (Ford)  Weed,  the  former  born  March  g.  1817. 
and  he  was  married  to  Miss  Rebecca  Ford  on  the  21st  of  May,  1845.  For 
his  second  wife  Joshua  Weed  chose  Mary  Saddler,  who  he  wedded  on  the 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  155 

4th  of  April,  1850,  and  unto  this  union  were  born  the  following  named: 
Perry,  Felecia,  George  E.,  Lydia,  Ehuer,  William  H.  and  Mary.  For  his 
third  wife  the  father  chose  Mary  Ford,  and  for  his  fourth  wife  he  wedded 
Mary  Dietrick,  the  marriage  being  celebrated  in  1890,  but  there  were  no 
children  by  either  the  third  or  fourth  marriage,  and  of  his  family  of  children 
by  the  first  two  marriages  only  five  are  now  Hving.  Joshua  Weed  was  a 
man  of  good  business  ability  and  was  ever  active  in  promoting  any  interest 
which  he  deemed  would  prove  of  benefit  to  his  home  locality.  In  1876  he 
was  instrumental  in  organizing  the  fruit  packing  industry  which  is  now 
known  as  E.  E.  Weed  &  Co.,  the  business  having  grown  to  mammoth  and 
profitable  proportions.  Mr.  Weed  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  came 
with  his  father,  William  Weed,  to  this  state  from  Ohio  at  an  early  day, 
being  connected  with  building  operations  in  this  portion  of  the  state 
through  many  years.  The  wife  of  William  Weed,  the  father  of  Joshua 
Weed,  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Mary  Nickerson,  the  former  born  on  the 
3d  of  August,  1783.  while  the  latter  was  born  October  6,  1796.  In  their 
family  were  five  children :  Lorenzo,  Joshua,  William,  Phoebe  R,  and 
Abagail  J.  By  Mr.  Reid's  second  marriage  there  is  one  son,  Roy  FT. 

Mrs.  Jennie  Reid,  the  widow  of  Captain  Reid.  still  makes  her  home 
on  the  old  homestead  property,  which  was  left  to  her  by  her  husband,  and 
here  she  is  living  a  quiet  life,  surrounded  by  many  warm  friends  to  whom 
she  has  become  endeared  by  those  qtialities  of  heart  and  mind  which 
everywhere  command  respect  and  high  regard. 

Andrew  J.  S'r.\RRiNc  is  one  of  the  representative  and  prosperous 
farmers  of  Ganges  township,  where  he  was  born  in  December.  1857.  He  is 
a  son  of  Simeon  and  Mary  A.  (Slaytoii)  Starring,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  New  York,  whence  tliey  came  to  Michigan  in  childhood  days. 
The  paternal  grandparents  were  Henry  and  Mary  Starring,  and  were 
among  the  early  pioneer  settlers  of  Allegan  county.  They  endured  the 
hardships  incident  to  frontier  life,  but  finally  overcame  these  obstacles  and 
inconveniences  and  prospered  in  their  business  undertakings  until  they 
were  the  owners  of  a  valuable  farming  property  and  their  home  was  sup- 
plied with  many  of  the  comforts  of  life.  They  reared  a  family  of  six 
children,  namely:  Simeon  and  Edward,  both  deceased;  Peter;  Henry,  de- 
ceased; Mary,  who  has  al.so  passed  away,  and  John.  Simeon  Starring, 
father  of  our  subject,  early  became  familiar  with  all  of  the  experiences  that 
fall  to  the  lot  of  the  |)ioneer  and  he  aided  in  the  arduous  task  of  developing 
a  new  farm.  Eventually  he  became  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land,  but  gave  the  greater  part  of  his  attention  to  lumbering,  al- 
though he  always  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  a  prosperous 
business  man.  carefully  conducting  his  interests  and  displaying  in  their 
management  keen  discernment  and  sagacity.  He  was  also  recognized  as  a 
worthy  citizen  who,  while  advancing  his  individual  interests,  also  contributed 
to  the  public  welfare.  His  children  were  Andrew  J..  Lucy  P.,  Dora  A.. 
Lindas  H..  deceased,  and  Nettie  G. 

Andrew  J.  Starring  is  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  of  his  township 
and  owns  ninety-five  acres  of  valuable  and  productive  land.  Reared  under 
the  parental  roof,  he  was  early  trained  to  the  work  of  the  farm,  while  les- 
sons of  industrv  and  economy  were  instilled  into  his  mind.     His  more 


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156  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

specifically  literary  education  was  acquired  in  the  public  schools,  and  when 
not  busy  with  his  text-books  he  worked  in  the  fields.  He  has  owned  his 
present  farm  since  1884,  and  with  the  exception  of  a  small  tract  of  ten 
acres  the  entire  place  was  cleared  by  him.  He  turned  the  first  furrows 
in  the  field  and  has  erected  upon  the  farm  a  good  set  of  buildings,  which 
are  substantial,  commodious  and  convenient.  He  was  formerly  extensively 
engaged  in  fruit  raising,  having  as  many  as  five  thousand  peach  trees.  He 
is  now  giving  his  time  and  energies  to  the  cultivation  of  peppemiint,  which 
is  growing  to  be  a  very  profitable  industry,  and  he  now  has  thirty  acres  de- 
voted to  that  plant. 

In  1887  Mr.  Starring  was  happily  married  to  Miss  Ella  Barrager,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Martha  Barrager.  To  their  union  have  been  born 
five  children,  Floy,  Harry,  Lee,  Elna  and  Linus.  Mr.  Starring  has  been  a 
member  of  the  school  board  and  the  cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a 
warm  and  stalwart  friend.  Socially  he  is  connected  with  the  Knights  of 
the  Maccabees.  A  resident  of  almost  a  half  century  has  made  him  widely 
known,  and  throughout  the  entire  period  he  has  lived  in  Ganges  township, 
where  he  has  so  directed  his  efforts  as  to  win  a  gratifying  measure  of  suc- 
cess in  his  business  life. 

Charles  B.  Welch  is  the  owner  of  a  valuable  farm  property,  compris- 
ing one  hundred  and  seventy-four  acres,  the  greater  portion  of  which  is 
devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  fruit,  and  it  is  only  due  him  to  state  that  he 
has  met  with  more  than  ordinary  success,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  great  quan- 
tities of  fruit  which  are  raised  on  his  farm  every  year,  for  he  follows  only 
the  most  modern  and  scientific  lines  in  carrying  on  the  work  of  his  agri- 
cultural and  horticultural  interests.  He  has  made  a  special  study  of  the 
fruit  raising  industry  and  therefore  is  thoroughly  conversant  with  the 
business  in  every  detail,  so  that  only  the  best  possible  results  can  obtain. 

Mr.  Welch  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  December  30,  1854,  but  was 
largely  reared  and  educated  in  Indiana,  where  his  parents,  Ephraim  and 
Elizabeth  (Bossard)  Welch,  took  up  their  abode  during  the  early  youth  of 
their  son  Charles  B.  At  a  later  date  the  family  home  was  established  in 
Kansas,  where  the  son  continued  his  education,  previous  to  the  removal  of 
the  family  to  this  state.  The  father  was  a  lumberman  and  followed  that 
pursuit  throughout  the  earlier  part  of  his  life.  In  his  family  were  six  chil- 
dren, but  only  three  of  the  number  reside  in  Allegan  county:  H,  G..  Mrs. 
Charles  Gaylord  and  Charles  B,,  of  this  review. 

In  1875  our  subject  located  in  Saugatuck  township,  at  which  time  he 
made  a  purchase  of  eighty  acres  of  land,  which  was  in  its  wild  state,  but 
he  at  once  undertook  the  task  of  clearing  the  land  and  developing  the  fields, 
which  soon  responded  to  the  care  and  labor  which  he  bestowed  upon  it  and 
thus  he  annually  harvested  good  crops.  He  also  improved  the  place  with 
modern  and  substantial  buildings,  and  from  time  to  time,  as  his  financial 
resources  have  permitted,  he  has  added  to  the  boundaries  of  bis  fields  until 
it  has  now  reached  its  extensive  proportions,  embracing  a  tract  of  one  htm- 
dred  and  seventy-four  acres,  the  greater  part  of  which  is  devoted  to  the 
cultivation  of  various  kinds  of  fruit.  He  is  extensively  engaged  in  the 
cultivation  of  peaches,  having  at  the  present  time  six  thousand  trees,  which 
are  in  bearing,  twelve  hundred  pear  trees,  about  six  hundred  apple  trees, 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTV  157 

and  about  six  acres  devoted  to  strawberries,  some  years,  however,  liaving 
as  many  as  eighteen  acres,  so  that  it  will  readily  be  seen  that  his  place, 
which  is  known  as  the  C.  B.  Welch  Fruit  Farm,  is  a  busy  center  from  the 
early  summer  season  until  the  late  autumn,  when  the  fruit  is  picked,  packed 
and  shipped,  and  Mr.  Welch  thus  furnishes  employment  to  a  great  number 
of  people.  His  fruit  is  produced  from  only  the  very  best  nursery  stock 
and  the  products  of  his  farm  are  known  to  be  of  the  very  highest  grade, 
thus  commanding  a  high  price  on  the  city  market.  In  addition  he  carries 
on  general  fanning  pursuits,  and  in  this  work  is  meeting  with  highly  pleas- 
ing success. 

Mr.  Welch  was  united  in  marriage  December  30,  1879,  to  Miss  Ella 
Walters,  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  August  19,  1856,  and  unto  this  union  four 
children  have  been  born,  but  the  oldest,  Grace,  is  now  deceased,  while  those 
surviving  are  Henry  A.,  Lillian  W.  and  Wallace  W.  Henry  A.  attended  the 
State  Agricultural  College  at  Lansing  for  two  years,  and  has  thus  prepared 
himself  for  the  employment  of  scientific  methods  in  carrying  on  farming 
and  fruit  growing.  The  daughter  attended  Hope  College  at  Holland  for 
two  years  and  has  thus  been  afforded  a  liberal  education.  Mr.  Welch  has 
always  been  deeply  interested  in  the  cause  of  education,  and  has  held  the 
oiiGce  of  school  director  for  a  number  of  years,  doing  all  in  his  power  to 
promote  the  educational  system  of  this  portion  of  the  state.  He  and  the 
family  are  devoted  and  exemplary  members  of  the  Congregational  church. 
and  Mr.  Welch  has  served  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school,  and  is  a 
strong  advocate  of  temperance  principles.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Horti- 
cultural and  Pomological  Society,  of  which  he  is  now  acting  as  secretary, 
and  fraternally  is  connected  with  the  Maccabees  tent,  also  the  Grange.  He 
is  a  self-made  man  in  the  truest  sense  of  the  term — a  man  in  whom  his 
neighbors  and  friends  have  implicit  confidence,  for  he  is  ever  found  to  be 
reliable  in  all  trade  transactions  and  commands  high  respect  from  all  with 
whom  he  is  associated.  He  is  classed  among  the  prosperous  and  well-to-do 
citizens  of  Allegan  county  and  is  regarded  as  authority  on  matters  pertain- 
ing to  the  fruit  raising  industry. 

Alexander  Girson.^ — Prosperity  is  attending  the  efforts  of  Alexander 
Gibson,  a  resident  farmer  of  Saugatuck  township,  whose  postoftice  is  Fenn- 
ville.  Widely  and  favorably  known,  the  history  of  his  life  cannot  fail  to 
prove  of  interest  to  many  of  our  readers.  The  parents  were  William  and 
Rachel  (McVeal  Gibson,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  county  Down, 
Ireland.  They  were  married  on  the  Emerald  isle  and  two  of  their  children 
were  born  ere  their  emigration  to  the  New  World.  Thinking  to  enjoy  bet- 
ter business  opportunities  and  thereby  provide  more  of  the  comforts  of 
life  for  bis  family,  William  Gibson,  in  1856,  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
in  company  with  his  wife  and  children.  He  had  learned  the  wagonmaker's 
trade  in  his  native  land  and  be  followed  that  caUing  to  some  extent  in  this 
country.  With  his  family  be  located  on  the  lake  shore  in  Saugatuck  town- 
ship, where  they  remained  until  1861,  at  which  date  the  father  purchased 
forty  acres  of  new  and  unimproved  land  in  the  same  township.  During 
the  time  that  the  land  was  being  cleared  and  improved  by  bis  sons  and 
hired  men  be  was  sailing  on  the  lakes  and  thus  secured  ready  money  to  meet 
the  wants  of  the  family.     Twenty-two  years  of  his  life  were  spent  as  a 


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158  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

sailor  and  he  sailed  on  Lakes  Michigan,  Superior  and  Erie.  lie  was  well 
qualified  to  hold  all  positions  on  the  lake  vessels  from  cook  to  captain,  and, 
in  fact,  his  services  covered  that  range.  He  had  had  former  experience  as 
a  sailor  on  the  ocean  for  five  years,  during  which  time  he  visited  all  of  the 
principal  ports  of  the  world.  His  ability  and  fidelity  continually  won  him 
promotion,  and  for  many  years  he  was  captain  of  lake  vessels.  Saving  his 
earnings,  he  invested  more  and  more  largely  in  real  estate  until  the  boun- 
daries of  the  original  farm  of  forty  acres  had  been  extended  to  embrace  a 
tract  of  ninety-five  acres.  During  the  winter  months,  when  the  lakes  were 
frozen  over,  he  worked  at  his  trade  of  wagoiimaking.  In  those  days  money 
was  scarce,  but  the  pioneers  needed  wagons  and  he  therefore  trusted  many 
for  the  work  which  he  did  and  never  received  his  pay.  Like  most  of  his 
fellow  countrymen,  William  Gibson  was  a  man  of  large  heart,  generous 
nature  and  kindly  impulses,  and  though  some  took  advantage  of  his  gen- 
erosity many  were  fair  and  square  with  him  in  business  dealings  and  he 
prospered  as  the  years  went  by.  Wherever  he  was  known  his  good  qualities 
gained  him  friends  and  he  was  a  popular  citizen.  Unto  him  and  his  wife 
were  born  four  children :  Mary  J.,  now  the  wife  of  Thomas  Wilson ;  Alex- 
ander; William,  who  was  drowned  in  Lake  Michigan,  and  Samuel.  The 
father  passed  away  October  7,  1892.    His  widow  died  in  1906. 

Alexander  Gibson  was  one  of  two  children  born  in  Ireland,  his  natal 
place  being  county  Down,  and  the  date  October  24,  1855.  He  was  largely 
reared,  however,  in  Allegan  county,  upon  the  home  fann  in  Saugatiick 
township.  In  his  younger  days  he  went  upon  the  lake  as  a  sailor  and 
devoted  twenty-two  years  to  that  life.  He  was  mate  of  the  Mary  McVea 
when  she  was  wrecked  on  Walker's  Point,  and  for  eight  years  he  had  com- 
mand of  vessels  and  was  one  of  the  well-known  lake  men  of  this  district. 
Turning  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  in  1882  he  purchased  his 
present  farm  of  eighty  acres  of  fertile  land,  which,  however,  was  then  in  an 
unclaimed  state.  By  hard  and  constant  toil  he  has  made  it  a  fruitful  and 
productive  tract.  His  buildings  are  good  and  are  of  modem  construction 
and  convenience,  and  the  farm  in  all  its  equipments  and  appointments  is 
very  complete,  being  thus  classed  with  the  model  farms  of  Allegan  county. 
He  is  largely  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  fruit  and  has  twenty-five  hun- 
dred peach  trees  upon  his  place,  two  hundred  apple  trees  and  one  hundred 
plum  trees,  while  two  and  a  half  acres  were  planted  to  pears.  One  acre 
has  been  set  out  to  black  currants  and  one  acre  to  strawberries,  and  thus 
from  the  time  when  the  early  strawberry  crops  comes  on  until  the  late 
autumn  he  is  busy  taking  care  of  the  fruit  as  it  ripens,  making  extensive 
shipments  to  the  city  market.  He  also  carries  on  a  general  line  of  farming 
and  his  fields  are  well  tilled.  He  is  justly  accounted  one  of  the  representa- 
tive fruit  growers  of  Saugatuck  township  and  his  place  is  most  attractive 
in  its  appearance. 

In  1885  Mr,  Gibson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eva,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Newcomb,  and  unto  this  marriage  has  been  born  a  daughter, 
Sybil.  Mr.  Gibson  is  a  worthy  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  his 
affiliation  being  with  Dutcher  Lodge,  No.  193,  F.  &  A.  M.  Almost  his  entire 
life  has  been  passed  in  Allegan  county  and  he  has  a  wide  acquaintance  in 
Saugatuck  township  and  other  districts  among  lake  men  and  the  agricul- 
turists.   He  possesses  many  of  the  sterling  characteristics  of  the  sons  of  the 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  150 

Emerald  isle  and  he  enjoys  in  large  measure  the  confidence  atid  respect  of 
those  with  whom  he  has  been  associated. 

M.  D.  LooMis. — The  record  of  I\L  D.  Loomis  is  an  interesting  one, 
and  is  indicative  of  what  may  be  accomplished  through  force  of  character, 
strong;  purpose  and  unfaltering  enterprise.  His  parents,  Levi  and  Sallie  A. 
(Skinner)  Loomis,  removed  from  Hamilton,  Madison  county,  New  York, 
where  they  were  reared  and  married,  to  Michigan,  in  1835,  and  were  there- 
fore among  its  first  settlers,  casting  in  their  lot  with  the  pioneers  who  were 
reclaiming  the  region  from  the  domain  of  the  savages  and  converting  it 
into  the  uses  of  civilization.  They  located  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kalamazoo 
river,  where  Mrs.  Loomis  baked  the  first  loaf  of  bread  made  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Kalamazoo  river.  Ganges  and  Saugatuck  at  that  time  were  under 
one  township  organization.  Later  they  removed  to  the  village  of  Sauga- 
tuck, where  they  remained  for  some  time,  and  on  the  loth  of  March,  1840, 
they  took  up  their  abode  in  what  is  now  Ganges  township.  Mr.  Loomis 
purchasing  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  from  James  Hale.  On  this 
land  he  built  a  little  cabin  and  soon  succeeded  in  clearing  the  place  for  his 
crops.  His  neighbors  were  Indians  and  there  were  many  wolves  in  the 
district.  The  red  men  were  not  unfriendly,  but  the  wolves  were  a  great 
source  of  trouble  and  expense  to  him  because  of  the  depredations  which 
they  made  upon  the  farm  yard,  in  one  night  killing  several  head  of  stock. 
In  that  early  day  Mr.  Loomis  engaged  extensively  in  fruit  raising,  and  he 
was  regarded  as  a  man  of  influence  and  prominence  in  the  community  be- 
cause of  the  early  experiences  which  he  had  in  the  wilderness,  gaining 
thereby  a  knowledge  of  the  possibilities  of  the  country.  He  was  honored 
with  various  local  offices,  serving  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  also  as  tax  col- 
lector of  Ganges  and  Saugatuck  townships.  Unto  him  and  his  wife  were 
born  seven  children:  Florence  A.,  Ida  T.,  Effie  L.  fdeceasedl,  Charles  L. 
(deceased),  L.  B.  (deceased),  Charles  H..  and  M.  D.  The  father  passed 
away  November  21,  1902,  having  for  more  than  three  years  survived  his 
wife,  who  died  on  the  3d  of  April,  1899. 

M.  D,  Loomis  is  one  of  the  native  sons  of  Allegan  county,  having  been 
born  March  10.  1840.  He  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  Ganges  town- 
ship and  is  now  one  of  its  oldest  continuous  residents,  a  fact  which  well 
entitles  him  to  representation  in  this  volume.  He  has  always  followed 
farming  and  fruit  raising  and  is  now  the  owner  of  forty  acres  of  first-class 
land,  upon  which  he  has  set  about  eight  hundred  trees,  including  five  hun- 
dred peach  trees  and  three  hundred  plum  trees.  He  also  has  one  acre  de- 
voted to  currants.  He  has  owned  this  place  since  1876  and  has  brought  it 
imder  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 

The  only  interruption  to  Mr.  Loomis'  life  of  continuous  activity  in  the 
field  of  agricultural  and  horticultural  pursuits  was  his  military  service  in 
the  Civil  war.  In  1864  he  enlisted  in  defense  of  his  country's  honor  and 
the  preservation  of  the  Union,  becoming  a  member  of  Company  I,  Seven- 
teenth Michigan  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  in  front  of  Petersburg  during 
its  siege  and  made  a  creditable  record  by  his  valor  and  loyalty,  being  honor- 
ably discharged  at  the  close  of  the  war  in  1865. 

Mr.  Loomis  was  married  December  16,  t876,  to  Miss  Mary  Ertman. 
and  unto  them  were  born  four  children,  Floy  M..  Gertrude  E.,  Myrta  T. 


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IGO  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

and  Pearl  D.  The  parents  are  both  well  known  and  have  a  wide  circle  of 
warm  friends  in  this  part  of  Allegan  county.  Few  native  sons  of  the  county 
have  longer  resided  within  its  borders,  and,  as  stated,  Mr.  Loomis,  is  the 
oldest  continuous  resident  in  Ganges  township,  having  made  his  home  here 
for  sixty-six  years.  Great  have  been  the  changes  which  time  and  man 
have  wrought,  as  the  work  of  improvement  has  been  carried  steadily  for- 
ward. The  early  settlers  planted  the  seeds  of  civilization  and  later  residents 
have  brought  forth  the  harvest  in  good  buildings,  fine  farms  and  enterpris- 
ing villages.  At  all  times  Mr.  Loomis  has  manifested  a  public -spirited  in- 
terest in  the  welfare  of  his  community  and  has  done  much  to  promote 
progress. 

John  Wynn,  a  worthy  farmer  of  Saugatuck  township,  whose  post- 
office  is  Fennviile,  is  a  native  of  the  country  of  Holland,  having  been  born 
there  in  1843.  ^'^  parents  were  John  and  Mary  Wynn,  who  emigrated  from 
the  land  of  the  dykes  to  the  New  World  in  1847,  locating  first  at  Rochester, 
New  York,  where  the  death  of  the  wife  and  mother  occurred.  The  father 
and  children  afterward  left  the  Empire  State  and  came  to  Allegan  county, 
Michigan,  where  John  Wynn,  Sr.,  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  north  of 
the  village  of  Allegan.  His  family  numbered  ten  children,  but  only  three 
of  the  number  yet  survive,  as  follows :  John,  Brown  and  Mary,  all  living  in 
Allegan  county. 

John  Wynn  was  a  little  lad  of  only  four  years  when  he  accompanied 
his  parents  on  their  emigration  to  the  United  States.  His  youth  was  there- 
fore largely  passed  in  New  York  and  in  this  county,  and  he  was  early 
trained  to  the  work  of  the  home  farm.  When  a  young  man  of  eighteen 
years  he  enlisted  in  1861  in  response  to  his  country's  call  for  loyal  citizens 
to  stem  the  tide  of  rebellion  in  the  South.  Putting  aside  all  personal  con- 
siderations he  donned  the  blue  uniform  and  became  a  member  of  Company 
C,  Thirteenth  Michigan  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  three  times  wounded 
during  his  military  experience,  once  in  the  shoulder,  again  in  the  side  and  a 
third  time  in  the  head  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River.  He  re-enlisted  at  Chatta- 
nooga, Tennessee,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  July  12,  1865. 
During  his  service  his  valor  and  loyalty  were  proven  on  many  a  southern 
battlefield.  He  has  a  military  record  of  which  he  has  every  reason  to  be 
proud  and  he  manifests  the  same  spirit  of  fidelity  to  his  country  in  days  of 
peace  as  when  he  followed  the  Stars  and  Stripes  on  long  marches  of  the 
south. 

In  1869  Mr.  Wynn  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Slater,  and 
imto  them  were  born  two  children,  John  B.  and  Mrs.  Nellie  Chamberlain. 
After  losing  his  first  wife,  Mr.  Wynn  was  again  married,  his  second  union 
being  with  Miss  Josephine  Babcock,  whom  he  wedded  in  1894. 

Their  home  is  upon  a  farm  of  fifty  acres  in  Saugatuck  township,  on 
which  Mr.  Wynn  has  resided  since  1865.  When  he  made  purchase  of  that 
land  it  cost  him  eight  dollars  per  acre  and  was  in  its  primitive  condition, 
not  a  furrow  having  been  turned  nor  an  improvement  made  upon  the  prop- 
erty. In  fact,  it  was  covered  with  a  growth  of  timber  and  he  had  to  clear 
away  the  trees  and  stumos.  before  he  could  plow  the  land  and  convert  it 
into  productive  fields.  He  has  erected  good  buildings  upon  it  and  bv  his 
energy  and  close  application  to  his  business  has  developed  an  excellent  farm. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  161 

When  his  dweUing  was  destroyed  by  fire  he  immediately  rebuilt  a  more  mod- 
ern and  commodious  ediiice.  He  follows  both  fruit  raising  and  general 
farming,  giving  the  latter,  however,  the  greater  part  of  his  attention,  and 
his  fields  bring  forth  good  harvests,  including  various  products. 

He  is  a  loyal  and  worthy  citizen,  meriting  and  receiving  the  fuil  confi- 
dence of  his  fellow  townsmen,  and  ail  who  know  him  speak  of  him  in 
terms  of  praise. 

F.  F.  Atwood. — Nature  seems  to  have  prepared  various  parts  of  the 
county  for  diiierent  lines  of  business.  The  resources  which  she  affords  to 
the  race  are  many,  and  when  one  line  of  occupation  has  been  worked  to 
its  full  extent  it  calls  for  activity  in  another  direction.  Such  has  been  the 
history  of  Allegan  county.  At  one  time  the  district  was  covered  by  a  dense 
forest  growth,  affording  inducement  to  the  lumbermen,  and  when  the  great 
forests  were  cut  away  it  was  found  that  the  soil  was  rich  and  productive, 
especially  adapted  to  fruit  culture.  Therefore  a  large  number  of  its  resi- 
dents are  devoting  their  time  and  energies  to  horticultural  pursuits,  and 
among  the  representative  farmers  and  fruit  growers  of  Saugatuck  township 
is  numbered  F.  F.  Atwood,  whose  name  introduces  this  review.  He  owns 
and  operates  eighty  acres  of  land,  all  of  which  is  especially  devoted  to 
the  raising  of  fruit. 

Mr.  Atwood  is  one  of  Michigan's  native  sons,  having  been  born  in 
Grand  Traverse  county  January  17,  1870.  His  parents  are  Orin  A.  and 
Emma  L.  (Russell)  Atwood,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  New  York. 
The  father  reiTioved  to  Michigan  in  the  early  '60s,  and  was  therefore  one  of 
the  early  pioneers  of  Grand  Traverse  county.  Few  settlers  had  penetrated 
into  its  dense  timber  regions  at  that  time,  and  hardly  a  road  had  been  cut 
through  the  forests  or  a  permanent  dwelling  established.  Mr.  Atwood  did 
as  much  as  any  other  man  in  his  community  toward  advancing  the  growth 
and  development  of  this  part  of  the  state.  He  owned  eighty  acres  of  land, 
which  he  cultivated  and  improved,  bringing  it  under  a  high  state  of  develop- 
ment. He  was  a  most  honorable,  upright  man,  well  meriting  the  esteem  and 
confidence  which  were  uniformly  accorded  him.  By  trade  he  was  a  car- 
penter, and  was  a  good  mechanic,  and  in  connection  with  his  farming  opera- 
tions he  followed  building  to  some  extent,  which  contributed  much  to  the 
comfort  of  the  early  settlers  who  engaged  his  services  in  the  building  of 
their  homes.  As  the  years  passed  ten  children  were  added  to  the  family 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs,  Atwood,  eight  of  whom  reached  years  of  maturity,  while 
seven  are  still  living  at  this  writing,  in  1906,  namely :  John  M.,  Mrs.  Lillian 
Chaney,  Mrs.  Hattie  Clauss,  O.  A.,  E.  E.,  F,  F.,  and  Mrs.  Emma  C.  Gi!- 

F.  F.  Atwood,  whose  name  introduces  this  record,  spent  the  days  of 
his  boyhood  and  youth  in  the  usual  manner  of  farm  lads.  He  acquired  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  and  was  trained  to  the  work  of  the  home 
farm  through  the  assistance  which  he  gave  his  father  until  twenty-one  years 
of  age.  He  then  left  home  and  went  west,  first  to  Wyoming,  later  to  Colo- 
rado and  Montana,  and  worked  on  some  of  the  largest  cattle  ranches  in 
Wyoming.  He  remained  in  the  west  for  three  years,  seeing  much  of  the 
frontier  life.  He  returned  to  Michigan  in  1894.  He  has  never  sought  to 
change  his  mode  of  life  or  occupation  other  than  by  keeping,  in  touch  with 


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163  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

the  trend  of  modem  progress  along  agricuUural  lines.  He  has  owned  his 
present  farm  since  1900,  and  now  has  one  of  the  vahiabie  properties  of 
Saugatuck  township,  where  he  is  extensively  engaged  in  growing  fruit. 
The  place  comprises  eighty  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  has  thirty-five 
hundred  peach  trees,  one  hundred  and  thirty  apple  trees,  one  thousand  pear 
trees,  two  hundred  cherry  trees  and  twelve  hundred  currant  bushes.  From 
this  number  it  will  readily  be  imagined  how  large  are  his  crops  of  the  dif- 
ferent fruits  each  year.  His  place  from  early  spring  until  late  autumn  is  a 
very  busy  one  as  the  work  of  picking  and  packing  is  carried  on.  and  the 
fruit  is  thus  made  ready  for  shipment.  In  addition  to  this  work  he  carries 
on  general  farming  to  an  extent  necessary  to  supply  his  home  with  needed 
cereals,  and  from  the  sale  of  his  crops  he  is  annually  enabled  to  secure  not 
only  the  comforts  but  some  of  the  luxuries  of  life. 

Mr.  Atwood  was  married  to  Miss  Annette  Waldo,  a  daughter  of  George 
■  W.  and  Mary  F.  (Green)  Waldo.  Her  parents  came  to  Michigan  early  in 
the  '605.  Mrs.  Waldo  was  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  and  her  husband 
of  Vermont.  He  was  one  of  the  active  men  of  Saugatuck  township,  a  man 
of  great  worth  from  many  points  of  view.  It  was  he  who  made  the  Atwood 
farm  what  it  is  today.  The  house  is  among  the  best  dwellings  of  the  town- 
ship and  will  stand  as  a  monument  to  his  memory.  He  took  no  active  part 
in  politics,  preferring  to  give  his  whole  time  to  his  business  affairs,  and  it 
was  through  his  attention  to  duty  that  he  became  one  of  the  representative 
and  successful  business  men  of  the  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waldo  were  sin- 
gle when  they  arrived  in  Michigan,  and  by  their  marriage  there  were  four 
children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living,  Mrs.  Atwood  and  Mrs.  Flora  Lock- 
wood.  The  father  died  in  the  year  1900.  The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  At- 
wood has  been  blessed  with  six  children,  of  whom  four  are  living,  Clarence 
M.,  Evelyn,  Emerald  and  Francis  F.,  Jr. 

Mr.  Atwood  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  society,  and  holds 
the  office  of  grand  vice  in  his  lodge.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  school 
board,  and  is  interested  in  the  material,  intellectual  and  moral  progress  of 
his  community  and  enjoys  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

Thomas  Wilson,  deceased,  was  for  many  years  an  active  representa- 
tive of  agriculttiral  and  horticultural  interests  in  Allegan  county.  He  was 
a  native  of  England  and  was  born  in  1828.  He  was  employed  as  a  brick- 
maker  in  his  native  country,  and  in  1848,  when  a  young  man  of  twenty 
years,  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  the  United  States,  where  he  secured  em- 
ployment as.  engineer  on  a  steamboat  which  plied  the  Mississippi  river.  After 
two  years  spent  in  that  way  he  removed  to  Singapore,  Michigan,  where  for 
a  number  of  years  he  was  occupied  in  the  same  pursuit.  Noting  the  pro- 
ductiveness of  the  soil  in  this  state  and  realizing  the  necessity  of  acnuiring 
a  competence  for  his  old  age,  he  decided  to  purchase  a  farm,  which  he  did, 
coming  into  possession  of  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Ganges 
township.  This  was  in  its  natural  state,  but  he  at  once  supervised  the  work 
of  clearing  and  cultivating  the  land  and  erecting  good  buildings,  until  his 
farm  was  made  a  highly  productive  and  improved  property.  He.  however, 
during  this  time  continued  his  work  as  an  engineer,  but  after  a  few  years 
retired  from  that  pursuit  and  located  on  his  farm,  there  continuing  the 
work  of  further  development  and  improvement  throughout  his  remaining 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  163 

days,  and  thus  at  his  death  he  left  to  his  family  a  valuable  estate.  In  addi- 
tion to  his  genera]  farming  pursuits  he  also  engaged  in  fruit  raising,  having 
an  orchard  containing  three  thousand  peach  trees,  and  he  likewise  had  an 
orchard  set  out  to  apples  and  small  fruit.  He  worked  diligently  and  per- 
sistently in  carrying  on  his  business  interests  and  as  the  years  passed  by 
met  with  very  desirable  and  gratifying  results. 

In  1856  Mr.  Wilson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Annie  C.  Abbey, 
a  daughter  of  Pierce  and  Abagail  (Astle)  Abbey,  and  a  native  of  County 
Carlow,  Ireland.  Unto  onr  subject  and  his  wife  were  born  four  sons,  but 
only  two  of  the  number  now  survive,  William  P.  and  Frank  E.,  while  the 
eldest  and  youngest  members  of  the  family,  Thomas  J.  and  Robert  A.  re- 
spectively, are  deceased.  William  P.  wedded  Miss  Libbie  Randal,  by  whom 
he  has  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  Bessie  C,  Mabel  A.,  Frank  E.  and 
Joseph  W.  The  death  of  the  husband  and  father  occurred  August  8,  1889, 
and  his  loss  was  deeply  regretted  by  a  host  of  warm  friends  as  well  as  by 
his  immediate  family.  He  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  and  was  likewise  identified  with  the  Grange.  His  life  was 
ever  characterized  by  upright  and  honorable  principles  and  by  a  devotion 
to  the  best  interests  of  his  community.  He  was  ever  found  straightforward 
in  all  his  business  transactions  and  was  never  known  to  take  advantage  of 
the  necessities  of  his  fellowmen. 

His  widow,  Mrs.  Annie  C.  Wilson,  as  stated  above,  was  bom  in  Ire- 
land, to  which  country  her  parents  had  removed  from  England,  which  coun- 
try was  the  place  of  their  nativity.  Her  mother  represented  an  aristocratic 
English  family,  and  her  brother.  Captain  Astle,  an  uncle  of  Mrs.  Wilson,  was 
sent  to  Ireland  to  participate  in  the  rebellion,  and  being  pleased  with  the 
Emerald  isle  he  induced  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abbey  to  locate  there.  They  there 
took  up  their  abode  and  the  father  engaged  in  farming  pursuits,  and  it  was 
there  that  the  birth  of  their  daughter,  Mrs.  Wilson,  occurred.  She  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States  in  1848,  the  same  year  of  the  arrival  of  the  one 
who  in  later  years  became  her  husband.  She  still  makes  her  home  on  the 
farm  which  was  left  her  by  Mr.  Wilson  and  she  is  today  accounted  one  of 
the  highly  respected  women  of  Allegan  county,  where  she  has  a  host  of 
warm  friends  and  where  she  and  her  family  enjoy  the  hospitality  of  the  best 
homes  of  this  section  of  the  county. 

Peter  Moran  Is  a  representative  of  horticultural  interests  of  Sauga- 
tuck  township,  where  he  owns  a  well-improved  and  valuable  farm  of  fifty 
acres,  which  is  devoted  exclusively  to  the  raising  of  peaches,  apples  and 
small  fruit.  Mr.  Moran  is  a  native  of  West  Virginia,  being  a  son  of  Elbert 
and  Margaret  (Van  Gilder)  Moran,  who  were  likewise  natives  of  West 
Virginia.  Ancestors  in  both  the  paternal  and  maternal  lines  were  active 
representatives  of  the  Colonists  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Reared  and  educated  in  his  native  state,  Mr.  Moran  there  remained 
until  he  had  attained  man's  estate,  and  then  made  his  way  to  Nebraska, 
where  he  followed  general  agricultural  pursuits  for  some  time,  meeting  with 
good  success  in  his  undertakings  in  the  western  country.  He  later  made 
his  way  to  the  city  of  Chicago,  and  after  a  time  spent  in  the  western 
metropolis  took  up  his  abode  in  Allegan  county,  Michigan,  the  year  of  his 
arrival  being  igoi.    He  here  purchased  a  half  interest  in  a  tract  of  one  liun- 


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164  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

dred  and  twenty  acres,  and  continued  his  operations  as  a  general  farmer. 
He  has  since  disposed  of  a  part  of  his  property,  but  still  retains  possession 
of  fifty  acres,  which  is  pleasantly  and  conveniently  situated  on  the  lake  front 
in  Saugatuck  township,  and  has  set  out  the  most  of  his  place  to  fruit,  in- 
cluding one  thousand  peach  trees,  beside  apples  and  small  fruit.  He  is 
meeting  with  merited  success  in  his  fruit  raising  interests,  for  he  is  thor- 
oughly conversant  with  the  best  methods  of  carrying  on  a  work  of  this 
character,  so  that  each  year  he  annually  harvests  good  crops  of  fruit,  and 
the  products  of  his  farm  find  a  ready  sale  on  the  market,  owing  to  size, 
quality  and  flavor,  and  he  is  thus  enabled  to  secure  a  good  price  therefor. 
He  has  improved  his  farm  with  good  buildings,  and  in  1903  erected  a  fine 
country  residence,  modern  in  its  equipments  and  construction,  and  his  is 
one  of  the  attractive  farm  properties  of  this  portion  of  the  county.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  cultivation  of  fruit  he  likewise  engages  in  general  farming  to 
some  extent,  and  this  branch  of  his  business  is  also  proving  a  gratifying 
source  of  income  to  him. 

Choosing  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's  journey,  Mr.  Moran  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Phebe  E.  Jones,  who  was  also  born  iri  the  place 
of  his  nativity,  and  unto  them  have  been  born  three  children,  Floyd  L., 
Hallie  and  Elbert  R.  Mr.  Moran  takes  an  active  and  helpful  interest  in  al! 
matters  pertaining  to  local  progress  and  has  served  his  township  as  path- 
master.  He  is  a  worthy  member  of  Dutcher  Lodge,  No.  193,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  is  popular  among  the  brethren  of  this  fraternity. 

Although  Mr.  Moran  is  numbered  among  the  more  recent  arrivals  in 
Allegan  county,  his  residence  here  covering  the  brief  period  of  five  years, 
he  has  nevertheless  made  many  warm  friends,  for  he  possesses  a  kindly 
nature  and  high  moral  character,  so  that  he  has  won  the  confidence  of  all 
with  whom  he  is  associated. 

Fred  Schultz  resides  upon  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
in  Saugatuck  township.  It  is  his  own  property  and  is  devoted  to  the  cultiva- 
tion of  fruit  and  grain.  He  is  numbered  among  those  who  have  won  for 
this  district  its  wide  reputation  as  a  fine  fruit  belt  and  his  well -managed 
business  interests  are  bringing  him  a  gratifying  measure  of-  success. 

Mr.  Schidtz  is  one  of  the  native  sons  of  Allegan  county,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  in  Douglas  November  24,  1866.  He  comes  of  German  an- 
cestry, his  parents,  Fred  and  Dena  (Berlin)  Schultz,  having  both  been  na- 
tives of  the  fatherland.  They  emigrated  to  the  New  World  in  the  '60s,  Mr. 
Schultz  crossing  the  Atlantic  to  Canada,  while  the  mother  of  our  subject 
sailed  to  New  York.  They  met  and  were  married  in  this  country,  and  for 
some  time  after  his  marriage  the  father  continued  to  follow  the  wagon- 
maker's  trade,  which  he  had  learned  in  his  native  land.  He  spent  two  years 
in  Illinois  in  that  way,  and  then  thinking  that  he  might  more  readily  acquire 
a  competence  through  farming  operations  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
land,  on  which  was  a  small  clearing.  The  remainder  of  the  land  he  cleared 
from  the  timber  and  in  due  time  built  neat  and  substantial  buildings  upon  his 
place.  He  was  a  good  farmer  as  well  as  a  mechanic  of  superior  ability,  and , 
his  life  was  one  of  diligence  and  industry,  crowned  with  a  goodly  measure 
.  of  success.  The  family  numbered  six  children,  three  of  whom  are  vet  living, 
John,  Mrs.  Sophia  Waltz  and  Fred,     The  death  of  the  father  occurred  in 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  165 

woa  and  the  mother  passed  away  the  same  year,  so  that  this  worthy  couple 
who  had  long  traveled  hfe's  journey  together  were  not  long  separated  m 

'"  Fred  Schultz,  whose  name  introduces  this  review,  has  spent  his  entire 
Ufe  in  Allegan  county,  and  his  education  was  acquired  m  the  public  schools, 
while  he  rSceivcd  practical  training  in  tarm  work  through  the  assistance 
which  he  rendered  his  father.  For  eigliteen  years  he  h"  owned  forty  acres 
of  his  present  (arm,  which  was  once  the  property  of  his  father,  and  the 
remaining  tract  of  eighty  acres  he  purchased  of  James  Perry  m  March 
,004  He  now  has  an  exceUent  and  well-improved  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres,  which  lie  devotes  to  the  raising  of  fruit  and  cereals  He 
has  five  hundred  peach  trees  and  seventy  apple  trees,  beside  other  fruits  ot 
various  kinds  in  smaller  quantities.  He  also  has  twenty-six  acres  planted 
to  beans  and  five  acres  to  mint,  and  the  various  crops  are  large  because  the 
land  is  well  cultivated,  according  to  the  various  uses  to  which  it  is  put.  tie 
finds  a  ready  sale  on  the  market  for  his  products  and  his  annual  mcome  is 
therefore  very  desirable.  ,         r    o      .    sr-     r  „i,. 

Mr  Schulti  was  united  in  marriage  in  the  sprmg  of  1899  to  Miss  Lulu 
Harper  of  Climax,  Michigan,  and  unto  them  have  been  born  four  children, 
Delia  Dena,  Lulu  and  Earl.  The  family  are  well  known  in  this  part  ot  the 
county  their  farm  being  pleasantly  and  conveniently  located  near  I'ennviue. 
Their  home  is  a  hospitable  one  and  its  good  cheer  is  greatly  enjoyed  by  their 
many  friends. 

Henhv  Mead.— The  farming  interests  of  Saugatuck  townsliip  are  well 
renresented  by  Henry  Mead,  who  owns  and  conducts  a  productive  farm  of 
ninety  acres  within  its  border.  This  place  has  been  in  his  possession  since 
1882  and  is  now  a  well-developed  fruit  farm,  its  fine  appearance  being  in- 
dicative of  the  care  and  labor  which  he  has  bestowed  upon  it,  for  when  it 
came  into  his  possession  it  was  a  tract  of  wild  land. 

Mr  Mead  is  one  of  Michigan's  native  sons,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  Van  Buren  county.  His  parents  were  Joseph  and  Susan  (Hogmire) 
Mead  both  of  whom  were  bom  in  Genesee  county.  New  York,  whence 
they  came  to  Michigan  in  1849.  The  father  died  in  1852,  and  his  widow 
afterward  became  the  wife  of  P.  Purdy. 

Henry  Mead,  the  only  child  born  of  the  mother  s  first  marriage,  was 
reared  and  educated  in  Allegan  county,  having  resided  within  its  borders 
since  1857  He  early  became  familiar  with  the  arduous  task  of  developing 
a  new  farm  and  has  always  given  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  His 
first  farm  was  a  small  one  of  twenty  acres  and  he  afterward  purchased 
another  farm  of  eighty  acres,  which  is  now  the' property  of  Mr.  Eddy,  but 
which  was  owned  by  Mr.  Mead  for  sixteen  years.  In  i88a  the  latter 
bought  his  present  farm,  comprising  ninety  acres  of  good  land  in  Saugatuck 
township.  Upon  this  tract  of  land  he  has  set  out  four  hundred  apple  trees, 
six  hundred  and  fifty  crahapple  trees,  one  hundred  pear  trees  and  fifty 
chestnut  trees,  and  his  orchards  are  now  in  excellent  bearing  condition  and 
his  shipments  of  fruit  are  extensive.  Beside  his  productions  along  this  line 
he  carries  on  general  farming.  He  bought  the  land  when  m  its  virgin 
condition  and  in  ten  years  he  had  cleared  the  farm,  had  erected  good  build- 
ings and  had  brought  much  of  his  land  under  cultivation.     Today  it  is  a 


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ILiG  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

well-improved  property,  and  Mr.  Mead  is  thoroughly  conversant  with  the 
best  methods  of  tilling  the  soil  and  promoting  his  orchard  interests. 

In  1875  Mr.  Mead  was  married  to  Miss  Emma  Shoemaker,  of  Allegan 
county,  and  unto  this  union  were  born  four  children,  Mrs.  Minnie  B  Lock- 
man,  Irving,  Florence  and  Hazel.  The  son  has  sailed  on  the  lake  for  five 
years  and  the  younger  daughters  are  now  at  home. 

Mr.  Mead  gives  his  political  support  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  has 
served  as  pathmaster  of  his  township,  but  has  never  been  a  politician  in  the 
sense  of  office  seeking.  He  enjoys  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens,  be- 
cause in  all  relations  he  has  been  found  worthy  of  the  trust  reposed  in  him, 
bemg  straightforward  and  reliable  in  his  business  and  manifesting  due 
regard  for  the  rights  of  others  in  all  relations  of  life. 

Benjamin  Crawford. — In  the  historv  of  Allegan  county  the  name  of 
Benjamm  Crawford  appears  as  one  of  the  pioneer  setders  of  Manlius  town- 
ship. Mr.  Crawford  was  born  in  New  York  city  in  1831,  and  continued 
to  reside  there  until  his  twenty-first  year,  when  he— seeing  possibilities  in 
the  western  country  that  was  opening  up  to  settlement— moved  to  Michigan 
and  settled  in  Manlius  township.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Abagail  Wright, 
a  native  of  New  York  state,  where  she  was  born  in  1839,  and  together  they 
came  west  to  found  a  new  home.  Two  children  were  born  to  them,  both 
now  deceased,  viz. :  Emma,  who  became  Mrs.  George  Smeed,  and  George 
On  first  coming  to  Michigan  Mr.  Crawford  purchased  an  interest  in 
three  tracts  of  land  with  Messrs.  Mix  and  Fenn,  and  in  the  spring  of  1852 
It  was  divided,  Mr.  Crawford  getting  the  one  hundred  and  forty-two  and 
one-third  acre  tract,  on  which  he  now  lives.  Immediately  on  obtaining  pos- 
session of  the  farm  he  built  a  house,  in  which  he  and  his  wife  have  resided 
continuously  smce,  with  the  exception  of  two  vears  they  spent  in  the  east, 
and  started  m  clearing  and  improving  the  land.  In  less  than  fifteen  years 
It  was  entirely  cleared,  and  is  now  worth  about  five  thousand  dollars.  Seven 
acres  of  the  farm  is  devoted  exclusively  to  fruit,  apples,  pears  peaches 
plums  and  cherries. 

Mr.  Crawford  has  during  his  residence  in  Manlius  township  been  hon- 
ored by  his  fellow  citizens  by  the  election  to  the  offices  of  township  treasurer 
and  highway  commissioner,  which  he  has  filled  to  his  own  credit  and  the 
satisfaction  of  the  people.  It  is  a  source  of  great  satisfaction  to  him  to  be 
able  to  spend  his  declining  years  in  the  township  which  he  saw  grow  from 
a  scattered,  partially  settled  community  to  a  district  of  beautiful  and  well- 
kept  farms,  and  to  feel  that  all  through  the  years  he  has  won  and  retained 
the  confidence  and  good-will  of  the  neighbors  with  whom  he  came  in  con- 
fact. 

_  Mr.  Crawford  is  a  member  of  Douglas  Lodge,  No.  196,  F.  &  A.  M    in 
which  lodge  his  presence  is  always  appreciated. 

James  H.  Fosdick,  an  old  and  respected  resident  of  Manlius  township 
was  born  in  Massachusetts  November  16,  1827,  where  he  was  raised  and 
educated.  In  1850  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mina  Campbell  of  Con- 
necticut, and  to  them  have  been  born  eight  children,  the  five  following  of 
whom  are  now  living,  viz.:  Elbert  C;  Charles  L.,  who  married  Miss  E  L. 
Bnggs;  Henry  J.;  Clifford  L.,  who  married  Miss  Anna  Caldwell;  Elva  M 
wife  of  Charles  Secord,  and  Edith,  wife  of  Cleon  Post. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY  167 

In  the  dark  days  of  the  RebelHon  Mr.  Fosdick,  moved  by  patriotic 
enthusiasm  and  a  desire  to  defend  the  Union,  enlisted  in  Company  H, 
Forty-ninth  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which  regiment  he 
served  faithfully  until  1863.  when  he  was  honorably  discharged  from  the 
service.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  H.  Fenn  Post,  Ko.  371,  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  and  has  served  that  post  as  chaplain. 

Mr,  Fosdick  is  universally  respected  by  the  citizens  of  Manlius  town- 
ship, and  while  not  actively  engaged  in  politics  has  served  them  in  an  official 
capacity,  including  among  other  services  the  position  of  pathmaster.  He 
has  resided  on  the  farm  which  he  now  owns  since  1866,  at  which  time  it 
was  a  part  of  the  primitive  forest.  He  purchased  the  land  from  a  Mr. 
PhilHps  for  the  sum  of  twelve  dollars  and  a  half  per  acre,  and  has  improved 
the  property  since  that  time  imtil  it  has  become  one  of  the  model  farms  of 
the  locaHty.  There  are  on  this  farm  in  full  bearing  and  a  liigh  state  of 
cultivation  four  hundred  fruit  trees,  including  among  other  varieties  apples, 
pears,  peaches,  cherries  and  a  fine  variety  of  small  fruits. 

JoH^f  L.  HiRNER.  an  enterprising  and  progressive  farmer  of  Allegan 
county,  owns  a  tract  of  forty  acres  situated  in  Saugatuck  township,  and  was 
fonnerly  engaged  in  fruit  raising,  but  is  now  turning  his  attention  more 
exclusively  to  the  cultivation  of  mint,  which  has  during  the  past  few  years 
been  found  to  be  a  profitable  industry.  He  is  a  native  son  of  the  township, 
his  birth  having  here  occurred  on  the  25th  of  September,  1861.  a  son  of 
Lewis  and  Christine  Hirner,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Germany.  They 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1844,  and.  landing  in  New  York  city,  they 
there  remained  one  year,  after  which  they  made  their  wav  to  Chicago,  where 
they  lived  tmtil  1858,  when  they  made  their  way  to  Allegan  county,  this 
state.  The  father  purchased  a  tract  of  forty  acres  of  wild  land,  which  he 
cleared  and  developed,  and  it  is  this  farm  upon  which  our  subject  now 
makes  his  home,  and  throtigh  his  continued  efforts  the  property  has  become 
a  valuable  and  well-improved  tract.  In  1861  the  father  responded  to  the 
call  of  his  adopted  country  for  troops  <luring  the  Civil  war,  and  enlisted 
as  a  private  in  the  Fifth  Michigan  Cavalry.  He  took  part  in  the  memorable 
battle  of  Gettysburg,  from  which  he  escaped  uninjured,  but  was  later  shot 
by  a  stray  ball  at  the  han<ls  of  the  enemy  in  August.  1864.  Unto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hirner  were  born  two  children.  John  L.,  of  this  review,  and  Louise, 
deceased. 

John  L.  Hirner  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  township  which  has 
always  been  his  home.  Being  but  one  year  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  father's 
death,  he  always  remained  with  his  mother  on  the  home  farm,  assisting  her 
in  its  operation  and  management  during  his  boyhood  and  vouth.  and  he  is 
now  in  possession  of  the  property,  being  the  only  heir,  and  he  still  continues 
its  development  and  iniprovenient.  He  was  formerly  engaged  quite  exten- 
sively in  the  raising  of  fruit,  having  set  out  thirty-five  hundred  pear  trees, 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  apple  trees,  two  hundred  cherry  trees  and  also 
has  other  small  fruit.  In  the  present  year,  however,  he  began  to  experiment 
in  the  cultivation  of  mint,  having  only  a  few  acres  devoted  to  this  plant. 
He  was  very  successful  in  his  venture  and  intends  next  year  to  devote  about 
forty  acres  to  this  industry,  believing  it  to  be  more  profitable  than  horticul- 
tural pursuits.    He  has  erected  a  plant  for  the  purpose  of  distilling  his  own 


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168  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

mint  as  well  as  doing  his  neighbors'  work.  This  factory  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  fourteen  hundred  dollars  and  has  a  capacity  of  one  thousand  pounds 
daily. 

In  1893  Mr.  Hiriier  was  happily  married  to  Miss  Phebe  Buchanan,  by 
whom  he  has  five  children,  Maggie,  John,  Flossie,  Hazel  and  James.  Mr. 
Hirner  is  a  member  of  the  Maccabees  tent  and  has  served  his  township  as 
pathmaster.  He  takes  an  active  and  helpful  interest  in  all  matters  pertain- 
ing to  local  progress,  and  through  his  close  application  and  well  directed 
efforts  in  his  private  business  interests  is  meeting  with  desirable  success. 

Seth  W.  Loveridge. — Among  the  early  pioneer  settlers  of  Allegan 
county  who  have  been  identified  with  its  development  and  prepress  through 
a  half  century  is  numbered  Seth  W.  Loveridge,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
Monroe  county.  New  York,  on  the  20th  of  December,  1824,  His  parents, 
Caleb  and  Mary  (Loomis)  Loveridge,  were  natives  of  Massachusetts  and 
Connecticut,  respectively,  and  his  father  served  in  the  War  of  1812,  while 
the  maternal  grandfather,  Jacob  Loomis,  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary 
war. 

Seth  W.  Loveridge  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  county,  and 
later  removed  to  Genesee  county,  of  the  Empire  State,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farm  labor  for  a  time.  Hoping  to  enjoy  better  opportunities  in 
the  new  and  growing  west,  in  1848  he  made  his  way  to  Oakland  county,  this 
state,  where  he  spent  the  three  succeeding  years,  subsequent  to  which  time, 
in  1852,  he  went  to  California,  where  he  spent  a  time.  Returning  to  Michi- 
gan, he  took  up  his  abode  in  Allegan  county  in  1855,  purchasing  the  farm  on 
which  he  has  continued  to  make  his  home  to  the  present  time.  This  tract 
was  in  a  wild  and  unimproved  state  when  it  came  into  his  possession,  but 
with  characteristic  energy  he  at  once  undertook  the  task  of  clearing  the 
land  and  placing  it  under  cultivation,  and  in  due  course  of  time  gathered 
abundant  harvests  as  the  result  of  the  care  and  labor  he  had  bestowed  upon 
the  fields.  He  likewise  erected  good  and  substantial  buildings,  including  a 
home  and  barns  for  the  shelter  of  grain  and  stock,  and  now  has  a  model 
farm,  comprising  one  hundred  and  forty  acres,  indicating  in  its  neat  and 
thrifty  appearance  the  careful  supervision  and  management  of  the  owner. 
In  addition  to  raising  the  cereals  best  adapted  to  soil  and  climate,  Mr. 
Loveridge  is  also  engaged  in  the  raising  of  fruit  to  quite  an  extent,  devoting 
thirty  acres  to  horticultural  pursuits,  this  being  set  out  to  apples,  peaches, 
plums  and  pears,  besides  various  kinds  of  small  fruits.  He  is  prospering  in 
his  undertakings  and  in  his  work  displays  excellent  ability  and  sound  judg- 
ment, which  have  resulted  in  the  acquirement  of  a  good  property  and  a  com- 
fortable competence. 

Mr.  Loveridge  was  interrupted  in  his  business  interests  by  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  war.  when,  feeling  that  his  first  duty  was  to  his  country,  he 
joined  the  boys  in  blue,  becoming  a  member  of  Company  H,  Thirteenth 
Michigan  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  participated  in  some  of  the  most  im- 
portant battles  that  took  place,  including  the  capture  of  Savannah  and  the 
battle  of  Bentonville,  and  he  was  also  with  Sherman  on  the  march  to  the 
sea.  Receiving  an  honorable  discharge  at  the  close  of  hostilities,  he  re- 
turned to  his  home  and  resumed  his  work  on  the  farm,  in  which  he  has  since 
been  engaged. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  l(i9 

Mr.  Loveridge  has  been  twice  married.  For  his  first  wife  lie  chose 
Miss  Catlierine  A.  Collins,  whom  he  wedded  August  6,  1849.  By  this  mar- 
riage there  were  two  children,  of  whom  one  survives,  Frank,  who  was  born 
October  13,  1856.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Philena  Belle  Snyder,  a  daugh- 
ter of  E.  C.  and  Almira  Snyder,  of  Brownsboro,  Kentucky,  the  marriage 
ceremony  being  performed  March  17,  1882.  She  was  born  April  22,  1863, 
and  by  her  marriage  has  become  the  mother  of  a  son  and  daughter,  Catherine 
B.  and  George  S.  After  losing  his  first  wife  Mr.  Loveridge  wedded  Char- 
lotte Collins,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  and  by  this  marriage  there  was  one 
daughter,  who  is  now  deceased. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Loveridge  is  a  Republican.  He  holds  mem- 
bership with  the  Baptist  church,  in  which  he  has  served  as  deacon  and 
trustee,  having  become  identified  with  this  organization  in  1842.  He  like- 
wise holds  membership  with  Fry  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Ganges,  and  thus  main- 
tains pleasant  relations  with  his  old  army  comrades.  Many  changes  have 
occurred  in  this  state  since  our  subject  first  took  up  his  residence  here,  for 
at  that  time  the  country  was  all  wild  and  unimproved,  few  settlements  hav- 
ing been  made,  but  as  time  has  passed  the  land  has  been  developed  into  rich 
and  productive  farms,  thriving  towns  and  villages  have  sprung  up,  and  the 
work  of  progress  and  improvement  has  been  carried  forward  along  agri- 
cultural, industrial  and  commercial  lines,  and  in  this  work  Mr.  Loveridge 
has  borne  his  full  share.  Having  resided  in  Allegan  county  for  a  half  cen- 
tury, he  has  a  wide  and  favorable  acquaintance  and  is  known  as  a  reliable 
and  straightforward  citizen  in  all  trade  transactions. 

F.  J.  SiLCOX  owns  and  operates  a  fine  farm  of  forty  acres,  which  is  de- 
voted to  the  cultivation  of  fruit.  He  is  ranked  among  the  progressive  fruit 
growers  of  Allegan  county,  owing  to  his  thorough  understanding  of  methods 
which  result  in  the  production  of  good  crops  in  their  season.  A  native  of 
Ohio,  his  birth  occurred  in  the  year  1864,  a  son  of  Jonathan  and  Adeline 
(Burnhara)  Silcox.  His  father  is  a  stonemason  by  trade  and  has  success- 
fully followed  that  pursuit  throughout  the  greater  part  of  his  career.  He 
is  now  a  resident  of  Grand  Rapids,  this  state.  Unto  him  and  his  wife  have 
been  born  three  sons  and  one  daughter :  Frank,  William,  Eva,  the  wife  of 
William  N.  Daniels,  and  F.  J. 

F.  J.  Silcox,  the  youngest  member  of  his  father's  family,  was  a  little 
lad  of  only  four  years,  when,  in  1868,  he  was  brought  by  his  parents  from 
Ohio  to  Michigan,  the  family  home  being  established  at  Otsego,  in  Allegan 
county.  He  was  here  reared,  and  the  public  schools  of  this  county  afforded 
him  a  liberal  education.  In  early  life  he  became  imbued  with  a  desire  to 
learn  the  painter's  trade,  and  accordingly  undertook  the  task,  and  in  this 
pursuit  he  has  been  extremely  successful  and  still  continues  in  this  branch 
of  business  in  connection  with  his  fruit  growing  industry.  He  is  an  expert 
painter,  and  because  of  his  ability  enjoys  a  very  large  trade,  being  employed 
on  fine  interior  as  well  as  exterior  work.  For  the  past  sixteen  years  his 
labors  have  been  confined  to  the  city  of  Grand  Rapids.  Meeting  with  that 
success  in  that  venture  whereby  he  accumulated  a  nice  competence,  he  in- 
vested his  money  in  forty  acres  of  land  in  Saugatnck  township,  which  he  is 
devoting  to  the  raising  of  fruit.  He  has  fourteen  acres  set  out  to  peaches, 
and  has  recently  set  out  a  second  peach  orchard.    Besides  this  he  has  two 


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170  HISTORY  OF  ALLKGA.N  COUNTY 

hundreci  and  sixty  apple  trees,  thirty  cherry  trees,  two  acres  devoted  to 
strawberries  and  a  third  of  an  acre  to  blackberries.  His  fruit  is  of  the  finest 
variety  and  meets  a  ready  sale  on  the  market,  where  he  commands  a  good 
price. 

Choosing  a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's  journey  Mr.  Silcox 
wedded  Miss  May  Loveridge,  the  daughter  of  Seth  Loveridge,  by  whom  he 
had  two  children,  Wyman  L,  and  May.  For  his  second  wife  he  chose  Miss 
Carrie  King,  by  whom  he  has  a  son,  Leo.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  highly 
respected  people,  enjoying  the  hospitality  of  the  best  homes  of  this  section 
of  the  state. 

John  H.  Crane,  owning  and  conducting  a  fine  fruit  farm  in  Allegan 
county,  is  a  native  son  of  Michigan,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Battle 
Creek  on  the  22d  of  April,  1858.  The  paternal  great-grandfather  was  of 
English  ancestry  and  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  while 
the  grandfather,  Abraham  Crane,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  War  of  1812.  Jn  his  family  were  six  children,  but  only  one 
survives  at  the  present  time. 

His  parents,  Dwight  R.  and  Lydia  A.  (Griswold)  Crane,  were  among 
the  early  residents  of  this  state.  The  former  was  bom  at  Rochester,  New 
York,  in  1839,  while  the  mother's  birth  occurred  at  Ehiiira,  Chemung 
county,  that  state.  The  year  1837  witnessed  the  arrival  of  Dwight  R.  Crane 
in  this  state,  having  come  with  his  parents  at  the  age  of  seven  years,  they 
being  among  the  pioneers  of  Battle  Creek,  where  they  took  tip  their  abode 
and  became  identified  with  the  lumber  business,  in  which  he  was  engaged 
for  fifteen  years.  Dwight  R.  Crane  was  one  of  the  prominent  and  influen- 
tial citizens  of  his  community  and  aided  in  the  work  of  development  and 
improvement  of  this  part  of  the  state.  He  received  a  common  school  educa- 
tion in  his  youth  and  later  attended  the  Normal  at  Ypsilanti,  Michigan. 
His  roommate  being  P.  D.  Beckwith,  he  acquired  a  fund  of  knowdedge  that 
fitted  him  for  the  responsibilities  of  life,  and  in  an  early  day  engaged  in 
teaching  school.  He  prospered  in  his  work  and  was  ever  ready  to  aid  in 
any  movement  which  tended  to  advance  the  condition  of  this  locality.  He 
furnished  the  money  which  enabled  Mr.  Barker  to  secure  a  letter  patent  on 
his  threshing  machine  and  grain  measure,  and  Mr.  Crane  and  his  brother, 
S.  A.,  were  engaged  in  threshing  for  fifteen  years.  His  death  occurred  in 
1894,  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  sixty-five  years,  but  his  widow  still 
survives.  She,  too,  came  to  Michigan  in  an  early  day.  having  come  with 
her  parents  the  year  following  the  arrival  of  her  husband.  In  their  family 
were  two  sons  and  one  daughter,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  eldest,  the 
others  being  Dwight  R.  and  Mrs.  Emma  E.  Swarts,  all  of  whom  are  natives 
of  Battle  Creek. 

John  H.  Crane,  whose  name  introduces  this  review,  was  reared  and 
educated  in  the  place  of  his  nativity.  Later,  however,  having  accompanied 
his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Fennville  in  1874,  he  here,  in  connection 
with  his  father,  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business.  As  time  passed  they 
enlarged  the  scope  of  their  business  operations  and  engaged  in  the  lumber 
and  hardware  business,  in  which  they  continued  for  six  years,  thus  doing 
much  for  the  commercial  development  of  their  locality. 

Realizing  the  excellent  opportunity  afforded  by  Michigan  as  a   fruit 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLKGAX  COUNTY  171 

growing  center,  Mr.  Crane  decided  to  turn  liis  attention  to  this  pursuit,  and 
now  owns  sixty-three  acres  of  land  which  is  devoted  to  the  raising  of  various 
kinds  of  fruit.  He  also  rents  his  mother's  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  fifty  acres  of  which  are  devoted  to  the  raising  of  fruit,  while  the 
remainder  is  used  for  general  farming  purposes.  He  has  made  a  study  of 
this  business  and  thoroughly  understands  all  the  details  connected  with  the 
care  and  cultivation  of  fruit,  so  that  the  products  of  his  farm  find  a  ready 
sale  on  the  market,  owing  to  their  superior  quality  and  flavor,  and  he  is  now 
one  of  the  largest  shippers  of  Fennville.  He  has  erected  modern  and  sub- 
stantial buildings  on  his  home  place,  and  has  thus  made  it  one  of  the  model 
country  homes  of  Allegan  county.  Besides  his  farm  in  this  county  he  also 
owns  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  acres  in  Cuba,  which  is  situated 
near  San  Marcus,  and  Mr.  Crane  expects  to  develop  this  property,  having 
firm  faith  in  the  possibilities  of  the  island. 

In  February,  1887,  Mr.  Crane  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Hattie 
Blakeslee,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Irene  (Fenn)  Blakeslee.  Mrs.  Crane 
was  the  first  child  born  in  a  frame  house  in  Fennville.  The  house  was  the 
property  of  her  grandfather,  E,  M.  Fenn,  the  village  being  named  for  him. 
Her  father  and  a  Mr.  Atwater,  who  came  from  the  east,  owned  the  land  on 
which  Fennville  now  stands,  besides  much  of  the  surrounding  district.  Mr. 
Blakeslee  was  a  prominent  factor  in  his  community  and  lost  his  life  while 
serving  his  country  in  the  Civil  war.  Unto  oiir  subject  and  his  wife  have 
been  born  seven  children,  of  whom  five  are  now  living,  namely:  Ethel  M.. 
U.  S.,  Lydia  L,  Henry  B.  and  Eerneth  R.  The  eldest  daughter  is  a  gradu- 
ate of  Wesley  Hospital,  at  Chicago,  having  fitted  herself  for  a  nurse. 

Interested  in  the  cause  of  education,  Mr.  Crane  has  served  as  a  member 
of  the  school  board  for  a  number  of  years.  He  holds  membership  relations 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  is  active  as  steward  and 
trustee.  He  is  also  serving  at  tli/;  present  writing,  in  iQOfi.  as  superintendent 
of  the  Sunday  school.  He  and  his  father  donated  the  lot  on  which  the 
church  was  erected  in  1891.  and  he  contributed  fifteen  hundred  dollars 
toward  the  building  fund.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Damascus  Lodge.  No. 
415,  F.  &  A.  M..  and  is  also  identified  with  the  Grange  and  the  Knights  of 
the  Maccabees.  He  belongs  to  the  State  Horticultural  Society  and  the 
Local  Fruit  Shipping  Association,  and  assisted  in  organizing  the  latter  so- 
ciety in  the  winter  of  1888-89.  He  likewise  was  instrumental  in  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Fruit  Packing  House  Association,  which  body  distributed  fruit 
all  over  the  west,  shipping  seventy-five  carloads  annually.  Thus  it  will  be 
seen  that  Mr,  Crane  has  taken  a  very  active  and  beneficial  interest  in  all 
matters  pertaining  to  horticulture,  in  which  he  is  now  successfully  engaged. 
Having  spent  his  entire  life  in  Michigan,  the  greater  part  of  which  has  been 
passed  in  this  county,  he  has  a  wide  acquaintance  both  in  social  and  business 
circles  and  is  accounted  one  of  the  enterprising  and  progressive  representa- 
tives of  the  fruit  industry  in  his  community, 

John  A.  Flacg  is  a  prosperous  farmer  and  fruit  grower  of  Saugatuck 
township,  having  here  a  farm  comprising  eighty  acres,  which  is  situated  two 
and  a  half  miles  south  of  Douglas,  his  postoffice  address  being  Fennville, 
and  which  in  its  neat  and  well-kept  appearance  indicates  the  progressive 
and  practical  methods  of  the  owner.     He  is  a  native  son  of  this  township. 


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112  HISTORY  OK  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

his  natal  day  being  September  4,  1865.  His  parents,  John  L.  and  Roxie 
(Wright)  Flagg,  the  former  a  native  of  Canada,  and  the  latter  of  New 
York  State,  located  in  Michigan  in  1865,  and  the  father  purchased  a  tract 
of  forty  acres  in  Saugatuck  township,  which  at  that  time  was  in  its  virgin 
state.  The  father  at  once  set  to  work  to  clear  and  develop  his  land  and  has 
today  a  well  improved  and  vakiable  property  on  which  he  and  his  wife  are 
residing  at  the  present  time,  in  1906.  Their  family  numbers  four  sons  and 
two  daughters,  namely :  Mrs.  Edith  Mist,  James  B.,  John  A.,  Lafayette, 
Anna  E.  and  Frank. 

John  A.  Flagg,  whose  name  introduces  this  record,  was  reared  to  farm 
life,  early  becoming  familiar  with  the  methods  of  carrying  on  the  work 
of  field  and  meadow,  and  the  school  at  Douglas  afforded  him  his  educational 
advantages.  In  1887,  when  a  young  man  of  twenty-two  years,  he  started 
out  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  business  world,  possessing  no  capital,  but 
with  a  strong  determination  to  succeed,  and,  allowing  no  obstacles  to  deter 
him  in  his  onward  march  toward  the  goal  of  prosperity,  he  has  worked  his 
way  steadily  up  year  by  year  until  today  his  farm  indicates  the  accomplish- 
ment of  his  well-formed  plans.  His  first  purchase  was  a  tract  of  twenty 
acres,  on  which  his  house  stands.  He  began  here  on  a  small  scale,  but  by 
close  application  and  careful  management  acquired  a  competence  that  in 
igo2  enabled  him  to  add  a  second  tract  of  twenty  acres,  and  in  i^5  he 
added  still  another  tract,  this  time  making  a  purchase  of  forty  acres,  so 
that  his  farm  now  embraces  eighty  acres  of  the  finest  improved  land  in 
Allegan  county.  He  conducts  general  farming  on  a  small  scale,  but  gives 
the  greater  part  of  his  time  to  the  cultivation  of  fruit,  having  twenty-five 
acres  devoted  to  peaches,  and  in  addition  he  has  one  hundred  apple  trees, 
seven-five  pear  trees,  one  hundred  cherry  trees  and  two  acres  devoted  to 
the  raising  of  strawberries,  and  in  all  his  work  he  follows  the  most  scientific 
methods,  so  that  the  best  results  are  produced. 

Mr.  Flagg  has  been  blessed  with  a  most  able  assistant  through  his  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Minnie  C.  Dresseii,  the  wedding  ceremony  being  performed 
on  the  14th  of  January,  1895.  Mrs.  Flagg  is  a  native  of  Ganges  town.ship. 
this  county,  and  a  daughter  of  A.  W.  and  Margaret  Dresseii,  both  natives 
of  Germany.  By  her  marriage  she  has  become  the  mother  of  two  children, 
but  only  one  is  now  living.  Garland  A.,  who  was  born  in  1898. 

Mr.  Flagg  is  an  exemplar}'  member  of  Diitcher  Lodge,  No.  193,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  in  which  he  is  serving  as  senior  deacon.  Mr.  Flagg's  success  in  life 
might  well  serve  as  an  example  to  young  men  of  enterprise  and  industry, 
for  it  shows  what  may  be  accomplished  if  one  has  the  will  and  determina- 
tion to  succeed,  and  to  his  estimable  wife  is  due  much  credit,  for  she  has  been 
to  him  a  faithful  companion  and  helpmate,  sharing  with  him  in  all  the 
arduous  work  that  he  has  undertaken  so  that  in  their  declining  days  they 
may  be  in  possession  of  a  competence  that  will  enable  them  to  rest  from 
the  arduous  cares  of  life. 

Ganges  Tow>"SHir. 

Hattie  a.  Raymo:jd. — In  this  age  of  development  and  progress  in  all 
those  lines  of  life  demanding  intellectual  force  woman  has  proven  herself 
the  equal  of  the  representatives  of  the  sterner  sex.  She  is  found  in  all  of 
the  various  professions  and  walks  of  life  for  which  she  is  suited,  and  her 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  173 

business  ability,  insight  and  discernment  are  equal  to  that  of  the  husbands, 
fathers  and  brothers  whom  custom,  in  former  years,  accorded  the  work  of 
furthering  the  business  interests.  Perhaps  there  is  no  woman  in  Allegan 
coimty  who  can  compare  with  Mrs.  Raymond  in  the  conduct  of  agricultural 
and  stock  raising  interests.  Her  farm  is  one  of  the  finest  properties  of  the 
coimty,  indicating  in  its  splendid  condition  her  excellent  management  and 
supervision.  The  place  is  known  as  the  Loeland  Stock  Farm,  and  is  situ- 
ated in  Ganges  township.  It  comprises  a  tract  of  seven  hundred  and  seventy 
acres,  whereon  cattle,  horses,  hc^s  and  other  stock  of  high  grades  and 
purest  blood  are  extensively  and  successfully  raised. 

Mrs.  Raymond  is  a  daughter  of  Francis  H.  and  Jane  (Purdy)  Clark, 
who  were  natives  of  Niagara  county.  New  York,  and  removed  to  Michigan 
in  1865.  Mr.  Clark  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  here,  but  soon  afterward 
went  to  California.  Not  liking  that  state  as  well  as  Michigan,  however,  he 
returned  and  settled  on  section  26,  Saugatuck  township,  Allegan  county, 
where  he  lived  until  his  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death  on  the  19th  of 
February,  1893.  His  widow  is  now  living  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Ray- 
mond, who  is  the  only  surviving  member  of  the  family  of  three  children 
that  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark. 

It  was  in  1892  that  Hattie  A.  Clark  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Frank 
S.  Raymond,  and  in  1896  one  son,  Frank  C,  was  bom  to  them.  Mr.  Ray- 
mond was  a  native  of  Goshen,  Indiana,  born  February  7,  1850,  and  was  a 
son  of  Ebenezer  and  Nancy  (Thomas)  Raymond.  His  father  was  a  resi- 
dent of  Michigan  for  some  years  and  was  extensively  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business.  His  family  numbered  eleven  children,  but  only  two  reached  years 
of  maturity.  The  last  surviving  member  of  the  family  was  Frank  S.  Ray- 
mond, who  died  on  the  6th  of  November,  1898,  leaving  a  widow  and  two 
sons.  In  1867,  when  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Pier  Cove,  where  his  father  conducted  a  mercantile  business.  In  1872  he 
was  married  to  Flora  Fisk,  who  died  one  year  and  eight  months  later.  He 
was  again  married,  July  12,  1876,  to  Effie  Loomis,  and  unto  them  were  born 
two  children.  Flora  Effie,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  F.  Raymer  Raymond, 
who  is  now  twenty-eight  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Effie  Raymond  passed  away 
Jnly  12,  1888,  and  after  four  years  Mr.  Raymond  was  married  to  Miss  Hattie 
Clark,  on  the  20th  of  January,  1892. 

Mr.  Raymond  was  a  man  of  considerable  ability  and  exerted  an  influence 
in  public  affairs  of  the  township.  For  years  he  resided  in  Fennville,  during 
which  time  he  was  president  of  the  borough.  In  1884  he  bought  a  portion 
of  the  Loeland  Stock  Farm,  the  boundaries  of  which  he  extended  from  time 
to  time  by  additional  purchase  until  it  reached  its  present  extensive  dimen- 
sions, comprising  seven  hundred  and  seventy  acres.  Widely  recognized  as  a 
man  of  excellent  business  ability,  he  displayed  in  all  his  undertakings  keen 
discernment  and  enterprise  and  whatever  he  undertook  was  carried  forward 
to  successful  completion. 

At  the  time  of  her  husband's  death  Mrs.  Hattie  A.  Raymond  assumed 
the  management  of  the  property,  which  she  has  since  successfully  controlled, 
and  is  now  accounted  one  of  the  most  prominent  representatives  of  the 
agricultural  and  stock  raising  interests  in  Allegan  county,  displaying  excel- 
lent executive  force  and  business  capacity.  She  carefully  manages  all  of  the 
details  of  the  business  and  by  employing  competent  help  has  continued  the 


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ir4  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

farm  work  with  results  that  are  highly  profitable  as  well  as  satisfactory 
and  gratifying. 

Chari.ks  F.  Van  Valkenbueg  is  the  owner  and  proprietor  of  a  tine 
farm  of  sixty  acres  which  is  known  as  the  Ridgland  Fruit  Farm,  and  is 
beautifully  located  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan  and  adds  to  the  attrac- 
tive appearance  of  this  district,  for  the  property  is  characterized  by  thrift 
and  neatness,  giving  indication  of  the  careful  management  and  industry  of 
the  owner.  As  the  name  indicates,  our  subject  comes  of  Holland  ancestry. 
His  birth  occurred  in  Wood  county,  Ohio,  July  6,  1855,  a  son  of  William 
and  Harriet  Van  Valkenburg,  the  foniier  born  in  New  York  state,  while 
the  mother's  birth  Ukewise  occurred  in  the  Buckeye  State,  where  they  now 
make  their  home,  being  prosperous  and  worthy  people  of  that  state. 

Mr.  Van  Valkenburg's  life  has  been  rather  an  eventful  one.  He  was 
reared  in  the  place  of  his  nativity  and  the  public  schools  aiTorded  him  a 
liberal  education,  which  fitted  him  to  later  assume  the  responsibilities  of  life 
when  he  started  out  upon  an  independent  career.  He  arrived  in  Allegan 
county,  this  state,  in  188S,  being  then  a  young  man  of  thirty-three  years. 
For  ten  years  he  sailed  on  the  lakes,  subsequent  to  which  time  he  worked 
at  the  painter's  trade  through  the  succeeding  three  years.  He,  however, 
noted  the  opportunities  which  this  state  ofifered  in  the  line  of  horticultural 
pursuits  and  accordingly  abandoned  his  other  business  interests  and  decided 
to  try  his  fortune  in  this  venture.  His  work  in  former  years  having  brought 
him  sufficient  capital  to  engage  in  business  on  his  own  account,  he  purchased 
a  tract  of  twenty  acres  situated  in  Saugatuck  township,  and  later  acquired 
forty  acres  more,  to  which  he  has  since  given  the  name  of  Ridgland  Fruit 
Farm.  It  is  well  located  on  the  lake  front,-and  he  has  made  it  a  valuable 
and  well-improved  property  through  the  improvements  which  he  has  placed 
upon  it.  He  has  here  a  nice  home  and  his  land  is  fertile  and  productive,  well 
adapted  for  the  use  to  which  it  is  put.  He  has  a  fine  orchard,  containing 
thirty-five  hundred  peach  trees,  two  hundred  pear  trees,  thirty  apple  trees, 
thirty  cherry  trees,  and  he  also  raises  much  small  fruit,  including  straw- 
berries, raspberries,  etc.,  and  thus  his  farm  is  a  very  busy  place  from  the 
early  summer  until  late  in  the  autumn  after  his  crops  are  all  gathered. 
Mr.  Van  Valkenburg  has  no  cause  for  regret  because  of  his  venture  in  the 
fruit  raising  business,  for  he  has  met  with  excellent  results,  and  each  year 
adds  materially  to  his  financial  resources. 

January  2,  1883,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Van  Valkenburg  and 
Miss  Mary  E.  Walters,  who  has  indeed  proved  to  him  a  faithful  companion 
and  helpmate  on  life's  journey.  Their  marriage  has  been  blessed  with 
seven  children,  but  only  four  of  the  number  now  survive,  namely :  James  H., 
Cora  G.,  Morris  V.  and  Vera  E.  Mr,  Van  Valkenburg  takes  an  active  inter- 
est in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  advancement  of  his  home  locality  and 
has  served  his  township  as  pathmaster.  He  holds  membership  relations  with 
the  Maccabees  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  also  identified  with  the 
Grange. 

Industry,  honesty  and  integrity  have  formed  the  basis  of  his  success. 
Like  others,  since  starting  out  in  life,  he  has  met  with  difficulties  and  ob- 
stacles, but  has  never  allowed  these  to  deter  him  in  his  onward  march  toward 
the  goal  of  success,  but  has  worked  persistently  and  energetically  to  acquire 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY  175 

a  competence,  and  today  his  fine  fruit  farm  is  the  visible  evidence  that  his 
efforts  have  been  richly  rewarded. 

Bravo. 
Bravo  is  now  a  center  of  one  of  the  most  enterprising  communities 
of  southwestern  Allegan  county.  It  is  an  important  shipping  point,  claim- 
ing a  population  of  about  200,  is  unincorporated,  and  its  business  and  vil- 
lage features  entitle  it  to  a  brief  description  among  the  centers  of  the 
county.  Bravo  was  long  known  by  the  name  of  Sherman.  Alonzo  Sher- 
man, with  an  associate,  came  to  section  32  of  Clyde  township  in  1867  and 
set  up  a  sawmill.  A  considerable  force  of  men  were  employed  at  the  mill, 
besides  the  settlers  in  that  vicinity,  and  a  store  was  soon  opened  near  the 
mill,  the  community  being  known  as  Sherman.  Then  came  the  railroad, 
and  the  postoffice  established  at  that  point  took  the  name  Bravo,  which  in 
time  has  come  to  designate  the  business  and  social  community  at  that  point. 
Chandler  Eaton  was  the  first  postmaster.  With  the  decline  of  the  Inmher 
industry  this  center  has  become  a  fruit  shipping  point. 

Pearl. 

The  settlement  formerly  known  as  Clyde  Center  had  its  beginning  in  a 
sawmill  erected  in  1872  by  Eggleston  and  Hazleton.  A  large  force  of  men 
were  employed  in  their  milling  and  lumbering  business,  and  the  result  was 
that  a  store,  a  railway  station  and  a  postoffice  were  established  at  that  point. 
A  school  house  was  built  there,  the  town  meetings  were  held  there,  a  Free 
Will  Baptist  church  was  formed,  and  as  long  as  the  mill  remained  the  cen- 
ter was  of  considerable  consequence.  The  lumber  resources  were  exhausted 
by  1877,  and  when  the  mill  was  removed  most  of  the  settlement  went  with  it. 
Gradually  farming  and  fruit  growing  have  taken  the  place  of  lumbering,  and 
the  settlement  is  still  a  recognized  community  in  the  county.  The  change 
from  Clyde  Center  to  the  present  name  is  recorded  in  the  following  sketch 
of  S.  O.  Pearl: 

Simeon  O.  Pe.^rl,  a  thrifty  and  progressive  farmer  of  Clyde  township, 
where  he  owns  and  cidtivates  eighty  acres  of  good  farming  land  devoted  to 
general  produce  and  small  fruit,  was  born  in  Erie  comity,  Ohio,  in  1851, 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  district  school.  He  is  a  son  of 
Oliver  and  Orinda  (Blackman)  Pearl,  both  born  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  whose 
family  numbered  eight  children,  two  of  them  residing  in  Michigan,  our  sub- 
ject, however,  being  the  onlv  one  residing  in  Allegan  countv. 

In  1879  Simeon  O.  Pearl  migrated  to  Michigan  and  purchased  his  first 
farm  of  eighty  acres  in  extent  in  Clyde  township,  on  the  state  road.  This 
he  owned  and  operated  until  iQOi,  when  he  purchased  his  present  farm  of 
eighty  acres. 

In  1881,  when  the  name  of  Clvde  Center-  postoffice  was  about  to  be 
changed,  the  name  Pearl,  as  a  mark  of  courtesy  to  our  subject,  was  for- 
warded to  the  department  at  Washington  as  a  substitute  name.  This  was 
accepted  by  the  government,  and  the  postoffice  now  bears  this  name,  Mr. 
Pearl  has  been  the  recinient  of  honors  at  the  hands  of  his  fellow  citizens 
in  his  election  to  the  office  of  moderator  of  the  school  board,  which  office 


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176  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

he  has  held  for  three  years.    In  1905  he  was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace 
and  he  has  filled  that  office  with  justice  and  fairness. 

Mr.  Pearl  was  married  in  1882  to  Miss  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Mr.  E.  P. 
James,  and  their  marriage  has  been  blessed  by  seven  children,  the  following 
six  of  whom  are  living :    Arthur,  Alpha,  Ray,  Mead,  Helen  and  Cora. 

Allen  Urown,  of  Pearl,  Michigan,  who  is  a  well-known  farmer  of 
Clyde  township,  was  born  in  Rush  county,  Indiana,  in  1837,  and  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Elizabeth  (Brown)  Brown,  both  natives  of  North  Carolina. 

William  Brown  and  his  wife  moved  to  Indiana  the  year  that  our  subject 
was  born,  and  here  on  a  small  farm  reared  their  family  of  twelve  children, 
only  three  of  whom  are  living  at  this  date,  1906,  viz.:  Dolson,  Lusana  and 
Allen.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  soldier  in  the  War 
of  the  Revolution  and  served  for  four  years  in  defense  of  the  colonies. 

Allen  Brown  moved  to  Michigan  in  1859,  and  in  1872  located  in  Clyde 
township,  Allegan  county,  on  a  farm  of  sixty  acres.  He  subsequently  sold 
this  and  purchased  the  farm  of  eighty  acres  upon  which  he  now  resides. 
He  relates  that  his  first  farming  operations  were  done  with  the  aid  of  an  ox 
team ;  that  his  plowing,  cultivating  and  even  the  drawing  of  his  carriage 
was  done  with  oxen.  In  this  way,  and  by  dint  of  hard  and  continuous 
labor,  his  farm  was  cleared  and  put  under  cultivation.  His  time  is  devoted 
to  fruit  raising  and  farming  of  a  general  character. 

Mr,  Brown  was  married  in  1869  to  Miss  Emily  A.  Cannady,  of  Fort 
Wayne,  Indiana,  of  which  union  there  has  been  no  issue.  The  Free  Will 
Baptist  church,  which  he  was  instrumental  in  organizing  in  his  community 
in  1872,  is  the  one  to  which  our  subject  lends  his  support;  and  is.  in  fact, 
a  deacon  in  that  body.  That  church  was  organized  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Whitaker  with  twelve  members,  of  whom  Mr.  Brown  was  one.  It  is  a  source 
of  great  pleasure  to  him  in  his  old  age  to  see  this  church,  the  growth  of 
which  he  has  watched  from  its  inception,  becoming  more  and  more  a 
power  for  good  in  the  community  and  to  feel  that  he  has  had  a  share  in  its 
upbuilding. 

Jamks  T.  Hollis  is  well  known  in  Pearl,  Michigan,  on  the  Grand  Rap- 
ids division  of  the  Fere  Marquette  Railway,  being  a  merchant,  postmaster  and 
station  agent  in  that  town.  In  1899  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  railway 
in  the  capacity  of  station  agent,  and  has  filled  that  position  with  satisfaction 
to  all  concerned.  He  opened  at  the  same  time  a  store,  which  he  stocked  with 
a  first-class  line  of  merchandise,  and  has  done  since  a  thriving  business  in 
this  line.  In  June  22  of  this  same  year  he  was  also  appointed  to  the  office 
of  postmaster,  the  duties  of  which  office  he  has  creditably  discharged  up  to 
the  present  time. 

Mr.  Hotlis  was  bom  in  Berrien  county,  Michigan,  November  26,  1858, 
where  he  spent  his  early  years.  During  his  residence  in  that  county  he  held 
the  office  of  township  treasurer  of  his  home  township  for  two  terms.  He  is 
a  son  of  George  and  Marilla  (Brookfield)  Hollis,  his  father  having  come  to 
Michigan  in  1855,  ^^^  his  mother  is  a  native  of  the  state.  They  are  both  now 
deceased.  Their  family  numbered  two  children,  our  subject  and  one  sister, 
who  became  Mrs.  Joseph  Barmore. 

James  T.  Hollis  was  married  in  April,  1899,  to  Miss  Carrie  M.,  daugh- 


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.MR.  AM.  MRS.  Ai.LI-:X    I'.KOWX 


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MR.  AND  MRS.  MARTIN   A.  STAFFORD 


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HTSTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  177 

ter  of  George  and  Mary  A.  Summers,  who  is  also  a  native  of  Berrien  county, 
liaving  been  born  there  October  17,  1881.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hollis  are  the 
parents  of  two  children,  R,  G.  and  Marilla.  Mr.  HolHs  is  a  respected  and 
loyal  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  of  the  U,  W. 
of  A. 

Daniel  Mahoney,  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  the  southern  part  of 
Clyde  township,  whose  postoffice  is  Pearl,  was  born  in  Ohio  in  the  month 
o£  September,  1837.  He  is  the  son  of  James  and  Betsey  (Sisco)  Mahoney, 
the  former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  born  in  Ohio.  They  were 
the  parents  of  eleven  children,  four  of  whom  are  living,  Daniel,  Barney, 
George  and  Abagail. 

In  1876,  the  date  when  Daniel  Mahoney  settled  in  Clyde  township,  that 
community  was  rather  sparsely  settled,  and,  purchasing  forty  acres  of  land, 
he  began  immediately  to  clear  it  and  get  it  into  shape  for  its  future  pro- 
ductiveness, building  a  comfortable  dwelling  and  substantial  outbuildings. 
His  farm  is  now  of  a  general  character,  including  the  culture  of  peppermint, 
to  which  he  devotes  three  acres. 

Mr.  Mahoney  was  married  to  Miss  Harriet  Peck,  of  New  York  State, 
to  whom  eight  children  were  born,  in  the  following  order  of  birth:  Mary, 
now  Mrs.  R.  Rouse;  Frank;  Matthew;  Edith,  wife  of  F.  Mitchal;  Munroe, 
deceased;  Arthur;  Genette,  deceased;  and  Homer,  deceased. 

His  fellow  citizens  of  Clyde  township  have  honored  Mr.  Mahoney  by 
electing  him  to  the  office  of  constable,  of  which  he  is  the  present  incumbent, 
having  held  the  same  for  the  past  fifteen  years.  He  also  held  the  office  of 
pathmaster  for  several  years. 

F.  M.  Ward,  station  agent  at  Bravo,  in  Clyde  township,  on  the  Chicago 
division  of  the  Pere  Marquette  Railway,  has  been  in  the  employ  of  that  com- 
pany for  ten  vears,  five  years  of  which  service  were  put  in  as  operator  and 
agent  at  Buchanan,  removing  thence  to  Bravo,  his  present  residence.  Mr. 
Ward  is  one  among  the  hundreds  of  progressive  young  men  throughout  the 
west  who  do  not,  in  the  sense  of  the  world-famous  Mr.  Micawber,  wait  for 
"something  to  turn  up,"  but  who  rather  forestall  that  operation  by  turning 
it  up  themselves. 

Our  subject  is  a  descendant  of  two  old  pioneer  families  that  came  to 
Michigan  in  1836.  his  paternal  grandfather,  Caleb  Ward,  coming  irom  New 
York  State,  and  his  mother's  father,  John  King,  immigrating  from  England. 
He  is  the  son  of  Emmet  and  Mary  A.  (King)  Ward,  whose  children  num- 
bered seven,  the  five  following  of  whom  are  living:  Myron,  Frank  M., 
Herbert,  Ernest  and  May  B.  Frank  M.  Ward  was  bom  in  Allegan  county 
in  1870  and  here  received  a  thorough  and  liberal  education.  In  1893  he  was 
united  in  the  bonds  of  matrimony  to  Miss  Vena,  a  daughter  of  A.  H.  and 
Martha  Lovelace,  who  is  the  mother  of  one  child,  a  son,  whom  they  have 
named  Rex. 

Martin  A.  Stafford,  whose  postoffice  is  Pearl,  is  a  well-to-do  farmer 
of  Clyde  township,  where  he  owns  a  fertile  farm  of  one  hundred  acres. 
He  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  Indiana,  December  29,  1841,  and  at  the 
age  of  twelve  years  went  to  Van  Boren  county,  Michigan,  where  he  resided 
until  1876,  when  he  moved  to  his  present  farm  in  Clyde  township.    He  is  a 


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178  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

son  of  Jeremiah  and  Annie  Stafford,  the  former  born  in  North  Carolina 
and  the  latter  a  native  of  West  Virginia,  who  moved  to  Clyde  in  1850,  taking 
up  from  the  government  forty  acres  of  land  and  later  purchasing  forty 
acres  more,  this  being  the  original  eighty,  which  is  part  of  the  farm  now 
owned  by  our  subject.  Jeremiah  Stafford  was  little  interested  in  farming  as 
a  pursuit  and  spent  his  time  mainly  in  hunting  and  in  the  manufacture  of 
hand-made  shingles.  For  more  than  twenty  years  during  his  residence  in 
Indiana  he  followed  the  trade  of  cooper.  His  children  numbered  fifteen,  of 
whom  seven  are  living:  George,  Martin  A.,  Charity  E.,  James  R.,  David 
A.  M.,  Jason  L.  and  Lydia  M. 

Our  subject  married  a  Miss  Fannie  Turner,  who  was  the  mother  of 
four  children,  Penfield,  Cyrus,  Minnie  and  Alta.  After  the  death  of  his 
first  wife  he  married  a  Miss  Emaline  Chevis,  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana. 

Mr.  Stafford  has  been  honored,  among  others,  by  election  to  the  offices 
of  drain  commissioner  and  highway  commissioner.  He  is  a  devout  membor 
of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  church  and  a  deacon  of  that  body.  He  has  been 
Sunday  school  superintendent,  and  has  the  welfare  of  the  children  as  well 
as  the  adult  members  of  his  church  much  at  heart.  He  has  been  in  times 
past  and  still  continues  to  he  a  financial  pillar  in  the  church  of  his  choice. 
The  full  confidence  and  respect  not  only  of  his  brethren  in  the  (jhurch  but  of 
the  community  at  large  are  moral  assets  that  have  contributed  largely  to  the 
success  and  prosperity  of  our  subject. 

Pullman. 
I'ulhnan  is  an  enterprising  center  in  Lee  township.  It  originated  in 
the  lumber  industry,  but  has  retained  its  importance  in  the  later  days  of 
general  farming  and  fruit  growing.  Until  recently  the  postoffice  and  the 
village  was  known  as  Hoppertown,  the  name  being  given  by  a  Mr.  Hopper, 
who  owned  an  interest  in  the  land  on  which  the  village  grew  up.  The  first 
sawmill  was  erected  here  in  1870,  and  the  work  of  clearing  off  the  land  and 
converting  the  heavy  woods  to  lumber  was  begun.  In  the  brief  space  of  two 
years  four  mills  were  erected,  one  a  shingle  mill,  and  their  industry  sup- 
ported a  population  of  over  two  hundred  people  grouped  about  them.  But 
the  lumber  supply  was  consumed  in  four  years'  time,  and  when  the  mills 
moved  away  it  is  said  that  only  two  famihes  remained,  those  of  Aaron 
Bowles  and  A.  D.  Hurlbut.  Since  then  the  general  business  activity  has 
gradually  increased.  Fruit  shipping  soon  ranked  alongside  the  lumber  busi- 
ness, and  the  surrounding  country  supported  a  fair  amount  of  trade  enter- 
prise at  this  point.  The  postoffice  has  been  located  at  this  point  since  1876, 
Ransom  Snell  being  the  first  postmaster.  The  change  of  the  name  from 
Hoppertown  to  Pullman  is  recorded  in  the  history  of  the  present  postmaster, 
J.  U.  Gilpin,  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  place. 

James  U.  Gilpin,  the  present  postmaster  of  Pullman,  was  born  in 
Casco  township,  Allegan  county,  February  4,  1870,  where  he  remained  until 
four  years  of  age.  In  1874  his  parents  moved  to  East  Jordan,  Charlevoix 
county,  where  they  remained  for  fourteen  years  on  a  farm.  They  then  came 
to  Horseshoe,  Lee  township,  where  they  remained  seven  years,  and  then 
moved  to  Pullman,  where  they  have  resided  since.  Mr.  Gilpin  was  appointed 
postmaster  April  3,  1896.     The  office  was  then  called  Hoppertown,  but  the 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY  179 

name  was  changed  January  15,  1902,  to  Pullman.  lie  has  been  a  notary 
public  since  coming  to  this  village  in  1895,  and  has  held  the  office  of  township 
clerk  from  April,  1904,  to  April,  1906. 

He  has  been  a  Republican  all  his  life  and  has  been  an  active  member 
of  his  party,  having  an  abiding  interest  in  all  that  concerns  the  interest  of 
his  fellow  citizens.  Two  years  ago  he  took  E.  J.  Huffman  into  partnership 
in  his  business,  which  ran  under  the  name  of  Gilpin  &  Huffman  until  Oc- 
tober 27,  1906,  when  our  subject  bought  him  out.  While  residing  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  state  he  contracted  rheumatism,  which  has  deprived 
him  of  the  use  of  his  lower  limbs,  and  he  is  forced  now  to  use  a  wheel-chair. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Mutual  Protective  Legion  and  the  Prudent  Patricians 
of  Pompeii. 

He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Caroline  (Randall)  Gilpin,  the  former  a 
native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  was  born  in  Detroit.  She  died  in  Pullman, 
February  9,  1903,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years.  Mr.  Gilpin  is  the  third  of 
twelve  children;  a  brother  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  and  two  children  died 
in  childhood. 

George  K.  Taylor,  a  leading  merchant  of  Pullman,  Lee  township,  was 
born  in  Canton,  Pennsylvania,  April  27,  1875,  where  he  resided  until  he 
reached  his  majority.  His  early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm.  He  attended 
high  school  and  subsequently  tauglit  school  for  two  years  in  Pennsylvania. 
He  came  to  Lee  township  in  1896  and  for  a  time  continued  the  vocation  of 
teacher.  In  1898  he  started  a  general  merchandise  store  in  a  modest  way  at 
Pullman,  and  now  has  a  fine  store  building  of  two  stories,  with  dwelling 
attached.  He  has  also  erected  a  large  warehouse  and  lumber  shed,  handling 
sash,  doors,  blinds  and  building  material  of  all  kinds.  In  a  general  merchan- 
dise way  he  handles  dry  goods,  groceries,  boots,  shoes,  hardware,  furniture 
and  farm  implements.  He  recently  purchased  fourteen  acres  on  Lower  Scott 
Lake,  which  he  is  developing  into  a  remarkably  attractive  summer  resort. 
In  addition  to  this  property  he  is  also  owner  of  one  hundred  and  seventeen 
acres  of  land  in  sections  16.  17,  18,  19.  which  includes  a  strip  three-quarters 
of  a  mile  long  to  the  east  of  the  Pere  Marquette  Railroad  at  Pullman  station. 
In  addition  to  these  industries  at  home  he  has  built  up  a  lucrative  business  in 
the  buying  and  shipping  of  produce  of  all  kinds. 

In  politics  Mr.  Taylor  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been  honored  by  that 
party  in  the  election  to  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  which  he,  however, 
resigned.  He  is  now  school  assessor  of  Pullman  and  takes  an  active  interest 
in  all  that  pertains  to  the  educational  growth  of  the  town,  a  work  for  which 
he  is  well  fitted  as  his  early  experiences  have  given  him  a  knowledge  of  and 
a  sympathy  with  the  work  of  the  teacher. 

He  is  a  member  of  a  number  of  fraternal  orders,  including  the  Odd 
Fellows  at  Pullman,  the  Masons  at  Fennville,  the  Maccabees  at  Leisure,  and 
the  Legion  also  of  Pullman.  He  is  a  son  of  George  Kendrick  and  Abbie 
(Fellows)  Taylor,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  His  mother  died  when  he 
was  but  ten  days  old,  but  his  father  is  still  living,  and  retains  his  farm  near 
Canton,  Pennsylvania, 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  May  29,  1900,  to  Leta  Reynolds, 
a  daughter  of  George  and  Belle  Reynolds  of  Kalamazoo  county,  Michigan. 


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180  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Three  children  were  born  of  this  union ;  George  Harold  and  Mildred  Belle, 
who  are  living,  and  Evelyn,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight  months. 

Mr.  Taylor's  store,  dwelling,  warehouse,  and  lumber  sheds  have  all 
been  built  by  him  since  1900,  and  have  added  no  small  part  to  the  buisness 
facilities  of  the  town.  He  is  respected  as  an  up-to-date  and  thoroughly  re- 
liable business  man,  and  probably  operates  more  extensively  than  any  of 
the  country  merchants  of  Allegan  county. 

George  Ambrose  Wellington  was  born  in  Stiieben  county.  New  York, 
January  20,  1850.  When  but  twelve  years  of  age  he  moved  with  his  parents 
to  Casco  township,  Allegan  county,  Michigan,  where  he  resided  until  1905. 
He  is  essentially  a  self-made  man,  and  what  he  has  made  since  coming  to 
Michigan  has  been  the  result  of  his  own  untiring  efforts. 

He  started  in  Spring  Grove,  Casco  township,  where  he  purchased  and 
improved  a  farm  of  forty  acres.  Part  of  this  farm  he  afterwards  traded  for 
business  interests  in  South  Haven,  viz.,  a  fuel,  teaming,  and  bus  business,  at 
which  he  spent  four  years.  He  then  returned  and  purchased  forty  acres 
in  section  one,  Casco  township,  where  he  owned  forty  acres,  and  where 
he  resided  until  the  fall  of  1905.  In  that  year  he  came  to  Pullman  and 
started  a  feed  mill.  He  erected  the  mill  building  twenty-four  by  thirty  feet, 
and  also  a  good  dwelling.  He  does  a  general  milling  business,  and  in  addi- 
tion handles  grain  of  all  kinds  and  coal. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  fraternal  order,  K.  O.  T.  M.,  and  in  politics  is  a 
Republican  of  long  standing.  He  is  a  son  of  Aaron  and  Mary  Jane  (Pat- 
terson) Wellington,  natives  of  Canada,  both  of  whom  are  deceased.  Of  a 
family  of  six,  five  boys  and  one  girl,  he  is  the  the  eldest. 

Mr.  Wellington  was  married  in  the  state  of  Indiana,  in  1869,  to  Mary 
Jane  Marshall,  a  native  of  that  state  and  a  daughter  of  James  and  Eliza- 
beth Marshall.  He  has  six  children,  viz.,  Olin  and  Orin.  twins,  both  of 
whom  are  married,  the  former  residing  in  Kalamazoo,  the  latter  on  his 
father's  farm  in  Casco  township :  Maud,  wife  of  Albert  Parker,  of  Lawrence 
township,  Van  Buren  county;  Charles,  a  resident  of  South  Haven,  and  two 
boys,  Wesley  and  Pearl,  who  reside  with  him  in  Pullman. 

Grant  C.  Harrison,  at  present  deputy  sheriff  under  Allen  L.  Whit- 
beck,  was  born  in  Pokagon,  Cass  county,  Michigan.  August  12,  1866.  When 
he  was  fifteen  years  of  age  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Casco  township, 
where  they  remained  until  1894,  when  they  moved  to  Lee  township  and  set- 
tled on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  "The  farm  consists  of  seventy-nine 
acres  in  section  seven  and  was  purchased  in  1891.  The  land  was  wild  when 
he  purchased  it,  but  is  now  under  cultivation,  with  the  exception  of  about 
twelve  acres.     Scott  Creek  runs  through  the  property. 

He  has  been  a  Republican  ever  since  he  was  old  enough  to  vote.  He  is 
the  present  township  treasurer,  having  served  from  1901  to  1903,  when  he 
was  elected  township  clerk,  which  office  he  held  for  a  year.  In  1905  he  was 
re-elected  treasurer,  and  is  the  present  incumbent.  He  is  active  in  party 
politics  and  attends  most  of  the  local  conventions  as  delegate. 

He  is  a  memljer  of  the  Masonic  order,  and  also  belongs  to  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  the  Eastern  Star  and  the  Rebeccas,  at  Pullman.  He  is  in 
addition  a  member  of  the  Protective  Legion. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUiN'TY  181 

He  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Eliza  C.  (Shattuck)  Harrison,  natives  of  New 
York  and  Ohio  respectively.  His  father  was  born  August  27,  1832,  and 
came  to  Cass  county  in  1857.  He  died  at  Pullman  in  June,  1904.  He  en- 
listed from  Cass  county,  September  2j,  1861,  in  Company  A,  Twelfth  Mich- 
igan Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  over  five  years.  Beside  other  battles  he 
took  part  in  the  engagement  at  Shiloh.  He  was  with  his  regiment  for  the 
entire  five  years,  except  for  a  short  illness  and  a  furlough  home.  He  was 
never  wounded  nor  taken  prisoner.  He  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade, 
but  since  coming  to  this  township  he  devoted  himself  to  farming.  In  poU- 
tics  he  was  a  Republican.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public and  the  Masonic  Order.  His  mother,  born  January  1,  1840,  and  who 
still  survives,  lives  with  him  on  the  farm.  Of  three  children  Mr.  Harrison 
is  the  eldest,  viz..  Grant  C,  Rose  A.,  wife  of  E.  W.  Leisure,  of  Casco  town- 
ship, and  Edith  M.,  wife  of  Hershal  Adkins,  of  Casco  township. 

Mr.  Harrison  was  married  August  12,  1903,  to  Ehzabeth  Taylor,  a  na- 
tive of  Kalamazoo  county,  where  she  was  born  October  18,  1867.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Richard  and  Elizabeth  (Thackwry)  Taylor,  both  natives  of 
England.  They  now  reside  in  Kalamazoo.  Mr.  Harrison  has  one  child,  a 
daughter  named  Mable  E. 

William  T.  Gilpin,  a  native  of  Ohio,  was  born  in  Washington  county 
of  that  state  June  18,  1835,  and  resided  there  on  a  farm  until  eighteen  years 
of  age.  He  then  moved  with  his  parents  to  Marion,  Grant  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  resided  for  about  eight  years.  From  thence  he  moved  to  Arling- 
ton, Van  Buren  county,  Michigan,  remaining  there  for  a  period  of  two  years, 
thence  moving  to  Geneva  township,  that  county. 

In  the  troublesome  years  of  the  sixties,  when  our  country  was  in  the 
throes  of  our  great  Civil  war,  and  the  call  went  out  for  men  to  defend  the 
flag,  he  enlisted  (1861)  in  Company  K,  Thirteenth  Michigan  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, under  Captain  H.  C.  Hall,  which  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland,  He  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh  (Pittsburg  Land- 
ing), Perryville,  Kentucky,  Stone  River.  Chickamauga  and  several  minor 
engagements.  He  was  wounded  at  Chickamauga,  receiving  a  gunshot  wound 
in  the  right  leg,  whicli  incapacitated  him  an<l  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Confederates  and  was  sent  to  their  field  hospital  as  a  prisoner  of  war.  Later 
he'  was  paroled  and  sent  into  the  Union  lines,  and  was  discharged  at  De- 
troit at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service. 

Subsequent  to  this  he  made  South  Haven  his  home  for  about  one  year, 
then  settled  on  a  farm  in  Casco  township,  Allegan  county.  In  1874  he  went 
to  the  northern  part  of  Michigan,  and  after  thirteen  years  returned  and 
made  his  home  in  Lee  township  where  he  lias  since  resided.  He  is  now  re- 
tired from  active  work,  and  is  spending  his  declining  years  at  Pullman. 

He  has  been  a  faithful  and  life-long  Republican,  and  cast  his  first  vote 
for  Freemont.  He  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R..  Lacota  Post.  He  was  the 
eldest  of  ten  children.  His  father,  Caleb  C,  and  his  mother,  Evelyn  (Davis), 
were  natives  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  respectively.  His  brother,  Elias 
E.,  enlisted  in  the  Nineteenth  Michigan  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  killed 
.  at  Bentonville,'  North  Carolina,  after  two  and  one-half  years  of  faithful 
service. 

Mr.  Gilpin  was  married  in  Detroit,  in  1865.  to  Caroline  Randal,  who  was , 


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183  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

born  in  that  city  in  1845,  and  who  died  in  Pullman,  February  9,  1903.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  James  and  Harriet  Randal.  Twelve  children  were  born 
to  them,  viz.,  Hattie  E.,  wife  of  Sanford  Teachout,  of  Lee  township;  Eli  E., 
a  resident  of  the  state  of  Arkansas ;  Ida  J.,  wife  of  Horatio  L.  Teachout ; 
James  U.,  the  present  postmaster  at  Pullman,  a  sketch  of  whose  life  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume;  Caroline  Louisa,  wife  of  Earnest  Hilderbrandt; 
Nellie  M,,  wife  of  Edward  Wcwd;  John,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
years ;  Charles,  of  Clyde  township ;  Lena  Mae ;  William  H. ;  and  two  died 
in  childhood. 

Calvin  Britton,  a  son  of  the  Badger  state,  was  born  near  Milwaukee, 
September  28,  1856.  He  moved  with  his  parents  to  the  vicinity  of  Misha- 
waka,  Indiana,  then  to  Cass  county,  Michigan,  near  Edwardsburg,  where 
he  was  raised.  They  then  moved  to  Three  Oaks,  Michigan,  where  he  re- 
mained for  about  ten  years.  The  next  four  years  was  spent  in  Missouri 
ranching  and  farming.  Being  possessed  of  a  desire  to  see  more  of  our 
country,  he  next  went  to  Nebraska,  where  he  spent  a  year  at  Omaha,  work- 
ing at  the  carpenter's  trade.  His  next  move  was  to  Chicago,  where  he 
worked  for  five  years  as  a  carpenter  and  engineer.  He  came  to  Michigan 
eight  years  ago,  and  rented  a  farm  in  Lee  township  for  a  term  of  three 
years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he  bought  a  part  of  the  farm  which 
he  now  owns,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  sections  seven- 
teen and  eighteen.  The  farm  originally  contained  two  hundred  acres,  of 
which  his  son  now  farms  forty  acres. 

The  Republican  party  has  honored  him  by  election  to  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace,  in  which  office  he  served  one  term.  He  was  also  elected  a 
director  of  the  local  schoolboard,  serving  six  years.  At  the  present  time 
he  is  serving  as  constable.  He  attends  the  Christian  church  and  is  also  a 
contributor  to  other  Christian  charities  outside  of  that  denomination.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  lodge  at  Plillman,  and  the  Maccabees  at 
Leisure. 

He  is  a  son  of  Leonard  and  Mary  Ann  (Gates)  Britton.  They  were 
born,  respectively,  in  New  York,  of  English  parents ;  and  near  Kingston, 
Canada,  of  English  and  Scottish  ancestry.  His  father  is  now  deceased,  hut 
his  mother  is  living,  her  residence  being  Three  Oaks,  Michigan.  Mr. 
Britton  has  one  brother  and  two  sisters.  He  was  married  on  August  6, 
1881,  to  Anna  Startzel,  a  native  of  Germany,  born  near  Ligdnitz  on  No- 
vember 25,  1865,  and  who  came  to  America  at  the  age  of  twelve  years, 
direct  to  Three  Oaks,  Michigan.  She  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Anna 
Startzel. 

Four  children  have  been  bom  of  this  union,  Elmer  C,  Florence  M., 
wife  of  Arthur  O.  Scott,  of  Casco  township;  James  A.,  who  resides  with 
his  father,  and  Mary  Ann. 

Eli  Snell,  at  present  a  resident  of  Pullman,  was  born  in  the  township 
of  Hamilton,  Warren  county,  Ohio,  on  June  5,  1856.  When  about  eleven 
years  of  age  his  parents  moved  to  Lawton,  Van  Buren  county,  Michigan, 
from  which  place  he  went  to  Pine  Grove.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Alle- 
gan county  for  about  thirty  years,  most  of  the  time  in  Lee  township.  He 
began  life  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil,  then  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith ing. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  188 

which  he  has  followed  in  connection  with  farming  ever  since.  He  owns 
forty  acres  of  land  in  section  six,  Lee  township.  It  was  taken  up  as  a 
timber  claim,  and  with  the  energy  characteristic  of  the  early  settler  he  set 
about  clearing  it  for  cultivation.  There  he  remained  tilling  the  thirty-two 
acres  which  he  had  cleared,  until  about  three  years  ago,  when  he  came 
to  Pullman.  Here  he  built  a  neat  and  attractive  home  and  blacksmith  shop. 
In  the  matter  of  politics  Mr.  Snell  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  son  of 
Ransom  and  Mary  Ann  (Henry)  Snell,  both  natives  of  Ohio  and  now 
deceased,  he  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine,  she  at  the  age  of  seventy-one. 
There  were  twelve  children  born  to  them,  of  whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
is  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth.  He  was  married,  in  1881,  to  Alice  Kirkpat- 
rick,  of  Cheshire  township,  who  was  born  January  2,  1865.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Emma  (Morris)  Kirkpatrick,  both  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  were  married  in  that  state  and  came  to  Michigan  and 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Cheshire  township,  where  they  lived  for  forty-five 
years.  They  are  both  deceased,  he  having  died  at  the  age  of  seven-nine 
and  she  at  the  age  of  eighty-two.  Mr.  Snell  has  one  child,  Mary,  wife  of 
Trumen  Fuller,  who  has  one  child,  Mont  Vernie. 

Charles  Gotham  was  born  in  Berrien  county,  Michigan,  November 
3,  1858.  His  parents  moved  to  Laporte  county,  Indiana,  where  he  lived 
until  grown.  He  went  next  to  Three  Oaks,  Michigan,  where  he  conducted 
a  farm  for  five  years.  He  moved  to  Lee  township,  December  7,  1887,  and 
settled  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  Here  he  has  remained  continu- 
ously with  the  exception  of  two  years  when  he  worked  at  Michigan  City, 
Indiana. 

He  started  in  a  very  modest  way.  His  fann  was  covered  with  stumps 
and  undergrowth,  and  the  amount  of  capital  at  his  disposal  was  limited. 
The  conditions  were  such  as  might  well  discourage  him,  but  with  com- 
mendable energy  he  set  to  work  to  clear  his  land  and  put  it  into  condition 
where  it  would  yield  him  some  profit.  Pie  erected  a  little  shanty  to  live  in, 
and  bought  a  team.  After  he  had  worked  for  a  time,  his  finances  being 
low,  he  went  to  Michigan  City,  Indiana,  and  worked  there  for  two  years  at 
day's  work  in  order  to  procure  the  funds  necessary  to  complete  the  work 
on  his  farm.  The  farm  is  now  all  under  cultivation,  the  buildings  are  all 
neat  and  substantial,  and  the  place  presents  a  far  different  appearance  from 
that  of  the  undergrowth-choked  wilderness  that  it  appeared  when  he  first 
took  hold  of  the  enterprise.  In  1901  Mr.  Gotham  purchased  eighty  acres 
more  in  section  eight  and  now  conducts  the  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  as 
a  combined  farm. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  He  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Pull- 
man, his  wife  being  a  member  of  the  Daughters  of  Rebekahs.  He  is  a  son 
of  John  and  Mary  (Bottsliff)  Gotham,  both  natives  of  Germany,  he  being 
born  in  Mecklenberg  and  she  in  Pr\issia,  from  whence  she  came  to  the 
United  States  and  settled  at  New  Buffalo,  Michigan.  Mr.  Gotham  is  the 
oldest  of  six  children:  Charles,  Eliza  Shofe,  deceased;  Albert,  of  Michigan 
City ;  Emma  Noble,  also  of  Michigan  City ;  Fred,  a  resident  of  South  Da- 
kota ;  Frank,  residing  in  North  Dakota. 

Mr.  Gotham  was  married  January  20,  1879,  to  Mary  Martins,  a  native 
of  Germany,  who  came  with  her  parents,  Henry  and  Sophia  Martins,  to  La- 


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18-1  HISTCJRY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

porte  county.  They  have  seven  children :  Louis,  of  Fennville ;  George,  of 
Casco;  Annie,  Fred,  who  lives  at  home;  Rose,  wife  of  Orvii  Cooney,  of 
Benton  Harbor;  Emma,  deceased  in  infancy,  and  Albert,  who  still  resides 
at  home, 

Selden  E.  Phillips  first  saw  the  light  of  day  September  29,  1864,  in 
Hope  township,  Barry  county,  Michigan,  where  he  resided  until  fourteen 
years  of  age.  When  but  two  weeks  of  age  he  was  deprived  of  a  mother's 
care,  and  was  taken  to  live  with  his  paternal  grandparents.  Eight  years  sub- 
sequent to  this  his  grandfather  died.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  came 
with  liis  grandmother  and  his  uncle,  Anson  Phillips,  to  Lee  township,  Alle- 
gan county,  and  settled  on  the  farm  where  he  still  resides.  This  farm  was 
taken  up  by  his  uncle  under  the  Homestead  Law,  and  consists  of  eighty 
acres,  lying  in  sections  seven  and  eight,  the  public  highway  dividing  the 
iarm  into  two  equal  parts.  There  is  a  large  modern  house  and  barn  on  either 
side  of  the  highway.  The  entire  farm  is  under  cultivation,  and  shows  the 
evidences  of  Mr.  Phillip's  thrift  and  perseverance,  he  having  cleared  all 
but  two  acres  of  it  himself.  For  over  thirty  years  he  has -resided  on  this 
farm,  and  for  over  twenty  years  he  has  been  actual  owner  of  it,  having  pur- 
chased it  from  his  Uncle  Anson. 

In  1901  Mr.  Phillips  started  a  hardware  business  at  Grand  Junction,  in 
co-partnership  with  Mallay  Brothers,  Mr.  Phillips  owning  a  half  interest  in 
the  firm,  which  was  conducted  under  the  name  of  Phillips  &  Mallay  Brothers. 
Three  years  ago  Frank  Mallay,  one  of  the  firm,  was  drowned  in  Scott  Lake, 
his  remaining  brother  conducting  their  share  of  the  business,  the  business 
name  being  changed  to  Phillips  &  Mallay-  Mr.  Phillips  is  also  a  partner, 
with  Roy  Carman,  in  the  tubular  well  business,  their  field  being  western 
Michigan,  extending  principally  along  the  lake  shore  from  St.  Joseph  to 
Holland.  The  business  is  under  the  name  of  Phillips  &  Carman.  Both  the 
hardware  and  well  business  have  proved  to  be  extensive  and  profitable.  Most 
of  bis  time  is  devoted  to  these  two  lines  of  work,  the  farm  work  being  done 
by  hired  help. 

He  is  a  staunch  and  life-long  Republican.  The  confidence  in  which  he 
is  held  by  his  fellow  citizens  is  shown  by  the  offices  of  public  trust  which  he 
has  held.  He  was  for  four  years  treasurer  of  Lee  township,  one  year  clerk, 
having  been  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  the  clerk, 
and  treasurer  of  the  school  district  for  twelve  years,  and  for  two  years 
deputy  sheriff  luider  Whitbeck  and  four  years  imder  Bensley. 

During  his  term  as  deputy  sheriff  he  had  one  very  exciting  experience 
while  on  a  business  trip  to  Qiicago.  He  arrived  in  that  city  on  the  earh' 
morning  boat  from  South  Haven  with  his  little  nephew,  Walter  Lawver. 
While  walking  up  South  Water  street  he  was  approached  by  a  man  who 
attempted  to  entice  him  down  to  the  docks  with  the  information  that  there 
had  been  a  terrible  explosion  on  board  the  steamer  which  liad  just  arrived 
from  South  Haven..  He  was,  however,  not  to  be  deceived  by  such  informa- 
tion, having  just  quitted  the  boat  himself,  and  he  informed  the  man  that  he 
was  not  interested  in  explosions.  At  this  time  two  more  men  appeared  upon 
the  scene  and  things  began  to  grow  more  than  ordinarily  interesting.  For- 
tunately he  carried  a  revolver  and  wore  the  star  which  was  the  badge  of  his 
official  position.     When  he  observed  that  the  men  had  seriously  made  up 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  185 

their  minds  to  rob  liim,  he  drew  his  revolver  and  covered  them,  A  crowd 
had  already  begun  to  gather  and  a  police  officer  having  come  up,  he  handed 
the  three  men  over  to  the  city's  guardian  of  the  peace,  and  they  were  imme- 
diately accorded  a  ride  in  the  patrol-wagon  to  police  headquarters.  He  sub- 
sequently testified  against  these  men  and  they  were  sent  to  the  penitentiary 
for  their  attempted  hold-up. 

Mr.  Phillips  is  a  son  of  Milo  and  Susan  (Mahoney)  Phillips,  both  na- 
tives of  Medina,  Ohio.  There  were  two  children,  Ella,  wife  of  Henry 
Thompson,  of  Allegan,  and  Selden  E.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The  lat- 
ter was  married  in  1899  to  Frances  Diirfee,  bom  January  22,  1873,  in  Illi- 
nois, and  who  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Anna  (Hogan)  Durfee.  natives 
of  Vermont  and  New  York,  respectively.    They  have  no  children. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  National  Protective  Legion,  and  in  a  business 
way,  in  addition  to  the  lines  of  work  mentioned  above,  represents  the  A1!l- 
gan  and  Ottawa  Counties  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  for  whom  he 
has  written  an  extensive  fire  insurance  business.  His  hardware  business  also 
includes  the  heavier  grade  of  agricultural  implements  and  he  also  deals  in 
coal  and  grain. 

His  business  dealings  have  been  lucrative  and  have  brought  him  the 
respect  and  good  will  of  his  associates  and  customers.  He  has  also  filled  the 
public  offices  in  which  he  has  served  in  a  skillful  and  highly  creditable 


Emery  W.  Dokey,  associated  for  a  number  of  years  with  the  lumber- 
ing interests  of  southern  Michigan,  was  born  in  Mason  township.  Cass 
county.  Michigan,  July  2,  i8(io.  In  1872  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Casco 
township,  and  resided  there  and  in  Blooniingdale  township  tintil  1875.  In 
that  year  he  came  to  Lee  township,  where  he  has  remained  ever  since.  He 
was  in  partnership  with  his  father  in  the  lumber  business,  under  the  firm 
name  of  D.  J.  Dokey  &  Son,  until  1895.  at  which  time  he  assumed  charge  of 
the  entire  business.  The  output  of  their  mill  was  from  two  to  four  cars 
per  day.  which  prices  averaged  about  ten  dollars  per  thousand  feet  on  board 
cars.  As  lumber  became  scarce  in  his  locality  he  opened  a  planing  mill, 
which  he  operated  successfully. 

In  1895  he  opened  a  grocery  store,  which  he  ran  for  three  years,  during 
which  time  he  was  postmaster  at  Lee  under  Cleveland's  administration.  He 
owns  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  section  twenty-one.  ali  imnroved  and 
in  fine  condition.  One  Hundred  .nnd  fourteen  acres  was  left  to  him.  a  part 
of  the  old  homestead,  which  he  disposed  of  about  three  years  ago.  In  this 
same  year  he  opened  a  grocery  store  in  Wlieaton,  Ilhnois,  which  is  still  being 
run,  with  his  son-in-law.  V.  L.  Van  Pleu  in  charge,  Mr,  Dokey  owns  a  fine 
farm  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  and  known  as  "Riverside  Farm."  Polit- 
ical!}' he  is  a  Republican ;  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  review 
for  the  term  of  two  vears  and  has  also  been  school  moderator.  He  has 
always  been  interested  in  the  work  of  the  church  in  his  communitv,  and  is 
an  active  member  of  the  Christian  church  of  Lee,  of  which  he  is  also  a  well 
known  class  leader.    He  is  also  a  member  of  the  National  Protective  Legion. 

His  father.' David  J.  Dokey,  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Quebec,  Can- 
ada, July  13.  1832.  From  that  point  he  with  his  parents  came  to  the  United 
States  and  settled  at  Greece,  Monroe  county,  New  York,  where  he  remained 


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18G  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

until  twenty  years  of  age.  Then  he  came  to  White  Pigeon,  Michigan,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  lumher  business  until  1895,  as  has  been  before  stated.  He 
is  also  a  staunch,  life-long  Republican,  and  has  held  the  offices  of  highway 
commissioner  and  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  instrumental  in  having  the 
postoffice  established  at  Lee,  and  was  its  first  postmaster.  He  has  voted  for 
every  nominee  for  president  on  the  Republican  ticket  from  Fremont  to 
Roosevelt,  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  United  States  Sharpshooters,  and 
served  his  country  for  two  years  and  nine  months,  when  he  was  discharged 
for  disability.  He  had  five  brothers  in  the  army  with  him,  one  of  whom 
died  and  another  was  wounded  while  in  the  service.  All  six  of  the  brothers 
lived  in  Michigan  but  two  of  them  enlisted  from  Elkhart,  Indiana. 

AHce  M.  Cooley,  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Oakland  county,  Michigan,  April  20,  1838,  and  died  in  Lee  township  in 
18S6.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Horace  Cooley,  a  native  of  Vermont  and  a 
pioneer  from  that  state  to  Michigan  in  1833,  settling  in  Oakland  county. 
Eight  children  were  born  to  her:  Emery  W.,  George  M.,  of  South  Haven; 
Ella  M.  Shiffer,  deceased  in  1906,  and  five  children  who  died  in  infancy. 

In  1884  Mr.  Dokey  was  married  to  Emma  L.  Shaffer,  a  daughter  of 
Louis  and  Mary  Shaffer,  of  Armstrong  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  she 
was  bom  January  18,  1869.  They  have  had  three  children:  Alpha  Grace, 
Daisy,  deceased  at  eleven  years,  and  Ethel  W. 

Horace  G.  Bcngham,  who  has  devoted  his  entire  life  to  agricultural 
interests,  was  born  in  Monroe  county.  New  York,  about  sixteen  miles  from 
Rochester,  on  May  24,  1824.  When  he  was  but  a  small  boy  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Allegany  county,  New  York,  where  he  remained  until  he  had 
reached  his  majority.  In  1855  he  went  to  Vernon  Springs,  Howard  county, 
Iowa,  and  in  1864  "returned  to  the  old  homestead  in  Allegany  county.  New 
^ork,  from  whence  he  came  to  Van  Buren  county,  Michigan.  In  1870  he 
moved  to  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides.  Michigan  was  at  that  time 
quite  heavily  wooden,  and  he  took  up  a  timber  claim  of  one  bimdred  and 
sixty  acres,  which  he  with  the  help  of  his  sons  cleared  and  put  under  the 
plow.  He  built  a  number  of  substantial  buildings  on  the  place  and  improved 
it  generally.  But  a  few  years  ago,  feeling  the  weight  of  advancing  years  and 
desiring  to  relieve  himself  of  the  responsibilities  of  active  farm  management, 
he  divided  the  farm  equally  between  his  children.  He  still  keeps  his  resi- 
dence on  the  farm,  however,  living  with  his  son  Charles.  He  also  owned 
two  hundred  acres  in  the  old  home  in  New  York,  the  land  he  had  helped  to 
clear  when  a  boy.' 

He  was  originally  identified  with  the  Whig  party  and  later  as  that 
party  passed  out  of  existence  became  a  Republican.  He  lacked  but  a  few 
months  of  being  old  enough  to  vote  for  Henry  Clay,  but  in  default  of  the 
right  to  vote  he  spent  his  enthusiasm  in  electioneering  for  that  candidate. 
He  voted  for  Fremont  and  all  Republican  presidents  since.  He  has  held 
the  office  of  constable,  school  officer  and  other  offices  of  public  service. 

His  paternal  grandfather,  Thomas,  fought  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was 
in  Buffalo  at  the  time  that  village  was  burned  by  the  Firitish.  His  father 
Joseph  was  a  native  of  New  York  state,  where  he  spent  his  hfe  as  a  tiller  of 
the  soil.  His  mother,  Romina  Badger,  was  a  native  of  New  York  and  died 
in  that  state.    Mr.  Bingham  was  the  second  of  nine  children,  namely :  Ans- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  187 

tin,  who  died  at  an  early  age;  Horace,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Captain 
LaFayette,  who  organized  a  company  in  southern  New  York  and  served 
throughout  the  Civil  war,  now  deceased ;  Mathew  Beardsley,  also  deceased ; 
Cynthia  Ballard,  deceased;  Louisa;  Phidelia  Ballard;  Lorinda  Palmer,  of 
Reed  City,  Michigan,  and  Carey,  who  died  in  the  army.  Of  a  family  of  nine 
he  and  his  three  sisters  are  the  only  surviving  members.  His  wife,  to  whom 
he  was  married  in  1851,  was  Sarah  Jane  Bennett,  born  November  6,  1827, 
at  Saratoga,  New  York,  and  daughter  of  Robert  and  Caroline  (Gay)  Ben- 
nett. Her  father  was  bom  in  the  Black  River  country  and  her  mother  at 
Saratoga,  New  York.  Her  father  died  when  she  was  but  eight  years  of  age. 
Mr.  Bingham  is  the  father  of  five  children,  viz.:  Ella  Avery,  who  is 
housekeeper  for  her  brother  William;  William  F.,  a  sketch  of  whose  life 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume;  Julian,  of  Berrien  county;  Charles,  who 
owns  eighty  acres,  the  home  farm,  and  Mary,  wife  of  Alexander  Otto,  of 
Casco  township. 

Alton  S.  Dehing  was  born  in  Columbia  township.  Van  Biiren  county, 
Michigan,  March  31,  1864.  When  he  was  about  two  years  of  age  his  par- 
ents moved  to  Lee  township,  Allegan  county,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  sec- 
tion thirty-two.  Here  he  resided  until  his  marriage,  when  he  purchased 
forty  acres  of  his  father  and  started  farming  for  himself.  He  built  new 
buildings  on  the  place  and  set  himself  to  systematically  improving  it.  When 
twenty  years  of  age  he  shipped  on  the  Great  Lakes  as  seaman  and  followed 
the  life  for  twenty  years,  working  up  from  ordinary  seaman  to  the  position 
of  chief  engineer,  and  now  holds  license  as  chief.  At  the  age  of  forty  he 
left  the  lakes  and  has  spent  the  time  since  in  working  his  farm. 

He  has  been  a  life-long  Republican,  casting  his  first  vote  for  Blaine.  He 
is  at  present  supervisor  of  Lee  township.  He  was  elected  in  1903.  and  twice 
re-elected,  thus  holding  three  consecutive  terms.  He  was  elected  treasurer  of 
the  township,  and  served  in  that  capacity  for  two  years.  He  is  now  school 
director,  having  been  in  that  office  three  years.  He  is  a  respected  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Lacota.  He  belongs  to  lodge  of  Odd 
Fellows  at  Lacota,  the  Rebekahs  at  Pullman,  and  the  Marine  Engineers 
Society  of  Saugatuck. 

He  is  a  son  of  Emerson  and  Martha  (Burgett)  Deming  of  Massachu- 
setts and  Ohio,  respectively.  He  was  the  second  born  of  seven  children,  viz. ; 
Mary,  wife  of  John  Burnhart.  of  Shelby;  Alton  S.,  of  whom  we  are  now 
writing;  Aimer,  who  resides  with  his  parents;  Dora  Burnhart,  deceased; 
Nellie,  wife  of  Charles  Smith,  of  Lee  township;  Myrtle,  wife  of  John  Flora, 
of  Lee  township,  and  Eva,  still  at  home. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  September  4.  1889.  to  Clara  M.  Tisdale,  a 
native  of  Indiana,  who  was  born  in  that  state.  March  25,  1869,  and  who  is  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Matilda  (Mortenson)  Tisdale,  natives  of  Con- 
necticut and  Norway,  respectively. 

Onr  subject  has  one  child,  Frank  A.,  who  was  bom  December  2,  1891, 

WiLLi.\M  F.  Bingham,  a  fruit  grower  of  Lee  town.ship,  was  born  in 
Vernon  Springs  township,  Howard  county,  Iowa.  April  23,  1859.  When 
about  six  years  of  age  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  New  York  state,  two 
years  following  to  Van  Buren  county,  Michigan,  and  in  1870  to  the  farm  in 


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188  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Lee  township  on  which  he  now  hves.  His  father  boug-ht  one  hiindrefl  and 
sixty  acres  of  timber  land,  which  he  and  his  sons  cleared  and  put  under  cul- 
tivation.   He  eventually  divided  the  farm  between  his  children. 

Mr.  Bingham  rims  his  part  of  the  farm,  located  in  section  twenty-nine, 
as  a  fruit  farm.  He  has  about  twenty  acres  in  peaches  besides  other  fruits. 
In  politics  he  owes  allegiance  to  the  Republican  party.  He  is  a  son  of  Hor- 
ace and  Sarah  (Bennett)  Bingham,  who  are  both  living  with  his  brothei 
Charles  on  the  old  farm.  He  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth  of  five  children, 
all  of  whom  are  living,  viz. :  Ella  Avery,  a  widow,  who  acts  as  housekeepei 
for  her  brother;  William  F..  unmarried;  Julian,  of  Berrien  county;  Charles, 
and  Mary,  wife  of  Alexander  Otto,  of  Casco  township. 

Emerson  H.  Deminc.  was  born  at  North  Hampton.  Massachusetts, 
September  ii,  1832.  When  four  years  of  age  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Ashtabula  county,  Ohio.  There  he  remained  until  he  entered  the  army.  He 
enlisted  Augiist  23.  i86r,  for  three  years'  service,  in  the  Fifth  Ohio  Battery. 
Captain  W.  P.  Edgerton,  commanding.  This  battery  was  assigned  to  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  took  part  in  the  engagements  of  Stone  River 
and  Chattanooga.  Mr.  Deming  was  discharged  from  the  army  after  four- 
teen months'  service  for  disability.  After  his  discharge,  at  Northville,  Ten- 
nessee, October  29,  1862,  he  returned  home  and  has  been  unable  to  do  any 
active  work  since,  as  his  health  was  broken  by  the  hardships  and  exposures 
incident  to  military  life.  He  settled  in  Allegan  in  1863.  He  spent  the  winter 
of  1863  in  that  town  and  went  in  the  spring  of  1864  to  Montana,  in  an  at- 
tempt to  regain  his  health,  remaining  there  until  November  of  the  Next 
■  year.  He  then  returned  to  Michigan  and  in  the  summer  of  1866  bought  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  consisting  of  eighty  acres  in  section  thirty- 
two.  Lee  township.  He  deeded  sixty  acres  of  this  to  his  sons,  retaining  the 
remaining  twenty  for  himself.  When  he  bought  the  place  it  was  heavily 
timbered,  none  of  the  wood  having  been  cut  at  that  time.  He  first  built  a 
small  \os  cabin,  and  with  the  help  of  his  sons  cleared  the  ground  for  culti- 
vation. 

He  has  made  bee-raising  a  specialty  for  a  number  of  years.  He  re- 
lates that  when  he  first  came  to  Michigan  game  was  in  abundance,  deer,  tur- 
keys, squirrels  and  game  birds.  White  in  Montana  he  spent  most  of  his 
time  in  the  open  air.  hunting  and  fishing.  He  was  with  the  party  that  dis- 
covered gold  at  Helena,  Montana,  and  had  nnmerous  exciting  experiences. 
He  relates  that  an  Indian  chief  offered  him  all  the  gold  he  could  pick  up  and 
all  the  ponies  he  cared  for  if  he  would  marry  the  chief's  daughter.  He  had 
given  the  Indians  a  dinner  and  smoked  the  pipe  of  peace  with  them,  but  al- 
though this  offer  of  the  chief's  daughter  was  considered  a  very  flattering 
one.  Mr.  Deming  did  not  see  fit  to  accept  it. 

He  has  been  all  his  life  a  Republican.  For  about  twelve  years  he  was 
township  treasurer  of  Lee  township,  and  has  been  for  years  a  school  ofllicer. 
At  the  time  he  came  to  this  part  of  Michigan  there  were  no  roads,  the  onlv 
means  of  access  to  a  distant  point  being  foot  trails  through  the  woods.  It 
was  necessary  to  blaze  a  trail  through  the  woods  to  enable  the  new  teacher 
to  find  the  schoolhouse. 

Mr.  Deming  is  a  member  of  the  John  H.  Andrews  Post  of  the  C.  A.  R. 
at  Lacota.    He  is  a  son  of  Almond  and  Theodosius  (Leonard)  Deming.    He 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  189 

had  three  brothers  and  two  sisters.  He  has  been  married  twice.  The  first 
time  to  Mary  Goff,  a  native  of  Ohio,  who  died  six  years  after  their  mar- 
riage, and  by  whom  he  had  one  son,  Sylvester,  who  was  deceased  at  the  age 
of  two  years.  He  was  married  again,  in  August,  1859,  to  Martha  A.  Eur- 
gett  a  daughter  of  Isaiah  and  Betsey  (Parker)  Burgett,  who  were  natives 
of  New  York  and  pioneers  to  the  state  of  Ohio,  where  they  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  lives.  She  was  born  at  Trimble,  Ashtabula  county,  Ohio, 
February  29,  1844.  Of  this  union  there  were  born  seven  children,  viz. : 
Mary,  wife  of  John  Barnhart,  of  Shelby,  Michigan ;  Alton,  a  sketch  of  whose 
life  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume;  Aimer  H.,  who  is  married  and  resides 
with  his  parents ;  Dora  Barnhart,  deceased ;  Nellie,  wife  of  Charles  Smith, 
of  Lee  township :  Myrtle,  wife  of  John  Flora,  also  of  Lee  township,  and  Eva, 
who  is  still  at  home. 

Jacob  Bean,  a  Canadian  by  birth,  left  the  little  village  in  the  Province 
of  Quebec,  near  Montreal,  where  he  was  born  May  17.  1849,  and  with  his 
brother  Frank  came  to  the  United  States  to  seek  his  fortune.  He  went  first 
to  Vermont,  and  though  but  fourteen  years  of  age  did  not  hesitate  to  accept 
a  job  as  wood  chopper,  laborious  as  it  might  seem  to  a  bo>-  of  his  years,  as 
a  means  of  livelihood  until  something  more  favorable  "turned  up."  For  two 
years  the  brothers  worked  together,  then  Jacob  left  and  came  alone  to  Sag- 
inaw, Michigan,  where  he  worked  in  the  saw  mills  in  summer  and  in  the 
woods  in  winter  and  spring,  running  logs.  Tiring  of  this  after  a  time  he 
came  to  Kalamazoo,  where  he  worked  on  a  farm  for  the  period  of  six  months, 
then  in  some  of  the  neighboring  brick  yards.  He  worked  for  a  portion  of 
the  year  1871  on  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad.  In  the  spring  of  1872  he 
went  to  South  Haven,  and  resnmed  work  in  the  sawmills  and  woo<ls,  at 
which  he  remained  for  two  seasons.  He  worked  in  various  other  mills  for 
several  months,  then  went  to  Williams,  JCalamazoo  county,  where  he  bought 
a  farm  of  forty  acres.  He  came  to  Lee  township  March  17.  1881.  and  has 
remained  there  since.  He  bought  eighty  acres  of  heavy  timber  land  in  sec- 
tion nineteen,  which  is  now  all  nnder  plow  except  about  two  acres.  He  is 
a  breeder  of  horses  and  cows,  and  also  raises  considerable  fruit,  apples, 
pears  and  peaches. 

By  pohtical  inclination  Mr.  Bean  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  held  several 
offices  of  public  responsibility,  among  them  that  of  school  officer  and  path- 
master.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church  at  Grand  Junction.  He  is  a 
son  of  Francis  and  Mary  (Bean)  Bean.  His  mother,  who  was  not  forced  to 
change  her  maiden  name  after  marriage,  was  a  native  of  France,  and  died 
in  Canada.    He  was  one  of  eleven  children. 

Mr.  Bean  was  married  in  St.  Joseph,  April  25.  1870.  to  Hattie  E.  Har- 
ris, a  native  of  Kalamazoo  county,  where  she  was  born  April  10.  1850. 
Twelve  children  were  born  to  them,  viz.:  Nathon  Isadore,  who  is  now  a 
teacher;  Anthony,  also  a  teacher:  Jay  X.,  proprietor  of  a  grocery  and  meat- 
market  at  Grand  Junction ;  George,  a  farmer,'  residing  in  Casco  township ; 
Harrie,  an  employee  of  the  American  Express  Company  in  Chicago:  Ger- 
trude, a  teacher  for  a  number  of  years,  now  a  milliner  in  Chicago ;  Mary, 
wife  of  Arthur  Dalrimple.  of  Lee  township;  Myrtle  and  Bertha,  in  High 
School  at  South  Haven :  Winifred ;  Roy,  who  died  at  the  age  of  ten  months 


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190  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

and  thirteen  days,  and  Arthur,  died  aged  twenty-one  months  and  thirteen 
days. 

Mr.  Bean,  in  common  with  many  a  man  who  has  been  forced  to  fight 
his  way  and  to  neglect  his  schooling  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  liveli- 
hood in  the  impressionable  years  of  his  life,  sets  great  store  on  a  liberal  ed- 
ucation. He  has  in  the  past  and  is  at  the  present  giving  his  children  the 
benefit  of  the  training  of  which  he  would  have  been  glad  to  avail  himself  in 
his  youth  had  he  had  the  opportunity. 

Cextess  in  Ganges  and  Casco. 

These  two  townships  have  had  numerous  postoffices  and  mill  and  store 
centers,  though  none  of  them  have  attained  size  or  importance  enough  to 
be  considered  villages.  The  townships  have  shown  a  steady  increase  in  pop- 
ulation, without  tendency  toward  concentration,  and  there  being  no  railroad 
in  cither  township,  population  has  grouped  itself  at  one  time  about,  a  mill,  at 
another  about  a  postoffice,  and  again  about  a  pier  on  the  lake  shore.  In 
later  years  Glenn  postoffice  and  Glenn  pier,  in  southwestern  Ganges,  has 
perhaps  ranked  first  among  the  business  centers.  For  many  years  large 
quantities  of  fruit,  raised  in  the  surrounding  country,  have  been  shipped 
from  this  point,  which  has  rivaled  South  Haven  in  this  respect.  Its  settle- 
ment dates  from  1842,  and  the  postoffice  has  been  located  there  since  187G. 
The  postoffice  has  gone  by  different  names,  originally  being  New  Casco,  just 
south  of  the  Ganges  town  line,  later  was  called  Packard's  Corners,  and  since 
1879  has  borne  the  name  Gienn. 

One  of  the  old  village  sites  of  Ganges  township  was  Plummerville,  still 
known  as  a  locality,  though  without  any  commercial  activity.  Benjamin 
Plummer  and  Orlando  Weed  in  1846  set  up  a  sawmill  on  the  creek  in  section 
8,  O.  R.  Johnson  built  a  tannery,  Plummer  opened  a  store  and  extended  a 
pier  into  the  lake  for  convenience  of  shipping,  and  for  about  thirty  years 
there  was  considerable  activity  about  the  place. 

One  of  the  picturesque  spots  along  the  lake  shore  is  Pier  Cove,  the  post- 
office  being  known  as  Ganges.  This  is  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  town- 
ship, and  was  once  a  place  of  importance  as  a  shipping  point.  A  village  plat 
was  laid  out  there  by  Deacon  Sutherland  in  1851,  and  a  steam  saw  mill  soon 
erected,  followed  by  the  grist  mill  which  ran  so  many  years  and  is  now  a 
picturesque  attraction  of  the  place.  A  pier  was  constructed  into  the  lake, 
and  while  the  lumber  business  flourished  there  were  stores,  mills  and  a  con- 
siderable population.  The  sawmill  was  discontinued  in  the  late  sixties,  and 
since  that  time  the  village  prosperity  has  depended  almost  entirely  on  the 
fruit  business.  The  postoffice  was  established  in  1853  and  known  as  Pier 
Cove  until  1S74,  since  which  time  it  has  been  Ganges. 

In  Casco  township  rural  free  delivery  has  gradually  eliminated  the  coun- 
try postoffices,  and  though  this  is  one  of  the  best  fruit-growing  areas  of  the 
county  it  has  no  centers  that  merit  detailed  description.  Hawkhead  and 
Leisure  are  the  best  known  localities  approaching  rank  as  village,  and  in  the 
following  sketches  of  C.  H.  Overhiser  and  Theron  Johnston  the  pertinent 
facts  relative  to  these  two  places  are  given. 

Chaeles  Henry  Overhiser  is  the  proprietor  of  the  Maple  wood  farm, 
situated  on  section  14,  Casco  township.    His  birth  occurred  January  i ,  1 867, 


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HISTC^RY  OF  ALLEGAK  COUNTY  191 

and  he  has  continuously  resided  in  the  township,  which  was  the  place  of  his 
birth.  His  parents  are  Henry  and  Sarali  (McKee)  Overhiser,  and  he  was 
their  fifth  child.  He  remained  at  home  until  his  mother  died,  when  he  was 
about  seventeen  years  of  age  and  he  then  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  ac- 
count, working  by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand,  save  during  the  threshing 
periods.  When  eighteen  years  of  age  he  purchased  an  interest  from  his 
father  in  a  threshing  machine  and  engaged  in  work  in  the  harvest  fields  in 
that  way  for  about  twenty  seasons.  The  remainder  of  the  time  he  devoted 
to  general  farm  labor.  He  operated  his  brother  Albert's  place  for  two 
years,  and  when  he  found  it  possible  to  purchase  property  of  his  own  he 
made  investment  and  is  now  the  owner  of  nineteen  acres  on  section  14,  Casco 
township,  which  is  a  part  of  the  old  homestead.  The  dwelling  is  at  Four 
Corners,  knowii  as  Leisure,  where  a  store  and  church  are  located.  Mr. 
Overhiser  has  lived  upon  this  place  for  twelve  years  and  his  farm  is  known 
as  Maplewood.  It  is  conducted  as  a  fruit  farm  and  he  has  thereon  a  fine 
residence  and  a  good  barn  which  he  erected.  He  also  owns  twenty  acres  of 
land  on  section  15  and  about  twenty  acres  three  miles  east  of  Leisure  in  Lee 
township.  All  that  he  possesses  has  been  acquired  through  his  own  labors 
and  he  has  manifested  a  persistency  of  purpose  and  strong  determination  that 
have  been  most  commendable  and  have  enabled  him  to  overcome  difficulties 
and  obstacles  in  his  path. 

On  the  17th  of  January,  1892,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Charles 
Henry  Overhiser  and  Miss  Minnie  Merrifield,  who  was  born  in  Defiance 
county,  Ohio,  February  8,  1867,  and  became  acquainted  with  her  husband 
when  on  a  visit  to  her  sister  in  Allegan  county.  They  were  married,  how- 
ever, in  Ohio,  at  the  home  of  her  parents,  Frank  and  Julia  (Smith)  Merri- 
field, who  were  natives  of  the  Buckeye  state.  The  young  couple  have  been 
blessed  with  a  family  of  five  children,  Riley  M.,  Ida  Belle,  Ward  H.,  Thelma 
Fay  and  Raymond. 

Mr.  Overhiser  exercises  his  right  of  franchi.se  in  support  of  the  move- 
ments and  measures  of  the  Republican  party  but  has  only  a  citizen's  interest 
in  politics,  never  seeking  nor  desiring  office  for  himself  although  at  the 
present  writing  he  is  serving  as  township  treasurer,  having  been  elected  on 
the  Republican  ticket  and  endorsed  by  the  citizens'  party  because  his  fellow 
townsmen  recognized  his  fitness  for  office  and  knew  that  he  would  prove 
capable  in  the  position.  His  fraternal  relations  are  with  the  Odd  Fellows' 
Lodge,  of  which  he  is  at  this  writing.  1906,  noble  grand,  belonging  to  East 
Card  Lodge,  at  Leisure,  and  also  to  the  tent  of  the  Knights  of  the  Macca- 
bees at  Leisure.  The  Overhiser  family  is  an  old  and  prominent  one  in  this 
part  of  the  state  and  the  name  has  always  been  a  synonym  for  agricultural 
progress  and  fidelity  in  citizenship  and  the  record  of  Charles  Henry  Over- 
hiser is  in  harmony  with  that  of  other  representatives  of  the  name. 

EucRNE  E.  Brunson,  M.  D. — There  is  no  calling  to  which  man  can 
apply  his  line  of  practice  in  which  he  can  exercise  his  energies  that  is  more 
taxing  and  demands  closer  attention  than  that  of  the  practice  of  medicine 
and  surgery.  The  trae  and  able  physician  is  not  the  man  who  deals  out  the 
most  medicine  or  who  writes  the  greatest  number  of  prescriptions  but  he 
who  brings  health  to  the  overtaxed  mind  and  body.  He  must  possess  an 
adaptability  that  permits  him  to  readily  understand  the  mental  as  well  as  the 


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192  HIST(.)RY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

physical  conditions  witli  wliicli  lie  meets  in  the  sick  room  and  lie  must  more- 
over possess  a  love  of  his  work  for  its  own  sake  aside  from  any  remuneration 
which  it  can  bring.  A  wide  and  varied  preliminary  training  is  demanded 
and  the  years  must  be  filled  with  study  and  investigation  in  order  to  keep 
abreast  with  the  progress  that  is  contimtaliy  being  made  by  the  medical  fra- 
ternity. Dr.  Brunson.  well  qualified  in  all  the  particulars  indicated,  is  now 
successfully  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Ganges  and  in  Allegan 
county,  and  being  widely  known  his  record  cannot  fail  to  prove  of  interest  to 
many  of  our  readers. 

Dr.  Brunson  is  a  native  of  Lockport,  Illinois,  where  he  was  born  on  the 
nth  of  September,  1851.  His  parents  were  Cyrus  M.  and  PlethyniaL.  Bran- 
son, the  former  a  native  of  Yates  county,  New  York,  and  the  latter  of  Ver- 
mont. They  had  but  two  sons.  Dr.  Gay  M.  Brunson  and  Dr.  Eugene  E. 
Brunson.  The  former  was  graduated  from  Lombard  University,  at  Gales- 
burg,  Illinois,  and  afterward  became  a  student  in  Bennett  Medical  College, 
at  Chicago,  completing  the  regidar  course.  On  account  of  impaired  health, 
however,  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  practice  of  dentistry  and  is  a  graduate 
of  a  dental  college  at  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  He  is  now  practicing  the 
line  of  his  profession  in  Joliet,  Illinois. 

Dr.  Eugene  E.  Brunson  was  reared  amid  rural  surroundings,  his  father 
being  a  farmer  and  nurseryman  and  there  he  developed  his  muscles  in  health- 
ful and  useful  exercise.  He  attended  the  district  school  of  the  locality  where 
his  mind  was  practically  fitted  and  disciplined  for  his  future  life  of  useful-' 
ness  and  responsibility.  In  due  course  of  time  he  became  a  student  in  Loni-  , 
bard  University,  at  Galesburg,  Illinois,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the 
class  of  1873,  and  later  he  entered  the  Bennett  Medical  College,  of  Chicago, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  May,  1875.  He  located  in  Ganges  town- 
ship, Allegan  county,  on  the  nth  of  October,  1875.  as  the  succes.sor  of  Dr. 
Chenoweth,  and  has  since  devoted  his  time  and  energies  to  the  work  of  heal- 
ing the  sick  and  bringing  cheer  and  comfort  to  his  patients.  His  success  as 
a  physician  is  evidenced  by  his  extensive  patronage  and  the  area  of  county 
in  which  he  practices.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ottawa  County  Medical  So- 
city,  the  Michigan  State  Medical  Society  and  the  National  Eclectic  Medical 
Society.  He  has  served  as  health  officer  in  his  township  for  a  number  of 
years  and  is  recognized  as  an  able  physician  who  is  continually  promoting  his 
efficiency  and  broadening  his  knowledge  by  reading  and  investigation. 

Not  only  is  Dr.  Brunson  a  successful  physician  but  also  a  prosperous 
farmer  and  fruit-raiser.  He  owns  a  valuable  property  of  one  hundred  and 
seventy  acres  of  land  in  Ganges  township,  which  is  operated  under  his  direc- 
tion, and  now  he  has  a  thirty-five  acre  peach  orchard.  In  Saugatuck  township 
he  has  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  ten  acres  of  which  has  been  planted  to 
peaches,  five  acres  to  apples,  five  acres  to  plums,  and  fifteen  acres  to  pears.' 
The  doctor's  father  was  a  pomologist  and  the  doctor  early  gained  broad  and 
accurate  knowledge  of  agriculture  and  is  therefore  well  qualified  to  superin- 
tend his  farming  and  fruit  raising  interests. 

In  October,  1876,  Dr.  Brunson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Alice 
Taylor,  a  daughter  of  Philander  and  Nancy  Taylor.  They  have  become  the 
parents  of  two  children,  Eugene  and  Alice.  The  former  was  graduated  from 
the  Ann  Arbor  Medical  College  in  igo6,  with  the  degrees  of  A.  B.  and 
M.  D.,  and  is  now  associated  with  his  father  in  practice.     The  doctor  has 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  193 

erected  one  of  the  finest  residences  in  the  county.     It  is  commodious  and 
modern  in  every  respect  and  adds  mucli  to  the  beauty  of  Ganges. 

C.  E.  Ensfield,  an  enterprising  and  progressive  farmer  and  fruit 
grower  of  Ganges  township,  wliere  he  owns  forty  acres  of  well  improved 
land,  is  a  native  son  of  Allegan  county,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Sauga- 
tuck  township  October  28,  1853.  His  parents.  Christian  and  Mary  (Lyone) 
Ensfield,  were  both  natives  of  Germany,  whence  they  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  in  1838,  and  in  1850  became  residents  of  Saugatiick,  this  state. 
The  father  learned  and  followed  the  tanner's  trade  in  his  native  country,  and 
likewise  continued  his  operations  along  this  line  after  coming  to  Michigan, 
following  this  business  both  in  South  Haven  and  at  Plummersville,  the 
period  of  his  operations  in  this  line  covering  about  thirty  years.  Meeting 
with  success  in  his  ventures  he  was  enabled  to  provide  for  his  family  and 
also  accumulate  a  competence  for  old  age.  After  removing  to  Saugatuck  he 
purchased  a  farm  in  the  township  of  that  name,  and  after  coming  to  Ganges 
township  he  bought  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  upon  which  he  resided  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1902.  His  wife  had  preceded  him  to  the  home  be- 
yond, her  death  occurring  in  1883.  In  their  family  were  eleven  children,  but 
only  five  of  the  number  now  survive  and  ten  reached  years  of  maturity, 
while  one  passed  away  in  infancy.  The  record  is  as  follows:  Catherine,  de- 
ceased ;  Susan  and  Caroline,  twins,  both  of  whom  have  passed  away ;  Chris- 
topher E..  whose  name  introduces  this  record;  Louise,  who  has  also  passed 
away;  Gilbert,  deceased;  Alfredina;  Jennie;  Henry  H.,  who  owns  and 
operates  the  old  homestead,  and  Annie. 

C.  E.  Ensfield,  although  born  in  Saugatuck  township,  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Ganges  township,  having  been  brought  here  by  his  ^jarents  at  an 
early  day,  and  with  the  exception  of  three  years  which  he  spent  on  the  lakes, 
he  has  always  made  his  home  in  this  section  of  the  county,  where  he  has 
confined  his  attention  to  agricultural  and  horticultural  pursuits.  He  has  a 
well  developed  farm  of  forty  acres  a  portion  of  which  is  devoted  to  the  rais- 
ing of  fruit.  He  has  three  thousand  peach  trees,  one  hundred  pear  trees, 
fifty  apple  trees,  and  fifty  cherry  trees  besides  strawberries  and  other  small 
fruit,  which  bring  forth  abundant  crops  in  their  season,  and  his  fruits  are  of 
such  excellent  quality  that  they  meet  with  a  ready  sale  on  the  market.  In 
addition  to  his  fruit-raising  industry  he  also  engages  in  general  farming  and 
this  branch  of  his  business  is  proving  a  profitable  source  of  revenue  to  him. 

In  1876  Mr.  Ensfield  was  happily  wedded  to  Miss  Emma  Harmon,  a 
daughter  of  Rev.  Austin  and  Sarah  Harmon.  Her  father  was  bom  in  Mon- 
roe county.  New  York,  and  was  an  able  minister  of  the  Baptist  church,  fol- 
lowing that  calling  throughout  many  years.  He  was  liberaliy  educated,  hav- 
ing graduated  from  Wisconsin  University,  Central  New  York  College  and 
Rochester  (New  York)  Theological  Seminary.  Rev.  Harmon  was  a  cousin 
of  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Grover  Cleveland.  He  came  to  Allegan  county, 
Michigan,  in  1854,  and  his  death  here  occurred  in  1865.  His  widow,  who 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  Grovenor,  still  su'rvives.  Her  father,  Cyrus 
P.  Grovenor,  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  College  and  was  an  advocate  of  the 
anti-slavery  question.  He  was  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  church  in  Boston 
and  was  also  an  able  teacher  of  the  classics  in  New  York  Centra!  College. 
He  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-five  years.     In  the  family  of  Rev. 


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IM  1  [ISTORY  OF  ALI-EGAN  COUNTY 

and  Mrs,  Harmon  were  born  two  sons  and  three  daughters,  namely:  Fre- 
mont, Austin,  Emma,  Rose  and  Ella. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ensfield  have  been  bom  three  children,  Horace  G., 
Orin  L.  and  Mamie  F.  The  eldest  son  is  an  engineer  in  the  employ  of  the 
Chicago  North-Western  Railroad  Company.  Mr.  Ensfield  is  known  as  a 
reliable  man  in  all  trade  transactions  and  he  and  his  wife  enjoy  the  hos- 
pitality of  the  best  homes  of  this  section  of  the  state. 

Henry  H.  Ensfield  is  a  native  son  of  Allegan  connty,  and  was  born  in 
the  township  in  which  he  yet  makes  his  home  on  the  25th  of  January,  1863, 
the  youngest  son  of  Christian  and  Mary  (Lyone)  Ensfield.  both  natives  of 
Germany.  Like  the  other  members  of  the  family.  Henry  H.  Ensfield  was 
reared  to  the  occtipation  of  farming,  assisting  his  father  in  the  operation  of 
the  homestead  property,  and  thus  familiarizing  himself  with  the  best 
methods  of  carrying  on  work  along  agricultural  lines.  He  acquired  his  ed- 
ucation in  the  schools  near  his  father's  home  and  was  thus  well  qualified 
with  liberal  educational  advantages,  which  fitted  him  for  carrying  on  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account  when  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  He  has 
always  followed  the  pursuits  to  which  as  a  youth  he  was  reared,  and  is  now 
the  owner  of  the  old  homestead  property  situated  in  Ganges  township,  which 
he  purchased  upon  the  death  of  his  father  in  1902.  This  tract  comprises  sixty 
acres  of  valuable  land,  which  is  devoted  to  agricultural  and  horticultural 
pursuits.  He  has  three  thousand  peach  trees,  two  hundred  pear  trees,  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five  apple  trees,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  cherry  trees 
and  also  has  one  acre  devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  blackberries.  In  addition 
to  fruit-raising  his  farm  is  also  devoted  to  general  farming.  Mr.  Ensfield 
leads  a  very  busy  and  active  life,  for,  while  giving  capable  management  and 
supervision  to  his  farming  and  fruit-raising  interests  he  also  owns  and  con- 
ducts a  cooper  shop  in  Ganges,  where  he  enjoys  a  large  trade,  for,  being 
located  in  the  fruit  belt  of  Michigan  there  is  an  extensive  business  of  this 
kind  to  be  done  in  connection  with  the  packing  and  shipping  of  the  products 
which  are  raised  on  the  various  farms  in  this  locality.  Mr.  Ensfield  has  also 
acted  as  agent  for  E.  Weed  &  Company,  fruit  packers,  for  the  past  six 
years. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  1891,  Henry  H.  Ensfield  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Ella  Phimmer,  a  daughter  of  W.  H.  and  Mary  (Smith)  Plummer,  and 
unto  this  union  have  been  born  two  daughters,  Hazel  and  Hilda.  He  has 
held  the  office  of  school  director  of  Ganges  township  and  he  is  a  worthy 
and  exemplary  member  of  Dutcher  Lodge  No.  193.  F.  &  A.  M.,  while  both 
he  and  his  wife  hold  membership  relations  with  the  Order  of  the  Eastern 
Star  and  the  Grange  at  Ganges. 

The  business  interests  of  our  subject  are  varied  and  important,  and  he  is 
a  man  of  push  and  enterprise,  successfully  accomplishing  what  ever  he  un- 
dertakes and  he  is  today  numbered  among  the  prominent  and  influential  citi- 
zens of  Ganges  township. 

Albert  A.  Schram,  of  Glenn,  is  one  of  the  progressive  business  men 
of  Allegan  county,  who  by  close  application  to  strict  business  methods  and 
by  unfaltering  devotion  to  a  growing  trade  has  worked  himself  upward  to  a 
creditable  position  in  commercial  circles.    He  now  has  a  flourishing  and  well 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  195 

equipped  drug  store  in  the  village  of  Glenn,  and  the  establishment  is  uf  suth 
a  character  that  it  would  be  a  credit  to  many  a  town  or  city  of  much  larger 
size.  He  is  well  qualified  by  educational  training  to  carry  on  such  an  en 
terprise  and  has  met  with  success  in  the  undertaking  since  he  engaged  m 
business  in  1903. 

A  native  of  Michigan,  Mr.  Schram  was  born  in  Greenwood  township, 
St.  Clair  county,  on  Christmas  day  of  i86g.  His  parents  were  Peter  G.  and 
Catherine  A.  (Flake)  Schram,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Ontario,  Can- 
ada. They  came  to  Michigan  in  1849  and  cast  in  their  lot  with  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  St.  Clair  county.  The  father  was  a  farmer  of  considerable  prom- 
inence in  his  community  and  served  as  township  treasurer,  which  office  he 
filled  with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  his  constituents.  All 
who  knew  him  respected  him  for  his  genuine  worth  and  in  the  able  manage- 
ment of  his  business  affairs  he  met  with  gratifying  and  well  merited  suc- 
cess. Unto  him  and  his  wife  were  born  nine  children,  all  of  whom  reached 
years  of  maturity,  namely:  Margaret,  Hugh,  John,  Morris,  Thomas  (de- 
ceased), Robert  (deceased),  Eliza  J.,  Albert  A.,  and  Mary. 

Albert  A.  Schram  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  his  father's  home.  He  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  township  until  his  eighteenth 
year,  when,  in  1887,  he  entered  the  high  school  at  Yale,  Michigan.  Later 
he  returned  to  the  home  farm,  where  he  remained  until  1894,  when  he  went 
to  Hesperia,  Michigan,  as  pharmacist  for  C.  P.  Utley,  remaining  there  two 
years.  He  then  went  to  Middleville  and  was  associated  with  F.  E,  Heath 
for  two  years,  returning  to  Hesperia  in  1900,  he  conducted  the  pharmacy  of 
D.  Ml  Maze  for  two  years,  when  he  went  to  Glenn  as  pharmacist  for  Carl 
B.  Ely,  whom  he  succeeded  in  1903.  He  is  also  a  graduate  of  the  National 
Institute  of  Pharmacy,  of  Chicago,  in  which  institution  he  took  a  post  grad- 
uate course.  It  was  not  until  1904,  however,  when  Mr.  Schram  bought  out 
his  employer  that  the  store  reached  its  present  dimensions  and  became  the 
useful  element  in  the  commercial  interests  of  the  town  that  it  is  today.  Mr. 
Schram  has  had  twelve  years'  experience  as  a  pharmacist  and  passed  the 
examination  before  the  state  board  with  big  honors.  He  now  carries  a  good 
and  carefully  selected  line  of  drugs  and  other  commodities,  usually  handled 
in  an  establishment  of  this  character  and  has  an  excellent  trade  for  a  town 
of  this  size.  His  store  is  neat  and  tastefully  arranged  and  thus  appeals  to 
his  patrons.  Mr.  Schram  has  one  of  the  finest  and  most  complete  pharma- 
ceutical libraries  in  Allegan  county  and  he  is  continually  broadening  his 
knowledge  and  promoting  his  efficiency  along  this  line. 

In  1896  occurred  the  marriage  of  Albert  A.  Schram  and  Miss  Ada  M. 
Wilbur,  a  daughter  of  George  H.  and  Lucy  Wilbur,  and  unto  them  have 
been  born  three  children,  Lucy  M.,  William  G.  and  Kathryn.  Socially  Mr. 
Schram  is  a  member  of  Hesperia  Lodge  No.  346,  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  which  he 
has  served  as  senior  warden.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Hesperia  Lodge,  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  No.  334,  and  is  connected  with  the  Hesperia  Modern  Woodmen  Camp, 
No.  1506.  He  is  popular  with  his  brethren  of  these  fraternities  and  his  in- 
terest in  the  orders  leads  him  to  give  active  support  to  the  measures  tending 
toward  their  growth  and  upbuilding.  He  is,  moreover,  a  public- spirited  man 
who  withholds  his  co-operation  from  no  movement  for  the  public  good  and 
Glenn  numbers  him  among  its  most  progressive  and  valued  representatives. 


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196  HISTORY  OF  AT.LEGAN  COUXTY 

A.  L.  Leach  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Leach  Brothers,  merchants  at 
Glenn,  and  they  have  a  well  appointed  general  store  in  this  enterprising  little 
village  in  Ganges  township.  The  brothers  are  E.  M.  and  A.  L.  Leach,  both 
natives  of  Canada,  the  former  born  in  1879,  and  the  latter  on  Christmas  day 
of  1880.  They  remained  in  the  place  of  their  nativity  until  1883,  when  the 
parents  removed  with  their  family  to  Van  Buren  county,  Michigan,  where 
they  resided  until  1S97.  That  year  witnessed  their  arrival  in  Allegan  county. 
They  are  the  sons  of  Temple  and  Sarah  (Badell)  Leach,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Canada.  The  father  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade  and  followed  that 
pursuit  as  a  life  work,  thus  providing  for  his  family,  which  numbered  wife 
and  four  children,  Lavinie,  Emma  L..  B.  M.  and  A.  L. 

The  last  two.  members  of  the  firm  of  Leach  Brothers,  were  educated  in 
the  schools  of  Michigan,  and  were  reared  imder  the  parental  roof.  The 
former  is  a  tinsmith  by  trade,  while  A.  L.  Leach  learned  his  father's  trade  of 
shoemaking.  In  September,  1905,  they  came  to  Glenn  and  established  their  , 
present  business.  They  carry  a  full  and  complete  line  of  general  merchan- 
dise, including  groceries,  dry  goods  and  hardware,  in  addition  to  which  they 
do  a  large  business  in  repairing  in  the  tinsmith,  harness  and  shoe  lines.  Their 
business  is  now  in  flourishing  and  prosperous  condition  and  they  have  the 
confidence  of  their  many  patrons,  the  number  of  whom  are  gaining  month 
by  month.  The  brothers  still  work  along  the  lines  of  their  respective  trades 
and  at  the  present  time  are  in  control  of  the  purchase  and  sale  of  their  goods. 
Young  men  of  acknowledged  business  ability  and  worth  they  are  now  quite 
widely  known  in  Glenn  and  the  surrounding  country  and  are  meeting  with  a 
gratifying  measure  of  success. 

John  C.  Fat:un  is  a  fruit  grower  of  considerable  importance  and  large 
experience,  who  owns  a  farm  comprising  eighty  acres  situated  in  Ganges 
township  not  far  distant  from  the  village  of  Glenn.  Of  his  tract  of  laud 
twenty-eight  acres  are  devoted  exclu.sively  to  the  production  of  fruit  of  the 
choicest  kinds.  He  has  eighteen  hundred  peach  trees,  and  his  orchards  also 
include  three  hundred  apple  trees,  one  hundred  pear  frees  and  one  hundred 
plum  trees.  He  has  devoted  the  last  thirty-five  years  to  the  cultivation  of  fruit 
and  is  looked  upon  as  authority  regarding  this  line  of  activity  and  par- 
ticularly concerning  diseases  that  are  to  be  met  with  in  peach  orchards.  He 
has  been  the  appointed  commissioner  to  prevent  the  spread  and  cure  of  the 
yellows,  a  disease  to  which  the  peach  is  subject,  and  for  sixteen  years  he 
has  acted  in  this  capacity,  during  which  time  he  has  done  effective  labor, 
the  value  of  which  cannot  be  overestimated. 

The  life  record  of  Mr.  Fabun  began  in  Hancock  county,  Ohio,  in  tS.-^q, 
and  he  there  lived  up  to  his  sixteenth  year,  when  in  company  with  his 
parents  he  removed  to  Michigan.  He  is  a  son  of  Tohn  and  Phoebe  (Tif- 
fany) Fabun,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  New  York.  The  father  was 
horn  March  28,  1812,  and  died  in  1891.  while  his  wife  passed  awav  in  7850, 
he  surviving  her  for  about  forty  years.  John  Fabun  removed  from  New 
York  to  Ohio,  and  with  bis  family  came  to  Michigan  from  the  latter  state 
in  1854,  settling  in  Casco  township  on  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land, 
which  he  purchased  from  the  government.  He  was  obliged  to  cut  his 
way  through  the  forests  to  the  home  of  his  nearest  neighbor,  two  and  a 
half  miles  distant.     The  land  was  all  covered  with  timber  but  by  hard  and 


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TflSTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  197 

unremitting  labor  lie  succeeded  in  clearing  this  and  in  transforming  tlie  soil 
into  productive  fields.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  therefore  a  very 
useful  man  in  the  new  country,  his  mechanical  skill  being  often  sought  by 
his  neighbors.  He  was  a  worthy  member  of  the  Adventist  church  and  was 
one  of  its  able  and  distinguished  preachers  at  an  early  day.  Unto  him  and 
Tiis  wife  were  born  the  following  named:  Cyrus,  John  S.,  John  C,  Susan. 
Phcbe.  Following  the  death  of  his  first  wife  the  father  married  Lucy 
Horton,  and  unto  them  was  born  a  son,  William. 

John  C.  Fabun.  when  sixteen  years  of  age,  accompanied  his  parents  on 
their  removal  to  Michigan,  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1864  he  pur- 
chased fifty  acres  of  his  farm,  and  in  1874  made  purchase  of  the  remainder 
of  the  tract,  so  that  he  now  has  a  good  farm  of  eighty  acres,  pleasantly  and 
convenientiv  located  near  Glenn  in  Ganges  township.  The  place  was  in  its 
natural  state  when  it  came  into  his  possession,  and  from  its  primitive  condi- 
tion has  been  wrested  by  the  sturdy  men  whose  labors  have  caused  it  to 
bloom  and  blossom  as  the  rose.  It  is  now  one  of  the  finest  and  most  pro- 
ductive fruit  farms  of  Ganges  township  and  any  fruit  raised  upon  this  place 
is  always  known  for  its  excellence  in  size,  quality  and  flavor.  The  farm  is 
beautifully  located  on  the  lake  and  is  also  noted  as  a  favorite  resort  for  Chi- 
cago people,  who,  escaping  the  heat  of  the  city  in  the  summer,  come  here  to 
enjoy  the  cool  lake  breezes  amid  the  influences  of  nature.  The  place  is 
known  as  the  Fabiin  Resort  Fruit  Farm  and  is  most  attractive  to  the  sum- 
mer guests. 

Mr.  Fabun  has  been  married  twice.  He  wedded  Miss  Nellie  Hill  in 
1859,  and  unto  them  was  born  a  daughter,  Phoebe,  in  i8fio.  In  1878  he  was 
Joined  in  wedlock  to  Miss  Mary  L.  Bump,  and  unto  them  were  born  six 
children,  Eliza,  John,  Susan,  Millie,  William,  Julia.  Millie  is  the  only  one 
now  living. 

Mr.  Fabun  has  filled  in  creditable  manner  the  position  of  drain  com- 
missioner. He  is  a  worthy  member  of  Star  of  the  Lake  Lodge,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  of  South  Haven,  and  in  his  life  exemplifies  the  beneficent  spirit  of 
the  craft,  which  is  based  upon  mutual  helpfulness  and  brotherly  kindness. 
His  strong  and  salient  traits  of  character  are  such  as  have  won  for  him  the 
good  will  and  confidence  of  his  fellow  men,  while  his  activity  and  energv  in 
business  have  been  the  basis  upon  which  he  has  buildcd  his  present  pros- 
perity. 

Charles  McVea,  deceased,  was  a  well  known  sea  captain,  having 
spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  following  the  lakes,  and  he  was  also  identi- 
fied with  agricultural  interests  in  Ganges  township  for  many  years.  He 
was  of  foreign  birth,  having  been  born  in  countv  Down.  Ireland,  November 
8,  1834.  His  parents  were  James  and  Mary  (Warnock')  McVea.  both  na- 
tives of  county  Down,  who  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  iS^2.  and 
both  are  now  deceased,  the  former  having  passed  away  in  1885,  while  his 
wife  had  preceded  him  fifteen  years  before,  her  death  occurring  in  1870. 
In  their  family  were  six  sons  and  two  daughters  but  only  one  now  survives : 
William,  James,  Thomas,  Charles.  John,  Samuel,  all  deceased;  Mrs.  Rachel 
Gibson  :  and  Mary,  who  has  also  passed  awav. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  Charles  McVea  left  his  native  coimtrv. 
crossing  the  Atlantic  in   1850,  being  joined  here  two  years  later  bv  his 


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198  HISTORY  OF  ALI.EGAN  COUNTY 

father  and  mother.  At  a  very  early  age  our  subject  became  interested  in 
the  sea,  and  entering  upon  this  vocation,  followed  the  lakes  during  the 
greater  part  of  his  life.  He  owned  two  vessels  which  he  named  Mary 
McVea  and  E.  J.  McVea,  and  had  a  controlling  interest  in  Douglas,  Charles 
McVea,  Severns  and  a  tug,  Brown.  He  was  noted  for  his  knowledge  con- 
cerning lake  navigation  and  for  the  skill  with  which  he  handled  his  craft. 
In  1868  Mr.  McVea  took  up  his  abode  in  Ganges  township,  where  he  pur- 
chased the  farm  which  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  widow.  This, 
comprises  one  himdred  and  eighty  acres  of  land,  which  was  cleared  and 
improved  under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  McVea  although  he  never  did  the 
actual  work  himself,  for  his  entire  attention  was  given  to  his  vessels,  which 
plied  from  Chicago  to  various  ports  of  Lakes  Michigan,  Superior  and  Erie, 
On  December  25,  1861,  Mr.  McVea  was  happily  married  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth J.  Wamock,  who  is  a  native  of  Jersey  City,  New  Jersey,  bom  April 
22,  1841.  They  traveled  life's  journey  together  for  thirty-three  years  and 
were  then  separated  by  the  death  of  the  husband  on  the  2d  of  March,  1894, 
when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  sixty  years.  He  was  a  worthy  representa- 
tive of  the  Masonic  order,  prominent  among  the  brethren  of  the  fraternity. 
He  was  a  man  whom  to  know  was  to  respect  and  honor  and  numbered  his 
friends  by  the  score.  His  widow  with  their  ten  children  vet  survive,  name- 
ly: William,  Mary,  the  wife  of  J.  H.  Hatch;  Elizabeth":  James.  Charles; 
Esther ;  Rachel :  Anna,  the  wife  of  H.  M.  Leggett ;  John  ;  and  Samuel.  The 
family  is  a  highly  esteemed  one  of  Allegan  county,  where  they  have  many 
warm  friends  and  the  hospitality  of  the  best  homes  of  this  community  is 
freely  extended  to  them. 

A.  O,  Kingsbury,  a  prosperous  and  progressive  fruit  grower  of 
Ganges  township,  was  bom  in  1856  on  the  farm  which  he  now  occupies,  a 
son  of  Orin  P.  and  Lucinda  A.  (Skinner")  Kingsbury,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Madison  county,  New  York,  where  they  were  reared  and  mar- 
ried, after  which  they  came  to  Allegan  coimty.  this  state,  in  1855.  The 
father  here  purchased  the  farm  upon  which  our  subject  now  resides,  it 
being  then  in  its  wild  and  unimproved  state.  He  at  once  began  the  work 
of  development  and  improvement  and  soon  transformed  bis  land  into  a  cul- 
tivable tract,  and  he  erected  all  of  the  buildings  which  are  here  seen  today, 
and  all  are  stil!  in  a  good  condition.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  he 
responded  to  his  country's  call  for  troops  and  died  during  his  service,  thus 
giving  his  Hfe  as  a  sacrifice  on  the  altar  of  his  country.  In  the  family  were 
four  children,  Morell,  deceased;  A.  O..  of  this  review;  Lilla  A.,  and  Elmer 
E.  Several  years  after  the  demise  of  the  father,  the  mother  was  again  mar- 
ried, her  second  union  being  with  John  M.  Smith,  by  whom  she  had  two 
children,  but  both  are  deceased,  and  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  also  passed 
away,  the  death  of  the  latter  occurring  on  the  loth  of  July,  1906. 

A.  O.  Kingsbury,  whose  name  introduces  this  record,  was  early  trained 
to  the  duties  of  farm  life,  assisting  his  father  in  the  operation  of  the  home 
pJace,  and  after  the  death  of  the  father  he  remained  with  his  mother,  contin- 
uing the  operation  of  the  homestead  property.  He  has  today  a  vahiable 
piece  of  land,  fourteen  acres  of  which  is  devoted  to  the  raising  of  peaches, 
pears  and  plums,  while  four  acres  are  devoted  to  the  growing  of  pepper- 
mint, which  has  now  become  a  profitable  industry.     He  is  likewise  engaged 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  199 

in  general  agricultural  pursuits,  in  which  he  is  meeting;  with  very  desirable 
success. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's  journey  Mr.  Kingsbury  chose 
Miss  Lucy  Staring,  a  daughter  of  Simeon  antl  Ann  Staring,  whom  he  wed- 
ded in  1880,  and  she  has  indeed  proved  to  him  an  able  assistant.  Unto  our 
subject  and  his  wife  have  been  bom  three  children:  Grin  E.,  who  wedded 
Miss  Elsie  Randel;  Anna  G.,  the  wife  of  WilHam  Loomis;  and  Irene. 

Mr.  Kingsbury  has  served  as  constable  and  also  as  assessor,  giving  gen- 
eral satisfaction  to  the  public  in  the  discliarge  of  his  official  duties.  He  is 
one  of  the  reliable  and  substantial  citizens  of  Ganges  township,  where  he 
has  spent  his  entire  life  and  here  he  has  a  wide  actjuaintance  and  commands 
the  high  regard  of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 

Van  Renslaer  Wadswokth  is  one  of  the  venerable  and  highly  es- 
teemed citizens  of  Allegan  county,  where  he  has  spent  the  greater  part  of 
his  life,  covering  a  period  of  sixty-eight  years,  so  that  he  is  familiar  with 
the  conditions  which  existed  here  at  an  early  day  and  has  been  a  valued 
assistant  in  the  work  of  development  and  progress  which  as  the  years  have 
passed  has  placed  Michigan  among  the  foremost  states  of  the  Union  as  a 
productive  agricultural  and  horticnltnral  district. 

Mr.  Wadsworth  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  state,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  Fulton  county,  on  the  i6th  of  February.  1825.  His  parents, 
James  W.  and  Malancy  (Philips)  Wadsworth,  natives  of  Connecticut  and 
Massachusetts  respectively.  Hoping  to  enjoy  better  business  opportunities 
in  the  new  and  growing  west  than  were  afforded  by  the  older  settled  dis- 
tricts of  the  east,  James  W.  Wadsworth  emigrated  to  Michigan,  being  the 
third  man  to  settle  in  Ganges  township,  the  year  of  his  arrival  being  1836. 
He  here  purchased  a  tract  of  land  comprising  one  hundred  and  five  acres 
but  owing  to  the  pioneer  conditions  which  here  existe<l  and  the  prevalence 
of  ague  he  became  discouragetl  and  returned  to  Kew  York  state.  After 
two  years,  however,  he  once  more  took  up  his  abode  in  this  county  and 
aided  in  the  work  of  development  and  improvement  in  this  section  of  the 
state.  He  set  to  work  to  cultivate  his  fields  and  improve  his  homestead 
property,  erected  good  buildings  and  placed  his  land  under  a  high  state  of 
fertility,  from  which  he  gathered  good  crops.  In  the  family  of  this  worthy 
couple  were  nine  children,  but  only  three  now  survive  and  Van  Renslaer  is 
the  only  one  of  the  family  residing  in  Allegan  county.  James  W.  Wads- 
worth was  a  grandson  of  Theodore  Wadsworth,  a  native  of  Connecticut. 

Our  subject  was  reared  in  New  York  to  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  when 
he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to  this  state.  He  here  became 
familiar  with  all  the  arduous  duties  in  connection  with  the  clearing  and 
development  of  a  farm  in  a  frontier  district,  remaining  with  his  father  and 
assisting  him  in  his  farm  labor  until  he  had  reached  man's  estate,  when  he 
started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account.  His  first  purchase  of  land  was  a 
tract  of  eighty  acres  situated  in  Ganges  township,  which  is  now  known  as 
the  McVea  farm.  In  1865  he  disposed  of  that  property  and  removed  to 
Missouri,  where  he  invested  his  money  in  four  hundred  acres  of  land  and 
there  made  his  home  during  the  succeeding  eight  months,  when  he  returned 
to  this  state,  and  purchased  another  farm  of  sixty  acres  situated  in  Sanga- 
tuck  township,  which  he  still  owns  and  which  is  now  operated  by  his  son-in- 


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200  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

law,  E.  Hutchins,  while  Mr.  Wadsworth  is  living  retired,  enjoying  in  well 
earned  ease  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil.  During  his  active  business  hfe  our 
subject  engaged  quite  extensively  in  the  raising  of  fruit,  with  which  lie  was 
thoroughly  conversant  in  the  best  methods  of  caring  for  and  cultivating  his 
crops.  Forty  acres  of  the  place  is  now  devoted  to  that  pursuit,  including 
peaches,  pears,  plums,  apples,  cherries,  grapes  and  berries  and  small  fruits 
of  various  kinds. 

On  the  /th  of  April,  1850,  Mr,  Wadsworth  was  happily  married  to 
Miss  Maria  Collins,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Collins.  To  this  union  there 
were  born  eight  children,  but  five  of  the  number  have  passed  away.  The 
record  is  as  folkws:  Leonidas;  Mary  A.,  now  the  wife  of  E,  Hutchins,  who 
is  operating  the  homestead  property;  Lucius,  Emma  M.,  Alice  and  Melvin, 
all  of  whom  are  deceased;  William;  and  Hattie  M.,  now  the  wife  of  M. 
Lamb.  After  a  companionship  covering  four  decades  Mr.  Wadsworth  was 
called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  whose  death  occurred  in  1900. 
She  was  to  him  an  able  assistant,  sharing  with  him  in  all  the  privations  and 
hardships  of  a  pioneer  existence,  and  by  the  careful  management  of  her 
household  duties  was  a  valuable  aid  in  the  acquirement  of  a  competence 
which  is  today  his.  She  was  devoted  to  her  family,  ever  working  earnestly 
and  zealously  for  the  coinfort  and  happiness  of  her  husband  and  children. 

Mr.  Wadsworth  has  held  some  township  offices,  the  duties  of  which 
he  ever  discharged  with  capability  and  fidelity  to  every  trust  reposed  in 
him.  He  is  a  devoted  and  faithful  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  in  which  he  has  served  as  trustee  and  steward.  He  has  now  passed 
the  eighty-first  milestone  on  Hfe's  journey  and  is  now  enabled  to  enjoy 
the  evening  of  his  days  in  honorable  retirement,  for  in  former  years  he 
worked  earnestly  and  persistently  and  thereby  acquired  a  goodly  compe- 
tence, which  now  supplies  him  with  all  the  comforts  of  life.  He  has  a  very 
wide  and  favorable  acquaintance  and  all  who  know  him  speak  of  him  only 
in  highest  terms  of  praise.  He  makes  his  home  on  his  farm  with  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Hutchins,  but  spends  the  winter  months  in  Florida,  where 
he  bought  property  and  erected  a  neat  little  cottage. 

Sid  L.  Conk.^d  is  one  of  the  progressive  and  prosperous  farmers  and 
fruit  growers  of  Ganges  township,  where  he  owns  one  of  the  finest  farms 
in  this  portion  of  the  county,  his  tract  embracing  one  hundred  and  forty- 
five  acres,  the  greater  portion  of  which  is  devoted  to  horticultural  pursuits. 
A  native  son  of  Allegan  county,  his  birth  occurred  in  Leighton  township, 
January  6,  i860.  His  parents  are  Henry  and  Phoebe  (Lester)  Conrad, 
the  fonner  a  native  of  Cattaraugus  county.  New  York,  while  the  mother 
claims  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  as  the  place  of  her  nativity.  The  father  took 
up  his  abode  in  Michigan  in  1850,  and  the  following  year,  1851,  came  to 
Allegan  county,  where  he  purchased  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  situated  in  Leighton  township,  where  he  resides  at  the  present  time, 
his  home  being  on  section  32.  A  more  extended  sketch  of  the  father 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Unto  this  worthy  couple  have  been 
bom  five  children — Seth,  Sid  L.,  lola,  Netta  and  Lo. 

Sid  L.  Conrad  was  bom  and  reared  upon  the  old  homestead  farm  in 
Leighton  township  and  acquired  his  educational  privileges  in  the  district 
schools  near  his  father's  home  and  in  the  public  school  at  Wayland.     He 


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HISTORY  f.)F  ArJ.FXiAX  COUNTY  201 

was  early  trained  to  the  duties  of  field  and  meadow,  assisting  his  father 
in  the  operation  of  the  home  until  he  attained  his  majority.  Starting  out 
in  Hfe  upon  his  own  account,  he  chose  as  his  occupation  the  work  of  farming 
and  fruit  raising,  which  has  continued  to  be  his  work  to  the  present  time. 
He  has  a  farn)  of  one  hundred  and  forty-five  acres,  the  greater  part  of 
which  is  devoted  to  the  raising  of  fruit.  He  has  an  orchard  of  eighty 
acres  set  out  to  peaches,  fourteen  acres  set  out  to  apples,  two  acres  to  pears, 
four  acres  to  cherries,  and  one  hundred  plum  trees,  besides  raising  various 
kinds  of  small  fruit.  He  is  meeting  with  very  gratifying  results  in  his 
work,  for  he  is  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  best  methods  of  caring  for  his 
trees,  so  that  the  best  results  may  be  obtained  in  the  cultivation  of  good 
crops.  His  fruit  is  of  excellent  size,  flavor  and  quality,  so  that  the  fruit 
raised  upon  this  farm  is  sure  to  meet  a  ready  sale  on  the  market,  where  it 
commands  the  highest  prices.  He  purchased  this  farm  in  1886  and  has 
continued  its  operation  through  the  succeeding  two  decades.  In  addition 
to  his  property  he  likewise  owns  a  half  section  of  land  in  Garfield  township. 
Kalkaska  county,  this  state,  and  he  also  owns  property  in  South  Haven 
and  in  Holland. 

In  1881  Mr.  Conrad  was  happily  married  to  Miss  Lida  M,  Nicholas. 
a  daughter  of  Carlos  P.  and  Melvina  Nicholas.  Previous  to  her  marriage 
Mrs.  Conrad  was  engaged  in  school  teaching,  which  she  followed  success- 
fully for  many  years.  By  her  marriage  she  has  become  the  mother  of 
three  children — ^Hugh.  Halden  and  Hilda.  Active  in  local  affairs,  Mr. 
Conrad  has  been  honored  by  his  fellow  townsmen  with  a  nuiuber  of  town- 
ship offices,  having  served  since  1892  as  school  director.  He  has  likewise 
served  for  three  terms  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  is  the  present  incumbent 
in  that  office,  his  duties  in  this  position  civc  entire  satisfaction  to  the 
public,  for  his  decisions  are  always  fair  and  impartial.  He  is  also  serving 
at  the  present  time  as  supervisor  of  his  township.  Mrs,  Conrad  is 
a  faithful  and  devoted  member  of  the  I\Iethodipt  Episcopal  church, 
Mr.  Conrad  is  a  self-made  man  in  the  best  sense  of  the  term,  for  whatever 
success  be  has  achieved  is  due  to  his  own  well  directed  efforts  and  capable 
business  management.  He  is  a  popular  citizen  and  is  known  for  his  reli- 
ability and  straightforwardness  in  every  trade  transaction,  and  enjovs  the 
confidence  and  good  will  of  all  with  whom  he  is  associated.  He  and  his 
estimable  wife  have  a  host  of  warm  friend.s  and  enjoy  in  unlimited  measure 
the  esteem  of  a  wide  acquaintance. 

Charles  Symons  is  meeting  with  a  creditable  measure  of  success  in 
his  undertakings  as  a  fruit  grower  of  Ganges  township.  He  is  carrying  on 
the  business  quite  extensively  and  owns  a  well  tilled  and  extremely  nroduc- 
tive  farm  of  sixty  acres.  He  was  bom  in  Devonshire.  England,  in  ^8K•:). 
and  the  first  eleven  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  hi,=;  native  coimtrv.  His 
parents  were  Henry  and  Jane  (Thorne)  Symons.  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  England,  whence  they  emigrated  to  America  in  1870,  The 
father  was  a  farmer  in  his  native  land  and  in  his  adopted  country,  and  on 
coming  to  the  United  States  he  purchased  forty  acres  in  Allegan  county, 
Michigan.  His  previous  experience  enabled  him  to  readily  place  this  under 
cultivation  and  to  improve  his  property  along  substantial  lines  that  brought 
forth  good  results,  he  being  actively  engaged  in  farm  work  until  his  death. 


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202  ]IIST(JRY  OF  AIXEGAN  COUXTY 

which  occurred  about  1896.  His  widow  still  survives  and  is  yet  living  in 
Ganges  township.  Their  children  are  as  follows :  Thomas,  Charles,  Mary 
J.,  Anna,  Lewis,  Carrie  and  Martha.  Of  these.  Anna  and  Martha  are  now 
deceased.     There  were  also  two  children  who  died  in  infancy. 

Charles  Symons  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  emigration  to  the 
new  world  and  since  1871  has  continuously  been  3  resident  of  Allegan 
county.  His  education,  begun  in  his  native  land,  was  continued  in  the 
public  schools  here  and  he  was  reared  to  farm  work  through  the  assistance 
which  he  rendered  in  the  cultivation  of  the  fields  and  the  care  of  the  crops 
upon  his  father's  place.  He  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  1886, 
when  he  was  married  and  established  a  home  of  his  own,  the  lady  of  his 
choice  being  Miss  Minnie  M.  Erwin,  a  daughter  of  L.  B.  Erwin.  They 
have  four  children^ — May,  Clifford,  Mildred  and  Lewis.  Mrs.  Symons  is  a 
native  of  Illinois.  In  1888  Mr.  Symons  purchased  their  present  farm, 
which  was  then  in  an  unimproved  state,  and  all  of  the  buildings  upon  the 
place  are  now  as  a  monument  to  the  thrift  and  labor  of  the  owner,  who  has 
erected  a  comfortable  residence  and  substantial  barns  and  outbuildings  for 
the  shelter  of  his  products  and  his  stock.  His  farm  is  largely  devoted  to 
the  cultivation  of  fruit  and  he  has  planted  sixteen  hundred  peach  trees, 
four  hundred  apple  trees,  three  hundred  pear  trees,  one  hundred  plum 
trees,  three  hundred  cherry  trees,  and  likewise  has  a  half  acre  planted  to 
strawberries.  He  also  conducts  general  farming  and  both  branches  of  his 
business  are  proving  profitable.  In  his  business  hfe  he  carries  forward  to 
successful  completion  whatever  he  undertakes  and  his  labors  are  carefully 
and  persistently  prosecuted.  He  has  a  laudable  ambition  to  attain  success 
and  win  a  place  among  the  foremost  representatives  of  agricultural  interests 
in  Allegan  county,  and  he  bids  fair  to  accomplish  his  desire  in  this  direction, 
having  already  progressed  far  on  the  high  road  to  prosperity. 

Mr.  Symons.  moreover,  has  been  active  and  infiuential  in  community 
life  an<l  has  been  honored  with  various  local  offices.  He  has  served  as 
township  clerk  for  two  years  and  as  school  director  for  six  years,  acting  in 
the  latter  capacity  at  the  present  time.  He  has  also  been  secretary  of  the 
Glenn  Pier  Company,  Limited,  for  eleven  vears.  Tie  is  a  worthy  and 
acceptable  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  is  now 
serving  as  a  trustee. 

John  Wadsworth,  deceased,  was  one  of  the  worthy,  highly  respected 
citizens  of  Ganges  township,  where  his  usefid  life  was  largely  devoted  to 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  born  in  Fulton  county,  New  York,  on  the 
4th  of  January.  1831.  and  there  remained  to  his  sixth  year,  when  his 
parents.  James  W.  and  Malansa  (Phillips)  Wadsworth,  came  to  Michigan 
with  their  family,  the  year  of  their  arrival  being  1836.  They  did  not 
remain  in  this  state,  however,  at  that  time,  for  the  undeveloped  condition 
of  the  country  and  the  prevalence  of  ague  drove  them  back  to  their  old 
home  in  the  Empire  state.  Two  years  later,  however,  in  1838,  the  family 
returned  to  Michigan  and  located  in  Ganges  township,  Allegan  county, 
where  James  Wadsworth  purchased  one  hundred  and  five  acres  of  land. 
He  encountered  all  of  the  hardships  that  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  sturdy  pioneer 
but  survived  them  all  and  improved  his  land,  transforming  it  into  a  pro- 
ductive farm.     His  family  numbered  nine  children,  two  of  whom  are  yet 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUXTY  a03 

living.  Tlie  fatlier  was  born  in  Connecticut,  wliiie  his  wife  was  born  in 
Massachusetts. 

When  John  Wadsworth  was  but  seven  years  of  age  the  family  home 
was  established  permanently  in  Michigan,  and  he  was  therefore  reared 
amid  wild  scenes  and  environments  of  the  frontier.  He  aided  in  the  arduous 
task  of  developing  the  new  land,  and  at  the  age  of  about  nineteen  years, 
in  Cooper  township,  Kalamazoo  county,  he  made  arrangements  for  having 
a  home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage  to  Miss  Althea  Piatt,  of  Kalamazoo. 
There  were  no  children  by  this  marriage  and  she  died  fifteen  months  after 
their  marriage.  On  the  21st  of  February,  1856,  he  wedded  Miss  jVlthea 
M.  Wing,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Matilda  (Anderson)  Wing.  There 
were  six  children  by  this  marriage,  five  of  whom  are  yet  living  at  this 
writing,  in  1906,  namely:  Inez  I.,  now  the  wife  of  George  Tucker;  Edgar; 
AlUson;  Edith  M.,  the  wife  of  Professor  E.  Betzer,  and  Charles  A. 

When  eighteen  years  of  age  Mr.  Wadsworth  had  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  unimproved  land 'for  one  dollar  per  acre  and  at  the  time  of  his 
marriage  located  upon  his  farm  and  began  its  development  and  cultivation. 
He  was  a  hard  working  and  industrious  man,  who.se  life  was  a  worthy 
example  of  goodness  and  greatness  that  his  children  might  well  follow. 
He  cleared  his  land,  erected  good  buildings  thereon,  and  made  a  home  for 
his  family,  the  dwelling  today  being  one  of  the  most  attractive  and  com- 
fortable in  the  township.  He  also  found  time  and  opportunity  to  assist  in 
matters  relating  to  the  public  welfare  and  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace  for  a  number  of  years,  together  with  other  political  positions.  His 
demise  occurred  February  4,  1899,  and  the  funeral  services  were  held  at 
his  late  home,  known  as  the  Cedar  \'alley  farm,  where  his  widow  now 
resides. 

The  Wings  are  also  an  old  family  of  Allegan  county,  and  Mrs.  Wads- 
worth was  born  in  St.  Lawrence  county.  New  York,  town  of  Pottsdam, 
October  27,  1832.  Her  son,  Edgar  S.,  is  now  proprietor  of  the  Windamore 
Hill  farm,  comprising  fifty-five  acres,  thirty  of  which  is  set  out  to  fruit. 
His  wife  was  Ella  Martin,  a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  Martin,  whom 
he  wedded  in  1896,  and  unto  them  have  been  born  two  children,  Lucilla 
H.  and  Annie  M.  The  son  Allison  married  Chloi  Burgett,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Marion,  Charles  married  Aura  Billings,  and  he  is  operating  the 
old  homestead.  Mrs.  Wadsworth  still  survives  her  husband  and  resides 
upon  the  old  homestead  farm.  Almost  her  entire  life  has  been  passed  in 
this  county,  where  the  circle  of  her  friends  is  almost  co-extensive  with  her 
acquaintance. 

Henky  Penfold  owns  and  operates  a  good  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  in  Ganges  township,  devoted  to  the  raising  of  fruit  and  grain. 
It  is  a  splendidly  improved  property  and  he  ranks  with  the  leading  agri- 
culturists of  this  part  of  the  state.  He  is  a  native  son  of  the  county  and  is 
of  English  lineage.  His  father,  Edward  Penfold;  a  native  of  England,  was 
bom  May  21,  1825,  and  having  arrived  at  years  of  maturity  wedded  Caro- 
line S.  Gredwick,  who  was  bom  in  England  December  31,  1827..  They 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1850  and  in  1855  came  to  Allegan  county, 
locating  in  Ganges  township,  where  they  purchased  eighty  acres  of  wild 
land  that  is  now  the  property  of  their  son  Henry.    Not  a  furrow  had  been 


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20+  IHSTORY  OF  ATXEGAN  C:OUKTY 

turned  nor  an  improvement  made  upon  the  place,  and  with  characteristic 
energy  Mr.  Penfold  began  its  development.  Later  he  added  forty  acres  to 
the  original  tract.  At  that  time  the  county  was  sparsley  settled,  few  roads 
had  been  made  and  the  neighbors  were  scattered  over  a  wide  area.  Mr. 
Penfold  took  up  the  arduous  task  of  clearing  his  land,  placing  it  imder  the 
plow,  and  with  the  aid  of  his  sons  he  continued  the  farm  work  and  erected 
suitable  buildings  upon  his  place,  transforming  it  into  a  good  property. 
He  was  a  man  of  high  moral  worth,  whose  life  has  been  actuated  by  sterling 
principles  that  has  made  it  in  close  conformity  to  the  golden  rule.  A  soldier 
of  the  Civil  war,  he  served  with  Company  E  of  the  Thirteenth  Michigan 
Volunteer  Infantry.  He  enlisted  in  1863  and  continued  at  the  front  until 
the  close  of  hostilities,  at  which  time  he  was  honorably  discharged.  During 
the  period  which  he  passed  in  the  south  he  suffered  a  severe  stroke  and 
was  confined  in  the  hospital  for  some  tigie.  Following  his  return  he  became 
a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  delighted  in  his  associ- 
ations with  his  old  army  comrades.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  and  he  died  in  that  faith  on  the  25th  of  March,  1903. 
Thus  was  ended  a  most  honorable  and  upright  life  that  had  won  for  him 
the  confidence  and  good  will  of  all  with  whom  he  had  been  associated.  In 
the  family  were  five  children,  but  only  two  reached  years  of  maturity,  Henry 
and  Charles.  The  latter,  born  November  21,  1862,  married  Miss  I-yda 
Dean  in  1882,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Siloam. 

The  birth  of  Henry  Penfold  occurred  upon  the  old  homestead  farm 
October  11,  1856,  and  he  was  reared  to  the  usual  work  of  field  and  meadow, 
assisting  his  father  in  the  task  of  developing  and  cultivating  the  land.  He 
has  always  carried  on  general  agricultural  pursuits  and  prosecutes  his  work 
along  modern  scientific  lines,  being  both  practical  and  successful  in  all  he 
undertakes.  His  is  a  splendidly  improved  property,  comprising  one  hundred 
and  eighty-six  acres  of  fruit  and  farming  land  in  Ganges  township.  Upon 
this  place  he  has  one  thousand  peach  trees,  while  six  acres  are  planted  to 
apples  and  three-fourths  of  an  acre  to  pears.  He  also  has  considerable  small 
fruit,  and  in  addition  to  his  horticultural  pursuits  he  devotes  considerable 
time  to  general  farming,  in  which  he  is  pre-eminently  successful.  His 
buildings  are  all  modern  and  convenient,  are  of  his  own  planning  and  con- 
struction, and  the  farm  altogether  is  a  well  improved  property,  indicative 
of  his  careful  supervision  and  progressive  methods. 

On  the  4th  of  February.  1882,  Mr.  Penfold  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Mary  Russell,  a  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Susan  Russell.  The  ancestral 
history  of  the  family  in  the  United  States  can  be  traced  back  to  about  the 
year  1650,  and  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Penfold  settled  in  Van  Buren  county, 
Michigan,  at  an  early  day.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Penfold  has  been  born  a 
daughter,  Lillian.  The  parents  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church 
and  are  greatly  esteemed  wherever  known.  Mr.  Penfold  has  been  honored 
with  the  office  of  school  treasurer  for  twenty  years  and  is  deeply  interested 
not  only  in  the  cause  of  education  but  in  al!  matters  pertaining  to  general 
progress  and  improvement  here.  He  is  classed  today  among  the  leading 
representatives  of  agricultural  life  in  Allegan  county  and  annually  gathers 
from  his  orchards  and  fields  large  crops  of  fruit  and  grain,  for  which  he 
finds  a  ready  sale  on  the  market.  Thus  year  by  year  he  is  prospering  and  is 
now  most  comfortably  situated  in  life. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX"  COL'XTV  805 

Fraxz  a.  Miu.ER  is  a  prominent  representative  of  agricultural  and 
horticultural  interests  in  Allegan  county,  where  he  owns  a  fine  farm  of  forty 
acres,  which  is  situated  in  Ganges  township.  He  is  a  native  of  the  Empire 
state,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Rochester  February  25,  1849,  and  comes 
of  German  parentage.  His  parents,  Franz  A.  and  Monica  Miller,  were  both 
natives  of  the  fatherland  and  on  emigrating  to  the  new  world  made  their 
home  in  New  York  for  several  years.  In  1857  they  came  to  Michigan, 
settling  in  Ganges  township,  Allegan  county,  where  the  father  made  purchase 
of  one  hundred  acres  of  wild  land,  which  he  developed  and  improved,  an<l 
on  which  he  erected  suitable  buildings  for  the  shelter  of  grain  and  stock,  as 
well  as  a  nice  home.  In  their  family  were  three  sons  and  four  daugliters— : 
Adam,  Franz  A.,  William,  Mary,  Anna,  Sarah  and  Caroline — but  Adam  and 
Franz  A.  are  the  only  ones  living  in  this  county. 

Franz  A.  Miller  was  3  lad  of  eight  years  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  this  state.  He  was  early  trained  to  the  duties  of 
the  farm,  assisting  his  father  in  the  arduous  duties  connected  with  clearing 
and  developing  land  in  a  new  country.  In  1888  he  purchased  the  farm  upon 
which  he  now  makes  his  home,  and  here  he  is  engaged  in  genera!  farming 
and  fruit  raising,  having  twelve  hundred  peach  trees,  one  hundred  and 
twenty  pear  trees,  two  hundred  gooseberry  bushes,  besides  other  small  fruit 
of  various  kinds.  He  has  erected  good  buildings,  modern  and  convenient, 
and  altogether  has  a  well  improved  and  productive  farm,  indicating  in  its 
neat  and  thrifty  appearance  the  enterprise  and  keen  business  management 
of  the  owner, 

Mr,  Miller  has  been  twice  married.  He  first  wedded  Miss  Maggie 
Coffee,  who  became  the  mother  of  two  children.  Monica  an<l  Josie,  who 
still  survive.  For  his  second  wife  he  chose  Mrs.  Susan  Collins,  the  widow 
of  DeSaney  Collins,  by  whom  she  had  two  children,  Robert  S.  and  Elsworth 
Colhns.  Mrs.  Miller  is  a  daughter  of  R.  G.  and  Deborah  Winn,  who 
located  in  Michigan  in  1830.  being  numbered  among  the  very  early  pioneer 
settlers  of  this  part  of  the  state.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Winn  were  born  the 
following  named:  Elsworth.  Seth,  Ralph,  Lydia.  Susan,  now  Mrs.  Miller, 
and  Mary  E. 

Having  come  to  Allegan  county  in  his  early  youth,  Mr.  Miller  has  a 
very  wide  acquaintance  in  this  part  of  the  state,  where  he  enjoys  in  large 
measure  the  confidence  and  trust  of  those  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact, 
and  he  possesses  many  sterling  traits  of  character  which  have  won  him  warm 
and  lasting  friends. 

Rev.  Georce  A.  Bowles,  a  Jiighly  esteemed  citizen  of  Ganges  town- 
ship. Allegan  county,  where  he  owns  and  operates  a  portion  of  the  old 
Bowles  homestead,  is  a  native  of  England,  bom  October  14,  1846.  His 
parents,  George  and  Sarah  (Hadaway)  Bowles,  with  their  three  children 
emigrated  to  America  in  1850.  Crossing  the  Atlantic  they  landed  in  New 
York  and  at  once  made  their  way  to  Wayne  county,  that  state,  where  they 
resided  for  two  years,  subsequent  to  which  time  they  made  their  way  to 
Indiana,  where  the  father  purchased  a  farm  comprising  sixty  acres,  and  was 
there  engaged  in  general  agricultural  pursuits  during  the  succeeding  eleven 
years,  fn  1863  the  family  removed  to  Allegan  county,  this  state,  where  the 
father  purchased  a  tract  of  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  which  was  all  wild  and 


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20G  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

uncultivated.  He  at  once  undertook  the  task  of  clearing  his  land  readj-  for 
the  plow,  and  with  the  assistance  of  his  sons  in  due  course  of  time  placed 
his  land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  each  year  annually  harvesting 
rich  crops  as  a  result  of  the  practical  methods  which  he  followed  in  the  culti- 
vation of  his  fields.  He  later  disposed  of  eighty  acres  of  this  tract,  retaining 
possession  of  one  hundred  and  twelve  acres.  He  was  a  loyal  citizen  of  his 
adopted  country  and  took  an  active  and  helpful  interest  in  every  movement 
which  tended  to  the  advancement  and  improvement  of  this  section  of  the 
state.  He  was  honored  by  iiis  fellow  townsmen  to  election  in  a  number  of 
offices,  serving  as  drain  and  road  commissioner,  the  duties  of  which  he 
discharged  with  the  same  promptness  and  fidelity  he  displayed  in  his  private 
affairs.  He  was  a  faithful  and  devoted  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  in  his  earlier  years  but  later  became  identified  with  the  United 
Brethren  church.  His  death  occurred  in  September,  1904,  when  he  had 
reached  the  advanced  age  of  almost  seventy-eight  years,  for  his  birth  had 
occurred  in  1827.  His  wife  preceded  him  to  the  home  beyond  in  1900.  In 
the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were  seven  children,  three  of  whom  were 
born  ere  their  emigration  to  the  United  States,  while  four  of  the  number 
were  natives  of  this  country  and  three  are  now  deceased,  while  the  living 
members  are  George  A,,  John,  Sarah  and  Mary  A. 

Rev.  George  A.  Bowles  was  a  little  lad  of  nearly  four  years  when  he 
was  brought  to  the  United  States  by  his  parents  and  here  he  was  reared  and 
educated.  As  his  age  and  strength  permitted  he  assisted  his  father  in  the 
work  of  the  farm,  early  being  trained  to  al!  the  tasks  connected  with  the 
clearing  and  cultivation  of  new  land  in  a  frontier  district.  He  was  educated 
for  the  ministry  of  the  United  Brethren  denomination,  taking  up  his  work 
in  1870,  and  four  years  later,  on  the  20th  of  September,  1874,  he  was 
ordained  at  Waterloo,  Jackson  county,  Michigan.  His  first  charge  was  in 
Osceola  county,  this  state,  and  for  six  years  he  served  as  presiding  elder 
and  carried  on  his  work  in  this  connection  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the 
charges  which  were  under  his  jurisdiction.  He  is  an  able  and  fluent  speaker 
and  has  been  instrumental  in  planting  the  seeds  of  spiritual  truth  and  right- 
eousness in  many  sections  of  Michigan.  For  the  past  twenty-one  years  he 
has  filled  the  office  of  missionary  treasurer.  In  1899,  after  having  been 
engaged  in  pastoral  work  for  almost  thirty  years,  he  was  forced  on  account 
of  failing  health  to  retire  from  the  pulpit  and  engage  in  other  pursuits, 
whereby  he  might  enjoy  the  outdoor  life.  In  that  year  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  is  now  operating  a  portion  of  the  old 
homestead  property,  which  came  into  his  possession  at  the  death  of  his 
father.  In  1903  he  built  a  grist  mill  having  a  capacity  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  bushels  per  day.  The  plant  is  operated  by  a  gasoline  engine  of  fifteen 
horsepower,  and  in  his  mill  he  enjoys  a  very  large  patronage. 

Our  subject  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  union  was  with  Miss 
Esther  Buck,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Vernon  and  Jessie,  the  latter 
now  deceased.  In  1893  he  was  again  married,  his  second  union  being  with 
Mrs.  Nettie  Wing,  nee  Tatton,  the  widow  of  Frank  Wing.  By  her  former 
marriage  Mrs.  Bowles  has  two  children,  Gertrude  and  Claud  Wing.  The 
family  is  a  highly  respected  one  of  Allegan  coimty,  where  they  enjoy  the 
hospitality  of  the  best  homes  of  this  section  of  the  state. 


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HTSTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  207 

Daniel  H.  Kitchen,  a  prosperous  and  substantia!  farmer  of  Ganges 
township,  where  he  owns  a  good  tract  of  land  situated  on  section  i6,  was 
born  across  the  border  in  Canada,  the  place  of  his  nativity  being  Townsend, 
in  Norfolk  county.  Ontario,  and  bis  natal  day  May  26,  1844.  His  parents, 
Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Barber)  Kitchen,  were  natives  of  New  Jersey  and 
Pennsylvania,  respectively.  They  were  reared  and  married  in  the  east  and 
then  took  up  their  location  in  Canada,  where  they  reared  a  large  family  and 
spent  their  entire  lives. 

Daniel  H.  Kitchen  was  reared  and  educated  in  Canada,  and  in  1872 
came  to  Allegan  county,  this  state,  being  then  a  yonng  man  of  twenty-eight 
years,  ■  It  was  not  until  1880,  however,  that  he  located  on  his  present  fann. 
When  this  tract  came  into  his  possession  it  was  mostly  in  its  wild  and  tmculti- 
vated  state,  only  a  few  trees  having  been  cut  and  a  log  cabin  erected.  He  at 
once  set  to  work  to  further  develop  and  improve  his  farm,  and  soon  trans- 
ferred the  virgin  soil  into  a  state  of  productiveness,  annually  harvesting 
abundant  crops  as  the  result  of  the  care  and  labor  which  he  bestowed  upon 
the  fields.  He  has  erected  modern  and  substantial  buildings  for  the  shelter 
of  grain  and  stock,  has  a  nice  residence,  and  altogether  his  property  presents 
a  neat  and  thrifty  appearance,  thus  showing  the  careful  management  and 
supervision  of  the  owner. 

Mr.  Kitchen  has  been  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  Miss  Mary  E. 
Hendrick,  while  his  second  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Jessie  E.  Bell. 
He  is  identified  with  the  Grange,  and  also  holds  membership  relations  with 
the  Baptist  church.  Starting  out  in  life  on  his  own  account,  he  worked 
persistently  and  energetically  to  acquire  a  competence  and  he  now  has  a 
good  farm  of  forty  acres,  where  he  is  engaged  in  general  farming  and  fruit 
raising,  having  an  orchard  containing  one  hundred  and  fifty  trees  each  of 
apples  and  pears,  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  plum  trees  and  sixteen  acres 
devoted  to  peaches  and  small  fruit.  He  is  thoroughly  conversant  with  the 
best  methods  of  caring  for  his  trees  and  fruit  and  has  met  with  gratifying 
results  in  his  undertakings.  He  is  ever  found  reliable  in  all  trade  transac- 
tions and  thereby  commands  the  confidence  and  good  will  of  his  fellow  men, 

Aaron  Fletcher  is  the  owner  and  proprietor  of  a  fine  farm  situated 
in  Ganges  township  and  comprising  ninety-five  acres  of  rich  and  arable  land, 
which  has  been  brought  to  its  present  high  state  of  fertility  by  the  owner. 
He  was  born  in  England  August  30.  1831,  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Lee) 
Fletcher,  likewise  natives  of  the  fatherland,  who  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  in  1876,  In  their  family  were  three  sons  and  three  daughters — 
John,  Levi,  Mary  A.,  Phebe,  Ann  and  Aaron. 

Mr.  Fletcher  was  reared  in  his  native  country  to  the  age  of  sixteen 
years,  and  then,  in  1847,  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  the  new  world,  believing 
that  the  United  States  afforded  good  opportunities  to  young  men  of  enter- 
prise and  industry.  He  first  took  up  his  abode  in  Ohio,  where  he  remained 
for  eight  years,  and  then  went  to  Iowa,  where  he  spent  a  similar  period. 
He  then  went  to  Missouri,  where  he  bought  forty  acres  of  land,  on  which 
he  remained  for  two  years,  after  which  he  removed  to  Illinois  and  later  to 
Wisconsin.  Upon  hearing  reports  of  this  state  as  a  productive  agricuhnral 
and  horticultural  district,  he  then  decided  to  trv  his  fortune  in  this  state,  and 
accordingly,  in  1875,  came  to  Ganges  township,  AlJegan  county,  where  he 


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208  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

purchased  tJie  fanii  which  has  since  continued  to  be  his  home.  He  is  highly 
pleased  with  this  state  and  has  never  regretted  having  located  here,  for  he 
has  found  it  to  be  an  excellent  fruit  raising  center,  as  well  as  a  good  agri- 
cultural district.  He  has  ever  followed  the  most  practical  methods  in  his 
business  interests,  for  when  he  purchased  his  property  it  was  in  its  wild  and 
uncultivated  condition,  but  he  at  once  undertook  the  task  of  clearing  and 
developing  his  land  and  has  today  one  of  the  valuable  and  productive  tracts 
of  this  section  of  the  county.  He  likewise  erected  ah  the  buildings  which  are 
here  seen  and  the  farm  presents  a  neat  and  thrifty  appearance  to  the 
passer-by,  indicating  the  careful  management  of  the  owner.  He  is  now 
leaving  the  more  arduous  labors  of  the  farm  to  his  son  George,  who.  carries 
on  the  work  in  a  progressive  and  practical  manner,  and  owing  to  his  toil  in 
former  years,  whereby  he  has  acquired  a  goodly  competence,  Mr.  Fletcher 
is  now  enabled  to  enjoy  life  in  well  merited  rest. 

Mr.  Fletcher  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  union  was  with  Miss 
Ann  M.  Morse,  a  daughter  of  Nehemiah  and  Olive  Morse.  She  was  born 
August  2,  1838,  and  by  her  marriage  became  the  mother  of  six  children, 
five  of  whom  still  survive,  namely :  Mary,  the  wife  of  S.  Hill ;  Louisa, 
now  the  wife  of  M.  Wright ;  Alma,  the  wife  of  G.  Dornan ;  Emma,  the  wife 
of  J.  Dornan;  and  George,  who  operates  the  home  farm.  The  wife  and 
mother  passed  away  February  16,  1904,  and  on  the  25th  of  June,  1906,  Mr. 
Fletcher  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Amity  Wilson,  the  widow  of 
William  Wilson,  and  a  sister  of  his  first  wife.  Mrs.  Fletcher  was  first 
married  to  a  Mr.  Shafer,  by  whom  she  had  one  son,  Aaron  Shafer.  She 
has  been  a  resident  of  this  state  since  1866.  The  family  is  a  highly  respected 
one  of  this  community  and  the  hospitality  of  their  own  pleasant  home  is 
greatly  enjoyed  by  a  host  of  warm  friends. 

Andrews  Plummer. — No  man  in  Ganges  township  is  better  known  in 
Allegan  county  or  is  more  familiar  with  the  history  of  this  section  of  the 
state  than  he  whose  name  introduces  this  record,  for  here  he  was  born  and 
has  spent  his  entire  life,  covering  a  period  of  more  than  six  decades,  and  in 
the  work  of  development  and  progress  he  has  not  only  been  an  active  par- 
ticipant but  has  been  a  leader  in  many  movements  which  have  resulted  in 
the  upbuilding  of  various  interests,  and  he  is  today  accounted  one  of  the 
leading  farmers  and  fruit  growers  of  his  community,  having  a  finely 
improved  farm  comprising  sixty-two  acres,  situated  in  Ganges  township. 

Mr.  Plummer  was  bom  in  Saugatuck  in  1835  and  was  the  first  white 
child  born  in  the  township  of  that  name.  His  parents  were  Benjamin  and 
Alvira  (Andrews)  Plummer,  the  former  a  native  of  Maine,  while  the  latter 
was  born  in  Vermont.  Upon  leaving  the  east  they  came  to  Allegan  county, 
the  year  of  their  arrival  being  1834,  at  which  time  the  country  was  still 
in  its  wild  and  uncultivated  state,  so  that  they  were  numbered  among  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  this  portion  of  the  state.  No  roads  had  as  yet  been  laid 
out,  so  that  the  father  had  to  blaze  his  way  through  the  forests  and  finally 
made  his  way  to  Saugatuck  township,  where  the  family  home  was  estab- 
lished. The  father  then  built  a  sawmill,  which  he  operated  until  1850,  after 
which  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Ganges  township,  where  he  erected  a  second 
sawmill  and  successfully  engaged  in  lumbering  pursuits,  for  Michigan  at 
that  time  ofifered  excellent  opportunities  for  operations  along  this  line  of 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  309 

trade.  His  place  of  residence  was  afterward  known  as  Plummersville, 
having  assumed  this  name  on  account  of  the  extensive  operations  of  Mr. 
Plumnier  at  this  point.  He  here  made  investment  in  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
acres  of  wild  land,  which  he  cleared  and  brought  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  He  was  known  for  his  industry  and  business  ability,  and  was 
instrumental  in  development  and  progress  along  agricultural  as  well  as 
industrial  lines.  His  death  occurred  when  he  had  reached  the  very  advanced 
age  of  eighty-four  years,  while  his  wife  passed  away  at  the  ripe  old  age  of 
eighty-six,  and  thus  passed  away  one  of  the  venerable  pioneer  couples  of 
this  county.  In  their  family  were  born  three  sons  and  four  daughters,  of 
whom  the  latter  are  all  now  deceased,  the  family  record  being  as  follows : 
Frederick,  Andrews,  the  subject  of  this  review,  William  H.,  Lucinda, 
Eleanora,  Mary  J.  and  Sarah,  all  of  whom  have  passed  away. 

Andrews  Plummer,  whose  name  introduces  this  record,  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Saugatuck  and  Ganges  townships,  having  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  the  latter  place  when  a  youth  of  fifteen  years. 
He  assisted  his  father  in  the  arduous  task  of  clearing  and  developing  new 
land,  so  that  he  is  thoroughly  conversant  with  all  the  work  connected  with 
life  in  a  frontier  region.  He  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  he  had 
reached  man's  estate,  when  he  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account, 
choosing  as  his  life  work  the  occupation  to  which  he  had  been  reared.  In 
1866  he  made  purchase  of  a  tract  of  sixty-two  acres  of  land,  which  he  has 
owned  and  operated  to  the  present  time.  This  is  devoted  to  general  agri- 
cultural pursuits  and  to  the  raising  of  fruit.  He  has  fifteen  hundred  peach 
trees,  three  hundred  pear  trees,  fifty  cherry  trees,  and  also  raises  black- 
berries and  other  small  fruit.  He  has  been  very  successful  in  his  ventures 
and  is  classed  among  the  leading  fruit  growers  of  his  portion  of  the  state. 

Choosing  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's  journey,  Mr.  Plummer 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Caroline  Geralds,  and  their  home  has  been 
blessed  with  four  sons,  but  the  eldest,  Otis,  is  now  deceased.  Elmer,  the 
second  in  order  of  birth,  is  now  acting  as  treasurer  of  Ganges  township. 
He  wedded  Miss  Pearl  Taylor,  by  whom  he  has  five  children — Louisa  F., 
Clara  D.,  May  B.,  Paul  A.  and  Cornelia.  Lewis  is  the  next  member  of  the 
family.  Benjamin,  the  youngest  son,  wedded  Miss  Lillie  Newman,  by  wlioni 
he  has  one  son,  Herold. 

Mr.  Plummer  has  concentrated  his  energies  upon  his  farming  and 
fruit  raising  interests  through  many  years,  and  has  been  actively  and  closely 
associated  with  the  pioneer  development  of  Allegan  county,  and  has  given 
hearty  co-operation  and  support  to  every  movement  which  has  tended  to 
advance  the  public  welfare,  so  that  he  is  today  numbered  among  the  pros- 
perous and  influential  citizens  of  this  locality,  where  he  enjoys  the  confidence 
and  good  will  of  a  host  of  warm  friends. 

William  M.  Rogers  is  one  of  the  representative  fruit  growers  of 
Ganges  township,  where  he  has  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  of  which  forty  acres 
is  devoted  to  fruit  and  fifteen  acres  to  berries  and  small  fruit.  He  has  two 
hundred  apple  trees,  six  hundred  pear  trees  and  six  hundred  plum  trees 
upon  his  place,  and  his  farm  is  now  in  first  class  condition  and  is  exceedingly 
productive.     He  made  purchase  of  the  property  in   1862,  at  which  time  it 


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was  in  its  virgin  state,  but  by  industry  and  economy  he  has  improved  and 
equipped  it  with  modern  conveniences  for  the  care  of  the  products. 

Mr.  Rogers  is  a  native  of  Rochester,  New  York,  where  he  was  born  in 
1S39.  His  parents  were  Ezra  and  Matilda  (Dunkin)  Rogers,  of  Rochester, 
New  York.  In  their  family  were  two  children,  but  William  M.  is  the  only 
member  of  the  household  now  living.  During  his  residence  in  Allegan 
county  he  speculated  to  a  considerable  extent  in  real  estate.  He  was 
employed  for  some  years  as  agent  for  the  American  Express  Company,  for 
which  he  transacted  a  large  business,  and  for  several  years  he  was  a  resident 
of  Fennville,  where  he  sustained  considerable  loss  by  fire,  his  fine  opera 
house  there  being  consumed  by  the  flames.  As  a  fruit  grower  and  shipper 
he  has  a  wide  acquaintance  and  produces  some  of  the  finest  fruit  raised  in 
this  part  of  the  state. 

Mr.  Rogers  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Charlotte  Banes,  a  native 
of  Boston,  England,  and  unto  them  were  born  five  children — Charles,  Ezra 
(deceased),  Hattie  A.,  Annie  and  May.  The  elder  son  is  engaged  in  the 
real  estate  business  in  Oklahoma,  and  Hattie  is  the  wife  of  Ira  Hutchins. 
while  Annie  is  the  wife  of  F.  Mills  and  May  is  now  Mrs.  Charles  Cole,  of 
Rochester,  New  York, 

Mr.  Rogers  has  held  the  office  of  treasurer  of  the  school  board  and  was 
also  commissioner  of  highways.  He  has  never  been  active  as  a  politician, 
however,  preferring  to  concentrate  his  energies  upon  other  business  pursuits. 
He  is  a  man  in  whom  his  fellow  citizens  have  the  fullest  confidence  and  he 
is  uniformly  respected  wherever  known.  His  business  interests  have  been 
carefully  managed  and  the  extent  and  importance  of  his  operations  have 
brought  him  success  as  an  agriculturist,  placing  him  among  the  foremost 
representatives  of  this  line  of  business  activity  in  Allegan  county. 

Theron  Johnston  was  born  in  Raleigh,  Rush  county,  Indiana,  Sep- 
tember 18,  1861,  and  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  old  Colonial  families. 
His  ancestry  is  traced  back  to  David  Johnston,  who  was  born  on  Long  Island 
in  1712  and  married  Sarah  Lawrence,  a  daughter  of  John  Lawrence.  They 
settled  in  Monmouth  county,  New  Jersey,  where  their  son,  John  Johnston, 
was  bom  February  10,  1742.  John  Johnston  was  a  member  of  the  Society 
of  Friends,  or  Quakers.  He  married  Rebecca  Annesley,  lived  near  Free- 
hold, Monmouth  county,  New  Jersey,  and  died  January  3,  1802,  on  the 
same  farm  on  which  he  was  born  and  reared.  He  was  the  great-grandfather 
of  our  subject  and  the  father  of  John  I.  Johnston,  who  was  born  near  Free- 
hold, in  Monmouth  county,  New  Jersey,  April  7,  1784.  He  married  Mary 
Gifford  and  they  settled  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio — then  only  a  village- — and  after 
a  time  moved  near  Connersyille,  Fayette  county,  Indiana,  as  one  of  the  early 
pioneer  families,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  They  raised 
a  family  of  thirteen  children,  among  them  William  Wilshire  Johnston,  born 
December  8,  1824,  near  Connersville,  Indiana. 

William  Wilshire  Johnston  and  Mary  Overhiser,  daughter  of  George 
Overhiser  and  Elizabeth  Storm s-Overhiser,  and  grand- daughter  of  Casper 
Overhiser,  were  married  in  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  November  10,  i8.^r, 
and  after  residing  in  Indiana  for  some  time  they  moved,  in  the  fall  of  1864, 
to  Casco  township,  Allegan  county,  Michigan,  and  settled  upon  a  160-acre 
piece  of  uncleared  land.    They  were  among  the  early  settlers  in  that  locality 


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il.  C.  BARUEX 


MRS.  H.  C,  HARDEN 


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RESIDENCE  OF  H.  C,  BARDEN 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  311 

and  cleared  and  brought  under  cultivation  the  farm,  which  has  since  been 
their  Jiome,  until  the  father's  death  July  4,  igo6,  and  which  is  still  the  home 
of  Mrs.  Mary  Johnston,  the  mother  of  our  subject.  Seven  children  were 
horn  to  them.  Martha,  the  first,  died  at  the  age  of  two  years.  Six  are  still 
living,  viz. :  John  C,  in  South  Haven,  Michigan ;  Amanda,  also  in  South 
Haven;  Charles  M.,  Adelbert  and  Theron,  all  in  Casco  township,  Allegan 
county,  Michigan,  and  Marion,  in  Indianapolis,  Indiana. 

Theron  Johnston  was  three  years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  Michigan  in  1864,  where  he  has  resided  most  of  the  time  since.  His 
early  life  was  spent  upon  the  farm  and  at  the  district  school,  where  he  was 
taught  the  common  branches  of  learning.  Later  he  followed  the  carpenter 
trade  for  several  years,  afterward  being  engaged  in  hospital  work  for  a  time. 
In  1893,  in  company  with  Adelbert,  a  brother,  he  bought  a  stock  of  goods 
and  the  store  which  he  occupies  at  the  present  time,  then'  known  as  Hawk- 
head  postoffice.  The  partnership  was  discontinued  after  a  time,  leaving 
Theron  the  sole  owner.  Since  that  time  he  has  given  his  attention  to  the 
management  of  the  business,  with  the  result  that  it  has  increased  steadily, 
until  it  has  been  necessary  to  enlarge  the  store  building  to  accommodate  the 
increased  volume  of  business.  His  stock  includes  such  articles  as  are  usually 
found  in  a  general  country  store  and  the  orderly  and  well-kept  appearance 
of  the  premises,  together  with  careful  attention  to  the  details  of  manage- 
ment, have  had  much  to  do  with  the  success  of  the  business. 

On  May  10,  1894,  Mr.  T.  Johnston  and  Rose  Bugden  were  married  and 
later  she  became  a  member  of  the  firm,  contributing  her  share  to  the  success 
of  the  enterprise.  They  have  three  children — Claire,  Helen  and  Hazel.  At 
the  time  this  store  came  into  Mr.  Johnston's  possession  in  it  was  a  postoffice 
and  Mr.  Johnston  held  the  office  of  postmaster  until  the  discontinuance  of 
the  office  by  reason  of  Rural  Free  Delivery  in  February,  1902.  He  has 
served  several  times  consecutively  as  township  clerk.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
member  of  Star  of  the  Lake  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  ^L,  No.  158,  at  South  Haven, 
Michigan, 

C.vscii  Township. 

H,  C.  Barden  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the  best  improved  fruit  farms  of 
Casco  township,  a  leading  representative  of  a  business  which  probably  has 
contributed  more  largely  to  the  wealth  and  prosperity  of  this  county  than 
any  other  one  line  of  activity.  His  place  is  known  as  the  Westview  Fruit 
Farm,  in  the  midst  of  which  stands  a  fine  residence  and  all  modern  improve- 
ments. His  largest  crop  of  peaches  was  a  yield  of  eleven  thousand  bushels 
in  1900,  but  in  other  years  the  yield  has  reached  almost  an  equal  amount. 
One  of  Michigan's  native  sons,  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  possibilities  of 
the  state,  he  has  made  good  use  of  his  opportunities  and  has  thus  prospered 
as  the  years  have  gone  by.  He  was  born  in  Pavillion  township,  Kalamazoo 
county,  April  10,  1845,  His  father,  Richard  Barden,  was  a  native  of  Yates 
county.  New  York,  and  was  reared  and  married  there,  after  which  he  jour- 
neyed westward  to  Detroit  by  water,  thence  across  the  country  with  an  ox 
team  to  Kalamazoo  county,  for  the  Michigan  Centra!  Railroad  had  not  yet 
been  built.  There  in  the  midst  of  the  forest  he  cleared  a  good  farm  of  about 
two  hundred  acres  and  placed  upon  it  substantial  buildings.  In  later  years 
he  removed  to  Allegan  county  and  purchased  four  hundred  and  forty  acres 


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313  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUMTY 

of  valuable  land.  There  was  no  highway  leading  to  the  farm,  only  a  blazed 
road  to  the  lake  shore  about  a  mile  away.  His  entire  life  was  devoted  to 
general  agricultural  pursuits  and  as  the  years  passed  by  he  transformed 
wild,  unimproved  land  into  richly  cultivated  tracts,  devoted  to  the  raising 
of  grain  and  fruit.  His  political  allegiance  in  early  life  was  given  lo  the 
Whig  party  and  upon  its  dissolution  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  new  Repub- 
lican party.  He  was  always  a  great  admirer  and  advocate  of  Horace 
Greeley,  and  for  many  years  was  a  reader  of  the  New  York  Tribune.  In  all 
of  his  business  life  he  was  energetic  and  successful  and  he  was  in  prosperous 
circumstances  when  he  passed  away  in  1890,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five 
years.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Elizabeth  Kinney,  was  born 
in  Yates  county.  New  York,  and  died  in  Allegan  county  in  1886,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-five  years.  They  had  five  children;  H.  C,  of  this  review;  James 
K.,  who  hves  upon  a  farm  adjoining  the  old  homestead;  Mrs.  Olive  Wood, 
now  deceased;  and  two  daughters,  who  died  in  fancy. 

When  H.  C.  Harden  was  a  lad  of  nine  years  his  parents  removed  from 
Kalamazoo  county  to  Casco  township,  Allegan  county,  settling  in  the  midst 
of  the  forest  in  January,  1855.  A  log  cabin  eighteen  by  twenty-four  feet 
was  built,  but  prior  to  its  erection  the  family  lived  in  a  little  pioneer  shanty. 
Mr.  Harden,  of  this  review,  has  always  remained  upon  the  old  homestead 
farm,  which  he  aided  his  father  in  clearing,  performing  the  arduous  task 
necessary  to  cutting  away  the  timber  and  preparing  the  land  for  the  plow. 
He  worked  with  and  for  his  father  until  twenty-two  years  of  age,  after 
which  he  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account  and  was  employed  for  about 
four  years  by  the  month.  The  last  two  years  of  that  time  were  spent  in 
the  service  of  a  lumber  company  and  he  received  a  salary  of  thirty  dollars 
per  month  for  his  services.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  located 
upon  the  farm  which  is  now  his  home  and  began  to  clear  and  cultivate  it. 
Today  he  has  one  of  the  best  farm  properties  in  the  township.  The  soil  is 
very  rich  and  productive  and  he  knows  well  how  to  use  it  to  the  best 
advantage.  He  has  here  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land,  of  which 
eighty  acres  is  a  part  of  the  old  homestead,  and  all  is  on  section  8,  Casco 
township.  In  1896  he  erected  an  elegant  farm  residence  and  he  also  lias  a 
tenant  house  upon  his  place.  He  likewise  has  a  tool  house,  corn  cribs,  two 
barns  and  a  packing  house,  all  of  which  constitute  this  one  of  the  best 
improved  farms  of  the  district.  It  is  called  the  Westview  Fruit  Fann  and 
is  all  devoted  to  horticuHural  pursuits.  Mr.  Harden  and  his  brother  are 
now  the  most  extensive  growers  of  peaches  in  Casco  township.  During 
the  big  crop  of  igoo  he  gathered  eleven  tliousand  bushels  of  peaches,  at 
which  time  he  had  pickers  at  work  for  seven  weeks  and  had  one  team  that 
made  eighty  trips  to  South  Haven,  eight  miles  away,  during  the  week  days 
of  that  seven  weeks'  period.  He  marketed  altogether  eleven  thousand 
bushels  that  year  and  three  years  ago  he  marketed  eight  thousand  bushels. 
He  has  the  largest  packing  house  in  this  fruit  section  and  it  is  thoroughly 
up-to-date,  equipped  with  all  modern  conveniences  and  machinery.  The 
building  is  a  two-story  structure  thirty-five  by  forty  feet,  and  in  addition 
there  are  two  sheds.  For  the  past  eighteen  years  he  has  engaged  in  growing 
peaches,  never  having  a  complete  failure  of  that  crop,  and  he  has  thirty 
acres  planted  to  tliat  fruit.     He  also  carries  on  general  farming  to  some 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  213 

extent  and  a  glance  at  his  place  indicates  his  careful  supervision  and  liis 
practical,  progressive  methods. 

In  i86g  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Harden  and  Miss  Flora  R. 
Hunger,  who  was  born  near  Lockport,  New  York,  in  March,  1844,  and 
came  with  her  parents  to  Michigan  in  1861,  her  father  being  N,  Q.  Munger, 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barden  have  been  bom  two  children ;  Charles  M., 
who  owns  an  eighty-acre  farm  adjoining  his  father's  and  who  married 
Jennie  Kelley  and  has  three  children— Richard,  Bernice  and  Grace ;  and 
Eva,  the  wife  of  William  Trimble,  of  Park  Falls,  Wisconsin. 

Mr.  Barden  votes  the  Republican  ticket,  but  is  not  interested  in  political 
affairs  to  the  extent  of  seekmg  or  desiring  office,  as  he  prefers  to  concen- 
trate his  energies  upon  his  business  interests,  which  are  now  capably  con- 
ducted and  are  bringing  him  signal  success.  He  works  along  modern  lines, 
has  thorough  knowledge  of  the  great  scientific  principles  which  underlie 
both  agricultural  and  horticultural  pursuits,  and  his  correct  application 
thereof  has  been  demonstrated  in  his  practical  methods  of  carrying  on  the 
farm  work  and  the  results  which  have  been  achieved  thereby. 

LoNSON  Marion  Overhiser. — The  name  of  Overhiser  figures  promi- 
nently, conspicuously  and  honorably  in  connection  with  the  history  of 
Allegan  county,  for  various  representatives  of  the  name  have  taken  an 
active  and  helpful  part  in  promoting  the  business  life  and  public  interests 
of  the  community.  In  pioneer  days  the  family  was  established  in  this 
county  and  here  Lonson  Marion  Overhiser  has  lived  from  the  age  of  six 
years.  He  was  born  at  Dundee,  in  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  November  9, 
1855,  and  came  to  Allegan  county  with  his  parents  in  the  fall  of  i860,  being 
a  son  of  Henry  and  Sarah  (McKee)  Overhiser.  The  mother  died  upon 
the  old  homestead  in  this  county  about  twenty-two  years  ago,  when  forty- 
eight  years  of  age,  and  the  father  afterward  married  again  and  now 
resides  in  Casco  township.  He  is  mentioned  on  another  page  of  this  work. 
The  children  of  the  family  are :  Lonson  M.,  of  this  review ;  William  Albert, 
who  is  living  in  Casco  township :  Olive,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Gaibreatli,  of 
Casco  township;  Ida,  the  wife  of  Charles  Osborn,  of  the  same  township; 
Grant,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  months ;  Charles,  who  is  now  treas- 
urer of  Casco  township ;  Mary,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years ;  and 
Minnie,  the  wife  of  William  Baker,  of  Seattle,  Washington. 

During  the  first  winter  of  their  residence  in  Allegan  county  the  family 
lived  near  the  village  of  Allegan  and  then  took  up  their  abode  in  Casco 
township,  since  which  time  L.  M.  Overhiser,  of  this  review,  has  resided 
within  its  borders.  He  has  devoted  his  entire  life  to  agricultural  pursuits 
and  he  remained  upon  the  old  homestead  until  his  marriage.  It  was  on  the 
22d  of  August,  1880,  that  he  wedded  Minnie  G.  Cronk,  who  was  born  in 
Ganges  township,  this  county,  September  10.  t86o,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Harriett  (Horton)  Cronk,  the  former  a  native  of  Orange 
county,  New  York,  and  the  latter  of  Norwalk,  Ohio.  They  came  to  Michi- 
gan with  their  respective  parents,  settling  in  Kalamazoo  county.  At  length 
they  were  married  and  still  reside  in  Casco  township. 

For  four  years  prior  to  his  marriage  Mr.  Overhiser  of  this  review  was 
employed  in  the  lumber  woods  and  at  farm  labor,  clearing  new  land.  In 
1880  he  purchased  his  present  home  and  has  since  owned  and  occupied  it. 


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214  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUKTY 

save  for  the  period  of  five  years  spent  upon  a  rented  farm.  He  now  has 
one  hundred  and  seventy-two  acres  of  good  land  on  sections  13,  23  and  24, 
Casco  township.  It  was  all  in  one  body  and  the  best  timber  had  been  cut 
off  when  it  came  into  his  possession,  but  the  stnnips  and  brush  still  remained 
and  he  has  cleared  eighty  acres  of  the  land  himself  and  has  placed  good 
buildings  thereon.  The  land  is  devoted  to  general  farming  and ,  he  also 
makes  a  specialty  of  the  raising  of  potatoes.  He  likewise  has  some  fruit 
upon  his  place,  including  currants,  pears  and  apples,  and  the  fann  is  known 
as  the  Meadows.  In  its  thrifty  and  tasteful  appearance  it  indicates  tlie 
general  supervision  and  practical  methods  of  the  owner. 

Unto  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Overhiser  have  been  born  three  children:  Byron 
Henry,  of  Chicago ;  Nellie,  who  is  a  teacher  in  pubHc  and  district  schools  of 
Allegan  county ;  and  Carl,  who  is  living  in  Chicago.  All  three  have  received 
high  school  educations  in  South  Haven  and  both  of  the  sons  have  positions 
with  the  American  Express  Company  at  the  North -Western  depot  in 
Chicago. 

In  his  political  allegiance  Mr.  Overhiser  is  a  Republican  and  for  six 
years  has  served  as  drain  commissioner  of  Casco  township,  while  for  three 
years  he  was  highway  commissioner.  He  has  also  been  moderator  of  the 
school  district  and  was  director  for  one  year.  He  takes  an  active  and  helpful 
interest  in  the  cause  of  education,  but  had  no  opportunities  in  that  direction 
himself.  He  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees.  Almost  his  entire  life  lias  been  passed  in  this 
county,  where  for  forty-six  years  he  has  been  an  interested  witness  in  the 
changes  that  have  occurred  and  the  progress  that  has  been  made  in  the 
methods  of  farming  and  other  lines  of  business  activity.  With  few  advan- 
tages at  the  outset  of  his  career  he  has  battled  earnestly  and  energetically 
and  has  come  off  victor  in  the  strife,  winning  a  measure  of  prosperity 
that  is  indicative  of  his  business  capacity,  keen  foresight  and  unfailing 
energy. 

Henry  Overhiser. — Among  the  old  residents  of  Allegan  county  well 
deserving  of  mention  in  this  volume  is  numbered  Henry  Overhiser,  who 
was  born  in  Steuben  county.  New  York,  January  2,  1835,  and  was  but  four 
years  of  age  when  his  parents  removed  to  Favette  county,  Indiana.  He  is  a 
grandson  of  Casper  Overhiser,  a  native  of  New  York,  whose  life  was 
largely  spent  on  the  frontier.  The  Overhisers  came  of  an  old  colonial 
family  of  German  origin.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  George  Overhiser, 
who  was  bom  in  Steuben  county.  New  York,  in  1804,  and  died  in  Blackford 
county,  Indiana,  in  1862.  He  took  many  contracts  for  clearing  land  and 
was  also  the  owner  of  a  good  farm  of  ninety-two  acres  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig  and  for  many  years  was  assessor  of  his 
township.  The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Elizabeth 
Storms,  and  was  born  in  Steuben  county,  New  York,  while  her  death 
occurred  in  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  in  i860,  when  she  was  about  fifty- 
three  years  of  age.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Peter  an<l  Dorcas  (Ballard) 
Storms,  and  by  her  marriage  she  became  the  mother  of  thirteen  children, 
all  of  whom  lived  to  manhood  or  womanhood,  while  twelve  still  survive,  the 
youngest  being  fifty -five  years  of  age.  The  record  is  as  follows:  Mrs 
Belinda   Williams,   who   is   living  in   Jasper   countv,    Illinois ;   John    P.,   of 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  *        215 

Indianapolis,  Indiana ;  Mrs.  Mary  Johnson,  of  Casco  township ;  Mrs,  Almira 
Johnston,  of  Marshall  county,  Iowa ;  Mrs,  Martha  Schrader,  of  Richardson 
county,  Nebraska;  Henry,  of  this  review;  Lonson,  who  is  living  in  Ganges 
township ;  Mrs,  Ann  Bowman,  of  Jay  county,  Indiana :  Charles,  who  makes 
his  home  at  Independence,  Montgomery  county,  Kansas;  Mrs.  Sarah 
Turtelotte,  of  Ganges  township ;  Willard,  who  is  located  in  Fayette  county, 
Indiana;  Marion,  a  resident  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana;  and  Mrs.  Keturah 
Mills,  of  Illinois. 

Henry  Overhiser,  as  stated,  was  only  four  years  of  age  when  his 
parents  removed  from  New  York  to  Fayette  county,  Indiana,  making  the 
trip  by  wagon  to  Buffalo,  where  the  team  and  wagon  were  all  loaded  on  a 
steamer  that  sailed  for  Cleveland.  Thus  they  made  their  way  through  the 
black  swamp  country  of  Ohio  to  their  destination  in  Fayette  county,  Indiana, 
After  three  or  four  years  there  passed  they  removed  to  Hancock  county, 
that  state,  and  afterward  to  Blackford  county,  where  they  took  up  their 
abode  in  1846.  Henry  Overhiser  resided  there  until  twenty-six  years  of 
age.  In  the  fall  of  i860  he  came  to  Michigan  with  his  wife  and  three 
children.  He  spent  the  first  winter  near  Allegan  on  the  Bee  Line  road  and 
worked  for  Daniel  Ammernian  as  a  carpenter,  completing  the  house  which 
now  stands  upon  the  farm.  On  the  2d  of  March.  i86i,  he  removed  to 
Casco  township  and  took  up  his  abode  upon  a  farm  which  is  yet  his  place  of 
residence.  In  August,  i860,  he  and  his  neighbor,  Erastus  Frost,  decided  to 
make  a  trip  to  Michigan  to  see  the  country.  Ai!  they  had  was  the  horse, 
saddle  and  bridle  which  Mr.  Overhiser  owned  and  they  decided  to  make 
the  journey  by  the  method  known  as  "ride  and  hitch."  That  is,  one  would 
ride  the  horse  for  a  mile  or  two,  then  hitch  it,  and  the  other  would  come 
on  and  take  the  horse  and  ride  it  for  some  distance;  thtis  they  would  alter- 
nate and  in  this  way  they  made  forty  miles  a  day.  In  October  of  the  same 
year  Mr.  Overhiser  hired  his  brother  with  a  two-horse  team  to  bring  him 
and  his  family,  together  with  his  household  goo<ls  and  a  box  of  tools,  to 
Michigan,  and  they  were  eight  days  on  the  journey,  covering  about  two 
hundred  miles.  !Mr.  Overhiser  settled  seven  different  times  in  the  midst  of 
the  forest,  in  which  tlie  timber  had  to  be  cleared  away  for  the  building  of 
the  house.  He  did  this  three  times  with  his  father  while  a  boy  at  home 
and  four  times  since  he  came  to  Michigan,  twice  in  Casco  township,  once  on 
section  I  and  again  on  section  14.  He  has  eventually  cleared  his  entire  farm, 
which  was  both  wood  land  and  swamp  land  at  the  time  of  his  arrival.  At 
one  time  he  owned  two  hundred  acres  here,  having  one  hundred  acres  on 
section  14  and  one  hundred  acres  on  section  12,  Casco  township.  He  has 
since  disposed  of  this  to  his  children  and  now  resides  on  forty  acres  belong- 
ing to  his  wife  on  section  35,  Casco  township.  This  is  a  well  improved 
fruit  farm.  Mr.  Overhiser  has  secured  considerable  land  in  the  county  and 
has  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  thus  con- 
tributing in  substantial  measure  to  the  material  development  and  progress 
of  this  part  of  the  state. 

On  the  19th  of  Februarj'.  1855,  Mr.  Overhiser  was  married  to  Miss 
Sarah  McKee,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  June  23,  1837,  and  went  to  Indiana 
with  her  parents  when  a  small  child,  becoming  a  schoolmate  of  her  future 
husband  in  that  state.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Rhoda  McKee. 
natives  of  Ohio,  and  she  died  in  Allegan  county,  March  4,   1885.     There 


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2iV:  HISTORY  01'  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

were  eight  children :  Lonson  Marion,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  work;  William  Albert,  of  Casco  township,  who  is  mentioned  elsewhere 
in  this  volume;  Olive  Jane,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Galbreath,  of  Casco  town- 
ship; Ida  May,  the  wife  of  Charles  Osborn,  of  Casco  township;  Mary,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years;  Grant,  who  died  in  infancy;  Charles  H., 
of  Casco  township;  and  Minnie  B.,  the  wife  of  William  Baker,  of  Seattle, 
Washington,  who  is  principal,  while  his  wife  is  matron  of  the  Seattle 
Parental  School.  In  June,  1886,  Mr.  Overhiser  was  again  married,  his 
second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Henrietta  Warfield,  a  daughter  of  Herman 
Fisher. 

In  politics  Mr.  Overhiser  has  been  a  lifelong  Republican.  On  account 
of  his  absence  from  home  he  could  not  vote  for  Fremont,  but  has  voted  for 
every  candidate  at  the  head  of  the  Republican  ticket  since  that  time.  He 
made  a  personal  call  on  President  Harrison  in  Indianapolis  after  he  was 
elected  and  was  cordially  received.  He  has  filled  some  township  offices, 
acting  as  highway  commissioner  of  Casco  township  for  three  years,  as 
collector  for  eleven  consecutive  years,  and  as  supervisor  for  two  years.  He 
has  voted  at  the  same  poll  without  missing  a  town  meeting  for  forty  years, 
and  he  has  been  a  delegate  to  many  county  conventions  and  one  state  con- 
vention. He  is  likewise  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  with 
which  he  has  been  identified  since  coming  to  Michigan,  and  he  has  looked 
after  the  financial  interests  of  the  church  for  many  years.  He  has  assisted 
in  the  building  of  three  houses  of  worship  in  Casco  township  and  has  served 
on  the  board  of  trustees  and  also  on  the  building  committees.  He  has  thus 
been  a  valued  factor  in  political  progress  and  moral  development  in  the 
community  and  has  exerted  a  wide  and  strongly-felt  influence  in  behalf  of 
justice,  truth  and  right,  of  progress  and  improvement. 

E.  Guy  Lyman  is  one  of  the  leading  horticulturists  of  Allegan  county 
and  the  Paragon  Fruit  Farm  is  well  named,  for  upon  it  are  produced  some 
of  the  finest  fruits  raised  in  this  part  of  the  state.  He  has  made  a  specialty 
of  strawberries,  which  he  in  one  instance  marketed  in  October  and  Novem- 
ber, selling  to  the  city  trade,  where,  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  the  fruit  at 
that  time  of  year,  it  commanded  very  high  prices.  He  is  equally  successful 
with  other  fruits  and  his  opinions  are  largely  received  as  authority  upon 
matters  of  fruit  culture. 

Mr.  Lyman  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Berlin 
township,  Erie  county,  June  23,  1842.  The  Lyman  family,  to  whom  he 
traces  his  ancestry,  came  to  Connecticut  from  England  about  1630,  while 
the  ancestral  history  of  the  Dyer  family,  from  whom  Guy  Lyman  is 
descended  in  the  maternal  line,  can  be  traced  back  in  England  to  1612,  while 
representatives  of  the  name  came  to  the  new  world  between  that  date  and 
1690.  A  great  uncle  of  our  subject  belonging  to  the  Lyman  family  died 
while  serving  in  the  Revohitionary  war.  His  parents,  Elijah  and  Sarah 
(Dyer)  Lyman,  were  hoth  natives  of  Connecticut  and  in  childhood  went  to 
the  western  reserve  of  Ohio.    Three  of  their  children  died  in  infancy. 

E.  Guy  Lyman,  the  only  surviving  member  of  the  family,  lost  his 
mother  before  he  was  three  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  went  to  live 
with  his  father's  sister  in  Ashtabida  county,  Ohio.  When  he  was  nine  years 
of  age  he  accompanied  his  aunt  and  uncle  on  their  removal  to  Cedar  Rapids, 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEtiAN  COUXTY  217 

Iowa,  and  after  the  death  of  his  uticle  at  that  place  his  aunt  went  to  Luoni, 
Jackson  county,  Michigan,  for  the  purpose  of  educating  our  subject,  who 
pursued  a  partial  course  in  tlie  Michigan  Union  College.  His  school  life 
was  interrupted,  however,  by  his  military  service,  for  in  the  fall  of  1861,  at 
the  age  of  nineteen  years,  he  enlisted  from  Jackson  county,  Michigan,  as  a 
member  of  Company  C,  Ninth  Michigan  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Captain 
C.  V.  DeLand.  The  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land and  he  was  largely  engaged  in  duty  under  General  Thomas.  He  took 
part  in  the  battles  of  Stone  River  and  Chickamauga,  and  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign. At  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  July  13,  1862,  he  was  taken  prisoner, 
but  after  two  days  was  paroled  and  in  August  was  exchanged.  He  re-en-, 
tered  active  service  in  the  fall  of  1862  and  remained  at  the  front  until 
September  15,  1865,  having  re-enlisted  at  Chattanooga  with  his  regiment 
in  December,  1863.  He  was  honorably  discharged  at  Nashville  and  with 
a  most  creditable  military  record  returned  to  his  home,  having  done  valorous 
service  in  defense  of  the  Union. 

In  the  meantime  his  aunt  had  died,  so  that  he  was  again  left  without 
a  home.  He  returned  to  Michigan,  however,  and  in  the  fall  of  1865  entered 
Adrian  College.  He  lacked  one  term  of  completing  the  work  of  the  sopho- 
more year  when  he  left  that  institution  and  started  out  in  the  business  world 
on  his  own  account.  On  the  13th  of  March,  1869,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Lida  J.  Rankin,  who  was  born  in  Phoenixville,  Pennsylvania,  June  18,  1847, 
and  when  nine  years  of  age  was  taken  to  Rives  township,  Jackson  county, 
Michigan,  by  her  parents,  Peter  and  Eliza  (McClellan)  Rankin.  Her  father 
was  born  in  Scotland  and  her  mother  in  Reading,  Pennsylvania,  and  both 
died  in  Jackson  county,  this  state. 

At  the  time  of  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lyman  located  in  Rives 
township.  Jackson  county,  and  for  twenty  years  he  worked  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  through  the  summer  months,  while  in  the  winter  season  he 
engaged  in  teaching  school.  In  the  spring  of  1889  he  came  to  his  present 
farm  of  twenty  acres  on  section  8,  Casco  township,  then  wild  land  but  now 
largely  under  cultivation,  mainly  devoted  to  horticultural  pursuits.  The 
Paragon  Friut  Farm  is  justly  celebrated  and  Mr.  Lyman  has  made  a  spe- 
cialty of  strawberries,  which  he  occasionally  markets  in  October  and  No- 
vember, as  well  as  in  the  spring,  raising  two  crops  out  of  doors.  He  also 
makes  a  specialty  of  currants  and  peaches,  and  he  has  an  attractive  home  in 
the  midst  of  bis  well  developed  farm. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lyman  have  been  born  eight  children :  Cecile, 
now  the  wife  of  L.  E.  Paquin.  of  Park  Falls,  Wisconsin;  Rankin  G..  living 
in  Cleveland.  Ohio :  Anna  G.,  the  wife  of  G.  N.  Breidenstein.  of  Casco  town- 
ship :  Edwin  D..  of  Park  Falls,  Wisconsin ;  Roy.  who  is  associated  with  his 
brother  Edwin  in  farming,  dairying  and  lumbering  under  tJie  firm  name  of 
Lyman  Brothers :  Grace,  the  wife  of  C.  E.  Rice,  of  Casco  township ;  Nina  L., 
the  wife  of  W.  R.  Irey.  of  Bangor  township;  and  Henry  C,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  four  years. 

Since  age  conferred  upon  him  the  right  of  franchise  Mr.  Lyman  has 
stanchly  supported  the  Republican  party  and  its  principles,  casting  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  had  been  reared  amid  a  Freesoil 
influence  and  in  an  atmosphere  antagonistic  to  slavery,  and  he  has  always 
stood  by  the  party  that  liberated  the  slaves  and  preserved  the  Union  and 


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318  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

which  has  since  been  the  party  of  reform  and  progress.  While  living  in 
Rives  township  he  filled  the  office  of  clerk  and  was  school  inspector  in 
Jackson  county.  He  has  served  for  four  years  as  clerk  in  Casco  township 
and  for  two  years  as  treasurer,  and  his  official  duties  are  always  faithfully 
performed.  He  belongs  to  the  Liberal  United  Brethren  church,  to  the  Grand 
Army  Post  of  Ganges,  and  was  formerly  identified  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Strong  in  his  honor  and  his  good  name,  he 
deserves  mention  among  the  representative  and  prominent  citizens  of  Alle- 
gan county. 

James  E.  Black,  a  representative  agriculturist  of  Casco  township,  who 
has  done  effective  service  in  behalf  of  the  cause  of  education,  was  born  in 
Kalamazoo,  Michigan,  June  6,  1850.  His  father,  Peter  Black,  was  born  at 
Castle  Douglas,  Scotland,  and  lost  his  parents  when  quite  young.  As  a 
boy  he  came  to  the  United  States,  and  from  New  York  made  his  way  to 
Michigan  with  the  Montieths  about  1848.  He  remained  a  resident  of  this 
state  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1892,  when  he  was  about  eighty- 
three  years  of  age.  He  was  married  in  New  York  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Ed- 
wards, who  was  born  in  Birmingham,  England,  March  24,  1822,  and  who 
at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  New  York  on  a 
visit  to  her  sister.  Here  she  became  acquainted  with  Mr.  Black  and  was 
marrietl.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Enos  Edwards,  the  chief  engineer  of  the 
Birmingham  (England)  fire  department,  and  his  father  and  grandfather 
held  the  same  position  before  him,  and  all  three  occupied  successively  the 
same  house.  AH  the  members  of  the  Edwards  family  are  mechanics  and 
machinists.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Black  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  but 
only  three  reached  years  of  maturity:  James  E.,  of  this  review;  John,  who 
died  at  South  Haven  in  r88o.  and  William,  a  resident  of  Benton  Harbor. 

James  E.  Black  attended  school  in  his  native  county  until  about  sixteen 
or  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  made  his  way  into  the  forests  of  Allegan 
county  with  his  parents  in  the  fall  of  1866.  They  took  up  their  abode  upon 
the  present  farm  on  the  13th  of  November,  and  here  James  E,  Black  has 
since  resided.  The  place  originally  comprised  one  hundred  and  seventy 
acres  of  rich  and  productive  land,  but  Air.  Black  has  since  sold  all  save 
eighty  acres  on  sections  35  and  36,  Casco  township.  His  entire  life  has  been 
devoted  to  general  agricultural  pursuits.  ^11  of  his  farm  has  been  cleared 
and  placed  under  cultivation  by  himself,  his  brother  and  his  father,  and  the 
place  is  now  devoted  to  the  raising  of  cereals  and  fruit.  In  the  early  days 
Mr.  Black  worked  at  lumbering  and  logging  and  hi';  life  has  been  a  period 
of  earnest  and  unremitting  toil,  in  which  he  has  made  steatly  progress  be- 
cause he  has  closely  applied  himself  to  the  work  at  hand  and  has  made  the 
best  use  of  his  opportunities. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Black  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  as  a 
delegate  to  the  conventions  of  his  party  from  his  township.  He  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  and  proved  in  that  office  a  capable  official.  He  acted  as  a 
delegate  to  both  the  conventions  which  chose  candidates  for  the  state  legisr 
lature  from  Casco  township,  and  his  efforts  have  been  far-reaching  and 
effective  in  behalf  of  the  interests  which  contribute  to  the  general  welfare 
and  improvement  in  this  part  of  the  state. 

Mr.  Black  was  married,  in  1874,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Bliss,  who  was  born 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUXTY  31D 

in  Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  near  Dunkirk,  in  1856,  and  who  was 
brought  to  Michigan  when  only  three  months'  old  by  her  parents,  Joel  and 
Rosetta  (Ellis)  Bliss,  who  were  natives  of  New  York,  but  spent  their  last 
days  in  Geneva  township,  Allegan  county,  Michigan.  To  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Black  have  been  born  four  children:  Myrtie,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  thirteen  years ;  Ralph,  of  Benton  Harbor ;  Minnie,  who  is  a  school 
teacher,  and  Neila,  at  home.  Mr.  Black  has  ever  been  interested  and  active 
in  the  support  of  educational  affairs,  and  for  twelve  years  has  been  a  di- 
rector of  district  No.  4.  He  has  also  acted  as  moderator.  It  was  during  his 
administration  that  the  practice  of  "boarding  round"  was  abolished  in  the 
seventies,  and  he  has  done  much  to  advance,  the  system  of  public  education 
in  this  locality,  there  being  now  between  eighty  and  ninety  pnpils  in  the 
school  district. 

William  Aluert  Overhiser  is  the  proprietor  of  the  Maple  Ridge  Fruit 
Farm,  one  of  the  excelient  properties  of  Casco  township.  His  home  is  on 
section  14,  and  orchards  and  fields  give  every  evidence  of  his  careful  super- 
vision. A  native  of  Indiana,  he  was  bom  in  Blackford  county  on  the  nth 
of  January,  1857.  His  father.  Henry  Overhiser.  was  born  in  Steuben 
county,  New  York,  January  2,  1834.  and  now  resides  upon  a  farm  in  Casco 
township,  about  three  miles  south  of  Mr.  Overhiser's  present  home.  The 
mother  bore  the  luaiden  name  of  Sarah  McKee,  and  was  born  in  Ohio.  She 
died  in  Casco  township,  March  4,  1885,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine  years.  The 
parents  were  married  in  Blackford  county,  Indiana,  and  had  three  children 
prior  to  their  removal  to  Michigan,  while  here  other  children  were  added 
to  the  household,  so  that  the  family  record  is  as  follows:  Lonson  M.,  who 
is  living  in  Casco  township;  William  Albert;  Mrs.  Olive  Jane  Galbrcath,  of 
the  same  township;  Mrs.  Ida  May  Osborn,  of  Casco  township;  Grant,  who 
died  in  infancy;  Charles,  of  Casco  township:  IVIary  Ann.  who  died  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years,  and  Minnie  Baker,  who  is  living  in  Seattle,  Wash- 
ington. 

William  A.  Overhiser  was  a  little  lad  of  only  three  summers  when  the 
parents  removed  from  Indiana  to  Allegan  county.  Michigan,  settling  about 
two  miles  northwest  of  the  village  of  Allegan.  There  they  remained  through 
the  winter  and  in  the  spring  removed  to  Casco  township,  taking  up  their 
abode  about  three  miles  from  the  present  home  of  our  subject.  There  they 
lived  for  three  years,  and  in  the  spring  of  1864  settled  upon  the  farm  where 
William  Albert  Overhiser  now  resides.  He  has  continuously  lived  upon  this 
place  since  that  time,  was  reared  to  the  occupation  of  farming  and  has  never 
desired  to  make  a  change  in  his  life  work.  He  has  sixty  acres  of  the 
original  one  hundred  acres  owned  by  his  father  and  situated  on  section  14. 
Casco  township.  When  his  father  made  the  purchase  it  was  a  tract  of  wild 
land  which  he  bought  from  a  speculator  at  five  dollars  per  acre.  All, of  the 
work  of  clearing  and  improving  has  been  done  .by  Mr.  Overhiser  and  his 
father,  and  it  is  now  a  well  improved  property,  on  which  are  substantial 
buildings  and  many  modern  accessories,  including  the  latest  improved  ma- 
chinery. The  place  is  known  as  the  Maple  Ridge  Fruit  Farm  and  is  well 
named  because  of  the  fine  maple  trees  upon  the  place;  also  the  excellent 
orchards.  He  has  fifteen  acres  planted  to  peaches  and  ten  acres  to  cherries, 
while  there  are  also  many  pear,  apple  and  plum  trees  upon  the  place.     Al- 


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320  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

most  every  year  brings  forth  a  good  fruit  crop  and  liis  horticultural  inter- 
ests thus  add  materially  to  his  financial  resources.  He  likewise  carries  on 
general  farming  and  has  some  well  cultivated  fields. 

Mr.  Overhiser  has  been  married  twice.  In  i8S6  he  wedded  Miss  Alta 
May.  Usher,  who  was  born  in  Illinois,  and  died  in  Casco  township,  Allegan 
county,  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years.  She  was  a  daughter  of  James 
Usher,  of  Casco  township,  and  by  her  marriage  she  became  the  mother  of 
three  children :  Maxwell  Glen,  who  died  in  his  twelfth  year ;  Rosco  Glen, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  two  and  a  half  years,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Overhiser  lost  his  wife  and  two  children  within  nine  months.  In  1896 
he  was  again  married,  his  second  union  being  with  Daisy  Galbreath,  a 
native  of  Kosciusko  county,  Indiana,  and  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Galbreath. 
They  have  one  son,  William  McKinley,  born  December  25,  1896. 

Tlie  name  of  the  son  is  indicative  of  the  father's  poHtical  views  and 
affiliation,  for  Mr.  Overhiser  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  interested  in  the 
growth  and  success  of  the  party,  yet  never  seeking  office  for  himself.  He 
belongs  to  the  United  Brethren  Church  at  Leisure,  assisted  in  building  the 
new  house  of  worship  and  is  one  of  the  church  trustees.  Fraternally  he 
is  connected  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  also  with  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  both  at  Leisure.  In  the  various  lines  of  life  into 
which  his  activity  and  interests  have  led  him  he  has  always  been  found  as  a 
reliable  and  trustworthy  man,  fully  meriting  the  esteem  which  is  uniformly 
accorded  him.  In  his  agricultural  interests  he  is  regarded  as  a  most  enter- 
prising farmer  and  has  a  fine  place. 

Joseph  Josh,  who  is  engaged  in  general  farming  on  section  5,  Casco 
township,  was  born  in  Terrington,  St.  Clemens,  Norfolk  county,  England. 
May  22,  1857.  his  parents  being  Isaac  and  Rebecca  (Hanson)  Josh,  who 
spent  their  entire  lives  in  Norfolk  county.  The  son  acquired  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  and  left  home  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years  to  make 
his  own  way  in  the  world.  He  was  first  employed  at  farm  labor  and  later  at 
railroad  work,  while  subsequently  he  secured  employment  in  the  iron  stone 
mines  of  Rosedale  Abbey,  Yorkshire,  England.  He  remained  a  resident  of 
his  native  country  until  1887,  when,  thinking  to  improve  his  opportunities  in 
the  new  world,  he  came  to  America,  landing  at  Quebec  on  the  22d  of  May, 
the  thirtieth  anniversary  of  his  birth.  For  three  weeks  he  was  employed  on 
the  canal  and  then  came  to  South  Haven,  Michigan.  His  limited  financial 
resources  made  immediate  employment  a  necessity  and  he  began  work  as  a 
farm  hand  by  the  month,  being  thus  employed  until  he  was  married.  At 
different  times  he  was  engaged  in  farm  labor  and  also  in  the  Pullman  car 
shops  at  Pullman.  Illinois,  and  in  the  steel  works  at  South  Chicago.  He 
likewise  spent  two  winters  in  the  lumber  woods  and  scorned  no  employment 
that  would  yield  him  an  honest  living.  In  fact,  he  would  accept  any  occupa- 
tion that  would  bring  him  a  fair  return  and  thus  he  made  a  good  start  in 
life.  Later  he  rented  a  farm  for  ten  years,  and  in  1897  he  located  upon  his 
present  farm,  securing  forty  acres  of  land  on  section  5,  Casco  township, 
known  as  the  Goodland  Farm. 

On  the  4th  of  February,  1892,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Josh 
and  Miss  Maggie  Gibney,  who  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  August 
20,  1868,  and  came  to  the  United  States  with  her  parents  at  the  age  of  five 


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HISTORY  OF  AI.LECAX   COl'XTY  221 

years.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary  Jane  Gibney,  who  were 
natives  of  Ireland  but  were  married  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  and  there 
passed  away.  Mrs.  Josh  was  the  youngest  of  their  seven  children.  She 
was  three  years  of  age  when  taken  to  Indiana,  and  a  year  Jater  came  to 
Michigan  to  live  with  her  aunt,  Mrs.  Margaret  Fox,  who  was  her  mother's 
only  sister,  and  the  wife  of  Sampson  Fox,  who  came  from  Essex,  England, 
and  took  up  his  abode  in  Allegan  county,  Michigan.  This  was  in  1864. 
He  secured  the  farm  which  is  now  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Josh  when  it 
was  wild  land,  and  performed  the  arduous  task  of  transforming  it  into 
cultivable  fields.  As  the  years  passed  he  continued  the  work  of  improve- 
ment and  development,  residing  here  until  his  death.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs, 
Josh  has  been  born  one  son,  John  Henry,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Casco 
township.  July  12,  1894.  Another  son,  Sampson  Marion,  born  May  13, 
1896,  died  July  g,  1897.  In  a  review  of  the  life  work  of  Joseph  Josh  it 
will  be  seen  that  he  is  a  self-made  man,  and  as  the  architect  of  his  own 
fortunes  he  has  biiilded  wisely  and  well.  Dependent  entirely  upon  his  own 
resources  from  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  he  earl}-  developed  a  strength  of 
character  and  of  purpose  which  constituted  a  good  capital,  and  as  the  years 
have  advanced  he  has  so  improved  his  opportunities  that  he  is  today  in  com- 
fortable financial  circumstances,  owning  and  controlling  a  good  farm  prop- 
erty, from  which  he  derives  a  satisfactory  annual  income. 

James  E.  Bailey,  whose  life  of  intense  and  well-directed  activity  has 
won  him  a  place  among  the  prosperous  farmers  and  fruit  raisers  of  Casco 
township,  is  living  on  section  15.  He  is  of  English  lineage,  the  family 
being  descended  from  Governor  Bailey,  of  England,  who  built  the  famous 
"old  Bailey"  prison  at  London.  The  paternal  grandfather,  James  Bailey, 
was  a  native  of  New  York,  who  died  in  Kalamazoo  county,  Michigan,  The 
father,  Edward  H.  Bailey,  was  born  at  Half  Moon,  on  the  Hudson.  In 
Saratoga  county.  New  York,  in  1819,  and  there  remained  until  his  eigh- 
teenth year,  when  he  came  to  Michigan  with  his  parents  in  1838  and  located 
a  tract  west  of  Augusta,  in  Kalamazoo  county.  He  became  familiar  with 
pioneer  life  in  its  various  phases  and  was  married  in  that  locality.  In  1866 
he  removed  to  Allegan  county,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred on  the  14th  of  February,  1876.  He  was  a  mechanic  and  farmer 
and  owned  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  this  county,  which  he 
partially  improved.  In  community  affairs  he  was  actively  and  helpfully 
interested  and  served  as  highway  commissioner.  He  kept  well  informed 
on  political,  religious  and  other  questions  and  possessed  a  most  retentive 
memory.  In  1846  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Corrissanda  Crow,  who 
was  born  in  Wayne  coimty.  New  York,  November  2,  1824,  and  came  to 
Kalamazoo  county  with  her  parents  in  1844.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Elijah 
and  Sallie  (Robinson)  Crow,  the  former  born  in  1798  and  the  latter  in 
1796,  while  their  marriage  was  celebrated  in  November,  1823.  Mrs.  Bailey 
long  survived  her  husband  and  died  upon  the  old  home  farm  in  Allegan 
county  on  the  29th  of  March,  1897.  By  her  marriage  she  became  the 
mother  of  the  following  named:  Mrs.  Helen  Ockford,  now  deceased  ;  Mrs. 
Fidelia  Dodge,  who  is  living  in  Augusta,  Michigan:  Sarah  Lee,  deceased; 
James  E.,  of  this  review;  Henry,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  and  a  half 


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323  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

years;  Joseph,  who  is  living  in  Casco  township;  Mrs.  Susan  Beers,  of  Mont- 
calm county,  Michigan,  and  Simpson,  a  resident  of  Kalamazoo  county. 

James  E.  Bailey  was  bom  at  Howlandsburg,  Kalamazoo  county,  Michi- 
gan. April  8,  1854,  and  there  remained  until  the  spring  when  he  was  twelve 
years  of  age,  at  which  time  his  parents  removed  to  Allegan  county,  and  the 
family  home  was  established  on  section  16,  Casco  township.  He  resided 
under  the  parental  roof  until  he  had  attained  his  majority,  after  which  he 
started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account,  and  for  one  year  was  employed  on  a 
farm  at  Bangor.  He  then  returned  home,  and  in  1877  he  purchased  the 
property  which  is  still  his  place  of  residence,  comprising  about  sixty  acres 
of  land  on  section  15,  Casco  township.  Of  this  about  eight  acres  was  under 
the  plow  when  it  came  into  his  possession  and  a  log  house  and  slab  stable 
had  been  built  upon  the  place.  With  characteristic  energy  he  began  its  fur- 
ther development  and  improvement  and  brought  the  fields  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation.  He  also  added  many  substantial,  modem  buildings,  includ- 
ing two  dwellings,  a  bam,  granary,  tool  house  and  other  outbuildings.  The 
place  is  called  the  Cherryvale  Farm,  and  is  largely  devoted  to  fruit,  Mr. 
Bailey  having  engaged  successfully  in  horticultural  pursuits  for  the  past  ten 
or  fifteen  years.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  peaches  and  small  fruit  and  has 
about  twenty-five  acres  planted  to  fruit  at  the  present  time.  He  has  resided 
continuously  in  this  county  from  his  boyhood  days  save  for  two  winters 
spent  in  the  south,  largely  in  the  vicinity  of  Galveston,  Texas.  He  is  a  man 
of  industry  and  enterprise,  whose  labors  constitute  the  basis  of  a  very 
gratifying  success.  He  now  has  about  twenty  acres  of  his  land  planted  to 
fruit  and  usually  harvests  good  crops  of  peaches  and  cherries,  so  that  during 
the  packing  season  his  farm  is  a  very  busy  place,  and  during  the  other  por- 
tions of  the  year  he  is  never  idle,  his  time  being  fully  occupied  with  the  care 
and  pruning  of  his  trees  and  bushes  and  with  the  other  work  of  the 
farm. 

Mr.  Bailey  is  also  interested  in  community  affairs  and  has  capably 
served  in  various  offices.  He  was  supervisor  of  his  township  in  1893  and 
has  been  township  clerk  for  two  terms.  At  one  time  he  was  identified  with 
the  greenback  party,  and  he  afterward  became  connected  with  the  silver 
movement,  although  he  was  trained  and  reared  a  Republican.  For  twenty 
years  he  has  been  identified  with  the  citizens'  party  and  has  ever  been  an 
opponent  of  special  privileges  and  monopolistic  interests.  He  held  member- 
ship in  the  Grange  as  long  as  it  existed  and  he  is  a  charter  member  of  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  at  Leisure. 

Mr.  Bailey  was  married  in  December,  1880,  to  Miss  Alice  Eastman, 
who  was  bom  in  Jefferson  county,  New  York,  on  the  20th  of  July,  1854, 
and  came  to  Allegan  county  in  1877  with  her  brother.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alvin  Eastman.  Her  father  was  born  at  Rodman,  Jefferson 
county.  New  York,  March  14,  1825,  and  there  resided  until  his  removal  to 
Allegan  county,  Michigan,  in  1878.  He  was  for  some  time  a  resident  of 
Casco  township,  but  eventually  took  up  his  abode  in  South  Haven,  Michigan, 
where  he  died  November  12,  1893,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years,  one  month 
and  twenty-seven  days.  He  followed  farming  throughout  his  entire  life  as 
a  means  whereby  to  provide  for  the  support  of  himself  and  family.  He  was 
married  in  Ohio,  where  he  spent  a  year  for  his  health,  the  lady  of  his  choice 
being  Miss  Juliette  Eastman,  a  distant  relative,  who  was  bom  at  Wolcott, 


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MRS,  JAMES  K,   BARJJKN 


JAMES   K.   BAKIJEN 


RESIDENCE  OF  JAMES  K.  EARDEN 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  323 

Wayne  county,  New  York,  October  ii,  1819,  and  wlio  died  at  South  Haven, 
Michigan,  November  28,  1892,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years,  one  month 
and  seventeen  days.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bailey  have  but  one  child,  Laura,  who  is 
now  the  wife  of  Charles  A.  Ferris,  of  Kalamazoo. 

Mr.  Bailey  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  this  part  of  the  state,  and  has 
continuously  been  a  resident  of  Allegan  county  for  forty  years,  and  during 
the  greater  part  of  the  time  has  lived  in  Casco  township,  where  he  now  owns 
an  excellent  farm,  which  is  the  visible  evidence  of  his  industry  and  thrift, 
his  perseveratice  and  his  diligence  in  his  business  affairs. 

James  K.  Barden  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  fruit  raisers  of  Alle- 
gan county,  and  is  living  on  section  8,  Casco  township.  His  birth  occurred 
in  Pavilion  township,  Kalamazoo  county,  Michigan,  July  15,  1849,  his  parents 
being  Richard  and  Elizabeth  (Kinney)  Barden,  who  were  born  near  Penn 
Yan,  New  York,  and  were  reared  and  married  there.  They  became  residents 
of  Kalamazoo  county  in  1837,  and  the  father  cleared  and  cultivated  a  farm 
of  two  hundred  acres,  which  he  sold  in  1853,  removing  at  that  time  to 
Allegan  county.  Here  he  and  his  wife  spent  their  remaining  days,  his 
death  occurring  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  while 
his  wife  passed  away  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  They  reared  a  large 
family  and  their  relatives  at  one  time  were  so  numerous  in  New  York  that 
they  could  go  five  miles  without  leaving  fanns  belonging  to  the  Eardens. 
The  surviving  members  of  the  father's  family  are  Henry  C,  and  James  K. 
A  sister,  Mrs.  Olive  Wood,  is  deceased,  and  two  sisters  died  in  infancy. 

James  K.  Barden  was  but  six  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  Allegan  county  in  1855,  since  which  time  he 
has  resided  continuously  upon  the  old  farm  homestead.  He  today  owns  and 
operates  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  acres  on  section  8,  Casco 
township.  This  was  a  part  of  his  father's  property.  On  coming  to  Allegan 
county  the  father  bought  four  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  wood  land  and 
retains  possession  of  three  eighty-acre  tracts,  which  he  brought  under  culti- 
vation, clearing  away  the  timber  and  plowing  the  fields.  James  K.  Barden 
of  this  review  is  now  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  Casco  township, 
and  has  in  the  midst  of  his  farm  a  magnificent  residence  modern  in  all  of  its 
appointments.  This  palatial  home  contains  eighteen  rooms  and  was  erected 
by  Mr.  Barden  in  1895.  He  also  buih  a  barn  forty-eight  by  thirty-six  feet 
for  his  horses,  and  he  has  also  another  barn  thirty-two  by  forty-four  feet. 
His  packing  house  is  forty-five  by  twenty-four  feet,  and  he  has  other  out- 
buildings upon  the  place  for  the  shelter  of  grain  and  stock.  In  fact,  there  is 
no  accessory  of  a  model  farm  of  the  twentieth  century  lacking  on  his  place, 
and  the  Southview  Fruit  Farm,  as  he  calls  it,  well  deserves  the  reputation 
which  it  bears.  About  sixty  acres  has  been  planted  to  fruit,  mostly  to 
peaches,  and  he  and  his  brother,  H.  C.  Barden,  are  the  largest  peach  growers 
in  this  part  of  the  state,  having  marketed  twenty  thousand  bushels  of  peaches 
in  a  single  year.  He  also  has  some  other  fruit.-  including  pears  and  apples, 
and  he  likewise  carries  on  general  farming.  His  land  is  gravelly,  sandy 
loam,  the  soil  and  location  being  just  right  for  the  growing  of  peaches,  and 
each  year  he  harvests  a  crop,  there  having  been  no  complete  failures.  The 
soil  is  also  well  adapted  to  the  raising  of  potatoes  and  com,  which  he  has 
produced  in  large  quantities,  digging  eleven  hundred  bushels  of  potatoes  in 


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2-H  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

the  present  year  from  five  acres,  while  the  corn  has  given  a  yield  of  one  hun- 
dred bushels  to  the  acre  in  the  present  year.  In  addition  to  his  other  bnsi- 
ness  interests  he  is  a  director  of  the  Citizens'  State  Bank  of  South  Haven, 
having  been  connected  therewith  in  that  capacity  since  its  organization. 

In  1882  Mr.  Barden  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Hadway, 
who  was  born  in  Indiana,  January  i,  1S57,  and  in  her  childhood  days  came 
to  Allegan  county  with  her  parents,  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Goodwin)  Had- 
way, who  were  natives  of  England,  but  were  married  in  New  York.  Mr, 
and  Mrs.  Barden  have  four  children :  Floyd  M.,  who  is  now  a  junior  in  the 
State  Agricultural  College,  and  has  made  an  excellent  record,  while  in  fra- 
ternal circles  and  throughout  the  school  at  large  he  is  very  popular;  Naomi 
and  Viola,  twins,  and  Ruby,  who  completes  the  family. 

Mr.  Harden  votes  the  Prohibition  ticket,  for  he  is  a  stanch  advocate 
of  the  cause  of  temperance  and  believes  the  question  to  be  one  of  the  most 
important  before  the  people  of  the  country  today.  He  belongs  to  the  Liberal 
United  Brethren  church,  of  Casco,  in  the  work  of  which  he  takes  a  very 
active  and  helpful  part.  Although  not  holding  the  office  at  the  present  time, 
he  was  for  twenty  years  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school,  and  his  son 
succeeded  him.  James  K.  Barden  also  served  as  class  leader  for  sixteen 
years,  and  at  the  present  writing  is  a  trustee  of  the  church.  His  life  has 
been  honorable,  his  actions  sincere  and  manly  and  investigation  into  his  life 
record  shows  a  trustworthiness  in  business  and  a  fidelity  of  purpose  that  are 
most  commendable. 

Clark  M.  Sheffer,  who  for  many  years  was  a  representative  of  agri- 
cultural interests  in  Allegan  county,  owning  and  conducting  the  Octagon 
Fruit  Farm,  departed  this  life  May  20,  1906,  when  he  had  reached  the  age 
of  seventy-seven  years.  He  was  born  in  Oneida  county,  New  York,  August 
9,  1829,  a  son  of  George  and  Polly  (Chamberlain)  Sheffer,  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  Vermont,  respectively.  The  father  followed  the  trade  of  shoe- 
making  in  early  life.  He  was  a  transmedium  and  was  one  of  the  first  lec- 
turers on  Spiritualism  in  the  state  of  Michigan.  His  death  occurred  in 
Lenawee  county,  this  state,  while  his  wife  passed  away  in  Allegan  county. 

Clark  M,  Sheffer  was  one  of  nine  children  and  was  reared  in  New- 
York  to  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  Lenawee  county,  this  state.  He  then  learned  the  currier's  trade, 
and  when  a  young  man  of  twenty  years  returned  to  the  Empire  state,  fol- 
lowing his  trade  there  and  in  the  New  England  States  for  several  years,  after 
which  he  came  to  southwestern  Michigan,  where  he  continued  in  the  same 
pursuit  until  his  health  became  impaired  and  he  was  forced  to  abandon  his 
trade,  and  he  then  decided  to  locate  on  a  farm,  hoping  that  the  outdoor 
life  would  benefit  his  health.  In  1850,  during  the  time  of  his  residence 
in  the  east,  he  had  made  a  trip  to  Michigan  and  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land,  situated  on  section  36,  Casco  township,  Allegan  county. 
This  tract  was  covered  with  timber,  and  in  1852  Mr.  Sheffer  took  up  his 
abode  thereon,  although  he  disposed  of  eiglity  acres  to  his  brother,  retain- 
ing possession  of  eighty  acres,  to  which,  in  1854,  he  added  a  tract  of  fifty 
acres,  situated  on  section  35,  bordering  the  shores  of  Lake  Michigan.  When 
Mr.  Sheffer  located  his  first  purchase  of  land  he  made  the  trip  from  Breeds- 
ville,  Michigan,  in  company  with  two  companions,  the  journey  being  made 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  325 

on  horseback.  They  forded  the  Black  river  at  South  Haven,  and  at  night 
took  refuge  in  an  old  house  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  from  where 
he  purchased  his  farm.  This  was  during  the  pioneer  epoch  in  the  history 
of  this  state,  when  the  Indians  were  more  numerous  than  the  white  settlers, 
and  wolves  and  other  wild  animals  were  still  roaming  through  the  forests. 
Mr.  Sheffer  erected  a  small  shanty  on  his  place,  in  which  he  took  up  his 
abode,  and  began  clearing  his  land  of  the  trees  and  brush  and  disposing  of 
his  bark,  which  was  shipped  on  the  river  to  the  city  market.  As  fast  as  he 
cleared  his  land  he  would  place  it  under  cultivation,  and  he  likewise  set  out 
a  large  apple  orchard,  this  being  one  of  the  first  orchards  in  this  part  of  the 
state.  He  later  set  out  peaches  and  other  fruit,  having  altogether  forty 
acres  devoted  to  horticultural  pursuits,  and  this  branch  of  his  business 
proved  a  profitable  source  of  income  to  him.  He  later  disposed  of  portions 
of  his  farm  at  various  times,  the  land  being  used  as  summer  resorts,  and  the 
famous  resort  known  as  Sleepy  Hollow  is  located  on  this  farm,  so  that  the 
tract  now  comprises  seventy-five  acres,  which  includes  a  fine  grove  covering 
four  acres  and  borders  Lake  Michigan.  In  1872  he  erected  an  elegant  resi- 
dence, which  was  built  in  an  octagon  shape,  and  thus  the  farm  takes  its 
name  of  the  Octagon  Fruit  Farm. 

Mr.  Sheffer  chose  as  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's  journey  Miss 
Roxina  A.  Knapp,  the  marriage  ceremony  being  celebrated  in  1857.  Her 
birth  occurred  in  Oswego  county.  New  York,  October  10,  1838,  where  she 
was  reared  to  the  age  of  eight  years,  when  she  accompanied  her  parents, 
Chauncey  and  Rosetta  (Hale)  Knapp,  on  their  removal  from  the  Empire 
state  to  Watertown,  Wisconsin.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Vermont,  and 
after  their  removal  to  Watertown.  Wisconsin,  Mrs.  Sheffer  remained  with 
them  until  she  had  reached  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  when  she  came  to 
South  Haven,  this  state,  where  she  has  resided  to  the  present  time,  with 
the  exception  of  two  years  spent  with  her  husband  in  California,  where  they 
went  in  the  interest  of  their  son's  health. 

Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born  three  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, namely:  Nettie  Roxina,  now  the  wife  of  D.  D.  Ludwig,  residing  near 
Watervliet,  in  Van  Buren  county,  Michigan ;  Woodman,  a  resident  of  South 
Haven,  where  he  conducts  the  Bellmont  resort,  and  has  also  assisted  in  the 
operation  of  the  home  fann  during  the  past  two  years;  Sherman,  of  Alva, 
Oklahoma,  and  Frank  I.,  of  Oacoma,  South  Dakota. 

Mr.  Sheffer  formerly  gave  his  political  allegiance  to  the  Republican 
party,  but  later  became  a  Bryan  Democrat.  He  was  deeply  interested  in 
educational  progress  and  served  as  school  officer  for  many  years,  but  aside 
from  this  was  never  active  in  office  holding.  In  religious  faith  he  was  a 
Spiritualist  from  his  boyhood  days,  and  ever  took  a  deep  interest  In  the 
work  and  teachings  of  that  denomination.  He  was  devoted  to  his  home  and 
family,  and  his  greatest  delight  was  in  doing  whatever  would  enhance  their 
pleasure  and  happiness.  He  was  a  kind  neighbor  and  faithful  friend,  and 
was  well  known  in  Allegan  county,  where  he  had  lived  and  labored  for 
more  than  a  half  century,  and  thus  his  death,  which  ocairred  May  20,  1906, 
was  the  occasion  of  deep  and  wide  felt  regret,  for  he  had  long  been  asso- 
ciated with  the  development  and  progress  of  this  section  of  the  state,  for  he 
came  here  in  the  early  fifties,  when  the  land  was  still  in  its  wild  and  unim- 
proved state  and  when  no  roads  had  as  yet  been  laid  out.     It  was  on  his 


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.'.'^li  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

farm  that  two  streets  were  laid  out,  one  of  which  bears  the  name  of  Sheffcr 
avenue,  being  named  in  his  honor.  This  highway  runs  east  and  west,  while 
the  other  nms  north  and  south  and  is  called  Pioneer  street,  so  called  be- 
cause of  the  pioneer  conditions  which  here  existed,  our  subject  having 
burned  the  first  brush  in  this  district. 

Mrs.  Sheffer  still  survives  her  husband,  and  yet  makes  her  home  on  the 
farm,  being  assisted  in  its  operation  by  her  son.  She,  too,  is  actively  inter- 
ested in  Spiritualism,  and  for  eight  years  served  as  treasurer  of  the  State 
Spiritualists'  Association  of  Michigan,  and  during  that  period  missed  but 
one  quarterly  meeting  of  that  body.  She  was  hkewise  for  twelve  years 
treasurer  of  Van  Buren  and  the  adjoining  counties'  Spiritualist  Association, 
resigning  the  office  when  she  took  a  trip  to  the  Pacific  coast.  She  is  widely 
known  because  of  her  interest  and  work  in  the  cause,  not  only  in  this  state 
but  throughout  other  states  as  well,  and  in  this  connection  has  been  brought 
in  contact  with  many  of  the  national  leaders  of  the  movement. 

Cornelius  Buys  dates  his  residence  in  Michigan  from  1849,  atif^  since 
1858  has  resided  upon  his  present  farm  on  section  6,  Casco  township.  He  is 
therefore  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  county,  and  has  been  much  inter- 
ested in  what  has  been  accomplished  here,  bearing  his  full  share  in  the  work 
of  general  development  as  time  has  passed  by.  A  native  of  New  York,  he 
was  born  May  4,  1836,  in  Sodus  township,  upon  a  farm  about  three  miles 
north  of  the  village  of  Sodus  and  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Ontario,  in  Wayne 
county.  His  paternal  grandfather,  John  Buys,  was  the  founder  of  the  family 
in  America  and  died  in  this  country  at  the  age  of  one  hundred  and  five  years. 
He  was  a  well-preserved  man  up  to  the  last,  never  finding  it  necessary  to 
walk  with  a  cane.  He  was  twice  married.  Peter  Buys,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, being  a  son  of  the  second  marriage.  There  were  four  sons  of  that  union, 
of  whom  three  died  in  Michigan  and  one  in  Arizona.  John  Buys  was  of 
German  birth  and  crossed  the  Atlantic  during  the  colonial  epoch  in  the  his- 
tory of  this  country.  He  served  for  seven  years  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  and  was  commissioned  captain.  He  afterward  located  on  the 
farm  where  occurred  the  birth  of  our  subject,  and  cleared  and  developed  it, 
making  it  his  home  until  his  death.  He  had  two  sons  who  served  in  the 
war  of  1812,  one  son  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  one  son  in  the  Black  Hawk 
war,  while  ten  grandsons  were  soldiers  of  the  Civil  war,  and  one  great- 
grandson  was  in  the  Spanish- American  war  in  Cuba. 

Peter  Buys  was  born  in  1801,  his  birthplace  probably  being  in  New 
York,  and  he  passed  away  in  Allegan  countv  in  1882.  By  occupation  he 
was  a  farmer  and  carpenter,  and  through  following  those  pursuits  he  sup- 
ported his  familv.  He  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  throughout  his  life  adhered  thereto.  Peter  Buys  was  married  to  Electa 
Chrouch,  a  native  of  Sodus  Center,  Wayne  county.  New  York,  and  her  last 
(Jays  were  spent  in  Van  Buren  county,  Michigan.  Their  children  were  six 
in  number ;  Mrs.  EHzabeth  Lutz.  deceased ;  Cornelius,  Mr.s.  Sophia  Cook, 
who  has  passed  away :  William  Wallace,  a  resident  of  northern  Michigan ; 
Frank,  of  Cedar  Rapids,  Towa,  and  James,  who  enlisted  in  the  Eighth  Mich- 
igan Cavalry  and  died  of  black  measles  while  in  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  while 
in  the  army. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAK  COUNTY  227 

Cornelius  Bnjs,  whose  name  introduces  this  record,  remained  in  the 
county  of  his  nativity  until  1849,  when  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Paw  Paw,  Van  Buren  county,  Mich- 
igan. His  father  there  worked  for  about  a  year  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  after 
which  he  removed  to  Bangor  township.  Van  Buren  county,  where  Cornelius 
Buys  continued  to  reside  for  about  two  years.  During  that  period  he  was 
employed  in  various  ways  by  the  job  and  by  the  month.  In  1856  the  family 
removed  to  South  Haven,  and  while  he  was  living  there  he  scraped  sand  with 
an  ox  team  to  make  a  channel  at  the  mouth  of  the  harbor  that  would  be  large 
enough  to  permit  of  a  vessel  passing  in  and  out— a  vessel  that  could  carry 
twelve  cords  of  wood.  The  first  time  he  ever  visited  South  Haven  there  were 
two  log  cabins  there  but  no  frame  buildings.  In  1858  Mr.  Buys  purchased 
his  present  farm,  comprising  one  hundred  and  four  acres  on  sections  five  and 
six,  Casco  township.  He  has  since  disposed  of  a  part  of  this  to  his  son  so 
that  he  now  has  sixty  acres.  There  was  no  road  cut  to  the  farm  when  he 
took  possession.  He  paid  two  dollars  and  a  quarter  per  acre  for  the  unde- 
veloped land  and  built  thereon  a  cabin  eighteen  by  twenty-four  feet.  He 
now  has  the  entire  farm  under  cultivation  and  there  are  good  buildings  upon 
it.  The  land  is  devoted  to  the  production  of  fruit  and  grain  and  he  is 
classed  with  the  leading  agriculturists  of  the  community.  The  only  inter- 
ruption to  his  life  of  intense  and  well  directed  business  activity  was  his  serv- 
ice in  the  Civil  war.  His  spirit  of  patriotism  being  aroused,  he  responded 
to  the  country's  call  for  aid  and  enlisted  from  Casco  township,  September 
14,  1861,  as  a  member  of  Company  C,  Third  Michigan  Cavalry,  under 
Captain  G,  J.  Hudson,  of  the  Army  of  the  West.  He  took  part  in  the  en- 
gagements in  New  Madrid,  Island  No.  10,  the  siege  of  Corinth  and  battle 
of  Corinth,  luka,  and  many  others  and  at  length  was  discharged,  owing  to 
disability,  after  twenty-two  months  spent  in  service.  He  has  suffered  from 
the  effects  of  his  military  experience  ever  since  but  has  never  regretted  the 
sacrifice  which  he  made  for  his  country,  and  throughout  his  entire  life  he 
has  been  a  most  loyal  and  public- spirited  citizen,  stanchly  adhering  to  the 
Stars  and  Stripes. 

On  the  ist  of  January,  1865,  Cornelius  Buys  was  married  to  Miss  Marj' 
Jane  Lonsbury,  who  was  born  in  Lenawee  county,  Michigan,  May  18,  1839, 
and  died  at  South  Haven,  December  19,  1904.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Anor  (Minor)  Lonsbury,  natives  of  New  York.  Their  children 
are :  Ernest,  who  is  living  in  the  neighboriiood  of  his  father's  farm ;  Edith, 
the  wife  of  Arthur  Dodge,  of  Ganges  township;  Olive,  the  wife  of  James 
Leiter,  of  South  Haven  township;  Addie,  the  wife  of  Justin  Waller,  of 
Ganges  township,  and  Anna,  at  home. 

Cornelius  Buys  is  a  Republican,  having  supported  the  party  since  cast- 
ing his  first  presidential  ballot  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  i860.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Casco,  these  associations  in- 
dicating much  of  the  character  of  the  man  and  the  principles  which  have 
guided  his  conduct  and  shaped  his  actions.  He  ls  known  for  his  fearless 
defense  of  whatever  he  believes  to  be  right  and  he  gives  unfaltering  advo- 
cacy in  the  interest  which  he  endorses.  He  has  now  reached  the  Psalmist's 
allotted  span  of  three  score  years  and  ten  but  is  still  an  active,  energetic 
business  man,  carefully  conducting  his  fanning  interests. 


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228  HISTORY  OF  ALI-EGAX  COUNTY 

William  H,  Hess. — The  rich  lands  of  southwestern  Michigan  offer 
excellent  opportunities  to  the  agriculturist  and  horticulturist  and  many 
there  are  who  have  improved  their  advantages  in  this  direction  and  have 
gained  substantial  reward  for  their  labor.  Among  this  number  is  William 
H.  Hess,  who  is  living  on  section  two,  Casco  township.  He  was  born  in 
Cattaragus  county,  New  York,  January  8,  1846,  his  parents  being  Conrad 
and  Mary  (Straight)  Hess,  who  were  natives  of  Steuben  county,  New 
York.  The  father  devoted  his  entire  life  to  general  agricultural  pursuits 
save  for  the  period  of  the  Civil  war,  when  he  became  one  of  the  "squirrel 
hunters"  of  Ohio.  He  had  one  brother  who  died  in  Libby  prison  during 
the  strife  for  the  perpetuation  of  the  Union.  Conrad  Hess  lost  his  parents 
when  only  seven  years  of  age  and  from  that  time  was  dependent  upon  his 
own  resources  so  that  whatever  success  he  achieved  was  the  merited  reward 
of  his  labor.  At  the  same  time  be  developed  a  character  that  commanded 
for  him  universal  confidence  and  respect.  He  was  for  nearly  forty  years 
a  faithful  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church  and  he  passed  away 
March  18,  1906,  in  his  eighty-ninth  year.  His  widow  still  survives  and 
now  makes  her  home  with  a  daughter  in  Casco  township.  Allegan  county,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  In  their  family  were  three  children:  William 
H.,  Matilda,  the  wife  of  Orenso  Wellington,  of  Casco  township,  and  Cal- 
vin, who  is  living  in  the  same  township.  Thus  the  surviving  members  of  the 
family  are  not  widely  scattered,  all  living  in  Casco  township,  Allegan 
county. 

William  H.  Hess  was  a  little  lad  of  only  three  years  when  his  parents 
removed  from  the  Empire  state  to  Ashtabula  county,  Ohio.  He  was  there 
reared  and  educated  and  remained  at  home  until  March,  1864,  when,  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years,  he  offered  his  services  to  the  country,  enlisting  as  a 
teamster  for  services  in  the  Civil  war.  He  was  sent  to  Lebanon  Junction, 
Kentucky,  and  on  to  Nashville,  Tennessee,  but  while  there  became  ill  and 
was  sent  home.  In  March,  1865,  having  recovered  his  health,  he  re-enlisted 
as  a  member  of  Company  B.  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-seventh  Ohio  Vol- 
unteer Infantry  under  Captain  Jacob  Bollard.  The  regiment  was  assigned 
to  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  but  was  in  no  regular  engagements  and  after 
the  close  of  hostilities  Mr.  Hess  was  mustered  out  in  August,  1865,  at 
Camp  Bradford,  Baltimore,  Maryland.  Immediately  afterward  he  re- 
turned home  and  on  the  day  of  his  arrival  became  ill  and  found  it  necessary 
to  call  a  physician  who  pronounced  his  disease  typhoid.  He  was  very  sick 
for  some  time  but  eventually  recovered  and  retained  his  residence  in  Ohio 
until  1868,  when  he  came  to  Allegan  county,  Michigan.  Here  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  woodland  and  in  the  midst  of  the  forest  built  a  house,  living 
with  his  father  and  mother.  After  four  years  he  sold  the  property  and 
bought  forty  acres  elsewhere.  He  has  lived  on  various  farms  in  the  neigh- 
borhood and  he  now  owns  two  hundred  and  eight  acres  of  good  land  on 
section  two,  Casco  township,  divided  into  four  farms,  on  wliich  are  three 
sets  of  good  farm  buildings.  In  addition  to  this  property  Mr.  Hess  has 
given  to  his  sons  sixty  acres  of  land  and  has  sold  forty  acres,  so  that  he  had 
a  total  of  over  three  hundred  acres.  A  large  portion  of  this  he  has  cleared 
and  improved  and  his  Hfe  has  been  one  of  untiring  industry  and  perse- 
verance. He  has  made  a  specialty  of  fruit  raising  and  general  farming  and 
his  place  is  properly  called  the  Maple  Ridge  farm.    His  entire  time  and  at- 


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HISTORY  t)F  ALLEGAX  COUXTY  S39 

tentioii  are  given  to  the  work  of  improving  his  property  and  caring  for  its 
crops  and  for  a  number  of  years  he  has  operated  a  threshing  machine.  He 
likewise  has  a  feed  mill  upon  his  place  and  each  year  finds  him  busy  at  the 
tasks  which  the  place  bring,  his  diligence  and  perseverance  constituting  the 
keynote  of  his  success.  He  came  here  empty-handed  and  all  that  he  pos- 
sesses is  the  reward  of  his  earnest  labor. 

In  1871  Mr.  Hess  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Hattie  A.  Pattison, 
who  was  born  in  New  York,  in  August,  1845,  a  daughter  of  Orenzo  and 
Polly  (York)  Pattison,  who  were  natives  of  Canada.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hess 
have  six  children :  Albert,  now  at  home ;  Herman  and  Orville,  who  are  liv- 
ing in  Casco  township;  Viola,  the  wife  of  Stephen  Verrie!!,  of  Bravo, 
Michigan ;  Lora,  at  home,  and  Harry,  who  completes  the  family. 

Mr.  Hess  is  a  valued  member  of  Jacob  G.  Fry  Post  No,  46,  G.  A.  R., 
of  Ganges.  He  gives  his  political  support  to  the  Republican  party,,  of 
which  he  has  been  a  stalwart  advocate  and  he  has  filled  various  local  offices, 
serving  on  the  board  of  review,  as  school  director  for  eighteen  years  and  as 
Justice  of  the  peace  for  four  years.  That  his  decisions  were  fair  and  im- 
partial is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  his  fellow  townsmen  re-elected  him  to 
the  office  but  he  refused  to  qualify,  preferring  to  concentrate  his  energies 
upon  his  business  interests.  When  he  came  to  Michigan  he  saw  hard  times 
for  all  merchandise  sold  at  a  high  figure  and  life  in  the  woods  brought  many 
hardships  and  trials.  He  would  carry  groceries  on  bis  back  from  South 
Haven,  twelve  miles  away.  He  worked  mostly  with  ox  teams,  doing  con- 
siderable logging  and  lumbering  in  an  early  day  and  this  brought  him  in 
some  ready  money.  The  usual  privations  hardships  of  the  himber  camp 
and  life  on  the  frontier  were  experienced  by  him  but  he  resolutely  continued 
his  work,  making  for  himself  a  home  here,  and  now  he  is  one  of  the  men  of 
afHuence  in  Casco  township,  with  good  farming  property  to  show  as  the  re- 
sult of  his  life  of  earnest,  persistent  toil. 

George  H,  Compton  has  for  forty-five  years  been  a  resident  of  Alle- 
gan county,  so  that  be  is  largely  familiar  with  its  history  and  with  the  story 
of  its  growth  and  progress.  He  was  born  in  Howard  township,  Steuben 
county.  New  York.  March  20,  1844,  a  son  of  George  Henry  Compton  and 
a  grandson  of  George  Compton,  the  latter  a  native  of  Rhode  Island.  He 
became  a  pioneer  settler  of  New  York  and  died  in  the  western  part  of  the 
state.  The  name  of  George  Henry  is  a  family  one  that  was  given  to  the 
eldest  son  for  various  generations.  The  ancestry  can  be  traced  back  to 
Scotland,  and  the  family  was  established  in  America  in  early  colonial  days. 

George  Henry  Compton,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  New  York, 
February  24,  rSio,  and  afterward  removed  to  Steuben  county,  that  state, 
where  he  resided  imtil  coming  to  Michigan  on  the  20th  of  March,  1863.  He 
settled  on  section  4,  Casco  township,  Allegan  county,  and  spent  the  last 
fourteen  years  in  the  home  of  his  son,  George  H.,  passing  away  here  June 
8,  1904.  Throughout  his  entire  life  he  made  farming  his  chief  occupation 
and  this  was  the  source  of  income  of  his  success.  In  younger  davs  he 
trained  in  New  York  with  the  State  Militia.  His  early  political  allegiance 
was  given  to  the  Whig  party  and  upon  the  formation  of  the  Republican 
party  he  joined  its  ranks.  His  religious  faith  in  early  life  was  that  of  the 
Methodist  church,  but  later  he  became,  identified  with  the-United  Brethren 


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S30  HISTORY  OF  ALLKGAX  COUNTY 

church.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Dorcas  C.  Hill,  was  born 
in  Steuben  county,  New  York,  February  22,  1816,  and  died  here  in  Casco 
township,  January  25,  1872.  Both  were  people  of  the  highest  respectability, 
held  in  warm  regard  wherever  known.  Their  family  numbered  eleven  chil- 
dren: John,  who  died  in  infancy,  Sarah,  Hanna  and  Hulda,  all  deceased; 
G«orge  H.,  David,  of  Casco  township;  Daniel,  Joseph  and  Albert,  who  are 
residents  of  California;  William,  living  in  Casco  township,  and  Mary  E., 
who  has  also  passed  away. 

George  H.  Compton,  whose  name  introduces  this  review,  remained  a 
resident  of  the  Empire  state  to  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  spent  the  first  six 
years  in  the  place  of  his  nativity,  and  afterward  lived  in  Jasper  township 
of  the  same  county.  He  then  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to 
Michigan,  arriving  on  the  nineteenth  anniversary  of  his  birth.  The  family 
home  was  established  on  a  farm  about  a  mile  east  of  his  present  place  of 
residence,  and  George  H.  Compton  has  since  lived  in  Casco  township.  He 
now  owns  and  operates  twenty  acres  of  land  on  section  5.  and  also  the  old 
homestead  of  forty  acres  on  section  4,  giving  his  time  and  attention  to  the 
cultivation  and  improvement  of  both  farms.  His  place  is  known  as  the 
Highland  Ridge  Fruit  Farm  and  is  devoted  to  general  horticultural  pur- 
suits, having  at  one  time  been  all  planted  to  fmit, 

Mr.  Compton  was  married  December  8,  1878,  to  Miss  Helen  A.  Carter, 
who  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Michigan,  September  27.  1853,  and  came 
here  with  her  parents,  William  and  Hannah  (Chrouch)  Carter,  natives  of 
England  and  New  York  respectively.  Both  her  father  and  mother  died  in 
Allegan  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Compton  have  had  two  sons,  George  Jerome, 
of  Chicago,  whose  wife  is  deceased,  and  they  had  one  son,  George  H, ;  and 
Orville,  at  home. 

Mr.  Compton  is  a  member  of  the  radical  United  Brethren  chnrcli  of 
Casco  township,  in  which  he  is  serving  as  a  trustee,  while  his  political  en- 
dorsement at  the  polls  is  given  to  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  has  been  without  aspiration  for  office,  preferring  to  concentrate 
his  attention  upon  his  business  interests.  He  took  his  farm  in  its  wiJd 
state  and  now  has  a  fine  home  here,  the  result  of  his  close  application  and 
imfaltering  diligence. 

William  Henry  Stickel.^A  well  improved  farm  property  is  that 
owned  and  operated  by  William  Henry  Stickel  on  section  10.  Casco  town- 
ship. A  native  of  Indiana,  he  was  born  in  Lake  township,  Kosciusko  county, 
near  the  village  of  Silver  Lake,  February  4,  1865,  his  parents  being  John 
M.  and  Hannah  Amanda  (Sebring)  Stickel.  The  Stickel  family  is  of  Ger- 
man lineage.  The  grandfather,  John  Stickel,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  but 
his  parents  were  natives  of  the  fatherland.  The  maternal  grandfather,  War- 
ren A.  Sebring,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey  and  his  father  was  born  in 
England.  Warren  Sebring  died  at  the  remarkable  old  age  of  one  hundred 
years,  ten  months  and  twenty-nine  days,  and  his  second  wife,  who  was  the 
grandmother  of  our  subject,  was  in  her  ninetieth  year  at  the  time  of  her 
demise.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio, 
while  the  mother's  birth  occurred  in  Wabash  coimty,  Indiana.  For  many 
years  he  resided  in  the  latter  state  and  died  in  Kosciusko  county  in  iQOO  at 
the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.    Mrs.  Stickel  still  survives  and  is  now  living  on 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  331 

the  oM  homestead.  The  family  numbered  eight  children,  of  whom  two  died 
in  infancy,  and  William  Henry  is  the  eldest,  the  others  being  Mrs.  Margaret 
Alice  Groninger,  of  Wabash  county,  Indiana ;  Warren  A.,  who  is  living  on 
the  old  home  place  in  that  state;  Mrs.  Rebecca  Ann  Groninger,  of  Kosciusko 
county;  Mary  Bell,  who  is  at  home  with  her  mother,  and  Mrs.  Ella  May 
Wagner,  who  resides  in  Sidney,  Indiana. 

WiHiam  Henry  Stickel  resided  in  the  coimty  of  his  nativity,  spending 
his  boyhood  days  imder  the  parental  roof  imtil  twenty-two  years  of  age, 
when  he  was  married  and  came  to  Michigan.  His  educational  privileges 
were  those  afforded  by  the  common  schools  and  after  qualifying  for  teach- 
ing he  followed  the  profession  for  two  years  in  the  neighborhood  in  which 
he  was  reared.  He  came  to  Allegan  county  in  April,  18S7,  and  lias  since 
resided  upon  the  farm  which  is  now  his  home.  He  at  first  secured  eighty 
acres  of  land  on  section  10,  Casco  township,  about  one-half  of  which  had 
been  cleared.  There  is  now  only  about  twelve  acres  of  unbroken  land.  His 
place  is  known  as  the  Excelsior  Farm,  and  the  name  is  indicative  of  its  ex- 
cellent appearance  and  the  care  and  labor  which  are  bestowed  upon  it.  In 
1900  Mr.  Stickel  built  a  large  bam,  forty  by  sixty  feet,  and  in  1904  he 
erected  his  present  coanmodious  and  beautiful  brick  residence,  which  is  one 
of  the  fine  country  homes  of  this  part  of  the  coiinty.  His  farm  is  largely 
devoted  to  horticultural  pursuits.  He  had  over  forty  acres  planted  to  fruit 
until  1905  and  now  has  about  twenty  acres  given  to  fruit  culture.  In  all  of 
his  work  he  is  practical  and  enterprising  and  his  success  is  the  measure  of 
his  activity  and  diligence,  for  he  owes  his  prosperity  entirely  to  his  own 
labors. 

On  the  lOth  of  February.  1887.  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Afr. 
Stickel  and  Miss  Mabel  L.  Widcner,  who  was  born  upon  this  farm  in  Casco 
township,  Allegan  coiintv,  that  is  now  her  place  of  residence.  Her  natal 
day  was  Januar}^  to,  1868,  and  her  parents  were  Henry  J,  and  iilartha  J. 
(Funk)  Widener,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Ohio.  The  father  died 
upon  this  farm  in  March,  1872,  and  Mrs.  Widener  is  living  in  Texas.  They 
were  married  in  Pierceton,  Indiana,  whence  they  came  to  Allegan  county  in 
1867.  Mrs,  Stickel  is  their  only  living  child  and  by  her  marriage  she  has 
become  the  mother  of  five  children:  William  Paul,  who  is  now  a  student  in 
the  high  school  at  South  Haven;  Anetta  Mabel;  Marlha  Ruth.  Ada  Alice 
and  a  baby  not  yet  named. 

In  his  political  afifiliation  Mr.  Stickel  is  a  Republican.  He  was  town- 
ship clerk  for  four  consecutive  terms  and  has  been  active  in  the  party,  serv- 
ing as  a  delegate  to  various  conventions  and  doing  all  in  his  power  to  pro- 
inote  the  growth  and  insure  the  success  of  Republican  principles.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church  at  East  Casco,  in  which  he  is  serv- 
ing as  a  trustee,  and  his  interest  in  church  work  has  been  largely  beneficial 
to  the  organization.  In  all  life's  relations  he  is  honorable  and  straightfor- 
ward and  throughout  the  community  is  known  as  a  most  reliable  man, 
worthy  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  uniformly  held.- 

M.ARSH.ALL  BuGDEN,  of  Casco  towuship,  started  out  in  life  by  working 
for  eight  cents  per  day.  He  was  thus  employed  for  six  weeks,  his  duty  be- 
ing to  keep  the  crows  off  the  cornfield.  Today  he  is  accounted  one  of  the 
substantial  agriculturists   of  the  community.     Moreover,   he   is  prominent 


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232  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COU\TY 

and  influential  in  public  affairs  and  his  fellow -townsmen  have  given  proof 
of  their  evidence  and  trust  in  him  by  frequently  calling  him  to  ptibiic  office. 

Mr.  Bugden  was  born  in  Kent  county,  England,  March  ii,  1839,  and  is 
a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Crisp)  Bugden,  who  always  remained  residents 
of  England.  Their  son  Marshall  was  the  youngest  in  their  family  of  ten 
children,  and  is  the  only  one  who  ever  came  to  the  United  States.  One 
brother  and  two  sisters,  however,  are  yet  living  in  their  native  country. 

Marshall  Bugden  remained  in  England  until  nineteen  years  of  age. 
His  educational  privileges  were  somewhat  limited  for  he  left  school  at  the 
age  of  ten  years,  after  which  he  was  employed  at  farm  labor  until  he 
crossed  the  Atlantic.  As  stated  he  earned  his  first  money — eight  cents  per 
day— by  keeping  the  crows  off  of  the  cornfields  for  six  weeks.  Hearing 
favorable  reports  concerning  the  business  advantages  and  opportunities  of 
the  new  world,  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  1858  and  landed  at  Castle  Garden, 
at  the  lower  end  of  Manhattan  Island.  He  did  not  remain  in  New  York 
city,  however,  but  journeyed  at  once  westward  to  Kosciusko  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  worked  on  a  farm  there  until  after  the  outbreak  of  hostilities  be- 
tween the  north  and  the  south,  involving  the  country  in  the  Civil  war.  He 
enlisted  in  August,  i86r,  from  Kosciusko  county,  becoming  a  member  of 
Company  B,  Forty-fourth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  command  of 
Captain  John  Murray  and  Colonel  U.  B.  Reed.  The  regiment  was  assigned 
to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  and  Mr.  Bugden  served  for  four  years,  be- 
ing all  of  the  time  with  the  Forty-fourth  Indiana.  He  took  part  in  the  battles 
of  Fort  Donelson,  Pittsburg  Landing,  or  Shiloh,  the  siege  of  Corinth,  Stone 
River.  Chickamauga  and  Mission  Ridge.  He  re-entisted  at  Chattanooga 
and  afterward  did  post  duty  from  that  time  until  the  close  of  the  war,  being 
mustered  out  at  Indianapolis,  after  which  he  returned  to  Pierceton,  Indiana, 
where  he  remained  for  about  one  month.  He  then  came  to  Ganges  town- 
ship, Allegan  county,  in  1865,  and  for  four  years  resided  in  that  locality, 
clearing  part  of  the  farm  which  he  purchased  on  section  33.  At  length, 
however,  he  sold  that  property  and  bought  his  present  farm,  comprising 
eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  15,  Casco  township.  This  land  he  cleared 
and  placed  under  cultivation,  devoting  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  gen- 
eral agricultural  pursuits  here.  He  has,  however,  made  seven  trips  back  to 
England,  since  taking  up  his  abode  in  Michigan,  and  finds  much  pleasure  in 
visiting  the  scenes  of  his  boyhood  and  in  renewing  his  acquaintance  with 
relatives  and  friends  of  former  years. 

In  1866  Mr.  Bugden  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ellen  M.  Chaplin, 
who  was  bom  in  Kosciusko  county,  Indiana,  March  i,  1841,  a  daughter  of 
Moses  P.  and  Sarah  A.  (Morris)  Chaplin,  who  were  natives  of  New  York 
and  Ohio.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bugden  have  been  born  five  children :  Rose 
M.,  the  wife  of  Theron  Johnson,  who  is  mentioned  elsewhere  on  another 
page  of  this  work,  and  who  resJdes'in  Casco  township;  Burton  C,  who  is  a 
cooper  and  operates  a  part  of  the  old  home  farm;  Marion  J.,  also  of  Casco 
township;  Jennie.  Mrs.  Charles  Simpson  and  Edith,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
five  years. 

On  becoming  a  naturalized  American  citizen  Mr.  Bugden  gave  his  po- 
litical allegiance  to  the  Republican  party,  which  he  supported  until  Grant's 
second  administration.  He  then  became  allied  with  the  Democracy  but  has 
recently  registered  as  an  independent  and  does  not  consider  himself  bound 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLlIGAiX  COUNTV  ^33 

to  party  ties.  He  was  elected  and  served  for  six  consecutive  terms  super- 
visor of  Casco  township,  being  elected  on  the  Citizens'  ticket,  and  for  two 
terms  he  was  a  member  of  the  board  o£  review.  For  sixteen  consecutive 
years  he  filled  the  office  of  treasurer  of  school  district  No.  7  and  "he  has 
always  been  most  capable  and  loyal  in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties. 
He  is  a  fine  penman  and  has  done  considerable  clerical  work  both  while  in 
the  army  and  for  the  township,  all  of  which  might  be  taken  as  a  model  of 
neatness  and  regularity.  The  hope  that  led  him  to  seek  a  home  in  America 
has  been  more  than  realized,  for  in  this  country  he  found  the  opportunities 
he  sought  and  with  a  persistency  of  effort  that  is  one  of  his  marked  char- 
acteristics he  has  continued  in  liis  business  life  until  he  is  now  comfortably 
situated,  having  an  excellent  farm  property  which  returns  liim  a  good  an- 
nual income. 

Wesley  G.  Fky,  living  on  section  9,  Casco  township,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  general  agricultural  pursuits,  was  born  in  Ganges  township,  Alle- 
gan county,  February  3,  1858.  His  father,  Jacob  Fry,  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  of  German  descent.  He  followed  the  occupation  of  farming 
as  a  life  work  and  his  father  served  his  country  as  soldier  of  the  war  of 
1812.  His  birth  occurred  in  Ashtabula  cotwty,  Ohio,  December  15,  1828, 
and  he  afterward  resided  near  Fremont,  in  Sandusky  county,  Ohio.  He 
enlisted  from  there  for  service  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  was  under  com- 
mand of  General  Scott  throughout  the  period  of  hostilities.  After  the  war 
he  returned  to  Ohio,  where  he  resumed  fanning  and  general  work.  He 
was  married  in  that  state,  in  April,  1851,  and  in  1854  came  to  Ganges  town- 
ship, Allegan  county,  settling  on  a  farm  where  the  birth  of  our  subject  oc- 
curred, it  was  a  tract  of  timber  land,  from  which  he  had  to  clear  away 
the  trees  and  brush  before  he  could  plow  the  fields.  He  at  first  secured 
forty  acres  and  afterward  added  to  the  place  until  he  had  about  two  hun- 
dred acres,  constituting  a  valuable  farm  property.  He  drove  to  Michigan 
from  Ohio  and  experienced  the  hardships  and  privations  of  pioneer  life  in 
this  district.  At  the  time  of  the  Civil  war,  however,  he  put  aside  business 
and  personal  considerations  and  enlisted  in  1861  as  a  member  of  Company 
B,  Thirteenth  Michigan  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  went  to  the  front  as  sec- 
ond lieutenant  and  was  soon  afterward  promoted  to  the  rank  of  first  lieu- 
tenant. The  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  and  he 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  Lookout  Mountain,  Nash- 
ville, Chattanooga  and  others.  After  about  two  years  he  left  the  army  on 
account  of  disability  but  subsequently  returned  to  the  service  as  a  member 
of  the  same  company  and  regiment  and  was  promoted  to  the  captaincy  near 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  a  brave  and  loyal  officer,  often  inspiring  his 
men  by  his  own  valor  and  loyalty.  When  the  war  was  over  and  the  country 
no  longer  needed  his  aid  he  returned  to  Michigan  and  after  selling  his  first 
farm  he  bought  another  tract  of  land  in  the  same  vicinity,  where  he  re- 
sided until  1873,  when  he  removed  to  Hall  county,  Nebraska.  There  he  lo- 
cated a  claim  but  was  not  long  permitted  to  enjoy  his  new  home,  for  his 
death  occurred  from  disease  on  the  ist  of  June  of  the  same  year.  His  eld- 
est son  was  with  him  at  the  time  but  the  others  of  the  family  were  still  in 
this  county.  Mr.  Fry  was  a  Republican  in  his  political  views  and  filled  the 
offices  of  justice  of  the  peace,  township  treasurer  and  highway  commissioner. 


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?34  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUxXTY 

while  his  rehgious  faith  was  indicated  by  his  membership  in  the  Baptist 
church.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Mary  {Scrimger}  Fry,  was  born  in  Dundee,  Scot- 
land, August  10,  1828,  and  when  eight  years  of  age  accompanied  her  par- 
ents to  the  United  States,  the  family  home  being  established  in  Ottawa 
county,  Ohio.  The  voyage  was  made  on  a  sailing  vessel  which  was  six  weeks 
in  reaching  the  Atlantic  harbor.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Fry,  Alexander  and 
Jane  Scrimger,  died  in  Ohio,  but  Mrs.  Fry  is  still  living  and  makes  her 
home  with  her  son  Wesley.  In  the  family  were  seven  children :  George  W., 
who  is  living  on  a  part  of  the  old  homestead  in  Ganges  township ;  Mrs.  Mar- 
garet A.  McCarty,  of  Seattle,  Washington ;  Jason,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  years ;  Wesley  G. ;  Adelbert,  who  died  in  infancy ;  Mrs.  Josephine 
Hampton,  of  Ganges  township,  and  Charles  F.,  who  is  residing  with  his 
brother  Wesley.  They  own  adjoining  tracts  of  eighty  acres  each  and  op- 
erate the  farm  as  one.   Both  are  still  unmarried  and  they  live  together. 

Wesley  G.  Fry  remained  upon  the  home  farm  in  Ganges  township  until 
the  death  of  his  father,  which  occurred  when  the  son  was  fifteen  years  of 
age,  and  he  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Ganges  and  Casco  town- 
ships. He  then  began  working  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month  and  was  thus 
employed  nntil  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  returned  to  the  home  farm. 
There  he  resided  until  he  purchased  his  present  place  in  1885.  In  connec- 
tion with  his  brother  Charles  he  bought  a  half  section  of  lana,  which  they 
afterward  divide{l,  each  retaining  eighty  acres,  although  they  continue 
working  it  together.  The  place  is  located  on  section  9,  Casco  township,  and 
constitutes  a  well  developed  farm.  It  was  formerly  a  mill  property  with 
about  twelve  acres  of  improved  out  of  the  one  hundred  and  sixty.  They 
now  have  nearly  the  entire  amount  under  cultivation  and  they  have  a  fine 
home  standing  on  the  place.  Mr.  Fry  of  this  review  has  erected  good  build- 
ings and  everything  about  the  farm  is  indicative  of  his  care  and  supervision. 
The  land  was  largely  devoted  to  the  raising  of  fruit  in  former  years  but 
Mr.  Fry  now  gives  his  attention  principally  to  stock-raising. 

In  community  afl'airs  he  is  deeply  interested,  and  liis  co-operation  can 
be  counted  upon  to  further  many  progressive  public  movements.  He  was 
elected  drain  commissioner  in  Ganges  township  on  the  Republican  ticket  and 
filled  the  office  altogether  for  three  years.  He  is  independent  in  politics  but 
his  fitness  for  the  different  positions  have  led  to  his  selection  for  places  of 
public  trust  and  honor.  He  is  now  serving  for  the  seventh  consecutive  term 
as  supervisor  of  Casco  township,  having  been  elected  on  the  Citizens'  ticket 
in  a  township  which  is  strongly  Republican.  He  was  also  candidate  for 
county  clerk  on  the  Prohibition  ticket  before  coming  to  Casco  township, 
running  for  the  office  in  1884,  the  same  year  in  which  John  P.  St.  John  was 
presidential  candidate.  Mr.  Fry  has  also  been  treasurer  of  the  school  district 
No.  6  in  Casco  township  for  twenty-one  years,  or  since  he  took  up  his  abode 
here.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  with  the 
Royal  Arch  Masons  in  South  Haven,  and  he  belongs  to  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  his  membership  being  in  East  Casco  Lodge.  He  is 
likewise  identified  with  the  Ganges  Grange. 

Rev.  Wie-liam  Nelson  Bretdenstein,  carrying  on  general  farming 
and  fruit  raising  on  section  8,  Casco  township,  his  place  being  known  as 
Edelweiss,  has  also  devoted  much  time,  thought  and  energy  to  the  moral 


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]ITSTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUXTY  535 

development  of  the  community,  and  since  June,  1895,  has  served  as  pastor 
of  the  First  Baptist  church  of  Ganges  township.  He  was  born  in  Hanover 
township,  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  near  Chambersburg,  December  16, 
1842,  and  is  of  German  Uneage.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Martin  L. 
Ereidenstein,  was  a  native  of  Baden  Baden,  Germany,  and  on  crossing  the 
Atlantic  to  America  settled  near  Antietam,  Maryland.  His  son,  Nathaniel 
Breidenstein,  was  born  in  Maryland  but  was  reared  and  married  in  Co- 
lumbiana county,  Ohio,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Anna  Mary  Eidenier 
who  was  likewise  a  native  of  Maryland.  His  birth  place  was  on  the  old  bat- 
tle ground  of  Antietam.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nathaniel  Breidenstein  were 
born  seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom  one  died  in 
childhood.  The  sons,  Martin  L.  and  John,  were  soldiers  of  the  Civil  war, 
the  former  in  the  same  regiment  with  our  subject,  and  the  latter  of  an  Ohio 
regiment.  He  enlisted  for  three  months'  service  and  participated  in  the 
Morgan  raid. 

William  Nelson  Breidenstein,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  and  now  the 
only  survivor,  was  a  youth  of  twelve  years  when  his  parents  removed  to 
Eaton  county,  Michigan,  where  he  remained  until  August  3,  1862,  the  date 
of  his  enlistment  for  service  in  the  Civil  war.  He  joined  Company  E,  of 
the  Twentieth  Michigan  Volunteer  Infantry  under  Captain  John  Anderson, 
and  was  sent  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  the  Ninth  Army  Corps,  arriving 
there  soon  after  the  battle  of  Antietam.  He  took  part  in  the  engagement  at 
Blue  Springs,  in  eastern  Tennessee  and  also  in  the  siege  of  Knoxville.  Later 
he  was  transferred  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  again  and  was  in  the  battle 
of  the  Wilderness,  also  at  Spottsylvania  and  at  Cold  Harbor.  He  was  under 
fire  from  the  sixth  day  of  Ivlay  until  the  30th  of  July,  when  he  was  woimded 
at  the  explosion  of  the  mine  at  Petersburg,  Virginia.  an<l  lost  two  fingers  of 
his  right  hand.  He  was  then  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Washington,  D.  C,  and 
was  discharged  December  9,  1864.  He  saw  much  active  military  service, 
in  which  lie  displa}'ed  luarked  valor  and  lo\alty.  The  only  furlough  he  re- 
ceived was  when  he  returned  to  vote,  thus  casting  his  first  presidential  bal- 
lot for  Abraham  Lincoln. 

On  the  17th  of  September.  1865.  Rev.  Breidenstein  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Harriet  Elizabeth  Bly.  "the  prettiest  woman  in  the  state  of 
Michigan."  She  was  bom  in  Brookfield,  Eaton  county,  Michigan,  July  19, 
1847,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Maria  (Potts')  Bly,  who  were  natives  of 
Vermont  an<l  New  York  respectively.  Mr.  and  Mrs,  Breidenstein  remained 
residents  of  Eaton  county  until  he  entered  the  ministry  in  1867.  For 
thirty-five  years  he  was  active  as  a  representative  of  the  liberal  United 
Brethren  church  and  his  influence  in  behalf  of  moral  development  and 
Christian  progress  was  widely  felt  in  different  localities  where  he  lived  and 
labored.  In  1885  he  made  permanent  settlement  in  Casco  township,  Alle- 
gan county,  and  in  1887  purchased  his  present  farm.  He  became  owner  of 
forty  acres  but  has  since  sold  twelve  acres  of  the  land.  His  place  is  situ- 
ated on  section  8,  Casco  township,  and  he  has  there  a  good  home.  The 
entire  tract  was  woodland  when  it  came  into  his  possession  save  for  a  small 
portion  of  three  acres  which  had  been  cleared.  The  entire  place  is  today 
ctdtivated  and  improved  and  upon  the  Edelweiss  farm  he  is  now  extensively 
and  successfully  engaged  in  the  raising  of  fruit.  In  June,  1895,  he  accepted 
the  pastorate  of  the  First  Baptist  church  of  Ganges  township  and  has  since 


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23G  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY 

filled  this  position.  In  his  ministerial  labor  his  field  has  been  Eaton,  Jack- 
son, Livingston,  Ingham,  Clinton,  Gratiot,  Barry  and  Allegan  counties,  and 
for  eight  years  he  served  as  presiding  elder  in  the  state.  He  has  attended 
the  annual  conferences  of  the  United  Brethren  church  and  was  largely  in- 
strumental in  re-organizing  the  Michigan  annual  conference  at  the  close  of 
the  session  which  resulted  in  the  division  of  the  church.  He  organized  both 
the  churches  of  that  denomination  in  Grand  Rapids  and  he  has  long  been 
recognized  as  one  of  its  able  preachers. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Breidenstein  has  been  blessed  with  five 
children,  and  they  also  have  seventeen  grandchildren.  Their  sons  and 
daughters  are  as  follows :  George  Edwards,  who  is  living  in  Casco  town- 
ship ;  James  Weaver,  who  is  married,  and  with  his  family  resides  upon  his 
father's  farm ;  Carrie  Loretta,  the  wife  of  Almond  Sheldon,  of  VermontviUe, 
Michigan;  Edna  Irene,  the  wife  of  George  B.  Tourtellotte,  formerly  of 
Grand  Rapids,  and  Mary  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Calvin  Palmer,  of  Casco 
township. 

Throughout  his  entire  life  Rev.  Breidenstein  has  been  identified  with 
the  Republican  party  and  is  in  thorough  sympathy  with  its  principles  and 
policy.  He  has  served  as  school  inspector  in  his  township  and  is  thus  inter- 
ested in  educational  progress.  In  fact  at  all  times  he  stands  for  develop- 
ment and  improvement  along  those  lines  which  contribute  intellectual,  pol- 
itical and  moral  growth  and  stability.  His  influence  has  been  of  no  re- 
stricted order,  and  on  the  contrary  his  labors  have  been  far-reaching  and 
beneficial,  while  the  seeds  of  truth  that  he  has  sown  have  brought  forth 
rich  harvests  in  good  works  and  upright  living. 

Ambrose  C.  Usher,  a  representative  of  the  farming  interests  of  Casco 
township,  his  home  being  on  section  22,  was  born  in  Manchester  township, 
Boone  county,  Illinois,  January  i,  1857,  and  is  a  representative  of  one  of 
the  old  families  of  New  York.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Levi  Usher,  was 
a  native  of  the  Empire  state  and  died  at  the  age  of  fifty  years.  The 
father,  James  Usher,  was  born  at  Cherry  Valley,  Oneida  county,  New 
York,  in  1826  and  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Medina 
county,  Ohio,  In  early  life  he  worked  on  the  Erie  canal  in  New  York  and 
also  ori  the  Chicago  and  Michigan  canal.  This  brought  him  to  the  middle 
west  and  he  eventually  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Illinois.  After 
ten  years,  however,  he  returned  to  the  Empire  state  and  was  married.  He 
then  again  came  to  Illinois  and  for  twelve  years  resided  upon  his  farm, 
which  he  brought  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  On  the  expiration  of 
that  period  he  sold  his  property  there  and  came  to  Michigan,  securing 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Allegan  county,  which  he  improved,  making  his 
home  thereon  until  he  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  His  wife  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Mahala  Cook  and  was  born  at  Pavilion,  Genesee 
county.  New  York,  in  1836,  while  her  last  days  were  passed  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Allegan  county  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  In  the  family 
of  this  worthy  couple  were  six  children :  Ambrose  C. ;  Marcus,  a  resident 
of  Casco  township;  Mrs.  Ahce  Bennett,  who  is  living  in  the  same  township; 
Mrs.  Alta  May  Overhiser,  deceased;  Harris,  of  this  township;  and  Mrs. 
Hattie  Johnson,  of  Casco  township. 

Ambrose  C.  Usher  was  a  lad  of  twelve  summers  when  the  family  came 


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I-IISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COLWTY  237 

to  Michigan  and  settled  on  a  farm  on  section  22,  Casco  township,  Allegan 
county.  He  continued  under  the  parental  roof  until  sixteen  years  of  age 
and  during  that  time  became  familiar  with  the  work  of  plowing,  planting 
and  harvesting.  He  then  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account  and  was 
employed  in  a  sawmill  and  also  at  farm  labor.  When  twenty-six  years  of 
age  he  and  his  brother  Marcus  together  purchased  the  farm  upon  which 
Ambrose  C.  Usher  is  now  living.  They  had  fifty  acres  of  land  on  section 
22  and  with  characteristic  energy  began  to  plow  the  fields,  plant  the  seed 
and  in  due  time  harvest  the  crops.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Usher  of  this 
review  purchased  his  brother's  interests  and  has  since  made  his  home  upon 
this  farm.  At-  one  time  he  was  the  owner  of  a  small  orange  grove  in  Man- 
atee county,  Florida,  and  spent  two  winters  there  with  his  family,  but  sold 
that  property  about  a  year  ago.  With  the  exception  of  those  brief  periods 
he  has  remained  continuously  upon  the  old  homestead  in  Casco  township 
and  he  has  nearly  his  entire  fariTi  of  fifty  acres  under  cultivation.  It  is 
devoted  largely  to  the  raising  of  fruit  and  in  one  year  he  sold  four  thousand 
bushels  of  peaches  from  his  place.  In  the  midst  of  his  farm  stands  a  fine 
dwelling  which  he  erected  and  in  the  rear  are  found  good  outbuildings  for 
the  shelter  of  grain,  stock  and  fruit.  His  place  is  known  as  the  Maple  Hill 
Fruit  Farm  and  is  thoroughly  equipped  for  the  conduct  of  the  business 
which  is  being  carried  on. 

On  the  26th  of  May,  1886.  Mr.  Usher  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Clara  L.  Brainard,  who  was  born  in  Lodi,  Medina  county,  Ohio,  October 
24,  1867,  and  came  to  Allegan  county  about  1870  with  her  parents.  Thomas 
and  Henrietta  (Griswold)  Brainard,  who  were  natives  of  Ohio.  Unto  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Usher  have  been  born  two  children.  Essie  Viola  and  Clifford. 
Mr.  Usher  votes  the  Republican  ticket  and  keeps  well  informed  on  the 
questions  and  issues  of  the  day.  That  be  has  progressed  in  his  business 
life  is  due  to  his  close  application,  executive  force  and  firm  determination 
and  he  is  now  classed  with  the  representative  and  prosperous  farmers  of 
Casco  township. 

It  will  be  interesting  in  this  connection  to  note  something  of  the  history 
of  Mrs.  Usher's  father.  Thomas  W.  Brainard.  who  owned  a  finely  im- 
proved farm  on  section  22.  Casco  township.  He  was  born  in  Medina  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  in  1833  and  is  the  son  of  Warren  and  Laura  Brainard.  His 
father  was  born  in  Connecticut,  January  8.  1790.  His  parents  removing  to 
New  York  when  he  was  quite  young,  he  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  a  farm 
in  Jefferson  county.  The  means  for  obtaining  an  education  in  those  early 
days  were  not  what  they  are  today  and  his  advantages  were  limited  to  the 
common  schools.  Warren  Brainard  was  a  patriot  in  the  war  of  1812. 
During  that  struggle  the  British  had  placed  a  cannon  ball  on  top  of  the 
barracks  at  Otsego  and  Mr.  Brainard  was  given  five  dollars  for  procuring 
the  ball  on  carrying  it  into  camp.  After  the  war  he  returned  home  and 
married  the  mother  of  Thomas  W.  Brainard,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Laura,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Polly  Cook,  .natives  of  Connecticut,  As 
early  as  1817,  Warren  Brainard  came  west  to  Medina  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  was  one  of  the  pioneers  and  had  the  honor  of  erecting  the  fir.st  house  in 
Westfield  township.  It  was  buih  of  logs  and  in  dimensions  was  eighteen 
by  sixteen  feet.  The  following  year  his  family  joined  him  in  his  new  home, 
they  coming  overland  with  an  ox  team  and  sled.    The  home  of  Mr.  Brain- 


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23S  H[STORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY 

arc!  was  always  a  pleasant  stopping  place  to  the  weary  traveler  and  at  one 
time  fourteen  families  received  shelter  under  his  roof,  many  of  whom  had 
come  for  Mr.  Brainard  to  assist  them  in  locating  their  land. 

Warren  Braiiiard,  when  locating  in  the  Buckeye  state,  purchased  one 
hundred  acres  of  unbroken  land.  After  improving  thirty-eight  acres  he  dis- 
posed of  the  remainder  of  his  property.  While  gathering  butternuts  in  1820 
Mr,  Brainard  accidentally  fell  a  distance  of  sixty  feet,  which  resulted  in 
his  being  made  a  cripple  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  in  Medina 
county  in  1848,  firm  in  the  faith  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in 
which  body  he  and  his  wife  were  class  leaders.  In  politics  he  was  a  Jack- 
sonian  Democrat.  His  parents  were  Ansel  and  Edith  Brainard,  the  father 
being  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  who  lived  to  attain  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-eight  years.  His  good  wife  survived  him  a  number  of  years 
and  died  at  the  remarkable  age  of  one  hundred  and  four  years.  They  were 
of  English  descent,  Ansel  Brainard's  father  being  one  of  two  brothers  who 
emigrated  from  England  to  the  United  States  and  settled  in  Connecticut- 
Thomas  W.  Brainard  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  after 
reaching  his  sixteenth  year,  received  four  dollars  for  his  first  month's 
wages  and  at  the  end  of  the  second  month  was  given  seventy-five  cents 
per  day.  He  followed  his  trade  for  twenty  years  and  was  successful  in 
that  undertaking.  On  leaving  Ohio  he  moved  to  Montgomery  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  remained  four  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  however, 
he  returned  to  his  native  state,  where  he  made  his  home  for  twelve  suc- 
ceeding years,  and  in  1870  came  to  Allegan  county,  Michigan,  where  he 
purchased  five  acres  of  his  present  property.  His  farm  includes  thirty 
acres  which  is  under  the  most  thorough  cultivation  and  a  portion  of  which 
is  given  to  fruit  raising. 

In  1851  Mr.  Brainard  and  Miss  Henrietta,  daughter  of  William  and 
Louisa  Griswokl,  were  united  in  marriage.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
New  York,  and  her  mother,  who  is  a  very  active  old  lady,  makes  her 
home  with  Mrs.  Brainard,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griswold  had  a  family  of  eleven 
children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brainard  have  two  sons  and  one  daughter: 
Warren,  who  married  Julia  Morris;  Frank,  who  married  Alice  Godfrey; 
and  Clara,  Mrs.  Ambrose  Usher.  In  politics  Thomas  W.  Brainard  is  a 
true-blue  Republican  and  has  held  many  offices  of  trust  in  his  township, 
among  which  was  that  of  justice  of  the  peace,  he  having  been  the  incumbent 
of  that  position  for  seven  years.  He  passed  away  in  April,  1904,  and  his 
wife  died  in  1900. 

William  Van  Blakcum  is  proprietor  of  the  Cloverdale  farm,  an 
excellent  property  situated  on  section  14,  Casco  township.  He  is  one  of 
Michigan's  native  sons,  having  been  bom  in  Pittsfield,  Washtenaw  county, 
September  29,  1841,  and  when  twelve  years  of  age  he  came  to  this  county 
in  company  with  his  parents,  Nicholas  and  Mary  Ann  (Ackerman)  Van 
Blarcum,  who  were  natives  of  New  York,  and  became  residents  of  Washte- 
naw county,  Michigan,  about  1840.  The  mother  died  when  her  son 
William  was  only  about  eleven  years  of  age,  and  the  father  afterward 
married  again,  passing  away  upon  his  farm  near  Otsego,  Allegan  county, 
when  sixty-five  years  of  age.  He  was  descended  from  an  old  New  Jersey 
family  of  Holland  descent.     William  Van  Blarcum  of  this  review  was  the 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  239 

second  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  three  children,  but  his  sisters,  Mrs. 
Mary  Drew  and  Jane  Ann,  are  both  deceased. 

As  previously  stated,  William  Van  Blarcum  accompanied  his  father 
on  the  removal  from  Washtenaw  to  Allegan  county,  the  family  home  being 
established  about  a  mile  east  of  Otsego.  He  remained  there  until  he 
attained  his  majority,  when  he  took  up  his  abode  in  the  village  of  Otsego  and 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  which  he  followed  for  about  four  years, 
during  a  part  of  which  time  he  conducted  a  shop  of  his  owo.  He  after- 
ward removed  to  Martin's  Corners,  where  he  conducted  a  shop  for  two 
years.  He  was  married  in  Otsego  before  coming  to  the  Corners,  and  later  he 
returned  to  Otsego,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  a  number  of  years. 
While  there  he  lost  his  wife.  Subsequently  he  took  up  his  abode  at  Blooiii- 
ingdale,  Michigan,  having  married  for  the  second  time,  and  was  proprietor 
of  a  blacksmith  shop  at  that  place  for  about  four  years.  He  likewise  con- 
ducted a  hotel  there  for  a  year  and  remained  altogether  in 
that  town  for  about  eight  years.  He  lost  his  second  wife  there 
after  about  seven  years  of  married  life,  and  upon  returning  to  Allegan 
county  he  settled  in  Casco  township  in  1886,  and  for  three  years  carried  on 
blacksmithing  at  Leisure.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  took  up  his 
abode  upon  the  farm  which  is  still  his  home  and  was  married  again.  The 
farm  comprises  forty-two  acres  of  land  on  section  14,  Casco  township,  all 
of  which  is  under  cultivation  and  is  well  improved,  having  substantial  build- 
ings and  modern  equipments  upon  it.  The  place  is  known  as  the  Cloverdale 
farm,  having  been  named  for  Samuel  Clover,  the  original  owner.  Mrs.  Van 
Blarcum's  first  husband  purchased  the  place  from  Mr.  Clover's  widow, 
and  at  the  death  of  her  first  husband  it  came  into  possession  of  Mrs.  Van 
Blarcum.  It  is  a  stock  and  fruit  farm  and  in  addition  to  the  cultivation  of 
the  orchards  Mr.  Van  Blarcum  is  now  extensively  and  successfully  engaged 
in  raising  good  horses,  in  which  he  takes  great  pride,  making  a  specialty  of 
draft  horses. 

Mr,  Van  Blarcum  was  first  married  in  1866  to  Miss  Cornelia  Rouse,  a 
native  of  Otsego,  Michigan,  and  they  had  two  children,  Nettie  May,  the 
wife  of  Arthur  Orcott,  of  Otsego,  and  Alfred  Burt,  who  is  living  in  Casco 
township.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Van  Blarcum  chose  Elizabeth  Evans,  a 
native  of  Canada.  In  1886  he  wedded  Mrs.  Ceha  (Janes)  Ruell,  who  was 
bom  at  Homer,  Calhoun  county,  Michigan,  October  14,  1842,  a  daughter  of 
David  and  Nancy  (Bacon)  Janes,  natives  of  Vermont  and  New  York  re- 
spectively. They  were  reared  and  married  in  the  east  and  made  the  journey 
westward  to  Calhoun  county,  Michigan,  with  ox  teams,  spending  their  re- 
maining days  there  upon  a  farm  which  Mr.  Janes  entered  from  the  govern- 
ment. Their  daughter  Celia  became  the  wife  of  William  Rucll,  a  native  of 
Pittsford,  New  York.  They  were  married,  however,  in  Calhoun  county, 
Michigan,  and  came  to  Allegan  county  in  1866,  settling  upon  a  part  of  the 
farm  which  is  still  the  lady's  home.  By  her  first  marriage  she  had  two  chil- 
dren: Fred,  who  is  living  in  Casco  township,, and  Florence,  the  wife  of 
Casper  Overhiser,  of  Casco  township. 

Mr.  Van  Blarcum  has  always  given  his  political  support  to  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  but  the  honors  and  emoluments  of  office  have  had  no  at- 
traction for  him  and  he  has  concentrated  his  energies  upon  his  business  af- 
fairs.   He  is  now  prospering  in  the  raising  of  fruit  and  stock,  his  business 


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240  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY 

having  reached  quite  extensive  proportions.  Almost  his  entire  hfe  has  been 
passed  in  this  county  and  for  more  than  a  half  century  he  has  watched  the 
changes  which  have  taken  place  here,  transforming  it  from  an  unclaimed 
and  unbroken  wilderness  into  one  of  the  leading  counties  of  this  great  com- 
monwealth. 

Thomas  Hagger,  residing  on  section  14,  Casco  township,  has  a  good 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres,  the  greater  part  of  which  is  under 
cultivation.  His  life  record  began  in  Cambridgeshire,  England,  April  15, 
1844,  and  he  was  the  eighth  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren whose  parents  were  Thomas  and  Letitia  (Saunders)  Hagger,  who 
spent  their  entire  lives  in  England. 

When  about  three  or  four  years  of  age  Thomas  Hagger  was  taken  by 
his  parents  to  Huntingdonshire,  England,  where  he  lived  until  he  came  to 
America.  He  attended  school  until  fourteen  years  of  age  and  entered 
business  life  as  a  clerk  in  a  general  mercantile  store,  where  a  stock  of  dry 
goods,  drugs  and  other  commodities  were  handled.  He  was  thus  employed 
until  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  1866.  He  landed  at  New  York  and  for 
four  years  Thomas  Hagger  remained  a  resident  of  Rensselaer  county,  New 
York,  being  employed  at  farm  labor.  Thinking  that  he  might  have  still  bet- 
ter business  opportunities  in  the  middle  west,  he  then  came  to  Casco  town- 
ship, Allegan  county,  and  purchased  forty  acres  of  timber  land,  constituting 
a  part  of  his  present  farm.  This  he  at  once  began  to  clear  in  order  to  place 
the  fields  under  the  plow  and  he  also  erected  a  good  dwelling.  He  now  has 
one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  land  which  is  rich  and  productive.  Of  this 
eighty  acres  lies  on  section  14,  Casco  township,  and  is  the  home  place.  He 
also  iias  ten  acres  of  timber  land  on  section  13,  Casco  township,  and  forty 
acres  on  section  17,  Lee  township.  The  home  farm  is  a  valuable  property, 
all  of  which  is  under  cultivation  save  for  the  ten-acre  tract  of  timber  land. 
He  has  kept  in  touch  with  the  trend  of  modern  progress  in  his  farm  work 
and  has  erected  here  a  comfortable  dwelling  and  substantial  barns.  His 
time  and  energies  are  devoted  to  the  raising  of  fruit  and  to  general  farming 
and  he  has  thirty  acres  of  peaches,  cherries,  berries  and  apples.  His  place 
is  known  as  the  Evergreen  Fruit  Farm  and  is  equipped  with  all  modern 
conveniences  and  accessories. 

In  October,  1872,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Thomas  Hagger  and 
Miss  Rodella  Yerdon,  who  was  born  in  Herkimer  county.  New  York,  May 
15,  1853,  and  when  three  years  of  age  accompanied  her  parents  on  their  re- 
moval to  Cass  county,  Michigan.  She  was  a  young  lady  of  seventeen  years 
when  they  came  to  Casco  township.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Warner  and 
Sarah  Jane  (Bowers)  Yerdon,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  New  York 
and  have  now  departed  this  life.  Her  father  devoted  his  time  and  energies 
to  general  agricultural  pursuits  and  was  the  owner  of  eighty  acres  of  land 
in  this  county,  which  he  improved.  The  family  numbered  two  children,  the 
younger  being  Javes,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years.  The  only 
daughter  is  Mrs.  Hagger,  who  by  her  marriage  has  become  the  mother  of 
seven  children:  Jane,  now  the  wife  of  Commodore  Coppock,  of  Casco  town- 
ship ;  Nettie,  the  wife  of  Alfred  Wellington,  a  resident  of  South  Haven ; 
Frank  Melville,  Sanders,  Nellie  and  Lula,  all  at  home. 

Mr.  Hagger  is  independent  in  politics  and  cares  nothing  for  office.    He, 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUXTY  S41 

however,  is  not  remiss  in  the  duties  of  citizenship  but  on  tlie  contrary  gives 
his  support  to  those  measures  and  movements  which  are  calculated  to  prove 
of  pubHc  good.  He  is  a  man  of  action  rather  than  theory  and  when  others 
plan  he  performs.  He  leads  a  strenuous  life  and  his  unremitting  diligence 
and  activity  have  gained  him  wealth.  He  is  now  most  comfortably  situated 
in  life  and  no  agriculturist  of  the  county  exceeds  him  in  activity  or  business 
management. 

Edward  Hagger,- — Since  the  forests  have  been  cleared  away  it  has 
been  found  that  Michigan  soil  is  splendidly  adapted  for  farming  and  fruit- 
raising  and  many  there  are  who  have  met  with  prosperity  through  the  care- 
ful conduct  of  business  interests  along  those  lines.  Among  this  number  is 
classed  Edward  Hagger,  who  was  born  in  Cambridgeshire,  England,  August 
i8,  1844,  being  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  thirteen  children 
who  were  born  unto  Thomas  and  Letitia  (Sanders)  Hagger,  who  spent  their 
entire  lives  in  England,  where  the  father  successfully  carried  on  farming 
pursuits.  When  thirteen  years  of  age  Edward  Hagger  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  from  Cambridgeshire  to  Huntingdonshire,  Eng- 
land, where  he  resided  until  he  came  to  the  United  States  in  February,  1862, 
when  in  his  eighteenth  year.  He  attended  school  until  sixteen  years  of  age 
and  then  learned  the  tailor's  trade,  which  he  followed  until  he  came  to  the 
United  States.  He  made  the  voyage  alone,  attracted  by  the  broader  busi- 
ness opportunities  of  the  new  world.  He  went  direct  to  Hillsdale  county, 
Michigan,  and  he  was  offered  fifty  dollars  per  month  in  Hudson  to  work  at 
his  trade  but  he  preferred  a  wage  of  eleven  dollars  per  month  on  the  farm, 
He  continued  upon  the  farm  until  the  4th  of  August,  1861,  when  he  was 
enrolled  as  a  soldier  of  the  Union  army,  enlisting  from  Adrian,  Michigan, 
as  a  member  of  Company  A,  Fourth  Michigan  Volunteer  Infantry,  under 
Captain  Knickerbocker.  The  command  was  sent  to  Decatur,  Alabama,  and 
met  the  enemy  there  under  Hood.  Mr.  Hagger  took  part  in  a  number  of 
minor  engagements  and  skirmishes  but  no  regular  battles  and  the  regiment 
was  transferred  to  Texas  in  July,  1865,  and  discharged  at  Detroit,  Michigan, 
in  June,  1866. 

When  the  war  was  over  and  the  country  no  longer  needed  her  military 
aid  he  returned  to  Hillsdale  county,  Michigan,  and  again  worked  by  the 
month  at  farm  labor  until  he  was  married  in  1867.  On  the  2d  of  November 
of  that  year  he  came  to  his  present  farm,  securing  forty  acres  of  timber  land 
on  section  14,  Casco  township.  This  he  cleared  and  placed  under  the  plow, 
erecting  good  buildings  thereon  and  further  carrying  forward  the  work  of 
improvement  until  he  now  has  a  splendid  farm  known  as  the  Highland  Park 
Fruit  Farm — the  name  indicating  the  use  to  which  it  is  put,  for  he  has  ex- 
cellent orchards  upon  his  place  and  annually  harvests  good  fruit  crops. 

Mr.  Hagger  was  married  in  1867  to  Miss  Mary  Chase,  who  was  born  jn 
Somerset,  Hillsdale  county,  Michigan,  June  5,  1848.  Her  parents  were 
Daniel  and  Elmina  { Perkins)  Chase,  the  former  a-  native  of  Saratoga  county. 
New  York,  and  the  latter  of  Greenfield,  lower  Canada,  and  of  Scotch  de- 
scent. Mrs.  Chase  was  a  descendant  of  Robert  Bruce  in  the  paternal  line, 
and  her  maternal  grandparents  were  the  first  of  the  family  to  come  to  the 
United  States.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hagger  have  been  born  seven  children : 
Eugena,  the  wife  of  James  Holliday,  of  Woodstock,  Illinois ;  Minerva,  the 


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242  HISTORY  (JF  ALLEGAK  COUNTY 

widow  of  Stephen  Morlaii,  and  now  at  home ;  Amy,  who  is  a  nurse  in  Kala- 
mazoo, Michigan;  Edward  Lee,  of  Park  Falls,  Wisconsin;  Mildred,  who  is 
the  wife  of  Harkless  Dalrymple,  of  Lee  township;  Pansy,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  Robert,  at  home. 

In  former  years  Mr.  Hagger  gave  his  political  allegiance  to  the  Green- 
back party  but  is  now  a  stalwart  Republican.  He  was  elected  township 
clerk,  but  refused  to  serve,  caring  nothing  for  the  honors  or  emoluments  of 
public  office  as  he  prefers  to  concentrate  his  energies  upon  his  business  in- 
terest, in  which  he  is  meeting  with  signal  success.  At  one  time  he  was  s 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  post  at  South  Haven  but  is  now  demitted. 
His  business  interests  fully  claim  his  time  and  attention  yet  he  is  not  remiss 
in  the  duties  of  citizenship  and  his  influence  is  on  the  side  of  political  in- 
tegrity and  of  progress  and  improvement  in  the  county. 

James  Marshall,  who  for  many  years  was  a  representative  of  farm- 
ing interests  in  Allegan  county,  departed  this  life  February  2,  1906,  when 
in  his  seventy-ninth  year.  His  many  sterling  traits  of  character  had  gained 
him  the  confidence,  respect  and  good  will  of  those  with  whom  he  was  asso- 
ciated and  he  left  to  his  family  the  priceless  heritage  of  an  untarnished 
name.  He  was  born  in  Morgan  county,  Ohio,  April  15,  1827,  a  son  of 
James  and  Elizabeth  (Buzzard)  Marshall,  in  whose  family  were  the  follow- 
ing named  sons  and  daughters,  Robert,  Samuel,  John,  Joseph,  James,  Wil- 
son, Andrew  Kells  and  Clarissa. 

In  his  boyhood  days  James  Marshall  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  from  Ohio  to  Greene  county,  Indiana,  where  he  resided  until  1854. 
In  that  year  he  became  a  resident  of  Henry  county,  Illinois,  where  he  re- 
mained for  five  years  and  then  took  up  his  abode  in  Wells  county,  Indiana. 
His  entire  life  was  devoted  to  general  agricultural  pursuits  and  he  continued 
to  engage  in  farming  in  the  Hoosier  state  until  the  fall  of  1871,  when  he 
came  to  the  farm  on  section  2,  Casco  township,  which  is  now  occupied  by  his 
son,  Thomas  N.  Marshall.  He  secured  eighty  acres  of  land,  of  which  about 
fifteen  acres  had  been  cleared,  while  upon  it  was  a  small  board  house,  consti- 
tuting all  of  the  improvements.  The  entire  farm  is  at  this  writing  under 
cultivation,  save  for  eight  acres  of  woodland.  Mr.  Marsliall  erected  a  com- 
fortable residence  here  and  carried  on  general  farming,  bringing  his  fields 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  thus  annually  garnering  therefrom  good 
crops.  He  was  drafted  for  service  while  living  in  Wells  county,  Indiana, 
and  became  a  member  of  Company  B,  Fifty-third  Indiana  Infantry.  The 
war  closed  after  he  had  been  at  the  front  for  nine  months  and  with  this  ex- 
ception he  continuously  gave  his  life  to  farm  work  and  as  the  years  passed 
he  prospered  in  his  undertakings. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's  journey  Mr.  Marshall  chose 
Miss  Elizabeth  Dennis,  who  was  bom  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  January 
13,  1826.  They  long  traveled  the  journey  of  life  together,  sharing  with 
each  other  its  joys  and  sorrows,  its  adversity  and  prosperity,  and  they  were 
separated  in  death  for  only  a  brief  period,  for  Mrs.  Marshall  survived  her 
husband  for  but  little  more  than  two  months,  passing  away  April  27,  1906. 
Their  children  were ;  Mrs.  Eliza  Herring,  now  deceased ;  Mary  J.,  the  wife 
of  George  Wellington;  Thomas  Newton,  who  operates  the  old  homestead 
farm  and  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  the  material  furnished  for  the  his- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX'  COUNTY  343 

tory  of  his  parents;  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Barney  Herring,  of  Casco  town- 
ship ;  Martha  Ann,  the  wife  of  Elmer  Hahii,  of  Bangor,  Michigan ;  Marinda, 
the  wife  of  Wallace  Hogle,  of  Casco  township ;  George,  who  is  living  in  the 
same  township ;  John  W.,  who  is  married  and  resides  upon  the  home  farm, 
and  Eli,  who  died  in  infancy. 

James  Marshall  gave  his  political  allegiance  to  the  Democracy  through- 
out his  entire  life.  He  was  a  member  of  George  Fry  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of 
Ganges  township,  and  took  much  pleasure  in  meeting  with  his  old  army 
comrades.  His  life  was  quietly  and  uneventfully  passed  and  yet  his  life  rec- 
ord contains  lessons  that  are  worthy  of  emulation,  for  at  all  times  he  was 
faithful  to  the  duties  which  each  day  brings  and  he  was  ever  straightforward 
in  his  treatment  of  his  fellowmen  in  any  business  transaction. 

Charles  L.  McNitt,  a  farmer  on  section  27,  Casco  township,  is  one  of 
the  worthy  citizens  that  the  Empire  state  has  funiished  to  Michigan.  He 
was  born  in  Wheatfield,  Niagara  county.  New  York,  August  15,  1845.  His 
father,  Sylvester  McNitt,  was  a  native  of  Seneca  county,  New  York,  and 
died  in  Hartford  township,  Van  Buren  county,  Michigan,  in  1865,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-two  years.  His  life  was  devoted  to  farming  and  carpentering, 
and  after  coming  to  Michigan  he  secured  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  lantl 
in  Van  Buren  county,  which  he  developed  and  improved.  He  came  of 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry  and  was  a  representative  of  one  of  the  old  New  York 
families.  In  his  life  he  displayed  many  of  the  sterling  traits  of  character 
that  have  characterized  the  Scotch  and  Irish  people,  and  he  worked  diligently 
and  successfully  in  the  development  and  improvement  of  his  farm.  In 
politics  he  was  a  stanch  Democrat  and  was  called  to  various  minor  offices. 
His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Susan  Brown,  was  born  in  Canada, 
and  died  in  Van  Buren  comity,  Michigan,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
two  years.  In  their  family  were  twelve  children:  Orville,  who  enlisted 
from  Van  Buren  county  as  orderly  sergeant  and  vla.s  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  captain,  died  a  few  years  ago  in  Shelby,  Michigan.  Mrs.  Eveline  Strat- 
ton  resides  in  Hartford  township.  Van  Buren  county.  William,  going  to 
California  in  the  days  of  the  early  mining  excitement  dug  gold  there  for 
five  years  and  in  1865  returned  to  Michigan,  his  last  days  Being  spent  in 
Pentwater.  Livira,  living  in  Watervliet,  Berrien  county,  owns  one  hundred 
acres  of  good  land,  which  is  a  part  of  the  old  farm  homestead.  Charles  L. 
is  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth.  Thaddeus  lives  in  Bangor  township.  Mrs. 
Julia  Curtis  is  a  resident  of  Hartford  township.  Van  Buren  county.  Mrs. 
Jane  Adams  died  at  Vanderbilt,  Michigan.  Alpheus  resides  in  Keeler  town- 
ship. Van  Buren  county.  Archibald  lives  in  Chicago.  Mrs.  Flora  Hoover 
resides  in  Hartford  township.  Van  Buren  county.  Frank  was  killed  by  fall- 
ing in  a  well  when  only  five  years  of  age. 

Charles  L.  McNitt  was  a  little  lad  of  five  summers  when  taken  by  his 
parents  to  Van  Buren  county,  Michigan,  the  family  home  being  established 
in  Hartford  township  about  twenty  miles  south  of  his  present  place  of  resi- 
dence. They  crossed  the  lake  from  Buffalo  to  Detroit  on  the  steamer,  the 
Buckeye  State,  and  by  train  proceeded  to  Decatur,  Michigan,  when  they  con- 
tinued their  journey  with  teams  to  the  farm  in  the  midst  of  the  forest.  Mr. 
McNitt  remained  there  with  his  parents  until  1866,  when  he  went  to  Lawton 
and  was  employed  in  a  livery  stable  for  a  year.     He  was  then  married  in 


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244  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

1867  and  began  farming  on  his  own  account  on  a  tract  of  rented  land  in 
Hartford  township,  where  he  remained  for  a  year.  He  afterward  spent  five 
years  upon  another  rented  farm  in  Ihe  same  township,  and  came  to  his  pres- 
ent place  of  residence  in  Casco  township  in  1873,  having  one  hundred  acres 
of  land  on  sections  27  and  22.  He  at  first  bought  forty  acres  of  wild  land, 
which  he  cleared  and  developed.  On  this  he  erected  a  good  set  of  farm 
buildings  and  as  he  prospered  in  his  undertakings  he  added  to  his  property 
until  he  now  has  one  hundred  acres  of  good  farm  land  all  under  cultivation. 
Fruit-raising  is  an  important  feature  of  his  place  and  he  now  has  thirty 
acres  devoted  to  peaches  and  apples,  the  farm  being  known  as  the  XXXX 
Fruit  Farm.  In  addition  to  horticultural  pursuits  he  carries  on  general 
farming  and  has  fields  which  return  good  harvests  as  a  reward  for  the  care 
and  labor  he  bestows  upon  them. 

It  was  on  the  agth  of  December,  1867,  that  Mr.  McNitt  wedded  Miss 
Mary  Ann  Dolan,  who  was  born  in  Hemingford,  Quebec  county,  Canada, 
April  12,  1844.  When  she  was  nine  years  of  age  she  removed  to  Peru, 
Miami  county,  Indiana,  with  her  parents,  Thomas  and  Esther  (McGartland) 
Dolan,  who  were  natives  of  Ireland,  in  which  country  they  were  reared  and 
married,  removing  to  Canada,  after  the  birth  of  their  eldest  child.  Mr.  and 
Mrs,  McNitt  have  one  son  and  two  daughters.  Ellsworth  E.,  who  owns 
fifty  acres  adjoining  his  father's  farm,  is  married  and  has  three  children, 
Luciie,  Fern  and  Leland.  Alice  May  is  the  wife  of  H.  W.  Phillips,  of  Almo 
township,  Kalamazoo  county,  who  is  railroad  agent  there  and  they  have  two 
children.  Donna  L.  and  Lola  M.  Susie  E.  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Mort,  of 
Casco  township,  and  has  four  children,  Erving,  Neil,  Clarinda  and  Harold. 

Mr.  McNitt  has  been  a  life-long  Democrat,  casting  his  first  presidential 
ballot  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  and  for  each  candidate  at  the  head  of  the 
ticket  since  that  time  save  at  the  last  election.  He  has  never  sought  or  de- 
sired office  for  himself  yet  he  is  interested  in  those  movements  which  he  be- 
lieves will  prove  of  public  benefit  and  to  such  gives  his  hearty  co-operation. 
Almost  his  entire  life  has  been  spent  in  this  section  of  Michigan,  so  that  he 
has  a  wide  acquaintance,  while  his  many  good  qualities  have  gained  for 
him  the  favorable  regard  of  those  who  through  business  or  social  relations 
have  been  brought  into  contact  with  him. 

Hknry  C,  Dow,  born  in  Beaver  township,  Crawford  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, September  15,  1846,  is  now  living  upon  a  farm  on  section  i,  Casco 
township,  and  is  classed  with  the  representatives  of  agricultural  interests  in 
this  part  of  Allegan  county.  His  parents  were  Willis  and  Mary  Jane 
(GenQugh)  Dow,  natives  of  the  Empire  state,  who  were  born  near  Batavia. 
Their  son  Henry  was  the  sixth  of  their  seven  children,  three  of  whom  are 
now  living.  He  had  two  brothers  and  a  brother-in-law  who  served  in  the 
Civil  war.  Richard  G.  Dow,  of  Ohio,  became  a  member  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Forty-fifth  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  afterward  went  to  the 
west,  where  he  was  drafted  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Charles 
Albert  was  in  the  three  months'  service  and  then  re-enlisted  for  three  years  in 
the  Eighty-third  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry  on  the  first  of  June,  1862. 
He  continued  with  that  command  until  he  lost  his  life  at  the  battle  of  Mal- 
vern Hill  while  acting  as  color  bearer  of  his  regiment.  He  had  a  premoni- 
tion that  he  would  be  killed  in  that  fight  and  he  told  the  boys  that  he  had 


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illSTORY  OF  AIJ.EGAX  COUXTY  245 

eaten  his  last  ration  and  asked  a  friend  to  send  his  effects  home.  They 
urged  him  not  to  go  into  the  fight  but  to  use  the  furlough  which  he  then  had 
in  his  pocket,  but  he  refused,  declaring  it  was  his  duty  to  carry  the  colors 
even  though  he  felt  that  it  would  be  certain  death. 

Henry  C.  Dow  lost  iiis  mother  while  an  infant  and  his  father  when 
but  seven  years  of  age.  When  five  years  old  he  was  taken  to  Ashtabula 
county,  Ohio,  by  his  foster  parents  and  there  remained  until  the  time  of  his 
enlistment  for  service  in  the  Civil  war.  When  in  his  eighteenth  year  he 
joined  the  army  in  June,  1864,  and  was  assigned  to  duty  with  the  Eleventh 
District  Mississippi  Squadron  on  the  gunboat.  General  Grant.  He  continued 
in  the  navy  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  in  the  paymaster's  depart- 
ment at  Bridgeport,  Alabama,  for  a  part  of  the  time,  also  spending  six 
months  in  the  hospital  at  Bridgeport.  He  participated  in  the  naval  engage- 
ments on  Mobile  bay  and  Tennessee  river,  and  also  near  Chattanooga,  and 
at  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  home.  So  rigorous  had  been  his  military 
experience  that  for  two  years  he  was  incapacitated  for  business. 

In  1867,  however,  Mr.  Dow  went  to  Kalamazoo,  Michigan,  and  after- 
ward to  the  upper  peninsula,  looking  for  government  land.  He  returned 
home  and  afterward  came  to  Allegan  county,  purchasing  a  part  of  his 
present  fann  on  the  loth  of  June,  1868.  That  fall  he  returned  to  Ohio,  where 
he  was  married  in  September  and  then  brought  his  bride  to  his  present  place 
of  residence,  where  he  has  since  remained.  In  order  to  secure  property  he 
incurred  an  indebtedness  upon  twenty  acres  of  land,  which  was  partially 
cleared,  while  a  little  log  cabin  constituted  the  only  improvement  upon  it. 
He  saw  some  hard  times  in  starting  life  in  the  forest,  but  he  persevered  and 
improved  every  opportunity.  At  one  time,  however,  he  was  out  of  work 
owing  to  an  injury  on  the  hand.  He  had  no  money  and  an  empty  flour  bar- 
rel but  was  tided  over  this  crisis  by  a  benevolent  neighbor  who  loaned  him 
flour.  At  that  time  he  had  with  him  his  foster  parents,  for  he  had  determined 
to  reciprocate  their  kindness  in  caring  for  him  in  his  youth  by  caring  for  them 
in  their  old  age.  He  persevered,  however,  and  owing  to  his  diligence 
and  careful  management  he  has  been  enabled  to  add  to  his  farm  until  lie 
now  has  three  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  farm  land,  the  greater  part  of 
which  has  been  placed  under  cultivation  by  him.  Much  of  it  lies  on  sections 
I,  II  and  12,  Casco  township  and  he  also  has  forty  acres  on  section  6,  Lee 
township.  This  is  all  in  one  body  excepting  the  forty  acres  in  Lee  township, 
and  is  one  of  the  excellent  farms  of  the  locality.  Mr.  Dow  has  also  pur- 
chased considerable  woodland, 'from  which  he  has  cut  the  timber  and  bark, 
later  disposing  of  the  land.  In  this  way  he  has  cleared  a  total  of  about 
twelve  hundred  acres  in  this  vicinity.  In  all  of  his  business  dealings  he  has 
been  thoroughly  reliable  and  trustworthy  until  his  name  has  become  a  syno- 
nym for  honesty  and  business  integrity  wherever  he  is  known.  He  now  has 
one  of  the  largest  and  finest  farms  in  Casco  township  known  as  the  Ashland 
Farm.  He  makes  the  raising  of  fruit  and  stock  the  principal  features  of  the 
place  and  for  the  past  fifteen  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  nursery  busi- 
ness, handling  from  three  to  five  carloads  of  nursery  stock  each  year.  He  is 
likewise  a  breeder  of  Jersey  cattle  and  Shropshire  sheep  and  also  good 
horses,  and  his  stock-raising  interests  form  an  important  part  of  his  busi- 
ness.   In  1893  he  erected  his  present  large  brick  residence,  which  is  finished 


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24C.  HISTt)RY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

with  the  choicest  native  wood  selected  by  him  during  his  previous  years  of 
lumbering  in  the  forests. 

In  September,  1868,  Mr.  Dow  was  married  to  Miss  Flora  Ann  Hogle, 
who  was  born  in  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  February  24,  1845,  a  daughter 
of  Ira  and  Patty  Hogle.  Four  children  were  born  of  this  marriage,  of 
whom  two  died  in  infancy.  Ira  Earl,  the  surviving  son,  is  a  resident  of 
Casco  township,  living  in  the  vicinity  of  his  father's  home.  He  is  married 
and  has  three  children,  Eric,  Thelma  and  Flora  Ethel.  The  daughter, 
Evelyn,  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Stennett,  of  Casco  township,  and  they  have 
three  children,  Henry  C,  Arthur  and  Lee  George. 

Mr.  Dow  has  been  a  life-long  Republican,  casting  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  has  never  sought  or  desired  office  yet  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  assisting  worthy  friends  to  office,  and  delights  in  the 
victories  of  his  party.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  Jacob  G.  Fry  Post 
No.  46,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Ganges,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  of  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  and  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
in  which  he  has  attained  the  degree  of  Knight  Templar  in  the  commandery. 
He  is  in  hearty  sympathy  with  the  teachings  and  tenets  of  these  or^niza- 
tions  which  are  based  upon  mutual  helpfulness  and  brotherly  kindness. 
From  a  humble  financial  position  he  has  steadily  worked  bis  way  upward 
and  though  he  has  met  many  difficulties  and  obstacles  in  his  path  he  has 
displayed  a  resolute,  determined  spirit  that  has  enabled  him  to  overcome 
difficulties  and  disadvantages  and  gain  a  place  among  the  substantial  and 
prosperous  residents  of  Allegan  county. 

John  Tucker,  who  follows  farming  in  Ganges  township,  owns  one 
hundred  acres  of  land  which  is  devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  fruit.  He  has 
operated  this  place  since  1892  and  brought  it  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. One  of  Michigan's  native  sons,  he  was  born  in  Wayne  county  in 
1867,  and  was  there  reared  and  educated.  His  parents  were  John  and 
Margaret  (Beatty)  Tucker,  the  former  a  native  of  England,  and  the  latter 
of  Ireland.  The  birth  of  John  Tucker,  Sr.,  occurred  in  1831,  and  in  the 
year  1851  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  the  new  world.  Soon  after  coming  to 
Michigan  he  settled  in  Wayne  county,  where  he  lived  for  a  number  of  years 
and  in  1876  he  removed  to  Allegan  county,  locating  in  Ganges  township, 
where  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  wild  land,  at  once  beginning  the  arduous 
task  of  clearing  and  developing  it.  He  vigorously  prosecuted  his  work, 
placed  his  fields  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  erected  substantial 
buildings  upon  his  property.  He  was  an  industrious  man,  whose  life 
though  eventful,  was  active  and  useful,  for  he  won  a  gratifying  measure  of 
prosperity.  He  died  in  1896,  and  is  still  survived  by  his  widow  who  yet  re- 
sides upon  the  home  farm.  The  family  numbered  six  children,  all  of  whom 
reached  years  of  maturity:  William  H.,  deceased:  George,  Lorenzo,  Amos, 
John  and  Alonzo.  deceased. 

To  the  public  school  system  of  Michigan  John  Tucker  of  this  review  is 
indebted  for  the  educational  privileges  he  enjoyed.  At  an  early  period  in 
life  he  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  has  always  followed 
farming,  meeting  with  considerable  success  up  to  the  present  time.  As 
stated,  he  located  upon  his  present  farm  in  1892  and  he  owns  here  one 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  CXJUXTY  347 

hundred  acres  of  land  in  Ganges  township  not  far  from  South  Haven.  On 
this  farm  he  has  two  thousand  peach  trees,  three  hundred  pear  trees,  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five  cherry  trees  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  apple 
trees  besides  considerable  small  fruit.  His  annual  products  find  a  ready 
sale  on  the  market  and  the  work  of  picking  and  packing  make  the  farm  a 
very  busy  place  during  the  summer  months.  He  carries  on  his  work  along 
modern  scientific  lines,  in  keeping  with  a  knowledge  that  has  been  acquired 
in  recent  years  concerning  horticultural  pursuits  and  the  care  of  the  trees. 
In  1888  Mr.  Tucker  was  married  to  Miss  Bertha  Lamour,  a  native  of 
Michigan,  and  they  now  have  three  children,  Basil  P.,  Lawrence  R.  and 
Hildred  M.  The  family  are  well  known  in  the  community  where  they  reside 
and  have  a  circle  of  warm  friends. 

Ckniilrs   in    ^Lvnlius  Tow^"Ship. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  Manliiis  township  was  the  first  township 
area  to  receive  a  separate  civil  organization,  although  it  continued  so  only  a 
short  time,  when  other  town  areas  were  added  to  it.  This  township  was 
"promoted"  in  the  early  days,  and  its  early  organization  and  population  were 
doubtless  largely  the  result  of  this  activity.  John  Allen,  at  the  iiead  of  a 
party  of  capitalists,  undertook,  in  1836,  to  lay  out  a  city  on  sections  7  and 
8,  naming  the  site  Richmond.  He  secured  the  services  of  Ralph  R.  Mann 
to  direct  the  work  of  improvement.  It  was  proposed  to  erect  a  large  saw- 
mill and  around  it  build  a  thriving  city.  A  number  of  laborers  were  hired 
to  begin  the  work,  and  the  enterprise  progressed  to  the  point  where  a  store 
and  some  houses  were  erected  and  the  mi!!  race  begun,  but  the  financial  fail- 
ure of  Allen,  at  a  time  when  the  entire  country  was  in  a  crisis  of  hard  times, 
doomed  the  undertaking  to  failure,  and  nothing  remains  of  permanence  to 
mark  this  ambitious  attempt. 

After  the  failure,  R.  R.  Mann  moved  to  a  location  south  of  the  first 
site  and  erected  a  water-power  sawmill  on  the  creek.  This  was  the  first 
practical  milling  enterprise  in  the  township,  and  became  the  nucleus  for  a 
settlement  that  received  the  name  of  Manlius.  A  store  was  opened  by  John- 
son Parsons,  and  a  tavern  by  John  Roe.  The  place  liad  some  importance  as 
long  as  the  mill  remained  an<l  before  the  railroad  caine,  but  «'as  abandoned 
in  1874.  and  the  village  of  New  Richmond  having  received  considerable 
impetus  in  the  meantime,  Manlius  soon  declined  and  in  time  was  discontin- 
ued as  a  railroad  station. 

For  twenty-five  years  New  Richmond  was  the  principal  railroad  sta- 
tion and  supply  point  for  all  the  country  along  the  river  between  that  place 
and  the  lake.  The  site  was  chosen  as  a  station  because  of  its  convenience 
to  Saugatuck  and  Douglas  both  by  river  and  overland,  and  as  soon  as  the 
railroad  was  completed  in  1871  postal  and  passenger  communication  was 
opened  between  these  points  and  a  connection  established  that  lasted  until 
the  interurban  line  from  Holland  to  Saugatuck  gave  a  quicker  means  of 
access  to  the  villages  at  the  mouth  of  the  river.  H.  F.  Marsh  laid  out  the 
village  of  New  Richmond,  and  was  proprietor  of  the  first  sawmill  and  store. 
Two  taverns  were  opened,  Gilbert  Lamoreaux  opened  another  store,  and 
the  business  activity  of  the  hamlet  increased.  The  stages  that  ran  from 
this  place  to  Saugatuck  added  to  the  liveliness  of  the  village,  and  with  lum- 


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248  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

bering  and  an  increasing  fruit- farming  vicinity  New  Richmond  enjoyed 
considerable  prestige.  Its  activity  is  now  confined  to  fruit  and  grain  ship- 
ping, besides  several  stores  and  the  usual  institutions  of  a  place  of  its  size. 

A  part  of  the  FennviUe  village  site  lies  in  Manlius  township,  but  be- 
sides this  the  only  center  worthy  of  mention  is  East  Saugatuck,  near  the 
north  line  of  the  town,  a  station  on  the  Pere  Marquette  Railroad.  East 
Saugatuck  is  a  village  growth  resulting  from  the  settlement  of  Hollanders 
that  overspread  this  portion  of  the  county.  The  first  settlement  had  been 
made  there  about  1859,  but  lumbering  remained  about  the  only  industry  of 
that  vicinity  until  the  railroad  came.  On  the  completion  of  the  latter  a  store 
was  opened  at  the  station  and  in  1873  a  postoffice  established.  The  business 
of  the  village  has  never  been  large,  but  it  is  a  well  defined  locality  and  has 
long  been  one  of  the  centers  of  the  Reformed  church. 

John  Lubbers,  merchant  and  postmaster  of  East  Saugatuck,  Michigan. 
is  a  widely  known  and  popular  citizen  of  Manlius  township,  of  which  he 
has  been  a  resident  since  March,  1876.  His  birth  occnrred  in  Ottawa 
county,  Michigan.  October  9,  1849. 

Mr.  Lubbers  is  a  son  of  George  and  Maria  (Kolvoord)  Lubbers,  both 
natives  of  Holland,  who  immigrated  to  this  country  in  1847,  and  were 
among  the  first  to  locate  in  a  settlement  which  has  been  since  largely  occupied 
by  their  countrymen  in  Ottawa  county,  Michigan.  Here  the  elder  Mr. 
Lubbers  purchased  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  good  fanning  land. 
During  his  residence  at  this  place  he  held  a  number  of  township  offices, 
among  them  that  of  school  director  and  highway  commissioner.  He  was 
the  father  of  nine  children,  seven  of  whom  reached  maturity,  and  of  the 
latter  mmiber  six  are  living,  viz.:  John,  Tryntje,  Ralph,  Gradiis,  John  L. 
and  Kate. 

John  Lubbers  was  raised  in  Ottawa  county,  and  there  learned  the 
wagon-maker's  trade,  which  he  still  carries  on  at  East  Saugatuck,  his  son 
acting  as  manager.  He  has  been  postmaster  of  East  Saugatuck  since  1897, 
at  which  time  he  also  opened  a  grocery  store  in  that  place,  adding  the  next 
year  the  busines  of  undertaker.  His  general  wagon  repair  shop  is  exten- 
sively patronized  and  has  grown  to  a  lucrative  business. 

Mr.  Lubbers  has  attained  a  great  popularity  among  his  fellow  citizens 
and  they  have  honored  him  with  numerous  public  offices.  He  has  been  a 
school  officer  since  1871;  township  treasurer  in  1886-7;  two  years  a  high- 
way commissioner,  supervisor  of  the  township  since  1890,  being  re-elected 
each  year  since;  in  1898-9  chairman  of  the  board  of  supervisors,  which 
office  he  has  filled  with  marked  ability,  and  for  the  last  four  years  has  been 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  claims,  and  was  a  member  of  the  building 
committee  when  the  Sheriff's  residence  and  jail  was  built  in  Allegan  in 
1905  and  1906.  He  has  also  been  for  more  than  twenty  years  a  director 
of  the  Ottawa  and  Allegan  Fire  Insurance  Company. 

He  was  married,  in  1876,  to  Miss  Gertrude  Snrik,  and  to  them  eight 
children  have  been  bom.  six  of  whom  are  living:  G,  John,  George,  Mary, 
Ada.  Andrew  and  Gertrude.  The  Lubbers  family  are  members  of  the 
Reformed  church,  in  which  church  Mr.  Lubbers  holds  the  office  of  deacon. 
His  daughter.  Miss  Mary,  is  assistant  postmaster  and  notary  public. 


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JVIR.  AND  MRS.  WILLIAM    H.  STOW 


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HTSTtrev  OF  ALLEGAX  COUXTV  249 

W.ILIAM  H  McCoUMiCK.-Perhaps  no  man  is  better  known  in  his 
vicinrty  tlian  William  H.  McCormicli.  whose  family  has  always  held  a  hieh 
place  m  the  respect  anil  confidence  of  the  people  of  Allegan  coimtv.  The 
father  of  our  subject,  James  McCormick,  came  from  Niagara  county   New 

York  in  1837  and  was  the  first  white  man  to  take  up  land  in  the  township 
of  Manhus.  This  land  was  heavily  timbered,  and  comprised  a'guarter- 
section,  costing  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  per  acre.  Upon  this  prop- 
erty James  McCormick  built  a  log  house,  and  began  immediatelv  to  clear 
and  improve  the  land.  He  was  an  enthusiastic  hunter,  and  oii  intimate 
terms  with  the  Indians,  with  whom  he  enjoyed  many  days'  sport  deer 
bear  wolves,  foxes  and  turkeys  being  in  abundance.  As  time  passed  and 
Michigan  became  more  settled,  the  home  of  Mr.  McCormick  became  the 
stopping  place  for  the  incoming  homeseeker  in  that  part  of  the  state  and 
with  the  characteristic  habit  of  the  Scotchman  at  large  he  extended  hospital- 
ity to  all.  In  1S53  he  budt  a  modern  frame  house,  in  which  our  subiect 
now  resides.  He  was  married  to  Maria  Billings,  to  whom  thirteen  children 
were  torn,  six  of  whom  are  living,  viz.;  William  H..  George  C.  Robert  C„ 
Mrs  Belle  Pullman  Nathaniel,  of  Fennville,  and  Mrs.  Ella  Braithwaite: 
His  death  occurred  July  24,  1892,  at  the  age  of  eightv-seven  years 

f.  u-fi,'"'  ™=^''»"'  ■"  Manlius  township,  in  1840.  and' was  the  first 
white  child  born  in  that  section  of  Allegan  countv.  remaining  there  until 

volunteers  William  McCormick  was  one  of  the  first  to  ofl^er  himself  and 
joined  Conrpany  A.  Third  Michigan  Cavalry,  with  which  command  he 
fought  during  his  entire  term  of  service,  being  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Sergeant  for  valor.  He  underwent  many  hardships  and  dangers  during 
the  term  of  his  service,  and  had  three  horses  shot  under  him,  but  escaped 
injury  himself,  and  was  honorably  discharged  in  November    1864 

Upon  returning  to  civil  life  Mr.  McCormick  again  turned  hil attention 
to  agncultural  purstuts,  and  is  now  one  of  the  representative  fruit  growers 
of  the  great  "fruit  belt"  of  Michigan,  owning  three  hundred  and  twentv 
acres  of  land,  on  which  are  planted  ten  tbou.sand  fruit  trees  of  various  kindi 
beside  other  small  fruits.  • 

In  1867  Mr.  McCormick  was  wedded  to  Helen  M..  daughter  of  A  M 
<  w  ='  ?;  i!",,"""  """  <■»'«''»"  h"  te™  born:  Vernina  E.,  now  wife 
Sr  „-i  ■  J'  f"'"'  "'**'""  »«"'  "'  Pmnville,  In  politics  Mr. 
McCormick  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  filled  the  office  of  commissioner  of  higli- 
wa.va  for  fourteen  years  and  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  four  years.  He  is 
IZ'^^i  "'r  S"?^"?  '-"■'j'"-,.'''?;  415,  F.  and  A.  M,.  and  Allegan  chapter, 
also  of  the  I,  O.  O.  F,  and  the  Grand  Armv  of  the  Republic;  of  die  las 
named  being  past  post  commander.  '  1  .  oi 

William  H.  Stow  whose  birth  occurred  in  Manliiis  township  October 
4.  1K74.  IS  proprietor  of  'Rover's  Rest  Ranch  and  Re.sort."  located  six  miles 
above  Sa.igatuck  on  the  Kalamazoo  River.  His  ranch  is  an  ideal  one  and 
heautifuNy  situated.     Here,  in  days  gone  bv,  the  warriors  of  ZvZJ^t 


heautifnlly  situated.  Here,  in  days  gone  bv,  the  warrio  s  o  he  PoSawaT 
teraie  tribe  of  Indians  used  to  camp,  for  it  was  one  of  their  favorite  resorts 
On  a  Prommcnt  point,  commanding  a  magnificent  outlook,  our  subject  con- 
templates building  a  large  hotel.  This  site  was  occupied,  years  ai>  bv  an 
Indian  fort,  the  Indians  realizing  not  only  the  beaufr  of  the  locSon  b„" 


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250  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

that  it  was  admirably  adapted  to  defend.  Mr.  Stow  is  a  yoimg  man  of 
enterprise  and  enthusiasm,  and  recognizing  the  superior  advantages  of  his 
resort— both  by  reason  of  its  location  and  surroundings — intends  making  it 
still  more  accessible  by  running  a  launch  to  and  from  Saugatuck,  on  the 
Kalamazoo  River. 

Our  subject  was  raised  and  educated  in  Manlins  township,  and.  after 
having  come  to  man's  estate  traveled  extensively.  He  is  now  engaged  in 
farming,  fruit  growing,  market  gardening,  and  dairying,  conducting  all 
these  occupations  with  marked  success.  His  farm  consists  of  about  lifty- 
eight  acres,  the  same  being  part  of  his  father's  farm.  He  is  a  son  of  Ed- 
ward J.  and  Sarah  M.  (Lamoreux)  Stow,  the  fomier  having  been  born  in 
Stow,  Summit  county,  Ohio,  March  i8,  1822,  and  dying  in  the  year  1903, 
the  latter  being  a  native  of  New  York  state  and  dying  the  same  year  as  her 
husband,  but  two  months  later.  Edward  J,  Stow,  whose  father  died  when 
he  was  but  a  small  boy,  was  an  only  son.  His  grandfather.  Captain  William 
Stow,  of  Connecticut,  who  with  his  family  removed  to  Ohio  in  an  early  day, 
was  the  founder  of  the  village  of  Stow,  in  Summit  county  of  that  state. 
The  husband  of  Harriett  Beecher  Stowe  was  related  to  Captain  Stow 
(whose  branch  of  the  family  had  dropped  the  final  "e"  from  their  names), 
and  they  were  also  connected  with  the  Beecher  family,  the  sister  of  Lyman 
Beecher  having  married  one  of  the  Stows.  The  family  has  been  distin- 
guished in  the  history  of  the  United  States  and  traces  its  ancestry  back  to 
the  Pilgrim  fathers  who  came  to  this  country  in  the  historic  Mayflower. 

The  father  of  our  subject  moved  from  New  York  to  Michigan  in  1844, 
but  did  not  settle  in  Manlius  township  until  1859.  It  was  almost  an 
unbroken  wilderness  at  that  time,  but  he  took  up  two  hundred  acres,  and 
during  his  lifetime  fifty  acres  of  it  were  cleared.  Timlier  was  very  accessible 
in  those  days  and  the  elder  Mr.  Stow  devoted  some  time  to  lumbering  on 
the  Kalamazoo  river,  seven  years  in  all.  In  1859  he  took  a  trip  to  Colorado, 
riding  to  and  from  that  state  on  horseback,  and  consuming  a  year  on  the 
journey,  visiting  among  other  points  of  interest  the  famous  Pike's  Peak. 
In  1861,  during  our  long  and  bloody  Civil  war.  the  call  went  out  for 
volunteers,  and  he  joined  the  Union  Army  as  a  corporal  in  Company  I, 
Thirteenth  Michigan  Volunteer  Infantry.  With  this  command  he  served  his 
country  faithfully  and  well.  He  was  wounded  by  bushwhackers  during 
the  war  and  carried  some  buckshot  till  the  time  of  his  death.  He  has  the 
distinction  of  having  been  the  first  man  in  his  part  of  the  country  to  set  out 
a  peach  orchard:  truly  a  distinction,  as  this  same  section  has  now  the  repu- 
tation among  unbiased  judges  of  producing  the  finest  peaches  to  be  obtained 
in  the  United  States.  The  senior  Mr.  Stow  was  highly  respected  by  his 
fellow  citizens,  who  showed  their  confidence  by  conferring  upon  him  most 
of  the  township  offices,  electing  him,  among  other  offices,  as  the  first  school 
director  in  the  township.  Socially  he  was  a  member  of  the  A.  H.  Fenn 
Post  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  at  Fennville,  of  which  post  he  was 
senior  vice. 

His  children  numbered  four:  Frank,  deecased:  Allen  C,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Dessie  Knickerbocker  and  is  the  father  of  two  children,  Samuel 
E.  and  Candis:  William  H.,  our  subject;  and  M.  Adella.  The  two  latter 
arc  unmarried.  They  are  both  respected  and  efficient  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Fennville. 


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HISTC^RY  (.)!■   ALLEGAN  C(^UXTY  261 

CHARLiis  N.  GiDLEY,  of  MaiiHus  township,  a  representative  farmer  and 
fruit-grower  of  that  locality,  owns  a  fine  farm  of  eighty  acres,  with  two 
thousand  fruit  trees  of  various  kinds,  all  in  a  line  state  of  cultivation,  and 
testifying  to  his  skill  and  thrift  as  a  farmer.  He  was  born  in  Manlius 
township  in  1854.  and  has  resided  there  continuously  since.  Mr.  Gtdley  is 
a  son  of  A.  P.  and  Lucinda  (Meeker)  Gidley,  natives  of  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania,  respectively.  A.  P.  Gidley,  in  company  with  his  parents, 
John  S.  and  Jerusha  (Petitt)  Gidley,  left  New  York  state  for  Michigan  in 
1842  and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  the  same  composing  the  farm 
now  occupied  by  our  subject.  It  was  virgin  forest  at  that  time,  but  was 
almost  entirely  cleared  before  the  death  of  John  S.  Gidley,  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  A.  P.  Gidley,  the  only  child  of  John  S.,  and  the  father  of 
our  subject,  was  only  seventeen  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Michigan  in 
company  with  his  father,  as  aforementioned.  There  were  bom  to  him 
three  children:     Charles  M.,  John  and  Robert,  deceased. 

Charles  N.  Gidley  was  married  in  1881  to  Miss  Junia  Mills,  and  while 
this  is  a  pleasant  union  yet  no  children  bless  it  by  their  presence.  Mr. 
Gidley  holds  the  full  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens  and  has  held  the  office 
of  township  treasurer  for  two  years  and  is  now  in  the  sixth  year  as  township 
clerk.  In  politics  he  is  a  Repubhcan  and  a  staunch  and  ardent  supporter  of 
his  party.  Socialh'  he  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  in  which  order  he  has  passed  through  the  chairs. 

WiLLT.VM  MiCHiN,  a  Well  known  farmer  of  Manlius  township  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  "Evergreen  Fruit  Farm,"  was  born  in  Buffalo,  New  York, 
July  13,  1840.  He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Ellen  Michin,  who  were  both 
natives  of  Ireland,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  1842.  Their  family  con- 
sisted of  five  children,  three  of  whom  are  living.  Our  subject  was  the 
fourth  of  these  children  in  order  of  birth. 

William  Michin,  our  subject,  came  to  Michigan  from  Niagara  county. 
New  York,  in  the  earl}-  sixties  and  settled  on  his  present  farni.  In  1863 
he  entered  the  employ  of  th^  government  as  wagon  master  and  in  that 
capacity  served  one  year. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  in  1874  to  Miss  Agie  Warren,  by  whom  he 
has  had  two  children;  J.  W,,  who  married  Miss  Ann  Jenson.  and  Minnie. 
Mrs.  Agie  Michin  is  also  a  native  of  Xew  York  state,  having  been  bom  in 
Ontario  in  January  of  1840, 

Mr.  Michin  is  an  extensive  and  practical  farmer  and  his  farm,  thirty 
acres  of  which  lies  in  Manlius  township  and  sixty-five  in  Saugatuck  town- 
ship, shows  the  care  and  skill  that  he  has  expended  on  it.  making  it  one  of 
the  most  attractive  farms  to  be  seen  in  that  vicinity.  This  farm  has  four 
thousand  peach  trees,  two  hundred  apple  trees,  one  hundred  pear,  and  fifty 
cherry  trees  upon  it,  and  is  a  very  choice  niece  of  property  from  a  fruit- 
grower's standpoint,  although  Mr.  Michin  has  not  devoted  himself  exclu- 
sively to  the  production  of  fruit,  but  has  gone  in  for  general  crops  and  has 
developed  his  fann  into  a  substantial  and  good-paying  proposition.  The 
buildings  on  this  farm  are  very  attractive  and  are  among  the  finest  struc- 
tures to  be  found  anywhere  in  the  township. 

Enw.\Ri)  L.\.\roHEi7X,  one  of  the  representative  fanuers  of  Allegan 
county,  was  born  in  Manlius  township  in  1851  and  has  resided  there  con- 


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253  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

tinuously  since.  He  is  a  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Harriet  E.  (Thornton) 
Lamoreux,  both  natives  of  New  York,  who  moved  to  Michigan  in  1844 
and  purchased  the  farm  on  which  our  subject  now  resides.  It  was  then  in 
a  primitive  state,  but  they  set  about  clearing  and  improving  it,  and  even 
at  that  early  date  set  out  ten  acres  of  peaches.  They  erected  the  buildings 
which  still  stand  on  the  property  and  prepared  the  farm  for  its  present  pro- 
ductiveness. Ebenezer  Lamoreux,  whose  father  was  a  native  of  France 
and  whose  mother  was  born  in  England,  was  born  in  1827  and  died 
October  12,  1894,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  His  wife,  Harriet  E.,  died  in 
January,  1902.  There  were  six  children  born  to  them,  of  whom  our  subject 
is  the  eldest:  Edward,  Daniel  (deceased),  William  (deceased),  Eliza  J., 
Frank  (deceased),  and  Margaret. 

Edward  Lamoreux  was  united  in  marriage  on  November  22,  1881,  to 
Elenore  Enders,  of  which  union  have  been  born  the  following  children : 
Louis,  February  16.  1883;  Hattie  A.,  November  r8,  1884;  Levi  E.,  Novem- 
ber 24,  1886;  Floyd  E.,  July  18,  1889;  Tressie,  April  10,  1S92:  Arthur  D„ 
April  8,  1895;  Claude  M.,  September  6,  1897;  Lovel  and  Lucille  (twins), 
April  33,  1906,  and  two  other  children,  now  deceased,  one  of  whom  was  a 
twin  of  Floyd.  Mrs.  Lamoreux  was  bom  at  York,  Pennsylvania,  in  1864. 
Her  parents,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  came  to  Michigan  in  1866  and 
located  near  White  Pigeon,  where  they  followed  farming  as  an  occupation. 
They  moved  to  Allegan  county  in  1877  and  located  in  Clyde  township,  on 
a  farm  of  eighty  acres.  Mrs.  Enders  is  dead,  but  Mr.  Enders  still  survives, 
and  is  now,  1906,  in  his  eightieth  year.  They  were  the  parents  of  twelve 
children,  eight  of  whom  are  still  living,-  three  of  them  in  Allegan  county : 
Mrs.  Lamoreux,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Truax  and  William  Enders. 

August  Kluck,  a  farmer  of  Manlius  township,  whose  postoffice  is 
Fennville,  was  born  in  Germany  in  1844.  In  accordance  with  the  law  of 
the  "fatherland"  he  served  for  three  years  in  the  German  Army,  but  in  1870 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  and  has  since  been  a  loyal  citizen  of  the 
land  of  his  adoption.  He  came  directly  to  Chicago,  where  he  remained 
for  a  short  time,  and  then  moved  to  Allegan  county,  where  he  has  since 
resided. 

Mr.  Kluck  was  married  in  1877  to  Miss  Kate  Orther,  a  native  of 
Indiana  and  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Barbara  (Nedwinger)  Orther,  both 
of  whom  were  born  in  Germany,  coming  to  this  country  in  the  fifties  and 
reaching  Michigan  in  1864.  To  this  union  ten  children  have  been  born, 
seven  of  whom  are  living:  Thomas  F,,  August  J.,  Maggie,  Christopher, 
Louis,  Jacob  and  Charles. 

As  is  characteristic  of  Germans  as  a  race,  Mr,  KKick  is  thrifty,  economi- 
cal and  industrious,  and  his  farm  shows  in  its  appointments  and  in  the 
satisfactory  returns  from  the  sale  of  its  produce  the  painstaking  care  and 
thought  that  he  has  expended  in  improving  it.  The  farm  comprises  sixty- 
nine  acres,  set  to  apples,  pears,  plums,  cherries,  and  including  two  acres 
devoted  to  the  raising  of  strawberries.  This  is  the  second  farm  that  our 
subject  has  owned  in  this  township,  the  first,  consisting  of  eighty  acres, 
having  been  disposed  of  to  Mr.  E.  L.  Hutchinson. 

Mr.  Kluck  and  his  ,'^ister,  Mrs.  Pauline  Geske,  wife  of  August  Geske, 


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H1ST(JRY  OF  AI.LEGAX  COUXTY  253 

a  sketch  of  whose  Hfe  appears  elsewhere,  are  the  only  members  of  their 
father's  family  that  came  to  this  country. 

August  Geske,  whose  postoffice  is  Femwille,  is  a  member  of  the  Fruit 
Growers'  Association  and  a  representative  fanner  and  fruit  grower  of 
Manlius  township.  He  was  born  in  Germany  and  spent  the  early  years  of 
his  life  there.  In  conformity  to  the  German  military  law  he  was  pressed 
into  the  army  service  when  he  arrived  at  the  proper  age  and  served  his 
native  country  for  five  years,  being  in  active  service  in  the  German-Austrian 
war.  Again  in  1870-71  he  took  part  in  active  service  in  the  war  between 
Germany  and  France,  and  was  twice  wounded  in  engagements. 

In  1873  Mr.  Geske  began  to  fee!  a  great  longing  to  see  the  United 
States,  and  as  many  another  German  farmer  has  done  packed  up  his 
belongings  and  emigrated  to  America,  settling  in  Douglas,  Michigan,  where 
he  resided  until  1881,  moving  in  that  year  to  Manlius  township  and  settling 
on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides.  This  farm  at  that  time  contained 
but  sixty  acres,  but  he  has  added  to  it  from  time  to  time  until  now  it  con- 
tains one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  choice  farming  and  fruit  land, 
brought  to  its  present  high  state  of  cultivation  by  the  energy  and  enterprise 
of  Mr.  Geske. 

He  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  scientific  fruit-growers  in  the  "fruit 
belt"  of  Michigan,  but  has  not  devoted  his  entire  thought  to  tiiat  branch  of 
agriculture,  doing  instead  general  farming,  which  has  proved  satisfactory 
and  lucrative. 

Mr.  Geske  was  married  to  Miss  Pauline  Kluck,  to  whom  seven  childrer. 
have  been  born,  five  of  whom  are  living :  Frank,  August.  John,  Rose  and 
Mary,  all  of  whom  were  born  in  Allegan  county. 

George  A.  Hare,  proprietor  of  the  "Walnut  Grove  Farni"  in  Manlius 
township,  was  born  in  the  township  in  which  he  now  resides  in  1859.  Here 
he  was  raised  and  received  his  education.  He  is  a  son  of  Adolphus  and 
Hannah  (Daily)  Hare,  the  former  of  whom  is  a  native  of  New  York  state 
and  the  latter  bom  in  Ohio.  They  moved  to  Michigan  in  1845  ^"d  Pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  uncleared  land  as  a  homestead.  This  was  entirely 
cleared  and  improved  before  their  death.  Adolphus  Hare  was  a  veteran  of 
the  Civil  war.  having  served  as  a  member  of  Company  H.  Third  Michigan 
Cavalry.  His  death  occurred  July  22,  1864.  at  Duvalls  Bluff,  Arkansas, 
his  wife  surviving  him  imtil  1902.    Their  family  consisted  of  twelve  children. 

George  A.  Hare  as  a  young  man  worked  at  railroading,  but  tiring  of 
this  occupation  moved  to  Indiana,  where  he  followed  farming  for  three 
years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  returned  to  Manlius  township,  where  he 
has  devoted  himself  since  to  farming  and  fruit  growing  on  a  farm  of  two 
hundred  acres.  He  raises  apples,  plums  and  cherries,  in  addition  to  straw- 
berries and  small  fruits  generally, 

Mr.  Hare  has  been  married  three  times,  first  to  Miss  Mary  Johnson, 
second  to  Miss  Romain  McKinister,  to  whom  one  child  was  born,  a  daughter 
named  Minnie,  and  third  to  Miss  Louisa  Rosenow,  by  whom  he  has  had 
two  children,  WaHer  G.  and  Vera,  While  not  being  an  ardent  politician 
Mr.  Hare  has  served  'his  township  in  the  capacity  of  pathmaster.  Socially 
he  holds  a  membership  in  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 


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354  HISTORY  OV  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Chakles  H.  Hanson,  of  Manlius  township,  whose  postoffice  is  New 
Richmond,  is  of  New  England  descent,  having  been  born  in  Bath,  Maine, 
in  1834,  where  he  was  raised  and  educated.  He  has  in  his  work  shown 
marked  ability  in  both  mechanical  and  agricultural  lines.  He  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  B.  and  Mary  P.  (Bloom)  Hanson,  both  natives  of  Maine. 

Our  subject  moved  to  Michigan  in  1866  and  settled  on  his  present 
farm,  then  a  part  of  the  virgin  forest  and  consisting  of  two  hundred  acres. 
This  he  gradually  improved  and  has  erected  on  it  two  modern  and  substan- 
tial dwelling  houses,  in  one  of  which  he  resides.  The  original  farm  of  two 
hundred  acres  has  been  reduced  to  fifty-five,  seven  of  which  are  now  devoted 
to  the  raising  of  fruit. 

Mr.  Hanson  is  a  practical  man  of  affairs  and  enjoys  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  his  fellows.  He  has  held  various  township  offices  for  the  past 
twenty  years,  among  which  are  those  of  moderator  of  the  school  board  and 
school  director,  while  for  twenty  years  he  was  township  clerk.  He  now 
counts  thirty-seven  years  of  continuous  and  faithful  service  in  the  employ 
of  the  Pere  Marquette  Railway  as  watchman  on  the  bridge  crossing  the 
Kalamazoo  river,  and  at  the  same  time  has  charge  of  and  runs  the  steam 
pump. 

His  marriage  occurred  in  1855  to  Martha  A.,  daughter  of  Samuel  B. 
and  Elizabeth  Appleton.  This  union  has  been  blessed  by  four  children, 
namely:  Clara,  Ida,  Charles,  Jr.,  and  Samuel.  The  former  two  were  born 
in  Illinois  and  the  two  latter  in  Michigan. 

Isaac  Lamoreux,  for  many  years  identified  with  the  lumber  and  agri- 
cultural interests  of  Manlius  township,  is  a  son  of  the  Empire  state,  having 
been  bom  in  Orange  county,  New  York,  November  27,  1830.  His  parents 
came  from  New  York  in  1845  and  took  up  their  abode  in  Manlius  township. 
With  them  were  their  eight  children,  all  born  in  the  state  of  New  York, 
viz.;  Martha,  Isaac  (our  subject),  John  G.,  Hannah,  Seth,  Quincy,  Ellen 
E.  and  Sarah  J.  Three  more  children  were  born  to  them  in  Allegan  county, 
namely:  Lyman,  George  and  Elmer.  Of  the  entire  family  there  are  now 
surviving  but  three:     Isaac,  George  and  Ellen  E. 

Thomas  Lamoreux  and  his  family  settled  in  section  8,  on  a  property 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  extent  and  part  of  the  original  forest.  Here 
they  suffered  the  usual  hardships  of  pioneers,  having  to  depentJ  almost 
entirely  on  their  own  resources  for  even  the  necessities  of  life.  After 
the  second  year  of  their  residence  here  they  were  able  to  raise  the  material 
not  only  of  food  but  with  which  to  manufacture  their  clothing.  There 
being  plenty  of  game  and  fish,  their  table  was  supplied  without  stint  with 
what  the  present  generation  considers  as  classified  among  the  luxuries.  The 
Indians  were  very  plentiful  in  those  years  in  Michigan,  but  were  fortunately 
inclined  to  be  friendly.  Thomas  Lainoreux  was  a  man  of  influence  and 
good  standing  in  his  community,  and  was  honored  with  the  election  at 
various  times  to  the  offices  of  supervisor,  township  treasurer  and  highway 
commissioner.  His  death  occurred  in  1862.  As  their  name  would  indicate, 
the  Lamoreux  family  were  of  French  descent  and  emigrated  to  this  country 
before  the  Revolutionary  war,  in  which  struggle  they  took  an  active  part 
in  defense  of  Colonial  independence. 

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MR.  AND  MRS.  CHARLES   H.  HANSON 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  S55 

lumber  business  and  rafted  considerably  on  the  Kalamazoo  river.  Subse- 
quently he  turned  his  attention  to  agriculture,  and  owned  at  one  time  nearly 
all  the  land  in  and  around  what  is  now  the  city  of  New  Richmond.  The 
first  farm  consisted  of  eighty  acres,  fifty  of  which  were  soon  cleared.  The 
farm  lay  in  section  8.  Mr.  Lamoreiix  subsequently  engaged  in  the  fruit 
growing  interests,  but  now  devotes  his  time  exclusively  to  stock  raising  on 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres. 

In  1862  our  subject  entered  the  Union  Army  as  first  lieutenant  of 
Company  L,  Fourth  Michigan  Cavalry,  and  rendered  his  service  with  dis- 
tinction, being  honorably  discharged  in  1863.  In  local  affairs,  those  which 
concern  the  people  at  large,  Mr.  Lamoreux  has  always  taken  a  lively  interest, 
and  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  his  fellow  citizens  is  shown  in  tlie 
fact  that  he  represented  them  in  many  public  offices,  among  which  are  those 
of  supervisor,  constable,  moderator,  moderator  of  school  board  and  highway 
commissioner. 

Mr.  Lamoreux  was  married  in  1866  to  Miss  Amanda  Stewart  and  to 
them  were  born  six  children,  five  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  namely: 
Eleanor,  a  storekeeper  and  the  present  postmistress  of  New  Richmond,  an 
office  which  she  has  faithfully  served  for  the  last  nine  years;  George,  Kate, 
now  deceased;  Ida,  the  wife  of  Lesley  Sherman,  and  Owen. 

Mr.  Lamoreux  can  well  feel  a  satisfaction  as  the  evening  shadows  of 
his  life  are  growing  longer  when  he  looks  back  over  sixty  years  of  resi- 
dence in  Manlius  township  and  can  know  that  his  personal  endeavors  have 
added  much  to  the  material  welfare  of  his  vicinity,  and  in  looking  in  the 
future  that  when  the  time  comes  to  answer  the  call  of  the  "grim  reaper" 
he  may  feel  that  he  is  missed  from  his  accustomed  place  in  the  community 
and  that  his  name  will  be  remembered. 

James  H.  Pierce,  who  owns  and  operates  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in 
Saugatuck  township,  was  born  in  Bristol  county,  Massachusetts,  March  21, 
1822,  and  is  the  only  representative  in  AUegan  county  of  the  family  of 
Abiel  and  Elizabeth  (Cushman)  Pierce,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Massachusetts.  The  father  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  a  good  mechanic. 
The  family  numbered  three  sons  and  two  daughters :  Francis,  deceased : 
James  H. ;  Harriet,  who  has  also  passed  away;  Abiel,  who  was  a  soldier  of 
the  Civil  war ;  and  Elizabeth,  deceased. 

James  H.  Pierce  was  reared  in  the  county  of  his  nativity  to  his  fifteenth 
year,  and  during  that  period  attended  the  public  schools  near  his  father's 
home.  He  then  left  the  parental  roof  and  shipped  on  a  whaling  vessel, 
whose  fishing  ground  was  the  Indian  ocean.  The  cruise  lasted  three  years, 
after  which  Mr.  Pierce,  having  enough  of  sea-faring  life,  returned  to  his 
home.  In  1840  he  went  to  Buffalo,  where  he  learned  the  tinsmith's  trade, 
after  which  he  went  to  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and  for  a  year  he  was 
employed  at  his  trade  in  that  city.  He  purchased  a  pleasure  boat,  which  he 
sailed  for  two  seasons  in  taking  pleasure  parties  along  the  coast.  Subse- 
quently he  went  to  Canada,  where  he  again  was  employed  as  a  tinsmith  and 
later  removed  to  Cleveland,  Ohio.  The  year  1842  witnessed  his  arrival  in 
Michigan,  but  he  only  passed  through  the  state  at  that  time,  his  destination 
being  Chicago,  where  he  remained  for  two  and  a  half  years,  when  he  took 
up  his  abode  at  Leland,  Illinois,  where  he  entered  the  hardware  business. 


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^50  HISTORY  OF  AIXEGAX  COUNTY 

During  his  residence  there  he  acted  as  postmaster  of  the  town  for  two  years 
and  at  the  same  time  carried  on  his  agricultural  interests.  Removing  to 
Clifton,  Illinois,  he  was  also  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  there  and 
at  that  place  acted  as  treasurer  of  the  school  board  for  three  years.  He 
devoted  twenty-nine  years  altogether  to  the  hardware  business  and  came 
direct  from  Clifton  to  Saugatuck  township,  Allegan  county,  in  November, 
1879.  At  that  date  he  purchased  his  present  farm,  comprising  eighty  acres, 
of  which  but  ten  acres  had  been  cleared,  while  the  buildings  were  small  and 
in  a  bad  state  of  repair.  Today  this  is  a  beautiful  and  attractive  farm 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  the  place  is  devoted  to  general  agri- 
cultural pursuits  and  fruit  growing.  The  orchards  contain  two  hundred 
apple  trees.  Mr.  Pierce,  however,  is  gradually  concentrating  his  energies 
more  and  more  largely  upon  general  farming.  He  is  practical  in  all  that 
he  does  and  keeps  in  touch  with  the  spirit  of  modern  progress  as  manifest 
in  agricultural  and  horticultural  Hfe. 

On  March  7,  1850,  Mr.  Pierce  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Rachel 
Read,  a  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Elizabeth  Read.  They  have  ?>ecome  the 
parents  of  ten  children,  six  of  whom  reached  years  of  maturity;  Ernest  F,, 
Mrs.  Clara  Starkey,  H,  C,  Albert  H.,  Flora  and  Archie  R.  Mr.  Pierce 
has  now  passed  the  eighty-fourth  milestone  on  life's  journey.  Few  men  of 
his  years  are  more  active  or  are  more  closely  associated  with  business  life. 
In  spirit  and  interests,  however,  he  seems  yet  in  his  prime  and  he  takes  no 
unimportant  part  in  the  work  of  the  farm,  which,  under  his  supervision 
has  been  brought  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  improvement,  being  one 
of  the  well  equipped  farms  of  Saugatuck  township.  Whatever  success  he 
has  achieved  in  life  is  attributable  entirely  to  his  own  efforts,  for  when 
fifteen  years  of  age  he  started  out  in  Ufe  on  his  own  account.  He  had  many 
varied  and  interesting  experiences  during  his  cruise  in  the  waters  of  the 
Indian  ocean  and  also  in  his  later  travels  in  this  country.  Becoming  pos- 
sessed of  a  laudable  ambition  to  make  a  comfortable  home  for  his  family 
and  acquire  a  competence  for  his  declining  years,  he  then  settled  down  to 
the  hardware  business,  and  his  close  application  and  careful  management 
brought  him  a  gratifying  degree  of  prosperity  in  this  work.  Later  he  made 
investments  in  land  in  Michigan  and  his  present  valuable  farm  property  is 
the  result. 

Arthur  Kool,  whose  postoffice  is  New  Richmond,  is  a  representative 
farmer  of  Manlius  township.  He  is  a  native  of  Holland,  having  been  born 
in  that  country  in  1841,  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1870  to  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  resides.  His  parents  were  Maurice  and  Hannah  J. 
Koo!,  whose  family  consisted  of  ten  children,  two  of  whom  came  to  this 
country. 

Mr.  Kool  was  married  first  to  Miss  Coba  Greenwalt,  to  whom  three 
children  were  born :  Maurice,  Garret  (deceased)  and  Henry  A.  His  second 
wife  was  a  Miss  Jane  Smith,  and  their  children  number  five,  in  the  following 
order  of  birth :  Dena,  Coba,  Sarah,  Jennie  and  Henry.  Mr.  Kool  and  his 
family  are  loyal  members  of  the  Reformed  church. 

The  farm  on  which  our  subject  now  resides  comprises  one  hundred 
and  fifty-seven  acres  and  is  one  of  the  most  productive  farms  of  its  size  in 
that  section  of  the  state.     The  work  of  clearing  and  improving  the  place 


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MR.  AN])  MRS.  ARTHUR  KOOL 


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HISTORY  (>!■  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  357 

has  all  been  the  work  of  the  present  owner  and  has  well  repaid  the  labor 
expended  upon  it.  The  buildings  are  as  fine  as  any  to  be  seen  in  this 
section  and  would,  in  fact,  be  a  credit  to  any  farm.  In  1904  Mr.  Kool 
experienced  a  loss  of  thirty-five  hundred  dollars  as  the  result  of  a  fire  on 
his  property,  but  not  daunted  by  this  misfortune  he  rebuilt,  and  on  a  more 
substantial  scale  than  before. 

Centers  of  Northeast  Allegan  County. 
Wavland. 

Wayland  village  found  its  inception  in  the  boom  times  of  the  late 
sixties,  was  incorporated  as  a  village  a  few  years  after  its  founding,  and  has 
continued  with  little  change  in  population  though  with  a  substantial  basis 
of  industry  and  trade.  A  short  time  after  its  incorporation,  according  to 
the  census  of  1870,  the  village  had  585  inhabitants.  The  figures  for  the 
succeeding  decades  were:    In  1880,  546;  in  1890,  533;  in  1900,  619. 

Wayland  township  being  one  of  the  first  to  be  settled  of  those  situated 
away  from  the  Kalamazoo  river,  it  was  natural  that  centers  of  population 
should  be  formed.  Chambers  Corners  was  a  crossroads  site,  named  in  honor 
of  Nelson  Chambers,  who  had  located  on  section  5  in  1838.  Others  who 
settled  near  him  were  A.  P.  Erownson.  Joseph  Heydenberk  and  John 
Parsons.  A  schoolhouse  was  built,  as  related  in  the  history  ot  schools,  and 
when  the  plank  road  was  built  through  in  1854  a  movement  was  started 
toward  the  establishment  of  a  center  at  this  point.  Nelson  Chambers  built 
the  Wayland  House  for  travelers'  entertainment  and  the  convenience  of  the 
site  caused  the  removal  to  this  point  of  the  first  postoffice  in  the  township, 
the  one  that  had  been  established  at  the  Barnes  Mill  on  Rabbitt  river. 
During  the  fifties  several  well  known  families  located  here,  members  of 
which  have  lived  here  to  the  present  time  and  been  foremost  in  business  and 
village  activities,  among  them  the  Clark  and  Hoyt  families,  personal  histories 
of  whom  follow.  Among  the  early  merchants,  beginning  with  i860,  were 
Oliver  Edwards.  Theodore  D.  Van  Valkenburg,  W.  E.  White,  J.  M.  Berry, 
Clark  and  Henika. 

.  The  first  village  plat  laid  out  in  this  vicinity  was  given  the  name  of 
Lomax  City,  including  land  about  the  mill  and  tannery  of  Israel  Kellogg, 
a  short  distance  north  of  the  Corners.  Several  additions  were  made,  and 
when  the  board  of  supervisors  incorporated  the  village  the  name  of  Wayland 
was  permanently  assigned  to  the  place. 

In  1865  Wayland  had  a  population  of  about  175,  half  a  dozen  business 
firms,  several  physicians,  and  had  a  good  basis  of  growth  in  the  surrounding 
country.  In  the  latter  part  of  that  decade  two  railroad  lines  were  building 
through  the  county  in  the  vicinity  of  Wayland.  and  the  prospects  for  village 
growth  were  very  bright  indeed.  The  road  from  Allegan,  which  was  the 
first  to  be  completed,  did  not  pass  through  Wayland,  however,  but  gave 
inception  to  the  rival  settlement  of  HilHards,  which  attracted  some  of  those 
who  had  located  at  Wayland  in  anticipation  of  the  railroad.  But  within 
a  few  months  the  Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana  reached  Wayland,  thus  securing 
the  business  and  population  that  had  located  there.  However,  as  already 
mentioned,  the  village  has  not  increased  in  size  since  that  time  until  the  last 
few  years. 


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258  inSTORY  OF  ALLECJAK  COUNTY 

During  the  period  of  rapid  increase  in  population  and  business  between 
1865  and  1870,  the  county  board  of  supervisors  were  requested  to  incor- 
porate the  village,  and  this  was  done  at  the  fall  meeting  of  i868.  At  the 
first  village  election,  December  7,  1868,  the  total  number  of  votes  cast  was 
121,  resulting  in  the  election  of  the  following  set  of  officials:  Edward  M. 
Fitch,  president ;  Henry  C.  Garrett,  clerk ;  Norton  Briggs,  treasurer ;  William 
E.  White,  Alfred  H,  Bostwick,  George  W.  Pease,  Isaac  Buskirk,  James  F. 
Halbert  and  Robert  B.  Deuel,  trustees;  Edwin  E.  Hoyt,  marshal;  Dan  G. 
Slade,  poundmaster.  The  principal  officials  for  the  following  years  are 
given  in  the  Official  Lists. 

Bradley  is  the  only  other  locality  of  Wayland  township  to  be  mentioned 
as  a  center.  Occupying  a  block  of  land,  mainly  east  of  the  railroad  and 
extending  east  along  the  road  dividing  section  19,  the  plat  of  Bradley,  laid 
out  by  Josiah  E.  Harding  and  Elijah  Colby,  was  recorded  November  9, 
1870,  having  been  surveyed  by  J.  W.  Hicks,  It  is  a  center  of  population 
rather  than  of  business,  although  its  one  hundred  and  fifty  inhabitants  and 
the  surrounding  country  support  several  stores  and  minor  places  of  business. 
Bradley  owes  its  origin  to  a  postoffice  that  was  established  in  the  early 
days  at  the  house  of  David  Bradley  in  section  28.  In  1854,  when  the  plank 
road  was  completed,  the  postoffice  was  moved  from  the  original  location  to 
be  on  the  route  of  travel.  Joel  Brownson  and  others  had  located  near  the 
site  and  a  hotel,  a  store,  a  sawmill  and  other  enterprises  located  there. 

Hon.  David  Stockdat^e. — To  perform  all  of  life's  duties  well  as  they 
presented  themselves  to  htm,  and  at  the  same  time  constantly  seeking  to 
increase  his  knowledge  and  to  improve  his  condition,  seems  to  have  been  an 
innate  characteristic  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  as  a  consequence  he 
has  al!  through  life  constantly  ascended  in  his  career,  ever  improving  his 
surroundings  and  before  middle  age  reaching  a  position  very  high  in  the 
communitj'  where  so  much  of  his  life  has  been  passed.  Few  men  who 
began  life's  real  duties  at  the  blacksmith's  forge  have  been  possessed  of 
sufficient  intelligence  and  power  of  application  to  obtain  a  liberal  education 
and  to  become  so  thoroughly  posted  along  certain  lines  as  to  be  able  to  enter 
upon  a  professional  career  and  to  succeed  therein,  and  Hon.  David  Stockdale 
is  one  of  these  few. 

Mr.  Stockdale  is  of  English  birth  and  comes  of  good  old  British  stock. 
His  parents  were  William  and  Jane  (Pridgeon)  Stockdale,  also  of  English 
birth,  who  came  to  America  in  1854,  locating  in  Branch  county,  Michigan, 
where  the  remainder  of  their  lives  were  passed  and  where  they  died  each 
at  about  the  age  of  eighty  years.  His  father  was  a  farmer  in  this  country 
and  was  a  man  of  sterling  character,  while  his  mother  was  a  true  and  noble 
woman  in  every  sense  of  the  term.  Their  son  David  was  born  in  Wainfleet, 
Lincolnshire,  England,  July  26,  1838.  His  early  education  was  obtained  at 
a  private  school  at  Croft,  England,  where  he  studied  until  he  was  twelve 
years  of  age.  Then  he  was  bound  out  as  an  apprentice  to  learn  the  black- 
smith trade,  the  period  of  his  apprenticeship  being  six  years.  Thus,  when 
he  had  served  his  time  and  attained  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  had  his 
trade  well  learned,  but  his  other  earthly  possessions  consisted  merely  of  a 
suit  of  clothes.  He  worked  as  a  journeyman  blacksmith  for  four  vears  and 
came  to  America  and  Michigan  in  1858,  whither  his  parents  had  preceded 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  359 

him  several  years.  He  located  at  Wayland,  Allegan  county,  where  he  estab- 
lished a  blacksmith  shop,  conducting  the  same  until  1864.  In  the  following 
year  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Wayland  township  and  operated  the  same  for 
three  years.  While  at  the  blacksmith's  anvil  he  became  interested  in  legal 
affairs  and  read  law,  and  continued  his  studies  in  this  direction  throughout 
his  farm  life  and  after  his  removal  to  the  village  of  Wayland,  which  occurred 
in  1868.  This  has  been  his  home  ever  since,  although  he  has  been  called 
upon  to  reside  a  number  of  years  at  the  county  seat  when  holding  office. 

Mr.  Stockdale's  eminent  fitness  for  the  performance  of  the  duties  of 
public  office  have  led  to  his  selection  on  numerous  occasions  to  positions  of 
trust  and  responsibility.  He  was  supervisor  of  Wayland  township  for  ten 
years  and  was  also  chairman  of  the  county  board  of  supervisors  for  one 
year.  For  twenty-four  years  he  has  been  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  in  this 
office  he  improved  the  ample  opportunity  for  the  study  of  the  law.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1884  and  has  since  this  time  been  a  general  prac- 
titioner. During  his  residence  in  Wayland  Mr.  Stockdale  has  served  almost 
continuously  upon  the  village  board  of  trustees  and  has  been  president  of 
Wayland  village  for  no  less  than  nine  years.  In  1885  he  was  elected  as 
probate  judge  of  Allegan  county  and  was  twice  re-elected,  filling  this 
responsible  position  for  twelve  continuous'  years.  In  1905  he  was  elected 
as  a  member  of  the  Michigan  state  legislature  and  performed  his  duties  in  so 
satisfactory  a  manner  that  his  party  placed  him  in  nomination  again  for  a 
second  term.  During  his  first  term  at  Lansing,  although  a  new  member, 
he  was  placed  upon  some  of  the  more  important  standing  and  special  com- 
mittees and  performed  most  capable  and  efficient  work  thereon.  He  served 
upon  the  committee  on  elections  and  his  activity  thereon  resulted  in  the 
passage  of  the  direct  nominations  law,  commonly  called  the  primary  reform 
law,  which  was  enacted  by  the  legislature  of  1905  and  which  had  its  first 
trial  by  the  people  of  the  state  of  Michigan  in  1906.  He  also  served  upon 
the  committee  for  the  amendment  and  revision  of  statutes  of  the  state  of 
Michigan  and  was  chairman  of  the  committee  having  in  charge  the  affairs 
of  the  Michigan  state  prison  at  Jackson,  But  his  main  committee  work  was 
done  upon  the  direct  nominations  law,  concerning  which  there  was  more 
interest  manifested  by  the  general  public  than  any  other  new  laws  passed 
by  the  legislature  of  1905. 

Mr.  Stockdale  has  been  a  lifelong  Republican  and  has  always  taken  a 
deep  interest  in  the  doings  of  his  party.  He  has  been  a  power  in  local 
politics,  active  in  all  party  matters  and  served  as  chairman  of  the  county 
Republican  county  committee  for  fifteen  years.  He  has  been  delegated 
to  represent  his  township,  county  and  district  at  very  many  conventions  and 
has  missed  but  one  state  Republican  convention  in  forty  years,  going  nearly 
every  time  as  a  delegate. 

Mr.  Stockdale  was  married  in  1859  to  Miss  Susan  A.  Young,  who  died 
in  1872,  leaving  three  children:  William  H.,  who  is  in  the  employ  of  the 
Rock  Island  Railroad  Company  at  Kansas  City,  Missouri;  David  A.  Way- 
land,  of  Wayland ;  and  John  B.  Stockdale,  who  is  the  law  partner  of  his 
father,  the  firm  name  being  David  Stockdale  &  Son.  Mr.  Stockdale  was 
married  a  second  time,  in  1874,  to  Miss  Mary  E,  Doxey,  of  Shelhvville, 
and  one  child  resulted  from  this  union,  Leila  M.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Geo,  E, 
Ryno,  of  Wayland, 


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2C,0  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN   COL'XTY 

The  third  son,  John  B.  Stockdale,  who  is  the  law  partner  of  his  father, 
was  born  at  Wayland  November  28,  1866,  and  his  entire  Hfe  has  been 
passed  in  this  vicinity,  with  the  exception  of  the  years  spent  in  acquiring 
his  education.  He  graduated  in  the  Wayland  schools  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen years.  After  two  years  spent  in  teaching  school  he  entered  the  probate 
office  at  Allegan  as  clerk  and  as  soon  as  he  had  attained  the  required  legal 
age  he  was  made  probate  register  under  his  father,  who  was  at  that  time 
probate  judge.  He  graduated  from  the  Valparaiso  Law  School  of  Indiana 
in  1897  and  from  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan  in 
1898.  His  first  law  practice  was  at  Owosso,  where  he  remained  for  three 
years  and  where  he  was  also  county  circuit  court  commissioner.  Returning 
to  Wayland  he  entered  into  partnership  with  his  father,  where  he  has  since 
remained.  Mr.  John  B.  Stockdale  was  married  November  21,  1889,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  H.  Crissenberry,  of  Greencastle,  Indiana.  Like  his  father,  Mr. 
Stockdale  has  been  chosen  many  times  to  fill  public  offices.  He  has  been 
township  clerk  of  Wayland  and  is  also  at  present  justice  of  the  peace  for 
his  township,  besides  being  circuit  court  commissioner  for  Allegan  county. 
For  several  years  he  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  village  board  of  trustees. 
He  also  is  active  in  the  Republican  ranks  and  is  often  chosen  to  represent  his 
constituents. 

From  the  foregoing  it  will  be  seen  that  the  Hon.  David  Stockdale  has 
led  a  remarkably  active  and  useful  life  and  that  he  stands  high  in  the  regard 
of  his  fellow  men.  From  comparatively  humble  beginnings  he  has  ascended 
the  scale  of  life,  achieving  honor,  a  competence  and  rearing  a  family  the 
members  of  which  have  become  useful  members  of  society.  He  is  a  man 
of  the  kind  which  form  the  bulwark  of  this  great  nation  and  it  is  evident 
that  he  has  still  before  him  many  years  of  usefulness. 

WiLLi.^M  Ledr.^  Heazlit  IS  oiie  of  the  oldest  merchants  in  Wayland 
and  he  has  for  nearly  a  half-century  been  closely  identified  with  the  business 
interests  of  the  town.  He  was  bom  in  Strongviile,  Cuyahoga  county.  Ohio, 
October  20,  1843,  his  parents  being  Edwin  and  Elizabeth  Heazlit.  His 
father  was  a  farmer  and  he  died  when  William  L.  was  only  thirteen  years 
of  age.  thus  throwing  the  lad  in  a  great  measure  upon  his  own  resources. 
In  1861  he  came  to  Michigan  and  located  in  Wayland,  working  for  several 
years  at  different  occupations,  and  in  1864  went  to  Nashville.  Tennessee, 
where  he  remained  for  six  months  in  the  employ  of  the  government.  His 
mother,  an  invalid  for  more  than  thirty  years,  also  became  a  resident  of 
Wayland,  where  she  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years. 

After  his  southern  experience  young  Heazlit  returned  to  Wayland  and 
began  his  mercantile  career.  It  was  in  1865  that  he  began  clerking  for 
Mr.  J.  M.  Berry,  the  pioneer  merchant  of  Wayland,  and  as  was  the  custom 
of  the  day,  our  subject  agreed  to  labor  three  years  in  learning  the  business, 
receiving  one  hundred  dollars  for  the  first  year's  work,  two  hundred  dollars 
for  the  second  year,  and  three  hundred  dollars  for  the  third  year,  these  sums 
of  money  being  in  addition  to  his  board  and  lodging.  That  he  was  an 
efficient  helper  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  after  the  expiration  of  the 
period  of  Ms  apprenticeship  he  remained  with  Mr.  Berry  as  long  as  the  latter 
lained  in  business  in  Wayland. 

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HISTORY  OF  ALLE(;AX  COUXTY  261 

and  being  anxious  to  get  into  business  for  himself,  Mr.  Heazlit  became  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Heazlit  &  Henika.  In  1875  the  business  again 
changed  hands  and  was  known  as  Heazlit  &  Brisban,  and  in  1878  Mr. 
Heazlit  became  the  sole  proprietor.  This  year  he  purchased  the  store 
property  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Main  and  Superior  streets  and  here  a 
most  flourishing  business  was  done.  In  January,  1883,  the  store  and  stock 
were  destroyed  by  fire,  and  although  the  loss  was  a  severe  one,  Mr.  Heazlit 
with  rare  courage  again  established  himself  in  business.  In  the  spring  of 
1884  he  began  the  erection  of  a  brick  building  on  the  site  of  the  one 
destroyed,  completing  it  in  the  autmnn  of  the  same  year.  It  is  a  handsome 
structure,  twenty-four  by  eighty  feet  in  size  and  built  of  brick  and  stone 
Here  Mr.  Heazlit  has  conducted  business  ever  since  and  here  is  to  be  found 
a  remarkably  large  and  well  selected  stock  of  goods,  ranging  in  wholesale 
value  from  eight  thousand  dollars  to  ten  thousand  dollars.  It  is  a  most 
popular  trading  place  for  the  people  of  Wayland  and  vicinitv  and  the  annual 
sales  run  as  high  as  eighteen  thousand  dollars.  These  are  evidences  of  the 
personal  popularity  of  Mr.  Heazlit,  coupled  with  his  honorable  business 
methods.  He  understands  thoroughly  the  needs  of  the  people  of  this  section 
and  his  long  experience  has  made  him  a  shrewd  buyer  and  an  excellent  judge 
of  all  kinds  of  merchandise.  His  business  has  been  built  up  by  aiming  to 
give  patrons  full  value  for  their  money  every  time,  and  his  trade  goes  on 
increasing  from  year  to  year.  Business  reverses  have  been  his,  to  be  sure, 
but  each  time  he  has  re-entered  the  battle  with  a  determination  to  re-establish 
himself,  and  each  time  he  has  been  eminently  successful  in  his  endeavors. 

Mr.  Heazlit  was  married  May  2,  1872,  to  Miss  Ella  E.  Lewis,  daughter 
of  George  F.  and  Eliza  Lewis,  and  two  children  were  the  residt  of  this 
union :  Ray  L.  is  a  successful  cotton  broker  at  Mobile,  Alabama,  and  the 
daughter,  Dora  E.,  holds  a  responsible  position  as  bookkeeper  in  the  same 
southern  city.  The  latter  is  a  graduate  of  the  Wayland  high  school  and  of 
the  Kalamazoo  Seminary.  Mrs.  Heazlit.  who  has  been  a  faithful  helpmeet 
for  her  hu.'iband,  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church  and  of  the 
Ladies'  Aid  Society  in  connection  therewith.  Fraternally  Mr.  Heazlit  is  a 
member  of  the  local  Masonic  bodies  and  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

Although  he  is  essentially  a  very  busy  man,  nevertheless  he  has  found 
time  to  perform  his  duties  of  a  public  nature  and  has  served  upon  the  village 
council  and  as  village  treasurer.  He  has  always  wisely  considered  his  inter- 
ests as  identical  with  those  of  the  whole  village  of  Wayland  and  in  conse- 
quence he  has  always  labored  for  the  advancement  of  the  place  in  every 
way.  He  is  public  spirited  and  has  ever  been  a  friend  of  the  public  schools 
and  other  institutions  of  learning,  while  to  those  who  have  been  unfortunate 
in  life  he  is  alwaj-s  ready  to  extend  a  helping  hand. 

Dr.  Edward  <!).  H.anlon.— In  the  medical  profession  in  Michigan  today 
we  find  a  number  of  young  physicians  who  have  not  only  been  highly  suc- 
cessful in  the  practice  of  their  particular  profession,  but  who  have  also 
become  interested  in  various  outside  enterprises  which  are  of  benefit  to  the 
communities  in  which  they  reside  and  the  duties  of  which  bring  to  them 
needed  change  an<l  relaxation  from  their  regular  arduous  duties.  Such 
an  example  we  find  in  Dr.  Edward  O.  Hanlon.  a  leading  physician  of 
Wayland,  whose  career  thus  far  in  life  has  been  a  most  successful  one. 


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262  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUiSiTY 

Dr.  Hanloii  is  a  native  of  Middleville,  Barry  county,  Michigan,  where 
he  was  bom  November  21,  1869.  His  father,  Dr.  Amos  Hanlon,  has  been 
a  general  practitioner  of  medicine  in  Middleville  for  the  past  thirty-five 
years  and  where  he  is  still  located,  his  life  being  a  busy  one,  filled  with 
the  cares  of  his  practice,  his  duties  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Pension 
Examiners  for  Barry  county  and  in  the  operation  of  a  farm  at  Middleville. 

The  son,  Edward  C,  obtained  his  early  education  in  the  public  school 
of  Middleville  and  graduated  in  the  high  school  there.  His  spare  time 
was  spent  in  the  drug  store  of  his  father,  with  whom  he  also  began  the 
study  of  medicine.  With  the  practical  and  useful  knowledge  thus  obtained 
it  was  natural  that  he  should  wish  to  continue  his  studies  and  accordingly 
he  entered  the  Hahnemann  Medical  College  at  Chicago,  where  he  took  a 
most  thorough  course,  graduating  with  honors  in  the  class  of  1893. 
Although  always  closely  associated  with  his  father  all  his  life,  he  resolved 
to  establish  himself  independently  and  accordingly  soon  after  his  grad- 
uation he  came  to  Wayland  and  opened  an  office.  That  his  choice  was  a 
wise  one  has  since  been  demonstrated,  for  success  has  been  his  from  the 
start.  He  is  a  general  practitioner  of  the  healing  art  and  his  ministrations 
cover  a  very  wide  territory  hereabouts.  He  is  also  well  known  beyond 
the  immediate  confines  of  his  home  and  is  a  member  of  a  number  of 
medical  societies,  inchiding  the  State  Medical  Society  and  the  Grand  Rapids 
and  Kalamazoo  District  Medical  Society.  He  owns  a  small  farm  upon 
and  within  the  borders  of  the  village  of  Wayland  and  a  portion  of  this  is 
already  platted  into  town  lots.  His  residence,  in  fact,  stands  upon  a  portion 
of  this  farm,  although  close  to  town  and  upon  Main  street.  Dr.  Hanlon  has 
been  president  of  the  Wayland  State  Bank  ever  since  its  reorganization  as 
a  state  institution,  and  he  is  interested  in  other  local  enterprises.  Politically 
he  is  a  Republican  and  alive  to  the  best  interests  of  his  party,  being  active 
in  conventions  and  other  political  gatherings.  His  interest  in  educational 
affairs  has  led  to  his  selection  as  a  member  of  the  village  school  board,  a 
position  which  he  still  holds.  Like  other  intelligent  men  he  knows  that  our 
public  schools  are  the  Nation's  bulwark  and  he  believes  in  a  liberal  support 
of  the  same. 

Dr.  Hanlon  was  tmited  in  marriage  October  10.  1894,  with  Miss  Louise 
Hudson,  the  step -daughter  of  Mr.  E.  W.  Pickett,  and  their  wedded  life 
has  been  a  particularly  happy  one.  They  have  three  interesting  children — 
Russell,  Harold  and  Margaret.  Fraternally  Dr.  Hanlon  is  affiliated  with 
the  Masons,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the  Knights  of  the 
Maccabees.  He  is  prominent  in  business  circles,  is  devoted  to  his  profession 
and  is  ever  working  for  the  best  interests  of  Wayland.  Although  not  a 
lifelong  resident  here,  he  believes  in  the  future  of  the  town  and  is  highly 
pleased  with  his  own  prospects. 

DeWitt  Clinton  Shattuck. — -One  of  the  oldest  merchants  in  Allegan 
county  is  DeWitt  Clinton  Shattuck,  who.  although  long  past  the  allotted 
years  of  three  score  and  ten,  is  still  to  be  found  managing  his  large  mercan- 
tile establishment  at  Wayland,  where  he  has  been  located  in  the  same  line 
for  over  a  (juarter  of  a  century.  During  the  seventy-odd  years  of  his  life 
Mr.  Shattqck  has  had  varied  experiences  and  has  been  engaged  in  many 
different  enterprises,  in  nearly  all  of  which  he  has  succeeded. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  263 

Mr.  Shattiick's  ancestors  came  from  Wales  about  the  middle  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  when  two  brothers,  John  and  David  Sliattuck,  came 
from  that  country  to  America  and  settled  in  the  state  of  New  York.  John 
had  no  children  and  the  Shattucks  in  this  country  are  all  descended  from 
the  other  brother,  David.  This  David  Shattuck  secured  a  tract  of  land  on 
Ashford  Mountain,  which  later  passed  into  the  hands  of  his  son,  David,  the 
paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject.  Our  subject's  father,  Steven  Shat- 
tuck, was  bom  on  Ashford  Mountain,  although  this  tract  of  land  was 
afterward  sold  and  another  large  tract  bought  by  the  family  near  Albany, 
including  an  island  in  the  Hudson  river.  During  the  War  of  the  Revolu- 
tion this  land  near  Albany  was  sold  and  payment  for  the  same  made  in 
Continental  currency,  which  was  then  good,  although  afterward  the  govern- 
ment repudiated  the  currency  and  thus  the  family  lost  a  large  amount  of 
money.  In  this  connection  it  is  interesting  to  note  that  after  Steven  Shat- 
tuck's  death  our  subject,  DeWitt  C,  found  among  his  eifects  an  eight-dollar 
bill  of  the  Continental  currency,  probably  a  portion  of  the  money  paid  for 
the  old  family  estate,  and  the  finder,  considering  the  bill  absolutely  worth- 
less, excepting  as  a  curiosity,  gave  it  to  a  minister  of  the  gospel  in  the 
Empire  state,  who  expressed  a  desire  to  have  it.  A  few  years  ago  Mr. 
Shattuck  discovered  that  this  bill,  as  a  relic,  had  a  very  large  monetary 
value  and  that  he  might  have  obtained  a  very  large  sum  for  it.  After  the 
sale  of  the  Albany  tract  the  family  removed  to  Oswego,  New  York,  and 
from  this  time  there  can  be  traced  two  distinct  lines  of  the  family.  The 
old  country  practice  of  leaving  the  bulk  of  the  family  property  to  the  eldest 
son  prevailed  and  thus  one  branch  of  the  family  rolled  in  wealth  while  the 
other  line  were  in  only  moderate  circumstances.  To  this  latter  branch 
belonged  the  subject  of  this  review,  hence  he  has  been  compelled  to  make 
his  own  way  in  life,  achieving,  however,  a  great  measure  of  success. 

DeWitt  C.  Shattuck  was  born  in  Oswego,  New  York,  Aiigiist  8,  1829. 
and  liis  early  life  was  passed  there.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  accom- 
panied his  brother,  Seth,  to  Michigan,  and  soon  after  their  arrival  they 
established  a  general  store  at  Kalamazoo.  In  his  younger  years  DeWitt 
had  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he 
had  been  bound  out  to  work  for  a  storekeeper  in  the  east,  so  that  he  was 
very  well  versed  in  these  lines,  with  a  particular  aptitude  for  the  mercantile 
line.  Seth  in  a  few  years  was  obliged  to  retire  from  the  business  and  for 
a  number  of  recent  years  he  has  lived  at  Cadillac,  this  state.  DeWitt 
returned  to  New  York  and  for  the  next  two  years  conducted  a  general 
store  at  Martville,  tliat  state.  Then  he  returned  to  Kalamazoo  and  in  a 
few  years  purchased  a  farm  in  Barry  county,  where  he  remained  for 
eighteen  years,  during  which  time  he  cleared  one  himdred  and  forty-five 
acres  of  new  land.  While  a  resident  of  Barry  county  that  great  conflict,  the 
Civil  war,  began.  Being  of  a  patriotic  nature  he  enlisted  in  the  First 
Michigan  Cavalry.  Although  enhsting  as  a  saddler,  he  was  soon  detailed 
as  assistant  surgeon  and  this  was  his  work  during  nearly  the  whole  of  his 
period  of  service,  which  was  two  years.  During  the  first  month  of  his 
enlistment  he  had  the  small-pox  and  upon  recovering  his  surgeon  recom- 
mended him  for  hospital  duty.  He  was  surgeon  of  the  small-pox  ward  at 
Remount  Camp,  Pleasant  Valley,  Virginia,  and  here  he  had  charge  of  forty 
small-pox  patients.     In    1865   he  was  sent   to    Salt  Lake   City,   Utah,    for 


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364  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

hospital  service  and  was  there  at  the  close  of  the  war.  After  the  war  he 
returned  to  his  Barry  county  farm,  where  he  remained  until  1876.  Then 
he  purchased  a  farm  in  Wayland  township  and  remained  thereon  until 
1882,  when  he  established  a  general  store  in  the  village  of  Wayland,  con- 
tinuing' in  this  line  ever  since  and  conducting  business  at  the  same  location. 

In  the  fire  of  1892,  which  burned  a  number  of  stores  in  Wayland,  his 
store  and  stock  of  goods  were  destroyed,  entailing  a  loss  of  seven  thousand 
dollars.  The  insurance  rate  was  almost  prohibitive  and  he  was  without 
any  protection  of  this  character.  With  commendable  courage  and  enter- 
prise Mr.  Shattuck  at  once  rebuilt  a  store  upon  the  old  site.  The  building 
is  as  nearly  fireproof  as  it  is  possible  to  make  one,  it  having  two  double 
walls  of  cement  blocks,  with  a  three-inch  air  space  between.  The  structure 
is  admirably  adapted  to  the  purposes  for  which  it  is  used  and  it  contains  a 
remarkably  well  assorted  stock  of  general  merchandise  which  will  inventory 
ten  thousand  dollars  or  more.  Here  can  be  found  anything  usually  carried 
in  a  store  of  this  character  and  a  fine  trade  is  enjoyed,  the  sales  .reaching 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars  per  year. 

Mr.  Shattuck  was  married  at  Kalamazoo  in  1865  to  Miss  Maria 
Antoinette  Wilcox  and  their  wedded  life  of  nearly  forty-five  years  was  a 
particularly  happy  one,  terminating  in  1901  by  her  death.  Although  eight 
children  were  born  to  them,  only  two  reached  mature  vears ;  Florence  is 
the  wife  of  Charles  M.  Slas,  of  Wayland;  Hugh,  the  son,  is  associated  with 
his  father  in  business.  Hugh  is  married  to  Alice  E.  Crittenden  and  they 
have  two  children^Vere  G.  and  Jerome  C. 

During  his  long  residence  in  Wayland  Mr.  Shattuck  has  always  assisted 
in  the  building  up  of  the  town  and  he  possesses  the  confidence  of  the  citi- 
zens as  well  as  of  the  residents  of  a  wide  territory.  He  is  a  pioneer  in 
mercantile  circles,  but  keeps  ever  abreast  with  modern  ways.  Upon  numer- 
ous occasions  he  has  been  solicited  to  fill  offices  of  a  piiblic  character,  but 
has  persistently  refused,  feeling  that  his  own  business  should  receive  all 
of  his  time  and  attention. 

Ei.i  F.  Clark. — The  life  history  of  Mr.  Eli  F.  Clark,  one  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  Wayland.  is  in  its  way  a  history  of  the  development  of  the 
great  middle  west  of  our  country  from  pioneer  conditions  to  its  present 
high  status  of  intelligence  and  prosperity.  Originally  of  English  ancestry, 
the  Clarks  were  among  the  sturdy  frontiersmen  who  pushed  their  way  from 
the  older  eastern  states  into  the  mysteries  of  the  forests  lying  west  of  them, 
and  in  doing  so  aided  materially  in  the  development  of  Ohio,  Michigan  and 
other  neighboring  states.  Our  subject's  paternal  grandfather  was  Jason 
Qark,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  who  was  one  of  the  very  first  settlers  of 
Geauga  county,  Ohio,  which  was  at  that  time  a  part  of  the  great  Western 
Reserve.  He  acquired  several  farms  in  Geauga  and  Lake  counties,  Ohio, 
and  was  also  the  owner  of  Clark's  Mountain,  where  our  subject's  father, 
Jaimison  Clark,  was  born,  and  which  has  retained  the  Qark  name  to  this 
day.  The  date  of  Jaimison  Clark's  birth  was  July  3,  1818,  and  he  passed 
the  early  part  of  his  life  in  Ohio,  where  he  owned  a  farm  in  Lake  county 
which  had  formerly  been  the  property  of  his  father,  Jason  Clark.  Here 
he  was  married  to  Louisa  Brewer,  a  native  of  England,  who  came  to  this 
country  with  her  parents  when  about  twenty-two  years  of  age.     From  this 


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HISTORY  OF  alle(;a\  couxty  ;;go 

union  there  were  four  children,  who  grew  to  maturity;  Eli  Foster  Clark, 
the  subject  of  this  review;  Charles  E.,  who  entered  the  Civil  war  and  died 
in  1866  from  the  effects  of  army  life  when  only  twenty-two  years  old; 
Ellen,  who  was  the  first  primary  school  teacher  in  Wayland  and  who  thus 
taught  for  many  years  until  her  health  failed,  she  passing  away  in  1878; 
Elva.  the  youngest,  who  has  also  been  a  school  teacher  for  years  in  this 
locality. 

In  1854  Jaimison  Clark  sold  his  farm  in  Ohio  and  started  for  Michigan 
with  his  family,  traveling,  as  was  the  necessity  in  those  days,  by  wagon. 
When  near  BHssfield,  Lenawee  county,  Michigan,  his  wagon  broke  down, 
and  as  it  was  late  in  the  season  and  work  presented  itself,  he  decided  to 
stay  there  during  the  winter.  In  the  following  spring  several  families  who 
had  been  their  neighbors  in  Ohio,  the  Aliens  and  the  I'anners,  passed 
through  Blissfield  on  their  way  to  seek  homes  in  Illinois,  and  they  persuaded 
the  Clarks  to  accompany  them  there.  This  they  did,  locating  at  Marengo, 
about  seventy-five  miles  northwest  of  Chicago.  After  three  years'  residence 
here  Jaimison  Clark,  tired  of  the  prairie  and  believing  that  the  Michigan 
pine  air  would  be  good  for  him.  he  disposed  of  his  Dhnois  interests  and 
started  for  Michigan,  finally  locating  at  Wayland.  where  he  and  his  family 
made  a  pernianent  home.  The  old  neighbors  who  had  traveled  with  them  to 
Illinois  also  came  to  Michigan  and  settled  near  Wayland.  Jaimison  Clark 
was  not  a  man  of  robust  health,  but  in  spite  of  this  he  was  a  hard  worker 
and  accomplished  a  great  deal  in  life.  When  the  Mormons  were  at  Kirtland, 
Ohio,  he  was  active  in  maintaining  order  during  the  troubles  incidental  to 
their  presence  there  and  helped  to  save  much  property.  In  this  connection  it 
is  interesting  to  note  that  the  old  Mormon  temple  still  stands  at  Kirtland,  it 
now  being  used  as  a  town  polling  place.  Jaimison  Clark's  death  occurred 
August  18.  1869.  while  his  widow  survived  imtil  October  10,  189T.  Roth 
were  people  of  force  and  character  and  Mrs.  Clark  was  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  church. 

Eli  Foster  Clark  was  born  in  the  old  Mormon  town  of  Kirtland.  Lake 
county,  Ohio,  July  5.  1841,  and  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Illinois  and 
on  their  return  to  Michigan.  Although  nearly  all  his  life  on  the  farm,  more 
or  less,  his  principal  avocation  has  been  in  connection  with  the  lumbering 
and  timber  interests.  In  1864  he  spent  six  months  at  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
as  an  employe  of  the  government,  but  aside  from  this  his  life  has  been 
mainly  spent  in  the  vicinity  of  \\'ayland.  In  his  early  manhood  he  worked 
at  any  respectable  employment  that  offered  itself,  attending  school  when 
possible  in  the  winter  time.  In  1867  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business 
at  Wayland  in  company  with  F.  B.  Henika  and  continued  in  this  line  for 
twelve  years.  Then  he  turned  his  attention  more  to  timber  and  did  an 
extensive  business  in  this  line  for  years.  He  purchased  the  interest  of  Mr. 
Gamwel!  in  the  bending  works  of  Hick  &  Gamwell  and  an  extensive  busi- 
ness was  done.  A  large  sawmill  was  built.  Over  two  million  feet  of  pine 
was  cut  here  and  when  this  variety  of  timber  wag  gone  attention  was  paid 
to  other  varieties.  The  bending  works  turned  out  vast  quantities  of  wagon 
material  and  the  Battle  Creek  threshing  machine  factories  were  also  supplied 
with  the  frames  for  their  machines.  Hemlock  and.  other  timbers  were 
shipped  in  from  the  northern  coimties  and  were  manufactured  into  useful 
material.    All  this  has  given  Mr.  Clark  a  most  valuable  experience  and  he 


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2(ili  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

is  today  acknowledged  one  of  the  leading  timber  authorities  of  this  part  of 
the  state.  In  1899  Mr.  Clark  sold  out  his  lumber  manufacturing  interests, 
since  which  time  he  has  devoted  his  attention  to  farming  and  fruit  growing, 
in  which  he  first  became  interested  some  fifteen  years  ago.  Mr.  Clark 
has  a  most  productive  farm  two  and  one-half  miles  southeast  of  Wayland, 
which  is  devoted  to  peach  and  plum  growing,  and  in  which  his  son,  Charles 
Arthur  Clark,  is  also  interested.  This  farm  lies  high  on  a  hill,  natural 
peach  ground,  and  has  produced  as  high  as  three  thousand  bushels  of  fine 
peaches  in  a  single  season.  Mr.  Roland  Morrill,  the  Benton  Harbor  fruit 
expert,  pronounces  the  Clark  farm  as  making  as  good  a  showing  as  any 
fruit  farm  in  Michigan.  Another  farm  of  sixty-five  acres  close  to  Wayland 
is  devoted  largely  to  onions,  and  here  is  a  marvellous  production.  The 
average  yield  is  three  hundred  and  fifty  bushels  per  acre,  while  from  one 
acre  there  were  secured  eight  hundred  bushels. 

Mr.  Clark  was  married  December  23,  1868,  to  Miss  Mary  Jane 
McMartin,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Jane  A.  (Powers)  McMartin,  who  were 
pioneer  residents  of  Gun  Plains  township,  Allegan  county.  Mr.  McMartin 
was  a  native  of  New  York  state,  while  Mrs.  McMartin  was  born  in  Vermont, 
coming  with  her  family  to  Michigan  in  1833.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McMartin 
were  among  the  very  first  to  locate  in  this  part  of  the  state  and  she  was  one 
of  the  first  school  teachers  in  Allegan  county.  Mrs.  Clark's  father,  Daniel 
McMartin,  was  always  an  ardent  Republican  and  he  was  frequently  elected 
to  public  office,  being  justice  of  the  peace  for  Allegan  county  and  also  serv- 
ing his  district  in  the  state  legislature  in  1862.  The  McMartins  were  Scotch 
Presbyterians  and  they  were  always  active  in  church  work.  One  sister, 
of  Mrs.  McMartin  married  Rev.  George  M.  Smith,  a  missionary  to  the 
Indians,  who  devoted  his  life  to  this  work.  He  was  at  Black  Lake  until  the 
Hollanders  came  and  then  accompanied  his  Indian  friends  to  Northport 
and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  among  them.  A  sister  of  Mrs,  Clark's 
married  William  E.  Hoyt  and  resided  at  Wayland  until  his  death,  since 
which  time  she  has  lived  at  Bearden,  Arkansas.  Mrs.  Clark's  parents 
removed  to  Kalamazoo  in  1865,  where  the  remainder  of  their  lives  were 
passed. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  have  two  sons,  Charles  A.  and  Glenn  E.,  both  of 
whom  are  associated  with  their  father  in  the  conduct  of  his  farms.  Charles 
A.  married  Miss  Lizzie  Avery. 

Mr.  Eli  F.  Clark  is  a  staunch  Republican,  a  political  faith  of  which 
Mrs.  Clark  is  also  a  firm  adherent.  She  is  active  in  social  and  society  work 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Ladies'  Library  Association  of  Wayland.  She  first 
came  to  Wayland  as  a  school  teacher,  at  a  time  when  her  husband's  father 
was  director  of  the  district,  and  thus  began  an  acquaintance  which  finally 
ripened  into  love  and  a  lifelong  union.  She  has  taught  music  for  twenty- 
five  years  and  being  possessed  of  considerable  literary  ability  and  being 
interested  deeply  in  this  portion  of  the  state  has  assisted  in  writing  a  local 
history  which  possesses  much  of  interest. 

Mr,  Qark  has  always  been  an  ardent  sportsman.  A  part  of  the  present 
farm  was  once  a  runway  for  deer,  and  many  times  has  Mr.  Clark  watched 
there  for  the"  coming  of  these  timid  animals.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Gun 
Lake  Hunting  Club  and  his  outings  are  enjoyed  at  Gun  Lake,  where  he 
has  fished  every  year  but  one  for  the  past  forty-nine  years.    This  estimable 


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couple  have  performed  much  of  life's  arduous  labors,  but  they  still  have  a 
keen  zest  for  the  best  iu  life  and  their  comfortable  Iiome  is  the  center  for 
much  enjoyable  hospitality. 

Dr.  J.  E.  Brv.son. — The  history  of  the  medical  profession  in  Wayiand 
contains  the  names  of  a  number  of  good  physicians  and  it  is  interesting  to 
note  the  advancement  the  profession  has  made  here  as  well  as  elsewhere 
and  to  compare  the  pioneer  experiences  with  the  present  day  conditions.  It 
is  related  by  the  older  residents  that  when  the  first  physician  located  here. 
Dr.  Remington,  the  inhabitants  were  so  notoriously  healthy  that  the  gentle- 
man could  not  secure  enough  patients  to  make  a  living,  so  he  put  in  his 
spare  time  working  in  Hoyt's  shingle  mill.  But  later  years,  with  its  increase 
in  population  and  the  demand  for  capable  men,  have  brought  intelligent  and 
able  members  of  the  medical  profession  who  have  established'  themselves 
here,  winning  the  confidence  of  the  public  and  building  up  for  themselves 
lucrative  practice. 

One  of  these  is  the  subject  of  this  review.  Dr.  J.  E.  Brysoti,  who  has  a 
high  standing  in  the  profession  in  this  vicinity.  Dr.  Bryson  was  born  Octo- 
ber 15,  i86i,  at  Hillsborough,  Highland  county,  Ohio.  When  only  five  years 
of  age  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  a  farm  near  Greenfield,  Ohio,  and 
here  his  father  died  four  years  later.  At  twelve  years  of  age  he  accom- 
panied the  family  to  Antwerp.  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to  young  manhood,  and 
in  1880  he  went  with  his  mother  to  Washington  Court  House,  Ohio.  Here 
he  worked  at  the  carpenter  trade  for  three  years.  Relieving  that  the  west 
held  forth  better  inducements  for  getting  on  in  the  world,  he  went  in  the 
fall  of  1883  to  Pilot.  Nebraska,  where  he  took  up  one  hundred  an<l  sixty 
acres  of  government  land.  At  Broken  Bow,  Nebraska,  July  15,  1885,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Blanche  E.  Benton,  of  Fort  Wayne, 
Indiana,  and  from  that  time  until  1890  they  resided  upon  their  Nebraska 
homestead,  where  their  two  children  were  born.  Then  removing  with  his 
family  to  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  Dr.  Bryson  became  interested  in  the  healing 
art  and  decided  to  take  up  the  study  of  medicine.  Accordingly  he  began  a 
course  at  the  Physio- Medical  College  of  Indiana,  located  at  Indianapolis, 
and  attended  lectures  for  three  years,  when  he  graduated  in  the  class  of 
1895.  Following  his  graduation  in  March,  he  in  May  of  the  same  year 
removed  to  Bradley,  Michigan,  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
After  six  years'  residence  at  Bradley  he  came,  in  June  of  1901.  to  Wayiand, 
which  has  since  been  his  home.  Here  Dr.  Brv.son  has  been  eminently 
successful.  lie  is  devoted  wholly  to  his  practice,  is  a  close  student  and 
keeps  ever  abreast  with  the  great  advancement  in  the  medical  world.  Thus, 
with  his  great  natural  ability  it  is  no  wonder  that  his  services  are  in  demand 
not  only  in  Wavland  alone,  but  for  many  miles  around.  He  is  probably 
the  only  practicing  physician  in  Allegan  county  who  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Physio-Medical  College  of  Indianapolis,  an  institution  which  has  turned 
out  some  excellent  practitioners. 

Two  daughters  have  been  born  to  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bryson:  Gladys,  the 
eldest,  is  a  graduate  of  the  Wayiand  high  school,  and  Goldie,  the  younger, 
is  now  a  student  therein.  Dr.  Bryson  has  for  a  number  of  years  been 
affiliated  with  the  Masons  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 


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;;ri,s  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Arthur  H.  Clark. — The  luinbering  business  has  been  an  important 
industry  in  the  state  of  Michigan  for  many  years,  and,  although  the  opera- 
tions are  not  of  such  magnitude  as  in  former  years,  nevertheless  it  is  of 
great  importance  stUl,  and  engaged  in  this  line  of  trade  we  find  some  of 
the  leading  men  of  the  state.  Mr.  Arthur  H.  Clark  was  brought  up  in 
this  line  and  his  many  >"ears'  experience  has  given  him  a  most  valuable 
knowledge  of  all  branches  of  the  work.  Mr.  Clark  was  born  in  Castile, 
New  York,  July  20,  1855,  and  he  was  a  resident  of  the  Empire  state  until 
lie  had  reached  the  age  of  eleven  years,  since  which  time  his  home  has  been 
in  Michigan. 

His  father  was  Henry  E.  Clark  and  his  mother's  maiden  name  was 
Nancy  M.  Smith.  Henry  B.  Clark  was  a  pioneer  lumberman  in  Wyoming 
county,  New  York,  where  he  was  engaged  in  this  line  for  a  number  of 
years,  owning  the  first  planing  mill  in  the  town  of  Castile.  Seeing  the 
possibilities  in  Michigan  timber  he  came  to  the  Wolverine  state  in  1866  and 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  here,  where  he  was  always  more  or  less 
interested  iii  the  line  of  lumber  manufacturing.  The  senior  Mr.  Clark  was 
also  a  noted  apiarist  and  all  his  life  he  gave  a  great  deal  of  attention  to  bee 
culture.  At  one  time  he  owned  nearly  eight  hundred  colonies  of  bees,  which 
were  stationed  in  different  parts  of  Allegan  and  Barry  counties,  and  his 
annual  output  of  honey  reached  several  tons.  His  interest  in  bees  and  his 
connection  with  the  manufacture  of  lumber  led  him  to  invent  and  manufac- 
ture improved  bee  hives  and  sectional  honey  compartments,  and  it  is  said 
that  his  sectional  hives  were  the  first  to  be  produced  in  the  United  States. 
The  Clarks  came  to  Wayland  in  1878,  where  they  built  saw  and  planing 
mills  and  ttirned  out  vast  quantities  of  bee  supplies.  Here  also  Henry  B. 
Clark  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life,  passing  away  in  189S  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years. 

Brought  up  as  he  had  been  in  the  lumbering  business  and  having  been 
for  so  many  years  associate<I  with  his  father  in  the  latter 's  various  enter- 
prises, it  was  but  natural  that  the  son  should  continue  in  the  same  lines. 
In  his  young  manhood  he  had  learned  the  trade  of  wagon  maker  and  this 
he  followed  during  the  early  part  of  his  career.  In  1882-83  ^^  ''^*^1  charge 
of  a  stave  mill  in  Saginaw  county,  btit  later  he  returned  lo  Wayland  and 
again  engaged  in  business  with  his  father.  The  manufacturing  end  of  the 
business  was  kept  up  and  much  done  in  the  bee  line  while  the  planing  mill 
turned  out  large  quantities  of  work  for  interior  finishing  an<l  some  other 
specialties.  In  1892  a  retail  lumber  yard  was  started  in  connection  with  the 
other  business  and  of  late  years  this  has  been  an  important  adjunct.  As  is 
generally  the  case  with  saw  and  planing  mills,  Mr.  Clark  suffered  serious 
losses  by  fire  and  has  been  three  times  burned  out.  his  total  losses  in  this 
line  being  not  less  than  ten  thousand  dollars.  Each  timt^  however,  he  has 
with  indomitable  courage  and  energy  rebuilt  his  mills  and  now  he  has 
arranged  his  buildings  at  some  distance  from  each  other,  so  tliat  in  case  of 
fire  there  is  a  chance  to  save  some  of  the  propertv.  Mr.  Clark  is  thoroughly- 
versed  in  lumber,  is  a  good  business  man  and  his  enterprises  have  been  of 
inestimable  value  to  Wayland  and  vicinity. 

He  was  married  in  his  twentieth  year,  in  November,  1874.  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Carpenter,  of  Illinois,  and  although  they  have  no  children  of 
their  own,  still  their  home  has  been  brightened  by  the  presence  of  two 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLn:(7A\  COL'XTY  2C9 

adopted  children.  Anna  Plant  made  her  home  with  them  from  the  time 
she  was  four  years  old  until  her  marriage,  while  Edward  Terry,  a  son  of 
Mrs.  Clark's  niece,  was  born  in  the  Clark  home  and  still  lives  there,  he  now 
being  a  bright  lad  of  eight  years.  Although  essentially  a  very  busy  man. 
still  Mr.  Clark  finds  time  for  pleasure  and  recreation.  He  is  an  enthusiastic 
hunter  and  each  autumn  or  winter  sees  liim  in  northern  Michigan,  spending 
a  few  weeks  in  hunting.  He  is  generally  successful  in  his  pursuit  of  game 
and  exhibits  some  fine  trophies  of  the  chase.  He  also  has  a  cottage  at  Gun 
Lake  and  spends  much  time  during  the  summers.  He  is  also  an  autoist, 
owning  a  fine  machine,  and  he  finds  good  roads  and  plenty  of  sport  in  this 
line  at  the  lake.  Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  the  K. 
O.  T.  M..  both  of  the  local  lodges  being  fine  social  organizations.  He  has 
f)assed  all  of  the  chairs  in  the  Odd  Fellows'  Lodge  and  been  a  representa- 
tive to  the  Grand  Lodge,  and  has  also  been  commander  of  the  Maccabee 
lodge  for  three  or  four  years.  He  is  also  an  attendant  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  and  gives  support  to  this  society.  Mr.  Clark  is  an  all  round 
genial  man  whom  it  is  a  pleasure  to  meet.  Although  deeply  interested  in 
his  flourishing  business  he  keenly  enjoys  the  social  side  of  life  and  enters 
into  innocent  enjoyment  with  all  the  zest  of  a  boy.  He  is  an  important  factor 
in  the  life  of  Wayland  and  his  home  is  a  most  popular  one, 

Is.\AC  Newton  Hovt.— Wayland  and  vicinity  have  contained  many 
men  who  had  much  to  do  with  the  lumber  interests  of  ^Michigan,  but  none 
of  them,  perhaps,  has  to  his  record  more  of  accomplishment  in  this  direc- 
tion than  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  review,  Mr.  Isaac  N.  Hoyt. 
He  was  connected  with  this  line  of  business  for  more  than  forty  years  and 
his  operations  in  pine  and  other  timber  have  been  extensive. 

Mr,  Hoyt  was  born  in  Lafayette,  Onondaga  county.  New  York,  Octo- 
ber I.  1834.  he  being  one  of  a  faimly  of  eleven  children.  His  father  died 
when  he  was  only  seven  years  old  and  in  consequence  he  went  to  live  with 
other  relatives,  where  he  remained  until  he  reached  the  age  of  sixteen  years. 
Then,  desiring  to  earn  his  own  hving  and  become  more  independent,  he 
went  to  Lockport.  New  York,  and  engaged  in  the  line  which  was  to  occupy 
so  much  of  his  after  life.  He  found  employment  in  a  shingle  mill  at  Lock- 
port  and  here  he  remained  for  three  years,  obtaining  meanwhile  a  good 
practical  knowledge  of  the  business.  Then,  attracted  by  the  emigration 
westward,  he  went  to  Kalamazoo,  ATichigan,  where  he  went  to  work  in  a 
machine  shop.  He  had  been  there  but  a  short  time  when  Detroit  parties 
with  a  new  machine  for  shingle  making  came  to  the  shop  wdiere  he  was 
engaged  to  purchase  an  engine  to  furnish  power  for  a  shingle  mill  they 
intended  to  establish  in  Allegan  coimty.  Meeting  young  Hoyt  and  learning 
of  his  previous  experience  in  the  shingle  manufacturing  line,  thev  engaged 
him  to  labor  in  their  new  mill.  This  was  first  established  near  Shelbyville, 
but  there  being  a  scarcity  of  desirable  timber  there,  it  was  later  removed  to 
Wayland.  Mr,  Hoyt  accompanying  it.  In  the  spring  of  t8,=;5  he  was 
induced  to  go  to  Michigan  City,  Indiana,  where  were  located  his  brothers. 
Edwin  and  William.  There  he  remained  until  the  spring  of  18^7,  working 
in  the  car  shops.  But  his  memories  of  Wayland  and  the  advantages  it 
offered  were  so  strong  that  he  resolved  to  return  here  and  he  induced  his 
two  brothers  to  accompany  him.     At  Wayland  they  established  a  shingle 


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270  HISTC^RY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY 

mill  and  our  subject  continued  in  this  line  until  soon  after  the  outbreak  of 
the  war  of  the  rebellion.  Then  he  enlisted,  in  August,  1862,  in  the  First 
Michigan  Engineers  and  Mechanics,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
in  June,  1865. 

Returning  to  Wayland  he  engaged  in  business  with  Marvin  Burnett 
and  they  operated  a  shingle  mill  at  Dorr  for  three  years.  Then  he  returned 
to  Wayland  and  engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  which  he  followed  until 
his  retirement  in  1893.  The  lumber  business  now  conducted  by  A.  H. 
Clark  at  Wayland  is  the  one  established  by  him  and  which  he  conducted  for 
so  many  years. 

Mr.  Hoyt's  marriage  occurred  November  21,  1858,  when  he  was  united 
with  Miss  Ellen  Truman.  She  was  born  October  17,  1836,  in  Burton, 
Geauga  county,  Ohio,  where  her  girlhood  years  were  spent  with  her  par- 
ents. She  came  to  Wayland  in  1857  and  the  following  year  her  acquaint- 
ance with  Mr.  Hoyt  having  ripened  into  love,  she  was  united  in  marriage 
with  him.  This  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Lillian  E.  is  the  wife  of  H.  F.  Buskirk;  Elmer  T.  died  in  infancy; 
Fanny,  the  youngest,  resides  at  home  with  her  parents. 

Although  seventy-two  years  of  age,  Mr.  Hoyt  still  enjoys  the  outdoor 
sports,  and  he  has  for  many  years  been  an  annual  hunter  in  the  Upper 
Peninsula  and  many  trophies  testify  to  his  skill  in  the  hunting  line.  In  the 
heated  season  his  cottage  at  Gun  Lake  also  affords  him  much  enjoyment 
and  he  is  an  ardent  disciple  of  Isaak  Walton.  His  has  been  an  active  hfe, 
and  now  that  he  is  retired  from  business  he  keenly  enjoys  these  innocent  di- 
versions. He  has  been  a  Mason  for  the  past  thirty-eight  years,  and  bears 
the  distinction  of  being  the  oldest  member  of  this  fraternity  raised  to  the 
third  degree  in  the  Wayland  lodge.  He  is  deeply  interested  in  Masonic  mat- 
ters and  has  upon  several  different  occasions  sat  in  the  Michigan  Grand 
Lodge.  As  is  consistent  with  his  army  record  he  is  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  and  is  a  past  commander  of  Sterling  Post  174,  His 
has  heen  a  long  and  honorable  career,  and  now  he  is  enjoying  a  well  de- 
served respite  from  the  active  duties  of  business. 

WiLLTAM  Stockdale,  One  of  Wayland's  sterling  citizens,  has  to  his 
credit  a  service  of  no  less  than  forty-seven  years  at  the  blacksmith's  anvil 
in  this  place,  he  having  retired  from  this  avocation  only  a  year  ago.  It 
has  been  a  long  period  of  honest  toil,  and  during  his  long  residence  here 
he  has  won  the  entire  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  entire  citizenship.  Mr. 
Stockdale  is  English  by  birth  and  ancestry,  he  first  seeing  the  light  of  day 
in  Lincolnshire,  that  country,  November  23,  1842.  His  parents  were  Will- 
iam and  Jane  (Pridgeon)  Stockdale,  who  spent  their  early  married  life  in 
Lincolnshire,  coming  to  America  in  1854,  when  our  subject  was  only  a  lad. 
They  located  in  Branch  county  on  a  farm,  where  the  remainder  of  their 
lives  was  passed,  each  being  close  to  eighty  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  their 
deaths.  William  Stockdale's  brother,  David  Stockdale,  had  learned  the 
blacksmith  trade  in  England  and  followed  his  trade  for  a  number  of  years 
after  coming  to  this  country.  He  established  a  shop  at  Wayland  and  here, 
at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  William  began  to  learn  the  trade  with  his 
father  in  Branch  county,  and  in  1859  joined  his  brother  at  Wayland.  In 
1862  he  opened  a  shop  of  his  own,  which  he  personally  conducted  for  forty- 


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fllSTORV  OF  ALT-EGAX  COUXTY  371 

three  years,  this,  with  the  two  years'  service  with  David  and  two  years 
with  his  father,  making  him  forty-seven  years  at  the  anvil.  He  has  been 
considered  as  an  expert  in  his  line,  and  commanded  a  trade  from  a  very 
wide  territory,  in  wagon  ironing,  horseshoeing  and  general  blacks mithing. 

His  good  judgment  and  eminent  fitness  for  positions  of  trust  and 
responsibility  have  led  to  his  selection  on  many  occasions  to  serve  his  towns- 
men in  a  public  capacity,  and  he  has  always  performed  his  duties  in  this 
direction  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  He  has  been  town- 
ship treasurer  of  Wayland  township,  and  since  the  incorporation  of  the 
village  of  Wayland  has  lieen  a  member  of  the  village  board  of  trustees  sev- 
eral terms,  besides  serving  as  village  president  for  four  terms.  He  was  an 
ardent  Democrat  until  the  Cleveland  presidential  administration,  and  since 
that  time  has  been  independent  in  his  views,  voting  for  the  men  whom  he 
considers  best  qualified  to  fill  the  offices  in  question.  As  is  so  natural  with 
many  blacksmiths,  he  has  always  been  a  lover  of  good  horses,  and  for  thirty 
years  he  has  been  a  breeder  of  good  roadsters  as  well  as  of  Percherons. 
He  has  owned  as  many  as  thirteen  horses  at  one  time,  among  them  some 
fast  ones,  and  he  has  been  chosen  many  times  to  act  as  judge  of  horses  at 
fairs  and  horse  shows. 

He  was  married  July  22,  1862,  to  Elizabeth  Murphy,  daughter  of 
James  and  Elizabeth  (Osterhaut)  Murphy,  the  former  being  a  carpenter, 
and  the  family  residing  in  Kalamazoo.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stockdale  are  the 
parents  of  six  children,  all  of  whom  are  living,  as  follows:  James  Henry 
is  a  blacksmith  at  Three  Rivers,  Michigan :  Charles  lives  in  Grand  Rapids, 
where  he  is  in  the  employ  of  the  street  railway  company ;  Alta  married  J. 
B.  Foster  and  their  home  is  in  Huron,  South  Dakota,  where  Mr.  Foster  is 
state  veterinarian:  Jennie  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  J.  T.  Walker,  pastor  of  the 
Congregational  church  at  Dowagiac,  Michigan;  Kate  is  now  the  wife  of 
John  Williamson,  a  contractor  at  Grand  Rapids ;  Nellie  May  is  a  successful 
saleslady  at  Grand  Rapids.  Alta  and  Jennie  were  formerly  considered 
among  the  best  school  teachers  of  Allegan  county,  and  they  followed  this 
profession  for  several  years  each. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Stockdale  is  a  Mason,  being  affiliated  with  the  lodges 
at  Wayland.  In  addition  to  his  love  for  fine  horse  flesh,  be  is  somewhat  of 
a  sportsman  and  enjoys  nothing  better  than  the  annual  hunting  trips  into 
the  northern  part  of  the  state,  where  he  has  good  success  in  capturing  big 
game. 

E.  H.  Ryno,  M.  D.— In  the  career  of  Dr.  E.  H.  Ryno,  of  Wayland,  we 
find  a  man  who,  after  a  quarter  of  a  century  spent  in  the  successful  practice 
of  medicine,  abandons  his  profession  and,  turning  his  attention  in  entirely 
different  channels,  achieves  another  notable  success  in  the  growing  of  fruit. 
Then,  not  content  with  merely  producing  the  fruit,  which  ofttimes  cannot  be 
marketed  at  the  proper  times,  or  its  real  value  being  depreciated  because  of 
a  temporary  drop  in  the  price,  he  turned  his  attention  to  this  phase  of  the 
question  and  solved  it  by  building  a  canning  factory  on  his  farm,  where  the 
fruit  could  be  prepared  for  consumption  which  might  not  come  for  manv 
months  ahead.  Thus  he  annihilated  the  constant  bugbear  of  the  fruit 
grower,  and  so  far  as  he  was  concerned  provided  for.  the  care  of  his  crop 
and  guaranteed  the  income  therefrom  to  be  somewhere  near  its  true  value. 


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272  HISTORY  (.)F  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

In  so  doing  he  has  also  not  benefited  himself  alone,  but  others,  for  his 
example  has  been  followed  in  many  instances. 

Dr.  R)'no  was  born  in  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  October  23,  1848,  and  that 
was  his  home  until  he  had  reached  the  age  of  fifteen  years.  Then  he  came 
with  his  parents  to  Kent  county,  Michigan,  and  was  on  the  home  farm  and 
also  a  student  in  the  Grand  Rapids  high  school  imtil  1870.  In  the  autumn 
of  that  year  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Hanlon,  at  Middle- 
ville,  Barry  county,  whicii  he  continued  for  several  years.  This  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  course  at  the  Hahnemann  Medical  College,  at  Chicago,  in  1874. 
In  1875  he  located  at  Wayland,  but  in  1879  returned  to  Chicago,  and  gradu- 
ated with  the  class  of  1880.  He  continued  most  successfully  in  practice  in 
Wayland  until  1894,  when  he  removed  to  his  farm  in  Wayland  township 
and  devoted  his  attention  to  fruit  growing,  a  line  which  he  has  followed 
ever  since,  and  in  which  he  has  been  engaged  since  1883.  Now  he  gives  but 
little  attention  to  medicine,  and  only  responds  when  there  is  an  urgent  and 
special  call  for  his  services. 

While  still  practicing  his  profession.  Dr.  Ryno  purchased  his  farm  a 
mile  and  a  half  oat  of  Wayiand  and  devoted  some  attention  to  fruh.  He 
accomplished  much  in  this  direction  before  and  since  he  removed  to  the 
farm.  He  set  out  his  fruit  orchard  in  1883,  and  his  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  is  mainly  devoted  to  fruit,  including  grapes  and  berries.  About  ninety 
acres  are  planted  to  good  varieties  of  upland  fruit,  and  he  is  one  of  the 
pioneers  in  successful  peach  growing  .in  this  immediate  vicinity.  Since 
his  first  crop  in  1895  he  has  missed  but  two  crops,  something  remarkable 
in  this  somewhat  uncertain  line.  He  has  given  the  fruit  question  no  little 
study  and  discovered  many  things  of  value  and  importance.  He  soon 
learned  that  in  the  marketing  of  the  crop  it  must  be  handled  carefully, 
swiftly,  and  placed  upon  the  market  in  prime  condition  to  bring  the  top- 
notch  prices,  and  that  frequently  it  was  impossible  to  so  market  the  fruit 
that  it  would  bring  anywhere  near  its  real  value.  It  was  hard  enough  to 
raise  the  fruit,  and  it  seemed  to  be  still  harder  to  market  it  properly.  Then 
it  was  that  Dr.  Ryno's  plan  was  formulated  to  erect  a  canning  factory,  and 
if  the  product  could  not  be  properly  sold  in  its  natural  state,  then  it  could 
be  canned  and  await  consumption.  Accordingly  he  built  and  equipped  a 
first  class  canning  factory  upon  his  own  farm  in  1901,  and  the  very  first 
year's  trial  proved  its  value,  canning  in  that  year  seven  thousand  bushels, 
in  1902  he  canned  eight  thousand  bushels  of  his  own  growing,  and  in  1905 
forty-two  hundred  bushels  were  cared  for  here,  besides  twenly-five  hundred 
bushels  which  were  placed  on  the  market.  The  facilities  of  the  factory 
were  ample  enough  to  care  for  his  entire  crop  if  required.  The  decision  is 
simple — if  the  prices  do  not  suit,  then  turn  the  product  info  the  factory. 
Dr.  Ryno's  factory  is  devoted  exclusively  to  his  own  crop.  In  addition  to 
peaches,  about  twelve  hundred  bushels  of  plums  are  also  raised  on  this 
farm.  Dr.  Ryno  does  a  little  in  the  way  of  general  farming,  and  he  has 
some  excellent  live  stock,  taking  particular  pride  in  his  flock  of  Shropshire 
sheep.  His  farm  is  well  cared  for  and  the  buildings  are  good  ones.  In 
addition  to  the  large  canning  factory,  which,  during  the  canning  season 
employs  over  one  hundred  hands,  he  has  a  large  warehouse  for  the  storing 
of  the  fruit  and  the  canned  goods.  Dr.  Ryno  was  married  in  his  twenty- 
eighth  year,  in  1876,  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Beamer,  of  Barry  county.     Their 


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MR.  AND  MRS.  VALENTINE  S.  FISH 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLECAN  COL'XTY  273 

union  has  been  blessed  with  the  birth  of  three  children,  as  follows :  George 
E.,  the  eldest,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Judge  Stockdale,  and  is  now  con- 
ducting his  father's  farm ;  Ear!  Roscoe  Ryno,  who  is  a  stockbroker  and 
special  promoter  in  Detroit,  where  he  is  also  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
St.  Claire  Automarine  Company,  and  who  married  Miss  Dedie  Brydle,  of 
Detroit;  and  Ethel,  who  lives  at  home  and  who  is  pursuing  her  studies  in 
the  public  schools. 

In  politics  Dr.  Ryno  is  a  Republican.  Never  an  aspirant  for  office 
himself,  still  he  has  been  active  in  politics  and  has  been  instrumental  many 
times  in  securing  offices  for  his  friends.  He  has  done  much  for  the  devel- 
opment of  the  fruit  industry  in  Wayland  and  vicinity,  winning  success  for 
himself  and  also  disseminating  his  acquired  knowledge  in  this  line  for  thi 
benefit  of  others. 

V.'iLENTiNE  S.  Fish,  who  in  company  with  his  son  conducts  a  livery 
business  in  Wayland,  is  a  native  of  the  Green  Mountain  state,  he  having 
been  born  at  Warren,  Vermont,  March  ii,  1842.  His  early  life  was  passe3 
upon  a  farm  there  until  1869,  when,  believing  that  the  west  offered  better 
advantages  for  a  young  man,  he  came  to  Michigan,  locating  first  at  Granf 
Rapids,  where  he  engaged  in  the  wholesale  meat  business,  having  one  of 
the  largest  establishments  of  its  kind  in  the  city  and  transacting  a  very  large 
volume  of  business.  In  18S1  he  sold  his  interests  in  Grand  Rapids  and 
came  to  Aliegan  county,  buying  the  D.  Parsons  farm,  one  mile  west  of 
Wayland.  He  kept  adding  to  this  farm  by  the  purchase  of  more  land 
until  he  had  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  He  transformed  this  property 
into  one  of  the  finest  stock  farms  in  western  Michigan,  making  valuable 
improvements  during  each  year  of  his  ownership.  A  handsome  residence 
was  erected,  the  same  being  thoroughly  modern  in  all  of  its  appointments, 
while  the  other  new  structures  he  built  included  a  fine  basement  bam  sixty 
by  sixty-two  feet  in  size  and  with  an  addition  twenty  by  forty  feet.  This 
barn  was  a  model  in  its  way,  the  interior  being  admirably  adapted  to  the 
purposes  for  which  it  was  used.  Mr.  Fish  had  some  advanced  views  in 
regard  to  cattle  breeding  and  these  he  put  into  successful  operation.  He 
made  a  specialty  of  Aberdeen  Angus  cattle,  and  in  a  very  few  years  he  had 
a  magnificent  herd  of  these  valuable  animals.  He  was  t!ie  first  one  in  this 
part  of  Allegan  county  to  breed  the  Aberdeen  Angus,  and  his  experience 
was  watched  with  interest.  His  herd  constantly  contained  from  seventy- 
five  to  ninety  head  of  this  breed,  and  they  were  the  choicest  of  their  kind. 
He  obtained  a  wide  reputation  as  a  breeder  of  the  Aberdeen  Angus,  and  as 
he  advertised  extensively  and  judiciously,  he  obtained  fancy  prices  for  his 
best  animals.  He  did  much  to  improve  the  standard  of  cattle  in  this  section 
and  demonstrated  the  fact  that  there  is  money  in  breeding  good  stock — 
particularly  the  Angus  cattle.  In  addition  to  his  breeding  Mr.  Fish  also 
did  a  large  business  in  the  feeding  of  cattle  for  the  market.  In  June,  1905. 
he  sold  his  valuable  property  to  Mr.  Frank  Coocb.'of  Illinois,  and  sold  his 
stock  at  auction,  then  removing  to  the  village  of  Wayland,  where  he  after- 
ward purchased  the  Hvery  stable  and  stock  which  has  since  been  conducted 
under  the  firm  name  of  Fish  &  Son. 

Mr.  Fish  was  niarried  at  Grand  Rapids  in  1878  to  Miss  Grace  L. 
Stearns  of  that  city,  and  this  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  one  son,  Jay  H., 


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374  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

who  is  a  partner  with  his  father  in  the  livery  business.  They  have  a  well- 
equipped  livery  and  transact  a  large  business.  Mrs.  Fish  died  August  ii, 
1902. 

Mr.  Fish  is  a  Republican  politically,  although  never  a  seeker  after  office. 
Like  many  other  residents  of  Allegan  county,  he  is  an  enthusiastic  hunter, 
hugely  enjoying  his  regular  trips  to  the  northern  part  of  the  state,  where 
he  meets  with  good  success  in  capturing  big  game. 

Frank  Cooch. — Although  a  resident  of  Michigan  and  Wayland  but  a 
short  time,  Mr.  Cooch  has  already  demonstrated  the  fact  that  he  is  an  active 
and  progressive  man  of  advanced  ideas,  who  will  make  a  valued  addition  to 
the  citizenship  of  this  specially  favored  region. 

Mr.  Cooch  is  a  native  of  Butler  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  May 
22,  1851.  His  early  life  was  passed  in  that  region,  and  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen he  accompanied  his  mother  to  Douglas  county,  Illinois,  and  took 
charge  of  a  two  hundred  and  forty  acre  farm,  upon  which  many  improve- 
ments were  required.  He  established  an  extensive  and  thorough  drainage 
system  there,  laying  thirty-inch  tile  for  mains  eight  feet  below  the  surface, 
and  connecting  this  with  smaller  laterals  which  spread  all  over  the  large 
farm.  The  crops  raised  here  were  corn,  oats  and  broom  corn,  and  the  farm 
was  made  a  most  productive  one.  He  resided  for  ten  years  on  this  place  and 
twenty  years  on  another,  and  then  decided  to  try  Michigan,  concerning 
which  he  had  heard  so  much  and  with  which  he  was  favorably  impressed  as 
an  agricultural  region.  He  spent  some  time  in  traveling  over  this  state, 
inspecting  various  pieces  of  property  and  finally  decided  that  the  vicinity  of 
Wayland  held  just  what  he  desired  for  a  stock  farm.  Accordingly,  in  June, 
1905,  he  purchased  the  stock  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  acres 
and  the  Fish  farm  of  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  the  latter  lying  partially 
within  the  corporate  limits  of  the  village  of  Wayland.  Both  are  handsome 
pieces  of  property,  equipped  with  excellent  buildings,  including  large  and 
modern  houses  and  barns.  He  removed  here  the  first  of  February,  1906, 
and  took  possession  of  his  newly  purchased  property,  and  at  once  began  the 
improvements  which  he  considered  necessary  to  make  the  property  a  model 
place  for  the  breeding  and  raising  of  thoroughbred  live  stock.  Already  he 
is  carrying  out  his  ideas  of  drainage,  learned  in  Illinois,  and  has  laid  two 
hundred  and  eight  rods  of  twelve  and  fourteen  inch  tile  as  mains  on  the 
stock  farm  and  contemplates  still  more  work  of  this  kind.  His  specialties 
in  the  line  of  live  stock  are  Aberdeen  Angus  cattle,  Shropshire  sheep  and 
Poland  China  swine,  and  already  he  has  established  a  herd  of  twenty  thor- 
oughbred Angus  cows,  selecting  none  but  the  best  of  stock.  His  cattle  are 
all  registered  animals,  and  Mr.  Cooch  intends  to  hold  his  standard  in  this 
direction  at  a  very  high  mark.  The  same  idea  will  also  prevail  with  his 
sheep  and  swine  and  all  stock  on  these  farms  will  be  the  very  best  of  its 
kind  to  be  obtained  or  bred. 

Mr.  Cooch  was  married  November  28,  1880,  to  Miss  Joanna  Hancock, 
of  Douglas  county,  Illinois,  and  they  have  an  interesting  family  of  four 
sons  and  one  daughter,  as  follows;  Harry  and  Bertie  live  upon  the  Fish 
farm,  while  Fred,  Charlie  and  Verona  live  at  home  with  their  parents. 

Mr,  Cooch  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  although  he  is  no  politician  and 
merely  takes  an  ordinary  interest  in  affairs  of  this  sort.     Fraternally  he  is 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  2?5 

affiliated  with  the  Masons  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  lie  is 
fond  of  outdoor  life  and  in  the  way  of  amusement  likes  nothing  better  than 
hunting  and  fishing. 

Mr.  Cooch's  past  experience  has  taught  him  that  there  is  a  large  and 
profitable  business  to  be  done  in  his  chosen  line,  particularly  with  tlie  right 
management  and  the  right  kind  of  a  base  for  operations,  coupled  with  well 
selected  lines  of  stock.  He  has  made  a  thorough  study  of  the  question  in 
all  its  bearings,  and  it  would  seem  that  he  cannot  fail  of  success.  The 
people  of  Wayland  and  vicinity  gladly  welcome  him  and  the  members  of 
his  family  to  their  midst  and  wish  for  him  unlimited  success. 

Alanson  a.  Tanner  has  led  a  remarkably  active  and  useful  life  and 
has  done  even  more  than  his  share  of  labor  in  the  settlement  and  develop- 
ment of  a  new  country,  and  now  he  is  spending  his  declining  days  in  retire- 
ment from  the  active  duties  of  hfe,  although  still  taking  a  keen  interest  in 
the  affairs  of  the  day  and  in  all  that  goes  to  make  toward  better  citizenship. 

He  was  born  in  Chester,  Geauga  county,  Ohio,  December  28,  1831. 
The  family  had  come  from  Chester,  Massachusetts,  to  Ohio  in  1812,  the 
memorable  year  that  saw  our  second  conflict  with  Great  Britain,  and  they, 
with  other  settlers  from  Massachusetts,  named  their  new  home  after  the 
Massachusetts  Chester.  In  making  the  arduous  journey  into  the  middle 
west  they  traveled  after  the  primitive  manner  of  the  times,  taking  several 
weeks  for  the  journey,  and  they  passed  through  Buffalo,  New  York,  just 
after  that  city  had  been  burned.  Alanson  Tanner  grew  to  manhood  upon 
the  new  farm  in  Ohio,  and  in  these  early  years  imbibed  a  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  and  a  liking  for  agriculture.  In  1855  he  became  imbued  with  the 
western  fever,  which  seems  ever  present  in  the  veins  of  Yoimg  America,  and 
started  for  Illinois.  No  doubt  this  desire  to  go  to  Illinois  was  increased  by 
the  fact  that  he  had  married  and  that  his  wife's  parents  had  already  gone 
into  the  west.  His  marriage  to  Laura  Eurlingame  occurred  January  3, 
1855,  and  her  father,  Harding  Burlingame,  was  then  living  in  Illinois. 
While  passing  through  southern  Michigan  on  their  western  journey  they 
encountered  Eli  F.  Clark,  a  former  Ohio  neighbor,  at  BHssfield.  Mr,  Clark 
had  met  with  misfortune  in  a  swamp,  his  wagon  breaking  down,  and  he  re- 
mained at  BHssfield  during  the  winter,  although  he  afterward  journeyed  to 
Illinoi,'5,  as  is  related  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Arriving  in  Illinois,  young 
Tanner  obtained  work  from  an  uncle,  and  the  newiy  married  couple  re- 
mained there  for  two  years.  Harding  Burlingame  was  a  noted  hunter  and 
he  was  anxious  to  get  into  a  coimtry  where  there  was  more  game  than  in 
Illinois,  so  accordingly  he  and  his  daughter  and  her  husband,  with  several 
other  old-time  friends,  came  to  Michigan.  Mr.  Burlingame  located  in  Hop- 
kins township,  Allegan  county,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
dying  here  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  Alanson  Tanner  also  located  in 
Hopkins  township  upon  a  tract  of  new  land  which  was  a  veritable  wilder- 
ness. This  was  in  the  month  of  April,  1856,  and  he  chopped  off  twenty- 
four  of  the  eighty  acres.  Owing  to  the  panic  of  1857  he  lost  his  farm  and 
was  obliged  to  sell  it,  receiving  only  about  seventy-five  dollars  in  cash  for 
it  with  all  its  improvements.  Then  he  moved  into  Dorr  township  and  pur- 
chased another  tract.  It  was  swamp  land,  but  very  rich,  and, he  began  im- 
proving the  same,  frequently  working  for  Mr.  Chambers  at  Wayland,  and 


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276  IITSTORY  OF  ALLHGAX  COUXTY 

for  Mr.  Sanders,  the  only  men  here  at  that  time  who  were  able  to  pay  for 
labor.  His  first  house,  in  which  he  lived  for  eleven  years,  was  a  log  stnic- 
tiire  oniy  sixteen  feet  square.  After  he  had  this  forty  acres  in  good  shape 
in  1871  he  erected  a  good  house,  which  compared  favorably  with  any  in  the 
section.  He  added  more  land  as  he  could  until  he  had  two  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  the  most  of  which  was  wild  land  when  purchased.  Since  that 
time  he  has  been  the  owner  of  more  than  one  thousand  acres  and  has  im- 
proved all  of  it  more  or  less.  In  addition  to  clearing  his  own  land,  he 
worked  for  fifteen  years  in  the  timber  woods,  the  most  of  the  time  by  the 
day.  He  finally  sold  all  of  his  land  excepting  the  old  home  place  and  in 
1894  removed  to  Wayland,  where  he  has  since  led  a  retired  life.  The  old 
homestead  was  finally  sold  and  he  purchased  village  property  in  Wayland, 
owning  at  one  time  six  full  blocks,  although  one-half  of  this  has  since  been 
disposed  of.  His  real  estate  holdings  also  now  include  three  farms  with 
improvements  in  the  township  of  Dorr.  In  his  land  investments  Mr.  Tan- 
ner has  used  rare  good  judgment  and  has  selected  none  but  fertile  land. 
He  has  followed  mixed  farming  for  many  years  and  has  made  a  specialty 
of  raising  swine  and  sheep,  besides  doing  considerable  in  the  dairy  line. 

His  five  children  are  as  follows :  James  H.  Tanner  died  September  23, 
1905,  aged  forty-eight  years.  He  was  a  farmer  of  Leighton,  north  of  Way- 
land,  and  was  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm.  Frances  is  the  wife  of  Frank 
Wilcox,  of  Hopkins  township.  Viola  is  the  wife  of  William  Wright  of 
Wayland.  Herman  Tanner  is  a  member  of  the  city  police  force  of  Relvi- 
dere,  Illinois.  Ahce  married  Leon  Kinyon,  and  their  home  is  in  Dorr  town- 
ship. 

Mrs.  Tanner,  who  had  for  so  many  years  been  the  valued  and  beloved 
helpmeet  of  her  husband,  passed  away  March  16,  1896.  Mr.  Tanner's  sec- 
ond marriage  occurred  December  28,  1901.  when  he  espoused  Mrs.  Betsy 
Sadler,  widow  of  John  H.  Sadler,  late  of  the  township  of  Dorr,  Her 
maiden  name  was  Betsy  Bisard  and  she  was  born  in  Medina  county,  Ohio, 
coming  to  Michigan  and  Dorr  township.  Allegan  county,  when  thirteen 
years  old  with  her  parents,  David  and  Rebecca  (Hughes)  Bisard.  They 
located  upon  a  new  farm,  which  they  improved  and  here,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two,  Betsy  Bisard  was  married  to  John  H.  Sadler.  Her  parents 
afterward  removed  to  Kent  county,  where  they  died. 

Alanson  A.  Tanner  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  John  C.  Fremont 
and  he  has  ever  since  been  a  staunch  Republican.  He  was  ever  active  in 
township  affairs  and  aided  very  materially  in  making  this  section  what  it  is. 
He  has  other  interests  besides  his  landed  property  and  is  a  stockholder  in 
the  Wayland  Bank.  As  a  farmer  he  held  the  respect  of  his  fellow  towns- 
men and  as  a  citizen  of  Wayland  he  is  looked  upon  as  a  staunch  and  solid 
resident,  of  good  judgment  and  possessing  many  warm  friends. 

George  H,  Jackson  is  a  native  of  Thimbleby,  Lincolnshire,  England, 
where  he  was  born  November  26.  1839.  His  father.  Charles  Jackson,  was 
born  in  Anwick,  Lincolnshire,  England.  April  22.  1800,  while  his  mother, 
Ann  Maltby,  was  bom  in  Sausthorpe.  in  the  same  county.  October  2Q,  1814. 
They  were  married  in  1835  and  lived  upon  a  farm  in  Thimbleby  until  com- 
ing to  America  in  June  of  1845.  They  spent  five  years  in  the  state  of  New 
York  and  then  came  to  Michigan,  Allegan  county,  settling  in  the  township 


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I[[ST()RY  OF  ALLKGAX  COUXTY  377 

of  Wayland.  A  Xew  York  neighbor,  Mr.  Nathan  Green,  had  come  to 
Michigan  a  few  years  previously,  and  through  his  representations  and 
inducements  Charles  Jackson  and  family  came  here  in  October,  1850.  Mr. 
Jackson  purchased  forty  acres  of  Mr.  Green  at  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents 
per  acre,  and  this  place  was  his  home  until  his  death  in  1883.  This  old 
homestead  is  still  in  possession  of  the  family,  now  being  owned  by  one  of 
the  sons,  James  F.  His  widow,  Ann  (Maltby)  Jackson,  survived  him  sev- 
eral years,  she  passing  away  here  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  They 
were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  six  sons  and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom 
are  still  living  and  residents  of  this  vicinitv.  They  are  as  follows :  Har- 
riet, now  Mrs.  George  Beattie.  of  Orangeville,  Barry  county;  Mary  L.,  now 
Mrs.  James  Williamson,  also  of  Barry  county;  George  H.,  the  subject  of 
this  review :  Sarah,  now  Mrs.  Charles  Winks,  of  Lowell,  Michigan ;  Robert 
C.  and  Joseph,  of  Wayland  township;  Andrew,  of  Wayland  township; 
Emma,  one  of  the  leading  teachers  of  Allegan  and  Barry  counties  and  now 
teaching  near  Middleville ;  she  makes  her  home  with  her  brother,  George 
Jackson ;  John  E.  and  James  F.  were  both  born  in  and  are  residents  of  Way- 
land  township.  It  is  a  notable  fact  that  there  is  just  twenty  years  to  a  day 
between  the  ages  of  the  eldest  and  the  youngest  members  of  this  large 
family.  The  youngest  is  now  fifty  years  old.  Charles  and  Ann  Jackson 
brought  their  family  up  in  industry  and  taught  them  the  value  of  honest 
dealing,  frugality  and  labor.  The  children  have  carried  these  ideas  all 
through  life  and  the  result  is  that  now  they  are  all  in  comfortable  circum- 
stances and  with  good  homes  and  families  of  their  own. 

George  H.  Jackson  worked  out  for  others  until  he  was  nineteen  years 
old,  his  wages  going  to  his  father.  When  twelve  x'ears  old  he  received  but 
four  dollars  per  month,  and  each  year  thereafter  received  an  additional  dol- 
lar per  month  until  he  was  drawing  the  munificent  salary  of  thirteen  dollars 
per  month,  the  highest  he  ever  received.  During  this  time  he  managed  to 
acquire  some  education  by  going  to  school  winters  while  working  for  his 
board.  At  twentx-  he,  by  saving  every  cent,  had  acquired  about  two  hun- 
dred dollars,  and  his  first  thought  was  to  invest  it  in  land.  His  first  pur- 
chase was  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  he  secured  for  eight  dollars 
per  acre.  It  was  covered  with  fine  oak  and  hickory  timber,  which  he  burned 
to  get  rid  of.  The  first  year  he  broke  the  forty  acres  and  sowed  it  to  wheat. 
This  crop  he  hauled  by  oxen  thirty  miles  to  Kalamazoo  to  market,  receiving 
eighty-five  cents  per  bushel.  It  took  three  days  to  make  the  round  trip. 
The  following  year  he  hauled  in  the  same  manner  to  Grand  Rapids,  twenty- 
five  miles  away,  and  received  from  one  dollar  and  fiftv  cents  to  two  dollars 
and  fifty  cents  per  bushel.  Later  he  received  as  high  as  three  dollars  Der 
bushel  for  wheat.  When  onh-  sixteen  years  old  his  brother  Robert  had 
begim  working  with  him,  and  this  was  continued  for  two  years.  Then 
Robert  secured  an  adjoining  eighty  acres  for  himself  and  they  cleared  this 
together.  Robert  enlisted  in  the  army  in  1864,  serving  in  the  Sixth  Michi- 
gan Cavalry  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

George  H.  Jackson  is  now  the  owner  of  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
of  land,  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  which  are  under  cultivation.  He 
has  paid  as  high  as  twelve  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  acre  for  wild  land,  and 
from  twenty  acres  he  has  sold  oak  tirhber  alone  to  the  amount  of  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  dollars.     His  fine  farm  is  devoted  to  mixed  farming. 


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278  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

although  he  has  also  clone  considerable  in  fruit.  Much  of  his  income  has  been 
derived  from  live  stock,  particuiarly  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs.  His  present 
house  was  built  in  1876  and  is  a  commanding  structure,  showing  well  for  a 
long  distance.  His  other  buildings  are  also  substantial  structures  and  equal 
to  the  demands  of  the  farm.  September  7,  1875,  he  was  married  to  Mary 
E.  Davis,  the  daughter  of  Samuel  Davis,  a  pioneer  of  Barry  county.  She 
died  February  7,  1900,  since  which  time  Mr.  Jackson's  sister  has  acted  a.s 
his  efficient  housekeeper.  One  son,  Glenn  W.,  was  born  unto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Jackson.  He  is  now  about  sixteen  years  of  age  and  is  a  student  in  the 
Wayland  high  school.  Mr.  Jackson  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  he 
has  filled  numerous  minor  offices.  His  religious  affiliations  are  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  he  is  an  attendant  at  the  Jackson 
church  near  by.  In  Sunday  school  work  he  has  always  been  very  active, 
believing  that  branch  of  religious  work  is  most  important.  Two  Sunday 
schools  in  this  vicinity  are  benefited  by  his  good  labors  therein,  while  he  is 
also  always  actively  alive  to  all  that  is  important  in  the  line  of  other  church 
and  society  work.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Grange  at  Bowen's  Mills. 
Mr.  Jackson  is  the  possessor  of  a  remarkably  fine  collection  of  Indian 
relics,  the  most  of  which  have  been  picked  up  on  his  own  farm  and  in  this 
immediate  vicinity.  He  is  an  experienced  practical  farmer,  and  success  has 
come  to  him  through  his  own  endeavors  and  with  the  co-operation  of  his 
brothers  and  sisters.  He  believes  that  he  chose  wisely  in  the  selection  of 
his  home  and  that  no  better  place  exists  for  pleasant  living  than  in  Allegan 
county  and  Wayland  township,  and  he  is  always  alive  to  those  things  which 
will  tend  to  the  betterment  of  the  condition  of  his  fellow  beings. 

Joseph  Jackson. — The  Jackson  family  has  done  a  wonderful  work  of 
improvement  in  Wayland  and  adjoining  townships,  wresting  the  laud  from 
its  natural  forest  condition  and  transforming  it  from  a  wild  section  into  the 
fertile  and  productive  farms  abounding  here.  A  member  of  this  family  who 
deserves  fitting  mention  in  a  work  of  this  character  is  Mr.  Joseph  Jackson, 
one  of  the  prosperous  and  intelligent  agriculturists  of  Wayland  township, 
where  he  has  lived  for  the  past  forty  years.  Mr.  Jackson  is  of  English 
ancestry,  his  parents,  Charles  and  Ann  (Maltby)  Jackson,  being  natives  of 
Lincolnshire,  England,  where  they  were  married  in  1836.  Several  of  their 
children  were  born  in  England,  and  in  June  of  1845  they  emigrated  to 
America,  where  our  subject  was  born  at  Wheatland,  Monroe  county.  New 
York,  October  17,  1845.  ''"his  place,  which  is  twenty  miles  east  of  Roches- 
ter, was  the  home  of  Joseph  until  he  was  five  years  of  age.  In  company 
with  his  brother  Robert  he  first  began  operations  for  himself  in  Allegan 
county.  They  each  purchased  eighty  acres  of  new  land  adjoining  each 
other  and  worked  together,  clearing  the  most  of  their  farms  the  first  year. 
As  fast  as  they  cleared  their  land  they  put  it  into  wheat.  They  had  bought 
their  land  on  contract  at  twelve  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  acre,  and  they 
remained  in  partnership  until  they  had  the  property  paid  for.  Thus  again 
was  it  demonstrated  that  in  unity  there  is  strength,  for  each  working  alone 
would  have  been  much  longer  in  clearing  up  the  indebtedness.  As  the 
years  rolled  by  Mr.  Jackson  made  additional  purchases  of  land,  the  most  of 
it  new  and  uncleared.  A  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  was  added 
to  the  old  Hill  farm  in  Wayland  township  and  another  eighty  acres  close  by. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  279 

while  he  also  purchased  forty  acres  in  Yankee  Springs  township,  Barry 
county.  During  his  forty  years'  residence  here  he  has  wrested  over  two 
hundred  acres  from  the  forest  and  made  of  it  productive  land.  His  first 
residence  was  a  small  frame  structure,  which  supplied  a  home  until  com- 
paratively recently.  In  1905  he  built  his  present  handsome  home,  which  is 
a  sightly  brick  structure,  equipped  with  all  of  the  modern  improvements  and 
conveniences.  It  is  as  fully  up  to  date  as  a  city  residence,  containing,  as  it 
does,  bath  rooms  supplied  with  hot  and  cold  water.  A  windmill  pumps  the 
water  to  an  elevated  tank,  from  whence  it  flows  to  all  parts  of  the  house  and 
grounds,  while  water  is  also  thus  supplied  to  stock  tanks  in  the  yards.  The 
idea  strictlv  followed  out  was  to  make  the  home  one  with  all  modern  im- 
provements, and  this  has  been  admirably  accomplished.  The  improvements 
cost  close  to  eiqht  thousand  dollars,  and  the  whole  forms  a  home  of  which 
any  man  might  well  feel  proud.  Here  Mr.  Jackson  has  lived  for  the  past 
forty  years,  and  here  he  is  well  content  to  pass  the  remainder  of  his  days. 

Mr.  Jackson's  first  marriage  was  consummated  in  1870,  when  he  was 
united  with  Miss  Sophia  Riggs,  She  died  in  1875.  having  borne  no  chil- 
dren. In  December,  1881,  Mr.  Jackson  was  married  to  Sarah  A.  Davis. 
who  is  a  sister  to  the  wife  of  his  brother,  George  Jackson.  Unto  them  have 
been  born  two^hildren,  both  of  whom  are  at  home  with  their  parents.  The 
eldest  is  a  son,  William  H..  and  the  other  is  a  daughter,  Edith  May,  who  is 
a  student  in  the  Wayland  high  school. 

Politically  Mr.  Jackson  is  a  staunch  Republican,  and  he  has  served  his 
township  three  terms  as  highway  commissioner.  His  has  been  a  busy  and 
industrious  life  and  he  has  performed  his  full  duty  as  a  citizen  and  as  a 
man  of  family.  Success  has  been  his  because  of  his  application  and  natural 
foresight  and  he  has  accumulated  a  fine  property,  which  he  and  the  members 
of  his  familv  will  enjoy  for  manv  years  to  come.  It  is  men  such  as  he  who 
form  the  bulwark  of  this  strong  nation  and  make  us  the  most  powerful 
people  upon  the  face  of  the  globe. 

John  Edmund  Jackson  is  the  ninth  child  in  order  of  birth  of  Charles 
and  Ann  (Maltby)  Jackson,  those  sturdy  pioneers  of  English  birth  who 
came  from  England  in  1845  and  then  a  few  years  later  made  their  way  into 
the  new  country  of  Michigan.  The  parents  were  inost  worthy  people  and 
they  reared  a  large  family  of  ten  children,  in  the  meantime  enduring. all  of 
the  hardships  of  pioneer  life  and  the  arduous  labors  incident  to  life  in  a 
sparsely  settled  section.  The  subject  of  this  review  Avas  the  first  of  their 
children  born  in  Michigan,  and  this  has  ever  since  been  his  home.  The  date 
of  his  birth  was  December  18.  1853,  and  the  place  Wayland  township.  His 
early  life  was  like  that  of  all  boys  of  the  day  and  it  contained  few  idle 
moments.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  his  father,  in  the  parlance  of  the  day, 
"gave  him  his  time,"  or,  in  other  words,  allowed  him  to  work  for  himself 
and  spend  his  wages  as  he  saw  fit.  To  the  generation  of  the  present  day  it 
seems  almost  incredible  that  parents  used  to  enforce  the  law  which  gave  to 
them  the  labors  of  their  children  until  they  reached  the  age  of  tweiity-one 
years,  but  such  was  invariably  the  custom  of  the  day,  and  any  child  who 
was  excepted  from  this  regulation  was  considered  very  leniently  dealt  with. 
But  John  did  not  waste  the  opportunity  thus  afforded  him  of  getting  on  in 
the  world  for  himself.     He  laeing  still  a  minor,  his  brother  Robert  pur- 


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280  H[ST()RY  Ol"  ALLEGAN  COUXTV 

chased  for  him  of  O.  N.  Giddings,  of  Kalamazoo,  a  tract  of  new  land  con- 
taining eighty  acres.  The  farm  cost  one  thousand  one  hundred  dollars,  and 
the  terms  of  the  contract  required  that  he  should  pay  one  hundred  dollars 
cash  and  make  a  regular  payment  each  year  until  the  entire  sum  and  interest 
had  been  paid.  In  about  1878  he  purchased  the  eighty-acre  tract  across 
from  his  home  place.  As  seems  to  have  been  the  practice  with  the  sons  of 
the  Jackson  family,  John  assisted  in  the  clearing  of  the  farms  already 
acquired  by  his  brothers  and  they  in  turn  helped  him  in  improving  his  own 
farm.  The  brothers  appeared  to  have  had  a  tacit  agreement  to  work  together 
for  a  period  of  twelve  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  it  was  thought  that 
each  would  be  comfortably  provided  for.  But  as  was  natural,  the  younger 
members  of  the  family  did  not  accomplish  this  result  until  several  years 
after  the  older  ones  were  well  on  the  road  to  prosperity.  Thus  it  was  not 
until  1883  that  he  was  enabled  to  build  his  house  and  become  settled  in  a 
home  of  his  own.  When  he  was  twenty-one  years  old  he  had  about  one- 
third  of  his  land  cleared  and  in  condition  for  the  successful  raising  of  crops, 
and  each  year  thereafter  saw  additional  land  cleared  and  the  productiveness 
of  the  place  increased.  For  several  years  his  sister  Emma  kept  house  for 
him,  and  in  this  connection  it  is  but  justice  to  state  that  the  success  of  the 
brothers  of  this  family  is  due  as  much  to  the  co-operation  of  their  sister  as 
to  their  own  efforts,  for  she  was  ever  ready  to  aid  them  with  the  perform- 
ance of  the  duties  which  always  are  required  of  the  woman  upon  the  farm. 

His  marriage  to  Mrs,  Eunice  A.  (Swift)  McCracken  was  consummated 
in  1887.  He  cultivates  about  eighty  acres,  raising  some  grain  and  devoting 
a  great  deal  of  his  attention  to  cattle,  sheep,  hogs,  etc.  He  is  a  believer  in 
well-bred  stock  and  has  fine  Shropshire  sheep  and  Short-horn  cattle.  He 
milks  twelve  cows,  so  this  dairying  feature  is  an  important  source  of  income. 
During  the  earlier  years  of  his  farming  he  raised  large  quantities  of  grain, 
which  was  sold,  but  later  yeare  of  experience  have  taught  him  the  value  of 
giving  back  to  the  land  all  that  it  produces,  hence  his  turning  to  the  raising 
of  live  stock  instead.  Mr.  Jackson  is  a  firm  beiiever  in  the  fact  that  a  man 
must  go  into  debt  in  order  to  win  the  greatest  success,  and  he  attributes  a 
large  measure  of  his  well  doing  to  his  condition  of  indebtedness  for  many 
years,  when  he  felt  compelled  to  work  hard  to  get  even  with  the  world.  At 
the  present  time  he  is  free  from  incumbrance  and  his  whole  property  shows 
thrift  and  care. 

Six  children  have  been  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson,  as  follows: 
Harrison  E.  and  C.  Edward  are  students  in  the  high  school  at  Wayland ; 
Ruth  A.  is  the  eldest  daughter ;  Gladys  and  Gains  are  twins ;  Myrl  is  the 
youngest.  Another  member  of  the  family  who  has  always  been  considered 
by  Mr.  Jackson  as  dear  as  his  own  children  is  a  daughter  of  Mrs.  Jackson 
by  her  former  marriage,  Trnia  McCracken.  who  is  now  a  teacher  in  Wayiand 
township.  Besides  her  common  school  education  .she  attended  the  Clarks- 
ville  Academy  and  pursued  a  thorough  correspondence  course,  and  she  now 
ranks  high  as  one  of  the  successful  teachers  of  Allegan  county.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Jackson  intend  to  give  all  of  their  children  the  best  of  educational 
advantages,  thus  equipping  them  in  the  best  manner  for  life's  duties.  Like 
the  other  members  of  the  Jackson  family.  Mr.  Jackson  is  a  Republican, 
although  never  a  seeker  after  office.  He  keeps  in  touch  with  current  events 
and  is  considered  a  man  of  rare  good  judgment,' a  wise  farmer  and  a  man 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLRC.AX  COL'XTV  281 

who  commands  the  respect  of  the  comnumity  in  which  ali  of  his  hfe  has 
been  passed. 

Andrew  Jackson.— In  the  township  of  Wayland  we  find  that  members 
of  the  Jackson  family  are  owners  of  nearly  two  thousand  acres  of  fine  farm- 
ing land  and  that  all  of  them  are  respected  members  of  society,  well  to  do 
and  worthy  descendants  of  that  branch  of  the  Jackson  family  which  came  to 
this  country  from  England  in  1845.  Elsewhere  in  this  volume  may  be  found 
more  extended  account  of  Andrew  Jackson's  parents,  Qiarles  and  Ann 
(Maltby)  Jackson,  who  came  to  Michigan  and  Allegan  county  a  few  years 
after  their  arrival  in  America  and  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  here. 
They  were  fine  old  English  people,  and  they  reared  a  large  family  of  chil- 
dren to  fill  positions  of  honor  in  this  section. 

One  of  their  sons,  Andrew  Jackson,  is  the  subject  of  this  review,  and 
he  was  the  second  child  born  after  their  arrival  in  this  country.  His  birth- 
place was  Monroe  county.  New  York,  and  he  accompanied  his  parents  and 
the  other  members  of  the  family  when  they  came  to  Michigan.  He  re- 
mained at  home  until  he  had  attained  his  majority.  He  worked  in  company 
with  his  two  brothers,  Robert  and  Joseph,  exchanging  work  as  it  became 
necessary,  until  he  had  paid  for  the  farm  which  his  father  had  first  secured 
for  twelve  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  acre.  There  were  eighty  acres  in  this 
tract,  all  new  land  and  scarcely  a  tree  cut.  It  was  covered  with  timber 
which  today  would  be  considered  most  valuable,  but  in  those  days  the  only 
thought  was  to  clear  this  off  and  prepare  the  land  for  the  raising  of  crops. 
Thus  he  was  forced  to  bum  timber  which,  if  preserved,  would  bring  much 
money  at  this  time.  As  fast  as  the  land  could  be  cleared  he  sowed  it  to  that 
great  staple,  wheat,  and  from  the  proceeds  he  succeeded  in  making  the  land 
his  own  and  free  from  encumbrance.  It  was  not  many  years  before  he  saw 
his  way  clear  to  buy  another  eighty  acres  adjoining,  with  only  a  few  acres 
cleared  thereon  and  with  this  he  followed  the  same  methods  as  with  his  orig- 
inal place.  He  built  a  residence  in  1871,  and  for  eleven  years  his  sister 
Emma  officiated  as  housekeeper  for  him.  his  brother  John  also  making  his 
home  here  for  some  time.  In  1880  he  purchased  an  additional  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  in  the  township  of  Leighton.  on  section  ^$.  about  one  and 
one-half  miles  distant,  and  it  serves  largely  as  pasture  land,  being  admirably 
adapted  for  this  purpose.  General  farming  is  followed,  and  the  main  prod- 
ucts are  grain,  live  stock  and  grass  and  hay.  His  home  fann  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  is  all  under  cultivation,  and  it  has  been  brought  to  its 
present  high  state  of  productiveness  through  his  own  efforts.  Mr,  Jackson 
has  paid  considerable  attention  to  Angus  cattle  and  breeds  from  a  high  class 
Angus  male,  thus  prodticing  the  best  stock  of  its  kind.  Nature  has  done 
mtich  for  Mr,  Jackson's  land,  it  being  finely  located,  and  this,  combined  with 
his  individual  efforts,  has  resulted  in  a  farm  of  unusual  productiveness.  His 
residence  is  a  comfortable  frame  structure,  while  his  barns  and  other  build- 
ings are  roomy,  well-built  structures,  each  well  adapted  to  its  particular  use. 
He  was  married  October  12,  1887  to  Miss  Minnie  C.  Hersey,  daughter 
of  E.  P.  and  Harriet  M.  (Morton)  Hersey.  who  came  to  Allegan  countv  in 
T865  from  Ohio,  which  state  was  also  the  birthplace  of  Mrs.  Jackson,  Mr, 
Hersey  and  Mrs.  Hersey  are  now  residents  of  Wayland.  Although  Mr. 
Jackson  is  a  Republican  and  interested  in  the  success  of  his  party,  he  has  no 


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2S2  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

political  aspirations,  finding  plenty  to  occupy  his  time  and  attention  in  the 
management  of  his  large  farm,  and  he  is  willing  that  the  offices  should  go  to 
those  who  desire  them.  Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Lodge 
at  Wayland. 

The  Jackson  farm  indicates  great  thrift  and  care,  the  whole  being  well 
looked  after  and  affording  a  most  comfortable  home.  Almost  every  inch  of 
the  place  is  thoroughly  known  to  Mr.  Jackson,  for  it  has  taken  painstaking 
labor  to  change  it  from  a  forest  land  into  its  present  condition.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Jackson  stand  very  high  in  the  esteem  of  the  people  of  this  section  and 
their  home  is  dear  to  them  through  many  tender  associations. 

James  F.  Jackson  is  the  youngest  of  the  ten  children  of  Charles  and 
Ann  (Maltby)  Jackson,  who,  natives  of  Lincolnshire,  England,  grew  up  and 
were  married  there  and  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  five  of  whom  were 
born  before  they  decided  to  try  and  better  their  fortunes  in  America.  They 
came  to  this  country  in  1845  and  spent  several  years  in  New  York  state 
before  coming  to  Michigan,  which  they  did  in  1850.  They  came  to  Allegan 
county  and  selected  the  township  of  Wayland  as  their  future  home,  estab- 
lishing themselves  upon  a  farm  here,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of 
their  lives.  They  were  most  worthy  people  and  they  won  the  high  regard 
of  the  people  of  this  vicinity.  The  six  sons  of  the  family  were  all  brought 
up  on  the  farm,  imbibing  here  industrious  habits  and  learning  agriculture. 
It  is  consequently  no  wonder  that  they  all  decided  to  become  farmers,  and 
today  they  are  residents  of  this  immediate  vicinity,  each  provided  with  a 
comfortable  home.  Their  respective  careers  thus  far  in  life  are  recorded 
elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

James  F.,  the  yoimgest  of  this  family,  was  bcrn  in  Wayland  January 
12,  1856,  upon  the  home  farm,  where  be  has  ever  since  lived  and  which  is 
now  in  his  po.ssession.  In  fact,  his  present  residence  stands  directly  unon  the 
site  of  the  old  home.  When  he  was  seventeen  years  old  his  father  bought 
the  John  Hogg  farm  of  eighty  acres  and  paid  therefor  the  sum  of  three 
thousand  two  hundred  dollars,  and  it  was  understood  that  if  James  would 
pay  this  sum  he  could  have  the  farm,  a.s  well  as  the  old  homestead.  His 
father  died  February  12.  1883.  and  the  business  thus  thrown  upon  the  hands 
of  the  young  man  prevented  the  purchase  of  the  Hogg  farm.  It  was  twelve 
years  before  he  had  the  indebtedness  cleared,  but  be  traded  one  forty  for 
forty  acres  lying  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road  and  also  added  another 
forty  acres  two  miles  distant,  this  latter  piece  being  used  as  pasture.  The 
home  place  has  about  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  under  cultivation.  In  tqoo 
he  built  his  present  house,  a  neat  frame  structure.  He  also  moved  the  barn  to 
its  present  location,  so  that  the  improvements  have  all  been  made  bv  him.  Tt 
is  an  attractive  place  and  a  fertile  farm,  and  it  is  managed  with  all  the  thrift 
and  care  for  which  the  members  of  the  Jackson  family  are  noted.  In  con- 
nection with  bis  Ereneral  farming  Mr.  Jackson  has  also  grown  peaches  suc- 
cessfully. He  still  has  several  acres  in  successful  bearing  and  has  demon- 
strated the  profitableness  of  fruit  culture  in  this  locality.  He  has  recently 
planted  another  tract  to  peaches  and  will  engage  in  fruit  growing  more  or 
less  in  the  future. 

He  was  married  September  27.  189,^,  to  Miss  Gertrude  Robinson. 
daughter  of  W.  T.  Robinson,  who  came  to  this  township  in   1864.     His 


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HISTC)RY  OF  ALLKGAX  COUXTV  383 

father  was  Professor  H.  N,  Robinson,  the  author  of  several  standard  text 
books  in  mathematics,  Gertrude  Robinson  was  born  in  Wayland  township 
and  she  was  a  successful  teacher  in  Allegan  and  Barry  counties  for  nearly 
ten  years  immediately  preceding  her  marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson  are 
the  parents  of  two  children,  Clara  G.  and  Clayton  Paul,  both  of  whom  are  in 
school  and  live  at  home. 

In  politics  Mr.  Jackson  is  an  independent  in  opinions  and  voting.  He  is 
not  active  in  political  matters,  but  rather  devotes  his  whole  time  and  atten- 
tion to  his  own  private  business.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Grange  and  takes 
a  deep  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  and  advancement  of  agri- 
culture. 

Joseph  W.  Burlingame.— -The  Burlingames  were  for  many  years  resi- 
dents of  Geauga  county,  Ohio,  where  they  had  comfortable  homes,  but  in 
the  early  fifties  the  spirit  of  emigration  was  rife  in  that  section  and  they, 
with  many  others,  sought  to  better  their  condition  by  either  going  farther 
west  or  coming  into  Michigan.  Although  at  the  present  da\-  it  seems  strange 
that  the  spirit  of  unrest  should  so  possess  the  residents  of  (Jhio  and  eastern 
states,  nevertheless  it  was  this  very  thing  that  brought  into  our  own  state  so 
many  good  families.  They  seemed  in  the  main  to  be  satisfied  with  their  new 
Michigan  homes  and  here  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  while 
their  descendants  still  live  here  and  form  our  very  best  society.  This  was  the 
case  with  the  Burlingame  family  in  Ohio,  where  our  subject,  Joseph  W. 
Burlingame,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Munston,  Geauga  county,  August  20, 
1832.  He  was  the  son  of  Harding  and  Lavina  (Heath)  Burlingame,  who 
were  also  the  parents  of  nine  Other  children,  eight  of  whom  have  lived  in 
Michigan.  In  1856  Harding  Burlingame,  having  lost  bis  first  wife  and  mar- 
ried again,  decided  that  Michigan  offered  better  facilities  for  home-making, 
and  accordingly  he  came  here  with  his  family,  traveling  after  the  rather 
primitive  method  of  the  times  and  arriving  eventually  in  Allegan  county, 
which  appeared  to  him  a  most  favorable  place  to  locate.  Here  he  selected 
a  tract  of  land  in  the  township  of  Hopkins,  one  mile  east  of  where  is  now 
Hilliard  station  and  three  miles  west  of  Wayland.  The  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  which  he  purchased  was  new  land,  and  it  required  a  great  deal 
of  labor  to  place  it  in  condition  for  the  raising  of  crops.  He  was  assisted 
in  the  arduous  work  by  two  of  his  sons,  Joseph  W.  and  Phillip,  the  latter 
remaining  with  his  father  for  four  years  after  coming  here.  Phillip  also 
remained  in  this  section  and  is  now  a  resident  of  the  county,  living  four 
miles  east  of  Wayland. 

As  Joseph  W.  grew  to  manhood  he  decided  to  follow  agriculture  as  a 
pursuit,  and  he  soon  made  purchase  of  land  adjoining  that  of  his  father, 
paying  for  it  as  he  could.  Harding  Burlingame  lived  to  be  seventy-five 
years  old,  spending  the  remainder  of  his  days  on  the  farm  he  had  purchased 
here.  His  widow,  who  was  his  second  wife,  survived  him  several  years. 
Joseph  W.  Biirlingame's  first  house  was  built  of  logs,  and  he  lived  therein 
for  twenty  years,  when  it  was  replaced  with  a  frame  structure.  Later  he 
sold  his  place  and  bought  another  farm  of  seventy  acres  in  the  township  of 
Dorr,  where  he  Jived  for  a  number  of  years,  finally  disposing  of  this  also  in 
1891  and  coming  to  Wayland,  where  he  purchased  a  seventy-acre  tract  lying 
partly  in  the  village  of  Wayland.     It  had  been  formerly  the  property  of  the 


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2S4  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUiXTY 

old  lumberman,  Mr.  Kellogg,  who  had  cut  oS  the  timber  and  made  consider- 
able improvements.  Since  obtaining  possession  of  this  property  Mr.  Bur- 
lingame  has  platted  a  portion  of  it  into  village  lots  and  disposed  of  many  of 
them,  while  the  remainder  of  the  farm  is  leased  by  fields  to  others. 

When  twenty-eight  years  of  age  Mr.  Burlingame  took  as  his  life  partner 
Sarah  Ward,  a  daughter  of  Richard  Ward,  who  lived  on  an  adjoining  farm. 
Her  family  came  here  from  Canada  in  an  early  day.  Their  children  are  six 
in  number,  as  follows :  Addie,  now  Mrs.  Mack  Northorpe,  lives  in  Cali- 
fornia ;  Ada,  now  Mrs.  Frank  Helmer,  is  a  resident  of  Diamond  Springs ; 
Frank  is  In  Illinois;  J.  Tracy  lives  in  Wayland,  where  he  is  an  employe  of 
the  (i.  R.  &  1.  railway  company ;  Asa  is  a  painter  and  also  a  resident  of  Way- 
land  ;  Jennie  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- four. 

Mr.  Burlingame  is  now  retired  from  active  labor,  although  he  keeps 
occupied  with  looking  after  his  property.  He  has  done  his  share  in  the 
improvements  of  this  section  of  Allegan  county  and  has  seen  its  development 
from  a  wild  forest  into  as  fine  a  tract  of  country  as  can  he  found  anywhere, 
with  excellent  farms  and  thriving  cities  and  villages.  He  possesses  an  inter- 
esting fund  of  reminiscence,  for,  like  his  father  before  him,  he  was  in  his 
younger  days  an  ardent  sportsman  and  a  good  hunter  and  he  has  killed  all 
kinds  of  game  throughout  this  part  of  the  state. 

HuMi'HEEY  Gardner,— In  the  death  of  Humphrey  Gardner  Allegan 
county  lost  one  of  her- most  prominent  and  useful  citizens,  and  although  a 
number  of  years  have  been  added  to  the  past  since  he  was  called  to  his  reward 
he  is  remembered  in  many  a  home.  He  was  born  in  Attica,  Wyoming  county. 
New  York,  December  27,  1819,  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Lorena  (Ensign)  Gard- 
ner, the  former  a  native  of  Brimfield,  Massachusetts,  and  the  latter  of  New 
York.  The  father  died  when  the  son  Htimphrey  was  but  five  years  old,  and 
when  nineteen  years  of  age  the  latter  went  to  Kane  county,  Illinois,  there 
remaining  for  a  number  of  years,  he  having  reached  the  age  of  twenty- 
seven  years  when  he  made  his  advent  into  Allegan  county,  Michigan,  first 
locating  in  Wayland.  then  a  part  of  Martin  township,  where  he  secured  gov- 
ernment land.  His  first  residence  was  a  little  log  cabin  which  he  built  near 
the  site  of  his  present  residence,  but  this  long  ago  gave  place  to  a  more  mod- 
ern and  commodious  dwelling,  and  as  the  years  passed  hy  he  added  to  his 
original  purchase  until  he  was  the  owner  of  four  hundred  and  ninety  acres 
in  one  body,  besides  owning  several  other  tracts,  making  in  all  seven  hundred 
acres.  At  the  time  of  his  location  here  the  land  was  covered  with  a  dense 
growth  of  timber,  but  as  time  passed  it  was  cleared  and  developed,  improve- 
ments were  added  to  the  farm,  and  all  the  accessories  and  conveniences  of  a 
model  farm  were  added,  Mr,  Gardner  realized  but  Httle,  however,  from  the 
sale  of  the  timber,  with  the  exception  of  the  last  lot  which  he  sold,  which 
netted  liim  six  himdred  dollars  cash.  He  gave  his  attention  to  stock  and 
grain  farming,  and  he  continued  to  actively  carry  on  the  work  of  the  farm 
until  his  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death  on  the  20th  of  March,  1898. 

In  Kane  county,  Illinois,  in  September,  1844,  Mr,  Gardner  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Mary  Brown,  a  native  of  that  county  and  a  daughter  of  Obi- 
jah  Brown,  their  union  being  blessed  with  two  children,  Loren,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  and  Florence,  who  died  when  thirty-five  years 
of  age.     On  the  24th  of  October,  1866,  Mr,  Gardner  married  Sylvia  Brown, 


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HISTORY  ()!■    ALLI-i;A\'  COL'XTV  S85 

a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  and  tliey  became  Uie  parents  of  three  children, 
namely:  Olive,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years;  Humphrey;  and  Clay, 
who  received  as  his  inheritance  the  ok!  homestead,  but  it  soon  passed  into 
other  hands. 

Humphrey  Gardner,  Jr.,  was  born  February  i,  1872,  and  remained  with 
his  father  until  the  latter's  death,  when  he  received  two  himdred  and  eighty 
acres  of  the  old  homestead.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  mint  growing,  a  large 
part  of  his  land  being  devoted  to  that  commodity,  and  he  is  also  extensively 
engaged  in  the  raising  of  peaches,  of  which  he  has  twenty-five  liiindred  trees, 
eight  hundred  of  which  are  in  bearing.  His  home  eighty  acres  is  well  suited 
to  the  raising  of  this  fruit,  and  he  is  well  pleased  with  the  residts  of  his  sales, 
for  his  fruit  always  finds  a  ready  sale  on  the  market  on  account  of  its 
superior  quality.  He  also  keeps  twenty  cows  on  his  farm  ,and  is  conducting 
a  first-class  dairy.  When  twenty-three  years  of  age  Mr.  Gardner  married 
Elsie  May  Clark,  of  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  and  they  have  five  children — ]>er- 
nice,  Louise,  Lucille,  Clark  and  Margaret,  He  gives  his  political  support  to 
the  Republican  party,  and  he  is  held  in  high  regard  in  the  county  in  which 
he  lives. 

Hopkins. 

The  earh'  settlement  of  Hopkins  township,  beginning  in  7838,  and 
the  difficulties  of  the  pioneers  in  making  their  first  homes,  are  told  in  the 
historie,'^  of  the  Round  and  Haffmaster  families  on  following  pages.  It  was 
not  man}"  years  after  the  coming  of  the  pioneers  that  a  grouping  of  popti- 
lation  took  place,  resulting  in  the  formation  of  three  communities  which 
may  be  described  as  centers.  The  first  of  these  was  Hopkins,  or,  as  it  is 
usually  known  at  this  time,  Hopkinsburg,  to  distinguish  it  from  the  railroad 
station  of  the  former  name. 

A  steam  sawmill  was  the  central  enterprise  of  this  village.  The  pioneer 
Erastus  Congdon.  who  bad  located  on  section  26  about  1838,  sold  a  part  of 
his  land  in  1856  to  Dr.  E.  H.  Wait,  and  the  latter  and  Robert  A.  Baird  con- 
structed the  mill.  Various  members  of  the  Baird  family  were  connected 
with  the  operation  of  this  miU,  as  is  told  in  their  history.  In  the  meantime 
Dr.  Wait  opened  a  store,  and  in  i86i  William  Richmond  built  a  flouring 
mill.  The  hamlet  continued  to  grow,  hut  the  rivalry  of  villages  located  on 
the  railroad  and  the  decline  of  the  lumber  industry  worked  the  detriment  of 
the  village,  and  since  the  postoffice  was  discontinued  there  has  been  only  a 
small  business  activity,  which  is  noted  in  the  sketch  of  Mr.  R.  R.  Edgell. 

The  village  of  Hopkins  station,  with  a  population  of  four  hundred,  half  a 
dozen  stores,  a  newspaper,  has  been  growing  for  a  number  of  years,  and  it 
is  likely  that  Hopkins  will  soon  be  added  to  the  list  of  incorporated  villages. 
The  early  history  of  the  site  is  told  in  the  historv  of  the  Hoffmaster  fainily, 
members  of  which  owned  the  land  from  1854.  The  beginnings  of  the  village 
date  from  the  railroad,  a  station  being  established  in  1874  in  John  HofT- 
master's  log  house.  Burnip  and  Iliff  were  the  first  merchants,  and  in  Octo- 
ber. 1874,  S.  A,  Buck  recorded  the  first  plat  of  the  village.  A  postoffice  was 
soon  established,  mills  and  stores  added  to  the  commercial  importance  of  the 
place,  and  Hopkins  should  be  designated  as  one  of  the  thrivingly  progressive 
villages  of  the  county.    Of  the  early  merchants  Furber  and  Kidder  con- 


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28ti  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

tinucd  in  business;  they  established  a  bank  in  1890,  which  is  mentioned  ou 
another  page. 

HilHards  is  another  settlement  that  owes  its  existence  to  the  railroad. 
About  i860  a  Canadian  lumberman  named  Lonson  Hilliard  purchased  a  large 
timber  acreage  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  township,  and  during  the  fol- 
lowing ten  years  before  his  death  devoted  his  energies  to  converting  its 
resources  into  marketable  lumber.  A  station  was  established  along  the  rail- 
road track,  and  there  two  of  his  sons,  William  H.  and  Eugene,  had  a  factory 
and  a  store,  and  several  other  business  enterprises  were  attracted  to  that 
point.  The  postoffice  is  still  maintained  at  this  point,  with  a  population  in 
the  vicinity  of  about  one  hundred  persons. 

John  Hoffmaster. — The  name  of  Hoffmaster  is  inseparably  associated 
with  the  history  of  Hopkins,  its  development  and  upbuilding,  and  he  of 
whom  we  write  has  been  most  prominent  in  the  work  of  advancement  here, 
having  laid  out  four  different  additions  to  the  city  and  done  much  to  improve 
them.  A  native  of  Mahoning  county,  Ohio,  he  was  born  near  Youngstown, 
on  the  28th  of  April,  1843,  and  in  1854  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  from  the  Buckeye  state  to  Allegan  county.  His  father,  Gottlieb 
Hoffmaster,  was  a  native  of  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  and  when  eight  years 
of  age  was  brought  to  the  United  States,  the  family  home  being  established 
in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained  until  twenty-one 
years  of  age.  He  then  went  to  Ohio,  and  in  that  state  was  married  to  Miss 
Susannah  Eholtz.  Gottlieb  Hoffmaster  was  a  weaver  by  trade  and  later 
became  a  shoemaker.  His  brother,  John  Hoffmaster,  coming  to  Allegan 
county,  had  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  which  the  village  of 
Hopkins  now  stands.  He  had  arrived  here  in  the  spring  of  1854,  and  in  the 
fall  of  the  same  year  Gottlieb  Hoffmaster  came  with  his  family  and  secured 
the  east  half  of  the  same  quarter.  He  then  built  a  log  cabin  in  the  midst  of 
the  forest,  while  his  brother,  John  Hoffmaster,  had  a  log  house  on  the  present 
site  of  the  home  of  our  subject.  He  also  had  a  small  clearing  where  the 
main  portion  of  the  business  part  of  the  village  now  stands.  The  greater 
portion  of  the  land,  however,  was  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  timber, 
including  beech,  maple,  ash  and  elm  trees.  These  were  cut  down  and  burned 
simply  to  get  rid  of  them,  without  any  regard  to  the  value  of  the  lumber. 
Gottlieb  Hoffmaster  remained  upon  the  old  home  farm  until  the  death  of  his 
wife,  which  occurred  when  he  was  more  than  seventy  years  of  age.  He 
passed  away  March  21,  1903,  when  in  his  ninety-fourth  year,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  on  the  3d  of  April,  1809.  For  twenty  years  he  had  lived  with 
his  daughter,  Mrs.  John  Nicolai,  west  of  Hopkins.  He  had  placed  forty 
acres  of  land  under  cultivation  and  had  improved  it  with  good  buildings,  but 
eventually  he  sold  his  farm  to  his  sons,  John  and  Philip,  and  they  platted 
five  acres  of  the  land,  which  was  known  as  Gottlieb  Hoffmaster's  addition 
to  the  village  of  Hopkins.  It  is  now  well  built  over,  being  one  of  the  popu- 
lous and  attractive  residence  portions  of  the  city.  In  the  family  of  Gottlieb 
Hoffmaster  were  four  sons  and  a  daughter.  Philip,  who  has  been  blind  for 
ten  years,  now  lives  with  his  nephew  near  Monroe,  Michigan ;  Peter,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  sixtv-four  years,  was  at  one  time  a  merchant  at  Kalama- 
zoo and  later  at  Battle  Creek,  Michigan.    John  is  the  next  of  the  family. 


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GOTTLIEB  HOFFMASTF.R  AT  THK  ACE  OF  Hi. 

AND  HIS  C.REAT-tiRAKD-.SON  PETER, 

(Both  defeased) 


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^^o-Wv  H<H^vwxatiV 


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^^'-'^^^  ^^^^^^^.wlr 


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HISTORY  ()[■   ALLEGAN  COL'XTY  287 

Susannah  is  the  wife  of  John  Nicolai,  and  Isaac  is  a  dealer  in  hardware  at 
Ord,  Nebraska. 

John  Hoffmaster  was  eleven  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Allegan 
county.  He  assisted  in  the  arduous  task  of  clearing  and  developing  the  new 
farm  and  also  at  an  early  age  worked  out  for  wages,  which  went  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  family.  Attaining  his  majority,  he  and  his  brother  Philip  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land  which  was  owned  by  his  uncle  John,  who  for  a 
time  resided  upon  a  farm  in  this  township  but  afterward  returned  to  the  vil- 
lage, where  he  passed  away  November  3,  1893.  He  had  also  reached  a  ven- 
erable age,  his  birth  having  occurred  on  the  3d  of  December,  1818. 

John  Hoffmaster  of  this  review  was  identified  with  business  interests 
in  Allegan  countly  until  1864,  when  he  put  aside  all  personal  considerations 
and  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil  war.  becoming  a  recruit  of  Company  C, 
Thirteenth  Michigan  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  joined  the  regiment  at  Look- 
out Mountain  and  later  went  with  Sherman  on  the  Atlanta  campaign  and  on 
to  Savannah  and  to  the  sea.  Subsequently  he  participated  in  the  Carolina 
campaign  and  continued  on  the  march  to  Washington.  He  was  in  activs 
service  with  his  company  from  the  time  of  his  enlistment  until  the  close  of 
the  war  and  participated  in  the  battle  at  Bentonville,  North  Carolina,  and 
was  in  the  grand  review  in  the  capital  city — the  most  celebrated  military 
pageant  ever  seen  on  the  western  hemisphere. 

Returning  to  his  home,  Mr.  Hoffmaster  joined  his  brother  Philip  in  a 
partnership,  which  was  continued  for  about  thirty  years,  or  until  1894,  and 
throughout  this  period  they  were  engaged  in  general  agricultural  pursuits 
and  brought  their  land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  In  1869  the  Lake 
Shore  Railroad  was  built  and  in  1874  they  sold  eleven  acres  from  the  south- 
west corner  of  their  eighty-acre  tract  to  S.  A.  Buck,  who  platted  the  original 
town  site.  In  1876  the  brothers  platted  the  John  Hoffmaster  addition,  com- 
prising about  eight  acres  from  the  south  end  of  the  eighty-acre  tract,  includ- 
ing the  site  of  the  old  home.  Since  that  time  John  Hoffmaster  has  platted 
two  more  additions,  the  second  in  1897  of  seven  acres,  and  a  third  in  1905, 
comprising  nine  acres,  this  making  four  additions  in  all  to  the  town  platted 
by  Mr.  Hoffmaster  of  this  review  and  covering  about  twenty-nine  acres.  He 
has  erected  a  handsome  residence  on  the  site  of  the  old  home  of  his  nncle 
John,  and  has  built  other  dwellings  for  rent.  His  son  now  operates  the 
home  farm. 

In  1871  Mr.  Hoffmaster  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Julia  A.  Baker, 
a  daughter  of  Harvey  M.  Baker,  one  of  the  pioneer  residents  of  Hopkins, 
who  came  to  this  township  about  1838  from  Gun  Plains  township.  Mrs. 
Hoffmaster  was  born  in  Hopkins  township  in  1843.  This  marriage  has  been 
blessed  with  a  son  and  daughter:  Claud  B.,  who  now  operates  his  father's 
farm,  and  Floy  G.,  who  became  the  wife  of  John  McKinnon  and  died  three 
months  later,  at  the  age  of  thirty  years.  Mrs.  Hoffmaster  passed  away  in 
1882  after  a  happy  married  life  of  eleven  years,  A  year  later  Mr.  Hoff- 
master was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Hare,  of  Allegan,  where  she  was 
engaged  in  nursing.    Their  only  child  died  in  infancy. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Hoffmaster  is  a  stalwart  Republican  and 
always  keeps  well  informed  on  the  questions  and  issues  of  the  dav.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Congregational  church  and  he  is  identified 
with  Briggs  Post  No.  80,  G.  A,  R.,  and  the  National  Protective  Legion.   He 


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288  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

has  tried  to  encourage  enterprises  for  tlie  good  of  tlie  town  and  lias  served 
as  supervisor  here.  He  belongs  to  that  class  of  representative  American 
men  who  while  promoting  individual  success  also  advance  the  general 
welfare  by  their  co-operation  in  many  movements  for  the  public  good. 

L.  C.  Walter. — The  business  interests  of  Hopkins  find  a  prominent 
representative  in  L.  C.  Walter,  who  is  engaged  in  the  maniifacture  and 
sale  of  lumber,  also  in  the  manufacture  of  kitchen  cabinets  and  in  the 
operation  of  a  planing  mill.  The  extent  and  importance  of  his  business 
interests  make  him  a  leading  representative  of  trade  relations  here  and  his ' 
labors  have  been  of  direct  benefit  in  the  upbuilding  and  improvement  of 
the  city  as  well  as  a  source  of  gratifying  individual  income. 

Mr.  Walter  was  born  in  Watson  township,  Aliegan  county,  July  5, 
1S63.  His  father,  Conrad  Walter,  is  now  a  farmer  of  that  township,  where 
he  is  extensively  engaged  in  the  raising  of  onions.  When  sixteen  years 
of  age  he  operated  a  threshing  machine,  which  was  one  of  the  first  in 
Watson  township,  carrying  on  this  business  for  his  father.  He  seemed  to 
possess  natural  aptitude  in  understanding  and  operating  machinery  and  was 
always  at  work  upon  some  mechanical  device.  In  the  early  days  he  did 
considerable  work  at  repairing  clocks  and  he  operated  the  first  seif-binder 
in  Watson  township.  He  was  also  called  upon  to  operate  self-binders  for 
farmers  before  they  became  accustomed  to  the  mechanism.  He  established 
his  present  mill  in  1894— a  saw  and  planing  mill,  which  has  since  been  in 
operation.  As  a  contractor  and  builder  he  has  done  a  large  and  successful 
business  and  has  thus  contributed  in  substantial  measure  to  the  improvement 
of  the  city.  About  four  years  ago  he  enlarged  the  plant  by  the  erection  of 
a  two  story  building  fifty  by  one  hundred  feet  with  a  one-story  addition 
fifty  by  fifty-four  feet.  The  building  is  constructed  of  cement  and  the 
measurements  of  the  entire  plant  are  two  hundred  and  forty  by  fifty  feet. 
This  enterprise  is  the  outcome  of  a  smail  factory,  which  was  established  for 
the  building  of  life  saving  boats.  The  larger  part  of  the  plant  is  now  util- 
ized in  the  kitchen  cabinet  department  and  at  a  recent  date  Mr.  Walter  has 
installed  new  machinery  and  power.  He  has  about  fifteen  thousand  dol- 
lars capital  invested  and  the  factory  employs  between  forty  and  fifty  men, 
having  a  capacity  of  from  twenty  to  one  hundred  cabinets  daily,  according 
to  the  grade  of  the  produtt  turned  out.  When  the  business  is  enlarged  to 
its  fuU  capacity  it  will  demand  an  investment  of  about  twenty-five  thou- 
sand dollars.  Mr.  Walter  also  does  interior  finish  work  for  the  local  trade. 
As  a  contractor  he  has  erected  all  kinds  of  buildings,  including  churches, 
schoolhouses  and  residences  in  Allegan  and  Otsego.  In  this  way  he  has 
employed  from  twenty  to  thirty  men.  He  is  an  experienced  draftsman  and 
architect,  making  his  own  plans,  and  he  has  had  wide  experience  in  this 
line  of  activity.  For  twenty-three  years  he  has  been  a  lumber  manufac- 
turer, having  operated  a  sawmill  for  five  years  at  a  siding  two  miles  south 
of  Hopkins,  while  for  two  years  he  was  at  Bravo.  He  also  conducted  a 
sawmill  prior  to  that  time,  two  years  being  spent  in  Oceana  county,  after 
which  he  operated  a  mill  in  Minnesota  for  a  year  in  the  employ  of  another 
man.  Thus  throughout  the  greater  part  of  his  life  he  has  been  connected 
with  the  lumber  trade  in  its  various  departments.  He  has  various  houses 
in  Hopkins  that  he  has  built  ami  rents  and  he  became  interested  in  ail  that 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY  289 

led  to  developing  the  town.  He  has  perhaps  built  nearly  half  of  the  town 
and  has  assisted  in  the  development  of  one  entire  section  of  Hopkins,  build- 
ing homes,  which  he  has  later  sold.  He  also  built  a  brick  church  here  for 
the  Methodists  and  rebuilt  for  the  Congregational  Society,  and  erected  a 
brick  schoolhouse  near  the  town.  He  has  likewise  put  up  two  new  store 
buildings  in  Hopkins  and  drew  the  plans  for  the  new  cement  block  in  the 
village.  His  life  has  been  one  of  untiring  diligence  and  unremitting  activity 
and  whatever  he  has  undertaken  he  has  accompHshed. 

Mr.  Walter  was  married  on  the  22d  of  February,  1884,  to  Miss  Hattie 
Fansler,  a  daughter  of  John  Fansler,  a  resident  farmer  of  Allegan  town- 
ship, where  she  was  born.  Their  family  comprises  two  children,  Elsie  and 
Harold  Lynn,  the  latter  now  twelve  years  of  age.  The  daughter  is  the 
wife  of  Jesse  Kibby,  of  Grand  Rapids,  and  they  have  two  sons,  Basil  and 
Cecil.  In  his  fraternal  relations  Mr.  Walter  is  an  exemplary  Mason,  true 
and  loyal  to  the  teachings  of  the  craft.  His  political  views  are  in  accord 
with  Republican  principles  and  he  has  served  as  township  treasurer  for 
two  years  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board.  Viewed  in  a  per- 
sonal light  he  is  a  strong  man,  strong  in  his  honor  and  his  good  name, 
strong  in  his  ability  to  plan  and  perform.  Ever  watchful  of  opportunities 
he  has  so  directed  his  labors  that  success  has  resulted  and  his  work  has 
proven  of  the  utmost  advantage  to  Hopkins  as  well  as  a  source  of  gratify- 
ing income  to  himself. 

Hni'KiN-surw:. 

Robert  R.  Edgell,  residing  at  Hopkinsburg,  has  been  closely  identified 
with  industrial  activity  in  this  part  of  the  county  for  almost  a  half  of  a 
century,  doing  carpentering,  black  smithing,  wagon-making  and  painting. 
He  was  born  in  Brecksville,  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  December  31,  1839,  a 
son  of  James  and  Polly  (Newell)  Edgell,  who  were  natives  of  Virginia  and 
New  York  respectively  but  were  married  in  Ohio.  The  father  was  a  me- 
chanic, who  largely  followed  the  wheelwright's  trade.  In  the  family  were 
the  following  named:  James,  who  lived  .for  some  years  in  Buchanan  county, 
Iowa,  came  to  Michigan,  settling  at  Hopkinsburg,  where  he  was  employed 
at  his  trade  of  wagon-making.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Cadillac,  Mich- 
igan, where  he  died  May  11,  1895,  and  where  his  family  still  reside.  Mason 
Edgell,  the  second  son,  was  the  third  of  the  family  to  come  to  Michigan,  ar- 
riving in  1857.  He  had  previously  spent  three  years  in  CaHfornia,  and  he 
died  in  this  state  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven.  His  widow  and  family  now 
reside  in  Ohio.  Mary  was  married  in  Ohio  to  David  P.  Atwater,  and  in 
1856  came  to  Allegan  county,  residing  upon  a  farm  near  Hopkinsburg. 
Her  death  occurred  there  about  1888.  when  she  was  fifty-eight  years  of 
age.  William,  who  came  to  this  county  in  1858,  was  a  carpenter  and  he 
secured  the  second  farm  west  of  Hopkinsburg.  He  was  married  in  1863 
to  Miss  Mary  Moore,  and  died  March  11,  1895,  just  two  months  prior  to 
the  death  of  his  brother  James.  Rebecca,  who  came  alone  to  Michigan  in 
1857,  engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Allegan  county  until  she  became  the 
wife  of  Edwin  Parmalee,  with  whom  she  is  still  living  in  Hopkins  town- 
ship. Catherine,  who  came  to  this  county  with  her  parents,  married  Will- 
iam Frue,  and  died  in  early  womanhood,    Adeline,  who  came  with  her  par- 


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290  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY 

ents,  married  B.  E.  Viers,  and  died  in  1879.     The  youngest  son,  Knowlton 
B.,  came  with  his  parents  and  is  living  in  Hopkins  township. 

In  his  boyhood  days  Robert  R.  Edgell  of  this  review  began  to  learn 
the  wheelwright's  trade.  He  spent  two  years  in  Medina  county,  Ohio,  hut 
afterward  removed  to  Buchanan  county,  Ohio,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade.  He  had  a  brother  in  that  state  and  remained  there  until  April  17, 
1862,  when  he  came  to  Hopl^insbwrg,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  had 
visited  the  vicinity  in  the  fall  before.  At  that  time  his  brother  William  and 
two  sisters  were  living  here.  William  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  but  became 
a  farmer  and  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
died  about  eleven  years  ago.  Mary  was  the  wife  of  David  P.  Atwater 
and  died  eighteen  years  ago,  while  Rebecca,  who  married  Edwin  Parmalee, 
is  still  living  in  Hopkins  township.  In  1862  the  parents  also  came  and  tlie 
father  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  having  a  shop  where  he  had  a  turning 
lathe,  etc.  Both  he  and  his  wife  died  in  this  locality,  the  former  in  1887,  in 
his  eighty-ninth  year,  and  the  latter  in  1884,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine 
years. 

Robert  R.  Edgell,  after  arriving  in  this  county,  worked  for  a  few 
weeks  with  his  brother  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  in  1864  built  his  present 
shop.  He  has  since  been  biisy  at  the  bench  or  in  other  fields  of  industrial 
activity.  He  soon  put  in  a  blacksmithing  department  and  he  can  do  any- 
thing connected  with  wagon-making,  including  the  painting.  He  pos- 
sesses much  natural  mechanical  ingenuity,  and  his  skill  and  ability  are  man- 
ifest on  various  occasions  and  in  various  ways  as  he  executes  some  task 
along  industrial  lines.  He  has  resided  continuously  since  coming  to  tlie 
county  at  the  little  village  of  Hopkinsburg,  east  of  the  Lake  Shore  Rail- 
road. The  postoffice  has  been  discontinued  here  but  the  town  contains  one 
store,  a  blacksmith  and  wagon  shop  and  a  cheese  factory. 

Mr.  Edgell  has  been  three  times  married.  He  first  wedded  Miss  Ar- 
villa  Dunton,  who  died  ahont  eighteen  months  later  just  at  the  close  of  the 
Civil  war.  On  the  26th  of  November,  1867,  Mr,  Edgell  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Hattie  Page,  who  was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  came  to  Michigan  with  her  parents,  who  settled  at  Middleville. 
For  some  years  she  was  a  successful  and  able  teacher  of  Allegan  county. 
She  traveled  life's  journey  with  Mr.  Edgell  for  more  than  twenty-one 
years  and  passed  away  on  the  nth  of  June,  1885.  Unto  them  were  horn 
two  sons  and  a  daughter:  Fred  R.,  who  is  now  engaged  in  moving  build- 
ings at  Hopkins;  Addie,  the  wife  of  Elmer  George,  a  resident  farmer  of 
Watson  township,  and  Earl.  All  were  born  in  Hopkinsburg.  The  youftger 
son  is  associated  with  his  father  in  business.  He  married  Miss  Edith  Bar- 
num,  and  they  have  three  children,  Carl,  Ina  and  Gale.  May  ri,  1887,  Mr. 
Edgell  was  again  married,  his  bride  being  Mrs.  Lottie  Congdon,  who  died 
the  following  April. 

The  present  family  home  was  erected  by  Mr.  Edgell  in  1875.  and  is 
one  of  the  best  in  this  locality.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican  with  Prohi- 
bition tendencies  and  he  works  earnestly  for  the  best  interests  of  the  county. 
For  years  he  took  an  active  part  in  convention  work  and  he  has  served  as 
township  clerk  and  in  other  positions  of  public  trust.  Fraternally  he  is 
connected  with  the  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Masons.  As  the  years  have  passed 
lie  has  confined  his  attention  largely  to  his  shop,  and  his  patrons  know  that 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  391 

he  can  always  be  found  on  hand  to  attend  to  his  business.  As  he  has  car- 
ried on  his  industrial  interests  he  has  also  made  investment  in  farms,  buying 
and  selling  and  has  thus  added  not  a  little  to  his  income.  He  is  a  man  of 
unfaltering  enterprise,  accomplishing  whatever  he  undertakes  and  his  labors 
have  been  crowned  with  a  gratifying  measure  of  success. 

Dr.  Nelson  E.  Leighton,  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Hop- 
kins, was  born  in  Sodus,  Wayne  county.  New  York,  on  the  2d  of  March, 
1848.  His  parents  were  Israel  and  Susan  (Owen)  Leighton,  the  former  a 
native  of  Maine  and  the  latter  of  the  Empire  State.  They  were  married 
near  Lyons,  New  York,  and  became  residents  of  Michigan  in  1853,  settling 
upon  a  farm  in  Wakeshma  township,  Kalamazoo  county.  The  father  was 
a  stone  mason  and  contractor  but  after  coming  to  this  state  turned  his  at- 
tention to  general  agricultural  pursuits,  which  he  continuously  followed 
until  1878.  He  then  removed  to  Kalamazoo,  where  he  lived  to  be  nearly 
seventy-eight  years  of  age.  His  death,  however,  occurred  at  Milbrook, 
Michigan,  in  the  home  of  his  eldest  son.  His  wife  died  upon  the  old  home- 
stead in  1877.  They  have  three  sons,  who  reached  years  of  maturity: 
Oiarles  H.,  a  farmer  living  near  Milbrook,  Mecosta  county,  Michigan ;  Nel- 
son E.,  of  this  review,  and  the  Rev.  Andrew  F.  Leighton,  a  minister  of  the 
Christian  church,  now  located  at  Dover,  North  Carolina. 

Nelson  E,  Leighton  was  a  lad  of  five  summers  when  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Michigan,  and  in  the  public  schools  he  acquired  his  educa- 
tion, while  in  the  summer  months  he  worked  in  the  fields.  He  remained 
upon  the  home  farm  until  eighteen  years  of  age  and  then  engaged  in  teach- 
ing near  the  home  place.  He  afterward  attended  the  seminary  at  Colon, 
Michigan,  for  a  year  and  spent  two  years  as  a  teacher  in  a  private  school 
near  the  old  home.  Subsequently  he  resumed  his  studies  in  the  Sodus 
(New  York)  Academy,  and  in  March,  1873,  returned  to  Michigan.  Here 
he  supplemented  his  more  specifically  literary  education  by  the  study  of 
medicine  in  Ann  Arbor,  where  he  remained  as  a  student  for  a  year.  He 
likewise  studied  for  a  time  in  Rush  Medical  College,  of  Chicago,  and  was 
graduated  from  the  Long  Island  Hospital  at  Brooklyn,  New  York,  with 
the  class  of  1881.  He  had  fine  hospital  experience  there,  which  was  a  val- 
uable supplement  to  the  theoretical  knowledge  of  the  class-room  and  tJius 
he  was  well  equipped  for  the  profession  which  he  had  chosen  as  a  life- 

In  the  meantime  Dr.  Leighton  had  erttered  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Hopkins,  where  he  has  since  remained,  with  the  exception  of 
a  brief  period  of  one  and  a  half  years.  He  now  has  a  wide  practice  and 
is  acknowledged  one  of  the  able  members  of  the  medical  fraternity  in  this 
part  of  the  state.  He  belongs  to  the  State  Medical  Society,  and  for  twelve 
years  has  been  a  member  of  the  pension  examining  board  for  Allegan 
county.  He  keeps  in  touch  with  the  progress  of  the  profession  through 
wide  reading  and  research  and  is  a  physician  of  broad  knowledge  and  su- 
perior skill. 

On  the  2d  of  October,  1878,  Dr.  Leighton  was  married  to  Miss  Frances 
Butler,  a  native  of  New  York,  who  was  a  telegraph  operator  at  Kalamazoo. 
They  now  have  one  child,  Bruce  R.,  who  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Philosophy  from  the  Kalamazoo  Baptist  College,  in  the  class 
of  1906. 


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292  HISTOK.Y  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Dr.  Leighton  is  a  stalwart  Republican  and  takes  an  active  interest  in 
the  work  of  the  party.  He  has  also  served  as  a  member  of  the  Republican 
county  committee  and  does  all  in  his  power  to  promote  the  growth  and  in- 
sure the  success  of  the  principles  which  he  advocates.  He  is  likewise  prom- 
inent in  fraternal  circles,  holding  membership  with  the  Masons,  the  Elks 
and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  in  the  last  named  he  has 
filled  all  of  the  chairs  in  the  local  lodge.  He  is  also  connected  with  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees  and  has  represented  the  local  tent  in  the  grand 
lodge.  Dr.  Leighton  has  spent  almost  his  entire  life  in  this  state  and  he 
early  became  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  enterprise  and  progress  which  has 
been  the  dominant  factor  in  the  rapid  and  substantial  upbuilding  of  the 
commonwealth.  The  same  spirit  of  advancement  has  been  manifest  in  his 
professional  career,  in  which  he  has  gained  a  creditable  place. 

C.  Elmer  Wolfinger,  postmaster  of  Hopkins  and  a  prominent  repre- 
sentative of  its  mercantile  interests  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Wolfinger 
&  Gilligan,  druggists,  has  been  a  resident  of  this  town  for  twenty-seven 
years  and  has  been  closely  associated  with  its  progress  and  upbuilding.  He 
was  born  at  Milton,  Northumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  30th  of 
July,  1857,  and  when  eight  years  of  age  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  Fremont,  Ohio,  where  they  lived  for  three  years.  In  1868  they 
became  residents  of  St.  Joseph  county,  Michigan,  and  after  three  years 
spent  upon  a  farm  there  located  at  Mottville.  Mr.  Wolfinger  is  indebted 
to  the  public  school  system  for  the  educational  privileges  which  he  enjoyed. 
He  began  to  clerk  when  sixteen  years  of  age  and  continued  business  life  in 
that  way  until  he  embarked  in  business  on  his  own  account.  For  twenty- 
seven  years  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Hopkins,  at  which  time  he  entered 
the  general  store  of  J.  W.  Braginlon,  where  he  remained  for  four  years. 
He  afterward  clerked  for  three  years  longer  in  Hopkins  and  then  opened 
his  present  business  nineteen  years  ago,  at  which  time  the  firm  of  Wolfinger 
&  Gilligan  was  formed  and  has  had  a  continuous  existence  to  the  present 
time.  They  have  a  well  equipped  store  and  carry  a  large  and  carefully 
selected  line  of.goods,  which  find  a  ready  sale,  owing  to  their  reasonable 
prices  and  straightforward  business  methods.  Mr.  Wolfinger  not  only  fig- 
tires  conspicuously  in  mercantile  circles  but  has  also  been  prominent  in 
public  life  as  the  postmaster  at  Hopkins,  having  filled  the  position  for  thir- 
teen years  under  the  administrations  of  Presidents  Harrison.  McKinley  and 
Roosevelt.  There  are  three  rural  routes  radiating  from  Hopkins  and  on 
their  establishment  two  other  postoffices  of  the  county  were  discontinued. 
His  long  continuance  in  the  office  proves  Mr.  Woltinger's  capability  and 
fidelity. 

When  twenty-seven  years  of  age  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Wolfinger  and 
Miss  Oara  Baker  was  celebrated.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Jason  Eaker  of  Hop- 
kins, and  was  born  here.  This  marriage  has  been  blessed  with  two  children. 
Pearl  and  William  Oliver,  the  former  engaged  in  teaching  music.  The 
family  is  prominent  socially  and  has  a  large  circle  of  warm  friends  in  Hop- 
kins and  the  surrounding  country.  For  years  Mr.  Wolfinger  has  been  a 
devoted  and  exemplary  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  he  has 
served  as  secretary  of  the  local  lodge. 


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llISTdRY  OF  ALLECAX  COUXTY  293 

William  G.  McClixtock. — The  life  history  of  him  whose  name  heads 
this  sketch  is  closely  identified  with  the  history  of  Allegan  county,  Michi- 
gan, which  has  been  his  homo  for  many  years.  He  began  his  career  in 
Michigan  in  its  early  pioneer  epoch,  and  throughout  the  years  which  have 
since  come  and  gone  he  has  been  closely  allied  with  the  interests  and  up- 
building- of  this  section  of  the  state,  his  name  being  prominently  connected 
with  the  old  stage  drivers.  He  was  born  in  Genesee  township,  Livingston 
county.  New  York,  on  the  ist  of  September,  1832,  a  son  of  Robert  and 
Nancy  (Smith)  McClintock,  of  Northumberland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  they  were  married.  The  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
for  many  years  resided  in  Livingston  county.  New  York,  where  he  cleared 
and  improved  a  farm,  but  in  1842  he  left  that  county,  where  he  had  lived 
and  labored  for  so  many  years,  and  made  his  way  to  Michigan,  taking  up 
his  abode  in  Irving  township,  Barry  county.  He  was  not  long  permitted 
to  enjoy  his  new  home,  however,  for  his  death  occurred  six  years  after  his 
removal  to  this  state.  His  widow  survived  him  for  inanv  years,  dying  in 
18S3. 

William  G.  McClintock,  whose  name  introduces  this  review-,  was  but 
ten  years  of  age  when  he  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  the  wilds  of  Mich- 
igan, and  throughout  nearly  his  entire  life  he  has  therefore  been  identified 
with  its  development  and  improvement,  has  aided  in  transforming  its  lands 
into  rich  farms,  and  in  many  other  ways  promoted  the  progress  and  ad- 
vancement. When  but  twelve  years  of  age  he  received  five  dollars  a 
month  for  driving  a  breaking  team,  and  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of 
fifteen  he  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  responsibility,  thus  being  dis- 
tinctively the  architect  of  his  own  fortunes.  At  that  early  age  he  began  his 
career  as.  a  stage  driver,  first  on  the  line  from  Constantine  to  Kalamazoo, 
which  was  owned  by  Patterson  &  Gerard  and  on  which  he  continued  for 
three  years,  thence  from  Hastings  to  Battle  Creek  and  next  from  Kala- 
mazoo to  Martin  and  on  to  Grand  Rapids.  But  during  the  first  two  years 
on  the  latter  line  he  lyould  only  drive  half  way  to  Kalamazoo,  but  after 
that  made  the  through  drive  from  Kalamazoo  to  Grand  Rapids;  while  dur- 
ing a  special  rush  he  would  leave  Grand  Rapids  in  the  morning,  reach 
Kalamazoo  and  immediately  start  on  the  return  journey,  reaching  his 
destination  at  the  former  city  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening.  The  old  Con- 
cord stages  were  then  in  use,  drawn  by  four  horses,  and  for  ten  years  Mr. 
McQintock  continued  as  a  stage  driver.  During  the  campaign  of  1856  he 
was  placed  on  a  night  line,  and  on  one  occasion  while  making  his  run  the 
coach  was  overturned  on  a  hill  near  Martin,  and  one  of  the  passengers  died 
from  the  injury  which  he  received  in  the  accident. 

On  the  lo'th  of  June.  1858.  Mr.  McClintock  was  married  to  Jane  E. 
Whitney,  a  daughter  of  Ezra  and  Hannah  H.  (Dupuy")  Whitney,  both  of 
New  York.  In  1854  they  came  to  Allegan  county,  Michigan,  and  for  many 
years  thereafter  the  father  conducted  a  hotel  at  Bradley.  He  was  well 
known  to  all  the  old  residents  of  this  part  of  the  state,  and  Mr.  McClin- 
tock often  stopped  at  his  hotel  as  he  was  passing  through  tlie  country  on 
his  stage.  Previous  to  this  time,  however,  Mr.  Whitney  had  conducted  a 
hotel  at  Caledonia,  located  on  the  old  stage  line  from  Battle  Creek,  and 
after  removing  to  Bradley  he  continued  as  the  proprietor  of  a  hotel  there 
until  the  advent  of  the  railroad  in  1870.     His  death  occurred  about  four 


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294  HISTORY  OF  AIXEGAX  COUNTY 

years  ago,  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  eighty-four  years,  and  since 
that  time  his  widow  has  resided  in  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Mc- 
Clintock,  being  well  preserved  at  the  good  old  age  of  eighty-four  years. 
All  of  their  sons  are  living,  namely,  Fred,  Frank  and  Charles  Whitney,  and 
all  make  their  home  in  Plainwell,  Michigan.  Two  sons  and  three  daughters 
have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCltntock:  Charles  C,  who  superintends 
the  home  farm;  Libbie,  the  wife  of  Edwin  Brewer,  of  Hopkins  Station, 
Michigan ;  Clyde,  who  operates  one  of  his  father's  farms ;  Mabel,  the  wife 
of  Charles  Baughman,  proprietor  of  a  meat  market  at  Martin,  Allegan 
county,  and  Mina,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  McClintock  purchased  the  farm  of  forty  acres 
where  he  now  resides,  located  one  mile  west  of  Bradley,  which  he  has 
transformed  from  an  unbroken  wilderness  to  its  present  high  state  of  culti- 
vation. As  the  years  have  passed  by  he  has  also  added  to  his  original  pur- 
chase until  bis  landed  possessions  now  consist  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  eighty  acres  of  which  lies  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  old  home  farm, 
while  forty  acres  is  located  two  miles  west.  His  business  career  has  been 
crowned  with  a  well  merited  success.  He  has  made  good  use  of  his  op- 
portunities and  has  prospered  from  year  to  year,  conducting  all  business 
matters  carefully  and  systematically,  and  now  in  his  declining  days  he  can 
look  back  over  the  past  with  little  occasion  for  regret. 

M,  W.  Hicks  is  a  prominent  representative  of  industrial  interests  in 
Allegan  county,  being  proprietor  of  the  Springdale  Cheese  Factory  at  Hop- 
kins, an  enterprise  which  is  of  much  value  to  the  community,  furnishing  a 
market  to  the  farmers  for  their  products,  and  at  the  same  time,  proving 
a  source  of  gratifying  revenue  to  the  owner.  Mr.  Hicks  was  born  in  Her- 
kimer county.  New  York,  January  20,  1850.  That  district  has  long  been 
celebrated  for  its  cheeses  and  dairy  products  and  Mr.  Hicks  became  ex- 
perienced in  the  manufacture  of  butter  and  cheese,  and  in  the  dairy  busi- 
ness before  coming  to  Michigan.  He  conducted  a  dairy  in  Madison  county, 
New  York,  for  ten  years,  and  following  his  removal  to  this  state  has  de- 
voted his  entire  time  and  attention  to  the  business,  which  he  is  now  conduct- 
ing. The  factory  was  established  about  thirty  years  ago  and  was  purchased 
by  Mr.  Hicks  and  his  nephew,  Charles  Carpenter,  in  March,  1888.  The 
former  owner  was  A.  E.  Chapman,  now  of  Leighton  township.  The  part- 
ners invested  fourteen  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  in  the  enterprise,  which  they 
conducted  together  until  the  fall  of  the  same  .year,  when  Mr.  Hicks  pur- 
chased Mr.  Carpenter's  interest  and  has  since  been  alone.  He  utilized  an 
excess  of  one  million  pounds  of  milk  in  a  season,  making  over  one  hundred 
thousand  pounds  of  cheese.  Each  cheese  which  he  sends  out  averages  about 
forty  pounds.  His  entire  output  is  known  as  full  cream  cheese  and  is  sold 
mainly  to  the  wholesale  trade.  His  enterprise  is  the  medium  whereby  much 
money  is  placed  in  immediate  circulation  in  this  vicinity  among  forty  milk 
producers,  and  has  resulted  in  giving  them  nearly  ten  thousand  dollars  net 
above  all  expenses.  This  has  enabled  farmers  to  pay  off  mortgages  and 
make  improvements,  keeping  up  the  fertility  of  the  land  and  no  enterprise 
contributes  more  directly  or  largely  to  the  general  welfare  and  prosperity 
than  does  the  Springdale  Cheese  Factory. 

Mr.  Hicks  was  married  in  Herkimer  county.  New  York,  in   1876.  to 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUXTY  2SI5 

Miss  Pythena  Cramer.  His  political  allegiance  is  given  to  the  Republican 
party  and  he  has  filled  most  of  the  offices  in  the  Masonic  lodge,  of  which  he 
is  a  member.  He  is  well  known  in  fraternal,  business  and  political  circles 
as  a  man  of  worth,  enjoying  and  meriting  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all 
who  know  him.  His  choice  of  Hopkins  as  a  favorable  business  location  has 
been  proven  a  correct  one,  for  he  has  prospered  in  his  undertakings  here. 
He  has  recently  erected  a  new  residence  and  he  has  a  splendidly  equipped 
factory,  supplied  with  all  modern  accessories  and  facilities  for  carrying 
on  the  business.  The  factory  is  characterized  by  neatness  and  cleanliness  and 
the  quality  of  its  product  is  such  as  to  insure  a  ready  sale  on  the  market  at 
good  prices, 

A.\i«iN  Shai'kh.  whose  intense  and  well  directed  activity  lias  been 
an  important  element  in  the  improvement  and  upbuilding  of  Hopkins,  has 
recently  completed  a  fine  business  block,  which  is  a  valued  addition  to  the 
village  and  adds  much  to  the  appearance  of  the  bnsiness  district.  He  is  a 
young  man  thoroughly  in  touch  with  the  spirit  of  modern  business  develop- 
ment and  his  record  reflects  credit  upon  Allegan,  his  native  county.  He 
was  born  November  23,  1871.  upon  a  farm  a  part  of  which  he  still  owns, 
his  parents  bein^  George  and  Margaretha  Schafer,  who  were  reared  in 
Grand  Rapids,  Michigan.  The  father  !iad  settled  upon  the  old  home  farm 
when  it  was  covered  with  the  original  growth  of  forest  trees  and  there  were 
but  two  houses  in  the  vicinity.  He  placed  seventy  acres  of  land  under  cul- 
tivation, built  three  barns  upon  the  place  and  otherwise  improved  it.  con- 
tinuing its  further  development  and  cultivation  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  September,  1905,  when  he  was  sixty-eight  years  of  age. 

Aaron  Schafer  remained  at  home  until  twenty-five  years  of  age  and  in 
the  meantime  acquired  a  good  practical  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
also  learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  His  father  was  also  a  carpenter  by  trade, 
and  for  four  years  had  carried  on  business  as  a  contractor.  He  erected  the 
buildings  upon  his  own  farm  and  his  mechanical  ingenuity  seems  to  have 
been  inherited  by  his  son  Aaron.  The  latter's  business  interests  are  largely 
represented  by  his  investments  in  Hopkins,  where  he  has  recently  completed 
a  fine  block  fifty  by  eighty  feet  and  two  stories  with  basement.  It  is  Iiuilt 
of  cement  veneer  and  is  divided  into  two  store  rooms,  each  twentv-five  by 
eighty  feet,  while  the  new  postoffice  is  reached  through  a  side  entrance.  The 
ceiling  is  of  steel  and  the  floors  of  hard  wood.  The  second  floor,  thirty  by 
fifty  feet,  is  divided  into  six  rooms,  and  the  rear,  fifty  by  fifty  feet,  is  ar- 
ranged for  the  Masonic  hall.  The  block  cost  about  seven  thousand  dollars 
and  is  heated  by  steam.  It  is  one  of  the  finest  business  structures  in  the 
village,  Mr.  Schafer  also  owns  fifteen  acres  of  the  old  home  place,  which 
he  has  platted,  making  a  good  addition  to  the  village.  Watchful  of  busi- 
ness opportunities  and  possessing  enterprise  and  energy  that  are  not 
thwarted  by  obstacles  or  difficulties  in  his  path  he  is  constantly  making 
progress  in  the  business  world  and  his  efforts  have  been  richly  rewarded. 
His  political  support  is  given  to  the  Democracy.. 

William  F.  Nicol.'it,  whose  intense  and  well  directed  activitv  has  led 
to  the  unbuilding  of  one  of  the  leading  business  concerns  of  Hopkins,  has 
extended  the  scope  of  his  labors  and  is  now  dealing  in  flour,  feed,  grain  and 


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a!36  HISTORY  OF  AI.LEGA\  COUNTY 

hay,  and  operating  the  elevator  at  this  point.  He  is  one  of  tlie  native  sons 
of  the  county,  having  been  born  in  Monterey  township,  on  the  23d  of  De- 
cember, 1871.  His  fatlier,  John  Nicolai,  is  still  living  upon  the  old  home 
farm  in  that  towiiship  and  is  accounted  one  of  the  representative  agricul- 
turists of  the  community.  William  F.  Nicolai  spent  the  days  of  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  upon  the  old  homestead  and  after  acquiring  his  education 
engaged  upon  his  business  career  as  a  clerk,  spending  seven  or  eight  years 
in  the  employ  of  W.  H.  Dendel  in  his  store  at  Hopkins.  He  then  started 
his  present  business  four  years  ago,  opening  simply  a  warehouse  with  ma- 
chinery. That  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  the  2d  of  February,  1905,  causing  a 
loss  of  nearly  one  thousand  dollars,  but  with  characteristic  energy  Mr. 
Nicolai  at  once  began  rebuilding  and  erected  a  cement  structure  thirty  by 
sixty  feet  and  two  stories  in  height,  with  new  and  improved  feed  ma- 
chinery and  an  elevator  with  twenty-eight  horsepower  gas  engine.  He  has 
about  four  thousand  dollars  invested  in  the  plant.  He  handles  grain  quite 
extensively,  shipping  thirty  thousand  bushels  of  wheat  in  1905.  He  also 
handles  that  much  grain  which  is  made  into  feed  for  the  local  trade.  He 
does  an  annual  business  of  forty  thousand  dollars  and  his  trade  is  con- 
stantly growing.  He  has  been  very  successful  since  starting  out  on  his 
own  account  and  although  he  suffered  through  the  fire  he  has  steadily  ad- 
vanced in  his  business  life  and  is  now  in  control  of  a  profitable  enterprise. 
Mr.  Nicolai  was  married  in  1895  to  Miss  Emma  Lohmolder,  who  died 
a  year  and  a  half  later,  in  1897,  In  1899,  Mr.  Nicolai  was  married  to  Miss 
Lizzie  Schwartz,  who  was  born  in  Germany,  and  they  have  three  children, 
Hulda,  Leta  and  Cleo.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Nicolai  is  a  stalwart  Dem- 
ocrat but  without  aspiration  for  office.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the 
National  Protective  Legion.  He  has  made  a  creditable  record  during  his 
connection  with  the  business  interests  of  Hopkins,  displaying  enterprise  and 
keen  discernment  whereby  he  is  enabled  to  overcome  difficulties  and  ob- 
stacles and  make  steady  progress  on  the  high  roa<l  to  success. 

John  Goodeix,  a  resident  of  Hopkins,  Michigan,  who  for  many  yenrs 
has  figured  prominently  in  the  history  of  the  county  in  connection  with  its 
development  and  growth,  was  born  in  Palmyra.  Wayne  county.  New  York. 
March  15.  1824,  and  has  therefore  passed  the  eighty-second  milestone  on 
life's  journey.  His  father,  Nathaniel  Goodell,  was  a  native  of  Vermont, 
and  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  married  in  the  Green  Mountain 
state  and  soon  after  the  close  of  hostilities  in  the  second  war  with  England 
he  settled  in  New  York.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Ellen  Simpson. 
When  their  son  John  was  twelve  years  of  age  they  removed  to  Erie  county. 
New  York,  settling  on  a  farm  about  twenty-four  miles  south  of  Buffalo. 
He  secured  four  hundred  acres  of  land  in  the  midst  of  the  forest  and  lived 
a  life  of  activity  and  enterprise.  He  died  at  the  very  venerable  age  of 
eighty-four  years.  His  wife  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine,  after  passing 
her  last  days  in  the  home  of  her  son  John  in  Monterey  township,  Allegan 
county.  Michigan.  In  their  family  were  ten  children,  of  whom  one  son  died 
in  Ohio,  One  daughter  went  to  Indiana  and  one  to  eastern  Michigan,  while 
seven  became  residents  of  Allegan  county.  Samuel,  who  died  in  Cheshire 
township  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years  on  the  old  home  farm  that  he  had 
cleared  from  the  wilderness,  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  part  of  the 


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MRS.  JOHN  GOODELL 


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JOHN  G(>()I>KL 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COL'XTY  297 

state.  He  had  been  a  resident  of  Cheshire  township  for  ten  years  prior  to 
the  arrival  of  the  other  members  of  the  family  in  this  county  and  in  fact  was 
one  of  the  first  white  settlers  of  the  township.  His  family  are  all  now  scat- 
tered, none  being  left  in  this  county.  Moses,  after  living  for  some  years 
in  Allegan  county,  went  to  the  west  but  returned  to  Michigan  in  his  old 
age  and  died  in  Monterey  township,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four.  Nathaniel 
followed  farming  in  Monterey  township  from  1847  and  owned  a  well  de- 
veloped property.  He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  John  is  the 
fourth  of  the  family.  Helen  became  the  wife  of  James  Stannard,  who  fol- 
lowed farming'  in  Allegan  and  Van  Buren  counties,  Michigan,  but  both  are 
now  deceased.  Lydia  is  the  widow  of  H.  W.  Durand,  of  Heath  township, 
who  was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war  and  died  in  1906.  She  survives  and 
is  living  in  Mill  Grove,  Michigan.  Louisa  is  the  widow  of  Elizer  Hogmire, 
and  lives  at  Matawan,  Van  Buren  county. 

As  previously  stated,  John  Goodell  was  a  youth  of  twelve  years  at  the 
time  of  the  removal  of  the  family  to  Erie  county.  When  sixteen  years  of 
age  he  went  to  Geauga  county,  Ohio,  settling  thirty  miles  east  of  Cleveland, 
where  he  was  employed  at  farm  labor.  In  1844  the  family  came  to  Allegan 
county,  settling  in  what  was  then  Trowbridge  township  but  is  now  Cheshire 
township,  about  fifteen  miles  southwest  of  the  village  of  Allegan.  John 
Goodell  is  the  only  surviving  son  of  the  family  and  after  coming  to  Michi- 
gan he  assisted  in  the  arduous  task  of  developing  a  new  farm.  In  1845  he 
married  Miss  Rosanna  Cooley,  whose  parents  were  Royal  and  Sabra  Cooiey. 
both  of  \'ermont,  where  Rosanna  was  born.  They  removed  to  Geauga 
county,  Ohio,  and  were  neighbors  of  the  Goodell  family  there,  so  that  the 
young  couple  had  been  acquainted  for  fifteen  years  at  the  time  of  their  mar- 
riage. In  1845  the  Cooley  family  had  also  come  to  Allegan  county,  driving 
an  ox  team  across  the  country  and  settling  as  near  neighbors  to  the  Goodell 
family  in  Trowbridge  township.  Mr.  Goodell  had  but  thirty  dollars  at  the 
time  of  his  marriage  but  he  possessed  a  stout  heart  and  willing  hands  and 
resolutely  set  to  work  to  make  a  home  for  his  bride.  He  worked  in  the 
woods,  cutting  logs  by  the  day  or  took  jobs  at  clearing  land  and  within  two 
years  he  matle  enough  money  to  buy  forty  acres  of  land  for  one  hundred 
dollars,  or  two  dollars  and  a  half  per  acre.  He  and  his  brother  bought 
eighty  acres  together.  This  lay  in  Monterey  township  about  a  mile  north 
of  the  center.  It  was  rolling  land  covered  with  heavy  timber,  including 
beech  and  maple  trees.  This  was  a  wild  and  unimproved  district.  His 
home  was  the  last  on  the  border  and  it  was  sixteen  miles  to  his  nearest 
neighbor  on  the  north.  There  were  only  two  houses  to  the  east  between  his 
home  and  Wayland.  a  distance  of  twelve  miles,  but  Deacon  Briggs  lived 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  to  the  south,  although  the  place  was  reached  only 
by  an  old  Indian  trail.  Mr.  Goodell's  first  house  was  a  substantial  log  cabin 
with  a  brick  fireplace  and  brick  chimney.  He  hauled  the  brick  from  Alle- 
gan a  distance  of  nine  miles.  He  worked  for  others  in  the  winter  to  gain 
ready  money,  and  the  first  winter  helped  clear  forty  acres  of  land.  The 
next  spring,  when  the  town  of  Holland  was  started  twenty  miles  awav,  he 
helped  build  the  first  house  there.  A  shipload  of  emigrants  from  Holland, 
numbering  three  hundred  families,  had  landed  in  the  woods  at  the  end  of 
Macatawa  Bay.  Six  settlers,  including  John  and  Nathaniel  Goodell  went 
to  the  emigrants  to  help  them  build  their  houses  there.    This  was  the  suni- 


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298  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

mer  of  1848,  and  Mr.  Goodell  worked  there  diiring  the  season.  As  oppor- 
tunity offered  he  also  cleared  his  own  place  and  raised  potatoes  among  the 
stumps.  He  thus  worked  for  two  years  until  he  had  cleared  a  sufficient 
amount  whereon  to  raise  crops  that  would  yield  him  a  living.  He  would 
chop  down  the  trees  and  cut  them  up  and  with  the  exception  of  assistance 
received  for  a  half  day  he  did  his  logging  all  alone  with  a  yoke  of  unbroken 
steers.  When  a  sufficient  amount  had  been  cleared  he  worked  on  his  place 
all  of  the  time  save  during  the  harvest  seasons  when  he  would  accept  em- 
ployment from  others.  His  family  remained  upon  the  farm  all  through  this 
time  and  while  he  and  his  brother  Nathaniel  were  absent  their  two  wives 
lived  together. 

After  eight  or  ten  years  John  Goodell  began  to  buy  and  sell  land  and 
thus  he  added  to  his  income.  He  also  induced  many  settlers  to  locate  in 
this  locality,  a  number  of  whom  came  from  Ohio.  He  had  written  to 
many  of  his  old  friends  in  that  state  and  induced  them  to  come  to  Allegan 
county,  after  which  he  would  assist  them  to  secure  farms  and  homes  here. 
He  also  handled  land  for  himbennen  and  he  purchased  different  tracts  all 
about  his  original  purchase  of  forty  acres  until  he  had  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  of  land,  which  he  still  owns.  He  bought  it  in  its  wild  state  and 
improved  it  himself,  and  he  paid  as  high  as  twenty-five  dollars  per  acre  for 
uncultivated  land.  He  continued  the  work  of  clearing  and  cultivating  until 
nearly  ail  of  his  farm  is  now  well  tilled.  He  realized  nothing  from  the 
timber,  not  recognizing  its  value  at  that  time.  In  the  log  cabin  which  he 
first  built  he  continued  to  reside  until  1857,  when  he  built  what  was  then  the 
best  house  in  Monterey  township.  It  is  still  well  preserved  and  is  yet  a 
first-class  residence.  He  has  four  barns  upon  the  place  for  shelter  of  hay 
and  grain  and  he  gave  considerable  attention  to  the  raising  of  good  stock 
and  was  a  breeder  of  high  grade  horses.  He  carried  off  several  premiums 
Dn  his  horses  when  placed  on  exhibit  at  different  fairs.  He  has  bred  and 
:rained  many  fine  horses  both  for  the  road  and  the  farm  and  for  many  >'ears 
he  handled  live  stock,  including  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs.  He  has  had  over 
two  hundred  head  of  cattle  come  to  his  farm  in  one  day.  He  made  a  busi- 
ness of  bunching  stock  for  many  years  and  he  also  bought  cows  for  dairy 
purposes  in  Ohio  for  twenty  years.  Through  a  long  period  he  was  regarded 
as  the  principal  stock  buyer  in  Allegan  county  and  his  operations  in  that 
line  of  business  were  extensive.  In  addition  to  his  old  homestead  he  has 
also  bought  other  improved  farms,  including  the  old  Briggs  farm.  He 
would  purchase  land  and  then  improve  and  sell  to  good  advantage,  and  he 
also  gave  a  farm  to  his  daughter.  In  1884  he  left  the  old  home  place  and 
removed  to  Hopkins,  although  he  continued  to  supervise  his  farming  in- 
terests, five  and  a  half  miles  distant,  hiring  help  to  do  the  actual  work  of 
the  fields.  However,  for  the  past  four  years  he  has  rented  his  farm  but 
still  keeps  stock,  having  now  about  thirty  head  of  cattle,  horses  and  hogs. 
Since  taking  up  his  abode  in  Hopkins  he  has  built  a  fine  residence  on  Main 
street,  which  he  occupies,  and  here  he  also  owns  a  brick  store  building,  oc- 
cupied by  his  son-in-law,  Frank  Watkins.  In  the  past  six  years  he  has 
erected  several  houses  which  he  rents,  and  he  also  sells  many  of  his  houses. 
For  three  years  he  was  a  partner  of  L.  C.  Walter  in  the  lumber  business, 
and  together  they  built  a  number  of  houses  in  the  village.  However,  for 
the  past  two  years  Mr.  Gootlell  has  practically  lived  retired,  having  accu- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUXTV  SO!) 

mulated  a  comfortable  competence  that  now  enables  him  to  enjoy  the  com- 
forts and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life. 

Unto  OUT  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born  two  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, but  only  one  survives,  Ella,  the  wife  of  Frank  Watkins,  who  lives  near 
her  father's  home  in  Hopkins.  Her  father  gave  her  an  eighty-acre  farm 
located  in  Monterey  township  and  also  built  for  her  a  fine  home  in  the  vil- 
lage. The  two  sons  of  the  family  died  in  infancy,  while  the  daughter, 
Thucey  Etna,  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years.  Besides  rearing  their  own 
family  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodell  also  took  into  their  home  Eliza  Ferguson,  the 
little  daughter  of  Mr.  Goodell's  niece.  She  became  a  member  of  their 
household  at  the  age  of  two  years  and  remained  with  them  until  her  mar- 
riage to  Frank  Dettenthaler,  of  Grand  Rapids.  Michigan.  Martin  Reed,  a 
nephew,  also  became  a  member  of  the  household  when  twelve  years  of  age, 
and  remained  with  them  until  he  reached  manhood,  when  he  spent  three 
years  in  the  service  of  his  country,  and  then  returned  to  their  home,  where 
he  remained  until  his  marriage.  He  also  gave  a  home  to  Fred  Miller  from 
the  age  of  eleven  years,  and  Henry  Quist  from  the  age  of  thirteen  years, 
until  their  marriage. 

Mr.  Goodell  has  always  given  stalwart  support  to  the  Republican  party. 
He  served  as  commissioner  of  IVtonterey  township  for  four  years  and  also 
as  township  treasurer  for  four  years,  being  the  first  Republican  to  hold  the 
office  in  Monterey  township  as  it  has  always  been  known  as  a  Democratic 
stronghold.  He  belonged  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  until 
the  Monterey  lodge  was  abandoned.  Mr.  Goodell,  coming  to  Allegan 
county  a  poor  man,  wlien  the  country  was  still  wild  and  uncultivated,  has 
labored  diligently  and  persistently  in  the  work  of  development  along  agricul- 
tural and  industrial  lines,  no  man  in  the  county  having  done  more  for  its  up- 
building and  progress,  and  today  he  is  numbered  among  the  well-to-do  and 
influential  residents  of  this  section  of  the  state,  where  he  has  a  wide  and 
favorable  acquaintance  and  enjovs  the  good  will  and  respect  of  a  host  of 
friends. 

Dr.  James  D.  Campbell,  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  and  sur- 
gery in  Hopkins,  was  bom  in  Elgin  county,  in  the  Province  of  Ontario. 
Canada.  August  27,  1865.  His  parents  were  likewise  natives  of  Ontario, 
where  the  father  is  still  living,  having  for  many  years  been  engaged  in  man- 
ufacturing there.  The  doctor  has  a  sister  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Fred 
Edgerton,  of  Allegan  county. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Dr.  Campbell  were  spent  in  his  parents'  home  and 
his  early  educational  privileges  were  afforded  by  the  public  schools  and  in 
a  collegiate  institute.  Wishing  to  enter  professional  life  and  determining 
upon  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery,  he  came  to  Michigan  and  pur- 
sued a  course  of  study  in  the  medical  department  of  the  Michigan  State 
University,  at  Ann  Arbor.  He  completed  his  course  in  Long  Island  Col- 
lege Hospital  at  Brooklyn,  New  York,  with  the  class  of  1890,  after  which 
he  was  made  ambulance  surgeon  to  the  Eastern  District  Hospital  in  Brook- 
lyn, acting  in  that  capacity  for  several  months,  during  which  time  he  greatly 
broadened  his  knowledge  by  practical  experience.  In  i8gi  he  came  to  Hop- 
kins and  opened  an  office.  He  had  a  brother,  W.  S.  Campbell  who  was 
then  a  merchant  in  the  county,  and  it  was  through  his  influence  that  Dr. 


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300  illSTORY  OF  ALLECAX  COUNTY 

Campbell  located  here.  He  has  now  resided  here  for  fifteen  years  and  has 
enjoyed  an  excellent  practice,  having  a  large  and  well  merited  patronage. 
He  is  a  member  of  various  medical  societies  and  thus  keeps  in  touch  with 
the  onward  march  of  the  profession.  Anything  which  tends  to  bring  to 
man  the  key  to  that  complex  mystery  which  we  call  life  is  of  interest  to 
him  and  his  practice  occupies  nearly  his  entire  time.  He  is  especially  fond 
of  fast  road  horses  and  is  breeding  a  fine  class  of  roadsters  and  he  owns  and 
occupies  a  pleasant  home  in  Hopkins  and  he  has  built  several  good  houses 
which  he  has  sold,  thus  adding  to  the  material  development  and  improve- 
ment of  the  town. 

Dr.  Campbell  was  married  in  Delaware  county,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Carrie  L. 
Lewis,  of  that  county,  where  she  was  reared.  She  was  liberally  edticated  in 
music,  and  prior  to  her  marriage  she  was  a  prominent  teacher  of  music  in 
Des  Moines,  Iowa.  She  is  now  acting  as  church  organist  and  her  services 
in  both  vocal  and  instrumental  music  are  frequently  in  demand.  She  has 
constantly  been  engaged  in  church  and  choir  work  and  also  in  training 
choral  singers  in  various  churches.  At  one  time  she  was  a  member  of  the 
finest  choir  in  Grand  Rapids  and  her  superior  talent  and  ability  makes 
her  a  vahied  addition  to  musical  circles  wherever  she  goes.  Dr.  Campbell 
is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  the  Masons,  the  Woodmen 
and  the  National  Protective  Legion  and  is  now  president  of  the  local  organ- 
ization of  the  last  named.  He  is  also  chairman  of  the  local  Republican  com- 
mittee and  has  been  a  delegate  to  the  county  and  state  conventions.  He 
takes  an  active  interest  in  politics  as  every  true  American  citizen  should  do, 
and  is  a  stalwart  champion  of  the  principles  which  he  supports.  He  is  not 
so  abnormally  developed  in  any  one  direction  as  to  become  a  genius  but  la- 
bors along  lines  that  are  of  benefit  to  the  community  both  as  a  citizen  and  in 
a  private  way  but  at  no  time  has  his  outside  interest  ever  caused  him  to 
neglect  the  duties  of  his  profession,  which  he  discharges  with  a  sense  of 
conscientious  obligation. 

GiLUF.RT  M.  Stonk,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war.  engaged  in  farming  in 
Hopkins  township,  was  born  in  Lorain  county,  Ohio.  March  4,  1829 — the 
date  on  which  Andrew  Jackson  was  first  inaugurated  president  of  the 
United  States.  His  father  was  a  mechanic  and  the  family  lived  in  a  little 
village,  but  Gilbert  M.  Stone  had  no  school  privileges  until  he  was  more 
than  nine  year  of  age.  He'  then  went  to  the  home  of  his  brother-in-law  in 
Cleveland,  and  in  thirteen  months  had  two  weeks'  schooling,  so  he  returned 
home  and  worked  with  his  father  at  the  carpenter's  trade.  When  fifteen 
years  of  age  he  went  as  a  sailor  on  the  lakes,  being  on  vessels  engagefl  in 
the  lumber  trade.  He  sailed  before  tlie  mast  for  six  seasons  and  on  his 
last  trip  bought  a  scow,  but  on  the  first  trip  on  this  he  drove  ashore  and  the 
vessel  was  lost,  although  the  crew  were  saved.  He  afterward  worked  with 
his  father  for  two  years  and  became  a  very  skillful  workman  at  the  car- 
penter's trade. 

When  about  twenty-one  years  of  age  Mr.  Stone  was  married  to  Miss 
Adeline  Lucas,  then  a  young  lady  of  eighteen  years,  who  died  two  years 
later.  In  the  meantime  his  wife's  parents  and  her  two  brothers  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Stone  came  to  Michigan,  settling  in  Calhoun  county  about  eleven 
miles  south  of  Battle  Creek.     Her  father  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLE(iAN'  COL'XTY  301 

and  received  a  land  warrant  in  recognition  of  the  aid  which  he  had  rendered 
the  country.  He  and  his  wife  afterward,  however,  returned  to  Ohio  and 
about  that  time  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stone  removed  to  Galesburg,  Michigan.  Her 
death,  however,  occurred  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Mr.  Stone  was  employed  as 
a  pile  driver  on  railroad  bridges  in  Ohio,  but  afterward  again  came  to 
Michigan.  An  old  friend,  Albert  Cheney,  who  had  come  with  him  upon  his 
first  trip  to  this  state,  had  also  returned  to  Ohio,  and  in  February,  1853, 
Mr.  Stone  and  Mr,  Cheney  once  more  came  to  Michigan,  settling  this  time 
in  Allegan  county,  where  Stevens  D.  Stone  had  lived  for  seven  or  eight 
years.  The  three  men  took  the  job  of  chopping  trees  into  windrows  ready 
for  burning  for  the  George  Jewett  Company  and  thus  cleared  about  fifty 
acres  of  land  and  also  worked  in  the  Dumont  mill  for  Mr.  Jewett.  Mr. 
Stone  is  therefore  familiar  with  the  experiences  of  the  lumber  camps  of 
the  early  days,  when  many  hardships  and  privations  were  to  be  endured  in 
connection  with  clearing  the  land. 

On  the  nth  of  May,  1856,  he  was  again  married,  the  lady  of  his 
choice  being  Miss  Mabelia  Miller,  a  daughter  of  Ira  R.  Miller,  of  Monterey 
township,  whom  he  wedded  in  Allegan.  For  a  year  after  his  second  mar- 
riage he  continued  to  work  in  a  lumber  mill  and  then  spent  a  year  on  a  farm 
in  Van  Buren  county.  He  afterward  worked  by  the  day  clearing  land  in 
1862,  and  in  the  meantime  also  operated  a  sawmill  in  Monterey  township. 
His  was  a  life  of  intense  activity  and  he  was  thus  closely  associated  with  the 
labor  that  has  resulted  in  bringing  about  the  present  state  of  development 
and  progress  in  the  county.  He  was  thus  employed  until  his  enlistment  for 
service  in  the  Civil  war  on  the  2d  of  August.  1862,  at  which  time  he  be- 
came a  member  of  Company  L,  Fourth  Michigan  Cavalry,  under  Captain 
Pritchard,  now  of  Allegan.  He  served  for  a  year  and  a  half  under  Generals 
Thomas  and  Rosecrans  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Murfreesboro  and 
Chattanooga,  He  then  went  to  Atlanta  and  after  the  capitulation  of  that 
city  returned  under  command  of  Genera!  Thomas  to  head  off  Hood  at  Nash- 
ville. They  followed  Hood  on  the  raid  to  the  Tennessee  river  and  after- 
ward went  under  command  of  General  Wilson  to  western  Tennes.see  and 
into  Alabama  and  Georgia,  being  stationed  in  the  latter  state  at  the  time 
of  General  Lee's  surrender.  A  detachment  of  the  Fourth  Michigan  was 
sent  from  Macon  and  captured  Jefferson  Davis.  After  a  year  and  a  half's 
connection  with  the  army  Mr.  Stone  was  detailed  for  service  in  the  quarter- 
master's department  as  forage  master  for  the  regiment,  in  which  connection 
he  frequently  made  raids  into  the  surrounding  countiy  in  order  to  gain 
supplies  for  the  army.  He  was  taken  prisoner  while  in  the  hospital  at 
Luverne  by  General  Joe  Wheeler,  but  was  soon  afterward  paroled,  and  on 
the  1st  of  July,  1865,  he  received  an  honorable  discharge.  He  met  the  usual 
experiences  and  hardships  meted  out  to  a  soldier  and  knows  military  life  in 
all  its  details. 

When  at  the  front  Mr.  Stone  saved  his  money  and  upon  his  return  pur  ■ 
chased  his  present  place.  He  afterward  worked  a  farm  on  shares  and  in 
1876  he  came  to  his  present  farm.  He  had  also  engaged  in  lumbering  to 
some  extent,  taking  small  contracts,  and  he  worked  for  three  seasons  in 
the  lumber  woods.  All  of  his  land  was  burned  over  in  1871,  at  the  same 
time  the  Chicago  fire  occurred.  There  was  3  small  hoard  house  upon  the 
place  but  he  had  not  moved  into  it.     The  fire  killed  all  the  timber.      Mr. 


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302  fllSTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Stone  was  an  expert  with  the  ax,  and  few  men  have  done  much  more  in  the 
work  of  clearing  in  this  county  than  he,  for  on  one  occasion  within  twenty- 
five  and  a  half  days  lie  winrowed,  chopped  and  prepared  for  firing  twenty 
acres  of  timber  of  heavy  beech  and  maple,  for  which  he  was  paid  six  dol- 
lars per  acre.  Even  after  locating  on  the  farm  he  continued  to  work  for 
others  from  time  to  time  and  thus  gained  the  ready  money  that  enabled  him 
to  carry  on  the  work  of  development  on  his  own  place.  He  has  forty  acres 
in  the  home  tract,  which  is  pleasantly  situated  about  three  miles  north  of 
Hopkins  and  he  also  owns  forty  acres  a  mile  distant.  In  1887  his  residence 
was  destroyed  and  the  following  year  he  erected  his  present  brick  dwelling. 
In  1905  he  suffered  the  loss  of  his  barn  by  fire,  at  which  time  it  contained 
five  head  of  horses,  six  head  of  cattle,  wagons  and  considerable  hay.  He 
has  since  built  a  new  barn  on  the  same  wall  and  he  has  carried  forward  the 
work  of  improvement  and  progress  until  he  now  has  a  well  developed  place. 

Unto  Mr.  Stone  by  his  first  marriage  was  born  a  daughter,  Mary,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Uriah  Hoffmaster  and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty  years. 
The  children  of  the  second  marriage  are:  Horton,  who  died  when  more 
than  thirty  years  of  age ;  Carrie,  the  wife  of  Dan  McBride ;  Earl,  a  farmer 
of  Hopkins  township ;  Walter,  who  is  operating  the  home  place ;  Ruby,  the 
wife  of  William  Leggett,  of  Hopkins  township,  and  Harry,  who  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  regular  anny  and  was  wounded  at  Wounded  Knee  in  battle  when 
Sitting  Bull  was  captured.  He  died  at  Pine  Tree  Agency  a  few  days  after 
the  battle,  for  blood  poisoning  followed  the  wound,  necessitating  amputation. 
His  strength,  however,  was  not  sufficient  for  him  to  rally  after  the  opera- 
tion.   He  was  then  but  twenty-one  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Stone  was  a  member  of  Harlow  Briggs  Post  No.  80,  G.  A.  R.,  and 
belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  gives  his  political 
allegiance  to  the  Republican  party  but  has  no  desire  for  office.  Hunting  and 
fishing  have  always  been  to  him  a  delightful  source  of  rest  and  recreation 
and  he  found  the  greatest  enjoyment  in  hunting  when  the  country  was  full 
of  game.  He  killed  wild  ducks  off  the  ridge  of  his  granary  with  a  ten-foot 
pole,  the  country  being  so  full  of  game  at  that  time.  He  has  intimate 
personal  knowledge  of  the  history  of  this  section  of  the  state  from  pioneer 
times  down  to  the  present  time  and  has  been  a  co-operant  factor  in  many 
movements  which  have  resulted  beneficially  in  promoting  the  material  de- 
velopment and  progress  of  this  part  of  the  state. 

Tacoe  F.  SLAGE[„^The  spirit  of  self-help  is  the  source  of  all  genuine 
worth,  and  it  is  this  that  conquers  adversity,  overcomes  obstacles  and  wins 
success.  Such  a  spirit  has  been  the  dominating  influence  in  the  life  of  Jacob 
F.  Slagel,  an  enterprising  merchant  of  the  village  of  Hopkins,  where  he  is 
dealing  in  lumber,  coal,  building  materials,  doors,  sash  and  interior  finish- 
ings. He  has  a  good  trade  in  these  various  lines  and  his  efforts  are  a  factor 
in  the  commercial  development  and  business  prosperity  of  the  village.  A  na- 
tive of  Marion  county,  Ohio,  he  was  born  on  the  r4th  of  April,  1855,  his 
parents  being  Tobias  and  Mary  (Akom)  Slagel,  who,  in  1863,  came  to  Alle- 
gan county,  settling  two  miles  west  of  Salem  Center  upon  a  new  farm  in 
Salem  township.  The  father  improved  about  eighty  acres  of  land  and  his 
place  comprised  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  He  thereon  built  a  brick 
house  and  two  barns,  transforming  his  property  into  one  of  the  best  farms 


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lilSTORY  f)F  ALLF^GAX  COl^N'TY  303 

of  Salem  township.  For  many  years  he  successfully  carried  on  general 
agricultural  pursuits  but  about  a  year  ago  he  sold  his  farm  and  is  now 
living  with  his  children,  his  wife  having  died  shortly  before  the  sale  of  the 
farm.  Unto  them  were  horn  four  children :  Jacob,  Elizabeth,  now  the  wife 
of  Bert  Purdy,  of  Allegany  county.  New  York ;  Carolina,  the  wife  of  Charles 
Miller,  who  resides  upon  the  old  Slagel  homestead,  and  Frederick,  who  is 
engaged  in  farming  near  Dorr. 

Jacob  F.  Slagel  was  reared  on  the  old  home  place  until  twenty-two 
years  of  age  and  assisted  in  the  various  duties  connected  with  the  further  de- 
velopment and  improvement  of  the  farm.  He  had  also  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade,  and  after  working  for  some  time  in  the  employ  of  others 
began  contracting  on  his  own  account.  At  a  later  date  he  again  spent  two 
years  upon  his  farm  but  with  this  exception  has  continued  as  a  contractor 
and  builder,  erecting  a  number  of  buildings  in  Allegan  and  throughout  the 
northern  part  of  the  county.  He  made  his  home  in  Salem  until  about  four 
years  ago,  when  he  removed  to  Hopkins  and  he  owns  a  farm  in  Salem  town- 
ship. He  employed  from  two  to  six  men  in  his  building  operations  and 
many  substantial  structures  stand  as  monuments  to  his  thrift  and  enter- 
prise. Coming  to  Hopkins,  he  opened  a  coal  and  lumber  yard  in  1903,  suc- 
ceeding Mr.  Streeter  after  his  death.  He  has  about  four  thousand  dollars 
invested  in  the  stock  and  does  an  annual  business  amounting  to  about  ten 
thousand  dollars.  He  has  extended  the  scope  of  his  activities  hy  dealing  also 
in  building  materials,  doors,  sash  and  interior  finishings,  as  well  as  in  coal 
and  wood  and  he  has  a  good  trade.  Prior  to  becoming  owner  of  the  busi- 
ness he  had  built  the  lumber  sheds  for  Mr.  Streeter,  who  died,  however,  just 
as  the  business  was  being  started.  Mr.  Slagel  has  met  with  success  from  the 
beginning  and  his  patronage  has  steadily  increased  until  it  has  now  reached 
very  gratifying  proportions.  He  has  also  erected  a  nice  residence  in 
Hopkins. 

In  Salem,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years.  Mr.  Slagel  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Punches,  a  daughter  of  George  Punches,  of  Salem. 
She,  too,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  was  brought  to  Michigan  in  her  girlhood 
days.  They  now  have  a  family  of  two  children :  Tillie  May,  who  was  for- 
merlv  a  teacher  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Pearl  Gibson,  who  is  in  the  hnnber 
yard,  and  Laura  Etta,  the  wife  of  Fritz  Christman,  of  Allegan. 

Mr.  Slagel  gives  his  political  allegiance  to  the  Democracy,  He  has 
served  as  highway  commissioner  in  Salem  and  has  filled  various  offices  in 
the  Odd  Fellows'  lodge,  which  he  has  also  represented  in  the  Grand  Lodge. 
He  has  likewise  served  as  district  deputy  and  for  twenty  years  has  been 
closely  associated  with  this  organization.  He  is  also  a  Mason  and  is  now 
tyler  of  the  lodge  in  Hopkins.  His  business  interests  have  brought  him  a 
wide  acquaintance  through  the  northern  part  of  the  county  and  the  quali- 
ties he  has  displayed  in  all  his  relations  with  his  fellowmen,  whether  of  a 
public  or  private  nature,  have  won  for  him  uniform  confidence  and  esteem, 
while  his  business  enterprise  and  intelligently  directed  efforts  have  brought 
him  a  gratifying  measure  of  success. 

William  H.  Dendel,  well  know  in  business  circles  in  Hopkins,  is  con- 
ducting a  general  mercantile  establishment  and  also  deals  In  hardware,  im- 
plements, wagons  and  carriages,  his  stock  being  arranged  on  the  plan  of  a 


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n04  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

department  store.  He  occupies  a  building  sixty-four  by  eighty  feet,  two 
stories  in  height  with  basement  and  also  a  warehouse  fifty  by  sixty  feet.  The 
store  building  is  his  own  property  and  he  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing and  enterprising  merchants  of  the  village,  conducting  a  constantly  in- 
creasing business. 

Mr.  Dendel  was  reared  in  Monterey  township  four  miles  west  of  Hop- 
kins, and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  left  the  farm,  thinking  that  he 
would  find  other  pursuits  more  congenial.  He  had  secured  a  liberal  educa- 
tion, having  for  two  years  been  a  student  at  Berea,  Ohio,  and  for  one  year 
in  a  business  college  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  after  completing  his  prelimi- 
nary education  as  afforded  by  the  common  schools  in  his  home  locality. 
After  starting  out  in  life  for  himself  he  was  for  two  years  engaged  in  the 
fruit  commission  business  at  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  and  he  was  also  deputy 
county  treasurer  at  Great  Bend,  Benton  county,  Kansas,  where  his  brother- 
in-law  was  county  treasurer.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to  merchandising 
in  Hopkins.  In  1885,  in  company  with  J.  T.  Visner,  he  purchased  the  store 
of  John  Bragington  and  united  that  stock  with  his  own,  occupying  one  room 
twenty-four  by  iifty  feet  with  five  thousand  dollars  invested  in  the  busi- 
ness. After  a  year,  however,  Mr.  Visner  sold  out  to  Peter  Dendel,  the 
father  of  William  H.  Dendel,  who  continued  in  business  until  1894,  when  his 
death  terminated  the  partnership.  The  interest  went  to  his  daughter,  the 
wife  of  Fred  Bechtold,  who  for  two  years  was  connected  with  the  store, 
when  he  sold  out  to  W.  H.  Dendel,  who  has  since  conducted  the  business 
alone.  The  trade  is  steadily  increasing  along  substantial  lines  and  the  sales 
of  1905  amounted  to  over  thirty-eight  thousand  dollars.  He  carries  a  fine 
assortment  of  goods  in  all  lines  usually  found  in  a  general  department  store. 
For  ten  years  he  occupied  a  one  story  building,  after  which  he  erected  a  two 
story  brick  building,  so  that  he  has  one  of  the  most  substantial  and  best  ar- 
ranged stores  of  the  county.  He  employs  three  male  and  two  lady  clerks 
and  attends  personally  to  his  own  business,  considering  no  detail  too  unim- 
portant to  claim  bis  personal  supervision.  This  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the 
strong  features  of  his  success  as  he  is  thoroughly  conversant  with  the  trade 
in  every  department.  There  is  a  harmony  throughout  the  whole  establish- 
ment and  his  enterprise  and  diligence  constitute  strong  features  in  his 
success. 

In  1886  Mr.  Dendel  was  united  in  marriage  to  Lena  Loew.  who  resided 
near  Burney's  Corners  and  who  died  three  years  after  their  marriage,  leav- 
ing two  children,  the  younger  of  whom  died  about  a  week  after  the  mother's 
death.  The  other,  Mamie,  is  now  clerking  in  her  father's  store.  At  his  sec- 
ond marriage  Mr.  Dendel  chose  Miss  Emma  Loew,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife, 
and  to  them  has  been  born  a  son,  Lloyd,  who,  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  is 
a  student  in  the  Allegan  high  school.  He  was  the  youngest  pupil  to  grad- 
uate from  the  Hopkins  school  and  delivered  the  valedictorian  address. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Dendel  has  always  been  3  stalwart  Republican 
and  frequently  attends  the  conventions  of  the  party.  He  is  secretary  of  the 
local  lodge  of  the  National  Protective  Legion,  in  which  capacity  he  has 
served  for  thirteen  years.  This  has  a  membership  of  four  hundred  and 
is  the  largest  membership  in  the  United  States  when  the  size  of  the  town  is 
taken  into  consideration.  A  life-long  resident  of  the  county  Mr.  Dendel  has 
a  wide  acquaintance  and  is  most  favorably  known  as  a  representative  and  en- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY  305 

terprising  business  man,  whose  labors  have  been  of  direct  benefit  in  the 
improvement  and  progress  of  the  village  of  Hopkins. 

Dr.  Almond  H.  Wicks  who,  practicing  along  scientific  lines,  has  gained 
recognition  as  one  of  the  foremost  members  of  the  medical  fraternity  in 
Allegan  county,  has  been  located  in  Hopkins  township  for  eighteen  years. 
He  was  bom  in  Cooper  township,  Kalamazoo  county,  Michigan,  on  the  12th 
of  January,  1861.  His  father,  John  H.  Wicks,  was  one  of  the  successful  and 
prominent  early  teachers  of  the  county  and  followed  his  profession  in  Cooper 
Center  and  at  Plainwell.  Later  he  located  on  a  farm  in  Watson  township, 
Allegan  county,  and  continued  teaching  in  connection  with  general  agricul- 
tural pursuits  until  he  was  nearly  sixty  years  of  age.  He  did  much  to  further 
educational  progress  in  the  community  and  to  advance  the  public  school  sys- 
tem to  a  high  standard.  He  is  now  living  retired  at  Martin,  this  county,  and 
is  one  of  its  respected  and  valued  residents.  A  native  of  New  York,  he  was 
educated  in  a  seminary  of  that  state  and  followed  teaching  prior  to  his  re- 
moval to  Michigan. 

Dr.  Wicks  was  reared  under  the  parental  roof,  remaining  at  home  until 
twenty-one  years  of  age.  After  attending  the  district  schools  he  became  a 
student  in  the  high  school  at  Otsego,  and  when  he  had  put  aside  his  text- 
books he  concentrated  his  energies  upon  the  farm  work  until  twenty-four 
years  of  age.  In  the  meantime  he  had  become  imbued  with  a  desire  to  enter 
professional  circles  and  determined  to  make  the  practice  of  medicine  his  life 
work.  He  therefore  pursued  his  first  course  of  lectures  in  the  medical  de- 
partment of  the  State  University,  at  Ann  Arbor,  where  he  remained  as  a 
student  for  tliree  years,  being  graduated  in  the  class  of  1887,  with  the  de- 
gree of  M.  D.  He  located  for  practice  in  Hopkinsburg,  and  later  removed 
to  the  village  of  Hopkins  on  the  railroad.  He  has  an  excellent  practice  and 
is  thoroughly  well  qualified  to  take  charge  of  important  cases,  for  he  is  a 
conscientious  physician,  of  wide  knowledge  and  broad  experience.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Kalamazoo  Medical  Academy  and  to  the  State  Medical  Society. 
In  company  with  his  brother  and  with  Herman  Stroud  he  assisted  in  or- 
ganizing the  Hopkins  Creamery  Company  in  1902,  and  is  still  financially  in- 
terested in  the  enterprise. 

In  April,  1889,  Dr.  Wicks  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Nellie  Du- 
Chame,  of  Plainwell,  Michigan,  who  was  engaged  in  the  millinery  business 
there.  They  now  have  three  children,  Lola,  and  Bernard  and  Bernice,  twins. 
In  his  political  views  the  doctor  is  a  stalwart  Republican  and  fraternally  is 
a  Mason,  while  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Congregational  church, 
of  which  he  was  formerly  a  trustee. 

Samuel  E.  Lovall.— Among  the  enterprising,  progressive  and  public- 
spirited  citizens  of  Hopkins  is  numbered  Samuel  B.  I.ovall,  who  in  his  busi- 
ness relations  is  meeting  with  creditable  and  gratifying  success.  He  is  con- 
ducting a  furniture  store  and  undertaking  establishment  at  Hopkins  and  also 
has  an  undertaking  establishment  at  Wayland  and  Dorr.  This  is  a  utili- 
tarian age,  and  it  is  the  men  of  business  enterprise  who  are  the  leaders  in 
the  world  and  the  real  upbuilders  of  any  community  and  as  such  Samuel  B. 
Lovall  deserves  mention  among  the  representative  citizens  of  Allegan  coiinty. 
He  was  born  at  New  Haven,  Indiana,  August  4,  1854.    His  father,  Samuel 


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306  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Lovall,  was  a  native  of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  and,  removing;  westward,  set- 
tled near  New  Haven,  Indiana,  when  twenty-two  years  of  age.  He  had  in 
his  possession  a  rifle  and  a  few  clothes  and  thus  he  started  hfe  in  the  middle 
west  upon  the  frontier.  He  married  Miss  Nancy  Rogers,  who  had  removed 
to  Indiana  from  Preble  county,  Ohio,  and  was  a  daughter  of  John  Rogers, 
who  owned  and  occupied  a  farm  on  the  bank  of  the  Maumee  river.  Soon 
after  his  arrival  Mr.  Rogers  aided  in  setting  out  apple  trees  on  the  farm,  this 
being  the  first  orchard  in  Allen  county,  Indiana,  and  one  tree  which  he 
planted  attained  a  girth  of  nine  feet  and  eight  inches  and  is  still  living.  Mr. 
Lovall  and  his  wife  established  a  little  home  in  the  midst  of  the  forest  on 
the  Maumee  river  and  there  he  cleared  and  developed  a  farm.  He  built  a 
log  cabin  and  Mrs.  Lovall  frequently  went  out  of  the  house  while  he  was 
cutting  trees,  fearing  that  they  would  fall  upon  the  house  and  do  injury  to  its 
inmates.  The  parents  continued  to  reside  upon  the  old  homestead  farm, 
which  the  father  developed  there  until  called  to  their  final  rest.  The  mother 
passed  away  in  1868  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years,  when  her  son,  Samuel  B., 
was  a  youth  of  fourteen.  He  was  twenty-two  years  of  age  when  his  father 
died.  In  the  meantime  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  had  been 
cleared  and  had  been  converted  into  one  of  the  ,best  farms  in  Allen  county. 

Samuel  B.  Lovall  was  reared  to  the  arduous  task  of  developing  and 
improving  a  new  farm  and  at  the  building  of  the  Wabash  &  Erie  canal, 
which  was  one  mile  south  of  the  farm,  hauled  the  timber  for  the  locks  on 
the  canal  between  Fort  Wayne  and  Defiance,  Ohio.  At  the  time  when  the 
pioneer  home  was  replaced  by  a  brick  residence  in  1876  he  and  his  sister 
had  charge  of  the  building,  the  father  being  an  invalid,  and  they  put  a 
stone  in  the  gable  upon  which  was  carved  the  father's  name  and  also  the 
date — 1876.  This  was  a  modem  brick  dwelling,  one  of  the  finest  in  that 
section  of  Allen  county.  In  the  family  were  two  children,  the  subject  of 
this  review  and  his  sister,  Eliza,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Frank  Frisby,  a 
resident  of  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana.  The  old  home  property  continued  to  be 
the  residence  of  the  parents  until  the  death  of  the  father,  when  it  was  sold. 

Educated  in  tlie  public  schools  and  reared  to  farm  life,  Samuel  B. 
Lovall  continued  to  aid  in  the  development  and  improvement  of  the  old 
homestead  until  the  father's  death.  Soon  afterward  he  established  an 
undertaking  business  at  New  Haven,  Indiana,  about  two  miles  from  the  old 
home,  where  he  continued  until  his  removal  to  Hopkins  in  1888.  The  fact 
of  having  friends  in  Allegan  county  induced  him  to  select  his  present  loca- 
tion. Here  he  opened  a  furniture  store  and  undertaking  establishment, 
and  in  ■  a  short  time  he  added  a  harnessmaking  establishment,  which 
he  conducted  for  eleven  years.  He  finally  determined  to  extend  the 
field  of  his  operations  by  establishing  branch  undertaking  establishments, 
and  about  ten  years  ago  opened  an  office  at  Dorr,  ten  miles  north  of  Hop- 
kins. He  also  opened  a  business  at  Wayland  and  carries  a  stock  of  caskets 
at  each  place,  with  a  man  in  charge.  He  also  keeps  a  funeral  car  in  Way- 
land  and  two  at  Hopkins.  The  Wayland  car  is  said  to  be  the  finest  in  the 
county,  and  Mr.  Lovall  practically  has  charge  of  all  the  funerals  in  this 
part  of  the  county.  He  is  a  Hcensed  embalmer  under  the  state  laws,  his 
license  being  No.  91.  His  long  experience  makes  him  very  capable  as  a 
funeral  director.  In  Hopkins  he  has  erected  a  store  building  and  three 
dwellings  and  also  three  barns.    The  business  block  is  twenty-six  by  seventy- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALI.F.GAN  C(.)UXTY  30? 

five  feet,  and  the  second  story  is  used  as  an  opera  house  and  public  hall  for 
the  town.  He  lias  also  erected  a  fine  brick  dweUing,  which  is  one  of  the 
most  attractive  and  modern  residences  in  the  village.  On  the  ist  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1906,  his  two  sons,  Harley  and  Burl,  aged  seventeen  and  fourteen, 
established  a  grocery  store  on  their  own  account  in  a  part  of  their  father's 
store  building,  starting  with  a  stock  worth  four  hundred  dollars.  They  have 
succeeded  beyond  their  expectations  and  they  are  the  youngest  business 
firm  in  the  county. 

On  the  i2th  of  February,  1887,  ilr.  Lovall  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Serena  A.  Miller,  of  New  Haven,  Indiana,  whose  grandparents 
were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  that  section  of  the  state.  Her  birthplace 
was  near  the  Lovall  farm,  and  by  their  marriage  there  are  now  two  chil- 
dren, Harley  and  Bur!,  who,  as  stated,  are  conducting  a  grocery  store. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Lovall  is  a  Republican,  having  always  acted 
with  the  party  since  age  conferred  upon  him  the  right  of  franchise.  He 
was  coroner  for  the  county  for  six  years  and  gave  such  matters  his  careful 
attention.  Fraternally  he  has  been  a  Mason  since  attaining  his  majority  and 
is  very  active  and  helpful  in  the  local  lodge.  He  is  also  an  Odd  Fellow 
and  a  Knight  of  the  Maccabees,  and  has  further  fraternal  relations  with  the 
Woodmen  and  the  Protective  Legion.  About  eighteen  years  ago,  in  con- 
nection with  Charles  Knobloch,  he  organized  the  Hopkins  band,  of  which 
they  remained  in  control  for  fifteen  years,  Mr.  Knoblock  playing  the  cornet 
and  Mr.  Lovall  the  bass  drum  and  cymbals.  The  band  was  called  to  fairs 
all  over  this  part  of  the  state  and  even  into  Indiana  and  won  wide  reputa- 
tion for  Hopkins.  Mr.  Lovall  was  only  fourteen  years  of  age  when  his 
mother  died  and  he  was  left  with  the  care  of  an  invalid  father.  His  early 
educational  privileges  were  exceedingly  limited,  for  he  had  to  attend  to 
the  work  of  the  farm  from  the  age  of  twelve  years,  the  father  being  com- 
pletely helpless  as  far  as  outdoor  work  was  concerned.  Whatever  success 
he  has  achieved  has  resulted  entirely  from  his  own  labors  and  in  the  face 
of  difficulties  and  hardships  which  would  utterly  have  discouraged  many 
a  less  resolute  man  he  has  made  .steady  advancement  toward  the  goaJ  of 
prosperity,  and  his  business  record  and  private  life  are  alike  commendable 
and  exemplary. 

Thomas  Gilligan,  the  junior  partner  of  Wolfingcr  &  Gilligau,  and 
also  assistant  postmaster  at  Hopkins,  is  one  of  Allegan  county's  native  sons, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Watson  township  on  the  i8th  of  September, 
1862.  His  parents  were  Patrick  and  Mary  (Rogers)  Gilligan,  the  former 
a  native  of  Ireland,  and  the  latter  of  New  York.  The  father  came  to 
Allegan  county  with  his  stepfather,  Patrick  Nolan,  and  took  up  his  abode 
in  Watson  township.  He  improved  a  farm  in  that  township  and  for  many 
years  has  been  accounted  one  of  its  leading  and  representative  agriculturists. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  stil!  living  and  they  have  an  excellent  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  to  which  he  yet  gives  his  personal  supervision 
and  attention. 

Thomas  Gilligan  was  reared  to  farm  life,  early  becoming  familiar  with 
the  duties  and  labors  that  devolve  upon  the  agriculturist.  When  twenty- 
five  years  of  age,  however,  he  started  out  upon  an  independent  business 
career  and  thinlqng  that  he  would  find  commercial  pursuits  more  congenial 


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308  TirSTORY  OF  AI.LEGAN  COUNTY 

than  agricultural  life,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Wolfinger.  which 
connection  has  since  been  maintained,  and  since  about  1887  Mr.  Gilligan 
has  devoted  his  energies  to  the  conduct  of  the  drug  store.  He  is  also  acting 
as  assistant  postmaster,  his  partner  being  his  superior  officer  in  that  connec- 
tion. They  have  a  well  appointed  store,  carefully  managed  and  tastefully 
arranged,  and  their  efforts  have  been  crowned  with  a  measure  of  success 
that  indicates  their  close  application  and  honorable  business  dealing. 

Mr.  Gilligan  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Viola  George,  a  daughter 
of  Chester  George,  and  a  native  of  Monterey  township.  They  are  pleasantly 
located  in  Hopkins,  where  they  have  a  wide  circle  of  friends.  Mr.  Gilligan 
is  a  Democrat  in  bis  political  views  and  socially  is  connected  with  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees.  Twenty  years'  connection  with  Hopkins  and 
its  business  interests  have  made  him  well  known  in  the  town  and  as  a  native 
son  of  the  county  whose  life  record  reflects  credit  upon  the  place  of  his 
nativity  and  the  place  of  his  residence  he  well  deserves  mention  in  this 
volume. 

Jackson  Baker,  one  of  the  venerable  residents  and  pioneer  citizens  of 
Allegan  county,  now  living  at  Hopkins  township,  has  intimate  knowledge  of 
conditions  which  existed  here  when  the  work  of  development  and  improve- 
ment had  scarcely  been  begun.  In  fact,  he  aided  in  planting  the  seeds  of 
civilization  in  the  forests  of  Michigan  and  ever  bore  his  part  in  the  work 
of  general  improvement.  He  was  bom  in  lower  Canada  March  16,  1829,  a 
son  of  Harvey  N,  and  Catherine  (Schufelt)  Baker,  the  former  a  native  of 
Massachusetts  and  the  latter  a  representative  of  a  Pennsylvania  Dutch 
family.  They  were  married  in  Canada  and  settled  in  Allegan  county  near 
the  mouth  of  Gun  river  on  the  8th  of  June,  1836.  Later  they  resided  in 
Martin  township  for  two  years  and  in  the  fall  of  1838  came  to  Hopkins 
township,  being  the  third  family  to  settle  within  its  borders,  their  prede- 
cessors being  Jonathan  O.  Round  and  Erastus  Congden  and  his  family, 
who  lived  near  Hopkinsburg.  The  first  death  in  the  township  was  that  of 
Hopkins  Round,  who  died  when  two  and  a  half  years  old  and  was  laid  to 
rest  a  half  mile  east  of  the  village  of  Plopkinsburg.  The  township  of  Don- 
was  set  off  from  Watson  township  and  as  soon  as  the  population  was  suf- 
ficient to  justify  another  division  Hopkins  was  set  off  from  Dorr  township. 
On  that  occasion  each  man  of  the  township  dropped  a  slip  into  a  hat  with 
his  choice  of  a  name  thereon  and  the  first  one  drawn  was  to  be  the  name 
of  the  new  township.  It  chanced  that  Hopkins .  was  upon  the  slip  which 
was  first  taken  from  the  hat  and  thus  the  township  was  named  in  honor  of 
the  little  lad  whose  death  was  the  first  within  the  borders  of  the  township. 
Harvey  N.  Baker,  on  coming  to  the  townsbio,  settled  on  the  farm  where 
Gottfried  Knuth  now  resides  and  there  made  his  home  until  his  death. 
The  buildings  which  he  erected  have  been  removed  from  their  original 
location,  but  the  house  is  still  standing,  being  now  used'  as  a  bam.  Mr. 
Baker  was  an  expert  hewer  of  timber  and  was  identified  with  building 
operations  at  an  early  day.  He  assisted  in  building  the  first  sawmill,  also 
in  the  constmction  of  earlv  bridges  and  other  buildings  at  Otsego  and  in 
this  part  of  the  county.  He  placed  eighty  acres  of  his  land  under  cultiva- 
tion and  died  just  prior  to  his  sixty-fifth  birthday.  His  wife,  who  was 
some  years  his  junior,  survived  him  for  four  or  five  years     In  their  family 


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HISTORY  OF  AIJ.EGAX  COUNTY  309 

were  fourteen  children,  of  whom  thirteen  reached  adult  age,  and  of  these 
five  sons  are  living  in  1906,  namely :  Jackson,  Alonzo,  Milo,  Edwin  and 
Philander,  all  in  Hopkins  township.  Of  the  others  Eugene  died  in  middle 
life.  Mary  was  the  wife  of  Philetus  Wood.  Minerva  married  Levi  Wilcox. 
Melissa  became  the  wife  of  Charles  Brown.  Emily  married  Judson  Good- 
win and  both  died  soon  afterward.  When  she  was  six  years  of  age  she 
strayed  into  the  forest  and  was  not  found  until  she  had  been  away  from 
home  three  days  and  two  nights.  She  was  discovered  on  Bear  creek.  Mahala 
became  the  wife  of  Frank  Kelly  and  her  second  husband  was  William 
Loomis.  Julia  married  John  Hoffmaster,  and  Amanda  became  the  wife  of 
Philip  Hoffmaster.    All  of  the  daughters  are  now  deceased. 

Jackson  Baker  remained  on  the  old  homestead  farm  until  twenty-one 
years  of  age  and  became  an  expert  with  the  use  of  the  ax.  He  took  jobs 
at  clearing,  logging,  teaming  and  other  work  in  the  woods  and  thus  made 
a  start  upon  his  business  career.  When  twenty-four  years  of  age  he  was 
married  in  November,  1853,  to  Miss  Emma  Adams,  of  Hillsdale  county, 
Michigan.  He  had  at  that  time  eighty  acres  of  land,  which  he  had  pur- 
chased direct  from  the  government  at  one  dollar  and  a  quarter  per  acre, 
and  it  has  never  been  transferred  or  mortgaged,  but  still  remains  in  his 
possession,  being  one  of  the  oldest  settled  farms  of  the  township.  In  May, 
1854,  he  built  a  log  house  upon  it.  He  still  continued  to  work  out,  however, 
at  clearing  and  logging  and  in  building  roads  and  in  other  ways.  Later  he 
concentrated  his  energies  upon  the  further  development  and  improvement 
of  his  farm,  iipon  which  he  continued  until  about  eight  years  ago,  when  he 
removed  to  Wayland,  where  he  iived  for  a  time,  and  his  son  operates  the 
old  home  place.  Mr.  Baker  placed  sixty-five  acres  under  cultivation  and 
carried  on  the  work  of  tilling  the  soil,  and  annually  gathered  rich  and 
abundant  harvests.  He  removed  from  the  log  cabin  into  the  present  home 
which  now  stands  upon  the  farm,  in  1872,  and  as  his  financial  resources 
increased  he  added  to  his  property  until  the  farm  comprises  one  hundred 
acres  of  rich  and  productive  land. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  were  born  the  following  named :  Mary,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Albert  Mudget  and  died  when  thirty-one  years  of  age; 
Clinton,  a  painter  of  Allegan ;  Rosina,  the  wife  of  George  Kilgore,  of  Kala- 
mazoo :  Truman,  who  is  living  in  Hopkins  township ;  Belle,  the  wife  of  Silas 
Hilbert,  also  of  Hopkins  township;  and  John,  who  is  upon  the  old 
homestead. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Baker  is  a  Republican,  but  has  never  been 
an  aspirant  for  office.  He  has  now  passed  the  seventy-seventh  milestone 
on  life's  journey  and  is  one  of  the  venerable  pioneer  citizens  of  the  county. 
His  memory  embraces  the  period  of  early  development  here.  He  well 
remembers  when  the  entire  countryside  was  covered  with  a  forest  growth 
that  was  the  haunt  of  many  wild  animals.  Mr.  Baker  himself  has  killed 
more  than  two  hundred  deer  in  this  part  of  the  state  and  he  greatly  enjoyed 
the  sport  of  hunting  at  an  early  day.  Time  and'  man  have  wrought  many 
changes  and  now  where  once  stood  the  dense  forest  are  seen  fields  of 
waving  grain  or  fine  fruit  orchards,  while  in  their  midst  here  and  there 
are  scattered  thriving  towns  and  cities,  containing  all  the  elements  of 
civilization  and  improvement  known  to  the  older  east. 


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310  HISTORY  Ol'   ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

R.  C.  Round,  now  living  retired  upon  his  farm  in  Hopkins  township, 
is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Michigan  and  of  a  New 
England  ancestry  that  was  established  in  America  in  colonial  (lays.  His 
paternal  great-grandparents  were  George  and  Martha  (Hopkins)  Round, 
the  former  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  while  the  latter  was  a  sister  of  Stephen 
Hopkins,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Their 
son,  Oziel  Hopkins  Round,  wedded  Anna  Olin,  and  unto  them  were  born 
fourteen  children,  including  Jonathan  Olin  Round,  the  father  of  R,  C. 
Round,  of  this  review.  He  was  the  eldest  and  was  born  in  Clarendon, 
Vermont,  October  lo,  1809.  When  twenty  years  of  age  he  married  Miss 
Sallie  Congdon,  who  was  born  in  Clarendon  July  10,  1810.  In  May,  1834, 
he  purchased  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  in  Kalamazoo  township, 
Kalamazoo  county,  Michigan,  and  came  to  this  state  with  Erastus  Congdon, 
his  brother-in-law.  In  the  spring  of  1837  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Hopkins 
township,  Allegan  county,  becoming  its  first  permanent  settler.  For  forty 
years  he  carried  on  general  agricultural  pursuits  and  then  in  1877  retired 
from  his  farm  to  the  village  of  Hopkins,  where  he  spent  his  remaining 
days  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  well  earned  rest.  His  wife  died  February  8, 
1884,  while  he  survived  until  August  23,  1890,  but  had  been  totally  blind 
for  twelve  years. 

His  son,  RoUin  C.  Round,  of  this  review,  the  eldest  in  a  family  of 
nine  children,  was  born  in  Clarendon,  Vermont.^  July  13,  1831.  He  was 
twenty  years  of  age  when  he  made  his  first  purchase  of  land,  securing  a 
tract  on  section  36,  Hopkins  township,  Allegan  county.  He  made  further 
preparations  for  having  a  home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage  on  tlie  7th  of 
May,  1854,  to  Miss  Zorada  Andrews,  a  daughter  of  Norton  and  Caroline 
(Root)  Andrews,  who  came  with  their  family  from  Ohio  to  Michigan  in 
1853.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Round  traveled  life's  journey  together  for  about 
twenty-three  years  and  were  then  separated  by  the  death  of  the  wife,  who 
passed  away  leaving  an  only  daughter,  Clara  A.,  who  became  the  head  of 
the  household.  After  losing  his  first  wife  Mr.  Round  was  again  married 
on  the  14th  of  October,  i88i3,  to  Mrs.  Martha  Corbett,  nee  Baldwin,  who 
came  from  New  York  and  was  married  the  first  time  in  this  county.  She 
■  died  December  26,  1902,  after  a  happy  married  life  of  more  than  twenty- 
two  years.  She  had  two  daughters  by  her  first  marriage:  Ada,  now  the 
wife  of  Nelson  Hull,  of  Hopkins ;  and  Ella,  the  wife  of  William  Martin, 
of  Hopkins.  Both  remained  at  home  with  their  mother  until  their  mar- 
riage. Mr.  Round's  daughter,  Clara  A.  Round,  remained  as  housekeeper 
for  her  father  from  the  age  of  eighteen  years  until  her  marriage  two  years 
later  to  Rosell  J.  Gorton,  who  has  since  carried  on  her  father's  farm.  They 
have  three  children :  Rollin  G.,  who  is  carrying  on  farming  on  the  old 
homestead,  having  built  a  house  in  the  same  yard,  and  who  married  Alma 
Yates,  by  whom  he  has  a  daughter,  Geneva  Y. ;  Mamie,  the  wife  of  Warren 
Hurley,  a  farmer  of  Otsego  township,  by  whom  she  has  two  children, 
Carlos  B.  and  Leon  G. ;  and  Clyde  B.  Gorton,  who  is  a  student  in  the  State 
Agricultural  College  at  Lansing,  Michigan. 

The  homestead  farm  comprises  eighty  acres  of  rich  land,  of  which 
Mr.  Round  placed  forty  acres  under  cultivation.  He  erected  the  main  part 
of  the  present  house  and  made  other  .substantial  improvements  on  the  place. 
Since  Mr.  Gorton  has  taken  charge  he  has  added  fifty-eight  acres  to  the 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEC;AX  COL'XTY  311 

home  place,  beside  two  forty-acre  tracts  in  Watson  township,  so  tliat  the 
farm  now  comprises  altogether  two  hundred  and  eighteen  acres.  He  has 
erected  a  large  bank  barn  and  altogether  the  farm  is  one  of  the  best  in  the 
township.  For  fourteen  years  Mr.  Round  lived  upon  the  farm  belonging 
to  his  second  wife  and  then  removed  to  the  village  of  Hopkins,  where  he 
was  retired  from  active  business  cares,  making  bis  borne  in  the  village  imtil 
the  death  of  his  second  wife.  He  then  returned  to  the  old  home  farm  in 
Hopkins  township  and  has  since  lived  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Gorton.  In 
the  early  days  he  would  take  jobs  at  clearing  land  and  making  roads  and 
causeways.  He  lived  in  an  old  log  house  for  nearly  twenty  years,  it  being 
among  the  first  built  in  the  township,  but  his  present  residence  was  erected 
in  1873.  In  those  early  days  much  valuable  timber  was  burne<l  in  order  to 
clear  the  land  and  prepare  it  for  the  plow.  Both  he  and  his  father  were 
Democrats  in  political  faith  and  he  has  served  only  as  road  commissioner, 
having  no  ambition  or  aspiration  for  public  office.  He  has  witnessed  many 
changes  in  the  county  as  the  years  have  gone  by  and  has  worked  diligently 
and  persistently,  allowing  no  obstacles  to  brook  his  path  toward  the  goal 
of  success.  He  is  now  comfortablv  situated  in  life  and  in  spirit  and  interests 
seems  largely  in  his  prime,  although  he  has  passed  the  Psalmist's  span  of 
three  score  years  and  ten. 

John  G.  Ellinger,  hving  in  Hopkins  township,  is  a  sturdy  represen- 
tative of  the  Teutonic  race,  which  has  been  an  important  element  in  the 
civilization  of  the  world.  Its  sons  have  gone  into  many  districts  and  their 
characteristic  enterprise  and  perseverance  have  made  them  good  citizens 
and  prosperous  business  men.  To  this  class  belongs  Mr.  ElUnger,  who  was 
born  in  Ravaria.  Germany,  December  10,  1838.  He  was  a  youth  of  fifteen 
years  when,  in  1853.  he  came  to  America,  his  brothers,  Daniel  and  Christian, 
having  crossed  the  Atlantic  four  years  before.  They  were  both  located  at 
that  time  in  New  York  City,  where  they  were  conducting  a  store,  and  the 
subject  of  this  review  became  a  clerk  in  their  establishment.  After  two 
years  spent  in  that  way  he  made  his  way  to  Michigan.  His  brother  Daniel 
sold  his  interest  in  the  store  to  Christian  and  also  came  to  Allegan,  where 
he  established  a  clothing  store  six  months  before  the  arrival  of  John  G. 
Ellinger,  who  came  in  July.  t855.  and  again  entered  his  brother's  employ. 
He  afterward  worked  on  a  farm  and  in  a  sawmill  and  was  thus  actively 
and  busily  employed  until  1861.  when  he  responded  to  the  call  of  bis 
adopted  country,  enlisting  at  the  first  call  for  three  years'  men  as  a  member 
of  Company  A,  Third  Michigan  Cavalry.  He  was  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Mover  and  his  service  for  two  and  one-half  years  was  with  the 
companv.  which  be  joined  on  its  organization.  For  four  and  a  half  vears 
his  time  was  devoted  to  military  service  and  he  was  then  honorably  dis- 
charged. On  re-enlisting,  several  members  of  the  old  regiment  were 
assigned  to  Company  F,  of  the  Ninth  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  he  continued 
with  that  command  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  started  on  the  Atlanta 
campaign  under  General  Grierson,  but  the  forces  under  that  leader  had  to 
retreat  and  thus  ultimately  made  him  a  participant  in  the  battle  of  Nashville 
against  Hood.  He  was  afterward  engaged  in  military  operations  in  Missis- 
sippi, when  his  companv  was  out  on  a  raid  attempting  to  capture  rebel 
near  Corinth,  Mississippi.    This  was  in  the  second  year  of  his  service  and 


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312  HISTORY  OF  ALL1'(;A\  COUNTY 

he  was  disabled  for  three  months.  He  was  captured  near  Jackson,  Missis- 
sippi, when  his  company  was  out  on  a  raid  attempting  to  capture  rebel 
leaders,  Mr.  Ellinger  being  with  the  advance  guard.  He  and  his  comrades 
had  captured  several  Confederates  that  morning  and  he  advanced  beyond 
the  regular  force  in  order  to  learn  which  road  to  take.  He  rode  into  a 
squad  of  rebels,  who,  after  chasing  him  for  six  or  eight  miles,  succeeded 
in  effecting  his  capture.  He  found  that  a  member  of  this  squad  was  a  man 
who  he  himself  had  captured  some  time  before  and  in  return  for  the  con- 
siderate treatment  which  Mr.  Elhnger  had  extended  to  him  he  in  turn 
received  good  treatment  at  the  hands  of  the  rebels,  hut  as  his  company 
pressed  forward  he  was  taken  into  the  woods  where  they  encamped.  His 
gun  and  horse  were  sold  to  the  highest  bidder  and  he  was  offered  a  position 
as  first  lieutenant  if  he  would  join  the  Confederates.  It  is  needless  to  say 
that  he  rejected  the  offer  and  watched  an  opportunity  for  escape.  Lying 
down,  he  crawled  as  far  as  possible  from  the  fire  behind  a  log  and  toward 
morning  he  rose  up  and  looked  about  him.  He  found  that  an  old  man  was 
on  guard.  He  then  lay  down  again  and  arranging  his  blanket  he  crawled 
off  on  all  fours.  At  length  he  heard  the  hounds  in  pursuit,  but  by  trailing 
things  behind  him  he  cut  off  the  scent  of  the  dogs.  At  length  he  called  at 
a  house  to  make  inquiries  concerning  a  horse  and  was  directed  to  a  planta- 
tion, where  he  pretended  to  be  one  of  Genera!  Forest's  spies.  He  saw  a 
horse  there  hitched  to  the  fence  and  also  secured  a  sheepskin  for  a  saddle. 
He  had  advanced  four  miles  on  his  way  when  he  saw  four  horses  tied  to  a 
fence  and  he  crawled  down  along  by  the  side  of  the  fence  in  order  to  obtain 
one  of  those  horses,  but  the  owners  were  out  of  the  house  near  by  and 
jumped  on  their  horses  before  he  had  a  chance  to  carry  out  his  design. 
He  crouched  low  into  the  fence  corner,  keeping  low  to  the  ground,  and  thus 
escaped  notice,  after  which  he  returned  to  his  own  pony.  At  length  he 
reached  camp  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  at  once  was  fitted  out 
with  a  horse,  saddle  and  gun  and  again  went  into  line  as  a  scout.  He 
was  generally  in  the  advance  guard,  which  often  placed  him  in  a  very 
hazardous  position,  and  for  some  time  he  served  as  corporal  on  the  staff 
of  General  Coon,  of  the  Ninth  Illinois.  He  received  an  honorable  discharge 
on  the  31st  of  October,  1865,  at  Selma,  Alabama,  and  thus  after  about 
four  years'  active  military  service  he  returned  to  his  home.  He  was  a  most 
faithful  soldier,  loyally  performing  any  duty  that  devolved  upon  him,  and  he 
now  attends  the  reunions  of  the  Third  Michigan  Cavalry,  for  he  always 
regarded  it  as  his  regiment,  as  it  was  only  circumstance  that  placed  him  with 
the  Ninth  Illinois.  He  is  now  a  member  of  Harlow  Briggs  Post  No.  53, 
G.  A.  R.,  of  which  he  has  served  as  commander,  while  at  the  present  writing 
he  is  quartermaster. 

Following  his  return  to  Allegan  county  Mr.  Ellinger  was  for  two 
years  engaged  in  business  with  his  brother  Daniel  in  the  conduct  of  a 
clothing  store.  In  1857  he  had  purchased  an  eighty-acre  tract  of  wild  land, 
and  in  September.  1867,  he  located  thereon  in  order  to  start  a  farm. 

During  a  furlough  he  had  been  married  at  Grand  Rapids  on  the  8th  of 
April,  1863,  to  Miss  Matilda  Schute,  who  was  born  in  Hamburg,  Germany, 
and  became  a  resident  of  New  York  in  1849.  Eight  years  later  she  went 
to  Grand  Rapids.  Michigan,  where  her  father  was  engaged  in  business  as 
a  cutter  and  tailor,  making  officers'  clothing  during  the  period  of  the  war. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX   COUNTY  313 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elliiiger  had  become  acquainted  while  slie  was  visiting  in 
Allegan  in  i860,  and  were  engaged  when  he  enlisted  for  the  war,  so  that  on 
liis  return  to  the  north  on  a  furlough  the  wedding  was  celebrated. 

As  before  stated,  they  took  up  their  abode  tipon  the  farm  in  September, 
1867.  A  small  clearing  had  been  made  by  Mr.  EUinger  prior  to  the  war 
and  he  built  thereon  a  house.  Two  years  later  he  sold  that  farm  and  bought 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  adjoining,  with  forty  acres  cleared  and  a  log 
cabin.  There  he  lived  for  thirty-three  years,  or  until  about  three  years  ago, 
during  which  time  he  placed  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  under 
cultivation.  He  also  erected  good  buildings  upon  the  place  and  a  bank 
barn,  making  altogether  a  fine  farm,  which  is  pleasantly  and  conveniently 
situated  a  mile  and  a  half  north  of  Hopkins.  About  three  years  ago  he 
bought  back  forty  acres  of  his  original  eighty-acre  tract,  since  which  time 
he  has  also  built  a  good  residence  and  substantial  outbuildings.  He  has 
since  sold  his  old  place  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  to  his  two  sons, 
Louis  and  Benjamin,  while  he  operates  the  home  place  of  forty  acres 
situated  in  Hopkins  township. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellinger  have  been  born  ten  children,  of  whom 
nine  are  yet  living;  Henry,  a  resident  farmer  of  Hopkins  township ;  Emma, 
the  wife  of  Charles  Gertz,  a  contractor  of  Grand  Rapids;  Bertha,  the  wife 
of  George  Blakely,  an  undertaker  of  Grand  Rapids;  Fred,  who  is  a  farmer 
of  Hopkins  township  but  lives  at  home;  Charlie,  who  is  employed  in  a 
furniture  factory  in  Grand  Rapids ;  Louis,  who  is  still  on  the  old  homestead 
and  who  served  as  a  member  of  Company  B,  Thirty-fifth  Michigan  Infantry, 
during  the  Cuban  war:  Julia,  the  wife  of  Fred  Krug,  a  ranchman  of  Mon- 
tana ;  Benjamin,  who  is  also  living  on  the  old  homestead ;  and  George,  a 
ranchman  of  Montana.     They  lost  their  eldest  child  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Ellinger  has  always  been  a  stalwart  Republican  and  has  been  promi- 
nent in  local  affairs,  serving  for  fifteen  years  as  a  school  officer  and  in  other 
positions  of  public  trust.  He  belongs  to  the  Methodist  church  and  has  lived 
a  life  in  harmony  with  his  professions,  commanding  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  his  fellow  men  by  reason  of  his  business  activity  and  probity. 
There  is  no  more  loyal  citizen  of  America  than  this  adopted  son,  who  proved 
his  fidelity  by  long  and  arduous  service  on  the  southern  battlefields  and  who 
is  continually  manifesting  his  public  spirit  b}'  his  devotion  to  the  welfare  of 
the  community  in  which  he  resides. 

McKiNNON  Brothers. — The  firm  of  McKinnon  Brothers,  composed 
of  John  D.  and  Will  J.  McKinnon.  have  for  ten  years  handled  practically 
ail  of  the  stock  shipped  from  Hopkins,  in  which  connection  they  are  well 
known  business  men.  controlling  a  trade  that  brings  to  them  a  good  annual 
income.  Both  are  natives  of  Barry  county,  Michigan,  and  came  to  Allegan 
county  in  1878.  The  father,  Roderick  McKinnon,  was  proprietor  of  a  store 
in  Hopkins  for  several  years.  He  had  come  from  a  farm  in  Barry  county 
but  was  born  on  the  Island  of  Tyree,  Argyleshire,  Scotland.  January  22. 
1832.  He  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  Canada  in  1847  3"<^  i"  ^^49  became  a 
resident  of  New  York.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  a  sailor  on  the 
ocean,  rising  to  the  rank  of  mate,  and  for  three  years  he  sailed  on  the 
Great  Lakes.  Removing  to  Michigan  he  followed  farming  for.  a  consider- 
able period  in  Barry  county  and   in    1885  became  a  resident  of  Tlopkins. 


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314  HISTORY  (.)F  ALLECiAN  COUNTY 

While  in  New  York  he  was  married  to  Margaret  M.  Forrest,  the  ceremony 
being  performed  in  York  in  1862. 

Reared  under  the  parental  roof  and  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
John  D.  and  Will  J.  McKinnon  joined  forces  in  a  business  partnership, 
which  for  ten  years  has  made  them  the  leading  stock  dealers  of  this  part 
of  the  county.  For  a  decade  they  liave  handled  and  shipped  stock  at  Hop- 
kins, buying  and  selling  horses,  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs.  They  buy  stock 
which  they  place  upon  their  farm  and  when  in  fit  condition  make  shipments. 
They  ship  from  one  to  five  carloads  of  hogs  each  week  and  often  a  carload 
of  cattle.  Their  business  has  given  farmers  a  regular  market,  so  that  at 
any  time  they  can  sell.  During  a  year  the  firm  pay  out  about  seventy-five 
thousand  dollars  for  stock.  They  make  Hopkins  their  central  point  of 
shipment  and  in  addition  to  their  operations  here  they  also  own  and  conduct 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres.  Their  attention,  however,  is 
principally  given  to  the  purchase  and  sale  of  stock.  Their  land  is  a  part 
of  the  old  Hoifmaster  farm.  It  adjoins  the  corporation  limits  and  a  part 
of  it  has  been  platted,  whereon  each  of  the  brothers  have  erected  a  home. 
Thej'  are  also  agents  for  the  International  Harvester  Company,  which  con- 
nection has  been  maintained  for  four  years.  Their  business  is  now  exten- 
sive and  profitable  and  is  of  much  benefit  to  the  community  as  well  as  a 
source  of  annual  income. 

Both  brothers  have  been  married.  John  D.  McKinnon  wedded  Floy 
G.  HoiTmaster,  who  died  three  months  later.  William  wedded  Mary  Hull, 
and  they  have  four  children — Kenneth,  Ethel,  Forrest  and  Keith.  The 
brothers  are  Republicans  in  their  political  support  and  are  well  informed, 
intelligent  men,  who  keep  in  touch  with  the  spirit  of  modern  progress  and 
thought. 

Amos  B.  Wait. — No  history  of  Allegan  county  would  be  complete 
without  mention  of  Amos  B.  Wait,  who  has  been  identified  with  its  interests 
from  an  early  period  in  its  development.  He  is  numbered  among  those  who 
aided  in  clearing  away  the  forest  and  he  has  experienced  the  hardships 
and  privations  of  frontier  life  incident  to  the  development  of  a  home  in  a 
new  country.  Born  in  Portage  county,  Ohio,  on  the  zd  of  October,  1834, 
he  is  a  son  of  Jonathan  and  Abigail  (Belden)  Wait,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Massachusetts  and  settled  on  the  western  reserve  in  Ohio  at  an 
early  day.  The  son  Amos  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  twenty- 
one  years  of  age,  and  in  the  spring  of  1856  came  to  Michigan.  The  fall 
before  Dr.  E.  H.  Wait  had  visited  Allegan  county  and  purchased  large 
tracts  of  land.  Both  came  in  the  spring  of  1856  and  several  other  families 
from  Ohio  also  made  the  journey  to  this  county  at  that  time.  The  Waits 
settled  at  Hopkinsburg,  three  miles  east  of  Hopkins,  and  Dr,  Wait  and 
R.  A.  Baird  built  a  sawmill  there  in  order  to  cut  the  pine  timber  from  their 
own  land.  Amos  Wait  worked  in  the  mill  through  the  summer  and  in  the 
fall  of  that  year  returned  to  Ohio,  but  in  the  spring  following  again  came 
to  Allegan  county  and  once  more  worked  for  his  brother  and  his  partner, 
Mr.  Baird.  The  doctor  also  conducted  a  large  store  at  Hopkinsburg  and 
purchased  great  quantities  of  maple  sugar,  dealing  extensively  in  that  com- 
modity.   He  finally  returned  to  Ohio,  however,  and  died  there  in  1871. 

Amos  B.  Wait  returned  to  Ohio  the  second  winter  and  was  married 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEC.AX  COUNTY  315 

there  to  Miss  Eliza  Parker.  He  afterward  operated  his  father's  farm  for 
one  year  and  then  came  again  to  Allegan  county,  where  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  wild  land  one  mile  south  of  the  present  site  of  Hilliard.  He  then 
went  into  the  woods,  cutting  beach  and  maple,  and  he  sold  some  timber, 
inchiding  black  cherry.  The  log  house  which  he  built,  sixteen  by  twenty- 
four  feet,  is  still  standing  and  is  one  of  the  old  landmarks  of  the  com- 
munity, a  mifte  witness  of  the  many  changes  that  have  occurred  in  the 
intervening  years.  He  paid  fonr  dollars  per  acre  for  his  land,  which  was  all 
covered  with  the  forest  growth,  the  value  of  which  was  little  appreciated  by 
the  settlers  at  that  time,  who,  anxious  to  get  ri<I  of  the  trees  that  prevented 
them  from  tilling  the  soil,  burned  much  of  the  timber.  In  order  to  obtain 
ready  money  he  worked  out  by  the  day.  chopping  and  clearing,  and  he 
cleared  his  own  land  when  he  could  get  no  work  from  others.  Thus  he 
placed  sixty  acres  under  cultivation  and  in  the  course  of  time  the  fields 
became  very  rich  and  productive,  yielding  large  harvests.  He  built  a  good 
barn  about  the  time  that  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad  was  built  through  his 
farm  and  about  six  years  ago  he  erected  a  new  and  attractive  residence. 
His  soil  was  rich  and  productive  and  in  addition  to  its  cidtivation  in  later 
years  he  conducted  a  dairy  and  was  also  a  stockholder  in  the  Hilliard 
creamery.  He  continued  upon  the  farm  until  April.  1906,  and  after  a 
residence  there  of  fort\' -seven  years  he  rented  the  place  and  took  up  his 
abode  in  the  village  of  Hopkins,  where  he  now  has  a  nice  home. 

Mr.  M'ait  lost  his  first  wife  on  the  14th  of  September.  1871,  and  in 
November,  1872,  he  married  Mrs.  Charlotte  Eavs,  nee  Benedict,  who  at  the 
time  of  their  marriage  was  residing  at  Summit.  She  was  born  in  Summit 
county,  Ohio,  and  by  her  first  marriage  had  one  son,  Myron  Eavs.  who  was 
five  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her  second  marriage,  and  he  lived  with 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wait  until  his  own  marriage.  He  is  now  a  resident  of  Grand 
Rapids.  Michigan.  Mr.  Wait  by  his  first  marriage  had  three  children : 
Etta,  the  wife  of  Burt  Parmalee.  of  Hopkins  township:  Minnie,  the  wife  of 
William  Tanner,  of  Dorr  township ;  and  Cora,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Plumb,  of 
Portage  county,  Ohio.  By  the  present  marriage  there  are  two  children: 
Grace,  the  wife  of  Charles  Hoffmaster.  and  Katie,  the  wife  of  Harvey 
Hoffmaster.  The  two  gentlemen  are  brothers,  and  both  families  reside  in 
Kalamazoo. 

Mr.  Wait  gives  his  political  allegiance  to  the  Republican  part\'  and  is 
thoroughly  in  sympathy  with  its  principles.  For  a  half  century  he  has 
resided  in  this  county  and  has  not  only  l)een  a  witness  of  its  changes,  but 
has  been  a  participant  in  much  of  the  work  that  has  wrought  its  present 
development  and  progress.  In  }-ears  passed  he  killed  many  deer  in  this 
section  of  the  state  and  shot  many  other  kinds  of  wild  animais.  He  has 
known  and  met  the  experiences  and  hardships  of  the  himber  camp,  per- 
forming the  arduous  task  of  clearing  and  developing  a  new  farm  and  has 
carried  on  his  work  with  a  persistency  of  purpose  that  has  in  the  course  of 
years  brought  him  a  measure  of  success  that  now  enables  him  to  live 
retired. 

The  Baird  f.\mily  has  long  been  widely  and  prominently  known  in 
Allegan  county,  the  name  being  inseparably  interwoven  with  the  history  of 
this  part  of  the  state.    Three  brothers,  Robert  A..  John  A.  and  Philander  O. 


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316  HISTORY  OF  ALF^EGAK  COUNTY 

Eaird,  all  of  whom  were  then  married,  came  from  Twinsburg,  Summit 
county,  Ohio,  to  Allegan  cbim ty  in  1856.  They  were  sons  of  Robert  Hunter 
Baird,  a  representative  of  an  old  family  of  Massachusetts,  who  removed 
from  New  England  to  Ohio  in  1841.  In  the  family  in  addition  to  the  three 
brothers  were  two  sisters,  who  lived  in  Allegan  county,  namely :  Hannah, 
the  wife  of  Dr.  Wait,  a  physician  and  merchant  at  Hopkinsburg;  and  Olive, 
who  married  Newell  Upson. 

Robert  A.  Eaird,  the  eldest  of  the  brothers,  became  a  miller  at  Hopkins- 
burg, where  his  widow  still  resides.  John  A.  and  Philander  O.  Baird 
settled  on  adjoining  farms,  but  John  A.  lived  for  two  years  in  Hopkinsburg 
before  taking  up  his  abode  on  his  fami.  He  then  gave  his  attention  to  the 
cultivation  of  the  soil  through  the  summer  months,  while  in  the  winter 
season  he  bought  logs  for  his  brother,  who  operated  a  sawmill.  His  farm 
lay  two  miles  north  of  Hopkinsburg  and  he  placed  some  sixty  acres  under 
cultivation.  His  first  home  was  a  log  cabin,  which  he  occupied  until  the 
present  residence  was  erected  by  him  about  thirty  years  ago.  His  time 
and  energies  were  devoted  to  general  agricultural  pursuits  until  within  five 
years  of  his  death,  which  occurred  September  22,  1905,  when  he  was  in  his 
seventy-eighth  year. 

Philander  O.  Baird  worked  at  the  mill  for  two  years  before  coming 
to  the  farm.  He  also  retained  his  residence  upon  his  farm  until  he  was 
called  to  his  final  rest  April  12,  1903,  in  his  seventieth  year.  On  the  4th 
of  February,  1862,  just  before  going  to  Michigan,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Aurelia  Tooker,  a  sister  of  P.  W.  Tooker,  who  is  mentioned  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.  She  survived  until  March  5,  1906,  and  passed  away  at  the 
age  of  sixty-seven  years.  Mr.  Eaird  returned  to  Ohio  for  his  bride  and  fol- 
lowing the  marriage  ceremony  brought  her  to  his  log  cabin  in  the  midst  of  the 
forest.  This  remained  their  home  until  it  was  replaced  by  the  present  resi- 
dence that  now  stands  on  the  farm,  which  was  built  in  1873.  Philander  O. 
Baird  was  a  Republican  in  his  political  views  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Congregational  church  at  Hopkinsburg.  Their  family 
numbered  a  son  and  daughter,  Kendall  O.  and  Lottie,  but  the  latter  died  in 
her  seventeenth  year. 

Upon  the  old  homestead  farm  belonging  to  his  parents  Kendall  O. 
Baird  was  bom  September  24,  1864.  He  was  reared  to  habits  of  industry 
and  economy  and  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  twenty-one  years 
of  age.  He  has  spent  his  entire  life  upon  the  farm  save  for  four  seasons, 
which  were  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  cheese.  He  worked  with  his 
father  until  five  years  prior  to  the  latter's  death,  when  he  assumed  the 
entire  management  of  the  business,  owing  to  the  fact  that  hts  father  had 
suffered  a  stroke  of  paralysis.  He  has  carried  on  mixed  farming,  also 
raising  cows  and  hogs.  He  usually  keeps  from  ten  to  seventeen  cows, 
selling  the  milk  to  the  cheese  factory.  He  uses  the  Guernsey  stock  and  has 
some  high  grade  animals.  In  all  of  his  work  he  is  progressive  and  accom- 
plishes what  he  undertakes,  carrying  forward  his  business  along  lines  of 
enterprise  and  activity  that  result  in  bringing  him  gratifying  and  well 
merited  success. 

On  the  5th  of  January,  1895,  Kendall  O.  Baird  was  married  to  Miss 
Lonnie  Rumery,  a  daughter  of  J.  L.  and  Hattie  K.  (Buck)  Rrmiery.  The 
Rumery  family  has  also  been  identified  with  the  county  from  pioneer  days. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  317 

Salsbury  B.  Runiery,  a  pioneer  of  Monterey  township,  located  there  in  1843, 
while  J.  L.  Rumery  arrived  in  1844.  He  married  Hattie  Buck,,  of  St. 
Lawrence  county.  New  York.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rumery  are  still  living,  their 
home  being  near  Ohio  Corners,  in  Hopkins  township,  and  Mrs.  Rumery's 
mother,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Jane  Emily  Butler,  is  also  with  them 
at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  Mrs.  Eaird  was  born  in  Monterey  township, 
afterward  spent  five  years  with  her  parents  in  Allegan  and  then  removed 
to  Hopkins  township,  where  she  was  living  at  the  time  of  her  marriage, 
when  she  was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Her  father  was  born  in  Monterey 
township  sixty-two  years  ago  and  was  also  married  there. 

Mr,  Baird  is  a  Republican  but  without  aspiration  for  office.  His  entire 
time  and  attention  has  been  devoted  to  his  business  affairs  and  he  is  a 
worthy  representative  of  a  pioneer  family  that  from  an  early  day  has  taken 
an  active  and  helpful  part  in  the  work  of  progress  and  improvement. 

Henev  F.  Buskirk,  a  member  of  the  slate  board  of  agriculture  and  a 
former  representative  of  his  district  in  the  general  assembly,  is  a  distin- 
guished resident  of  Allegan  county  and  one  who  has  wielded  a  wide  and 
beneficial  influence  in  public  affairs.  He  is  not  a  politician  in  the  ordinary 
sense  of  the  term.  With  him  the  public  welfare  is  ever  paramount  to  per- 
sonal aggrandizement  and  the  general  good  of  greater  interest  than  party 
progress.  The  duties  which  have  been  entrusted  to  him  have  been  faithfully 
performed  and  he  has  made  each  task  a  close  and  earnest  study  in  order  to 
secure  the  best  possible  results.  He  has  become  widely  known  throughout 
Michigan  as  one  whose  labors  have  been  of  direct  benefit  to  the  state  at 
large  and  at  the  same  time  he  looks  beyond  the  exigencies  of  the  moment  to 
the  possibilities  of  the  future.  His  home  is  in  Wayland  and  in  addition  to 
his  residence  there  he  owns  a  good  farm  propert}'  in  Hopkins  township, 
upon  which  he  spends  the  summer  months. 

Mr.  Buskirk  was  born  on  the  old  farm  homestead  in  Hopkins  township, 
November  26,  1856,  his  parents  being  William  and  Sophia  (Sadler)  Buskirk. 
The  paternal  grandfather.  Abram  Buskirk,  was  married  in  New  York,  his 
native  state,  to  Miss  Nancy  Garrison  and  removed  from  Ovid,  New  York, 
to  Dover,  Ohio.  In  1853  he  became  a  resident  of  Michigan,  where  his  sons, 
John.  Abram,  I'eter  and  William,  all  of  whom  were  heads  of  families  at 
that  time,  had  previously  settled,  living  in  the  same  neighborhood.  William 
Buskirk  and  his  wife  had  arrived  in  Allegan  county  in  1854.  John  Buskirk 
remained  but  a  short  period,  after  which  he  returned  to  Ohio.  Others, 
however,  continued  in  Allegan  county  and  cleared  and  developed  farms. 
Of  these  brothers  William  and  Peter  are  yet  residents  of  the  county,  while 
Abram  Buskirk,  Jr.,  cleared  and  improved  a  farm  upon  which  he  spent  his 
remaining  days,  dying  in  this  county  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  His 
widow  still  resides  upon  the  old  homestead.  The  younger  members  of  the 
family  who  came  with  their  father,  Abram  Buskirk,  Sr..  were  Allen,  Isaac. 
Daniel,  Jane  and  Eliphelet.  Of  these  Allen,  Daniel  and  Eliphelet  married 
three  sisters,  Louisa,  Ellen  and  Catherine  Van  Tassel,  daughters  of  M.  W. 
Van  Tassel,  a  prominent  pioneer  lumberman  of  Wayland.  Allen,  who  for 
many  years  followed  farming,  about  1873  went  north  to  the  lumber  woods 
aiid  died  at  Big  Rapids.  Daniel  Buskirk,  who  lost  his  wife  here  about 
thirty-eight  years  ago,  is  now  a  carpenter.     Eliphelet,  the  youngest  son. 


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318  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

resided  upon  the  old  homestead  until  three  years  ago,  when  he  sold  the 
property,  and  is  now  engaged  in  farming  in  Wayland  township.  Jane,  the 
only  daughter,  became  the  wife  of  Herman  F.  White,  wlio  <lied  recently, 
and  she  is  now  living  on  the  old  homestead  farm.  The  father  of  this 
family,  Abram  Buskirk,  Sr.,  died  in  his  eighty -seventh  year,  while  his  wife, 
Nancy,  passed  away  when  but  sixty-two  years  of  age. 

William  Buskirk,  father  of  our  subject,  was  married  at  Dover,  Ohio,  to 
Miss  Sophia  Sadler,  on  the  23d  of  July,  1847.  They  are  both  now  in  the 
eighty-first  year  of  their  age  and  have  been  married  for  fifty-nine  years. 
On  coming  to  Michigan  in  1854  they  bad  one  son,  Thomas.  William  Bus- 
kirk secured  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  near  his  father's 
place  and  carried  on  the  work  himself  until  about  ten  years  ago.  He  has 
never  served  in  office  save  in  connection  with  the  schools,  but  since  the 
organization  of  the  party  has  been  a  stalwart  advocate  of  Republican  prin- 
ciples. He  has  always  been  a  great  Bible  student  and  a  strict  observer  of  the 
Sabbath.  Wherever  known  he  is  valued  and  respected,  and  he  and  his  wife 
are  one  of  the  most  venerable  and  esteemed  couples  of  Allegan  county.  In 
their  family  were  four  sons  and  two  daughters:  Thomas  C,  who  is  now 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Portland,  Michigan;  Alva  L.,  a 
farmer  of  Wayland ;  Henry  F. ;  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  J.  Crabb,  a  farmer  of 
Hopkins;  Clara,  the  wife  of  Almon  N.  Baker,  in  this  vicinity;  and  John  D., 
a  practicing  physician  at  Shelby,  Michigan. 

Henry  F.  Buskirk  supplemented  his  preliminary  education  by  study 
in  the  high  school  at  Otsego  and  afterward  engaged  in  teaching  at  Wayland. 
In  1875  he  entered  the  Agricultural  College,  from  which  he  graduated 
with  the  class  of  1878.  He  devoted  the  winter  seasons  for  seven 
years  to  the  profession  of  teaching,  and  following  the  completion  of 
his  collegiate  course  he  began  farming  on  his  own  account.  He  was  married 
January  28,  1881,  to  Miss  Lillian  E.  Hoyt,  a  daughter  of  I.  N.  Hoyt,  of 
Wayland.  Mr.  Buskirk  then  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in  connection 
with  his  father-in-law  at  Wayland  for  eight  years,  interrupted,  however,  by 
an  interval  of  three  years  spent  upon  the  farm.  His  summer  inonths  were 
devoted  to  the  care  and  cultivation  of  his  land  and  his  agricultural  pursuits 
were  crowned  with  a  goodly  measure  of  success.  As  the  years  passed  by 
Mr.  Buskirk  added  to  his  possessions  until  at  one  time  he  owned  three 
hundred  acres  of  land,  a  part  of  which  he  rented  and  part  of  which  he 
operated.  He  has  recently  sold  his  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
and  in  fact  has  disposed  of  all  his  farming  property  save  about  forty  acres. 
He  lives  in  the  village  of  Wayland,  spending  only  the  summer  months  on  the 
farm.  He  has  erected  there  good  buildings,  has  drained  and  tiled  much  of 
the  land  and  is  now  devoting  his  attention  to  the  growing  of  onions,  sugar 
beets  and  cabbages,  which  are  successfully  raised  and  constitute  a  marketable 
commodity.  Active  and  energetic  in  his  business  life  and  carefully  con- 
trolling his  interests,  Mr.  Buskirk  has  met  with  a  measure  of  prosperity 
which  numbers  him  among  the  successful  residents  of  Allegan  county.  The 
home  was  blessed  with  two  children,  but  they  lost  their  only  son  in  child- 
hood. The  daughter,  Bessie,  was  graduated  from  the  Agricultural  College 
just  twenty-five  years  after  her  father's  graduation,  and  for  three  years  was 
engaged  in  teaching  in  the  city  schools  of  Grand  Rapids,  where  she  won 


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HISTORY  OF  AIXEGAN  COUNTY  319 

advancement,  but  preferring  to  remain  at  home,  she  is  now  with  her  parents 
in  Way  land. 

Mr.  Buskirk,  while  leading  an  active  and  useful  life  in  connection  with 
his  business  interests,  has  also  found  time  and  opportunity  to  perform  much 
valuable  public  service.  Early  in  life  he  filled  various  township  offices  and 
has  occupied  various  positions  in  the  village  of  Wayland.  In  1897  he  was 
elected  to  represent  his  district  in  the  state  legislature  and  served  as  a 
member  of  various  important  committees.  He  was  also  chairman  of  the 
Northern  Asylum  for  the  Insane  at  Traverse  City.  In  1899  he  was  made 
chairman  of  the  committee  of  the  Agricultural  College  and  a  member  of 
the  committee  on  fisheries  and  game.  This  committee  was  instrumental  in 
securing  an  appropriation  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  for  the  erection 
of  the  woman's  building  to  the  Agricultural  College.  His  services  during 
the  Pingree  administration  at  the  beginning  of  the  adoption  of  the  special 
tax  legislation  and  an  amendment  to  the  constitution  resulted  in  the  creation 
of  a  tax  commission.  When  he  began  his  work  in  that  direction  the  railroads 
paid  less  than  one  million  dollars  taxes  but  now  pay  four  million  dollars. 
His  term  in  the  general  assembly  having  expired  he  then  retired,  not 
desiring  to  again  become  a  candidate.  He  is  a  member  of  the  state  board 
of  agriculture,  having  first  been  appointed  by  Governor  Warner.  This  is  a 
very  important  board,  but  no  salary  is  attached.  The  board  constitutes  seven 
members,  having  charge  of  the  expenditure  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars  per  annum.  All  experiment  stations  are  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  board.  The  board  also  has  entire  supervision  of  the  Agricul- 
tural College,  the  erection  of  new  buildings  and  other  work  connected  there- 
with. The  office  of  the  board  is  located  at  the  Agricultural  College,  the 
secretary  residing  there.  His  public  spirit  is  manifest  by  his  work  in  connec- 
tion with  an  ofBce  which  pays  no  salary  and  which  is  of  the  utmost  benefit 
to  the  state  along  lines  of  agricultural  progress  and  development.  Local 
advancement  and  national  progress  are  both  causes  dear  to  his  heart  and 
in  working  toward  ideals  he  uses  practical  methods  which  produce  re,=ults 
quickly  and  that  are  of  a  most  substantial  character. 

Pliny  H.  Tcxjker. — The  farming  interests  of  Hopkins  township  are 
well  represented  by  Pliny  H.  Tooker,  a  wide-awake,  alert  and  enterprising 
business  man,  who  in  the  management  of  his  property  interests  displays 
excellent  executive  ability.  He  was  born  in  Twinsburg,  Sunmiit  county, 
Ohio,  May  17.  1836,  and  was  a  young  man  of  twenty-three  years  when,  in 
1859,  he  came  to  Michigan,  settling  in  Ionia  county,  where  he  lived  until 
1862.  During  that  period  he  worked  at  the  mason's  trade  and  also  at 
plastering.  In  1862.  however,  he  left  Michigan  and  went  to  Wheatland, 
Iowa,  where  he  was  employed  for  a  brief  period.  He  then,  however,  put 
aside  business  considerations  and  .personal  interests  in  order  to  respond  to 
the  country's  call  for  aid  and  enlisted  on  the  19th  of  August,  1863,  in 
company  with  boys  he  had  formerly  known  in  Ohio.  They  were  assigned 
to  duty  with  Company  L,  of  the  First  Iowa  Cavalry.  The  regiment  had  been 
in  the  field  for  a  year  and  Mr.  Tooker's  enlistment  was  for  the  unexpired 
term  of  the  regiment.  The  authorities  tried  to  hold  him,  however,  for 
three  years,  but  on  the  21st  of  February,   1865,  he  secured  his  discharge, 


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320  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

after  two  years  and  six  months  in  the  service.  The  regiment  was  in  Mis- 
souri when  he  joined  it  and  he  was  largely  engaged  in  duty  in  that  state 
and  in  Arkansas,  participating  in  the  battle  at  Prairie  Grove,  Arkansas,  and 
in  all  of  the  military  actions  and  engagements  in  that  state.  He  went  to 
Little  Rock  with  Steele  and  was  largely  engaged  in  fighting  bushwhackers. 
For  a  time  he  was  quartermaster  sergeant,  also  commissary  and  wagon 
master.  He  participated  in  many  raids  and  never  missed  a  roll-call,  so  that 
he  was  in  constant  service.  His  position  was  often  a  hazardous  one,  for 
frequently  greater  dangers  are  incurred  in  such  warfare  rather  than  in  the 
regular  pitched  battles. 

Returning  to  Iowa,  Mr.  Tooker  was  for  one  season  employed  at  farm 
labor  there  by  his  brother,  and  in  November,  1865,  he  returned  to  Ionia 
county,  Michigan.  Having  established  a  home  of  his  own  he  sought  a 
companion  and  helpmate  for  life's  journey  and  was  married  there  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Rice  of  that  county.  He  afterward  removed  to  Allegan  county, 
where  his  sister,  Mrs.  Philander  Baird,  was  living.  He  purchased  his  present 
farm,  but  it  was  then  a  tract  of  wild  land.  He  had  worked  at  the  plasterer's 
trade  for  years,  being  employed  all  over  Allegan  county,  but  resolving  to 
turn  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  he  established  a  little  home  in  the 
midst  of  the  forest,  his  cabin  being  only  sixteen  by  twenty-four  feet. 
Recently  he  has  replaced  this  by  a  more  commodious  and  modern  residence. 
With  characteristic  energy  he  began  the  arduous  task  of  clearing  his  land, 
and  in  1871,  at  the  time  of  the  great  forest  fire,  it  was  burned  over.  Much 
of  the  timber  had  then  been  cut  and  he  had  a  fine  sugar  orchard,  which  also 
was  a  good  source  of  income  to  him.  His  first  team  was  a  yoke  of  wild 
steers  and  he  performed  all  the  tasks  of  clearing  and  developing  his  farm 
in  the  primitive  manner  of  the  times  when  much  manual  labor  was  required 
because  of  tJie  lack  of  farm  implements  that  invention  has  later  brought.  In 
1900,  after  building  a  fine  bank  barn,  Mr.  Tooker  suffered  a  stroke  of 
paralysis  and  lost  the  use  of  his  left  hand.  The  government  allowed  him  a 
total  disability  pension,  which  was  readily  granted.  Since  that  time  Mr. 
Tooker  has  retired  from  active  farm  work  and  has  since  given  to  his  son 
Ray  the  home  place,  while  another  son,  Ernest  W.  Tooker,  has  a  ten-acre 
tract  of  land  and  thirty  acres  still  remains  in  possession  of  our  subject.  His 
son,  however,  utilizes  his  land  and  in  return  gives  a  home  to  his  parents. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tooker  have  been  born  four  sons  and  one  daughter: 
Ernest  W..  who  is  both  a  plasterer  and  farmer;  Harry  L.,  in  the  village  of 
Hopkins ;  Frank  L.,  of  Allegan :  Raymond,  who  is  living  on  the  old  home- 
stead; and  Lena  B.,  the  wife  of  Leon  Mason,  a  jeweler  of  Hopkins.  Ray- 
mond served  in  the  Spanish-American  war  in  Cuba  with  the  Thirty-third 
Michigan  Infantry.  He  is  now  operating  the  old  home  place  and  is  one  of 
the  enterprising  farmers  of  this  county.  His  wife  was  Minnie  Horner,  a 
daughter  of  Martin  Horner,  and  they  now  have  three  daughters— Leia, 
Allie  and  Emma  Belle. 

Mr.  Tooker  belongs  to  Harlow  Briggs  Post  No.  80.  G.  A.  R..  and 
although  he  has  never  had  opportimity  to  attend  a  regiment  reunion  he 
attended  the  National  Encampment  at  Milwaukee.  He  thoroughly  enjoys 
fishing  and  spends  much  of  his  time  in  that  way,  having  practicallv  retired 
from  business  life. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  321 

Samuel  M.  Eggleston.- — The  history  of  Samuel  M.  Eggleston  if  writ- 
ten in  detail  would  present  a  very  complete  and  typical  picture  of  pioneer 
life  in  this  portion  of  Michigan,  for  he  was  identified  with  the  work  of 
development  as  Allegan  county  was  cleared  from  the  forest  and  converted 
from  a  timbered  region  into  an  agricultural  district,  rich  with  its  possibili- 
ties for  the  raising  of  grain  and  fruit.  He  is  now  Uving  retired  in  Hopkins, 
a  life  of  labor  being  crowned  with  an  age  of  ease.  His  birth  occurred  in 
Aurora,  Portage  county,  Ohio,  October  20,  1831,  his  parents  being  J.  K. 
and  Lucy  (Buckley)  Eggleston,  who  were  married  in  Aurora.  The  father 
wa,s  born  in  St.  Lawrence  cotinty,  New  York,  in  1806,  and  when  a  child 
of  two  or  three  years  went  to  Ohio.  There  were  five  brothers  in  the  family, 
all  of  whom  settled  in  Aurora,  Ohio,  one  of  these  being  General  Eggleston. 
The  house  stood  within  twenty  miles  of  Lake  Erie  and  the  father  of  our 
subject  well  remembered  hearing  all  day  long  the  guns  that  were  fired  in 
the  naval  battle  when  Perry  won  his  great  victory  on  that  lake.  He  con- 
tinued a  resident  of  Aurora  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
his  eighty-fourth  year. 

Samuel  M.  Eggleston  was  reared  in  his  father's  home,  where  he 
remained  until  twenty-four  years  of  age,  although  in  the  meantime  he  spent 
two  winters  in  the  pine  woods  near  Saginaw.  Michigan.  He  was  married 
at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years  to  Miss  Eliza  M.  Smith,  who  was  born  in 
Bainbridge,  the  township  adjoining  the  one  in  which  Mr.  Eggleston  Hved. 
The  wedding  ceremony  was  performed  on  Christmas  day  of  1855,  and  in 
1905  they  celebrated  their  golden  wedding  at  their  home  in  Hopkins  with 
a  company  of  fifty-four  persons,  including  his  brothers  from  Ohio  and  other 
relatives.  After  three  years  spent  upon  the  old  home  farm  of  his  wife  in 
Bainbridge  township,  Portage  county.  Ohio,  they  removed  to  AJiegan 
county  in  October,  1858.  Mr.  Eggleston  had  traded  his  property  for  an 
eighty-acre  tract  of  land  in  Hopkins  township,  on  which  he  settled  without 
having  previously  seen  it.  It  had  been  owned  by  a  relative.  Here  in  the 
midst  of  the  forest  he  built  a  little  cabin,  in  which  he  lived  for  two  years. 
He  afterward  erected  and  occupied  a  log  house.  Immediately  he  planted  a 
crop  of  corn  and  he  had  enough  to  live  upon,  so  that  he  could  concentrate 
his  energies  upon  clearing  and  developing  his  own  land.  The  first  year. 
1859.  however,  they  had  frost  every  month,  even  up  to  the  4th  of  Jtdy,  but 
he  harvested  some  soft  corn.  The  next  year,  however,  a  good  crop  was 
gathered,  so  that  he  made  progress,  and  year  by  year  added  somewhat  to 
his  advancement  and  prosperity.  After  about  ten  years  he  was  enabled  to 
build  a  good  frame  house,  which  is  still  in  a  creditable  state  of  preserva- 
tion. He  also  added  to  his  original  purchase  of  forty  acres  of  wild  land. 
He  got  nothing  from  the  timber,  which  was  then  regarded  as  of  little  value, 
and  was  burned  in  order  to  get  rid  of  it  that  the  work  of  developing  the 
fields  might  be  carried  forward.  Upon  his  farm  was  a  fine  sugar  bush 
covering  thirty-five  acres,  and  one  of  the  special  branches  of  his  business 
was  the  making  of  maple  sugar.  In  a  single  season  he  has  made  fifty-four 
hundred  pounds  of  maple  sugar,  which  sold  for  from  ten  to  eighteen  and 
a  half  cents  per  pound.  He  has  sold  sugar  to  the  value  of  five  hundred 
dollars  in  a  single  season  and  even  as  late  as  three  years  ago  he  realized  four 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  from  his  sugar.  He  won  a  wide  reputation  for 
the  excellence  of  his  product  and  he  has  shipped  quite  extensively  to  parties 


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32-3  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

at  a  distance.  His  sugar  bush  was  a  constant  source  of  income  to  him  all 
these  years,  while  the  fields  also  brought  him  good  crops.  He  continued 
upon  the  old  homestead  for  forty-six  years,  or  imtil  about  two  years  ago 
and  made  it  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  township,  equipped  with  modern 
conveniences  and  accessories.  He  then  retired  to  Hopkins,  where  he  is  now 
resting  from  further  labor. 

Mr.  Eggleston  has  also  figured  prominently  in  local  affairs  and  has 
filled  the  leading  offices  in  this  township,  serving  as  township  supervisor 
and  in  other  positions.  He  voted  for  the  first  Republican  presidential  candi- 
date, Fremont,  in  1856.  He  has  supported  each  candidate  at  the  head  of 
the  party  since  that  time,  but  at  local  elections,  where  no  issue  is  involved 
and  only  the  capability  of  the  candidate  should  be  considered,  he  casts  an 
independent  ballot,  voting  for  the  best  men. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eggleston  were  bom  the  following  named :  Lizzie 
is  the  wife  of  William  Kintner,  a  resident  of  Colorado  City,  Colorado. 
Nellie  is  the  wife  of  William  Rinehart,  of  Dorr.  Charles  died  October  .31,' 
1899,  at  the  age  of  thirty-six  years.  He  had  married  Minnie  Thompson 
and  left  a  daughter,  Ruby.  He  occupied  a  second  house  upon  the  old  home- 
stead farm,  which  had  been  built  for  him  by  his  father.  Ava  is  the  wife 
of  Frank  Tooker,  of  AHegan,  and  has  two  children,  Vera  and  Rena.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Eggleston  are  members  of  the  Congregational  church,  and  he 
was  formerly  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
passed  all  of  the  chairs  in  the  local  lodge.  His  memory  compasses  the 
period  of  early  pioneer  life  and  experiences  here  as  well  as  the  epoch  of 
later  development  and  progress.  In  the  early  days,  when  much  wild  game 
existed,  he  shot  and  killed  a  deer,  but  said  he  would  never  kill  another. 
He  helped  lay  out  and  cut  many  of  the  roads  in  his  part  of  the  township 
and  now  sees  the  finest  kind  of  highways  there.  His  coming  resulted  in 
other  families  also  taking  up  their  abode  in  Aliegan  county  and  altogether 
he  has  been  a  valued  citizen  here,  doing  much  for  the  county  and  at  the 
same  time  promoting  his  individual  success  by  business  methods  which 
have  neither  sought  nor  required  disguise. 

Peter  Knobloch. — In  the  face  of  opposition  and  difficulties  that  would 
utterly  have  discouraged  a  man  of  less  resolute  spirit  and  enterprise,  Peter 
Knobloch,  now  one  of  the  venerable  citizens  of  Hopkins,  has  worked  his 
way  steadily  upward,  and  though  he  started  out  in  life  empty-handed  he  is 
now  in  possession  of  a  comfortable  competence  that  enables  him  in  the 
evening  of  his  days  to  enjoy  the  comforts  of  life  without  recourse  to  further 
labor.  He  was  born  in  the  village  of  Mambochel,  in  the  Rhine  province 
of  Germany,  November  2,  1822.  As  a  school  boy  he  read  letters  from 
young  men  who  had  come  to  America  and  would  write  back  to  their  friends 
and  families  in  Germany.  This  awakened  his  interest  in  the  new  world  and 
he  began  to  read  everything  that  he  could  find  upon  the  subject.  As  his 
people  were  in  limited  financial  circumstances  he  learned  the  shoemaker's 
trade,  serving  a  three  years'  apprenticeship.  All  this  time  he  was  imbued 
with  the  desire  to  become  a  resident  of  the  new  world,  and  on  the  nth  of 
June,  1846,  he  started  for  the  United  States.  Taking  passage  on  a  vessel 
at  Kreitznauer,  sixteen  miles  above  B'mgo  and  at  Rotterdam,  he  traveled 
by  ocean  steamer  for  London  and  from  the  latter  place  sailed  for  the  United 


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TTISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  323 

States  on  a  sailing  ship,  Paola,  wliich  was  eight  weeks  in  makint;;  the 
voyage  from  London  to  Baltimore.  Maryland.  He  then  went  on  to  Pitts- 
burg with  the  company  with  which  he  hart  made  the  voyage.  He  had 
borrowed  his  passage  money  from  one  of  the  men  of  the  party  and  he  had 
to  borrow  four  dollars  of  the  same  man  in  order  to  reach  Pittsburg,  the 
journey  being  made  by  way  of  the  canal  to  the  vicinity  of  Allegheny  City, 
where  they  found  that  the  canal  was  broken.  On  reaching  the  bridge  at 
Pittsburg  Mr.  Knobloch  had  but  one  cent  and  he  had  to  borrow  another 
cent  in  order  to  pay  his  toll  across  the  bridge.  Three  days  later  he  bor- 
rowed more  to  pay  the  hotel  bill,  but  his  lack  of  funds  rendered  immediate 
employment  a  necessity  and  he  resolutely  set  to  work  to  secure  employment. 
In  a  few  days  he  had  arranged  to  work  at  the  shoemaker's  bench  at  four 
dollars  per  month,  and  he  was  thus  employed  for  three  months,  receiving 
twelve  dollars  in  recompense  for  his  services.  He  afterward  earned  seven 
dollars  per  month  in  this  way  and  later  he  worked  at  piecework,  receiving 
about  a  dollar  per  day.  In  six  months  he  had  paid  off  all  of  his  indebted- 
ness and  his  old  friends  in  Germany,  surprised  at  the  rapidity  with  which 
he  had  gained  the  money,  thought  that  some  day  he  would  certainly  be  the 
richest  man  in  America.  His  mother,  who  was  a  good  Christian  woman, 
had  made  him  promise  that  he  would  not  work  on  Sunday.  She  strongly 
opposed  his  emigration  to  the  new  world  and  in  fact  had  rolled  on  the 
ground  in  agony  when  he  had  made  his  departure,  but  when  she  saw  how 
well  he  was  doing  she  urged  his  younger  brother,  Adam,  to  come  to  the 
new  world,  and  Peter  Knobloch  sent  the  money  for  Adam  to  pay  his  passage 
after  being  in  Pittsburg  for  two  years.  About  184S  he  established  a  shoe 
shop  at  New  Castle,  Pennsylvania,  and  became  an  expert  at  sewed  work. 
Later  he  sent  for  a  vounger  brother.  Michel,  who  died  at  New  Castle, 
Pennsylvania.    Adam  lives  now  in  Monterey  township.  Allegan  county. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  Mr.  Knobloch.  on  the  nth  of  August.  1848, 
was  married  at  New  Castle  to  Miss  Hannah  Becker,  also  a  native  of  Germany, 
who  had  been  in  America,  however,  for  about  ten  years.  As  Mr.  Knobloch 
had  just  sent  money  home  to  pay  the  passage  of  his  brother  Michel  to  the 
new  world  he  had  to  borrow  money  to  pay  the  marriage  fee  and  also  went 
in  debt  seventy-five  dollars  for  furnishing  the  new  home.  He  then  sold  his 
shop  to  pay  off  the  indebtedness  and  worked  for  another  shoemaker  who 
was  an  expert  bootmaker.  His  work  was  so  far  ahead  of  anything  that 
Mr.  Knobloch  had  seen  that  he  asked  to  be  instructed  in  the  work,  and  in 
six  weeks'  time  his  own  labor  could  excel  that  of  his  employer  and  he  was 
known  as  the  best  bootmaker  in  Pennsylvania,  making  all  of  the  wedding 
boots  of  the  town.  In  this  way  he  made  about  twelve  dollars  per  week, 
which  was  a  good  salary  at  that  day.  He  had  continued  to  work  for  others 
for  about  ten  years,  or  until  1856,  and  in  the  meantime  had  built  a  home  in 
New  Castle. 

His  brother  Adam,  however,  had  come  to  Michigan  in  1854  and  had 
purchased  land  in  Monterey  township.  As  the  work  at  the  bench  did  not 
agree  with  Mr.  Knobloch's  health  he  determined  also  to  come  to  Michigan, 
and  in  i8.q6  he  made  his  way  to  Allegan  county.  His  brother  Adam  dis- 
played to  him  with  just  pride  his  eighty  acres  of  heavy  wooded  land,  the 
soil,  however,  being  rich  and  productive.  Mr.  Knobloch  at  once  secured 
a  claim  for  himself,  paying  three  dollars  and  a  half  per  acre.    The  money 


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3S4  TTTSTflRY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY 

which  he  had  saved  in  the  east  was  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  pay  for  the 
daim  and  give  him  a  nice  start  with  a  team  of  oxen  and  other  needed 
equipments  for  the  farm.  In  order  to  clear  the  land,  however,  he  burned  up 
the  timber,  which  would  now  be  very  valuable.  He  placed  all  his  farm 
under  cultivation  and  erected  thereon  a  large  bam  and  a  commodious  and 
substantial  residence.  There  he  lived  for  twenty  years,  when  he  sold  the 
property  to  his  son-in-law,  after  which  he  purchased  a  fann  of  one  hundred 
acres  for  six  thousand  dollars,  paying  two  thousand  dollars  cash,  while  in 
four  years  he  discharged  the  entire  indebtedness,  having  made  most  of  the 
sum  from  his  farm,  which  lay  one  mile  south  of  Monterey  Center,  and  he 
remained  upon  that  place  for  many  years.  In  the  meantime  he  had  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Hopkins  township,  which  he  sold  to 
his  son  Charles.  Later  he  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
after  which  he  was  fifteen  thousand  dollars  in  debt  and  had  to. pay  from 
eight  to  ten  per  cent  interest  on  his  money.  This  place  adjoined  the  old 
homestead  and  he  took  charge  of  and  operated  the  two  farms.  No  one 
thought  he  could  pay  for  the  property,  but  in  fifteen  years,  after  much 
earnest  and  unremitting  foil,  the  place  was  free  from  all  indebtedness.  He 
had  made  all  of  the  payments  when  due  and  he  has  since  sold  both  of  these 
farms  for  seventeen  thousand  dollars,  since  which  time  he  has  given  the 
greater  part  of  his  money  to  his  children. 

In  1897  Rlr.  Knobloch  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife, 
who  died  on  the  rSth  of  April  of  that  year,  after  having  been  an  invalid  for 
eight  years,  during  which  time  her  every  wish  and  want  was  attended  to  by 
her  faithful  daughter,  Hannah.  In  the  family  were  eight  children:  Charles, 
who  is  a  farmer  of  Hopkins  township;  Amelia,  the  wife  of  William  Kim- 
mer.  who  owns  the  first  farm  which  was  the  property  of  her  father ;  Cather- 
ine, the  wife  of  Alexander  Millheim,  of  Allegan  township;  Lizzie,  who  is 
the  widow  of  Henry  McAlpine,  and  a  resident  of  Allegan;  Julius,  a  farmer 
of  Monterey  township;  Willie,  a  farmer  of  Trowbridge;  Emma,  the  wife  of 
William  Garst,  of  Logansport;  and  Hannah,  who  is  still  acting  as  her 
father's  housekeeper.  Beside  their  own  eight  children,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knob- 
loch gave  homes  to  four  others,  Hannah,  Joseph,  Minnie  and  John  Eisen- 
barth,  having  all  been  reared  by  these  good  people. 

Mr.  Knobloch  has  led  a  most  active  life,  and  even  in  1905  made  a  full 
hand  on  the  farm.  He  is  still  hale  and  hearty,  being  one  of  the  best  pre- 
served men  of  his  age  in  this  part  of  the  county.  In  his  younger  life  he  was 
athletic  and  was  never  thrown,  and  he  is  still  wiry  and  strong.  He  pos- 
sesses also  a  firm  spirh,  and  wdien  he  reahzed  that  the  use  of  intoxicants  was 
proving  detrimental  he  ceased  their  use.  He  also  did  the  same  with  tobacco. 
He  has  been  strictly  honest  and  honorable  in  all  life's  relations  and  is  a  man 
who  has  stood  firmly  by  his  principles.  He  has  no  enemies  and  he  possesses 
a  spirit  that  would  prompt  him,  if  he  had  one,  to  hunt  him  up  and  make  all 
square  with  him.  He  woidd  rather  lose  than  to  sue  another,  and  lie  has 
always  been  just  to  the  point  of  mercy  in  all  his  business  dealings.  His  wife 
was  ever  ready  to  lend  him  her  encouragement  and  aid  and  made  liim  a  most 
excellent  helpmeet.  In  his  political  views  he  has  always  been  a  stalwart 
Democrat,  never  but  once  casting  a  Republican  vote.  He  was  reared  in 
the  faith  of  the  Lutheran  church  and  became  one  of  the  original  members  at 
Hopkins,  being  now  the  oldest  of  the  charter  members  remaining. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  3^5 

GoTxrRiED  Knutii  is  on  the  third  farm  that  was  settled  in  Hopkins 
township,  it  having  become  tiie  property  of  Harvey  Baker  in  1836.  It  is 
pleasantly  located  about  a  mile  and  a  half  east  of  Hopkins  station  and  com- 
prises eighty  acres  of  land,  which  has  been  placed  under  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation. Mr.  Knuth  was  born  in  West  Prussia,  Germany,  on  the  nth  of 
May,  1856,  and  came  to  America  in  1871  when  a  youth  of  fifteen  years.  He 
was  the  first  of  the  family  to  cross  the  Atlantic,  having  become  imbued  with 
a  desire  to  see  the  world,  and,  in  company  with  the  family  of  Samuel  Brown, 
he  crossed  the  briny  deep  and  came  to  Allegan  county.  He  had  expected  to 
go  to  South  Carolina,  but  at  New  York  he  changed  his  mind  and  he  has 
since  made  Allegan  county  his  home.  He  had  no  capital  at  the  time  of  his 
arrival,  and  the  necessity  for  immediate  employment  prompted  him  to  seek 
work  as  a  farm  hand.  He  was  not  long  in  obtaining  a  situation  and  for  fif- 
teen years  continued  to  work  by  the  month  at  farm  labor,  although  at  inter- 
vals he  was  employed  on  the  railroad.  Ambitious,  however,  to  have  a  farm 
of  his  own,  he  started  in  with  forty  acres  of  wild  land  in  1876.  Immediately 
he  began  to  cultivate  and  improve  the  place  and  had  put  tlie  entire  area  under 
cultivation  when  he  accepted  it  for  his  present  farm  in  1899.  This  was  orig- 
inally occupied  by  Harvey  Baker,  and  is  in  what  is  known  as  the  Baker  set- 
tlement, several  members  of  the  family  having  taken  up  their  abode  in  this 
locality.  The  original  owner  died  upon  the  farm  and  it  then  passed  into 
possession  of  his  son  Eugene,  who  is  also  now  deceased.  The  place  com- 
prises eighty  acres  of  land,  which  is  rich  and  productive  and  in  the  midst 
of  which  stands  a  good  residence,  which  was  erected  in  1902  at  a  cost  of 
about  one  thousand  eight  hundred  dollars.  In  the  summer  of  1899  he  built 
a  barn  and  his  time  and  energies  are  given  to  general  farming,  which  he  suc- 
cessfully follows.  He  also  keeps  from  ten  to  twelve  cows  upon  his  place, 
and  in  addition  to  the  homestead  he  has  a  forty-acre  tract  of  land  in  the  same 
locality  which  he  is  also  operating. 

Rlr.  Knuth  has  never  returned  to  Germany  since  first  crossing  the 
Atlantic.  Three  years  after  his  arrival  his  parents,  Michael  and  Mary 
Knuth,  came  and  spent  their  remaining  days  in  Hopkins  township.  Three 
brothers,  August,  William  and  Edward  Knuth,  also  emigrated  to  the  new 
world  and  are  still  residents  of  Hopkins  township.  Thus  Mr.  Knuth  of  this 
review  became  surrounded  by  his  relatives,  and  when  thirty  years  of  age  he 
established  a  home  of  his  own,  being  married  at  Hopkins  to  Miss  Mary 
Schafer,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Schafer  of  that  township.  She  was  born  in 
Canada,  and  was  six  years  of  age  on  coming  to  Michigan.  This  union  has 
been  blessed  with  three  children,  who  are  yet  living.  Ezra,  Milton  and  Clara, 
all  at  home,  and  they  also  lost  three  in  childhood.  The  parents  are  members 
of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  Mr.  Knuth  is  a  Republican,  active  in  the  local 
ranks  of  his  party.  A  long  residence  in  this  county  has  ma.de  him  widely 
known,  while  a  life  of  activity  and  energy  has  brought  to  him  a  gratifying 
measure  of  success,  making  him  one  of  the  substantial  fanners  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  resides. 

Sherman  I.  Smith,  carrying  on  general  agricultural  pursuits  and 
stock-raising  in  Hopkins  township  with  a  splendidly  improved  property,  indi- 
cative of  his  spirit  of  modern  progress  and  enterprise,  was  bom  in  Bain- 
Ijridge,  Geauga  county,  Ohio,  October  18,  1837,  his  parents  being  Thomas 


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336  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY 

and  Emeline  (Egglcston)  Smith,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Massachu- 
setts. They  were  married,  however,  in  Ohio,  and  the  father  died  in  that 
state  February  22,  1855.  In  Octoljer,  1859,  the  family  came  to  Allegan 
county,  one  son,  Martin  Smith,  having  located  here  two  or  three  years  be- 
fore. The  mother  was  accompanied  by  eight  of  her  children,  nearly  all  of 
whom  were  then  grown,  while  some  of  them  were  married. 

Sherman  I.  Smith  had  been  married  on  the  Sth  of  April,  1859,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Bissell,  a  young  lady  of  twenty  years,  having  been  born  in  Mantua, 
Portage  county,  Ohio,  February  28,  1839,  her  parents  being  Jonathan  B. 
and  Laura  (Hartshorn)  Bissell.  The  father  came  to  Allegan  in  i860  from 
Indiana.  Mrs.  Bissell  died  in  Ohio  in  1841.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  located 
on  a  farm  adjoining  his  brother  Martin's,  and  the  mother  also  made  her 
home  on  the  same  section.  One  son,  Albert  Bainbridge  Smith,  remained 
with  the  mother  until  her  death  five  years  later.  He  then  removed  to  Fair- 
field, Nebraska,  where  he  became  extensively  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
sorghum  molasses,  carrying  on  a  profitable  business  for  many  years,  or  until 
1903.  Norman  W.  Smith,  another  brother,  settled  on  another  farm  adjoin- 
ing his  brother  Martin's  place,  improved  it  and  made  his  home  thereon  for 
some  years,  but  eventually  removed  to  Decatur  county,  Iowa,  where  he  still 
resides.  He  is  a  music  teacher  of  considerable  note,  having  taught  at  length 
in  Allegan  county  and  also  in  Ohio.  Charles  F.  Smith,  another  brother, 
began  the  development  of  a  farm  that  is  now  included  within  the  boundaries 
oi  the  farm  owned  by  Sherman  L  Smith.  He  went  into  the  army  as  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  L.  Fourth  Michigan  Cavalry,  in  August,  1862,  when  twenty 
years  of  age,  and  died  at  Nashville,  on  the  ist  of  February,  1863,  his  remains 
being  interred  in  the  National  cemetery  at  Nashville.  The  daughters  of  the 
family  were :  Fidelia,  who  came  here  as  a  widow  and  married  Leander 
Brewer,  after  which  they  removed  to  Nebraska,  where  she  died  upon  their 
home  farm;  Julia  L.  became  the  wife  of  Oren  Judd,  who  was  a  schoolmate 
of  James  A.  Garfield,  their  parents  being  neighbors.  They  settled  on  a  farm 
in  this  state.  In  a  few  years,  however,  they  removed  to  Pennsylvania  and 
afterward  to  Nebraska,  and  she  is  now  living  at  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa.  She 
taught  music  in  Hiram  college,  Ohio,  when  ex-President  James  A.  Garfield 
was  president  of  the  college.  Eliza  married  Samuel  M.  Eggleston,  and 
they  are  now  living  retired  at  Hopkins.  Nancy  E.  Smith  was  married  in 
Allegan  county  to  John  E.  Hopper,  a  tinner,  and  after  a  few  years  they 
removed  to  Nebraska,  where  they  are  now  living.  Mr.  Hopper  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Sixth  Michigan  Regiment  in  the  Civil  war. 

Sherman  I.  Smith  had  come  to  Allegan  county  in  1857,  and  secured  his 
land,  for  which  he  paid  five  dollars  per  acre.  He  had  made  a  little  clearing 
by  chopping  down  trees  in  the  forest,  but  at  that  time  remained  upon  the 
farm  for  a  short  period.  Following  his  return  in  1859  he  built  a  small  board 
house  and  resolutely  undertook  the  task  of  clearing  the  land,  raising  a  small 
crop  the  first  year.  He  engaged  in  chopping  for  others  and  would  exchange 
work  in  order  to  get  the  use  of  a  team.  After  two  or  three  years  he  was 
enabled  to  purchase  a  yoke  of  steers  and  afterward  carried  on  the  farm  work 
more  readily.  His  entire  place  was  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  natural 
forest  trees  and  he  sold  some  of  his  timber,  disposing  of  fine  white  wood  for 
four  dollars  per  thousand  delivered  at  the  mill.  His  farm  was  largely  cov- 
ered with  splendid  specimens  of  beech  and  maple  trees,  much  of  which  were 


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HISTORY  01'   ALLEGAN  COUNTY  327 

burned.  As  the  land  was  cleared  he  placed  it  under  the  plow  and  in  course 
of  time  gathered  good  harvests.  In  1886  he  built  a  residence,  after  living  in 
the  pioneer  home  for  nearly  thirty  years.  He  has  improved  one  of  the  best 
farms  in  the  county.  There  is  a  flowing  well  near  the  house  and  everything 
about  the  place  is  kept  in  an  excellent  state  of  improvement  and  cultivation. 
In  1892  he  built  a  fine  bank  barn  thirty-six  by  forty-six  feet  and  he  has  every 
facility  for  promoting  the  farm  work.  He  has  for  some  years  kept  from 
eight  to  ten  cows  and  he  breeds  Chester  White  hogs".  Sixty  acres  of  his  land 
is  under  cultivation,  whiie  the  remainder  is  devoted  to  pasture.  There  are 
numerous  springs  upon  his  place  in  addition  to  the  well,  with  its  never  fail- 
ing source  of  water,  and  the  farm  altogether  is  well  equipped  for  the  use  to 
which  it  is  put,  being  suitable  for  the  cultivation  of  cereals  or  for  the  raising 
of  stock.  His  attention  has  been  confined  to  the  farm  work  in  its  various 
departments  and  a  gratifying  measure  of  success  has  crowned  his  efforts. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  been  born  two  sons,  who  are  yet  living, 
and  they  also  lost  their  eldest  child  in  infancy.  Arthur  T.,  now  a  mail- 
carrier  in  Kalamazoo  and  first  tenor  in  the  Simpson  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  wedded  Mary  Washburn,  and  they  have  a  daughter  and  two  sons, 
Belle,  Jesse,  also  a  singer,  and  Elbert.  The  daughter  is  the  wife  of  Irving 
Conrad.  She  is  also  a  musician  and  singer,  and  they  have  one  child,  Lucile, 
so  that  our  subject  is  a  great-grandfather.  The  younger  son,  Herman  D., 
living  upon  the  home  farm,  is  a  tenor  singer  of  more  than  ordinary  note.  He 
married  Miss  Maud  Bates,  and  they  have  three  sons,  Muriel,  barrel  and 
Leonard. 

Mr,  Smith  is  a  Republican,  having  supported  the  party  since  casting  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  his  last  ballot  having  been 
cast  for  Theodore  Roosevelt.  He  has  been  township  treasurer  for  two 
years  and  has  also  been  commissioner,  but  he  has  preferred  to  concentrate 
his  energies  upon  his  business  affairs,  which  have  been  carefully  directed  and 
have  brought  him  a  goodly  measure  of  success.  A  long  residence  in  the 
county  has  made  him  widely  known,  and  the  salient  traits  of  his  character 
have  been  such  as  to  gain  for  him  the  favorable  regard  of  all  with  whom 
business  or  social  relations  have  brought  him  in  contact. 

Hkman  F.  Wnrn-:. — To  know  Heman  F.  White  was  to  respect  and 
honor  him.  for,  wdiile  he  never  desired  nor  sought  fame  nor  notoriety,  he 
exemplified  in  his  life  those  sterling  traits  of  character  which  in  every  land 
and  clime  command  esteem  and  confidence.  He  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Allegan  county  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  work  which  led  to  its  ma- 
terial development  and  progress.  The  year  1854  witnessed  their  arrival,  and 
they  were  accompanied  by  Josiah  and  James  Pamialee,  who  were  from  the 
same  neighborhood  in  Sumntit  county,  Ohio.  They  purchased  four  eighty- 
acre  tracts  of  land  in  one  body,  thinking  they  would  thus  be  company  for 
each  other  in  what  was  then  a  wild  region.  Mr.  White  was  the  last  survivor 
of  the  four.  After  purchasing  their  land  the  other  three  returned  to  Ohio, 
but  following  their  marriage  again  came  to  this  county.  Heman  F.  White 
was  married,  however,  in  this  county,  winning  as  his  bride  Miss  Jane  Bus- 
kirk,  whom  he  wedded  on  the  15th  of  January,  1855.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Abram  and  Nancy  (Garrison)  Buskirk,  and  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  was 
a  young  lady  of  sixteen  years.     Mr.  White  had  made  some  improvements 


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328  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

thereon,  having  a  home  of  his  own,  having  chopped  the  timber  from  a  few 
acres  of  land  and  erected  on  the  clearing  a  log  shanty  with  shake  roof.  The 
place  contained  but  one  room  and  was  lighted  by  two  windows.  In  true 
pioneer  style  the  young  couple  began  their  domestic  life.  Their  nearest 
railroad  station  was  Kalamazoo,  and  not  even  a  wagon  road  ran  past  their 
farm.  In  collecting  their  outfit  they  bought  a  washtub,  piled  into  it  their 
scanty  supply  of  furniture  for  the  table,  then,  each  taking  a  handle,  walked 
homeward  a  number  of  miles  to  their  humble  abode.  They  possessed,  how- 
ever, stout  hearts  and  willing  hands  and  bravely  met  and  overcame  the  diffi- 
culties and  hardships  of  pioneer  life.  Venison  was  not  an  unfrequent  dish 
upon  the  family  Iward,  for  deer  still  abounded  in  the  district  at  that  early 
day.  Mr.  White  led  a  life  of  activity,  and,  as  years  passed,  two  sons  and 
two  daughters  were  added  to  the  household :  Frank,  who  is  now  living  with 
his  mother  on  the  old  farm ;  Addie,  tiie  wife  of  Irwin  Wait,  who  is  living  on 
the  Bradley  farm ;  Martha,  who  became  the  wife  of  A.  Baker  and  died  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  years ;  and  Darwin,  a  photographer  at  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan. 
Mr.  White  took  a  most  active  and  helpful  interest  in  all  that  pertained 
to  general  progress  and  improvement.  He  was  a  member  of  the  First  Con- 
gregational church  at  Hopkinsburg  and  was  always  most  faithful  to  its 
teachings,  contributing  generously  of  his  means  to  its  support.  His  life 
exemplified  the  truth  of  the  saying  that  "So  long  as  a  man  loves  he  serves." 
His  life  was  a  life  of  service  for  others,  for  his  family,  his  friends  and  his 
fellow  citizens.  He  always  lived  on  the  best  terms  with  everybody  and  he 
preached  and  practiced  the  gospel  of  love.  He  lived  to  aid  others  and  he 
opened  roads  and  otherwise  improved  the  county.  He  cut  the  first  tree  upon 
the  road  which  passed  his  own  farm  and  he  did  much  toward  saving  farms 
to  the  owners  in  the  case  of  tax  sales.  He  would  often  purchase  tax  titles 
for  his  neighbors  and  he  kept  informed  concerning  all  such  cases  and  thus 
saved  many  a  farm  for  the  owner.  He  likewise  did  much  toward  proving 
the  value  of  this  district  as  an  agricultural  region  and  was  noted  for  his 
grafting,  principally  in  the  budding  of  peach  trees.  While  working  in  this 
way  he  only  charged  for  a  day's  service,  and  not  for  the  skill  and  knowledge 
which  enabled  him  to  perform  the  task.  For  nine  successive  years  he  was 
elected  township  treasurer  and  for  three  consecutive  years  filled  the  office  of 
supervisor,  receiving  at  one  election  every  vote  cast.  His  early  political 
allegiance  was  given  to  the  Republican  party,  but  in  later  life  he  voted  the 
Prohibition  ticket  and  was  a  great  temperance  man,  advocating  the  cause 
both  by  precept  and  example.  It  is  said  that  he  had  not  an  enemy  in  the 
world.  He  lived  a  life  of  usefulness,  activity  and  honor,  and  left  to  his  fam- 
ily a  name  which  in  the  community  where  he  was  known  was  a  synonym  for 
integrity  and  genuine  personal  worth. 

William  S.  Kenfield,  whose  well  improved  farm  property  is  the  visi- 
ble evidence  of  his  life  of  thrift  and  industry,  was  born  in  Relchertown, 
Hampshire  county,  Massachusetts,  March  28.  18.31,  and  when  but  three  years 
of  age  was  taken  to  Medina  county,  Ohio,  by  his  parents,  Erastus  and  Cla- 
rissa (Piper)  Kenfield.  The  father  was  born  in  New  England  in  1801.  and 
was  a  son  of  Erastus  Kenfield,  Sr.,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  The 
mother's  birth  occurred  in  Connecticut,  and  she  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
Piper,  also  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  Revolution,  who  was  shot  in  the  fore- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COLNTY  339 

head,  but  the  skull  was  afterward  trepanned.  Reared  in  Ohio  after  the  usual 
manner  of  fami  Jads  of  that  locality  and  period,  William  S.  Kenfield  re- 
tained his  residence  there  until  1854,  when,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years, 
he  sought  a  home  in  Allegan  county,  Michigan.  He  had,  however,  pre- 
viously spent  one  year  in  Massachusetts,  but  he  heard  of  the  big  wages  that 
were  paid  for  labor  in  the  lumber  camps  and  came  to  Michigan,  after  which 
he  spent  a  year  near  Lamont,  on  the  Grand  river.  He  had  a  friend,  William 
Dunliam,  a  former  schoolmate,  who  was  working  in  Allegan  county  at  Way- 
land,  and,  coming  to  see  him,  William  S.  Kenfield  secured  work  in  this  local- 
ity, being  for  three  years  employed  by  Nelson  Chambers,  at  seventeen  dollars 
per  month.  Mr.  Chambers  was  the  proprietor  of  a  hotel  and  Mr.  Kenfield 
was  assigned  to  the  duty  of  attending  the  bar  and  stables,  and  also  in  other 
work  around  the  hotel  or  in  hauling  goods.  While  thus  employed  he  formed 
the  acquaintance  of  Miss  Sarah  Round,  who  did  dining  room  work  in  the 
same  hotel  for  a  year,  and  on  the  3d  of  July,  1858,  the  friendship  which  they 
formed  was  consummated  in  marriage,  the  ceremony  being  performed  by  the 
Rev.  James  Selkrig,  an  Episcopal  minister,  of  Wayland. 

The  same  fall  the  young  couple  located  on  the  present  home  farm,  Mr. 
Kenfield  securing  eighty  acres,  for  which  he  paid  a  dollar  and  a  quarter  per 
acre.  It  was  covered  with  heavy  maple,  and  he  burned  up  the  finest  of  the 
timber.  The  settlers  at  that  date  little  realized  what  the  val"e  of  the  forests 
would  be  in  a  few  years,  and  cut  down  the  trees  in  order  to  clear  and  culti- 
vate the  fields.  Mr.  Kenfield  built  a  good  house  for  that  time,  having  to  cut 
away  tlie  timber  in  order  to  clear  a  place  sufficient  for  its  erection.  He  also 
cut  a  road  through,  one  mile  in  length,  to  his  farm.  Two  other  farmers 
arrived  in  the  nighborhood  in  the  same  fall — -Marion  Mason,  now  of  Hills- 
dale county,  and  Wilbur  S.  Marsh,  and  the  one  road  served  as  a  highway  for 
all.  Since  locating  upon  this  place  Mr.  Kenfield  has  continuously  made  it  his 
home.  He  engaged  in  cutting  timber  in  early  days  in  order  to  secure  money 
necessary  for  the  support  of  his  family  and  for  carrying  on  the  farm  work, 
and  in  the  winter  season  he  was  eJiiployed  in  the  lumber  camp.  Many  evi- 
dences of  frontier  life  were  to  be  seen  at  that  time.  It  was  not  an  unusual 
thing  to  see  a  deer  in  the  farmyard  and  there  were  many  wolves  and  deer  and 
bears  in  the  woods.  With  the  rapid  settlement  of  the  county,  however,  great 
changes  were  brought  about,  and  Mr.  Kenfield,  keeping  in  touch  with  mod- 
em progress  and  development,  placed  his  lancl  under  cultivation  and  is  today 
the  owner  of  a  valuable  and,  well  improved  farm.  He  also  has  a  dairy  with 
ten  or  eleven  cows.  He  built  his  present  residence  in  1880,  but  his  barn  is 
one  of  the  old  landmarks  of  the  countv,  having  stood  for  forty  years.  Mr. 
Kenfield  has  indeed  found  a  worthy  helpmate  and  companion  in  )"'is  wife. 
She  was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  nine  children,  and  her 
parents  were  in  limited  circumstances,  so  that  she  cared  for  herself  from 
the  age  o£  eleven  years.  She.  however,  attended  school  in  the  winter  months 
until  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  for  one  year  she  was  employed  in  the  hotel  at 
Wayland,  where,  as  stated,  she  fonned  the  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Kenfield. 
They  have  but  one  child,  Carrie  A.,  now  the  wife  of  Martin  G.  Gaylor,  who 
operates  the  home  farm.  Mr.  Kenfield  is  a  supporter  of  Republican  prin- 
ciples, while  Mrs.  Kenfield  is  equally  stanch  in  her  faith  in  Democratic  prin- 
ciples. For  fifteen  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  society. 
He  greatly  enjoys  fishing,  spending  many  pleasant  hours  in  that  way.     For 


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330  TirSTdRY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

more  than  a  half  century  he  has  Uved  in  Allegan  county,  and  is  therefore 
classed  with  its  pioneer  residents,  while  his  activity  and  energy  in  business 
and  his  devotion  to  the  public  good  have  won  for  him  a  place  among  the 
representative  men  of  the  county — men  who  have  done  much  for  the  work 
of  upbuilding  that  has  led  to  placing  Allegan  county  in  the  front  rank  among 
the  leading  counties  of  this  great  commonwealth. 

Other  members  of  the  Kenfield  family  also  came  to  Michigan.  Seven 
years  after  the  arrival  of  W.  S.  Kenfield  his  brother,  Lucius  Kenfieid,  in 
1865  came  to  Allegan  county.  He  was  born  at  Hinckley.  Medina  county, 
Ohio,  April  25,  1845,  and  was  therefore  a  young  man  of  about  twenty  years 
when  he  removed  to  this  state.  He  had  just  left  the  army,  in  which  he  liad 
served  as  a  loyal  defender  of  the  Union,  who  located  on  eighty  acres  of  land 
near  the  home  of  his  brother  William,  there  spending  his  remaining  days. 
He  was  married  April  29,  1874,  in  Kalamazoo,  Michigan,  to  Miss  Melissa 
Gregg,  of  that  place,  who  was  born  July  17,  1849,  near  Comstock,  Kalama- 
zoo county,  her  parents  being  Olive  and  Mary  (Darling)  Gregg,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  New  York.  Mr.  Kenfield  visited  in  Kalamazoo 
county,  and  it  was  at  that  time  that  he  met  the  lady  whom  he  afterward  made 
his  wife.  He  had  served  in  the  Second  Ohio  Cavalry  from  February.  1865, 
and  was  discharged  at  Benton  Barracks,  Missouri.  Immediately  afterward 
he  came  direct  to  the  home  of  his  brother  William  and  secured  eight}-  acres, 
which  became  his  homestead.  Later,  however,  he  sold  ten  acres  and  he  had 
secured  a  similar  tract  previous  to  his  marriage.  For  one  season  after  their 
marriage  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kenfield  worked  for  one  man  in  Kalamazoi> 
county,  but  that  winter  he  got  out  logs  to  saw  for  a  smalt  frame  house,  and 
when  it  was  built  he  and  his  wife  took  up  their  abode  there,  making  it  their 
home  until  about  nine  years  ago.  when  a  pleasant  country  residence  was 
erected.  Lucius  Kenfiekl  placed  about  forty  acres  of  his  land  under  cultiva- 
tion and  for  several  years  engaged  in  sheep-raising,  which  was  his  principal 
source  of  income  at  that  time.  He  then  made  his  living  off  the  farm  through 
the  cultivation  of  crops.  In  1871  a  big  fire  burned  much  of  his  timber,  and 
also  did  considerable  detriment  to  the  soil.  Since  his  death,  however,  the 
family  have  sold  considerable  timber.  He  passed  away  November  i,  1903, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years,  leaving  a  widow  and  two  daughters.  Clara  and 
Maggie.  The  latter  has  charge  of  the  home  farm,  while  the  former  is  now 
the  wife  of  George  Allen,  of  Hopkins  township,  and  has  four  children, 
Charles,  Luella.  Rose  and  Nellie.  /Xnother  brother.  Josiah  Kenfield,  who 
came  two  years  after  bis  brother  Lucius,  was  married  here  to  Mi.ss  Sarah 
Robbins.  and  afterward  returned  to  Medina  county.  Ohio,  where  he  cared 
for  his  parents  until  their  death.  About  thirteen  vears  ago  he  returned  to 
Allegan  county  and  is  now  living  in  Hopkins  township.  He  has  one  daugh- 
ter, Lottie,  now  the  wife  of  Leonard  Truax.  The  name  of  Kenfield  has  long 
been  synonymous  with  grood  citizenship  and  with  progressive  agriculture  in 
this  county  and  the  family  well  deserves  mention  in  this  volume. 

Charles  Knobloch  is  the  owner  of  an  excellent  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty-three  acres  on  .section  31,  Hopkins  township,  and  pleasantly  and 
conveniently  located  only  about  a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  the  village  of  Hop- 
kins. It  is  devoted  to  the  raising  of  grain  and  fniit  and  to  dairv  fanning, 
and  the  owner  is  a  man  of  excellent  business  abilitv  and  executive  force.     He 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY  331 

was  bom  in  Newcastle,  Pennsylvania,  August  i6th,  1851,  and  remained  at 
home  until  twenty-five  years  of  age,  acquiring  in  the  meantime  a  good  Eng- 
lish education  and  receiving  from  his  parents  training  that  resulted  in  form- 
ing habits  of  industry  and  integrity.  He  spent  one  year  in  Newcastle,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  a  meat  market  when  about  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  then 
returned  to  the  old  homestead  farm.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five  years  he  mar- 
ried Louisa  M.  Tiefenthal,  a  daughter  of  William  F.  Tiefenthal,  of  Allegan 
township.  Her  father  is  still  living  among  his  children  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight  years.  Mrs.  Knobloch  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  in  her  girlhood  days 
came  to  Allegan  county.  Following  his  marriage  Mr.  Knobloch  operated 
the  Eisenbarth  place  in  Hopkins,  which  he  purchased  after  a  year  or  two. 
There  he  lived  for  four  years,  clearing  much  of  the  land  iind  doing  away 
with  the  swamp  holes.  He  then  bought  the  Chamberlain  farm  in  Montere\' 
township,  comprising  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  good  land,  which  he 
devoted  to  the  raising  of  grain.  On  selling  that  property  to  his  father  he 
made  investment  in  his  present  farm,  comprising  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
three  acres  on  section  31,  Hopkins  township.  This  is  a  splendidly  improved 
property,  and  he  is  meeting  with  success  in  raising  grain  and  fruit  and  also 
in  his  dairy  business.  He  keeps  from  eighteen  to  twenty  cows,  selling  milk 
to  the  creamery.  He  has  seven  acres  in  fruit — apples,  peaches,  pears,  plums 
and  cherries,  and  his  fields  are  devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  hay  and  corn. 
He  came  to  this  farm  in  1886.  since  which  time  he  has  placed  half  of  it  under 
cultivation.  It  is  rolling  land  and  low  ground,  much  of  the  low  ground  being 
black  sand  and  drained  by  the  large  Anderson  drain  which  follows  the  fence 
lines.  In  addition  to  this  property  he  owns  sixty  acres  elsewhere,  so  that 
his  landed  possessions  now  aggregate  two  hundred  and  forty-three  acres. 
His  home  place  was  formerly  known  as  the  old  Lewis  Herlon  homestead, 
having  been  settled  and  improved  by  Mr.  Herlon  about  1840.  He  and  his 
brother,  Philip  Herlon,  were  among  the  early  settlers  and  own  an  entire  sec- 
tion of  land.  In  later  years  Lewis  Herlon  went  to  Kansas,  where  he  passed 
away,  but  his  remains  were  laid  to  rest  in  Hopkins  cemetery.  Upon  the 
farm  are  now  found  all  modern  improvements,  including  a  barn  ninety-six 
feet  long  and  forty  feet  wide.  The  residence  stands  on  a  high  eminence, 
commanding  a  splendid  view  of  the  surrounding  country,  and  the  farm  is 
most  attractive  in  its  appearance,  being  well  kept  in  every  particular. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knobloch  has  been  blessed  with  eight  chil- 
dren :  Laura,  wife  of  George  Morris,  of  .Mlegan :  Carl,  who  married  Minnie 
Brown,  of  Allegan,  and  owns  a  farm  of  sixty  acres  adjoining  his  father's 
property  ;  Daniel,  who  is  residing  on  a  farm  in  Hopkins  township  ;  Susan,  the 
wife  of  Magnus  Palberg.  in  Hopkins:  Leon.  Otto,  Martin  and  George,  all  at 
home.     They  also  lost  five  children. 

Mr.  Knobloch  is  a  Democrat,  but  without  aspiration  for  office.  He 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  to  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees  and  the 
National  Protective  Legion.  He  possesses  superior  musical  talent  and  skill 
and  for  nearly  thirty  years  has  been  a  band  leader  in  Hopkins  and  Monterey. 
His  grandfather  and  uncles  were  also  musicians  and  he  inherited  the  love  of 
the  art.  As  a  young  man  he  took  up  the  comet  and  became  a  member  of  the 
band  at  Monterey  and  was  instrumental  in  keeping  up  the  organization  for 
several  years.  At  length  the  band  lapsed  for  five  years,  and  was  then  reor- 
ganized and  is  still  in  existence.     For  five  years  at  the  band  tournaments 


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333  HISTORY  t)F  ALLECAX  COl.'XTY 

held  in  Holland,  Michigan,  they  carried  ofE  the  first  prize,  Mr.  Knobloch 
has  also  taken  tiie  band  to  several  different  points  in  the  state,  where  it  won 
first  honors,  and  to  at  least  two  places  in  Indiana,  gaining  the  first  prize  at 
Rome  City,  Indiana.  The  Hopkins  band  has  never  missed  a  prize  where  it 
has  entered  the  contest.  Mr.  Knobloch  also  organized  and  instructed  the 
Salem  band,  and  in  1906  acted  as  its  leader  in  the  contest  at  Holland,  where 
they  carried  off  the  second  honors.  He  has  been  the  choir  leader  in  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  church  at  Hopkins  for  fifteen  years.  His  children  are  all 
musicians,  his  son  Carl  being  a  fine  performer  on  the  slide  trombone,  and  it 
would  be  possible  for  him  to  organize  an  orchestra  among  the  members  of 
his  own  household,  Mr,  Knobloch's  love  for  music  and  his  thorough  under- 
standing of  the  art  has  made  him  a  most  valued  factor  in  musical  circles  in 
this  part  of  the  state  and  has  led  him  to  contribute  in  large  measure  to  gen- 
eral pleasure  on  many  public  occasions. 

John  W.  Linsley. — Hopkins  township,  Allegan  county,  Michigan, 
inchides  among  its  representative  farmers  and  respected  citizens  John  W. 
Linsley.  He  was  born  in  Parkman,  Ohio,  on  the  26th  of  August,  1843,  and 
for  many  generations  the  family  were  well  known  and  highly  respected  citi- 
zens in  that  section  of  the  Buckeye  state.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  James  Linsley,  was  a  native  of  Branford,  Connecticut.  He  married 
Lucy  Parkman.  and  in  1836  they  removed  to  Parkman  township,  Geauga 
county,  Ohio,  that  township  having  been  named  in  honor  of  a  brother  of 
Lucy  Parkman,  and  one  of  the  representatives  of  that  family  wa.s  the  illustri- 
ous Daniel  Webster.     James  Linsley  died  in  1S45, 

John  P.  Linsley,  his  son  and  the  father  of  John  W,  Linsley,  was  born  in 
Oneida  county.  New  York,  on  the  loth  of  February,  1819.  On  the  i8th  of 
December,  1840.  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Ann  Eliza  Button,  whose 
parents,  Joel  and  Lydia  Button,  took  up  their  abode  in  Ohio  in  1819,  estab- 
lishing the  family  home  at  Hiram.  In  1853  John  P.  Linsley  came  with  his 
family  to  Michigan,  and  here  he  lived  during  the  remainder  of  his  life,  his 
time  and  energies  having  been  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits,  in  which  he 
attained  success.  In  1889,  while  crossing  a  railroad  track  in  company  with 
his  niece,  they  were  struck  by  a  train,  the  team  being  killed,  hut  they  escaped 
serious  injury,  and  Mr.  Linsley  survived  until  the  2d  of  June,  1902,  when  his 
life's  labors  were  ended  in  death. 

John  W.  Linsley,  one  of  the  five  children  born  to  John  P.  and  Ann  Eliza 
(Button')  Linsley,  was  born  in  Parkman.  Ohio,  on  the  26th  of  August.  1843. 
He,  too,  has  followed  agricultural  pursuits  as  a  life  occupation,  but  when  the 
Civil  war  was  inaugurated  he  put  aside  all  personal  considerations  and 
offered  his  services  to- the  Union  cause,  enlisting  in  July,  1862,  as  a  member 
of  Company  L,  Fourth  Michigan  Cavalry,  in  which  he  served  for  three  years. 
He  took  part  in  a  number  of  the  important  battles  and  skirmishes  of  the  war, 
and  on  one  occasion  he  was  wounded  in  the  leg.  and  for  three  months  there- 
after, was  confined  in  the  hospital  at  Kingston.  Georgia.  His  regiment 
assisted  in  the  capture  of  Jefferson  Davis.  His  army  record  is  one  of  which 
he  may  he  justly  proud,  for  it  is  the  record  of  a  brave  soldier,  faithful  to  the 
least  as  well  as  the  greatest  of  his  duties,  prompt,  reliable  and  self-sacrificing. 
When  peace  had  been  restored  he  quietly  took  up  the  ordinarv  duties  of  life, 
and  he  is  now  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  excellent  land 


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HISTORY  OK  Al.LEGAX  CorXTV  333 

in  Hopkins  township,  Alleg'an  county,  which  he  has  transformed  from  a 
densely  wooded  tract  to  its  present  high  state  of  cultivation.  The  Springdale 
Cheese  Factory  is  located  on  a  part  of  this  land,  and  the  homesteiid  is  num 
bered  among  the  valuable  farms  of  the  township.  He  usually  keeps  about 
twelve  cows  upon  the  place,  and  the  buildings  are  a!!  neat  and  substantial. 
Mr.  Linsiey  gives  his  political  support  to  the  Republican  party,  and  has 
served  as  highway  commissioner.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Grange,  and  also 
of  the  G.  A.  R.  Post  No.  80.  in  which  he  maintains  pleasant  relations  with 
his  old  army  comrades. 

On  the  6th  of  September,  1867,  Mr.  Linsiey  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Lydia  Chamberlain,  who  was  born  in  New  York  January  18,  1849.  a 
daughter  of  Peleg  Chamberlain,  who  took  up  his  abode  in  Hopkins  township, 
Allegan  county,  Michigan,  in  1855,  but  he  is  now  deceased.  Seven  children 
have  been  bom  of  this  union,  namely:  Herman  W..  who  now  owns  the  old 
Linsiey  homestead :  Emma  E. :  Lucy  P.,  the  wife  of  Jake  Rinehart,  of  Walk- 
erton,  Indiana :  James  H.,  who  is  now  preparing  for  the  dental  profession ; 
Burdette  E.,  foreman  of  the  saw  mills  at  Virginia,  Minnesota;  Alfred,  who 
carries  on  the  work  of  the  farm,  and  he  married  Ida  Sutton :  and  Bertha  I., 
the  wife  of  William  Reynolds,  a  fanner  in  Hopkins  township.  On  the  4th  of 
July.  1876.  Mr.  Linsiey  sustained  a  terrible  accident  by  the  unexpected  ex- 
ploding of  a  cannon  which  he  was  loading  at  Ohio  Corners,  one  mile  from 
his  home,  resulting  in  the  loss  of  both  arms,  one  having  been  taken  off  at  the 
elbow  and  the  other  at  the  shoulder,  also  losing  the  sight  of  one  eye  an<l  the 
hearing  of  one  ear.  He'  has  borne  this  great  affliction  with  great  fortitude 
and  bravery,  and  uncomplainingly  and  to  the  best  of  his  ability  is  discharging 
the  many  duties  which  devolve  upon  him  in  his  business  life. 

Willtam:  J.-vckson,  after  long  years  of  active  and  successful  connection 
with  agricultural  interests  in  Allegan  county,  is  now  living  retired  in  Hop- 
kins. He  imoroved  a  valuable  farm  and  for  many  years  was  connected  with 
threshing,  while  as  a  breeder  and  raiser  of  fine  stock  he  became  widely 
known.  Born  in  Hovingham.  Yorkshire.  Eneland,  on  the  15th  of  June, 
1830,  he  is  a  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Hugel")  Jackson,  and  the  sec- 
ond in  a  family  of  three  children.  His  elder  brother,  John  Jackson,  is  now 
living  in  Laporte,  Indiana,  but  for  a  long  period  was  a  farmer  of  Allegan 
county.  He  was  the  first  of  the  family  to  come  to  America  and  settled  in 
New  York  state,  where  he  lived  for  a  year.  In  1858  lie  became  a  resident 
of  Michigan,  locating  west  of  Allegan,  where  he  was  residing  when  the 
other  members  of  the  family  came  to  this  countv  in  the  spring  of  1859.  He 
had  taken  np  a  half  section  of  land  west  of  Alleean  and  for  many  years 
he  was  identified  with  agricultural  nursuits  in  this  oart  of  the  county. 
Eventually  he  took  up  his  abode  in  the  village  of  Allegan,  where  he  lived 
until  about  ten  or  twelve  years  ago,  his  home  being  now  in  Laporte.  Indiana. 

William  Jackson  lost  his  mother  when  he  was  eight  years  of  asre.  In 
the  spring  of  1851,  with  his  father  and  his  sister,  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  spending  seven  years  in  New  York.  In  the  spring  of  1859  the  fam- 
ily came  to  Allegan  countv,  whither  thev  had  been  preceded  by  John  Tack- 
son,  the  brother  of  our  subiect.  William  Jackson  here  purchased  fortv 
acres  of  land  from  George  Lay  on  section  26.  Monterey  township.     The 


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33.J.  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

father  lived  with  his  three  children  and  died  in  Leighton  township  at  the 
home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Duke  Siifiield,  wlien  seventy-three  years  of  age. 

William  Jackson  was  married  in  Ithaca,  New  York,  on  the  i5tli  of  De- 
cember, 1855,  to  Miss  Martha  H.  Holdsworth,  also  a  native  of  Yorkshire, 
and  a  sister  of  his  brother  John's  wife.  As  stated,  they  came  to  Michigan 
in  the  spring  of  1859,  and  he  began  life  in  Allegan  county  with  forty  acres 
of  wild  land.  A  little  clearing  had  been  made  upon  the  place,  but  he  prac- 
tically performed  all  the  work  of  developing  and  improving  this  farm.  He 
first  built  a  little  board  shanty,  but  later  the  comforts  and  conveniences  of 
a  modern  home  were  secured  and  as  time  passed  he  also  added  to  his  farm 
until  he  had  eighty  acres.  Eventually  he  improved  his  property  with  a 
large  residence,  good  barns  and  other  substantial  outbuildings  and  trans- 
ferred the  once  wild  land  into  a  rich  and  productive  tract.  When  his  resi- 
dence was  destroyed  by  fire  he  at  once  rebuilt  a  new  one  upon  the  old  site 
and  also  built  a  home  for  his  son,  who  is  operating  the  farm.  The  father 
and  son  owned  altogether  two  hundred  and  five  acres  of  rich  and  pro- 
ductive land.  Year  after  year  William  Jackson  carried  on  the  work  of 
tilling  the  soil  and  raising  crops,  residing  upon  his  farm  until  1898,  when 
he  rented  his  land  to  his  son,  Charles  S.,  and  retired  to  the  village  of  Hop- 
kins, where  he  now  makes  his  home.  For  many  years  he  operated  a  thresh- 
ing machine.  In  1876  he  purchased  the  first  steam  thresher  owned  in  Alle- 
gan county  and  he  operated  the  thresher  until  he  had  threshed  for  twenty 
seasons,  covering  several  townships.  In  this  connection  he  became  widely 
known.  In  the  winters  he  here  used  his  teams  in  the  lumber  woods  and 
thus  he  lived  a  life  of  unremitting  activity  and  enterprise,  each  season  of  the 
year  bringing  his  duties  and  labors,  which  were  promptly  executed  and 
faithfully  performed  by  him.  For  twenty  years  he  was  a  breeder  of  Short- 
horn cattle  and  exhibited  at  fairs.  He  won  forty  dollars  in  premiums  one 
year  at  Allegan  and  he  kept  registered  stock,  being  the  first  man  in  Mon- 
terey to  breed  high  grade  stock.  He  also  bred  Shropshire  sheep,  breeding 
over  thirty  head  of  registered  sheep.  His  business  interests  were  thus 
varied  and  important.  As  a  stock-raiser  he  contributed  to  general  pros- 
perity through  advancing  the  grade  of  stock  raised,  whereby  prices  are. 
always  promoted. 

In  1890  Mr,  Jackson  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  first 
wife,  who  died  on  the  r3th  of  March,  after  they  had  traveled  life's  journey 
together  for  nearly  thirty-five  years.  On  the  12th  of  November,  1891,  he 
married  Mrs.  Lucy  M.  Beebe,  whose  maiden  name  was  Farnsworth.  She 
was  born  in  Defiance  county,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Michigan,  where  lived  her 
two  sisters,  Mrs.  Royal  Taylor  and  Mrs.  Jason  Martin.  The  children  of 
Mr.  Jackson  are:  Mary,  now  the  wife  of  Christian  C.  Knoblock;  Charles, 
who  is  living  on  the  old  homestead  farm ;  James,  who  was  drowned  July 
4th,  1879,  in  the  Kalamazoo  river  at  Allegan  when  sixteen  years  and  two. 
months  of  age  in  company  with  Eddie  Knoblock,  a  son  of  Adam  Knob- 
lock  ;  Minnie  Belle,  who  is  clerking  in  Dendel's  store  in  Hopkins ;  Carlotta, 
the  wife  of  Elmer  Stevens,  a  resident  of  Hopkins ;  Frank,  who  died  in  his 
twenty-first  year,  and  Joseph,  who  died  aged  two  years.  Mrs.  Jackson  also 
has  three  children  by  her  first  marriage,  but  none  live  in  Allegan  county, 
Miles  H.,  Charles  L.  and  Lena  E.  An  adopted  daughter.  Belle  Beebe,  who 
was  taken  by  Mrs.  Beebe  in  infancy,  was  a  maiden  of  fourteen  years  when 


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HISTORY  ()]■   ALLEGAX  COUXTY  335 

her  foster  mother  married  Mr.  Jackson.     She  is  now  the  wife  of  Frank 
Edgerton,  of  Allegan. 

Mr.  Jackson  is  a  RepubHcan  in  his  political  views  and  has  served  as 
school  officer,  but  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  the  honors  and  emolu- 
ments of  public  office.  His  time  and  energies  have  been  fully  claimed  by 
his  extensive  and  important  business  interests,  and  few  men  can  show  as 
good  a  record  for  unremitting  activity  and  unfaltering  diligence.  His 
labors,  too,  have  been  of  a  character  that  have  contributed  in  no  small 
degree  to  the  substantia!  development  of  the  county  and  those  who  know 
him  honor  him  because  his  record  has  been  characterized  not  only  by  indus- 
try, but  unquestioned  probity. 

Daniel  Tiefenth.-^l,  who  follows  farming  in  Hopkins  township  and 
is  numbered  among  the  native  sons  of  Allegan  county,  was  born  in  Monte- 
rey township,  August  24,  1862,  his  parents  being  William  and  Louisa 
Tiefenthal.  He  was  only  four  years  of  age  when  the  family  removed  to 
the  vicinity  of  Minor  Lake,  in  Allegan  township,  where  he  resided  until 
eighteen  years  of  age.  He  afterward  spent  a  few  months  in  Wexford 
county,  where  he  engaged  in  lumbering,  after  which  he  returned  to  Otsego 
township,  Allegan  county,  where  he  followed  farming  for  eight  months. 
He  afterward  lived  in  Hopkins  township  and  at  different  times  in  Monterey 
and  in  Cheshire  townships.  He  was  also  employed  in  a  sawmill  in  Allegan 
for  three  months  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Schoolcraft,  Returning 
thence  to  Cheshire  township,  he  worked  by  the  month  until  his  savings  jus- 
tified his  purchase  of  a  farm,  which  he  improved  through  modern  methods 
of  cultivation  and  through  the  erection  of  good  buildings  thereon.  He 
lived  upon  that  place  for  eight  years  and  then  sold  his  personal  property, 
after  which  he  went  to  Chicago.  He  was  identified  with  business  interests 
there,  first  as  a  milk  dealer,  having  a  route  in  that  city,  getting  his  supplies 
from  farmers  who  made  shipments  to  the  depot.  He  started  the  enterprise 
with  six  cans,  which  increased  until  he  utilized  fifteen  cans  of  milk  daily. 
This  enterprise  proved  a  success  and  he  made  money,  continuing  in  the 
business  for  nine  and  a  half  years.  He  also  enlarged  the  scope  of  his  ac- 
tivities by  establishing  a  confectionery  and  stationery  store  on  Western 
avenue,  between  Van  Buren  and  Jackson  streets,  but  he  worked  too  hard, 
so  that  his  health  demanded  a  change.  In  the  meantime  he  had  purchased 
his  father's  old  home  farm  in  Hopkins  township,  comprising  eighty-eight 
acres,  a  mile  and  a  half  southeast  of  the  village.  He  made  the  purchase 
about  two  and  a  half  years  before  locating  thereon  in  March,  1902.  At 
that  time  he  closed  out  his  Chicago  business  and  took  charge  of  the  farm. 
The  succeeding  year  he  sold  his  Cheshire  farm.  He  has  since  made  many 
substantia!  improvement,^  on  the  home  place  and  now  has  a  valuable  prop- 
erty, of  which  sixtv  acres  is  under  cultivation.  Here  he  carries  on  general 
farming,  including  the  raising  of  grain,  fruit  and  stock,  and  he  is  also  oper- 
ating a  milk  route  in  Hopkins,  keeping  eight  cows  for  this  purpose. 

Some  twenty-three  years  ago  Mr.  Tiefenthal  was  married  in  Cheshire 
to  Miss  Cariine  Edward,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Margaret  Edward.  She 
died  in  Chicago  after  fourteen  years  of  happy  married  Hfe,  passing  away  at 
the  age  of  thirty-six.  They  had  one  daughter,  Amber  Viola,  who  is  now  a 
young  lady  at  home,  and  they  also  lost  a  son  in  childhood,  Garf  Dewain, 


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336  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

who  was  born  March  27,  1887,  and  died  September  13,  1888.  On  the 
23d  of  June,  1901,  Mr.  Tiefenthal  was  again  married,  his  second  union 
being  with  Mrs,  Anna  Hills,  nee  Woodward.  By  her  first  marriage  she 
had  three  children :  Lulu,  now  the  wife  of  Charles  Bentley,  of  Allegan,  and 
Frank  and  Raymond  Hills.  Her  son  Raymond  was  killed  by  the  breaking 
of  a  singletree  while  driving  a  team  at  the  age  of  eleven  years,  while  Frank 
is  at  home  on  the  farm.  Mr.  Tiefenthal  has  led  a  life  of  unremitting  activ- 
ity and  enterprise,  has  made  steady  progress  in  business  and  is  now  com- 
fortably situated,  being  in  control  of  important  and  profitable  farming  inter- 
ests. 

Henry  E.  ScuAFiiR  was  born  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides, 
adjoining  the  village  of  Hopkins,  January  31,  1877,  and  is  a  son  of  George 
and  Margaretha  Schafer,  who  were  reared  in  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan. 
The  father  settled  upon  the  old  home  farm  when  it  was  covered  with  the 
original  growth  of  forest  trees  and  there  were  but  two  houses  in  the  vicin- 
ity. He  placed  seventy  acres  of  land  under  cultivation,  built  three  barns 
upon  the  place  and  otherwise  improved  it,  continuing  its  further  develop- 
ment and  cultivation  until  his  death,  which  occurred  111  September,  1905, 
when  he  was  sixty-eight  years  of  age. 

Our  subject's  boyhood  and  youth  were  spent  in  his  father's  home  and 
his  educational  privileges  were  thus  afforded  by  the  public  schools.  At  the 
time  of  his  father's  death  he  and  his  brother  Amos  received  through  the 
terms  of  the  will  the  home  farm  on  condition  that  they  were  to  purchase 
the  interest  of  the  other  brother  and  sister.  After  the  settlement  of  the 
estate  Henry  E.  and  Amos  Schafer  divided  the  property,  Amos  claiming  as 
his  share  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  Monterey  township, 
while  Henry  received  sixty  acres  of  the  old  homestead  at  Hopkins.  Both 
brothers  had  remained  with  the  father  until  they  attained  their  majority, 
Henry  E,  Schafer  now  devotes  his  farm  to  the  raising  of  corn,  hay  and 
other  products.  He  has  recently  erected  a  new  house  upon  the  place  and 
has  removed  two  of  the  three  barns  to  the  new  location  at  a  cost  of  fifteen 
hundred  dollars.  He  now  has  a  well  improved  property  in  harmony  with 
the  spirit  of  modern  progress  along  agricultural  lines.  He  keeps  every- 
thing about  his  place  in  excellent  condition  and  the  entire  farm  is  charac- 
terized by  an  appearance  of  neatness  and  thrift  which  indicates  his  careful 
supervision  and  practical  methods. 

On  the  23d  of  December,  1902,  Mr.  Schafer  was  niarrie<l  to  Miss  El- 
freda  Piischel,  of  Otsego,  Michigan,  and  they  have  two  children.  Ruth  and 
Anna.  The  young  coupie  are  both  well  known  in  this  part  of  the  state  and 
enjoy  the  friendship  of  the  large  majority  of  those  with  whom  they  have 
come  in  contact. 

Frank  E.  Gates,  a  retired  farmer  living  in  Hopkins,  was  born  in 
Geauga  county.  Ohio,  April  22,  1835,  his  parents  being  William  and  Har- 
riet W.  (Bundy)  Gates,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Otsego  county, 
New  York.  They  were  married  in  Ohio,  to  which  state  they  had  removed  in 
their  childhood  days  with  their  respective  parents,  becoming  residents  of 
the  western  reserve  when  it  was  first  settled.  Jacob  Gates,  the  grandfather, 
died  in  Geauga  county  in  1816,  his  being  the  first  death  in  the  township  of 


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I-IISTURY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  337 

Parkniaii.  He  settled  there  in  1S04,  and  Frank  Gates  attended  the  Centen- 
nial celebration  of  the  settlement  on  the  1st  of  October,  1904.  In  June,  1854, 
after  a  long  residence  in  Geauga  county,  Ohio,  William  Gates  and  his  eldest 
son,  Addison,  came  to  Michigan  and  made  a  settlement  in  Cheshire  town- 
ship, Allegan  county,  about  seven  miles  southwest  of  the  village  of  Allegan. 
This  was  all  wooded  land  and  their  nearest  neighbor,  except  a  Mr,  Buck, 
lived  three  miles  distant.  William  Gates  secured  two  hundred  acres  of  land 
from  the  government,  for  which  he  paid  the  usual  price  of  a  dollar  and  a 
quarter  per  acre.  Upon  the  claim  he  and  his  son  built  a  log  house,  after 
which  they  returned  to  Ohio,  and  on  the  4th  of  November,  the  family  en- 
tered the  new  home,  having  driven  across  the  country  from  Ohio  with 
horse  teams.  There  were  the  father,  mother  and  seven  children,  and  also 
Z.  S.  Thompson,  whose  wife  was  a  sister  of  F.  B.  Gates,  and  settled  in  the 
same  district.  It  was  a  frontier  district,  for  the  country  was  being  rap- 
idly settled  up  and  in  the  same  fall  several  fanners  came  in.  Fine  land 
could  be  had  at  a  nominal  price.  The  soil  was  rich  and  productive  and 
the  ground  was  covered  with  hardwood  timber.  When  it  was  cleared 
away  the  land  was  found  to  be  very  arable,  responding  readily  to  the  culti- 
vation bestowed  upon  it.  Mr.  Gates  remained  upon  his  father's  claim  for 
five  years,  and  in  1859  removed  to  Monterey  township,  where  he  had  thirty 
acres  of  land  that  had  been  cleared.  He  began  the  further  development  of 
the  property  and  placed  sixty  acres  under  cultivation.  His  life  was  devoted 
to  general  farming  pursuits  and  after  the  war  he  was  for  three  years  con- 
nected with  his  son  Frank  in  carrying  on  lumbering  in  this  count}-.  His 
last  years  were  passed  in  the  village  of  Hopkins,  and  his  death  occurred  in 
1890,  when  he  was  in  his  eighty- fourth  year.  His  wife  died  in  January, 
1883,  when  seventy-four  years  of  age.  In  their  family  were  four  sons  and 
two  daughters,  who  are  yet  living,  namely:  Emma,  the  wife  of  James 
Holesworth,  of  South  Haven,  Michigan ;  Abbie,  the  wife  of  E.  I.  Hewson, 
a  merchant  of  South  Haven ;  Addison,  who  is  living  three  miles  west  of 
Hopkins  with  his  son-in-law,  John  Bodine.  on  the  Frank  Gates  place,  known 
as  tlie  Chestnut  Grove  farm ;  Frank,  of  this  review ;  Austin,  a  produce  dealer 
of  Hopkins,  and  Augustus  W.,  who  is  living  upon  a  part  of  the  old  home- 
stead farm  in  Monterey  township. 

Frank  R.  Gates,  reared  and  educated  in  Geauga  county,  Ohio,  came 
to  Michigan  with  his  parents  in  1854.  He  afterward  returned  to  Ohio  in 
June,  1856,  and  went  back  and  forth  two  or  three  times.  He  was  there  in 
1859  when  the  family  removed  to  Monterey  township,  but  he  soon  after- 
ward returned  to  this  county  and  the  greater  part  of  his  life  has  here  been 
passed.  On  the  19th  of  January,  1862,  in  Nelson,  Portage  county,  Ohio, 
he  w.as  married  to  Miss  Louisa  Bills,  who  was  bom  in  Hiram,  Ohio,  June 
6,  1840.  In  March,  t86i,  Mr.  Gates  had  purchased  his  present  farm  prop- 
erty in  Monterey  township,  having  at  first  forty  acres  and  covered  with 
standing  timber.  Only  a  little  actual  farm  work  had  been  done,  while  the 
house  upon  the  place  was  a  log  cabin.  To  this  pioneer  home  he  took  his 
bride  at  the  time  of  their  marriage  and  there  they  began  life  in  true  pioneer 
style.  As  time  passed  and  his  financial  resources  permitted  he  added  to  his 
land  until  he  owned  eighty  acres  called  the  Chestnut  Grove  farm.  The  old 
log  cabin  is  still  a  part  of  the  present  residence.  He  built  to  it,  however,  on 
three  sides  and  transferred  it  into  a  modern  home.     It  is  one  of  the  oldest 


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338  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

log  cabins  of  the  county,  having  been  built  about  fifty-five  years  ago.  His 
life  has  been  devoted  to  general  agricultural  pursuits  and  he  placed  about 
seventy  acres  of  his  land  under  cultivation.  He  did  lumbering  as  a  side 
issue,  making  general  farming  his  principal  means  of  financial  resource. 
The  farm  comprises  tlie  west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  23, 
Monterey  township  and  is  pleasantly  and  conveniently  located  about  three 
miles  west  of  the  village  of  Hopkins.  There  Mr.  Gates  continued  to  carry 
on  the  work  of  tilling  the  soil  until  1890,  when  he  left  the  farm  and  came 
to  the  village,  where  he  has  since  lived.  He  has  a  neat  home  here  and  is 
now  comfortably  situated  in  life. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gates  have  no  children  of  their  own  but  reared  a  young 
girl,  who  came  to  them  when  fourteen  years  of  age  and  lived  with  them 
until  her  marriage.  She  is  now  Mrs.  George  Hoyer,  of  Trowbridge  town- 
ship. Mrs.  Gates  is  an  own  cousin  of  General  B.  E.  Pritchard,  of  Allegan. 
For  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  Mr.  Gates  has  been  a  devoted  and  ex- 
emplary member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  he  and  his  wife  hold  mem- 
bership relations  with  the  Eastern  Star  Chapter  at  Hopkins,  of  which  Mrs. 
Gates  is  an  officer.  She  is  also  connected  with  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps 
and  with  the  Maccabees,  while  Mr.  Gates  is  a  member  of  the  Grange  at 
Monterey.  His  political  allegiance  is  given  to  the  Republican  party  but 
he  has  never  sought  or  desired  office,  preferring  to  concentrate  his  ener- 
gies upon  his  business  affairs  that  have  been  to  him  a  goodly  source  of  rev- 
en'ue,  bringing  him  the  competence  that  now  enables  him  to  live  retired. 

Dorr. 

Dorr  township,  though  without  permanent  settlement  up  to  1845,  and 
with  only  124  inhabitants  in  1850,  has  for  the  past  thirty-five  years  been  one 
of  the  more  populous  of  Allegan's  townships.  As  the  principal  occupation 
of  the  people,  since  the  lumbering  industry  declined,  has  been  agriculture, 
there  has  been  only  such  concentration  of  population  as  a  rural  community 
demands,  and  the  two  hamlets  of  Dorr  and  Moline,  on  the  railroad,  are  the 
only  places  that  deserve  description  in  this  connection. 

Dorr,  being  the  natural  center  of  the  township,  has  existed  as  a  settle- 
ment and  somewhat  of  a  center  for  fifty  years.  Frank  Neuman  was  the  first 
settler,  and  his  wagon  shop  was  the  first  enterprise  to  bring  other  settlers 
to  this  point.  In  1869  Frank  and  Clara  Neuman  platted  the  village  of 
Dorr  on  the  east  side  of  southeast  quarter  section  sixteen,  Dorr  township. 
The  survey  was  made  by  J.  W.  Hicks  September  20-21,  1869.  The  plat 
was  laid  east  of  the  railroad.  An  addition  was  made  in  the  same  year  just 
south  of  the  original  plat  on  section  twenty-one.  Dorr  now  has  a  popula- 
tion of  about  300,  has  six  stores,  a  postoffice,  and  is  a  shipping  and  trading 
point  for  a  considerable  territory,  especially  for  the  country  to  the  west, 
where  there  is  no  railroad. 

When  the  railroad  was  completed  in  1870  a  little  village  sprang  up  on 
the  southern  edge  of  the  township  by  the  name  of  Moline,  which  now,  with 
a  population  of  175,  is  a  center  for  many  people  living  in  south  Dorr  and 
north  Hopkins.     The  village  plat  was  laid  in  July,  1872.  Alfred  Chappie, 

Hon.  Erastus  Newton  Bates,  proprietor  of  Maple  Ridge  Stock  Farm, 
of  Dorr  township,  Allegan  county,  was  born  in  Chester,  Geauga  county, 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY  330 

Ohio,  March  i,  1845.  His  fatlier,  Abner  Curtis  Bates,  a  native  of  North- 
ampton, Massachusetts,  removed  to  Ohio  about  1839  with  his  brother  John 
Bates.  He  was  a  mechanic  by  trade,  but  later  in  hfe  followed  lumber  man- 
ufacturing at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  At  Chester,  that  state,  he  was  married  to 
Laura  Wellman  Baker,  of  New  York  birth,  and  soon  after  the  birth  of  their 
son  Erastus  N.  they  removed  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  they  resided  until 
their  removal  to  Lena.  Fulton  county,  Ohio,  in  1856,  while  two  years  later, 
in  1858,  they  made  their  way  direct  to  Dorr  township,  Allegan  county,  Mich- 
igan. After  his  arrival  here  Mr.  Bates  purchased  a  farm  in  the  southeast 
corner  of  the  township,  formerly  the  property  of  a  Mr.  Scheiren,  where  they 
lived  two  years  and  then  removed  to  the  northeast  part  of  the  township,  and 
there  he  contimied  to  make  his  home  until  his  life's  labors  were  ended  in 
death,  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  eighty-one  years,  although  during  the 
last  twenty  years  of  his  life  he  was  totally  blind.  His  widow  survived  him 
for  seven  years,  dying  at  about  the  same  age.  In  their  family  were  eight 
children,  namely:  Lovisa,  who  became  Mrs.  Almen  Bisbee  and  died  at  the 
age  of  thirty-seven  years;  Marcus  W„  an  insurance  agent  at  Grand  Rapids, 
Michigan;  Elizabeth,  who  became  the  wife  of  Leonard  Falconer,  and  after 
his  death  she  married  Melville  Ford  and  died  at  about  the  age  of  fifty 
years;  K.  N.,  whose  name  introduces  this  review:  Ward  Beecher,  a  farmer 
of  Benzie  county,  Michigan:  Frank  W.,  who  was  an  agricultural  imple- 
ment dealer  at  Moline,  Michigan,  and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-five  years ; 
Albert  C,  a  mechanic  at  Benzonia,  Michigan  and  Lucy  A.,  the  wife  of  A.  D. 
Loucks,  also  of  Moline. 

Erastus  N.  Bates  worked  for  others  from  the  time  of  reaching  his  ma- 
jority until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  enlisting  February  18,  1864,  as  a 
member  of  Company  C,  Twenty-first  Michigan  Infantry,  his  brother  Marcus 
being  in  command  of  the  company.  His  brother  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Chattanooga,  was  with  Sherman  on  his  celebrated  march  to  the  sea  and 
participated  in  the  last  battle  at  Bentonville.  where  he  was  severely  wounded. 
Our  subject  was  left  in  the  hospital  at  Savannah.  Georgia,  for  four  months, 
and  then  joined  the  army  at  Washington  and  took  part  in  the  Grand  Review. 
After  the  close  of  his  military  career  Mr.  Bates  returned  to  Dorr  township 
and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  adjoining  his  parents  home,  which  he 
cleared  and  imoroved,  and  while  thus  engaged  he  also  taught  eight  winter 
terms  of  school.  Soon  after  his  marriage  he  located  upon  his  father-in- 
law's  farm,  which  has  ever  since  continued  to  he  his  home  with  the  ex- 
ception of  about  eight  years  when  he  was  engaged  in  general  merchandising 
fit  Moline.  Michigan.  Previous  to  embarking  in  that  occupation,  however, 
he  had  erected  a  cheese  factory  there,  and  he  was  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  cheese  for  fifteen  years.  His  farm  now  contains  two  hundred  and 
three  acres.  It  is  known  as  the  old  Gilbert  homestead,  and  was  cleared  and 
improved  by  Bradley  Gilbert,  who  took  up  his  abode  thereon  in  1855,  and  all 
the  buildings  which  now  adorn  this  valuable  place  were  built  by  him.  Mr. 
Bates  is  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock-raising,  being  an  extensive 
feeder  of  beef  cattle,  which  he  buys  when  one  year  old  and  feeds  for  one 
year,  they  then  weighing  about  one  thousand  nounds.  He  feeds  ensilage 
shelled  corn.  He  has  a  herd  of  thoroughbred  Short-horn  registered  cattle, 
and  his  beautiful  farm  is  known  as  Maple  Ridge.     He  is  one  of  the  repre- 


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340:  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

senative  business  men  of  Allegan  county,  and  has  attained  the  high  posi- 
tion he  now  occupies  by  his  own  personal  worth. 

When  a  young  man  Mr.  Bates  became  interested  in  politics,  and  has  ever 
since  been  a  strong  supporter  of  Republican  principles.  He  served  as  super- 
visor of  his  township  for  five  years,  for  four  years  continuously,  each  time 
receiving  large  majorities,  and  in  1885  he  was  elected  to  the  legislature,  be- 
ing a  member  of  the  sessions  of  1885-7.  During  his  first  term  in  that  posi- 
tion he  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  towns  and  comities,  while  in  the 
second  session  he  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  municipal  corporations. 
In  1889  he  was  made  financial  clerk  of  the  House  under  Daniel  Grossman, 
the  first  financial  clerk  of  the  state.  He  assisted  Mr.  Grossman  at  the  desk 
in  calling  the  roll,  reading  bills,  etc.  Mr.  Bates  also  took  an  active  interest 
in  dairy  matters,  having  been  president  of  the  Dairy  Association  and  was 
responsible  for  the  organizing  of  the  Dairy  Commission,  which  has  been 
of  great  service  to  the  state.  He  worked  in  harmony  with  the  association, 
and  it  was  urged  that  he  be  made  the  first  dairy  and  food  commissioner.  He 
is  the  present  nominee  for  the  Eighteenth  state  senatorial  district,  including 
Van  Buren  and  Allegan  counties,  both  having  strong  Republican  majorities. 

Mr.  Bates  married  Flora  L  Gilbert,  a  daughter  of  Bradley  and  Martha 
(Bates)  Gilbert;  and  she  was  also  born  in  Chester,  Geauga  county,  Ohio, 
but  when  a  child  was  brought  to  Michigan  by  her  parents,  and  nearly  her 
entire  life  has  been  passed  on  the  farm  where  she  now  resides.  The  follow- 
ing children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bates:  Arthur  D.,  who  died 
when  two  and  one-half  years  old;  Martha  Ella,  a  professional  mirse  at  De- 
troit; Eustus  \ewton.  a  graduate  of  the  Agricultural  College  at  Lansing, 
Michigan,  in  the  class  of  1905,  and  now  engaged  in  teaching  in  that  institu- 
tion: Clara  E.,  the  wife  of  William  McRae,  secretary  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  in  New  Jersey ;  Forest  G.,  who  has  spent  two  years  in 
the  agricultural  college  and  is  now  at  home,  and  Flora  L,  a  student  in  the 
.Agricultural  College  of  lousing.  The  family  are  membors  of  the  First 
Congregational  church  at  Dorr. 

Eugene  A.  Daughebtv,  supervisor  of  Dorr  township,  was  born  in  the 
township  in  which  he  now  lives  December  21,  1858,  a  son  of  Charles  and 
Armina  (Inman)  Daugherty,  both  natives  of  Ohio.  In  the  spring  of  1858 
they  came  from  Medina  county,  that  state,  to  Allegan  county,  Michigan, 
locating  on  eighth'  acres  of  land  on  sections  twenty-three  and  twenty-four, 
Dorr  township.  By  subsequent  purchases  Mr.  Daugherty  became  the  owner 
of  one  hundred  and  ninety  acres,  much  of  which  he  placed  under  cultivation, 
although  at  the  time  of  the  original  purchase  only  about  thirty  acres  had  been 
cleared.  Their  first  residence  was  a  little  log  shanty  located  near  the  site 
of  the  present  commodious  and  plea.sant  residence,  erected  in  1875.  Mr. 
Daugherty  was,  however,  more  of  a  lumberman  than  a  farmer,  having 
owned  and  operated  a  mill  at  Dorr  for  some  time.  He  was  also  interested 
in  a  tract  of  pine  land  in  Newaygo  county.  Michigan,  which  he  sold  at  an 
advance.  Both  he  and  his  wife  now  reside  in  Grand  Rapids,  having  put 
aside  the  active  cares  of  a  business  life  and  now  enjoying  the  fruits  of  former 
toil.  In  their  family  were  four  children,  namely:  Julia  C,  Mrs.  Albert 
Averill.  of  Wayland ;  Chester  C,  county  treasurer  of  Wexford  county.  Mich- 
igan ;  Eugene  A.,  whose  name  introduces  this  review,  and  Stella  S.,  the  wife 


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HiSTOR'i'  OF  alli-:(;a\  C(.>l:\ty  341 

of  Vine  Harding,  a  resident  of  Mackinaw  City,  Michigan,  wliere  he  is  im- 
proving resort  property.  Mr.  Daugherty  gave  his  political  support  to  the 
Republican  party,  and  as  its  representative  he  served  as  a  justice  of  the 
peace  and  as  a  delegate  to  conventions. 

Eugene  A.  Daugherty  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools 
of  Dorr  township,  and  after  his  marriage  he  continued  to  work  on  the  home 
farm  for  eleven  years,  when  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  continuing 
to  operate  both  this  place  and  the  old  home  farm  until  six  years  ago,  when 
he  purchased  the  old  Daugherty  homestead,  thus  making  him  tlie  possessor 
of  one  hundred  and  ninety  acres  of  land.  His  land  is  under  an  excellent  state 
of  cultivation,  a  good  and  substantial  residence  has  been  erected,  and  every- 
thing about  the  place  is  neat  and  attractive  in  its  appearance.  In  addition  to 
his  general  agricultural  pursuits,  he  is  also  engaged  to  some  extent  in  stock 
raising. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  Mr,  Daugherty  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Adeline  M.  Sproat,  a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Sarah  Jane  (Miller)  Sproat, 
who  came  to  Dorr  township  some  years  before  the  arrival  of  the  Daugherty 
family,  and  they  were  also  from  Ohio.  The  daughter  Adeline  was  born  in 
Dorr  township,  on  a  farm  adjoining  her  parents  present  home,  and  was 
eighteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her  marriage.  The  following  children 
have  been  born  of  this  union,  namely:  Bessie  A.,  a  teacher  for  some  years, 
having  taught  for  two  years  in  Wayland  township  and  five  years  in  Hop- 
kins township ;  Chester  C,  who  died  at  the  age  of  five  years ;  Jane,  a  teacher 
in  Leighton  township,  and  Charles,  Clark,  Stella,  Clarence  and  Cora  at 
home.  Mr.  Daughertv  is  now  serving  his  third  year  as  supervisor  of  Dorr 
township,  and  although  a  Republican  in  politics  he  received  at  his  first  elec- 
tion a  maioritv  of  tliirtv-five  in  this  township  which  usuallv  gives  a  Demo- 
cratic majoritv  of  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fiftv.  He  also 
served  as  a  school  moderator  for  eighteen  vears,  and  was  twice  defeated 
for  supervisor  as  the  Republican  candidate.  He  is  a  man  of  enterprise, 
indomitable  energy  and  liberal  views,  and  is  thoroughly  identified  with  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  the  community  which  has  been  his  home  through- 
out his  entire  life. 

Enw.\RD  AvERiLL.— The  life  history  of  him  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch  is  closely  identilied  with  the  history  of  Allegan  county,  which  has  been 
his  home  for  many  years.  He  was  born  in  London.  Canada,  March  30,  1823, 
a  son  of  David  and  Almira  (Barnes)  Averill,  the  mother  also  a  native  of 
Canada  and  the  father  of  New  York  and  of  English  parentage.  David  Av- 
erill had  gone  to  Canada  with  his  father  as  a  ship  carpenter,  but  subse- 
quently returned  to  a  farm  in  the  township  of  Greece,  Monroe  county,  New 
York,  where  his  son  Edward  was  reared  to  manhood.  When  the  last  named 
had  reached  the  age  of  twenty  years  the  family  removed  to  Medina  county, 
Ohio,  where  Edward  joined  them  two  years  later.  In  1847  David  Averill 
came  with  his  family  to  Michigan,  securing  a  tract  of  government  land  on 
section  nine.  Dorr  township,  Allegan  county,  and  later  purchasing  land  in 
section  four  adjoining,  where  the  parents  lived  until  old  age.  They  cleared 
and  improved  eighty  acres  of  land,  and  were  numbered  among  the  old  and 
honored  pioneers  of  this  section  of  the  county. 

While  living  in  Medina  county,  Ohio,  on  the  i8th  of  December,  1846, 


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34,3  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

being  then  twenty-three  years  of  age,  Edward  Averill  married  Miss  Mary 
Branch,  also  from  New  York,  and  who  was  just  twenty-five  days  older  than 
her  husband.  For  four  years  after  their  marriage  this  young  couple  lived 
on  her  father's  farm,  but  in  the  meantime  Mr.  Averill  had  purchased  new 
land,  on  which  they  then  located,  and  there  remained  for  eleven  years,  clear- 
ing the  land  and  erecting  the  buildings.  In  the  fall  of  1854  he  came  to 
Michigan  and  purchased  a  part  of  his  present  farm,  and  in  April  of  the 
following  year  the  family  came  from  Ohio  and  took  up  their  abode  in  a  lit- 
tle log  cabin  which  had  been  built  on  the  land.  Mr.  Averill  had  brought  with 
him  to  this  state  a  team,  but  on  reaching  Grand  Rapids  sold  his  horses  and 
purchased  oxen,  thus  continuing  on  his  way  to  Allegan  county.  His  original 
tract  of  eighty  acres,  for  which  he  paid  eight  hundred  dollars,  was  covered 
with  a  dense  growth  of  timber,  consisting  of  beech,  maple,  etc.,  but  as  there 
was  no  market  for  lumber  at  that  time  he  was  obliged  to  burn  the  timber  as 
fast  as  it  was  cut  from  the  land.  Mr.  Averill  had  done  well  in  a  financial 
way  in  Ohio,  and  after  coming  to  this  state  he  was  able  to  hire  some  of  the 
clearing  and  other  work  done.  Wheat  at  first  was  the  main  dependence,  but 
he  early  became  a  sheep  raiser,  which  finally  proved  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant departments  of  the  farm  work.  As  the  years  passed  by  he  was  en- 
abled to  add  to  his  original  purchase  of  land  until  he  became  the  owner  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  section  three.  Dorr  township,  thus  making 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  the  home  place,  while  he  also  owned  the 
same  amount  in  Brron  township,  Kent  county,  Michigan.  He  had  paid  over 
seventy-five  hundred  dollars  for  his  land,  thus  being  obliged  to  go  in  debt, 
but  he  met  every  obligation  as  they  came  due  and  at  the  same  time  improved 
his  land  until  his  estate  was  valued  at  thirty  thousand  dollars,  this  being 
an  advance  of  four  dollars  for  each  one  dollar  he  had  invested.  For  many 
years  he  operated  this  entire  tract,  also  dealing  in  sheep,  cattle,  hogs,  etc., 
and  in  1862  he  erected  the  dwelling  which  now  stands  opposite  the  new  one 
owned  and  occupied  by  his  daughter. 

Wishing  to  retire  from  the  arduous  life  which  he  had  led  for  so  many 
years  Mr.  Averill  moved  to  the  village  of  Dorr,  where  he  erected  a  neat 
and  substantial  residence,  but  not  content  with  this  inactivity  he  returned  to 
the  farm  after  one  year  and  erected  his  present  han<lsome  dwelling.  In  the 
meantime  he  had  begun  to  dispose  of  his  land  to  his  children,  choosing  to 
give  to  each  according  to  his  own  judgment.  Mrs.  Averill  died  on  the  8th 
of  June,  1894,  after  a  happy  married  life  of  nearly  fifty  years.  In  their  family 
were  six  children,  namely:  David  B..  who  resides  near  Manton,  in  Wex- 
ford county,  Michigan;  Mary  Loretta.  the  wife  of  Lewis  W.  Yerington,  and 
she  owns  the  farm  opposite  the  old  Averill  homestead;  Luciiis  L..  further 
notice  of  whom  will  be  found  in  this  sketch :  Electa,  who  died  in  infancy ; 
Rosamund,  the  wife  of  S.  S.  Terrill,  of  Antrim  county,  Michigan,  and  Ur- 
sula, widow  of  Eugene  Carroll,  who  was  a  groceryman  in  Grand  Rapids.  Mr. 
and  Mrs,  Averill  also  had  two  adopted  sons,  Charles  H.,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-one  years,  he  having  been  a  member  of  the  famih'  since  two  years 
of  age,  and  Chester  C,  who  became  a  member  of  the  household  when  only 
two  days  old.  He  is  now  married  and  has  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Byron 
township,  Kent  county,  given  him  by  Mr.  Averill.  Mr.  Averill  also  has 
twenty-one  grandchildren,  including  three  who  have  been  adopted,  and  also 
four  great-grandchildren.    In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Averill  was  first 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  343 

an  anti-slavery  man  and  an  abolitionist,  and  after  the  Republican  party  was 
formed  he  naturally  became  a  supporter  of  its  principles,  but  during  Grant's 
administration  he  joined  the  Greenback  party  and  later  became  identified 
with  the  Prohibitionists.  In  1863  he  was  drafted  for  service  in  the  Civil 
war,  but  paid  three  hundred  dollars  for  a  substitute,  and  in  1864  he  enlisted 
in  the  Michigan  Engineer  Corps.  He  was  with  Sherman  in  his  celebrated 
march  to  the  sea.  but  on  account  of  injuries  which  lie  received  during  his 
service  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital  and  finally  (Hscharged.  Before  his  mar- 
riage he  had  worshiped  in  the  Methodist  church,  but  his  wife  was  a  Congre- 
gationalist,  and  he  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  church  of  that  denomi- 
nation in  this  township,  but  this  was  afterward  removed  to  Moline,  two  miles 
distant,  and  since  his  wife's  death  he  lias  returned  to  the  Methodist  church. 
Mr,  Averill  has  always  loved  a  good  yoke  of  cattle  and  always  kept  tliem 
upon  his  farm  until  he  gave  up  an  active  business  life.  As  a  business  man 
he  has  ever  been  upright,  reliable  and  honorable,  and  in  all  places  and  un- 
der all  circumstances  he  is  loyal  to  truth,  honor  and  right. 

Lucius  L.  Averill.  a  worthy  son  of  this  honored  pioneer  couple,  was  born 
in  Medina  county,  Ohio,  September  8,  1850,  and  from  his  early  boyhood 
days  he  has  been  identified  with  agricultural  pursuits.  For  five  ■i-ears  after 
his  marriage  he  operated  a  farm  in  Byron  township,  Kent  county,  Michigan, 
removing  thence  to  Winona  county,  Minnesota,  where  he  remained  for 
seven  years,  three  years  having  been  spent  in  the  city  of  Winona  and  the 
remainder  of  the  time  in  the  county.  Returning  thence  to  Grand  Rapids,  he 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  there  for  eight  years,  when,  in  1900,  he  re- 
turned to  the  old  homestead  in  Dorr  township,  which  lie  now  owns  and  is  en- 
gaged in  general  farming. 

Mr.  Averill  was  married  November  25,  1874.  to  Miss  Alida  V.  T-illy.  of 
Kent  county,  Michigan,  and  they  have  three  adopted  children,  Ral]ih  P.nr- 
doin,  Leavitt  D.  C,  and  Helen  E. 

Lauren  C.  Gilbert. — When  Lanren  C.  Gilbert  passed  away  one  more 
name  was  added  to  the  list  of  honored  dead  whose  earthly  records  closed 
witli  the  words,  "well  done."  He  was  born  in  Chester,  Geauga  county.  Ohio. 
March  17,  1830,  and  his  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death  on  the  25th  of  Sep- 
tember. 1892.  The  Gilbert  family  was  founded  tn  this  country  by  three 
brothers  who  came  from-  England  and  settled  in  Tolland,  Connecticut,  where 
Joel  Gilbert,  the  father  of  Lauren  C.  was  born.  He  was  there  married  to 
Cresilda  Crocker,  and  in  1817,  with  his  second  wife,  whom  he  had  married 
at  Geneva,  New  York,  he  started  for  Chester.  Ohio,  making  the  journey  via 
Lake  Erie  from  Buffalo,  but  ere  reaching  their  destination  they  encountered 
a  terrible  storm  which  drove  them  back  to  near  Buffalo,  although  they  had 
neared  the  mouth  of  Grand  river,  and  thus  detained  they  did  not  reach  Ches- 
ter until  the  loth  of  December  of  that  year.  Joel  Gilbert  died  in  that  city  at 
the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  He  was  married  a  third  time  in  Ohio,  and  of  his 
eight  children,  six  came  to  Michigan,  namely:  Norton,  who  settled  in  Byron 
township.  Kent  county;  Bradley  and  Lauren,  who  located  on  adjoining 
farms,  but  the  former  died  in  Moline  and  the  latter  now  resides  on  his  farm ; 
Warren,  who  returned  to  Ohio  two  years  later :  Sarah,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Nathan  Snow  and  died  in  Dorr  township,  Allegan  county,  and  Sabrina, 


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:'.-i4  HISTORY  OF  ALI-KGAX  COUNTY 

who  married  Rev.  Thomas  Clark,  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  who  was  later  superannuated  and  both  died  in  Dorr,  leaving  four 
children. 

Lauren  C.  Gilbert  was  an  excellent  example  of  those  who  secure  their 
own  start  in  life,  for  when  only  nine  years  of  age  he  began  to  make  his  own 
way  in  the  world,  and  from  that  time  until  he  reached  his  twentieth  year 
he  was  employed  by  one  man,  on  the  expiration  of  that  period  returning  to 
his  father.  In  1853,  in  company  with  his  two  sisters  he  came  to  Allegan 
county,  Michigan,  having  been  preceded  by  his  brother  Norton,  who  came 
here  in  1851,  and  in  1853  they  were  joined  by  the  brother,  Bradley.  I^uren 
C.  Gilbert  began  his  business  career  in  this  county  with  only  eighty  acres  of 
land,  a  small  part  of  which  had  been  cleared,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  wilder- 
ness he  erected  his  little  log  cabin,  his  nearest  neighbor  at  that  time  being  a 
mile  or  more  distant,  while  their  roads  were  but  mere  cowpaths.  As  time 
passed,  however,  the  land  was  cleared  and  developed,  improvements  were 
added  to  the  farm,  the  little  cabin  home  was  replaced  by  a  more  commodious 
one  of  more  modern  construction  in  1870,  and  all  the  accessories  and  con- 
veniences were  added.  In  company  with  his  brother  Bradley,  Mr.  Gilbert  at 
one  time  owned  about  thirty  cows  and  they  engaged  in  making  cheese,  but 
their  stock  interests  were  later  increased  to  about  twenty-six  cows  and  they 
were  extensively  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  that  commodity.  During 
his  absence  in  the  army  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  his  wife  looked  after  the 
stock,  made  the  cheese  and  butter  and  carried  them  to  Grand  Rapids  to 
market,  a  distance  of  fifteen  miles.  She  then  had  two  little  sons,  the  eldest 
being  but  seven  years  of  age  and  the  youngest  four.  In  August,  1861,  Mr. 
Gilbert  entered  the  army  as  a  member  of  the  First  Michigan  Cavalry,  under 
General  Custer,  and  he  received  his  discharge  on  the  loth  of  March,  1866, 
his  military  career  covering  a  period  of  four  years  and  eight  months.  His 
health  was  so  undermined  during  his  army  experience  that  he  never  fully  re- 
gained his  former  health  and  vigor,  and  Jiis  life  was  therefore  shortened 
many  years. 

In  Chester,  Ohio,  on  the  3d  of  March,  1852,  Mr.  Gilbert  was  married 
to  Miss  Judith  Wisner.  a  native  of  that  city  and  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Samuel 
Wisner,  a  missionary  to  the  Choctaw  and  Cherokee  Indians  in  Arkansas. 
After  his  wife's  death  he  returned  to  Massachusetts  and  was  married  to 
Amanda  Frissell.  the  mother  of  Judith.  He  afterward  made  his  home  in 
Chester,  Ohio.  Six  children  were  born  to  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Gilbert,  namely : 
Wallace  E.,  a  farmer  of  Sanilac  cotmty,  Michigan;  Samuel  Jasper,  who  fol- 
lows the  same  occupation  in  Mentor.  Ohio:  Lauren  Dwight,  Oliver  L.  and 
Frederick  C,  each  owning  a  part  of  the  old  homestead,  and  Nellie  S.,  who 
died  in  childhood.  At  the  time  of  his  death  Mr.  Gilbert  owned  four  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land,  and  for  seven  years  thereafter  his  widow  re- 
mained on  the  old  homestead,  after  which  she  removed  to  the  village  of  Mo- 
line  and  there  resides  in  a  neat  little  cottage  liome  in  company  with  her 
grandson,  although  she  still  retains  her  interest  in  the  farm.  Mr.  Gilbert  was 
a  Republican  in  his  political  affiliations,  and  for  a  few  years  served  as  town- 
ship clerk,  and  was  also  highway  and  drain  commissioner.  He  was  an  active 
worker  in  the  Grange,  and  since  his  death  Mrs.  Gilbert  has  maintained  an 
active  interest  in  its  work,  taking  pride  in  its  growth  and  development. 


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HISTORY-  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  345 

Miles  Bradley  Gildkrt,  deceased,  for  many  \'ears  a  leading  farmer  of 
Allefran  connty.  was  born  on  the  7th  of  June,  1827.  In  1855  he  came  to 
Michigan  and  took  up  his  abode  in  Dorr  township,  Allegan  county,  purchas- 
ing land  adjoining  his  brother  Lauren  on  the  north  and  where  E.  N.  Bates, 
his  son-in-law.  now  lives.  He  acquired  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  acres  in 
the  home  place  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  one-half  a  mile  south,  the 
latter  now  owned  by  his  son  Arthur,  and  he  thus  became  one  of  the  largest 
and  most  prominent  farmers  in  his  township.  The  land  was  wild  and  unim- 
proved when  he  took  no  his  abode  thereon,  but  he  worked  earh-  and  late  and 
as  the  years  passed  by  he  succeeded  in  placing  his  land  under  a  fine  state  of 
cultivation,  erected  modem  and  commodious  buildings  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  the  owner  of  a  valuable  homestead.  He  and  his  brother  Lauren 
brought  with  them  a  herd  of  cows  from  Ohio,  and  from  that  time  until  the 
opening  of  the  Civil  war  they  were  extensively  engaged  in  making  cheese. 
But  when  his  countrv  needed  his  services  Mr.  Gilbert  put  aside  all  personal 
considerations  and  offered  his  services  to  the  LTnion  cause,  serving  for  one 
year  in  the  Engineers'  and  Mechanics'  Department.  He  participated  in  the 
Atlanta  campaign,  was  with  Sherman  on  his  celebrated  march  to  the  sea 
and  also  took  part  in  other  celebrated  battles  of  the  war.  At  one  time  he  was 
confined  in  the  hosnital,  having  nearlv  lost  his  life.  His  wife's  labors  were 
ended  in  death  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  He  was  proprietor  of  a  store- 
at  Moline,  but  his  time  was  princinally  devoted  to  his  farm  and  dairv  busi- 
ness. His  extensive  business  interests  placed  him  among  the  leaders  in  in- 
dustrial circles,  and  his  was  truly  a  successful  life. 

On  the  2d  of  April,  1840,  Mr.  Gilbert  married  Martha  Tane  Bates,  who 
was  born  June  o.  iSsfi,  and  died  on  the  icith  of  January,  1803.  She  was  a 
niece  of  Abner  Bates,  who  was  well  known  in  this  countv.  After  the  death 
of  his  first  wife  Mr.  Gilbert  married  Sarah  Bird,  a  widow  residing  near 
his  home,  and  she  still  makes  her  home  in  Moline.  Vntn  ^Tr.  and  IVfrs. Gilbert 
were  born  the  following  chiklrcn  :  .Mmon.  who  died  in  childhood :  Flora  Isa- 
dor,  now  Mrs.  E.  N.  Bates;  Arthur  C,  Elmer  T-..  who  died  at  the  a-'e  of 
forty-four  years;  Almon,  a  farmer  in  Byron,  TCcnt  cotmtv,  Michigan.  There 
was  a  nair  of  twins.  Albert,  who  died  at  six:  months  old.  and  Alton  at  six 
years  old.  They  also  had  two  adonted  children,  Martha  Cornelia,  who  lived 
with  them  from  infancy  until  her  death  at  the  age  of  seven  years,  and  Delia, 
who  also  came  to  them  during  her  infancy,  and  she  served  as  Mr.  Gilbert's 
housekeener  for  a  time  after  his  rife's  death.  She  is  now  the  wife  of  Erie 
Jones,  of  Wayland.  Michigan.  Their  home  seemed  always  open  to  the 
friendless  and  the  needv.  No  children  were  horn  of  the  second  marriage. 
Roth  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilbert  were  charter  members  and  liberal  supporters  of 
the  Congregational  church. 

Arthur  C.  Gilbert  was  born  October  26.  TR52,  at  Chester.  Geauea  countv, 
Ohio.  He  remained  with  his  father  until  his  twentieth  year,  after  which  he 
operated  the  home  farm  in  companv  with  E.  N..  Bates  until  his  marriage. 
Two  years  later  he  located  on  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  his  father's 
land,  taking  up  his  abode  in  a  httle  log-  cabin  which  had  been  built  noon  the 
place,  but  three  vears  later  this  gave  niace  to  a  more  commodious  dwelling, 
and  he  has  added  forty  acres  to  the  original  tract.  PTc  has  placed  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  his  land  under  cultivation,  and  there  he  continued 


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34(j  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

to  reside  until  1906,  when  he  came  to  Moline,  althongli  he  still  has  his  inter- 
est in  the  farm,  the  principal  feature  of  which  is  his  dairy. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  Mr.  Gilbert  married  Miss  Emma  Ander- 
son, who  was  born  in  Sweden,  but  came  to  the  United  States  at  the  age  of 
ten  years,  and  when  eighteen  years  of  age  she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to 
Mr.  Gilbert.  They  have  three  children:  Roy  Ernest,  a  graduate  of  Olivet 
College,  and  now  principal  of  the  high  school  at  Dowagiac,  Michigan ;  Glen 
Arthur,  a  student  in  the  agricultural  college,  and  Inez  Martha,  a  student  in 
the  agricultural  college  in  Lansing,  Michigan. 

Ekglkbrecht  Bartz.^No  better  illustration  of  the  characteristic  en- 
ergy and  enterprise  of  the  typical  German- American  citizen  can  be  found 
than  that  afforded  by  the  career  of  this  well-known  farmer  of  Dorr  town- 
ship. Englebrecht  Bartz,  more  generally  known  as  Robert  Bartz,  was  born 
in  Prussia,  Germany,  August  6,  1837.  but  when  only  four  years  of  age  he 
was  brought  to  America  by  his  father  Bernhardt  Bartz,  the  family  first  estab- 
lishing their  home  in  Lorain  county,  Ohio.  In  1853  they  canie  to  Allegan 
county,  Michigan,  where  the  father  secured  a  farm  on  section  six.  Dorr  town- 
ship, the  same  on  whicli  their  son  now  makes  his  home.  There  the  parents 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  the  father  passing  away  in  his  sevent\'- 
ninth  year,  while  his  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Catherine  Greve, 
survived  until  about  her  eighty-second  year.  Their  son  Englebrecht  re- 
mained under  the  parental  roof  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when 
he  started  out  in  the  world  for  himself  on  an  eighty-acre  farm  which  had 
been  given  him  by  his  father,  located  one-half  mile  northeast  of  Dorr.  His 
cash  capital  at  that  time  consisted  of  sixteen  dollars.  In  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  he  was  married  to  Mary  Harrish.  also  from  Prussia,  but  who  was  only 
three  years  of  age  when  brought  to  America,  and  she  was  twenty-two  years 
of  age  at  the  time  of  her  marriage.  The  young  couple  took  up  their  abode 
on  this  wild  and  unimproved  farm,  Mr.  Bartz  having  had  to  make  a  clearing 
in  the  dense  woods  in  order  to  erect  their  little  log  cabin.  During  the  first 
year  he  carried  on  the  farm  work  with  a  yoke  of  steers,  but  after  that  oxen 
were  used  for  ten  years  in  clearing  the  land.  He  now  has  sixtv  acres  of  his 
farm  under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation,  while  the  little  log  cabin  has 
long  since  given  place  to  a  modern  frame  dwelling,  and  he  also  has  a  fine 
bank  barn  forty  by  fifty  feet  in  which  to  shelter  his  stock. 

Mr.  Eartz  is  one  of  four  brothers,  namely:  Jacob,  who  died  in  1906,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-two.  was  an  honored  veteran  of  the  Civil  war  and  for  sev- 
eral years  a  resident  of  Chicago,  Illinois;  John,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-seven years,  having  sold  his  farm  in  Allegan  county  for  six  thousand 
dollars ;  Joseph,  who  resides  on  a  farin  on  the  northwestern  part  of  Dorr 
township,  and  Englebrecht,  whose  name  introduces  this  review.  All  have 
improved  eighty  acres  or  more  land,  which  was  given  them  by  their  father. 
Six  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Englebrecht  Bartz,  namely: 
John,  who  operates  the  home  farm,  and  is  immarried ;  Martin,  a  fanner  at 
North  Dorr:  Elizabeth,  who  became  the  wife  of  Anton  Beebe,  and  died  at 
the  age  of  thirty-three  years;  Margaret,  wife  of  William  Henches,  and  re- 
sides on  her  father's  farm;  Englebrecht,  employed  at  Hilliard's  saloon,  and 
Emma,  wife  of  Steve  Bullman,  of  North  Dorr.  Mr,  Bartz  is  a  Democrat  in 
his  political  affiliations,  and  is  a  charter  member  of  the  North  Dorr  Catholic 


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HISTtJRY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  347 

church,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the  principal  supporters.  He  is  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial and  well-to-do  German  citizens  of  Allegan  county,  being  widely 
known  and  highly  respected.  His  residence  is  located  a  half  mile  west  of 
North  Dorr,  on  the  line  between  Kent  and  Allegan  counties,  in  a  beautiful 
rolling  and  fertile  country,  constituting  the  finest  land  in  Dorr  township. 

Oliver  L.  Gilbert. — During  the  pioneer  epoch  in  the  history  of  Alle- 
gan county  the  Gilbert  home  was  founded  within  its  borders,  and  on  the  old 
homestead  farm  which  they  founded  in  Dorr  township  Oliver  L.  was  born 
on  the  3d  of  February,  1867,  there  spending  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  and  early  assisting  in  its  improvement  and  development.  During  the 
first  year  after  his  marriage  he  continued  to  work  for  his  father,  after  which 
he  rented  the  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  which  now  form  his  present  farm. 
At  his  father's  death  he  received  as  his  inheritance  the  one  seventy-acre 
tract,  purchasing  the  remainder  of  the  other  heirs.  On  the  home  seventy  he 
has  done  some  clearing,  but  more  extensive  clearing  antl  improving  on  the 
other,  it  having  been  only  partly  cleared  when  he  made  the  purchase,  and  he 
has  made  many  other  extensive  improvements  upon  both.  A  county  drain 
passed  through  the  entire  place,  into  which  he  has  tile  drains,  and  in  addi- 
tion to  his  general  farming  pursuits  he  is  also  engaged  quite  extensively  in 
raising  stock,  making  Durhanis  his  choice.  One  of  the  principal  features  of 
his  farm  is  the  dairy,  keeping  from  ten  to  twelve  cows,  which  he  feeds  from 
a  silo.  He  is  also  a  breeder  of  the  Chester  White  hogs  and  Barred  Plymouth 
Rock  chickens. 

On  the  26th  of  February,  1889,  Mr.  Gilbert  was  married  to  Amy  Nel- 
son, a  daughter  of  John  and  Laura  Nelson,  of  Hopkins.  Allegan  county, 
Michigan,  where  Mrs.  Gilbert  was  born  on  the  3d  of  October,  1870.  Her 
father  was  from  Canada,  while  her  mother  was  from  New  York,  and  in  the 
latter  state  they  were  married.  In  1870  they  came  to  Michigan,  moving  on  a 
farm  in  Hopkins  township,  where  Mrs.  Gilbert  was  born  and  lived  until  her 
marriage.  Her  father  died  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years,  the  mother  continu- 
ing to  live  on  the  farm  for  quite  a  number  of  years,  but  finall}'  selling  it  and 
moving  to  the  village  of  Wayland,  where  she  afterwards  kept  a  home,  but 
spent  a  great  deal  of  her  time  with  her  children.  She  died  at  the  home  of 
Mrs.  Gilbert  May  26,  1905,  aged  seventy  years.  One  child  has  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilbert,  Delcia,  a  little  maiden  of  nine  years.  Mr.  Gilbert 
gives  his  political  support  to  the  Republican  party,  but  is  not  an  active 
worker  in  its  ranks,  preferring  to  give  his  time  and  attention  to  his  farming 
interests.  He  is  a  member  of  the  old  Congregational  church  at  Moline.  while 
his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Disciple  chiu'ch  at  Wayland,  where  she  belonged 
when  she  was  married.  His  fraternal  affiliations  are  with  the  Knights  of  the 
Maccabees  at  Wayland  as  are  also  his  wife's.  The  family  have  a  pleasant 
home  in  Dorr  township,  and  are  surrounded  by  many  of  the  comforts  of  life. 

Fred  Git-hert.^ — Many  years  have  passed  since,  the  family  to  which  Fred 
Gilbert  belongs  became  ideiitified  with  Allegan  county,  and  its  various  mein- 
bers  have  won  for  the  name  an  enviable  distinction  by  their  high  moral 
worth.  This  reputation  is  in  no  way  diminished  in  this  generation,  and  our 
subject,  who  is  accounted  among  the  leading  agriculturists  of  Dorr  town- 
ship, displays  in  a  marked  degree  the  admirable  characteristics  which  the 
name  suggests. 


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348  niS'J'ORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY 

Fred  Gilbert  was  born  in  the  house  in  which  he  now  lives  December  12, 
1870,  a  son  of  Lauren  and  Judith  (Wisner)  Gilbert.  Three  brothers,  Norton, 
Bradley  and  Lauren  Gilbert  came  to  Michigan  from  Chester,  Geauga  county, 
Ohio,  the  two  brothers,  Bradley  and  Lauren,  settling  side  by  side  in  Ailegan 
county,  while  Norton  took  up  his  abode  in  Kent  county.  In  the  family  of 
Lauren  and  Judith  Gilbert  were  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  but  the  latter, 
Nellie,  died  when  only  two  years  of  age,  and  the  sons  are :  Wallace,  Jasper, 
Dwight,  Oliver  and  Fred.  When  Lauren  Gilbert  took  up  his  abode  in  Alle- 
gan county  he  secured  eighty  acres  of  land,  but  as  the  years  passed  by  his  in- 
dustry and  indefatigable  efforts  enabled  him  to  add  to  his  original  purchase 
until  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  the 
home  farm,  besides  another  tract  of  seventy-three  acres,  all  of  which  was 
secured  in  the  early  days  when  land  was  cheap.  In  company  with  his  brother 
Bradley  he  built  and  operated  a  cheese  factory  on  his  land,  selling  his  cheese 
for  six  cents  a  pound,  but  even  at  that  low  price  he  made  money,  and  was 
thus  enabled  to  buy  more  land.  During  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  at  the  first 
call  for  volunteers,  his  military  career  covering  a  period  of  four  years  and 
eight  months,  and  after  the  close  of  the  struggle  he  went  among  the  Indians 
in  Utah  as  a  member  of  the  First  Michigan  Cavalry,  under  General  Custer. 
He  died  on  the  farm  on  which  he  had  lived  and  labored  for  so  many  years 
on  the  35th  of  September,  1892,  passing  away  in  the  faith  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church,  of  which  both  he  and  his  wife  were  consistent  members,  wor- 
shiping in  the  little  old  church  which  stood  on  a  comer  of  his  farm,  he  hav- 
ing donated  the  land  for  that  purpose.  He  was  also  active  in  the  public  life 
of  his  community,  having  served  as  a  supervisor,  treasurer  and  as  a  drain 
and  highway  commissioner. 

Fred  Gilbert,  whose  name  introduces  this  review,  obtained  his  education 
at  the  Ferris  Institute  in  Big  Rapids.  At  his  father's  death  he  received  as 
his  inheritance  the  home  place  of  eighty  acres,  and  in  addition  he  also  op- 
erates another  farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres.  He  usually  keeps 
about  fifteen  cows  upon  his  place,  selling  his  cream  to  the  creamery  at  Mo- 
line.  He  gives  his  political  support  to  the  Republican  party,  and  religiously 
both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Congregational  church  at  Sloline. 

On  the  6th  of  December,  1896,  Mr.  Gilbert  married  Miss  Ethlyn  Tur- 
ner, a  daughter  of  George  Turner,  an  old  and  honored  veteran  of  the  Civil 
war  and  now  living  at  the  Soldiers'  Home,  while  his  wife  resides  with  her 
daughter  Mrs.  Gilbert.  Two  children  have  been  born  to  brighten  and  bless 
the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilbert,  Oneita  and  Dorris.  In  manner  Mr.  Gil- 
bert is  courteous  and  genial,  and  among  the  people  with  whom  he  is  con- 
nected he  is  popular. 

Dwight  L.  Gilbert. — During  his  entire  life  with  the  exception  of  nine 
years  Dwight  L.  Gilbert  has  been  numbered  among  the  citizens  of  Dorr 
township,  Allegan  county.  His  birth  occurred  in  the  parental  home  near  by 
his  present  residence  April  16.  1862.  A  sketch  of  his  father,  Lauren  Gilbert, 
will  be  foimd  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Dwight  L.  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  on  the  old  homestead  farm,  there  remaining  until  his 
twenty-second  year,  when  he  went  to  Sanilac  county,  Michigan,  and  in 
company  with  his  brother  Wallace  purchased  a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres 
of  wild  land,  the  timber  thereon  having  mainly  been  killed  by  a  fire  three 


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MR.  AND  MRS.  GEORGE  S,  THOMAS 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  OILWTV  34i> 

years  previously.  The  purchase  price  was  seven  dollars  and  a  half  per 
acre,  and  for  four  years  the  brothers  continued  to  work  the  land  in  partner- 
ship, but  on  the  expiration  of  that  period  Dwight  L.  Gilbert  was  married  and 
the  land  was  divided,  he  receiving  as  his  share  one  hundred  and  ten  acres, 
on  which  he  continued  to  reside  for  five  years.  During  this  time  he  bad 
succeeded  in  clearing  about  fifty  acres,  which  was  mainly  devoted  to  the 
raising  of  hay,  and  the  land  being  flat  he  was  obliged  to  put  in  small  drains 
which  have  since  heen  made  into  a  county  drain.  After  laboring  on  that 
place  for  nine  years  Mr.  Gilbert  sold  the  land  for  about  three  thousand  dol- 
lars. At  this  time  his  father  died  and  he  returned  to  the  old  homestead  in 
Dorr  township,  receiving  as  his  inheritance  eighty  acres  of  land,  and  in  ad- 
dition to  this  he  also  bought  and  farmed  the  old  homestead'of  his  wife's 
mother,  Mrs.  Harriet  Turner,  consisting  of  seventeen  acres.  On  these 
tracts  he  has  done  much  work  in  clearing,  having  now  about  seventy-five 
acres  imder  cultivation  and  he  has  also  put  in  over  a  carload  of  tile  drain. 
His  farm  lies  in  a  water  shed,  the  water  running  in  two  or  three  directions, 
but  tile  drainage  has  greatly  increased  the  value  of  the  land.  The  principal 
feature  on  this  place,  however,  is  the  dairy  of  twelve  .cows,  for  which  be 
has  built  a  large  bank  barn,  has  also  erected  a  wind-mill,  a  silo  and  has  re- 
built his  residence.  He  has  two  fine  apple  orchards  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  trees  of  the  Baldwin  variety,  and  he  keeps  both  Clyde  and  road 
horses  for  the  use  of  the  fami. 

On  the  15th  of  September,  1887,  Mr.  Gilbert  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Nellie  Trautman,  the  widow  of  Charles  F.  Trautman  and  a  daughter  of 
Artemas  and  Harriet  Hess.  The  father  was  killed  during  the  Civil  war, 
in  the  retreat  from  Campbell  Station,  Tennessee,  and  the  mother  afterward 
became  the  wife  of  George  Turner,  She  was  born  in  the  house  in  which 
she  now  lives,  Mrs.  Gilbert  was  but  three  years  old  at  the  time  of  her 
mother's  second  marriage,  and  by  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Gilbert  she  has  be- 
come the  mother  of  two  children,  Norton  R.,  aged  seventeen,  and  Lester  C, 
eleven  years  of  age.  She  also  had  one  daughter  by  her  former  marriage, 
Grace,  now  Mrs.  Robert  Wilson,  of  Moline,  and  who  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated bv  Mr.  Gilbert.  In  bis  poltical  affiliations  Mr.  Gilbert  is  a  Repub- 
lican. He  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  chnrch  at  Moline.  which  was 
organized  mainly  through  the  efforts  of  Rev.  Riley  J,  Hess,  who  came  froru 
Grandville  to  this  vicinity  and  became  ibe  first  minister.  During  his  m!ti- 
isterial  labors  here  he  akso  purchased  the  farm  for  bis  son,  Artemas  Hess, 
the  father  of  Mrs,  Gilbert. 

<;il()Ri;k  S.  TriOM.vs. — One  of  the  prominent  and  honored  early  settlers 
of  Allegan  coiuity  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  review.  He 
w.as  born  in  Amsterdam.  Montgomery  counti'.  New  York.  November  18. 
1827,  He  was  reared,  however,  in  Onondaga  county,  that  state,  and  was 
early  inured  to  the  arduous  duties  of  the  farm.  His  father,  William 
Thomas,  was  a  native  of  Wales,  but  came  to  the  United  States  during  his 
boyhood,  first  taking  up  bis  abode  in  Albany,  New  York,  and  thence  re- 
moving to  Amsterdam,  where  he  was  married  to  Eleanor  Irwin,  a  native 
of  that  city  and  of  English  descent.  During  the  infancy  of  their  son  George 
they  removed  to  a  farm  in  Onondaga  county,  New  York,  and  later  removed 


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35U  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

to  Cortland  county,  tliat  state,  where  the  father  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
five  years. 

When  George  S,  Thomas  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  left 
the  parental  home,  and  in  1849  went  to  California,  via  the  Isthmus,  and 
for  two  years  thereafter  was  engaged  in  search  of  the  precious  metal,  re- 
turning on  the  expiration  of  that  period  to  Cortland  cotmty,  New  York,  the 
proud  possessor  of  two  thousand  dollars  in  gold.  In  1855  Mr.  Thomas  made 
the  journey  to  Michigan,  first  taking  up  his  abode  in  Kent  county,  where  he 
was  married  to  Julia  Irwin,  a  second  cousin,  and  the  daughter  of  David  and 
Margaret  Irwin,  who  in  1840  came  from  New  York  and  settled  in  Byron 
township,  Washtenaw  county,  Michigan,  where  Mrs.  Thomas  was  born  on 
the  9th  of  August,  1837.  The  father  served  in  the  Mexican  war  as  a 
member  of  the  First  Michigan  Infantry,  also  participated  in  the  war  of  the 
rebellion  as  first  sergeant  in  the  Second  Michigan  Cavalry,  and  he  lived  to 
the  remarkable  age  of  one  hundred  and  one  years.  A  picture  of  him  taken 
in  his  ninety-sixth  year  shows  a  man  of  about  fifty  years,  with  black  mous- 
tache and  a  fine  head  of  hair. 

After  his  marriage  George  S.  Thomas  spent  four  years  in  a  store  in 
Byron,  Kent  county,  Michigan,  the  only  one  between  Grandville  and  Mon- 
terey and  the  only  store  in  Byron  township.  He  subsequently  sold  this 
store  and  with  his  wife  and  child  removed  to  Kansas,  first  locating  in  Kan- 
sas City,  and  later  went  by  boat  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  but  shortly  after- 
ward returned  to  Michigan.  In  i860  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Dorr  town- 
ship, Allegan  county,  locating  on  his  present  home  farm,  which  has  thus 
been  his  place  of  abode  for  over  forty-six  years.  At  the  time  of  the  pur- 
chase the  land  was  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  timber,  but  a  small  iog 
cabin  had  been  erected,  and  in  this  the  family  took  up  their  abode.  In  this 
then  wild  and  unsettled  region  Mr.  Thomas  labored  to  establish  a  home, 
and  as  the  years  passed  exerted  a  wide  influence  in  the  public  life,  thought 
and  action  of  this  locality.  The  demand  for  professional  men  in  this  new 
country  led  him  to  take  up  the  study  of  law,  and  after  gaining  a  knowl- 
edge of  its  principles  by  his  own  research  and  study  he  began  practicing 
before  the  justice  courts,  in  time  winning  a  large  clientage.  He  spared 
neither  time  nor  labor  in  his  legal  investigation  and  preparation  of  a  case, 
and  his  discussions  of  the  legal  questions  were  marked  with  clearness  of 
illustration,  strength  of  argument  and  fullness  and  variety  of  learning.  He 
stood  high  in  the  esteem  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  this  county  and  in  Grand 
Rapids,  and  made  many  friends  among  the  best  lawyers  and  judges  of  this 
part  of  the  state.  Among  the  many  noted  cases  on  which  Mr.  Thomas  was 
employed  may  be  mentioned  that  of  George  Krause,  a  neighbor  of  Mr. 
Thomas,  whose  land  by  mistake  had  been  granted  by  the  government  to 
the  Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana  Railroad  Company.  When  it  was  desired  to 
clear  the  title  the  railroad  attempted  to  take  possession.  Mr.  Thomas  was 
employed  as  counsel,  and  in  company  with  Judge  Padgham,  now  district 
judge,  and  Dr.  H.  F.  Thomas,  then  state  senator,  he  succeeded  in  getting  a 
bill  of  relief  passed  by  the  legislature,  but  it  was  proved  unconstitutional. 
Member  of  Congress  Williams  appealed  to  Congress,  and  President  Grant 
issued  a  new  patent  to  Krause  for  the  land.  At  this  time  another  company 
had  gone  to  trial  with  a  verdict  against  the  railroad,  and  as  a  result  it  soon 
issued  a  quit  claim  title  to  the  Krause  land. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COL'XTY  351 

In  1863  Mr,  Thomas  was  drafted  for  service  in  the  Civil  war,  and  he 
paid  three  hundred  dollars  for  a  substitute,  although  in  the  following  year 
he  enlisted  in  the  First  Michigan  Engineers  and  Mechanics,  Company  I, 
joining  his  regiment  at  Coultersville,  Georgia.  During  the  first  seven 
months  his  company  was  engaged  in  cutting  cord  wood  at  Vining  Station, 
north  of  Atlanta,  and  after  the  capture  his  regiment  or  a  part  of  it  with 
Sherman  drove  Hood  back  and  returned  to  Atlanta,  where  they  reorganized 
and  went  with  Sherman  on  his  celebrated  march  to  the  sea,  Mr.  Thomas 
being  in  the  command  of  Colonel  Yates.  They  participated  in  a  skirmish 
near  Savannah,  and  were  short  of  food  until  the  capture  of  Fort  McAllis- 
ter, when  they  were  given  full  rations.  While  there  he  was  stricken  with 
smallpox,  and  when  the  army  moved  on  to  Columbia,  South  Carolina,  he 
continued  on  the  march  until  sent  back  to  the  general  liospital  at  Hiltori 
Head,  where  he  remained  until  the  17th  of  February,  1865,  when  he  was 
called  to  Charleston  to  assist  in  the  defense  of  that  city.  There  he  was  at- 
tacked with  erysipelas  and  sent  with  eight  hundred  of  Sherman's  men  to 
Johnson's  Island  and  thence  to  the  general  hospital  at  Charleston,  and  being 
almost  blind  he  fell  from  a  window  and  broke  his  left  foot,  which  was  not 
immediately  set,  as  it  was  thought  he  would  surely  die.  Finally  recovering, 
he  was  sent  to  Slough  Barracks  at  Alexandria,  Virginia,  wliere  he  was  dis- 
charged in  June,  1865.  His  foot  has  caused  him  much  suffering  since,  and 
it  was  months  before  he  was  able  to  do  a  man's  work.  During  all  this  time 
his  wife  had  remained  at  home  and  cared  for  tJie  farm  during  his  absence. 
Mr.  Thomas  now  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  one  hundred 
acres  of  which  is  under  a  fine  state  of  cultivation,  and  for  several  years  he 
conducted  a  dairy.  In  the  early  days  he  was  also  quite  extensively  en- 
gaged in  the  making  of  maple  sugar,  the  sales  from  which  enabled  him  to 
purchase  his  first  wagon  and  also  his  first  pair  of  bobs. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  were  born  the  following  children :  Win- 
field  Scott,  who  is  engaged  in  dealing  in  horses  in  Soule,  Michigan ;  Charles 
R.,  a  farmer  of  Dorr  township;  Nellie  M.,  the  wife  of  William  R.  Taylor, 
also  of  Dorr  township :  Eva '  May,  wife  of  Ernest  Gillins,  a  farmer 
of  Byron  township;  Jane,  the  wife  of  William  Swartz,  also  of  that  town- 
ship; George  S.,  a  miner  and  stockman  in  Montana;  Frank,  with  his 
brother  George,  and  Dan  G.,  farming  on  the  old  homestead.  Mr.  Thomas 
gives  his  poHtical  support  to  the  Democratic  party,  being  an  active  worker 
in  its  ranks,  and  has  served  in  the  office  of  township  clerk. 

Victor  Trautman  is  a  typical  American  citizen,  thoroughly  in  har- 
mony with  the  spirit  of  the  republic,  and,  making  the  most  of  his  oppor- 
tunities, lias  steadily  worked  his  way  upward  until  he  has  won  for  himself 
a  name  in  connection  with  the  industrial  interests  of  the  community  in 
which  he  resides.  He  is  a  native,  however,  of  France,  his  birth  occurring 
in  Alsace  on  the  28th  of  November,  1830.  In  that  country  his  father. 
Philip  Henry  Trautman,  owned  an  estate  on  which  was  located  an  old 
feudal  castle  four  hundred  years  old,  the  walls  of  which  were  nine  feet 
thick,  and  in  this  old  ancestral  home  Victor  Trautman  was  born.  His 
father,  who  was  a  tanner  by  trade,  had  his  tannery  located  inside  the  walls 
of  the  castle,  and  this  work-shop  had  a  wide  reputation  all  over  Europe. 
When  Victor  Trautman  was  three  years  of  age  the  family  crossed  the  ocean 


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353  HISTORY  OK  AIJ-ECAX  COLA'TY 

to  America,  via  Baltimore,  spending  six  weeks  on  an  old  Dutch  vessel,  the 
captain  and  first  mate  of  which  were  tyrants  and  on  landing  in  Baltimore 
they  threw  the  second  mate,  who  had  taken  a  great  liking  to  young  Victor, 
overboard.  This  ship  was,  never  heard  from  after  starting  on  the  return 
journey  from  Baltimore.  After  their  arrival  in  America  the  family  made 
their  way  to  Pittsburg.  Pennsylvania,  where  the  father  started  a  brewery, 
going  thence  to  a  farm  in  Franklin,  Stark  county.  Ohio,  but  which  he  lost 
on  account  of  an  old  mortgage,  and  he  then  removed  to  Cleveland  and 
finally  to  a  farm  in  Medina  township,  Ohio,  where  his  death  occurred  at  the 
age  of  sixty-three  years.  Of  his  four  sons  one,  Henry,  died  in  Cleveland 
when  past  eighty-two  years  of  age,  having  been  a  merchant.  He  was  at 
one  time  a  great  infidel  but  was  afterward  converted  and  became  a  noted 
preacher  of  the  gospel,  being  a  very  popular  man  in  Cleveland  and  was  very 
prominent  in  the  Masonic  order.  The  second  son,  Philip,  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation, died  in  Iowa.  Charles  A.  is  still  a  resident  of  Cleveland,  his  sister, 
the  eldest  of  the  family,  residing  with  him. 

Victor  Trautman  remained  at  home  until  his  marriage,  assisting  liis 
father  in  the  work  of  the  farm,  but  when  a  young  man  his  arm  was  broken 
in  two  places,  so  that  he  was  afterward  hampered  in  performing  hard  labor. 
After  visiting  various  counties  he  decided  to  locate  in  Dorr  township,  Alle- 
gan county,  Michigan,  having  in  1855  driven  through  along  Grand  river. 
After  his  arrival  here  he  selected  eightv  acres,  for  which  he  paid  ioiir  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars,  and  on  which  he  built  a  small  frame  house  which 
now  forms  a  part  of  his  present  dwelling,  the  latter  having  been  built  in 
1877.  In  May,  1859,  he  took  up  his  abode  on  this  place,  which  has  ever 
since  been  his  home  and  where  he  has  lived  and  labored  with  such  good  suc- 
cess. During  the  first  two  years  here  he  was  without  a  team,  having  been 
obliged  to  exchange  work,  but  after  a  few  years  he  succeeded  in  nlacing  his 
land  under  cultivation  and  gradually  large  crops  were  raised  and  garnered. 
He  still  owns  his  original  farm  of  eighty  acres,  about  seventy  acres  of  which 
is  under  cuhivation  and  is  watered  by  fine,  large  springs  and  two  excellent 
wells.  He  is  extensively  engaged  in  diversified  farming,  also  dealing  to 
some  extent  in  stock,  and  he  has  a  fine  bank  barn.  At  one  time  he  set  out 
a  peach  orchard,  but  this  was  afterward  destroyed  by  the  yellows.  He  has 
made  of  life  a  success,  and  were  one  to  seek  for  its  secret  it  would  he 
found  in  that  persistent  purpose  which  has  ever  been  a  motive  power  in  his 
career. 

On  the  Toth  of  June,  1857,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years,  Mr.  Traut- 
man was  married  to  T^iicy  Columbia  Young,  who  was  born  in  Vermont, 
and  she  had  reached  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  when  she  gave  her  hand 
in  marriage  to  Mr.  Trautman.  Their  home  has  been  blessed  with  eight 
children,  six  sons  and  two  daughters,  namely:  William  V..  who  is  engaged 
■in  lumbering  of  a  tract  of  twenty-two  hundred  acres  in  Arkansas;  Charlev. 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twentv-four  years :  Elmer,  who  is  serving  as  agent 
for  the  Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana  Railroad  at  Cadillac,  Michigan:  Edear 
N, ;  Walter,  with  the  railroad  onerator  at  Dixon,  Illinois;  Mary,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  seventeen  years;  Lillian,  the  wife  of  Tames  B.  Henning,  agent 
for  the  North-Western  Railroad  in  Illinois:  and  Mark  Rav.  Mr.  Trautman 
gives  his  political  support  to  the  Republican  party,  and  has  served  in  a 
number  of  school  offices,  also  as  delegate  to  conventions  and  as  postmaster. 


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MR.  AND  MRS.  PHILLIP  GRANDV 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  353 

He  has  attained  prominence  in  the  business  circles  of  Allegan  county  and 
has  made  inany  friends  in  the  comnnniity  where  he  has  so  long;  resided. 

PHiLLtp  Graxdy. — The  life  record  of  Phillip  Grandy  is  one  of  which 
he  may  be  justly  proud.  Success  is  not  measured  by  the  height  which  one 
may  chance  to  occupy,  but  by  the  distance  between  the  starting  point  and  the 
altitude  he  has  reached,  therefore  Mr.  Grandy  has  gained  success, — a  just 
reward  of  meritorious,  honorable  effort,  which  commands  the  respect  and 
admiration  of  all.  He  was  born  in  Medina  county,  Ohio,  September  i8, 
1843.  When  nineteen  years  of  age,  in  April,  1863,  lie  came  with  his  father, 
Martin  Grandy,  to  Allegan  county,  Michigan.  Soon  after  his  marriage  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  his  present  farm,  the  purchase  price  being  eight 
hundred  dollars,  paying  one  hundred  dollars  down  and  the  remainder  sev- 
eral years  later.  At  the  time  of  the  purchase  the  land  was  in  its  virgin  state, 
and  he  was  obliged  to  cut  away  the  trees  in  order  to  make  a  small  clearing 
on  which  to  erect  his  little  log  cabin,  and  it  required  many  years  to  make  all 
the  substantial  improvements  which  now  adorn  the  place.  During  the 
first  few  years  after  his  arrival  he  worked  for  others  in  order  to  get  some 
ready  money,  at  the  same  time  clearing  his  land  and  placing  his  fields  under 
cultivation.  Mr.  Grandy  has  since  sold  twent\  acres  of  his  farm  which  now 
consists  of  sixty  acres,  all  of  which  is  under  a  fine  state  of  cultivation.  In 
company  with  his  brother  Daniel  he  also  operated  a  threshing  machine  for 
twenty-five  years,  and  on  one  occasion  while  thus  engaged  he  was  seriously 
injured  by  a  bridge  breaking  witli  the  engine  he  thus  sustaining  internal  in- 
juries from  which  he  has  never  fully  recovered  His  present  neat  and  com- 
modious residence  was  erected  eight  years  ago,  and  it  stands  on  a  beauti- 
ful building  site,  commanding  a  fine  view  of  the  surrounding  country,  and 
he  also  has  a  fine  bank  barn  for  his  stock. 

Mr.  Grandy  married  Miss  Laura  Burk.  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Betsey  Burk,  who  had  located  in  this  county  two  years  before  the  marriage 
of  their  daughter,  and  she  was  then  eighteen  years  of  age.  Four  children 
have  been  born  of  this  union,  namely:  Ina,  the  wife  of  Charles  Levett.  of 
Byron  Center :  Harley,  who  resides  on  a  farm  adjoining  his  father's  home ; 
Clara,  the  wife  of  Fred  Yerington,  of  Wayland,  and  Lillie,  at  home.  Mr. 
Grandy  gives  his  political  support  to  the  Republican  party. 

Salem. 
The  settlement  of  Salem  township  dates  from  1851.  and  by  i860  the 
township  had  only  430  inhabitants.  Already  by  that  time  a  considerable 
number  of  these  were  grouped  around  the  center  of  the  township,  known  as 
Salem  Center,  where  Timothy  Bliss  had  entered  land  in  1858.  Among  those 
who  settled  at  that  point  was  James  Burnip,  who  opened  a  store  in  the 
sixties  and  took  such  a  leading  part  in  affairs  that  the  locality  came  to  he 
known  as  Burnip's  Comers.  Other  early  merchants  there  were  J.  S.  War- 
ner, Wells  &  Dibble.  James  Briggs.  Dr.  C.  C.  Liiidsley,  Theodore  Castor, 
W.  H.  Goodwin.  A  sawmill  was  built  here  about  1859,  and  for  the  past 
forty  years  the  Heck  family  have  been  prominent  representatives  of  the 
milling  industry  in  this  part  of  the  county.  George  and  William  Heck 
erected  a  sawmill  and  a  gristmill  on  Little  Rabbitt  river,  and  Mr.  George 
Heck  is  still  proprietor  of  the  gristmill  at  the  old  location. 


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354  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Population  has  also  centered  about  two  other  points  in  this  township, 
one  in  the  northeast  corner,  known  as  New  Salem,  and  the  other  in  the 
southwest  corner,  on  Rabbitt  river  known  as  Diamond  Springs. 

George  Heck,  whose  residence  in  Salem  township  dates  from  i868,  is 
a  native  of  Ohio,  having  been  bom  near  Findlay,  February  22,  1850.  He  is 
a  son  of  George  and  Martha  (Mash)  Heck,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  who 
settled  near  Findlay,  Ohio,  in  1840.  They  were  the  parents  of  a  large  fam- 
ily, the  following  ten  of  whom  grew  to  maturity:  Catherine,  wife  of  David 
Sherrick,  who  lives  in  Findlay,  Ohio;  John,  of  Findlay;  Susan,  Mrs.  Wat- 
son, now  deceased;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Lytle;  William,  who  came  to  Michigan 
with  our  subject,  but  returned  to  Findlay;  Mary,  Mrs.  Gardner,  deceased; 
George,  our  subject;  A.  C,,  a  resident  of  Findlay;  Joseph,  of  South  Bend, 
Indiana,  and  Birdie,  wife  of  William  Parsons,  of  New  Albany,  Indiana. 

Our  subject  upon  arriving  in  Michigan  settled  at  Burnips  Corner,  and 
in  1880  built  the  house  in  which  he  now  resides.  The  farm  in  Ohio  where 
he  had  spent  his  youth  was  sold  by  our  subject's  father  for  eighteen  thou- 
sand dollars  and  has  since  produced  in  oil  over  a  million  of  dollars.  The 
first  venture  in  which  Mr.  Heck  was  interested  in  Salem  township  was  that 
of  a  saw  and  flour-mill,  which  he  has  run  continuously  since.  A  brother 
was  originally  interested  with  him  in  this  business;  but  after  running  for  a 
time  as  a  partnership,  Mr.  Heck  bought  out  his  brother's  interest  and  has 
since  conducted  the  work  alone.  Mr.  Heck,  Sr.,  and  his  wife,  who  moved 
to  Findlay  after  the  sale  of  their  farm,  have  both  since  died  at  that  place. 

On  September  20,  1869,  our  subject  was  married  to  Helen  Marr  Mc- 
Donald, of  Sturgis,  Michigan,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Anna  (McLaughlin) 
McDonald.  Mrs.  McDonald,  who  settled  on  a  one  hundred  and  sixty  acre 
farm  in  Salem  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  has  since  become  Mrs,  Un- 
derwood. 

Mr.  Heck's  children  are  two  in  number:  Joy  E.,  a  graduate  of  the  law 
department  of  the  University  of  Michigan,  and  of  the  Agricultural  College 
at  Lansing,  now  practicing  law  at  Zeeland,  and  he  married  Gertrude  Powell, 
by  whom  he  has  two  children,  Joy  P.  and  Helen  Mary ;  and  Flossie,  wife  of 
H.  A.  Dibble,  of  Allegan,  who  has  a  son,  Clarence  H. 

Our  subject  is  a  Republican,  and  has  held  a  number  of  local  offices.  He 
has  been  tendered  by  that  party  the  nominations  of  state  representative  and 
state  senator,  but  has  not  seen  fit  to  accept  them,  feeling  that  his  duties  at 
home  demanded  more  of  his  time  than  he  could  spare.  He  is,  however, 
vitally  interested  in  the  welfare  of  his  community,  and  of  the  party  with 
which  he  is  affiliated,  and  can  always  be  relied  upon  in  the  fight  for  honest 
government. 

Mr.  Heck  is  in  a  fraternal  way  connected  with  Salem  Lodge  No.  169, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  which  he  has  been  a  member  since  its  institution,  in  1871, 
and  is  also  a  member  of  the  National  Protective  Legion. 

Silas  Loew,  a  well  known  business  man  of  Salem  township,  where  he 
has  resided  since  six  years  of  age,  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  Ohio,  Au- 
gust 19,  i86r.  He  is  a  son  of  Frederick  and  Gertrude  (Fauhel)  Loew, 
both  natives  of  Germany,  who  accpmpanied  their  parents  to  the  United 
States  at  the  respective  ages  of  ten  and  seven  years.  Christian  Loew.  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  located  in  Monroe  county,  Ohio.   He  was  a  weaver  by 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY  355 

trade,  and  resided  in  Oliio  until  liis  death,  which  occurred  at  the  age  of 
ninety-three.  Frederick  Loew  was  a  joiner  and  cabinet  maker,  and  fol- 
lowed his  trade  for  a  number  of  years  in  this  country.  He  later  bought  a 
farm  and  beside  cultivating  this  did  carpenter  work  for  his  neighbors.  He 
died  in  June,  1905,  aged  eighty-two  years.  His  family  comprised  twelve 
children,  eleven  of  whom  are  alive:  Emma  (Mrs.  Leweke),  of  Hopkins; 
Elisha,  a  resident  of  Grand  Rapids;  Clara  {Mrs.  Heasley),  of  Salem  town- 
ship; Josephine  (Mrs.  Smith),  of  Cohoctah,  Michigan;  Commila  (Mrs. 
Moored),  of  Dighton,  Michigan;  Silas,  our  subject;  Charles  Wesley,  a 
sketch  of  whose  life  appears  elsewhere;  Calvin  A.,  a  resident  of  Shelby, 
Michigan;  Amos  W.,  who  lives  in  Salem  township;  Fred  A,,  of  Indiana; 
and  Norman,  who  hves  in  Salem  township. 

After  working  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  became  of  age  our  sub- 
ject went  to  La  Mars,  in  Western  Iowa,  where  he  remained  for  six  months, 
working  in  a  grocery  store.  He  then  returned  to  the  township  in  which  he 
now  lives,  and  engaged  in  the  hardware  business,  buying  the  business  for- 
merly- r.un  by  William  Bookwalter  and  continuing  in  this  line  until  April  of 
igo6,  a  period  of  twenty  years.  He  had  in  the  meantime  become  interested 
in  the  creamery  business,  and  was  secretary  and  acting  treasurer  of  a  cream- 
ery company  for  five  years.  For  the  last  two  years  he  has  acted  as  man- 
ager. Mr.  Loew  was  a  notary  public  for  five  years,  during  which  time  he 
settled  a  number  of  estates.  He  has  also  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and 
loan  business,  and  since  selling  his  hardware  store  has  sold  buggies  and 
other  vehicles. 

Mr.  Loew  was  married,  June  3,  1885,  to  Elizabeth  Moored,  a  native  of 
Salem  township,  and  only  daughter  of  John  and  Amanda  (Reinhammer) 
Moored,  who  came  to  Salem  township  from  Ohio  and  settled  at  Burnips 
Comer.  To  Mr.  Loew  and  his  wife  have  been  born  three  children :  Flossie, 
now  attending  school  at  the  State  Normal  School  at  Ypsilanti ;  Clarence 
Leslie,  at  home  attending  school ;  and  Leo  Miles. 

From  political  preference  Mr.  Loew  ts  a  Republican  and  has  served  as 
township  treasurer  for  a  number  of  terms.  He  has  also  been  on  the  school 
board  as  assessor  and  director  for  nineteen  years.  He  was  recently  ap- 
pointed highway  commissioner  to  succeed  Joseph  A,  Goodman,  deceased. 
Our  subject  and  his  family  are  all  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 

Cii-^RT-ES  Wesley  Loew. — -For  a  period  of  more  than  forty  years 
Charles  Wesley  I.,oew  has  been  a  resident  of  Allegan  county,  and  has  been 
for  a  number  of  years  the  owner  of  one  of  the  best  improved  farms  in  his 
vicinity.  His  birth  occurred  in  Monroe  county,  Ohio,  August  31.  1863. 
He  is  a  son  of  Frederick  and  Gertrude  (Faubel)  Loew.  and  a  brother  of 
Silas  Loew.  a  sketch  of  whose  life  appears  elsewhere. 

Our  subject  was  but  two  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to  this 
section  of  Michigan,  and  here  he  was  raised,  remaining  at  home  with  his 
parents  until  he  was  twenty-eight  years  of  age,-  at  which  time  he  was 
married  and  located  on  his  present  farm.  His  marriage  occurred  February 
22.  1892,  to  Mary  Lohmolder,  a  native  of  Salem  township,  and  a  daughter 
of  William  and  Caroline  (Dendal)  Lohmolder,  who  were  pioneer  .settlers 
■  in  southern  Michigan.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Loew  are  the  parents  of  four 
children — Sylvia,  Howard,  Virgil  and  Vesta. 


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^oii  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Mr.  Loew  rented  his  farm  for  a  number  of  years,  but  eventually  pur- 
chased it,  and  has  built  in  addition  to  the  buildings  already  upon  the  prop- 
erty a  fine  granary.  He  has  also  remodeled  and  enlarged  the  house.  He  is 
interested  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  his  farm  being  ideally 
located  for  these  branches. 

In  politics  our  subject  is  a  Republican,  and  is  an  earnest  advocate  of 
the  platform  on  which  this  party  is  based.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church  in  his  vicinity,  and  is  the  treasiirer  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  that  church. 

Christi.an  Sutter,  a  venerable  and  highly  respected  citizen  of  Allegan 
county,  and  now  living  retired,  having  in  former  years  acquired  a  compe- 
tence which  now  enables  hini  to  rest  from  further  toil,  is  a  native  of 
Switzerland,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Basel  on  the  19th  of  February, 
1825,  a  son  of  John  and  Barbara  (Imhof)  Sutter, 

Christian  Sutter  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  land  and  when 
a  young  man,  having  heard  favorable  reports  concerning  the  opportunities 
to  he  enjoyed  in  the  United  States,  he  decided  to  try  his  fortune  in  the 
new  country  and  accordingly  made  his  way  across  the  Atlantic  ocean  in  a 
sailing  vessel,  and  went  to  Richland  county,  Ohio,  where  he  followed  the 
trade  of  a  cabinet  maker,  which  he  had  learned  before  landing  in  this 
country.  After  a  time  he  removed  to  Detroit,  Michigan,  where  he  continued 
his  work  of  cabinet  making  until  1847,  when  he  took  up  the  work  of  ship 
carpentering,  being  employed  both  in  Detroit  and  Buffalo,  continuing  in 
the  latter  place  for  several  years,  after  which,  in  September,  1856,  he  came 
to  Allegan  county,  where  he  purchased  a  farm,  upon  which  not  a  stick  of 
timber  had  been  cut.  He  at  once  set  to  work  to  clear  his  land,  plow  his 
fields  and  plant  his  crops,  and  in  due  course  of  time  gathered  abundant 
harvests  therefrom.  He  had  to  first  make  a  little  clearing  before  he  could 
build  a  home,  his  first  place  of  residence  being  a  log  cabin,  which  was 
later  replaced  by  a  more  modern  frame  structure.  This  farm  Mr.  Sutter 
purchased.  Mr.  Sutter  added  to  his  original  purchase  from  time  to  time 
as  his  financial  resources  permitted,  buying  a  quarter  of  section  of  land, 
one-half  of  which  Mr.  Fleser  holds.  He  likewise  cleared  and  improved  this 
tract  and  built  a  good  residence  thereon  in  1871,  which  has  since  continued 
to  be  his  home,  although  since  the  spring  of  1906  he  has  lived  retired,  leav- 
ing the  operation  of  the  farm  to  his  sons,  to  each  of  whom  he  has  given 
one  hundred  acres.  In  addition  to  carrying  on  his  agricultural  interests  Mr. 
Sutter  has  also  been  connected  with  the  industrial  activity  of  Allegan 
county,  having  in  1866.  in  partnership  with  Messrs.  Fleser  and  Pettingall, 
built  a  portable  sawmill,  which  they  operated  during  the  succeeding  six 
years,  doing  a  large  business  in  their  locality. 

The  only  interruption  to  Mr.  Sutter's  personal  interests  was  at  the 
time  of  the  Civil  war.  when,  loyal  to  his  adc^ted  country,  he  enlisted  in 
September,  1864,  as  a  member  of  Company  T,  Ninth  Regiment,  Michigan 
Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  never  in  any  active  service  on  the  field,  but 
acted  as  headquarter's  gtiard  for  General  Thomas  and  also  served  on  picket 
duty.  He  received  an  honorable  discharge  in  January.  1865,  after  which  ■ 
he  returned  to  his  home  in  Allegan  county  and  resumed  his  labors  along 
agricultural  lines,  which  he  continued  until  the  spring  of  1906,  when,  feel- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLECjAX  C(.)U\TY  357 

ing  that  his  labors  justified  a  merited  rest,  he  retired  from  all  active  business 
connection  but  still  makes  his  home  on  the  farm. 

On  the  5th  of  May,  1853,  Mr.  Sutter  was  happily  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Fleser,  who  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  where  her  father,  Adam 
Fleser,  passed  away,  after  which  her  mother  came  with  her  family  to 
America.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sutter  have  been  born  the  following;  named : 
Charies,  who  lives  in  Dorr,  Michigan,  wedded  Christiana  Mark,  by  whom 
he  has  three  children — Hazel,  Roy  and  Lydia.  Adam  J.,  who  makes  his 
home  in  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  wedded  Carrie  Burt,  by  whom  he  has 
two  children,  Walter  and  Herbert,  Christian,  Jr.,  resides  at  Harthwick,  in 
Osceola  county,  and  he  wedded  Helen  Burt,  by  whom  he  has  three  children, 
Ula,  Mildred  and  Christian.  Fred  William,  who  resides  upon  the  home 
farm,  married  Effie  Gorden,  and  they  have  four  children,  Isabella  Christina, 
Alberta,  Maude  and  Kate. 

Mr.  Sutter  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  taking  an  active  interest  In 
local  progress  and  improvement,  his  fellow  townsmen  have  called  him  to  a 
number  of  positions  of  public  honor  and  trust,  having  served  his  township 
as  highway  commissioner,  giving  an  administration  highly  satisfactory  to 
the  general  public.  In  his  religious  faith  he  holds  membership  with  the 
Lutheran  church,  while  in  liis  fraternal  relations  he  is  identified  with  Salem 
Lodge  No.  169,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  at  Burnip's  Corner,  having  joined  the  order 
on  the  3d  of  February.  1851,  at  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  and  is  probably  the 
oldest  member  in  point  of  connection  therewith  in  Allegan  county.  He 
was  formerly  connected  with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  at  Burnip's 
Comer  until  the  lodge  disbanded. 

Mr.  Sutter  has  led  a  life  of  activity  and  usefulness,  for,  coming  here 
at  an  early  day  in  the  development  of  this  portion  of  the  state  he  has  aided 
in  progress  made  along  agricultural  and  industrial  lines,  and  during  the 
half  century  of  his  residence  here  has  seen  many  changes  as  the  wild  land 
lias  been  transformed  into  productive  fields,  modem  homes  have  been  erected 
and  towns  and  villages  have  sprung  up,  and  thus  the  work  of  progress 
is  being  carried  on  from  year  to  year.  He  has  now  passed  the  eighty-first 
milestone  on  life's  journey  and  is  accounted  one  of  the  venerable  and 
highly  respected  citizens  of  this  portion  of  the  state,  and  the  rest  which  he 
is  now  enjoying  is  well  merited. 

Henry  Weeer,  one  of  the  largest  taxpayers  in  Salem  township  and 
who  has  always  been  an  industrious  worker  and  a  capable  manager,  was 
born  in  Monterey  township,  Allegan  county,  February  17,  1858.  His 
father,  Frederick  Weber,  was  born  in  Nassau,  Germany,  and  was  twenty- 
eight  years  of  age  on  coming  to  America.  He  settled  in  New  York  city 
and  subsequently  moved  to  Youngstown.  Ohio,  where  he  worked  in  the  ■ 
coal  mines,  and  came  in  1856  to  Allegan  county,  Michigan,  where  he  settled 
in  Monterey  township.  There  he  lived  until  two  years  before  his  death, 
which  occurred  at  his  son's  home,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  The 
mother  of  our  subject,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Magdalene  Ash,  died 
in  Monterey  township,  aged  forty-eight,  leaving  twelve  children, 

Henry  Weber  remained  on  his  father's  farm  until  twenty  years  of  age, 
when  he  started  in  drilling  wells,  erecting  windmills  and  grafting  fruit 
trees.     He  has  consequently  become  well  known  throughout  his  county. 


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358  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

having  worked  in  almost  every  part  of  it.  In  1884  he  located  on  liis  present 
place,  buying  at  that  time  eighty  acres,  which  he  has  since  increased  to 
one  hundred  and  forty.  The  property  at  the  time  of  his  purchase  was 
covered  with  stumpage  and  contained  a  log;  house,  which  Mr.  Weber  used 
for  a  granary.  He  immediately  set  about  building  a  fine  frame  house,  and 
in  1886  built  a  barn  of  ample  dimensions.  In  1889  he  rebuilt  his  house  and 
veneered  it  with  brick. 

Our  subject  is  engaged  in  stock  raising  and  general  farming  and  is  in 
addition  the  manager  of  a  general  merchandise  store  in  New  Salem.  His 
son  attends  to  the  inside  work,  while  he  does  the  buying  and  necessary 
hauling. 

In  1883  Mr.  Weber  was  united  in  marriage  to  Gertrude  Alflen,  a 
native  of  New  Salem  and  a  daughter  of  John  Joseph  and  Catherine 
(Schneider)  Alflen.  Of  this  union  there  have  been  nine  children,  born  in 
the  following  seqiience :  John  Joseph,  who  has  charge  of  the  store  at  New 
Salem;  Frederick,  Mary,  George,  Kate,  Clara,  Henry,  Jr.,  Herman  and 
Cecilia. 

Mr.  Weber  is  a  Republican  and  since  1892  has  held  the  offices  of  school 
inspector  and  member  of  the  board  of  review  for  ten  years.  He  is  much 
interested  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  prosperity  and  common  good  of  his 
community,  but  is  too  busy  at  the  present  time  with  business  affairs  to  give 
the  necessary  time  demanded  of  the  holder  of  public  offices.  He  hokls 
membership  in  the  Catholic  church  of  New  Salem,  of  which  body  he  has 
been  for  years  a  trustee,  now  holding  the  office  of  church  treasurer.  He 
is  in  addition  a  member  of  the  A'ational  Protective  Legion  and  the  Saint 
Joseph  Society. 

Francis  John  Buege,  a  substantial  and  enterprising  citizen  of  Salem 
township,  has  been  a  resident  of  Allegan  county  since  1856.  His  birth 
occurred  near  Buffalo,  New  York,  March  9,  1851.  Flis  father,  a  native  of 
Germany,  came  to  America  in  1850  and  settled  near  Buffalo,  New  York, 
where  he  followed  the  occiipation  of  farming.  His  mother,  Mary  (Bunt- 
rockl  Biiege,  was  also  a  native  of  the  "Fatherland,"  where  she  was  married 
previous  to  coming  to  the  United  States.    Her  death  occurred  in  1870. 

Francis  Buege  and  his  father.  Gottlieb  Buege,  settled  first  in  section  i 
of  Allegan  township,  where  they  took  up  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  partiallv 
cleared,  and  here  they  built  a  comfortable  home.  In  1866  tliev  came  to 
Salem  township  and  took  up  eighty  acres,  and  subsequently  bouglit  forty 
more.  Here  they  resided  together  until  the  death  of  the  elder  Mr.  Buege, 
which  happened  in  1898.  In  1877  Mr.  Buege  purchased  his  father's  share 
of  the  farm,  on  which  he  now  resides,  and  has  followed  since  tlie  trade  of 
carpenter  in  addition  to  working  his  farm.  ■  In  1906  he  built  the  cement 
block  and  brick  church  for  the  German  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  his 
district,  of  which  church  he  is  a  trustee  and  recording  steward. 

On  October  20,  1877.  Mr.  Buege  was  united  in  marriage  to  Christina 
Eaab,  who  was  bom  on  the  old  Raab  homestead  in  Salem  township.  She 
is  a  daughter,  of  Adam  Raab.  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this  section, 
having  come  in  the  early  fifties.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buege  the  following 
children  were  born :  Norman  W..  a  dentist  and  graduate  of  the  Detroit 
Dental  College,  who  married  Ruby  McQueen  of  Detroit,  and  is  now  in 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUKTY  359 

California  for  his  health;  Arthur  A.,  who  teaches  school;  Lydia  F.,  who  is 
residing  with  her  parents ;  and  Otto,  Earl  and  one  son  unnamed  who  died  in 
infancy. 

In  politics  Mr.  Buege  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  the  recipient  at  tht 
hands  of  that  party  of  several  offices,  including  membership  of  the  board 
of  review  for  several  terms,  school  director  for  the  past  twenty  years,  and 
justice  of  the  peace  for  eight  years.  He  also  holds  membership  in  the 
National  Protective  Legion  of  Burnip's  Corner, 

Jeremiah  V.  Leeder,  who  has  farmed  on  his  present  place  in  Salem 
township  for  about  thirty-eight  years,  was  born  in  Findlay,  Ohio,  February 
15,  1838.  He  is  the  son  of  Frederick  and  Mary  (Vandermark)  Leeder,  both 
of  whom  emigrated  from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio. 

Our  subject  devotes  his  time  to  stock  raising  and  genera!  farming  and 
has  personally  attended  to  clearing  and  improving  the  property,  for  it  was 
generally  unimproved  when  he  purchased  it.  When  he  first  came  to  Michi- 
gan lumbering  operations  were  conducted  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state, 
and  in  the  winters  our  subject  worked  in  the  lumber  camps,  but  as  timber 
became  scarcer  this  line  of  work  offered  less  inducements  and  he.  hke  a 
great  many  others,  turned  bis  attention  to  agriculture. 

In  1859  Mr.  Leeder  was  married  to  Isabella  Robinson,  a  native  of 
Ohio  and  a  daughter  of  John  Robinson  of  that  .state.  Upon  her  death,  which 
occurred  at  Salem,  she  left  four  children :  John  and  William,  who  live  in 
Findlay.  Ohio;  Mary,  Mrs.  Ballmar,  of  Strothers,  Ohio;  and  Isabelie,  Mrs. 
Kennedy.  Upon  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Mr.  Leeder  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Anne  Alspaiigli.  who  died  without  issue.  His  third  marriage 
took  place  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Campbell,  born  in  Findlay,  Ohio,  a  daughter 
of  Edgar  Campbell,  who  now  resides  with  him  on  the  farm. 

Mr,  Leeder  is  a  citizen  of  good  repute,  is  interested  in  all  that  apper- 
tains to  the  welfare  of  his  commimity,  and  is  a  man  !oya!  to  the  tenets  of 
the  Democratic  party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church  in 
his  vicinity  and  has  the  well-being  of  that  church  much  at  heart. 

Aaron  Heasi.ey,  who  owns  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Salem  township, 
was  born  in  Grecnsburg.  Pennsylvania,  February  24,  1850.  He  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Isabella  (Merchant)  Heasley,  both  of  whom  were  born  in 
Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania.  Our  subject  came  with  his  parents 
from  Findlay,  Ohio,  to  Allegan  coimty,  Michigan,  in  1864.  and  located  in 
Salem  township,  where  they  purchased  a  farm  of  sixty  acres  in  section  9 
and  another  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  section  20.  The  elder  Mr. 
Heasley  and  his  wife  are  still  residing  in  this  township. 

Our  subject  remained  at  home  until  he  became  of  age,  then  for  twelve 
years  he  devoted  his  time  to  carpenter  work,  having  in  the  meantime  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  his  present  farm,  and  subsequently  added  fortv  acres 
thereto,  so  it  now  comprises  one  himdred  and  twentv  acres.  This  he 
cleared  and  improved,  building  a  fine  home,  a  large  and  commodious  barn 
and  a  seventy  ton  silo.  Here  he  gives  his  time  to  farming  and  stock 
raising,  having  a  fine  herd  of  registered  Durham  cattle  and  some  Clyde  and 
Hambletonian  horses. 

October  14.  1875,  Mr.  Heasley  was  married  to  Clara  Loew,  a  native  of 
Monroe  county,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Gertrude  (Faublel 


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360  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Loew.  She  is  the  mother  of  five  children:  Viola,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  O.  Scott, 
a  dentist  of  Holland,  Michigan,  and  mother  of  one  daughter,  Lillian;  Dr. 
Lauren  E.,  a  dentist  in  Chicago,  who  married  Miss  Minnie  Bretz,  by  whom 
he  has  had  two  sons,  Claire  and  Earl ;  Hiildah  C,  Gertrude  Isabella,  and 
Pearl  Clara,  the  latter  three  of  whom  are  still  at  home. 

Mr,  Heasley  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  on  the  school  board  since 
1877,  with  the  exception  of  two  years,  during  which  time  he  was  a  drain 
commissioner.  He  is  a  highly  respected  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church  of  Salem,  of  which  body  he  is  a  trustee. 

Monterey. 
Monterey  township  was  iirst  settled  in  1836,  and  though  its  population 
had  reached  the  figure  1,533  i"  1880,  since  which  time  it  has  declined  some- 
what, the  town  has  never  supported  a  village  community  of  any  importance 
The  center  of  the  township,  about  the  home  of  Horace  Wilson,  the  first 
settler,  attracted  more  settlers  than  any  other  one  point,  and  the  town  meet- 
ings being  held  here  some  sort  of  central  community  existed  from  early 
days.  George  W.  Kibby  erected  a  hotel  at  the  Corners  in  i860,  and  Andrew 
Briggs  was  the  first  to  open  a  store  at  that  point.  In  1880  the  principal 
features  of  the  place  were  a  store,  wagon  shop,  church,  school  and.  post- 
office,  and  the  locality  has  been  little  changed  since  then,  except  that  rural 

free  delivery  has  caused  a  discontinuance  of  the  postoifice. 

.■-,     -J-, 

James  Madison  McAlpine  is  one  of  the  venerable  citizens  of  Allegan 
county,  having  passed  the  eighty-sixth  milestone  on  life's  journey.  He  now 
lives  in  Monterey  township,  but  has  retired  from  active  connection  with 
business  interests,  spending  the  evening  of  his  days  quietly  amid  friends, 
who  extend  him  regard,  respect  and  veneration.  He  was  born  in  New  York 
in  1820,  and  his  parents,  William  and  Lydia  (Souls)  McAlpine,  were  also 
natives  of  the  Empire  state,  where  the  father  followed  the  occupation  of 
farming.  He  was  bom  in  the  year  1792  and  passed  away  in  1867.  while 
his  wife,  who  was  born  in  1790,  died  in  1869. 

James  Madison  McAlpine  was  therefore  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits 
and  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  his  eleventh  year,  when  he 
became  ambitious  to  earn  a  living  and  hired  out  as  a  farm  hand.  He  was 
thus  largely  occupied  up  to  the  time  he  attained  his  majority,  and  his  dili- 
gence and  faithfulness  always  secured  him  good  positions.  In  1841,  when 
he  had  reached  man's  estate,  he  was  happily  married  to  Miss  Lucinda  M. 
Granger,  a  daughter  of  Noble  Granger,  who  was  a  native  of  New  York 
and  one  of  the  pioneer  residents  of  Allegan  county,  Michigan.  Following 
his  marriage  Mr.  McAlpine  took  his  bride  to  a  rented  farm  in  New  York, 
where  they  lived  for  four  years,  when  he  decided  to  come  to  what  was  then 
the  far  west.  Accordingly  he  made  his  way  to  Michigan,  where  he  arrived 
in  October,  1845,  with  his  wife  and  child  and  thirty  dollars  in  money.  His 
persistent  industry  has  been  rewarded  and  he  is  now  enabled  to  spend  his 
remaining  years  in  peace  and  quietness,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  early 
struggle.  For  many  years  he  was  successfully  engaged  in  farming  in 
Allegan  county,  carefully  tilling  the  soil  and  so  directing  his  labors  that 
they  were  crowned  with  a  gratifying  measure  of  success.  He  now  lives  upon 
a  little  tract  of  land  of  ten  acres  in  Monterey  Center,  Monterey  township. 


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MR.  AND  MRS.  JAMES  M.  Mc  ALPINE 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  361 

and  he  also  owns  two  hundred  acres  of  well  improved  land  which  he  rents 
and  which  brings  him  a  good  income.  In  addition  to  this  he  has  a  substan- 
tial little  capital  and  all  that  he  possesses  has  been  earned  by  himself,  for 
he  never  inherited  a  dollar.  He  early  learned  to  place  his  dependence  upon 
unremitting  diligence  and  perseverance,  realizing  that  "there  is  no  excellence 
without  labor." 

In  1905  Mr.  McAIpine  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife, 
who  passed  away  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years.  They  had  long  traveled 
life's  journey  tc^ether  and  her  death  is  most  deeply  mourned  by  the  husband 
who  is  left  behind.  They  were  the  parents  of  three  sons.  Martin  Van 
Buren,  the  eldest,  married  Ellen  M.  Kibby,  a  daughter  of  George  and  Emily 
Kibby,  both  natives  of  Monroe  county.  New  York,  whence  they  came  to 
Allegan  county  in  an  early  day.  There  are  three  children  of  this  marriage : 
Edna,  now  the  wife  of  Frank  E.  Berry ;  Martin  B.,  and  Bella  M.  William, 
the  second  son  of  the  family,  died  at  the  age  of  three  years.  Harry  married 
Lizzie  Noblock  and  died,  leaving  four  children :  Pearl,  Keith,  George  C. 
and  Ford. 

Mr.  McAIpine  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Monterey  township  and 
has  witnessed  its  development  from  a  wild  and  uncultivated  region  into  a 
district  whose  rich  fertility  makes  it  one  of  the  rich  farming  portions  of  the 
state.  He  has  seen  forests  cleared  away  and  in  their  stead  are  now  found 
good  farms,  while  here  and  there  are  enterprising  towns  and  villages 
equipped  with  many  commercial  and  industrial  interests.  He  has  done  not 
a  little  to  aid  in  the  work  of  transformation  and  he  deserves  much  credit 
as  a  pioneer  settler.  His  political  allegiance  has  been  given  to  the 
Democracy  and  he  has  held  various  ofEces  of  trust,  serving  as  supervisor 
and  also  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years.  In  all  life's  relations  he 
has  been  found  faithful  to  duty,  honorable  in  principle  and  trustworthy  in 
action,  and  in  the  evening  of  life  he  can  look  back  over  the  past  without 
regret.  His  name  is  an  honored  one  in  Allegan  county  and  his  memory  will 
long  be  cherished  after  he  has  passed  away. 

Ch.\rles  Bruck  GiDSON,  a  prosperous  and  progressive  farmer  of  Alle- 
gan county,  was  born  in  Hancock  county.  Ohio,  on  the  25th  of  June,  1850. 
His  father,  Charles  Gibson,  was  born  in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  when  eleven  years  of  age  accompanied  his  father,  James  Gibson, 
on  his  removal  from  the  Keystone  state  to  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared,  edu- 
cated and  married,  there  making  his  home  until  1852,  in  which  year  he 
removed  with  ox  teams  to  this  state,  taking  up  his  abode  upon  a  farm  in 
Monterey  township,  Allegan  county,  and  here  made  his  home  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1893.  when  he  had  reached  the  very  venerable  age  of 
eighty-two  years.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  Beard,  and  was 
a  native  of  Columbus.  Ohio,  born  in  1816,  and  her  death  occurred  in  1889, 
when  she  had  reached  the  age  of  seventy- three.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Bennett  Beard,  who.  on  his  removal  from  the  Buckeye  state,  located  in  Mon- 
terey township.  Allegan  county,  and  later  removed  to  Salem  township, 
this  county,  where  both  he  and  his  wife  passed  away.  In  the  family  of 
Charles  and  Sarah  Gibson  were  the  following  named:  William,  who  died 
during  his  service  in  the  Civil  war:  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Hinton,  who  resides  in 
Mecosta  county,  Michigan ;  Isaac  T.,  who  lives  in  Osceola  county,  this  state ; 


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363  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY 

John  Allen,  deceased:  Lorraine;  Thomas,  who  resides  in  Allegan  county, 
having  a  home  on  the  lake  shore :  George  P.,  who  resides  in  Arkansas ; 
Charles  B..  of  this  review;  Jasper  L.,  who  lives  in  Hancock  county,  Ohio; 
Jeremiah  Fletcher,  who  makes  his  home  a  mile  and  a  half  east  of  our  sub- 
ject; Sarah,  who  died  at  the  ag'e  of  three  years,  and  Clinton  Isaiah,  who 
makes  his  home  in  Allegan.  Our  subject's  father  was  serving  as  highway 
commissioner  at  the  time  Allegan  road  was  laid  out,  this  being  the  first 
road  in  the  township,  and  when  only  two  families  had  settled  in  Salem  town- 
ship. 

Charles  B.  Gibson  was  only  two  years  of  a^e  when  broiight  by  his 
parents  to  this  state,  the  family  home  being  e^^'-ijlished  on  a  farm  situated 
a  half  mile  north  of  where  his  own  pronertv  is  now  located,  where  the  fam- 
ily remained  for  three  years,  after  which  they  took  up  their  abode  on  the 
farm  on  which  our  subject  now  makes  bis  home.  Here  he  was  reared  to 
agricultrtral  life,  assisting  his  father  in  the  arduous  task  of  clearing  and 
developing  wild  land,  and  when  not  busy  on  the  farm  pursued  his  studies  in 
the  district  schools  near  his  father's  home.  The  place  comprises  dne  hun- 
dretl  and  twenty  acres,  which  has  all  been  cleared  save  about  ten  or  twelve 
acres,  which  is  yet  covered  with  timber.  Mr.  Gibson  remained  mider  the 
parental  roof,  giving  his  father  the  benefit  of  his  services  until  he  had 
attained  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  when  he  went  to  Osceola  county,  this 
state,  where  he  remained  for  two  vears.  after  which  he  returned  to  the  home 
place  and  worked  for  his  father  for  five  years.  He  then  again  returned  to 
Osceola  county  and  purchased  the  farm  upon  which  he  had  been  employed 
during  his  previous  residence  there,  and  that  continued  to  be  his  home  until 
.'\nril,  1900,  when  he  again  returned  to  Monterey  township,  Allegan  county, 
and  took  up  his  abode  on  his  present  farm,  and  here  he  has  since  been  en- 
gage<l  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  in  addition  has  a  fine 
orchard  of  apples  and  peaches,  and  thus  makes  fruit-raising  one  of  the  im- 
portant branches  of  his  business.  He  is  meeting  with  gratifying  results  iv 
bis  work  and  now  has  one  of  the  weH  improved  and  valuable  fanns  of  Alle- 
gan county. 

On  the  =th  of  March.  1876,  Mr.  Gibson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mis* 
Charlotte  Johnson,  who  was  likewise  born  in  Hancock  county.  Ohio,  a 
daiighter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (George)  Johnson.  Her  parents  re- 
mnved  to  this  state  from  Ohio  in  1865.  the  family  home  being  established  in 
.Salem  townshiq.  Allegan  county.  Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been 
Lorn  seven  childfen.  but  oiily  two  are  now  living :  Stella,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  five  years ;  William,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven  months :  JTaude, 
who  became  the  wife  of  William  Burke,  and  died  in  Osceola  county,  this 
state,  in  January.  T00.1,  leaving  two  children.  Goldie  and  Flovd;  Bertha,  who 
ditd  at  the  age  of  sixteen  vears;  Martin,  who  died  when  seven  months  old: 
and  Myrtle  and  Jennie,  who  are  at  home  and  are  the  only  members  of  the 
familv  surviving. 

Mr.  Gibson  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  views,  and  is  holding  mem- 
bership relations  with  the  United  Brethren  church.  Mr.  Gibson  having 
resided  in  Allegan  county  since  his  infancy,  with  the  exception  of  the  brief 
period  which  he  spent  in  Osceola  county,  has  a  wide  acquaintance  in  this 
portion  of  the  state,  where  be  is  known  for  his  reliability  and  trustworthi- 
ness. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY  303 

FREDERrcK  F,  Smith,  who  throughout  liis  entire  business  career  has 
followed  the  mason's  trade  and  at  this  writing  is  also  engaged  in  farming  in 
Monterey  township,  where  he  owns  fifty-seven  acres  of  good  iand,  was  born 
in  Staffordshire,  England.  March  29.  1877.  He  is  a  son  of  John  Freder- 
ick Smith,  Hliewise  a  native  of  England,  who  came  to  America  in  1855, 
setding  first  in  New  York.  He  had  learned  the  mason's  trade  in  his  native 
country  and  he  followed  it  in  the  Empire  state.  He  afterward  lived  at 
various  times  in  different  places  and  eventually  became  a  resident  of  Chi- 
cago, while  on  the  3d  of  March.  1893.  he  took  up  his  abode  at  Dunning- 
ville,  Michigan,  where  he  has  since  been  identified  witli  building  operations 
as  a  mason,  and  in  this  connection  has  been  largely  associated  with  the  sub- 
stantial improvement  of  the  town.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  Bruton,  a 
native  of  England  and  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Bruton,  who  came  to  New 
York,  settling  first  in  Jefferson  county,  where  lie  died  at  the  very  venerable 
age  of  ninety-eight  years.  His  widow  still  survives.  In  the  family  were 
nine  children,  of  whom  six  are  yet  living,  namely:  Mrs.  Maud  Clark:  John 
T.  Smith:  Frederick  F..  of  this  review;  Sebra,  the  wife  of  Herbert  Plots: 
Joseph,  who  was  Ijorn  in  Troy.  New  York;  and  Harry,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  Jefferson  county.  New  York. 

Frederick  F.  Smith  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Jefferson  county. 
New  York,  having  been  a  lad  of  about  eight  years  at  the  time  of  the  emigra- 
tion of  his  parents  from  England  to  the  new  world.  He  afterward  pursued 
his  studies  in  Chicago  and  there  learned  the  mason's  trade  under  the  direc- 
tion of  his  father.  He  has  worked  in  that  line  from  the  age  of  fourteen 
years  up  to  the  present  time,  and  has  been  closely  and  activelv  associated 
with  building  interests.  He  became  a  competent  workman  and  has  been 
<Hu"te  successful.  After  working  a.s  a  journeyman  for  some  time  he  began 
contracting  and  building  on  his  own  account  and  has  done  a  large  amount 
of  work  throughont  the  county  and  in  the  village  of  Allegan,  many  of  the 
substantial  structures  standing  as  monuments  to  his  skill,  enterprise  and 
thrift.  In  rgo4  he  purchased  fifty-seven  acres  of  land  in  Monterey  town- 
ship, all  under  cultivation,  and  has  since  lived  upon  the  farm,  erecting  there 
in  1906  his  present  residence,  which  is  a  two-storv  brick  dwelling  contain- 
ing eleven  rooms  and  with  a  gable  roof.  It  is  one  of  the  attractive  and 
desirable  homes  of  the  community  and  Mr,  Smith  and  his  family  now  hve 
unon  the  farm,  the  work  of  which  is  carried  on  under  his  supervision, 
although  lie  is  yet  an  active  representative  of  the  mason's  trade  and  in  this 
regard  has  a  liberal  and  growing  patronage. 

On  the  2=;th  of  September.  1901.  Mr.  Smith  was  married  in  Monterey 
township  to  Miss  Emma  L.  Dcndel.  a  daughter  of  Peter  Dendel,  and  they 
have  had  two  children.  Harold  John  Frederick,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two 
years  and  two  months,  and  Mabel  Marie. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  views  and  affiliation,  but  the 
honors  and  emoluments  of  office  have  had  no  attraction  for  him,  as  he  pre- 
fers to  give  his  imdivided  attention  to  his  business  affairs.  He  is  a  very 
progressive  young  man.  wide-awake  and  enterprising  in  business,  and  much 
esteemed  sociallv  bv  reason  of  his  good  qualities.  He  has  already  won 
notable  succes  in  his  industrial  interests  and  the  future  undoubtedly  holds 
ir  stnre  for  him  still  greater  nrosperity  because  he  possesses  those  qualities 
which  always  win  business  advancement. 


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364  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

tRED  J.  Denuel,  who  is  engaged  in  general  farming  in  Monterey  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Roseville,  Michigan,  in  1864.  His  father,  Peter  J.  Den- 
del,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  came  to  the  United  States 
with  his  father,  Fred  Dendel,  the  family  home  being  estab- 
lished at  Roseville,  Michigan,  where  the  grandfather  followed  the 
occupation  of  farming.  Peter  J,  Dendel  was  about  eighteen  or  twenty 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  emigration  to  the  new  world,  and  he  lived 
at  Roseville  in  the  vicinity  of  Detroit,  Michigan,  for  some  time,  but  came 
to  Allegan  county  about  thirty-eight  years  ago  and  took  up  his  abode  in 
Monterey  township  upon  a  farm.  He  first  purchased  three  eighty-acre 
tracts  of  land  and  afterward  added  another  eighty-acre  tract.  Here  he 
successfully  carried  on  general  agricultural  pursuits  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death  and  he  transformed  his  place  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  into  a 
valuable  and  attractive  farm,  which  became  one  of  the  attractive  features  of 
the  landscape,  owing  to  the  highly  cultivated  condition  of  the  fields  and  the 
many  substantia!  improvements  which  he  placed  upon  his  land.  In  early 
manhood  he  wedded  Miss  Mary  Brant,  also  a  native  of  Germany.  His 
death  occurred  in  1894,  while  his  wife  passed  away  in  1895,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-four  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  sons,  of  whom  Fred  J.,  of 
this  review,  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth.  The  father  was  married,  how- 
ever, three  times.  By  his  first  wife  there  are  no  living  children  and  of  the 
second  marriage  there  is  one  surviving  daughter,  Mrs.  Kate  Seabright. 
His  third  wife  was  the  mother  of  our  subject,  and  their  children  numbered 
altogether  five  sons  and  three  daughters,  as  follows :  John  P.,  who  is  living 
in  Monterey  township ;  William  H.,  who  resides  in  Hopkins  township,  this 
county;  Fred  J.,  of  this  review;  Martin  G.  and  Frank,  who  are  resident 
farmers  of  Monterey  township;  Mrs.  Emma  Smith,  the  wife  of  Frederick 
Smith,  a  resident  farmer  of  ^Ionterey  township,  who  is  represented  else- 
where in  this  work;  Mrs.  Winnie  Thorwood,  of  Indiana;  and  Mrs.  Mealey 
Eechtold,  also  of  the  Hoosier  state. 

Fred  J.  Dendel,  whose  name  introduces  this  record,  was  a  young  lad  at 
the  time  of  the  parents'  removal  from  Roseville  to  Allegan  county,  and  in 
the  district  schools  of  Monterey  township  he  acquired  his  education.  He 
was  early  trained  to  the  work  of  the  farm  and  has  always  carried  on  gen- 
eral agricultural  pursuits,  being  now  the  owner  of  one  hundred  acres  of  the 
old  homestead,  which  he  is  carefully  cultivating  and  improving.  The  farm 
presents  every  evidence  of  modern  agricultural  development  and  he  an- 
nually harvests  good  crops  in  return  for  his  labor  and  diligence. 

In  1886  Mr.  Dendel  was  joined  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sabrina  Sprau,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  Sprau,  and  unto  them  have  been  bom  five  children, 
Jeanie,  Maud,  Wilfred,  Winnifred  and  Bernice,  all  natives  of  Monterey 
township. 

Mr.  Dendel  in  his  political  views  is  an  earnest  Republican,  ably  sup- 
porting his  position  by  intelligent  argument.  He  belongs  to  the  National 
Protective  Legion  and  to  the  Grange,  and  wherever  known  he  has  gained 
kindly  consideration  and  regard  by  reason  of  his  many  good  qualities  and 
his  fidelity  to  a  high  standard  of  business  ethics  and  of  personal  conduct. 

William  J.  Patterson. — Among  the  citizens  of  foreign  birth  who 
have  become  most  loyal  in  allegiance  to  their  adopted  country  and  whose 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  365 

labors  have  been  of  material  benefit  to  the  communities  in  which  they  reside, 
is  numbered  WiHiam  J.  Patterson,  of  Monterey  township.  He  was  born 
in  county  Down,  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  in  1832,  his  parents  being  John  and 
Margaret  (McClements)  Patterson,  who  spent  their  entire  lives  on  the 
Emerald  isle.  Their  son  William  was  reared  in  the  parish  of  Kilmore,  and 
in  early  life  learned  the  trade  of  a  linen  cutter,  which  he  followed  for  seven 
and  a  half  years.  He  was  a  young  man  of  twenty-one  years  when  he  deter- 
mined to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  new  world,  and  he  has  never  had  occasion 
to  regret  this  resolution,  for  in  America  he  found  good  opportunities,  which 
he  has  improved,  with  the  result  that  he  is  now  a  substantial  farmer  of  Alle- 
gan county.  On  crossing  the  Atlantic  he  first  settled  in  the  state  of  New 
York,  where  he  was  employed  at  farm  labor,  having  no  capital  at  the  time 
of  his  arrival.  In  1857  he  arrived  in  Michigan,  taking  up  his  abode  in  Mon- 
terey township,  Allegan  cotinty,  where  he  first  purchased  twelve  and  a  half 
acres  of  land,  which  he  cleared  and  cultivated.  In  1866  he  purchased  a 
farm  of  forty-three  acres,  which  he  also  cleared  and  improved,  and  about 
the  same  time  he  sold  his  original  tract  of  twelve  and  a  half  acres.  For 
four  years  he  lived  in  the  village  of  Allegan  and  rented  his  farm,  but  on 
the  expiration  of  that  period  he  returned  to  the  home  place  and  has  since 
resided  thereon.  His  time  and  energies  are  devoted  to  its  further  develop- 
ment and  improvement  and  he  raises  here  good  crops,  which  give  him  a 
very  desirable  annual  income. 

In  1857,  in  Monterey  township,  Mr.  Patterson  was  married  to  Miss 
Eliza  Wilson,  a  daughter  of  John  Wilson,  who  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and 
there  spent  his  entire  life.  Mrs.  Patterson  was  also  born  on  the  Emerald 
isle,  and  by  her  marriage  she  has  become  the  mother  of  five  children,  all  of 
whom  were  born  in  Monterey  township.  Mary,  the  eldest,  is  now  the  wife 
of  Frank  Langdon,  and  has  two  children,  Ora  and  Gladys.  George  L., 
who  has  forty  acres  of  land  in  Monterey  township,  where  he  follows  farm- 
ing, wedded  Editli  Sweezey,  and  has  four  children,  George,  John,  Orba  and 
Maud.  Alva  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Babcock  and  has  one  child,  Laura.  Zella 
is  the  wife  of  William  Howe  and  has  a  daughter,  Marie.  Nina,  who  com- 
pletes the  family,  is  the  wife  of  Orrin  Jones. 

Mr.  Patterson  has  held  a  number  of  local  offices,  to  which  he  was 
called  by  the  vote  of  his  fellow  townsmen,  who  recognize  his  worth  and 
ability.  He  served  as  township  treasurer  for  four  terms,  has  also  been  a 
member  of  the  school  board  and  also  its  treasurer  for  some  time.  His  in- 
vestigation into  the  political  condition  of  the  country  and  the  dominant  ques- 
tion before  the  people  led  him  to  give  his  support  to  the  Republican  party 
when  he  became  a  naturaHzed  American  citizen  and  he  has  always  remained 
true  to  that  allegiance.  For  almost  a  half  century  he  has  lived  in  Allegan 
county  and  witnessed  its  many  changes  and  its  growth  and  development. 
He  has  never  hesitated  in  doing  his  full  part  toward  the  improvement  of  the 
county,  and.  in  fact,  has  been  the  champion  of  many  progressive  public 
measures. 

George  Staking,  living  in  Monterey  township,  was  also  born  within 
its  borders,  his  natal  year  being  1866.  He  represents  one  of  the  old  pioneer 
families  of  the  county.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Henry  Staring,  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  came  to  Michigan  at  an  early  period  in  the  settlement  of 


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366  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

tiie  state,  when  it  was  still  under  territorial  rule.  He  located  in  Kalamazoo 
county  and  thence  came  to  Allegan  county,  clearing  the  land  upon  which 
he  settled  in  1840,  there  making  his  home  untii  his  death.  His  entire  life 
was  devoted  to  general  agricultural  pursuits,  and  after  opening  up  his  farm 
he  continued  the  further  work  of  improvement  until  he  had  an  excellent 
property,  from  which  he  annually  gathered  good  crops.  He  was  a  soldier 
of  both  the  Mexican  and  the  Civil  wars,  and  was  granted  a  pension  by  the 
government  in  recognition  of  the  meritorious  service  which  he  had  ren- 
dered. 

John  Staring,  father  of  our  subject,  was  bom  in  Kalamazoo  county, 
Michigan,  and  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Allegan  county 
in  1840.  At  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  he,  too,  responded  to  the  country's 
call  for  aid,  enlisting  as  a  private  of  Company  C,  Thirteenth  Michigan  in- 
fantry, with  which  he  served  for  three  years,  or  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  a  brave  and  loyal  soldier,  never  faltering  in  the  performance  of  any 
military  duty,  whether  it  called  him  to  the  lonely  picket  line  or  stationed  him 
on  the  firing  line.  When  the  stars  and  stripes  were  victoriously  planted 
over  the  capital  of  the  Southern  Confederacy  he  returned  to  his  home  and 
resumed  farming  in  Monterey  township.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Esther  Butrick;  died  thirty-three  years  ago. 

George  Staring,  the  only  child  of  John  and  Esther  (Butrick)  Staring, 
was  born  upon  the  home  farm  in  Monterey  township  and  was  educated  in 
the  district  schools.  In  early  life  he  secured  employment  on  the  county 
poor  farm  and  afterward  was  made  keeper  of  the  farm,  remaining  there 
altogether  for  thirteen  years,  of  which  ten  and  a  half  years  was  spent  as 
keeper.  He  purchased  sixty  acres  of  the  old  homestead  and  he  now  owns 
fifty  acres  of  that  tract,  constituting  a  good  farm,  which  is  well  improved 
and  is  devoted  to  genera!  agricultural  pursuits. 

In  1890  Mr.  Staring  was  married  in  Monterey  township  to  Miss  Julia 
Devine,  who  worked  at  the  county  farm  when  he  was  working  there.  They 
now  have  one  living  child,  Lena,  who  was  bom  in  Monterey  township.  Mr. 
Staring  is  a  public- spirited  citizen  and  a  Republican  in  politics.  His  life 
has  been  characterized  by  hard  work,  industry  and  frugality,  and  the  suc- 
cess which  he  has  achieved  has  come  as  the  reward  of  his  labors. 

George  Ri'ehle.  who  devotes  his  time  and  energies  to  general  farm- 
ing in  Monterey  township,  is  one  of  the  citizens  that  the  Fatherland  has 
furnished  to  Allegan  cotinty,  and  in  his  life  he  has  displayed  many  sterling 
characteristics  which  have  made  the  Teutonic  race  ever  a  progressive  one 
and  a  factor  in  the  world's  civilization.  Mr.  Ruehle  first  opened  his  eyes  to 
the  light  of  day  in  Germany  in  1847,  ^"'^^  was  the  eldest  child  of  Jacob  and 
Catherine  (Kronenwith)  Ruehle,  who  were  likewise  natives  of  Germany. 
The  father  was  bom  in  1804,  and  prior  to  his  marriage  was  employed  at 
various  occupations  in  his  native  country.  He  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1848  and  settled  first  in  Detroit,  Michigan,  where  he  worked  for  a  time 
as  a  laborer.  He  afterward  removed  with  his  family  to  St,  Clair  county, 
this  state,  where  lie  invested  his  savings  in  a  tract  of  farm  land,  making  his 
home  thereon  for  eleven  years.  In  1864  he  came  to  Allegan  county  and 
purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  which  was  cleared  with 
the  aid  of  his  sons.     His  attention  was  given  to  its  further  development  and 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAA"  COiSXTY  367 

improvement  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1877,  when  he 
was  seventy-three  years  of  age.  His  wife  survived  him  until  1890,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  In  their  family  were  five  children^  who 
.  reached  aduh  age,  of  which  numher  Valentine  is  now  deceased.  He  en- 
listed as  a  private  of  Company  E,  Tenth  Michigan  infantry,  in  the  Civil  war 
in  1861,  and  after  serving  for  three  years  he  re-enlisted  in  1S64  in  the  same 
regiment,  continuing  at  the  front  until  killed  at  the  battle  of  Atlanta,  thus 
laying  down  his  hfe  as  a  ransom  on  the  altar  of  his  country. 

Other  memhers  of  the  family  are  as  follows :  Jacob  F.  Rtiehle,  bom 
in  Detroit  in  1852,  married  Sophia  Housknecht,  and  has  eight  children. 
Oscar  P.,  Herman,  Wallace,  Elsie  K,,  Leon  G..  Lawrence,  George  D.,  and 
Raymond  D.  The  father  of  these  children  has  followed  farming  tlirough- 
outhis  entire  life.  John  Ruehle.  the  third  member  of  the  family,  was  born 
in  St.  Clair  county  in  1853  and  is  unmarried.  Henrietta,  the  only  daughter, 
born  in  St.  Clair  coimty,  Michigan,  in  1859.  is  the  wife  of  G.  Liniger,  a 
resident  of  Otsego,  Michigan,  and  they  have  four  children.  George,  Walter, 
Lulu  and  Bertha. 

George  Ruehle  is  the  eldest  member  of  the  family  and  the  only  one 
born  in  Germany.  He  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  various  removals 
from  the  old  world  to  America,  from  Detroit  to  St.  Clair  county  and  thence 
to  Allegan  county,  and  since  that  time  has  been  identified  with  the  agricul- 
ttiral  interests  of  Monterey  township.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  ninety-five 
acres,  all  of  which  is  imder  cultivation,  and  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
wide-awake,  practical  and  progressive  farmers  of  this  community.  At  the 
time  of  the  Civil  war  he  responded  to  the  call  of  the  country  and  joined  the 
boys  in  blue  of  Company  C,  Twenty-seventh  Michigan  infantry,  in  1S62. 
He  enlisted  as  a  private  for  three  years'  service  and  did  active  duty  while 
at  the  front,  and  was  wounded  at  Petersburg,  Virginia,  receiving  three  balls 
at  the  same  instant.  When  the  war  was  over  he  received  an  honorable  dis- 
cliarge,  and  with  a  creditable  military  record  returned  to  his  home  in  Alle- 
gan county,  since  which  time  he  has  continuously  and  successfully  followed 
farming. 

George  Ruehle  has  been  married  twice.  He  first  wedded  Miss  M.  A. 
Renzehausen.  and  they  have  four  children,  Edna,  Serena,  George  R.  and 
Leonora.  After  losing  his  first  wife  Mr.  Ruehle  wedded  Magdalena  Reel, 
and  they  have  two  children.  Vera  and  Orland.  The  family  are  widely  and 
favorably  known  in  this  locality  and  the  memhers  of  the  household  enjoy 
the  high  regard  of  many  friends.  Mr.  Ruehle  is  a  member  of  Harlow 
Briggs  Post,  No.  80,  G.  A.  R.  He  has  lived  a  life  of  unremitting  toil  and 
industry,  and  his  success  is  the  direct  result  of  his  earnest,  persi.stent  labor. 
He  is  a  progressive  and  public -spirited  man,  and  he  and  his  interesting  fam- 
ily have  the  warm  regard  of  those  with  whom  they  have  been  associated. 

Jacob  Schlientz.  deceased,  was  active  and  prominent  in  industrial 
and  agricultural  circles  in  Allegan  county  for  many  years.  His  Hfe  record 
began  in  Esslingen,  Wurtemberg.  Germany,  on  the  3d  of  August,  1846,  and 
the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  passed  in  his  native  country,  where 
he  acquired  his  education  in  the  pubhc  schools.  He  came  to  America  when 
a  young  man  of  twenty-two  years,  having  in  the  meantime  followed  farming 
in  his  native  country  with  his  father,  Leonard  Schlientz.     After  arriving 


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368  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

in  the  new  world  he  made  his  way  to  Allegan,  where  resided  his  brother, 
Gotlieb  Schlientz,  who  was  a  tailor  in  the  village.  Mr.  Schlientz  of  this 
review  learned  the  cooper's  trade  under  the  direction  of  a  Mr.  Elliger  in  the 
village  of  Allegan,  and  afterward  opened  a  cooper  shop  of  his  own  in  Hop- 
kins township.  There  he  worked  at  his  trade  continuously  for  some  years, 
and  in  1891  he  purchased  a  farm  of  seventy  acres,  which  had  been  cleared 
and  was  under  cultivation.  He  devoted  his  remaining  days  to  general  agri- 
cultural pursuits  and  further  developed  and  improved  his  property,  making 
it  one  of  the  good  fanus  of  Monterey  township. 

On  Christmas  day  of  1870,  in  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Schlientz  and  Miss  Elizabeth  Lohrberg,  who  was  born 
March  4,  1848,  in  Springfield,  Mahoning  county,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of 
August  Frederick  and  Catherine  (Roch)  Lohrberg.  The  father  was  born 
in  Hanover,  Germany,  came  to  America  when  a  young  man,  and  was  mar- 
ried in  Ohio,  where  he  settled  upon  a  farm.  He  had  been  a  weaver  in  his 
native  country  and  he  followed  that  pursuit  to  some  extent  in  Ohio  during 
the  winter  seasons,  while  the  summer  months  were  devoted  to  general 
farming.  He  came  to  Michigan,  where  his  death  occurred,  when  he  was 
sixty-three  years  of  age,  and  where  his  widow  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-two 
years.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  two  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schlientz  were  born  eleven  children.  August 
Frederick,  who  was  born  in  Monterey  township,  November  20,  1871,  is  the 
eldest  of  the  family.  Lizzie  Catherine,  born  in  Monterey  township  Decem- 
ber 21,  1874,  married  Lewis  Buch,  and  has  two  children.  Vena  and  Lindon. 
Lizzie  Louise  and  Lena  Magdalena,  twins,  were  born  in  Monterey  town- 
ship, January  24,  1877,  and  both  died  on  the  9th  of  September  of  the  same 
year.  Nettie  May,  who  was  born  December  7,  1878,  in  Allegan,  became 
the  wife  of  Edward  Buch  and  died  September  22,  1906,  leaving  a  husband 
and  two  sons,  Russell  and  Wayne,  aged  eight  and  five  years,  respectively. 
Mary  Louisa,  born  in  Hopkins,  Michigan,  March  9,  1880,  is  the  wife  of 
Otho  Buch,  and  has  one  child,  Lillie  Fern.  Emma  Sophia,  born  at  Hopkins, 
June  ti,  1881,  died  on  the  19th  of  July  of  the  same  year.  Otto  Leonard, 
born  in  Hopkins.  October  6,  1883,  died  on  the  3d  of  November  following. 
Ernest  Jacob,  born  at  Hopkins,  May  i,  1886,  and  Lida  Cornelia,  born  at 
Hopkins,  June  2,  1887,  are  at  home  with  their  mother.  Carl  Francis,  bom 
February  14,  1889,  died  the  following  day. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Schlientz  was  a  Democrat,  always  voting  for 
the  candidates  of  the  party,  though  never  desiring  office  for  himself.  He 
attended  the  Lutheran  church  and  was  a  very  busy,  industrious  and  frugal 
man,  whose  success  was  due  to  these  qualities  and  the  assistance  of  his  wife, 
a  most  estimable  lady,  who  proved  to  him  a  faithful  companion  and  help- 
mate on  life's  journey.  Mr.  Schlientz  was  greatly  esteemed  for  his  many 
good  quantities,  as  manifest  in  his  private  life  and  in  his  citizenship,  and 
when  he  was  called  away  in  1902  his  death  was  deeply  regretted  by  many 
friends  as  well  as  his  immediate  family. 

He-\th. 
Hamilton  has  grown  to  be  a  village  of  no  inconsiderable  importance  in 
the  northwest  portion  of  the  county.     Located  on  Rabbit  river,  it  was  at  an 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  369 

early  day  a  mill  site,  and  with  a  railroad  to  enforce  this  position  it  has  con- 
tinued as  a  business  center  for  over  forty  years.  The  village  site  in  the 
northwest  corner  of  Heath  township  was  once  owned  by  Anton  Schorno,  C, 
W.  Calkins,  and  Elnathan  Judson.  In  1852  Col.  John  Littlejohn  and  Si- 
mon Howe  built  a  sawmill,  that  ran  only  a  short  time  because  the  dam  gave 
wav.  The  mill  was  rebuilt  by  Col.  Littlejohn  in  1855,  and  from  that  time, 
as  long  as  lumbering  remained  an  important  industry,  the  mill  was  a  central 
institution. 

In  i86i  George  P.  Heath  built  the  first  grist  mill.  It  was  burned  in 
1867,  and  no  other  was  erected  until  1879.  Since  then  the  milling  business 
has  given  Hamilton  much  of  its  prestige  in  the  county.  Mention  is  made 
of  the  Hamilton  Mills  below.  The  village  now  has  an  estimated  population 
of  275.  has  an  excellent  graded  school,  several  stores,  and  supplies  a  con- 
siderable trade  in  that  portion  of  the  county. 

Another  mill  site  in  Heath  that  developed  into  a  small  village  center  is 
Dunningville,  now  a  station  on  the  Pere  Marquette,  with  a  population  of 
about  roo.  Andrew  Whistler  built  a  sawmill  on  Bear  creek  in  section  28. 
snd  when,  after  several  changes  of  ownership,  this  was  burned,  William 
Scott  ourchased  the  property  and  erected  a  more  modern  mill  on  the  same 
site.  A  store  and  hotel  were  also  opened,  and  with  a  postoffice  the  place  has 
for  the  past  thirty  years  kept  its  place  among  the  minor  villages  of  the 
county, 

Graafschaf. 

The  plat  by  this  name,  recorded  February  24,  1871,  surveyed  by  Ira 
Chichester,  is  situated  in  the  northwest  corner  of  section  7,  Fillmore  town- 
ship. The  origin  of  the  village,  however,  dates  from  1848.  in  which  year 
the  Reformed  church  was  formed  in  that  vicinity,  and  the  incorporated 
societv  purchased  eiehty-one  acres,  on  which  they  laid  out  the  village  of 
Graafschap.  Here  the  church  was  built,  and  the  place  has  since  remained 
a  rehpioiis.  social  and  to  a  limited  extent  a  business  center.  The  fact  that 
the  railroad  did  not  pass  near  the  site  was  doubtless  a  reason  why  the  locality 
did  not  obtain  greater  importance  as  a  village  center. 

When  the  railroad  was  built  through  Fillmore  township  a  station  was 
established  on  section  23.  a  sawmill  was  erected  there,  and  in  1873  a  post- 
office  established.  A  store  was  opened  in  1874  and  in  1875  a  grist  mill. 
The  population  and  business  enterprise  of  the  place  have  remained  about 
stationary  since  that  time. 

Henry  Cook  is  a  retired  furniture  manufacturer  residing  in  the  village 
of  Allegan.  His  success  in  all  of  his  undertakings  has  been  so  marked 
that  his  methods  are  of  interest  to  the  commercial  world.  An  analysis  of 
his  character  shows  that  he  has  based  his  business  principle?  and  actions 
upon  strict  adherence  to  the  rules  which  govern  industr\'.  economy  and 
unswerving  integrity.  His  enterprise  and  progressive  spirit  have  made 
him  a  typical  American  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  and  in  community 
affairs  he  manifests  that  tangible  spirit  which  makes  him  a  valued  citizen. 
By  constant  exertion,  associated  with  good  judgment,  he  has  raised  himself 
to  the  prominent  position  which  he  now  holds,  having  the  friendship  of 
many  and  the  respect  of  all  who  know  him. 

A  native  of  the  Netherlands,  Henry  Cook  w-as  born  March  11.  T831. 


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370  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

His  father,  Harm  Cook,  was  a  native  of  the  same  country  and  was  there 
married  to  Miss  Jane  Dunnewind,  who  was  lilcewise  born  in  that  country 
in  1800.  They  came  to  the  United  States  in  1846.  settHng  in  Michigan  at 
the  town  which  was  called  Holland  in  honor  of  their  native  country.  They 
were  among  its  earliest  residents,  coming  to  the  United  States  under  the 
leadership  of  a  minister.  Dr.  A.  C.  Van  Raalte.  who,  after  selecting  a  loca- 
tion, brought  with  him  a  colony  of  about  one  hundred,  who  established  the 
new  town  of  Holland.,  Harm  Cook  settled  upon  a  farm  and  built  a  log 
house,  but  the  work  of  clearing  and  developing  his  place  was  so  arduous 
that  his  health  was  undermined  and  he  passed  away  December  29,  1847, 
when  about  fifty  years  of  age.  His  family  shortly  afterward  removed  to 
Allegan,  The  place  in  which  their  home  was  first  established  was  an 
unbroken  wilderness  and  Harm  Cook  moved  into  the  second  shanty  built 
in  that  locality,  living  in  it  until  a  log  cabin  could  be  constructed.  His 
widow  survived  him  until  1861.  All  of  their  children  were  born  in  the 
land  of  the  Dykes  and  came  with  their  parents  to  the  United  States,  namely : 
Hermina.  now  deceased:  John,  who  served  in  the  Fifth  Michigan  Cavalry 
in  the  Civil  war  and  has  also  passed  away ;  Henry,  of  this  review :  Albert. 
who  is  living  in  Allegan,  and  Martin,  who  is  hving  at  Ionia,  Michigan. 
Following  the  removal  of  the  family  from  Holland,  Michigan,  to  Allegan 
in  1848,  Henry  Cook,  then  a  youth  of  about  eighteen  years,  began  learning 
a  trade  in  the  planing  mill  of  N.  B.  West.  That  he  was  faithful  and  capable 
is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  he  was  there  employed  continuously  from  1852 
until  1890.  In  the  latter  year,  in  connection  with  Siebe  Baker,  he  pur- 
chased Mr.  West's  interest  and  continued  the  business  until  1900.  when  he 
sold  out.  In  the  meantime  the  planing  mill  had  been  converted  into  a  furni- 
ture manufactory  and  the  new  company  placed  an  oiitptTt  of  furniture  on  the 
market,  securing  a  ready  sale  for  its  product.  In  fact  the  business  proved 
a  profitable  one  from  the  beginning,  and  thus  adding  annually  to  his  income, 
Mr.  Cook  was  enabled  to  put  aside  the  more  arduous  cares  of  business  life 
and  is  now  living  retired. 

In  i860  Mr.  Cook  was  married  to  Althea  Cook,  a  daughter  of  Hermanis 
Cook,  who,  though  of  the  same  name,  was  not  a  relative.  They  have 
become  the  parents  of  four  children,  all  born  in  Allegan,  namely:  Delia  J., 
who  is  the  wife  of  Judge  Fred  S.  Lamb  and  has  four  children.  Althea, 
Morris,  Emma  and  Fred;  Herman,  undertaker  and  justice  of  the  peace, 
who  married  Minnie  M.  Cook;  Milton  J.,  a  practicing  dentist  of  Holland, 
Michigan,  who  wedded  Maggie  Thompson,  bv  whom  he  had  one  child, 
Henry  Dale;  and  Eva  0.,.the  wife  of  Henry  Wllber  Hardie,  a  jeweler  of 
Holland,  by  whom  she  has  a  daughter,  Ruth  Cook.  The  family  attend  the 
First  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cook  are  earnest  and 
devoted  members  and  in  which  he  is  serving  as  an  elder.  In  his  political 
views  he  is  a  Republican,  never  faltering. in  his  allegiance  to  the  party  but 
without  aspiration  for  office  for  himself.  Starting  out  in  life  empty-handed, 
recognizing  its  possibilities  and  not  overestimating  its  difficulties,  he. deter- 
mined to  win  success  and  by  a  hrave  and  resolute  effort  continued  on  his  wav. 
faithfully  pursuing  his  work.  Through  thrift,  industry  and  frugality  he 
succeeded  in  saving  a  sum  of  money,  which  enabled  him  to  engage  in 
business  for  ■  himself.  Prosperity  attended  his  efiforts,  thereafter  making 
him  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  Allegan.    His  business  career  is  alike 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY  371 

creditable  and  honorable,  being  characterized  by  rectitude  and  unassailable 
integrity, 

Henry  Brinkmam,  who  for  many  years  has  been  numbered  among 
the  enterprising  farmers  of  Laketown  township,  Allegan  county,  Michigan, 
where  he  owns  and  operates  sixty  acres  of  land,  is  a  native  of  the  Nether- 
lands, his  natal  year  being  185 1.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Grace  Brinkman, 
likewise  natives  of  that  country,  whence  they  emigrated  in  1861  to  the 
United  States.  The  father  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  following  that 
pursuit  in  his  native  land,  and  after  coming  to  the  United  States  continued 
his  operations  along  that  line  with  profit  and  success.  He  purchased  a  tract 
of  eighty  acres  in  Fillmore  township,  this  county,  which  he  operated  in 
conjunction  with  his  work  as  a  carpenter.  He  was  an  expert  mechanic  and 
was  connected  with  much  important  building  in  his  section  of  the  state, 
where  he  became  a  prominent  and  influential  citizen,  being  true  and  loyal 
to  the  principles  of  his  adopted  country.  His  death  occurred  in  1864, 
while  his  widow  survived  for  many  years,  being  called  to  her  final  rest  in 
1898.  Their  family  numbered  seven  children:  John,  Henry,  Hilbert, 
Henrietta,  and  three  who  died  in  early  life. 

Henry  Brinkman  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  emigration  to  the 
new  world  in  1861,  being  then  a  lad  of  only  ten  years.  His  education, 
begun  in  his  native  country,  was  continued  after  the  arrival  of  the  family 
in  Michigan,  where  he  attended  the  district  schools  near  his  father's  home. 
Being  well  pleased  with  this  state  and  the  opportunities  which  it  offers  to 
the  agriculturist,  he  has  always  continued  his  residence  here  to  the  present 
time,  having  lived  in  Allegan  county  from  the  time  of  his  arrival  in  the 
new  world,  and  in  Laketown  township  since  1877,  in  which  year  he  pur- 
chased forty  acres  of  land,  this  being  a  part  of  his  present  homestead  prop- 
erty, to  which  he  added  an  additional  twenty-acre  tract  in  1882.  He  is  an 
industrious  and  progressive  farmer,  following  only  the  best  methods  in  the 
prosecution  of  his  work.  He  raises  the  cereals  best  adapted  to  soil  and 
climate  and  each  year  harvests  good  crops,  which  find  a  ready  sale  on  the 
market,  where  they  command  a  high  price,  owing  to  their  excellence. 

After  making  his  first  purchase  of  land,  Mr.  Brinkman  further  com- 
pleted his  arrangements  for  having  a  home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage  to 
Miss  Gesenia  Benefeldt,  and  their  home  has  been  blessed  with  seven 
children,  namely:  George,  Grace,  Ethel,  Albert,  Jennie  and  Ettie,  all  still 
at  home.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  church,  while 
Mr.  Brinkman  is  now  serving  as  assessor  of  school  district  No.  3,  of  Lake- 
town  township.  As  an  agriculturist  he  has  made  a  creditable  record,  his 
efforts  resulting  in  the  achievement  of  success,  and  he  is  today  numbered 
among  the  influential  and  prosperous  farmers  of  Allegan  county. 

JoHANNAS  Heerspink,  a  representative  and  well-to-do  farmer  and 
fruit  raiser  of  Laketown  township,  was  horn  on  the  farm  which  is  still  his 
home,  his  natal  year  being  1850,  and  is  of  Holland  descent.  His  father, 
George  Heerspink,  was  bom  in  the  Netherlands  in  1817.  and,  with  the  hope 
of  bettering  his  financial  condition  in  the  new  world,  crossed  the  Atlantic 
in  his  early  manhood  and  made  his  way  to  Allegan  county,  this  state.  His 
wife,  who  in   her  maidenhood  was  Miss  Fannie  Boucamp,  was  born  in 


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3:2  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

.  Germany  in  1822,  and  had  also  come  to  this  country  at  an  early  day,  settling 
in  Allegan  county,  where  she  formed  the  acquaintance  of  George  Heerspink, 
and  afterward,  in  1848,  gave  to  him  her  hand  in  marriage.  The  young 
couple  took  up  their  abode  in  Allegan,  where  they  resided  for  some  time, 
and-  later  the  father  purchased  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  in  Laketown  town- 
ship, to  which  he  removed.  The  land  was  mostly  wild  and  iinimproved,  but 
the  father  began  the  work  of  development  and  improvement,  first  making 
a  clearing  sufficient  to  build  a  log  cabin,  which  continued  to  be  the  home 
of  the  family  through  a  Song  period,  but  this  was  later  replaced  by  a  more 
commodious  and  modern  frame  residence.  Mr.  Heerspink  was  connected 
with  the  improvement  and  upbuilding  of  Allegan  county  during  its  early 
pioneer  epoch  and  was  classed  among  its  prominent  and  influential  citizens. 
He  continued  his  residence  on  his  farm,  of  which  he  had  disposed  of  twenty 
acres,  until  his  demise,  which  occurred  January  7,  1882,  while  his  wife 
had  preceded  him  to  the  home  beyond,  her  death  occurring  November  12, 
1880.  Their  family  numbered  but  two  children :  Johannas,  of  this  review, 
and  Jennie,  deceased. 

Johannes  Heerspink,  the  only  surviving  member  of  his  father's  family, 
was  reared  in  the  usiial  manner  of  farm  lads,  assisting  his  father  in  the 
operation  of  the  farm,  and  in  the  meantime  acquiring  a  common  school 
education  during  his  boyhood  and  youth.  When  he  started  out  in  life  on  his 
own  account  he  chose  the  occupation  to  which  he  had  been  reared,  and  in 
which  he  has  met  with  gratifying  success.  Following  the  demise  of  his 
father  in  1882,  Mr.  Heerspink  came  into  possession  of  the  old  homestead 
property,  and  here  is  engaged  in  general  farming  and  fruit  raising.  He  has 
a  fine  orchard  containing  one  thousand  peach  trees,  two  hundred  apple 
trees,  one  hundred  pear  trees  and  twenty-five  plum  trees,  in  addition  to 
which  he  raises  berries  and  other  small  fruit.  Mr.  Heerspink  has  a  well 
improved  farm  of  sixty  acres,  and  is  a  man  of  progressive  spirit,  who  keeps 
in  touch  with  the  trend  of  modern  development  along  agricultural  lines. 

In  1872  our  subject  chose  as  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's 
journey  Miss  Fannie  Mapplink,  who  was  born  in  the  Netherlands.  August 
23.  1853.  and  in  1871,  when  a  young  lady  of  eighteen  years,  she  emigrated 
to  this  country.  By  her  marriage  she  has  become  the  mother  of  ten  chil- 
dren: Fannie.  Clacena,  Jennie,  George  (deceased),  George,  Herman,  John, 
Frederick.  Johanna  and  Dena.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Cliristian 
Reformed  church  at  Graafschap.  Mr.  Heerspink  is  a  man  of  enterprise, 
energy  and  integrity  and  his  life  is  exemplary  in  many  respects,  so  that  he 
has  won  the  confidence  and  good  will  of  all  with  whom  he  has  had  business 
relations. 

Taal  Brinks,  who  has  cleared  and  improved  the  farm  upon  which  he 
now  resides,  has  been  a  resident  of  Laketown  township  since  1881,  and  his 
broad  experience  and  practical  methods  in  fanTiing  have  made  him  a  repre- 
sentative agriculturist  of  his  community.  Like  many  of  the  residents  of 
this  portion  of  the  state,  he  is  a  native  son  of  the  Netherlands,  having  been 
born  in  Holland  November  30.  1854.  His  parents  were  B.  and  Helen 
(Ottens)  Brinks,  also  natives  of  the  same  country,  whence  thev  emigrated 
to  the  United  States  in  the  spring  of  1871.  Making  their  way  at  once  to 
Allegan  county,  Michigan,  they  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  in  Fillmore 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  373 

township,  which  is  now  the  property  of  their  son,  R.  J-.  Brinks.  The  father 
was  an  honest  and  industrious  farmer  and  a  loyal  citizen  of  his  adopted 
country,  whose  life  was  quietly  passed  yet  exemplifying  many  sterling  traits 
of  character,  as  manifest  in  his  devotion  to  the  general  welfare  and  his 
reliability  in  his  private  business  life.  He  died  in  1904,  having  for  about 
three  years  survived  his  wife,  who  passed  away  in  1901.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Reformed  church.  Their  children  were  eight  in 
number:  R.  J.,  Taal,  Jennie  (deceased),  Gertrude,  Maggie,  Hattie,  Grace 
and  John. 

Taal  Brinks  spent  the  first  sixteen  years  of  his  life  in  the  land  of  his 
birth  and  then  came  with  his  parents  to  the  new  world.  He  has  since  been 
connected  with  agricultural  interests  in  Allegan  county,  and  since  1881  has 
lived  in  Laketown  township,  in  which  year  lie  purchased  his  farm  of  forty 
acres.  This  he  at  once  began  to  clear  and  improve,  for  the  land  was  unculti- 
vated when  it  came  into  his  possession.  He  has  erected  thereon  suitable  and 
convenient  buildings  of  modem  construction  and  carries  on  mixed  farming, 
raising,  however,  crops  of  a  superior  quality  that  command  the  highest 
market  prices.  He  has  had  broad  experience  and  possesses  accurate  knowl- 
edge of  the  best  methods  of  carrying  on  farm  work,  and  his  place  in  every 
department  is  neat  and  thrifty. 

In  the  same  year  in  which  he  located  on  his  fann  Mr.  Brinks  was 
married  to  Miss  Carrie  Ensing,  the  ceremony  taking  place  on  the  21st  of 
May,  1881.  She  was  born  in  the  Netherlands  December  20,  i860,  and 
came  to  the  new  world  in  1871.  By  this  marriage  there  are  seven  children; 
Helen,  Anna,  Bertha,  Henry,  Henrietta  and  Jennetta  (twins),  and  Gertrude. 

Mr.  Brinks  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  Republican  party  and  keeps  well  inforined  on  the  questions 
and  issues  of  the  day.  He  has  held  the  office  of  school  director  in  his  district 
for  nine  ^-ears  and  lias  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  review  for  ten 
years.  He  and  his  wife  are  members-  of  the  Christian  Reformed  church, 
in  the  work  of  which  they  take  an  active  and  helpful  interest,  Mr.  Brinks 
serving  now  as  one  of  the  teachers  of  the  Sunday-school.  In  1889  he  built 
a  modern  residence  upon  his  farm,  where  he  is  now  most  comfortably 
situated. 

JoHX  A.  Atman  has  resided  upon  his  present  farm  in  Laketown  town- 
ship since  1891.  and  is  a  man  of  industry- and  energy,  as  manifest  in  the 
splendid  appearance  of  his  place  with  its  modern  equipments.  He  was  born 
in  Germany  July  4,  1867,  and  his  parents,  John  and  Alice  (Rattarank) 
Atman,  were  also  natives  of  that  country.  The  father  died  in  his  native 
land  in  1878,  when  his  son  John  was  only  eleven  years  of  age.  In  the 
family  were  seven  children,  three  of  whom  are  living,  John  A.  Atman, 
however,  being  the  only  one  in  this  country.  His  mother  married  again, 
her  second  husband  being  Henry  Massalank.  and  both  are  now  well 
advanced  in  years,  Mr.  Massalank  having  reached  the  age  of  seventy-eight 
years,  while  his  wife  is  seventy-four.  ... 

In  the  schools  of  his  native  locality  John  A.  Atman  acquired  the  educa- 
tion which  prepared  him  for  life's  practical  and  responsible  duties,  and  when 
he  was  twenty  years  of  age  he  bade  adieu  to  friends  and  fatherland  and  sailed 
for  America,  where  he  has  sinee  remained,  becoming  a  loyal  citizen  of  the 


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374  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

republic.  In  1882  his  mother  and  step-father  also  came  to  the  United 
States  and  purchased  thirty -one  acres  of  land  in  Laketown  township, 
Allegan  county,  Michigan.  For  some  years  Mr.  Massalank  followed  agri- 
cultural pursuits  successfully,  but  they  are  now  living  with  Mr.  Atman  in 
their  old  age. 

On  December  6,  1891.  Mr.  Atman  was  married  to  Miss  Jennie  Elbert, 
a  daiighter  of  Edward  Elbert,  and  they  have  become  the  parents  of  four 
children:  John,  Albert,  Herman,  and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  The 
parents  are  members  of  the  Christian  Reformed  church  and  their  genuine 
worth  is  attested  by  the  number  of  their  friends  in  the  locality  where  they 
reside  and  where  they  are  best  known. 

Their  home  is  upon  the  farm  which  has  ^een  owned  and  occupied  by 
Mr.  Atman  since  1891,  and  which  comprises  sixty  acres  of  land.  The  soil 
is  rich  and  alluvial,,  and  his  farm  work  is  carried  on  along  practical  and 
scientific  principles  that  yield  good  results, 

George  Stkatton. — The  farming  interests  of  Laketown  township  find 
a  worthy  representative  in  George  Stratton,  who  is  living  not  far  from  the 
city  of  Holland.  He  owns  and  operates  eighty  acres  of  good  farming  land, 
devoted  to  dairying  and  fruit  growing.  One  of  Michigan's  native  sons,  he 
was  bom  in  Berrien  county  on  the  7th  of  November,  1856.  his  parents  being 
Nathaniel  and  Mary  (Murdock)  Stratton.  The  paternal  grandfather  was 
Charles  Stratton,  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  war.  and  the  family  was  also  repre- 
sented therein  by  Ephraim  and  Henry  Stratton,  uncles  of  our  subject,  who 
served  in  a  Michigan  regiment  in  the  Union  army.  The  father  was  born  in 
the  state  of  New  York  in  1816  and  was  of  Scotch  extraction,  while  his  wife, 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  was  born  in  1820.  When  young  people  they 
came  to  Michigan,  each  arriving  in  the  state  about  1840,  and  in  1841  they 
were  married.  Early  settlers  of  Berrien  county,  they  were  thus  identified 
with  its  pioneer  experiences  and  primitive  development  and  they  lived  to 
see  all  this  section  of  the  state  transformed  into  a  rich  region  of  fertility, 
bringing  forth  good  crops  in  orchard  and  fruit.  Nathaniel  Stratton  lived 
to  a  ripe  old  age.  passing  away  in  August.  1902.  at  the  age  of  eighty-six 
years,  and  his  widow  still  survives,  also  at  the  age  of  eighty-six.  The  farm 
upon  which  his  son  George  is  now  living  was  purchased  by  him  in  i8fi2. 
at  which  time  he  built  thereon  a  log  cabin  and  began  to  clear  and  improve 
his  land.  The  family  numbered  fourteen  children,  ten  of  whom  reached 
adult  age,  while  eight  are  still  living:  Frank,  George,  Eliza.  Emma,  Ida, 
Melvira,  Cora  and  Marietta. 

George  Stratton  was  a  little  lad  of  six  years  when  brought  by  the  family 
to  Allegan  county,  the  home  being  established  in  Laketown  township  upon 
the  farm  which  is  still  his  place  of  residence.  Before  his  death  the  father 
cleared  twentv  acres  of  the  land  and  the  remainder  has  been  cleared  by  Mr. 
Stratton,  of  this  review,  who  aided  in  erecting  the  buildines  and  assisted  in 
all  the  other  work  of  improvement  along  modern  lines.  His  education  was 
acquired  in  the  district  schools  not  far  from  the  old  home  and  he  continued 
to  aid  in  the  operation  of  the  farm  imtil  1871,  when  he  began  sailing  on  the 
lakes,  acting  as  steward  and  cook.  For  fourteen  years  of  that  time  his  wife 
sailed  with  him  and  was  assistant  cook.  In  this  way  they  accumulated  money 
enough  to  purchase  property  in  Chicago  and  also  obtained  a  bank  account 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  375 

large  enough  to  place  them  at  their  ease  with  regard  to  finances.  In  1891 
Mr.  Stratton  made  purchase  of  the  old  home  farm  and  now  has  eighty  acres 
of  good  land,  of  which  five  acres  is  planted  to  peaches.  He  also  has  four 
hundred  and  fifty  apple  and  fifty  cherry  trees  upon  his  place.  His  farm  is 
well  adapted  to  dairy  purposes  and  he  has  recenth-  turned  his  attention  to 
that  line  of  business. 

In  1884  Mr.  Stratton  was  married  to  Miss  Bertha  Triebsees,  a  daughter 
of  Godfried  Triebsees,  who  was  a  native  of  Germany  but  became  a  loyal 
citizen  of  the  United  States  and  served  his  adopted  country  in  the  Civil 
war  by  becoming  a  member  of  Company  L,  Third  Regiment  of  Missouri 
Light  Artillery.  He  joined  the  army  in  1861  and  was  hdnorably  discharged 
in  1864,  after  which  he  re-enlisted  in  the  same  command.  He  was  held  as  a 
prisoner  of  war  in  Libby  prison  for  some  time,  but  at  the  close  of  hostilities 
was  honorably  discharged  in  1865.  He  lived  for  many  years  to  enjoy 
the  peace  and  prosperity  which  followed  that  dark  hour  in  our  country's 
history  and  died  on  the  15th  of  August,  1S95,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty- 
three  years.  One  son,  Charles,  has  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stratton.  His 
birth  occurred  in  January,  1889.  and  he  died  twelve  days  later.  Tlie  parents 
are  well  known  in  this  part  of  Allegan  county  and  are  most  enterprising 
people,  whose  success  is  attributable  entirely  to  their  own  we!!  directed 
labors,  frugality  and  laudable  ambition. 

Rev.  John  H.  Parr  is  proprietor  of  Castle  Park,  one  of  the  attractive 
summer  resorts  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan.  With  its  picturesque  sur- 
roundings, its  quiet  and  retirement,  it  affords  a  most  fitting  place  for  both 
rest  and  recreation.  Mr.  Parr  was  born  in  La  Salle  county,  Illinois,  in 
1851,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Moore)  Parr,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Illinois.  His  father  was  a  prosperous  and  influential  farmer, 
in  whose  family  there  were  eleven  children,  seven  of  whom  are  now  living: 
Lewis,  who  is  in  the  real  estate  business;  Samuel  W.,  who  is  professor  of 
chemistry  in  the  State  University  at  Champaign,  Illinois;  Edward,  who  is 
engaged  in  business  as  a  stock  broker;  John  H..  of  this  review:  Frances, 
Alice  and  Mrs.  Dr.  Van  Benschoten,  all  of  Chicago. 

Rev.  John  H.  Parr  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  acqiiired  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  town.  Subsequently  he  entered  the 
State  Normal  School  at  Normal.  Illinois,  from  which  institution  he  was 
graduated,  and  he  afterward  pursued  a  full  course  in  the  Chicago  Theo- 
l<^ical  School,  of  which  he  is  also  an  alumnus.  Both  prior  to  and  subsequent 
to  his  attendance  at  the  Theological  School  he  engaged  in  teaching,  following 
that  profession  altogether  for  fifteen  years.  In  i88i  be  was  ordained  to  the 
ministry  of  the  Congregational  church  and  had  two  pastorates,  one  in 
Chicago  and  the  other  in  a  suburb  of  that  city.  Shortly  after  his  ordination 
he  was  married  to  Mary  E.  Page,  of  Aurora.  Illinois,  who  died  four  and  a 
half  years  later.  Two  children  were  the  fruit  of  this  marriage,  both  of 
whom  died  in  infancy. 

In  1890  Mr,  Parr  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Flora,  the  daughter 
of  William  A.  and  Eveline  (Fames')  Pennell.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Vermont,  but  Mrs.  Parr  was  born  in  Illinois,  She  is  a  highly  accomplished 
lady  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  Illinois  State  Normal  School  and  also  of 
Vassar  College,  at  Poughkeepsie,  New  York.   Following  her  graduation  she 


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37(1  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

taught  school  for  three  years  in  tlie  Elgin  high  school  and  was  afterward 
a  teacher  for  thirteen  years  in  the  State  Normal  School,  where  she  also 
acted  as  preceptress.    Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parr  have  one  daughter,  Dorothy. 

Since  1896  Mr.  Parr  has  conducted  one  of  the  most  attractive  summer 
resorts  in  Allegan  county.  He  has  here  forty  acres  of  land,  situated  on  the 
eastern  shore  of  Lake  Michigan.  The  beautiful  tree-crowned  sand  hills 
slope  to  the  lake  and  in  the  little  vale  where  stands  the  castle  there  are  also 
many  attractive  cottages,  Tlie  castle  was  originally  erected  by  a  German 
in  1892,  who  built  it  for  his  home,  fashioned  after  the  pattern  of  a  German 
castle.  It  was  purchased  in  1896  by  Mr.  Parr,  who  enlarged,  beautified  and 
transformed  it  into  a  most  attractive  and  home-like  hotel,  making  it  one  of 
the  most  popular  resorts  on  Lake  Michigan.  Here  the  guests  can  have 
complete  rest  and  quiet,  or  such  social  life  as  they  may  desire.  There  is  an 
excellent  bathing  beach,  tennis  court,  golf  links,  quoits  and  croquet  grounds. 
From  the  beginning  of  the  existence  of  this  place  as  a  resort  in  1896  its  life 
has  always  been  dominated  by  an  intellectual  and  moral  tone  that  brings  to 
it  a  most  desirable  class  of  patrons.  In  addition  to  the  castle  proper,  which 
is  a  stately  brick  structure,  tower -crowned,  Mr.  Parr  owns  the  forty  acres 
of  land  by  which  it  is  surrounded  and  upon  which  he  has  erected  cottages, 
which  he  rents  during  the  season.  He  has  also  sold  lots  upon  which  others 
have  erected  suitable  summer  homes,  and  the  whole  presents  somewhat  the 
appearance  of  a  growing  and  prosperous  village  and  yet  does  not  lose  any 
of  the  charm  of  a  rural  resort.  The  patronage  has  advanced  from  forty 
guests  in  1896  to  five  hundred  in  a  single  season.  Formerly  there  were 
two  buildings,  but  today  there  are  twenty  and  the  hotel  can  accommodate 
at  one  time  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  guests.  This  place  is  connected 
with  Holland  and  Macatawa  Park  by  trolley  and  a  short  stage  route.  While 
nature  has  provided  many  advantages,  yet  these  have  greatly  been  improved 
through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Parr  and  his  accomplished  wife,  who  look  after 
every  detail  that  may  contribute  to  the  comfort  and  convenience  of  their 
guests. 

Gehrit  Meyers,  deceased,  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  tlie  TTolland 
settlement  in  Allegan  county — a  worthy  man  and  loyal  citizen  of  his  adopted 
country,  who  in  his  business  life  made  an  honorable  name,  at  the  same  time 
securing  a  goodly  measure  of  success.  He  was  born  in  the  Netherlands 
in  1813  and  followed  agricultural  pursuits  in  his  native  country,  but  the 
reports  which  came  to  him  from  America,  telling  of  its  opportunities  and 
advantages,  influenced  him  to  come  to  the  new  world,  and  he  never  had 
occasion  to  regret  the  step.  It  was  in  1847  that  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  where  he  could  have  freedom  of  speech  and  of  suffrage  and  also 
have  a  chance  for  business  advancement.  Arriving  in  this  country  he  pro- 
ceeded to  Michigan,  settling  first  at  Kalamazoo,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  brick.  He  was  employed  there  for  two  years,  after  which 
he  removed  to  Laketown  township  and  purchased  the  farm  upon  which  his 
two  sons.  Harm  and  Gerrit,  now  reside,  and  which  contained  eighty  acres 
of  land,  forty  acres  having  been  purchased  in  1849  and  forty  in  1854.  At 
the  time  of  the  purchase  this  was  in  its  primitive  state,  covered  with  the 
native  growth  of  timber,  but  in  a  few  years  he  soon  wrought  a  change, 
developing  it  from  a  wilderness  into  a  profitable  farm.     Various  kinds  of 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  377 

trees  grew  upon  it,  furnishing  timber  of  different  density  and  quality. 
There  was  an  abundance  of  hemlock,  which  gave  him  occupation  in  peeling 
the  bark  and  disposing  of  it  at  a  fair  price.  He  also  cut  and  sold  logs  and 
in  this  way  supplied  himself  with  means  to  meet  his  household  expenses 
while  he  was  preparing  his  farm  for  the  new  crops. 

It  was  in  1849  that  Mr.  Meyers  was  married  to  Miss  Gertrude  Strur, 
and  for  forty-six  years  they  traveled  life's  journey  happily  together,  but 
were  separated  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Meyers  in  1895,  his  wife  surviving  until 
1905,  when  she,  too,  was  called  from  this  life.  They  were  both  members  of 
the  Christian  Reformed  church  and  to  its  teachings  were  most  faithful,  thus 
developing  characters  that  made  them  esteemed  by  all.  Their  family  num- 
bered nine  children:  Gran,  John,  Joseph  (deceased),  William,  Susan  (the 
wife  of  A.  Barrs),  Henry,  Benjamin,  Harm  and  Gerrit. 

The  last  two  are  farmers  and  fruit  growers  and  their  experience  and 
success  along  these  lines  have  gained  for  them  a  merited  reputation  as 
leading  representatives  of  the  agricultural  interests  of  the  county.  They 
cultivate  soil  which  is  very  rich  and  productive  and  they  raise  mixed  crops. 
They  also  have  one  thousand  peach  trees  upon  their  place,  with  a  half  acre 
planted  to  apples,  also  a  half  acre  of  strawberries  and  a  similar  amount  of 
blackberries.  They  raise  fruit  of  splendid  size  and  fine  flavor  and  their 
crops  therefore  find  a  ready  sale  on  the  market.  The  extent  of  their  fruit 
raising  interest  makes  their  fann  a  very  busy  place  during  the  picking  and 
packing  season  and  they  also  annually  gather  good  harvests  from  tlie  fields. 

Hermon  Ten  C.\te  is  a  farmer  of  Laketown  township,  where  he  has 
spent  his  entire  life.  He  is  practical  as  well  as  progressive  in  all  that  he 
does  and  his  farm  of  forty  acres,  which  he  has  owned  since  1891,  indicates 
in  its  well  kept  appearance  his  careful  supervision  and  enterprise.  Born 
in  this  township  in  1866,  he  is  a  son  of  Dick  and  Dina  (Unk)  Ten  Cate, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  Netherlands.  They  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  in  184S  and  were  among  the  first  of  the  Holland  residents  to 
settle  in  Allegan  county.  The  father  took  up  his  abode  at  Kalamazoo,  and 
in  due  time  was  married  there,  after  which  he  purchased  a  farm  that  he 
brought  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Eventually  he  sold  that  property 
and  later  bought  three  other  farms,  two  of  which  he  improved  and  sold.  The 
fonrth,  comprising  eighty  acres,  was  divided  between  his  two  sons.  Hermon 
and  Henrv.  who  now  own  it,  each  having  forty  acres.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ten 
Cate  reside  in  Holland  and  are  spending  their  declining  days  in  honorable 
and  comfortable  retirement. 

Hermon  Ten  Cate  passed  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  his 
parents'  home  and  early  became  familiar  with  the  varied  work  of  the  farm. 
His  education  was  acquired  in  the  public  schools  near  by  and  since  putting 
aside  his  text-hooks  he  has  concentrated  his  energies  upon  agricultural  pur- 
suits. He  has  owned  his  present  farm  since  1891,  has  cleared  and  improved 
it.  and  it  now  presents  a  most  excellent  appearance,  for  the  fields  are  well 
tilled  and  the  orchards  are  most  thrifty. 

Mr.  Ten  Cate  was  married  first  to  Miss  Hattie  Kaump,  who  died  eight 
months  later,  and  for  his  second  wife  he  chose  Miss  Gertie  Snyders,  whom 
he  wedded  in  November.  1892.  They  became  the  parents  of  six  children, 
of  whom  three  are  living — Dina,  Alice  and  Dora.  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Ten  Cate 
are  members  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  church  of  Kast  Saugatuck,  and  Mr. 


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378  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Ten  Cate  is  classed  with  the  representative  business  man,  who  is  reliable 
under  all  conditions  and  whose  probity  stands  as  an  unquestioned  fact  in 
his  life  history. 

Jacob  D.  Boss  is  one  of  the  successful  farmers  of  Fillmore  township, 
where  he  lives  upon  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  on  section  ii,  which  has  been 
his  home  nearly  all  his  life.  He  was  born  here  March  9,  1862,  the  second 
in  order  of  birth  of  four  children.  His  father,  Davis  Boss,  was  born  in 
Holland  and  came  to  America  in  1851,  locating  in  Allegan  county  and  Fill- 
more township,  upon  the  same  farm  which  Jacob  D.  now  occupies.  Here  he 
cleared  and  improved  the  farm  which  was  his  home  for  many  years  there- 
after. He  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Fillmore  township  and  he  did  his 
full  share  in  the  development  of  this  section.  His  death  took  place  in  Hol- 
land township,  Ottawa  county,  September  14,  1892,  when  he  was  in  his 
sixty-sixth  year. 

Jacob  D.  Boss  was  reared  upon  the  home  farm  and  assisted  in  clearing 
and  improving  it,  securing  in  the  meantime  a  good  common  school  educa- 
tion. ■  This  has  always  been  his  home,  with  the  exception  of  two  years  spent 
in  Texas.  After  his  father's  death  he  came  into  possession  of  the  old  home- 
stead, where  he^has  carried  on  general  farming,  although  making  a  specialty 
of  raising  and  dealing  in  good  horses  of  registered  stock,  in  which  line  he 
has  been  quite  successful.  The  farm  consists  of  eighty  acres,  with  good  and 
commodious  buildings  which  are  admirably  adapted  for  the  purposes  for 
which  they  are  used.  The  farm  is  a  fertile  one  and  well  cared  for,  being 
equipped  with  all  improvements  and  up-to-date  tools  and  machinery  for 
successful  operation. 

Mr.  Boss  was  married  in  Holland  township,  Ottawa  county,  to  Miss 
Johanna  Vandenbelt,  and  December  6,  1892,  he  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
her  death.  Of  this  union  was  born  one  daughter.  Josie.  On  November  27, 
1894,  he  was  again  married,  his  choice  being  Miss  Geziena  Vos,  who  was 
born  in  Fillmore  township  October  8,  1870.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Brent 
and  Anna  (Harrison)  Vos,  both  natives  of  the  Netherlands.  They  were 
the  parents  of  nine  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Boss  is  the  eldest.  Mr.  Boss 
has  held  the  office  of  drain  commissioner  of  Fillmore  township,  bringing  to  it 
much  valuable  and  practical  knowledge  of  the  needs  of  his  township  in  this 
direction.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boss  are  both  members  of  the  Christian  Reformed 
church,  and  thev  stand  very  high  in  the  regard  and  esteem  of  the  people  of 
this  section. 

Henry  Boss,  M.  D. — One  of  the  leading  physicians  in  the  northern  part 
of  Allegan  county  is  Dr.  Henry  Boss,  who  lives  at  Fillmore  Center,  in  the 
township  of  Fillmore.  He  is  a  native  of  Fillmore  township,  where  he  was 
born  July  25,.  1863,  and  thus  far  his  entire  life  has  been  passed  here,  with 
the  exception  of  the  years  spent  in  obtaining  his  collegiate  education.  Dr. 
Boss  comes  of  good  old  Holland  ancestry,  his  father,  David  Ross,  having 
been  born  in  the  Netherlands.  David  Boss  came  to  America  with  his  family 
in  1851  and  located  in  Allegan  county,  being  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Fillmore  township,  where  he  passed  nearly  all  of  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
although  his  death  occurred  in  Holland  township.  Ottawa  county,  when  he 
was  about  sixty-six  years  of  age,  on  September  14,  1892. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  379 

Of  a  family  of  four  children,  Henry  was  the  youngest.  He  grew  to 
young  manhood  in  Fillmore,  and  in  the  meantime  secured  an  education  in 
the  common  schools,  which  was  followed  by  a  course  of  study  in  Hope 
College.  Soon  after  attaining  his  majority  he  determined  upon  the  medical 
profession  as  a  Hfe  vocation  and  accordingly  he  selected  the  University  of 
Michigan  as  the  best  place  to  prepare  himself  therefor.  He  entered  the 
medical  department  of  that  educational  institution  in  1884  and  after  a  three 
years'  course  graduated  with  the  class  of  '87.  The  same  year  saw  him 
established  at  Fillmore  Center  for  the  practice  of  his  profession  and  this 
has  been  his  location  ever  since.  He  was  married  in  Fillmore  township 
October  31,  i888,  to  Miss  Reka  Algda  Veneklasen,  and  their  union  has  been 
blessed  with  the  birth  of  two  children,  Anna  and  David  L.,  the  latter  dying 
when  only  one  year  old.  Fraternally,  Dr.  Boss  is  affiliated  with  the  Masons, 
and  politically  he  is  a  Republican.  During  his  twenty  years"  practice  Dr. 
Boss  has  been  very  successful,  his  professional  work  covering  the  entire 
territory  of  several  townships.  The  people  have  thorough  confidence  in  him 
as  a  practitioner  and  a  man,  and  his  excellent  training  and  long  experience 
fits  him  eminently  for  the  position  he  holds  in  this  community. 

Henry  Bouwman,  a  native  son  of  Allegan  county,  was  born  in  Fill- 
more township  February  12,  1876,  and  is  descended  from  Holland  ancestry. 
His  parents  were  Hendrick  and  Jennie  (Liesman)  Bouwman,  both  natives 
of  the  Netherlands,  and  when  young  people  they  came  to  the  new  world, 
the  father  making  the  voyage  across  the  Atlantic  in  1865  and  the  latter  in 
1867.  They  were  married  in  Fillmore  township,  where  they  located,  Mr. 
Bouwman  becoming  the  owner  of  forty  acres  of  farm  land  there.  Upon  the 
old  homestead  property  they  reared  their  family,  numbering  the  following 
named:  William,  Grace,  Jennie,  Henry,  Martin,  Gerrit.  Frederick,  George, 
Johannas,  Burt,  and  two  who  died  in  childhood.  Of  these  six  of  the  number 
are  still  in  Allegan  county. 

Henry  Bouwman  spent  his  boyhood  da}'s  in  his  parents'  home  and  at 
the  usual  age  began  his  education  in  the  district  schools,  where  he  mastered 
the  common  branches  of  learning.  He  was  still  quite  young  when  he  turned 
his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  in  fact  he  has  from  his  boyhood 
days  worked  diligently  at  farm  labor.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  a  tract  of 
land  of  fifty  acres  in  Laketown  township,  upon  which  he  has  resided  since 
1900.  The  farm  was  formerly  the  property  of  Lucas  Vos,  who  sold  it  to 
Mr.  Bouwman.  The  land  is  rich  in  its  possibilities,  responding  readily  to 
the  care  and  labor  that  is  bestowed  upon  it.  and  in  his  work  Mr.  Bouwman 
displays  unfaltering  energy,  perseverance  and  laudable  ambition.  He  raises 
crops  of  a  general  variety  and  finds  a  ready  sale  on  the  market  for  whatever 
he  produces. 

On  the  14th  of  October,  1899.  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Bouwman 
and  Miss  Jennie  Heerspink,  a  daughter  of  Johannas  Heerspink.  Unto  them 
were  born  three  children — Richard,  Johannas  and  Jennetta.  Mrs.  Bouwman 
was  born  in  Laketown  township  November  20,  1876,  and  thus  both  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  are  native  residents  of  Allegan  county,  where  they  have 
a  wide  acquaintance  and  many  friends. 

Hon.  Jan  W.  Garvelink. — Among  the  many  .sterling  men  of  Allegan 
county  none  stand  higher  in  public  esteem  than  Hon.  Jan  W.  Garvelink,  of 


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.180  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Fillmore  township,  who  has  been  a  continuous  resident  here  for  the  past 
sixty  years,  and  who  has  during  a  goodly  portion  of  that  period  served  his 
constituents  well  and  faithfully  in  a  public  capacity.  Time  and  again  he  has 
been  chosen  to  represent  the  people,  the  many  offices  he  has  held  ranging 
from  that  of  district  school  officer  to  state  senator.  In  all  of  these  capacities 
he  has  performed  his  public  duties  in  a  painstaking  and  honorable  manner, 
and  his  official  record,  like  that  of  his  private  life,  is  one  of  which  any  man 
might  well  feel  proud. 

Mr.  Garvelink  is  a  native  of  the  Netherlands,  where  he  was  born 
December  6,  1833.  His  parents  were  Gexadus  and  Grada  (Aalderink) 
Garvelink,  both  natives  of  Holland,  where  they  grew  to  maturity  and  were 
married.  In  1847  they  emigrated  to  America,  and,  like  so  many  of  their 
countrymen,  came  to  Allegan  county,  Michigan,  where  they  located  in  the 
township  of  Fillmore.  Here  they  made  for  themselves  and  their  children  a 
comfortable  home  and  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives  here,  dying 
in  Holland,  Michigan,  when  just  past  middle  age.  This  was  in  1847,  and  as 
the  first  settlers  of  Allegan  county,  six  in  number,  came  here  in  December, 
1846,  it  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Garvelink  is  one  of  the  very  early  pioneers  of 
this  section.  Fillmore  township  was  then  almost  entirely  in  its  virgin  state, 
and  to  these  first  comers  fell  the  task  of  making  the  place  habitable  and 
productive.  Jan  was  brought  up  on  the  farm,  where  he  early  learned  those 
habits  of  thrift  and  industry  which  were  to  bring  him  success  in  after  life. 
He  is  today  still  the  owner  of  the  old  homestead  of  eighty-five  acres,  which 
his  father  first  settled  upon  and  which  is  today  all  cleared  and  improved, 
although  covered  with  heavy  timber  when  first  purchased. 

Politically  our  subject  is  a  Republican  and  he  has  always  taken  a  deep 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  party  and  the  progress  of  his  country.  His 
eminent  fitness  for  public  office,  coupled  with  the  confidence  reposed  in  him 
by  the  people,  has  retained  him  as  a  public  servant  nearly  all  his  life.  His 
first  vote  for  president  was  for  General  Fremont.  He  has  held  nearly  every 
township  office  and  was  for  nearly  twenty  years  supervisor  of  Fillmore 
township.  He  was  school  director  of  his  district  for  forty-seven  years  and 
is  even  now  a  member  of  the  school  board.  He  was  a  representative  in  the 
state  legislature  in  1873-4  from  the  third  district  of  Allegan  connty.  and 
again  in  1883-4  he  represented  the  first  district  of  the  county  in  the  lower 
house.  The  tenth  Michigan  senatorial  district  elected  him  to  the  state  senate 
in  1891  and  in  1893  he  was  re-elected  and  represented  the  new  tenth  district. 
In  both  branches  of  the  state  legislature  he  was  known  as  a  conservative 
and  reliable  member,  serving  upon  some  of  the  important  standing  and 
special  committees. 

On  July  7,  1859,  Mr,  Garvelink  was  united  in  marriage  with  Evextion 
Schrotenboer,  who  was  also  born  in  the  Netherlands.  This  union  has 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  eight  children,  as  follows;  Gexhardus,  Johannes, 
Sysan,  Johanna,  Grada,  Herman.  Hermina  and  Henry.  Mr.  Garvelink  has 
for  over  forty  years  lieen  a  member  of  the  Christian  Reformed  church  and 
has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  its  affairs.  His  has  been  an  industri- 
ous, useful  life,  successful  in  every  particular,  and  he  is  passing  his  declining 
days  in  comfort,  surrounded  by  a  large  family,  the  members  of  which  are 
doing  well  in  life. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUXTY  381 

Hknry  Bkki-kek  is  one  of  the  worthy  and  well  respected  citizens  of 
Laketown  township,  Allegan  county,  where  he  owns  and  operates  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  fine  land,  which  is  devoted  to  genera!  agricultural  and  horti- 
cultural pursuits.  He  is  a  native  son  of  this  township,  his  birth  having 
occurred  on  a  farm  in  i860.  His  parents,  John  and  Fannie  (Hoolings) 
Breuker,  were  both  natives  of  the  Netherlands,  the  former  born  in  1826, 
while  the  latter  was  born  in  1836.  Thinking  to  enjoy  better  advantages 
in  the  new  workl,  the  family  emigrated  to  this  country  about  1849.  The 
first  located  in  Kalamazoo.  Michigan,  but  after  a  time  went  to  Grand 
Haven,  this  state,  where  the  father  secured  employment,  which  might  thus 
enable  him  to  continue  his  journey  into  the  wilderness  and  secure  a  perma- 
nent home  for  his  family.  In  1850  they  took  up  their  alx)de  in  Allegan 
county,  where  the  father  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  situated  in  Lake- 
town  township,  which  was  in  its  wild  and  uncultivated  state,  but  by  his  own 
activity  and  industry,  with  the  aid  of  his  sons,  he  soon  cleared  the  land, 
plowed  the  fields,  planted  his  crops,  and  in  due  course  of  time  reaped  abun- 
dant harvests.  He  also  further  improved  the  property  by  the  erection  of 
suitable  buildings,  essential  to  farm  property.  In  1871,  however — the  year 
of  the  great  fire  in  Chicago — his  buildings  were  all  destroyed,  but  he  im- 
mediately replaced  them  by  more  modern  structures  and  owned  one  of  the 
well  improved  farms  of  this  section  of  the  state.  He  died  at  his  home  at 
the  age  of  sevent^■^Dne  years,  being  one  of  the  worthy  and  highly  esteemed 
pioneer  settlers  of  Allegan  cotmty.  The  widow  still  survives  at  the  age  of 
seventy.  Their  family  numbers  three  sons  and  a  daughter:  Henry;  Burt; 
Fannie,  the  wife  of  M.  Pierse,  and  George. 

Henry  Breuker.  whose  name  introduces  this  review,  was  reared  on  his 
father's  homestead,  assisting  in  the  work  of  field  and  meadow  and  in  the 
various  tasks  which  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agriculturist.  He  acquired  his 
education  in  the  district  schools  near  his  father's  home  and  remained  under 
the  parental  roof  until  he  attained  his  majority,  wlien  he  started  out  in  life 
on  his  own  account,  choosing  as  his  vocation  the  occupation  to  which  he  had 
been  reared.  At  tliat  time,  in  i88t.  he  likewise  established  a  home  of  his 
own  by  his  marriage  to  Miss  Tane  Lemmen.  wlio  was  also  born  and  reared 
in  the  township  which  is  still  her  home,  her  natal  year  being  1861.  She  is 
a  daughter  of  Benjamin  J.  and  Fannie  Lemmen,  who  were  natives  of  the 
Netherlands  and.  like  the  Breuker  family,  became  early  pioneer  settlers  of 
Allegan  county,  and  both  the  families  are  members  of  the  Christian  Re- 
formed church  at  Graaschap.  Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been 
bom  six  children,  namelv:  Fannie,  Benjamin.  John,  Frederick,  Burt  and 
Henrv. 

In  the  same  year  of  his  marriage,  Mr.  Breuker  purchased  a  fann  of 
fortv  acres,  which  he  soon  placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and 
here  he  gives  his  time  and  energies  to  general  farming  and  fruit-raisiTig. 
and  has  been  very  successful  in  his  latter  business,  having  accomplished 
what  others  have  been  unable  to  do — raising  a  fine  quality  of  peaches,  which 
demand  a  good  urice  on  the  market — for  the  land  situated  north  of  the 
Kalamazoo  river  is  not  usualh-  considered  as  adapted  to  the  raising  of  good 
•icaches.  He  has  improved  his  farm  with  good  buildings,  and  altogether 
has  a  well  improved  and  valuable  property.     He  is  an  enterprising  and  pro-' 


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38S  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

gressive  citizen,  and  gives  active  co-operation  to  every  nioveinent  which 
tends  toward  the  advancement  of  his  home  locality. 

John  H.  Lemmen.  of  Laketown  township,  is  one  of  the  pioneer  set- 
tlers in  the  Holland  settlement  near  Graafschap,  where  he  took  up  his  abode 
in  1847.  ^^  ^*s  since  resided  in  that  locality  and  has  demonstrated  the 
value  that  the  Hollanders  and  Germans  who  come  to  the  new  world  are, 
and  do  make  good  and  loyal  citizens.  Mr.  Lenimen  was  born  in  Germany 
near  the  Holland  border,  September  15,  1826,  and  was  a  son  of  George  and 
Fannie  Lemmen,  who  were  likewise  natives  of  Germany.  The  father  died 
in  that  country,  and  the  mother  afterward  came  to  America  with  her  son, 
B.  J.  Lemmen,  in  1858.  She  remained  a  resident  of  the  new  world  for 
about  eighteen  years  and  passed  away  in  1876.  Her  children  were  B.  J., 
J.  H.  and  Lamadine.     The  last  named  came  to  this  country  in  1S53. 

John  H.  Lemmen  was  reared  to  farm  life  in  his  native  country,  and  the 
public  school  system  there  provided  him  with  his  educational  privileges. 
Throughout  his  entire  life  he  has  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  and  lias 
met  with  a  gratifying  measure  of  success.  Thinking  to  enjoy  better  busi- 
ness opportunities  in  the  new  world  he  braved  the  dangers  of  an  ocean  voy- 
age at  that  early  day  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  June,  1847.  Making 
his  way  into  the  interior  of  the  country  he  became  a  resident  of  Allegan 
county  and  followed  farming  in  the  employ  of  others  until  1850,  when  he 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  now  embraced  within  his  present  farm.  It  was 
then  in  its  natural  or  primitive  state,  being  still  covered  with  the  forest 
growth.  The  tract  had  first  comprised  but  forty  acres,  but  he  soon  after- 
ward added  an  additional  forty.  Resolutely  he  undertook  the  task  of  clear- 
ing and  developing  this  land  and  his  efforts  resulted  in  the  acquirement  of 
a  profitable  and  attractive  farm.  His  buildings  are  modern  and  convenient 
and  are  framed  in  a  setting  of  green  fields  that  makes  the  scene  altogether 
attractive. 

Mr,  Lenimen  was  united  in  marriage  on  the  loth  of  December,  1853,  to 
Miss  Lammigje  Vredeveld,  a  daughter  of  Bert  and  Alice  Vredeveld,  by 
whom  he  has  had  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  reached  manhood  and 
womanhood,  namely:  Gerrit,  Benjamin.  Alice,  Henry,  deceased;  Frederick, 
Leonard  and  John  H.  Three  died  in  childhood.  Alice  is  now  the  wife  of 
Egbert  Myland  and  they,  have  one  child.  On  the  loth  of  December,  1903, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lemmen  were  surrounded  by  their  six  children  and  twenty- 
five  grandchildren,  and  a  host  of  well  wishing  friends  who  joined  them  in 
celebrating  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  their  marriage.  It  was  a  most  enjoy- 
able occasion  to  all  present  and  one  never  to  be  forgotten  by  those  who 
participated  therein. 

Mr.  Lemmen  has  held  the  office  of  highway  commissioner  for  five 
years  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board  and  served  as  its  treas- 
urer for  three  years.  His  religious  faith  is  indicated  by  his  membership  in 
the  Christian  Reformed  church,  to  which  his  wife  also  belongs.  Almost 
sixty  years  have  come  and  gone  since  he  arrived  in  Allegan  county,  at 
which  time  nearly  the  entire  surface  of  the  coimty  was  covered  with  a 
dense  forest  growth  that  extended  from  its  eastern  border  to  the  lake.  It 
'  was  in  that  year  that  the  city  of  Holland  had  its  beginning,  and  he  has  wit- 
nessed its  growth  from  a  mere  hamlet  into  a  thriving  metropolitan  center 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COLKTY  383 

with  large  commercial  and  maiuifacturing  interests.  'He  lias  seen,  too,  the 
wild  land  transformed  into  fine  farms,  well  adapted  for  dairy  interests  and 
for  the  growth  of  cereals  and  fruit,  and  the  entire  district  has  been  trans- 
formed, being  made  to  bloom  and  blossom  as  the  rose.  In  the  work  of 
development  Mr.  Lemmen  has  borne  his  full  sliare  and  he  well  merits  the 
success  that  has  come  to  hiin  as  he  has  carried  forward  his  own  business 
interests. 

John  H.  Slenk.— For  more  than  half  a  century  John  H.  Slenk  has 
resided  upon  his  farm  in  Laketown  township,  not  far  from  the  village  of 
CJraafschap,  and  in  the  years  which  have  come  and  gone  his  labors  have 
wrought  a  wonderful  transformation  in  the  appearance  of  his  place.  Like 
the  majority  of  the  residents  of  this  part  of  the  county  who  settled  here  in 
the  middle  of  the  nineteenth  century  he  is  of  foreign  birth.  He  first  opened 
his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day  July  7,  1828.  in  that  part  of  Germany  which 
closely  borders  the  Holland  line,  so  that  the  distinction  between  the  people 
of  one  country  and  the  other  is  obliterated.  His  parents  were  John  and 
Henrietta  (Putter)  Slenk,  also  natives  of  Germany,  in  which  country  they 
died.  Their  children  were  seven  in  number,  five  of  whom  came  to  this 
country:  John  Henry,  Grace.  John.  Gerrit.  Jane.  John  H.,  Gccena,  all 
deceased  but  our  subject. 

John  H.  Slenk.  of  this  review,  was  reared  to  the  occupation  of  farming 
and  has  made  it  his  life  work.  The  first  Hollanders  had  been  residents  of 
Allegan  county  for  only  two  years  when  he  left  his  native  country  and  came 
to  Michigan,  crossing  the  Atlantic  in  1849.  ^^  spent  the  first  six  years 
in  and  near  Kalamazoo,  where  he  was  employed  at  farm  labor,  and  in  1855, 
when  his  work  had  brought  him  some  capital,  he  made  purchase  of  eighty 
acres  of  virgin  soil  near  Graafschap,  in  Laketown  township.  Not  a  furrow 
had  been  turned  or  an  improvement  made  upon  the  place,  but  he  soon 
cleared  the  land  and  erected  suitable  buildings  thereon.  The  farm  today 
indicates  to  the  observer  the  care  and  practical  experience  of  the  owner, 
who  has  converted  his  property  into  one  of  the  best  farms  of  the  locality. 

On  the  i6th  of  November,  1855,  Mr.  Slenk  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Gertrude  Riiskcr,  a  native  of  Holland,  who  was  born  January  5,  1833, 
and  came  to  this  country  in  1848.  They  have  become  the  parents  of  twelve 
children :  John :  Gerrit :  Henrietta,  deceased ;  Kate ;  Cena ;  Jane :  Grace ; 
Henrj',  deceased ;  Jennie :  Maggie,  and  Annie  and  Gertie,  twins.  Of  these 
Kate  married  Mr.  Tien ;  Cena  is  Mrs.  Scholton :  Jane  is  Mrs.  Scrotenboor ; 
Jennie  is  Mrs.  Durker ;  and  Maggie  is  Mrs.  Plassman. 

Mr.  Slenk  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Christian  Reformed 
church,  in  which  he  has  held  the  office  of  deacon  for  twenty-two  years,  and 
in  the  work  and  upbuilding  of  which  he  has  taken  an  active  part.  In  1905 
he  and  his  wife  celebrated  their  golden  wedding,  surrounded  by  their  chil- 
dren, grandchildren  and  many  friends,  having  traveled  life's  journey 
togetlier  for  a  half  century,  sharing  with  each  other 'its  joys  and  sorrows, 
adversity  and  prosperity,  and  they  are  still  spared  to  each  other.  They  are 
moreover  numbered  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  county  and  have  wit- 
nessed this  section  of  the  state  emerge  from  primeval  conditions  to. become 
one'of  the  leading  agricultural  and  horticultural  regions  of  Michigan,  in 


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384  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

which  connection  Mr.  Slenk  has  borne  his  full  share  in  the  work  of  develop- 
ment and  progress. 

John  Kolvoord.  owner  and  proprietor  of  the  Hamilton  Mills,  at  Hain- 
ilton,  Michigan,  is  one  of  the  well  known  citizens  of  Allegan  county.  Com- 
ing to  this  place  in  his  boyhood,  he  here  grew  to  inaturitv.  and  has  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  development  of  its  principal  industries.  He 
has  done  much  to  develop  the  interests  of  his  town  and  has  represented  the 
district  one  term  in  the  state  legislature. 

Mr.  Kolvoord  was  born  in  Holland.  Ottawa  county.  September  2,  1852, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Griety  (Blink)  Kolvoord.  The  elder  John  Kol- 
vcK)rd  came  froni  Holland— of  which  coimtry  he  and  liis  wife  were  both 
natives — in  1846,  and  located  at  Holland,  Michigan,  where  he  built  and 
operated  the  first  gristmill  in  that  part  of  the  state.  Here  he  continued  until 
his  death. 

In  1864.  when  but  twelve  years  of  age,  our  subject  came  to  Hamilton, 
in  company  with  his  mother.  At  that  time  no  timber  had  been  cut  between 
that  point  and  Allegan,  and  the  forest  abounded  in  wild  game.  Amid  these 
surroundings  our  subiect  grew  up.  attending  school  when  he  might  and 
working  in  the  sawmills.  In  1878  he  established  a  general  store,  conduct- 
ing that  business  for  three  years,  and  in  1881  building  a  sawmill,  which 
cost  him  seven  thousand  dollars.  For  a  number  of  years  this  proved  to  be 
a  very  Kicrative  venture,  but  in  1891.  timber  having  become  rather  scarce, 
he  established  a  gristmill  in  connection,  and  operated  the  two  for  several 
years.  Later  he  rented  the  sawmill,  which  was  afterward  practically  de- 
■  stroyed  bv  floods.  He  rebuilt,  however,  and  now  teases  the  property  to 
Hagels,  Kamp  &  Company.  The  gristmill  is  of  fifty  barrel  capacity,  and  is 
keot  in  oneration  the  year  round,  the  product  being  largely  consumed  in  the 
neighborhood,  although  shipments  are  sometimes  made  to  distant  points. 

Mr.  Kolvoord's  marriage  occurred,  in  1877,  to  Gezina  Teravest,  a 
native  of  Holland,  who  died  in  1884,  leaving  two  children  ;  John,  who  assists 
his  father  in  the  mill:  and  Jennie,  wife  of  A.  J.  Klomparens.  of  Coopers- 
ville,  Michigan.  In  r88=;  our  subject  fonned  a  second  union  with  Jennie 
Akaersook,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  to  this  union  has  been  born  one  daugh- 
ter, Florence,  who  resides  with  her  parents. 

Mr.  Kolvoord  holds  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  in  1890  was  elected  state  representative  on 
that  ticket,  serving  a  term  of  two  years,  as  has  been  before  inentioned.  His 
,  term  of  service  was  one  of  loyalty  to  his  constituency,  and  he  proved  him- 
self to  be  capable  and  trustworthy.  Locally  he  has  served  for  a  number  of 
years  as  a  member  of  the  school  board.  On  the  social  side  Mr.  Kolvoord 
is  a  member  of  the  K.  O.  T.  M.  at  Dunningville. 

Lambkrt  T.  Kltnker.s.  postma.ster  at  Hamilton.  Michigan,  is  a  native 
of  the  Netherlands,  and  emigrated  to  this  country  in  1867.  He  is  a  son  of 
John  L.  and  Eva  (Mansen)  Klinkers,  both  natives  of  Holland,  who  settled 
in  Ottawa  county,  Michigan,  in  which  county  John  L.  Klinkers  resided  until 
his  death.  Their  family  numbered  the  following  children:  Helen,  Tinnie, 
Lambert  J..  Jane,  Maggie  (deceased").  William,  and  Hattie  (deceased). 

Otir  subject  first  located  in  Zeeland.  Ottawa  county,  and  worked  as 
clerk  in  a  local  store.     He  next  moved  to  Allegan  county,  and  established 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  385 

himself  at  I'illiiiore  Center,  where  he  clerked  in  a  store,  except  for  a  few 
months  which  \vere  spent  in  Muskegon.  Later  he  came  to  Hamilton,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1883  moved  to  South  Dakota,  where  he  resided  for  about  four 
and  one-half  years.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time  he  returned  to  Hamil- 
ton, and  remained  in  the  store  until  June  18,  1897,  when  he  received  his 
apix)intment  as  postmaster,  and  in  that  capacity  he  has  served  continuously 
since. 

(Xir  subject  was  married,  April  27,  i886,  to  Julia  Hindes,  a  native  of 
New  York  state,  who  is  mother  of  the  following  children :  Eva,  Mae,  Louis, 
Edward  and  Margerite. 

Mr.  Klinkers  is  a  Republican  and  a  prominent  man  in  the  affairs  of 
his  party,  being  a  party  leader  of  capacity  and  good  judgment.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Republican  County  Central  Committee,  and  was  chairman 
of  his  township  committee.  The  confidence  in  which  he  is  held  is  shown  by 
the  fact  that  lie  has  been  township  clerk  for  twelve  years,  in  addition  to 
being  a  member  of  the  school  board  and  a  school  director. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  L  O.  O.  F.  Lodge  No.  315,  at  Hamihon,  and  the 
K.  O.  T.  M.  at  Dunningville,  and  is  loyal  Eo  the  spirit  of  fraternity  exempli- 
fied by  these  lodges. 

Jacoei  L.  Hoekskma.  manager  of  the  Zeeland  Brick  Company's  plant, 
near  Hamilton,  Michigan,  was  born  near  Holland,  Michigan,  May  16.  1870, 
and  is  a  son  of  Lubertus  and  Trintje  (Luidens)  Hoeksema.  who  live  near 
East  Holland. 

,  The  brick  plant  which  Mr.  Hoeksema  manages  was  started  in  1883  by 
}*.  Oosting,  and  later  run  by  Mr.  Van  Ark  until  it  was  purchased  in  1890 
by  the  Zeeland  Brick  Company.  It  was  a  small  venture  at  that  time — 
about  one-third  of  its  present  capacity — and  in  1891  the  present  engine 
house  and  first  dryer  were  built,  and  later  a  second  dryer  and  sheds  were 
erected.  It  has  a  capacity  of  thirty  thousand  brick  per  day,  and  employs 
about  twenty  men  when  running  at  its  full  output.  This  business  is  owned 
by  Veneklasen  Brothers,  who  run  plants  in  addition  at  Kalamazoo.  Zeeland, 
and  Cloverdale.  Our  subject  entered  the  employ  of  this  concern  in  1888 
and  worked  for  them  in  Zeeland  for  four  years,  then  came  to  the  Hamilton 
plant,  where  he  has  worked  since.  At  that  time  one  of  the  Veneklasen 
Brothers  acted  as  manager  of  tlie  works,  at  this  point,  and  Mr.  Hoeksema 
acted  as  sub-manager,  but  since  igcx)  our  subject  has  been  in  full  charge 
and  has  proven  himself  a  capable  and  trustworthy  manager. 

In  1893  Mr.  Hoeksema  was  united  in  marriage  to  Effie  Gelderloos, 
daughter  of  Juorjen  G.  Gelderloos,  who  is  the  mother  of  four  children, 
namely:   Birdie,  Jay,  Martin  and  Theodore. 

In  politics  Mr.  Hoeksema  gives  his  support  to  the  Republican  party. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  loyal  members  of  the  Christian  Reformed  church 
at  East  Holland. 

Aiiiii.  Bui.Tuuis,  an  enterprising  merchant  of  Hamilton.  Michigan, 
where  he  conducts  a  boot,  shoe  and  harness  shop,  was  born  in  Holland 
May  14,  1875,  and  is  one  of  eleven  children  born  to  John  and  Martha 
(Kampen)  Bulthuis,  of  Holland,  who  came  to  the  United  States  when  our 
subject  was  seven  years  of  age  and  settled  in  Ottawa  county. 

John  Bulthuis  resided  for  a  time  at  Spring  Lake,  and  later  for  some 


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386  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

years  at  Grand  Rapids,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  business. 
After  the  death  of  his  wife  he  devoted  his  time  to  farming  in  Ottawa 
county.  In  tliis  coimty  Abel  Bultliuis  lived  until  1890,  when  he  moved  to 
Overisel,  Allegan  county,  there  learning  the  trade  of  harness  making.  Thi.s 
trade  he  followed  in  that  town  until  1897,  when  he  moved  to  Hamilton,  and 
started  in  the  harness  business,  on  his  own  account,  A  little  over  a  year 
later  he  put  in  a  stock  of  boots  and  shoes,  and  has  since  conducted  both 
branches,  building  up  a  good  and  ever  increasing  trade.  The  store  was 
located  until  1902  on  the  premises  now  occupied  by  the  Dangermond  Hard- 
ware Company,  when  it  was  moved  to  its  present  location. 

On  August  9,  1897,  Mr.  Bulthuis  was  married  to  Miss  Jennie  Michmer- 
huizen,  their  wedding  being  the  occasion  of  a  most  unique  celebration.  The 
parents  of  the  bride,  Hendrick  Jan  and  Trientze  (Kortering)  Michmer- 
huizen,  had  been  married  just  twenty-five  years  on  the  day  appointed  for 
the  wedding,  and  their  parents  numbered  fifty  years  of  married  life  on  that 
<lay  and  date.  A  triple  wedding  was,  therefore,  arranged,  the  wedding  of 
our  subject  and  his  fiancee,  the  silver  wedding  of  her  parents  and  the  golden 
wedding  of  the  grandparents,  who  were  aged,  respectively,  eighty  and 
seventy-five  years  at  the  time.  This  happy  occurrence  was  attended  by 
Hollanders  from  throughout  this  section  of  the  state  and  was  the  cause  of 
much  comment,  both  on  the  part  of  the  local  and  metropolitan  newspapers. 
Hendrick  Michmerhuizen,  the  grandfather,  came  to  Michigan  from  Holland 
in  1847,  and  located  at  Graafschap,  where  he  was  married  in  August  of  that 
year,  remaining  there  for  five  years  and  then  moving  to  Overisel,  where  he 
resided  until  his  death.  Henrdick  J.  Michmerhuizen  was  bom  in  Allegan 
county,  and  resided  with  his  parents  at  the  old  homestead  until  their  death. 
Abel  Bulthuis  and  wife  are  the  parents  of  four  children:  Marjorie,  Trinie, 
John  and  Henrietta  Johanna,  all  of  whom  are  living. 

In  1905  Mr.  Bulthuis  was  elected  township  clerk  on  a  union  ticket,  and 
served  with  such  efficiency  that  he  was  nominated  by  the  Republican  party 
in  1906  for  the  same  office  and  re-elected.  He  has  won  and  retained  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  his  community,  both  in  public  and  private  life. 
Mr.  Bulthuis  and  his  wife  are  both  members  of  the  Christian  Reformed 
church,  the  well  being  of  which  church  they  have  much  at  heart. 

William  W.  Bitrnett,  whose  residence  in  Allegan  county  covers  a 
period  of  nearly  forty  years,  was  bom  in  Webster  township,  Monroe  count;-. 
New  York,  February  11,  1845,  and  remained  there  until  sixteen  years  of 
age,  when  he  enlisted,  October  14,  1861,  in  Company  H,  Eighth  New  York 
cavalry,  and  served  for  nearly  four  years,  when  he  re-enlisted  in  the  same 
company.  Among  other  engagements  in  which  he  took  part  were  Banks' 
retreat  in  the  Shenandoah  valley  in  1862,  out  of  Harper's  Ferry  in  Decem- 
ber of  the  same  year ;  an  engagement  with  Longstreet's  wagon  train,  dur- 
ing which  he  rode  seventy-six  miles  in  eleven  hours ;  Pleasanton  Raid  to 
Richmond;  Rappahannock,  in  June  of  1863,  during  which  sixty  men  and 
five  officers  out  of  five  hundred  men  were  wounded  or  killed ;  battle  of  the 
Wilderness ;  White  Oak  Swamp ;  Malvern  Hill ;  then  with  the  Wilson  Raid, 
where  he  was  wounded  (June  23,  1864)  in  the  face  and  shoulder,  riding  for 
six  days  in  the  ambulance,  and  subsequently  being  taken  prisoner  by  the 
Confederates.     Fie  was  held  at  Petersburg  Barracks  and  Lihby  Prison  for 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  3S7 

a  short  time,  and  on  August  ii,  1864,  was  paroled  and  wont  to  the  hospital 
at  Annapolis,  Maryland.  His  regiment  was  in  seventy-six  engagements,  and 
during  his  entire  time  of  sei-vice  he  was  never  sick,  except  for  the  time  he 
snffere<l  from  tlie  wound  in  his  face.  He  returned  home  in  1865.  and 
remained  there  until  coming  to  Michigan. 

Upon  arriving  in  Michigan,  1S67,  he  purchased  a  small  place  and  built 
a  iow-roofed  house,  which  he  later  raised  anil  added  to.  All  the  improve- 
ments and  bwildings  generally  on  the  farm  are  the  work  of  his  own  hands. 

William  F,  Btirnett,  father  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Monroe 
county,  New  York,  and  spent  his  entire  life  in  that  vicinity,  except  for  the 
time  he  served  in  the  ariuy.  He  enlisted  in  February,  1863.  in  Battery  L, 
First  New  York  artillery,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  and  his 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Dorothy  Phillips,  both  died  in  New  York. 

Our  subject  was  married,  on  December  23,  1871.  to  Ellen  A,  Woodruff, 
of  Pennsylvania  and  a  daughter  of  Charles  Woodruff,  who  came  from 
Pennsylvania  to  fleath  township  and  built  and  operated  a  hotel  at  Hamilton 
for  a  number  of  years.  Mr.  Biiniett  is  the  father  of  seven  children :  May. 
wife  of  George  A.  Pinkney,  of  Heath  township;  Mary  Edna,  wife  of  Burt 
Bradley  of  Douglas,  Michigan :  George  W..  a  resident  of  Chicago ;  Jennie, 
wife  of  Claude  Plotts ;  Charles,  Nina  and  Livina. 

Our  subject  is  a  Republican,  and  is  a  well  known  commissioner  of  his 
local  township.  He  is  also  affiliated  by  membership  with  Hamilton  Lodge 
No.  315,  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Davcd  Winfield  Ashley,  postmaster  of  Dunningville.  Michigan,  has 
been  a  resident  of  Heath  township  for  twenty-seven  years.  He  was  born  in 
Covington  township.  Wyoming  county,  New  York,  Jidy  28,  1848.  and  was 
about  six  years  of  age  when  his  parents  moved  to  Ypsilanti,  Michigan. 
From  there  he  moved  to  Ganges,  in  Allegan  county,  and  subsequently  to 
Barry  count}',  where  he  purchased  a  place  and  devoted  his  time  to  farming 
for  about  six  years.  In  1879  he  came  to  Heath  township  and  started  hmi- 
bering  on  the  Ben  \'\'hite  place.  Later  he  located  on  the  farm  of  which  be 
is  now  owner  in  the  southern  part  of  the  township,  and  ran  a  log  and 
shingle  mill.  He  operated  a  stationary  mill  at  this  point  for  a  number  of 
years,  also  owning  a  portable  mill  with  which  he  sawed  lumber  both  in  Alle- 
gan and  Barry  counties.  It  was  Mr,  Ashley's  custom  to  spend  the  falls  in 
North  Dakota  threshing,  a  practice  which  he  continued  until  1901.  In  that 
year  he  moved  to  Dunningville  and  became  station  agent  at  that  point,  serv- 
ing also  a  deputy  postmaster,  and  in  1903  he  was  appointed  postmaster,  in 
which  capacity  he  has  served  since  that  time. 

Our  subject  is  the  son  of  Amos  A.  and  Maria  Ann  (Reynolds)  Ashley, 
both  natives  of  the  state  of  New  York,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  Barry 
county.  Michigan,  and  the  latter  was  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Reynolds,  of 
English  descent,  who  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  a  comrade  of  Mr. 
Ashley's  paternal  grandfather  in  the  Mexican  war,  both  of  them  serving 
with  General  Scott  at  the  City  of  Mexico  when  that  city  was  captured. 
To  this  imion  were  born  ten  children,  in  the  following  order  of  birth:  Ben- 
jamin, deceased;  David  W.,  our  subject:  William  A.;  Adalaska,  deceased; 
Amos  E,,  deceased;  Samuel  O..  Ella  A.,  deceased  wife  of  Henry  Wiles; 
Nora  M..  late  wife  of  Adelbert  Enzien,  and  Elmer  E. 


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388  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

On  December  29,  1870,  our  subject  was  married  to  Jane  Bloomer,  of 
Hillsdale,  Michigan,  a  daughter  of  John  D.  and  Sarah  A.  (Lowe)  Bloomer, 
to  whom  have  been  born  two  children :  Ervin  E.,  of  Holland,  Michigan,  who 
was  married  to  Emma  Tyler,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  William  Winfield, 
who  resides  with  his  grandparents,  and  who  was  married  a  second  time  to 
Maude  L  Plotts:  and  Maude  M.,  who  has  been  identified  for  some  time  with 
the  Prudent  Patricians  of  Pompeii,  as  a  promoter,  and  has  organized  lodges 
at  Vicksbiirg,  Pullman.  Bellevue,  Charlotte,  Belding,  Lowell  and  Hastings, 
Michigan.  Mrs.  Ashley's  father  served  in  the  Thirteenth  Michigan  Infantry 
under  General  Sherman,  and  was  with  his  march  to  the  sea.  He  was  in 
the  service  imtil  the  close  o(  the  war. 

Onr  subject  is  a  Democrat,  in  politics,  and  'was  elected  supervisor  from 
Heath  township  four  years  ago,  having  been  re-elected  three  times  since. 
He  received  his  party's  nomination  in  the  fall  of  1906  for  the  state  legislature. 
Mr.  Ashley  has  been  identified  for  years  with  public  affairs,  having  been  a 
deputy-sheriff  in  Barry  county  and  constable,  school  assessor,  and  moderator 
in  his  present  community. 

He  was  for  twelve  years  commander  of  his  lodge  of  the  K.  O.  T.  M.,  at 
Dimningville,  is  at  present  finance  keeper,  in  addition  president  of  the  Na- 
tional Protective  Legion,  and  a  local  director  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry. 

OvANDO  Hoard,  who  has  been  a  resident  of  Dunningviile,  Michigan, 
and  vicinity,  since  1867,  was  bom  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  New  York.  No- 
vember 3,  1843.  He  is  a  son  of  Cephas  R.  and  Sarah  Jane  (Earl)  Hoard. 
both  natives  of  Vermont,  the  former  dying  in  Van  Buren  county,  Michigan. 

When  but  six  years  of  age  our  subject  accompanied  his  parents  to  Sack 
county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  resided  until  1862,  when  they  moved  to  Van 
Buren  county,  Michigan.  In  the  fall  of  1863  he  enlisted  in  Company  K, 
First  Michigan  Cavalr}',  at  Paw  Paw.  and  accompanied  this  regiment  to  the 
front,  being  in  Baltimore  on  that  memorable  cold  New  Year's  day  of  1865. 
&  winter  never  to  be  forgotten  by  those  who  passed  through  it.  Our  subject 
was  in  the  service  until  the  war  closed  and  was  mustered  out  at  Detroit  in 
1866.  He  took  part  in  the  engagements  of  the  Wilderness,  Yellow  Tavern, 
Cold  Harbor.  Opequan  Creek,  Cedar  Creek.  Sailor  Creek  and  Appomattox, 
and  remembers  seeing  the  white  flag  leave  General  Lee's  headquarters  pre- 
paratory to  the  surrender  to  General  Grant.  He  was  also  present  at  that 
historic  Grand  Review  at  Washington.  After  his  war  service  was  ended  he 
returned  to  Van  Buren  county,  Michigan,  where  he  remained  until  moving 
to  Dunningviile. 

In  1867  he  came  to  Dunningviile  to  work  in  the  mill  and  has  been  in 
the  vicinity  of  this  town  since.  In  1884  he  moved  into  the  house  in  which  he 
now  resides.  Our  subject  was  engaged  for  a  number  of  years  in  incidental 
mill  work  and  in  mill  construction,  helping  Mr.  Sawyer  build  mills  at  Leroy 
and  also  at  Gilcrist.  In  1888  he  quit  the  occupation  of  milling  and  pur- 
chased his  present  farm,  which  consists  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
given  over  to  the  raising  of  apples,  having  formerly  been  a  cherry  orchard. 

On  July  3,  1872,  Mr.  Hoard  was  married  to  Abbie  E.  Tyler,  a  native  of 
Saugatuck,  Michigan,  and  a  daughter  of  Captain  Thomas  and  Mary  (Kellv) 
Tyler.  The  latter,  who  was  eighty-two  years  of  age  last  August  (1906), 
lives  on  an  adjoining  farm.     Captain  Tyler  came   from  Rhode   Island  to 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY  389 

Allegan  county,  Michigan,  in  1843.  He  died  in  Saugatuck  January  17,  1876. 
Mrs.  Hoard  has  two  brothers  living.  William  J.  Tyler,  of  Gladwin, 
Michigan,  and  Herbert  T.  Tyler,  a  resident  of  Texas. 

Our  subject  is  a  Republican  and  is  a  worthy  member  of  his  local  school 
board.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge  at  Allegan  and  is  Masler  of  the 
Patrons  of  Husbandry  at  Dimningville. 

Charles  E.  Ingham,  who  farms  in  Heath  township,  was  born  in  Valley 
township  April  24,  1862,  and  has  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Allegan  county. 
He  is  a  son  of  Burrouglis  Ingham,  born  in  New  York,  near  the  village  of 
Cold  Creek,  Allegheny  county,  and  Sarah  (Butler)  Ingham,  also  a  native  of 
New  York  state.  Their  children  were  eight  in  number,  viz. :  Frank,  who 
lives  near  Owosso,  Michigan ;  Walter ;  William,  deceased ;  Fred,  who  lives  in 
Boston;  George,  who  died  in  Minnesota;  Charles  E.,  our  subject;  Daniel,  a 
resident  of  Mississippi;  and  Bert,  also  living  in  Mississippi. 

Charles  E.  Ingham  received  his  education  in  the  township  where  he 
was  born,  and  in  his  early  manhood,  desiring  to  see  something  of  the  neigh- 
boring states,  went  to  Wisconsin,  and  then  to  Illinois,  where  he  spent  a  few 
years.  He  then  returned  to  Holland,  Michigan,  and  subsequently  settled  in 
Heath  township,  while  about  1902  he  located  his  present  place,  a  tract  of 
eighty  acres,  and  has  personally  attended  to  the  improvements,  including  that 
part  of  it  which  is  cleared,  and  the  building  of  a  dwelling  and  necessary 
outbuildings. 

Mr.  Ingham  was  married  February  20.  1887.  to  May  Greenwood,  a 
native  of  Van  Buren  county.  Michigan,  and  a  daughter  of  John  and  Candace 
(Schorman)  Greenwood.  Mr.  Greenwood  was  for  a  number  of  years  a  resi- 
dent of  Heath  township,  where  he  first  ran  a  mill  and  then  engaged  in 
fanning.  Both  he  and  his  wife  died  in  this  township.  Mr.  Ingham  is  the 
father  of  four  children,  born  on  the  following  dates :  Walter  Guy,  January 
9,  1894 ;  Herbert  Ovando,  August  6,  1896 ;  Lawrence  Steward.  December  25, 
1899;  and  Marian  Louise,  July  6.  1906. 

Our  subject  i.s  a  Republican  and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board  for  a  number  of  years,  being  still  connected  with  it.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  K.  O.  T.  M.  at  Dunningville,  having  joined  that  order  at  Holland^ 
and  is  also  an  esteemed  member  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry. 

D.\NiEL  McAr.piNE,  of  Heath  township,  Allegan  county,  is  of  Scottish 
ancestry,  although  a  Canadian  b;'  birth,  having  been  born  at  New  London,  in 
the  Province  of  Ontario,  Canada,  January  24,  1839.  He  is  a  son  of  Hugh 
and  Annie  (McPliale)  McAlpine,  who  were  both  natives  of  Scotland.  Hugh 
McAlpine  came  to  Canada  when  about  forty-five  years  of  age.  and  though  a 
carpenter  by  trade  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  which  occupation  he  con- 
tinued to  follow  imtil  his  death.  He  was  the  father  of  fourteen  children,  all 
of  whom  are  now  dead  with  the  exception  of  Daniel  M.  and  a  brother  named 
■  Alexander,  who  still  resides  in  Canada. 

Daniel  McAlpine,  upon  coming  to  Michigan,  located  at  Plainwell,  where 
he  remained  a  year,  and  then  moved  to  Heath  township,  where  he  found  em- 
ployment in  the  sawmills.  The  farm  on  which  he  now  lives,  comprising 
fifty-two  acres,  he  cleared  himself,  paying  ten  dollars  an  acre  for  it,  and 
taking  it  from  the  former  owner — for  whom  he  worked — in  lieu  of  wages. 


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390  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX'  COUXTY 

He  has  done  much  to  improve  his  neighborhood,  always  advocating  good 
roads  and  other  ptiblic  improvements ;  in  fact,  the  school  house  for  that  dis- 
trict is  located  on  an  acre  of  ground  which  he  donated  for  that  purpose. 

Mr.  McAlpine,  was  married,  in  1863,  to  Annie  Brodie,  by  whom  he  had 
one  son,  Hugh,  who  is  now  employed  as  an  engineer  of  one  of  the  lake  boats, 
running  from  Detroit  to  DuUith.  His  second  marriage  occurred  to  Mary  Jane 
Bellamy,  and  of  this  union  there  were  born  five  children  :  Neil,  of  Michigan 
City,  Indiana,  who  married  Cora  Young,  and  is  the  father  of  four  children, 
Lloyd,  Irene,  Wayne,  and  Keith ;  Ida,  wife  of  Fred  Wicks,  of  Allegan,  and 
the  mother  of  one  child,  Verna  Marie ;  Margaret,  wife  of  Frank  Clare,  of 
Minnesota :  John,  who  resides  with  his  parents,  but  is  now  in  South  Dakota, 
and  Burt,  who  married  Lillie  Johnson,  and  resides  in  Michigan  City,  In- 
diana. After  the  death  of  his  second  wife  Mr.  McAlpine  was  married,  No- 
vember 24,  1897,  to  Mary  E.  Meyers,  a  native  of  La  Grange,  Indiana,  and  a 
daughter  of  Isaac  B.  and  Annie  (Leslie)  Meyers.  She  was  generally  known 
by  the  name  of  Robinson,  having  been  adopted  by  a  family  of  that  name, 
who  came  to  Allegan  county  in  1865,  where  two  years  later  the  father  died ; 
the  mother,  however,  is  still  living  at  Hastings,  Michigan.  Mrs.  McAlpine 
had  one  brother,  Henry  C.  Meyers,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war.  Mr. 
McAlpine  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  served  one  term  as  highway 
commissioner,  discharging  his  duties  creditably  and  well.  He  is  a  respected 
member  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  at  Dunningville. 

Charles  Wilder  Butler,  who  has  been  a  resident  of  .Allegan  county 
since  his  birth,  was  bom  in  Valley  township,  September  .-jo,  i86r.  He  is  a 
son  of  Charles  B.  and  Susan  f  Handy)  Butler,  both  natives  of  New  York. 
Charles  B.  Butler  came  to  Michigan  from  New  York,  and  located  in  Valley 
township,  moving  subsequently  to  Overisel  township  where  he  died  about 
fourteen  years  ago.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  his  second  wife;  his 
first  wife  having  died  before  he  came  to  Michigan.  Charles  W,  is  the  third 
of  a  family  of  nine  children,  eight  of  whom  are  now  living:  Mary  (Dunnen- 
berg)  ;  Merritt,  who  lives  in  Oregon;  Charles  Wilber;  Ward,  residing  in 
Trowbridge  township:  Seymour,  who  lives  in  Overisel;  Minnie  (Dunnen- 
berg),  a  resident  of  Allegan;  Hattie  (Thornton),  who  is  now  in  Missaukee 
county,  and  Ruth  (Bassett)  of  Chicago. 

Charles  Wilber  Butler  was  about  eight  years  of  age  when  he  went  with 
his  parents  to  Overisel  township,  and  he  remained  there  for  a  number  of 
years,  being  engaged  during  that  time  in  lumbering  and  farming.  In  1903 
he  purchased  a  one  hundred  and  twenty  acre  tract  on  the  northern  boundary 
of  Heath  township,  and  has  resided  there  since.  Mr.  Butler  was  married, 
November  2,  1888,  to  Bertha  May  Strait,  a  native  of  Kent  county,  Michi- 
gan, and  daughter  of  Nehemiah  and  Lucina  (Gerould)  Strait,  who  came 
to  Michigan  from  New  York — of  which  state  they  were  both  natives — in, 
1878.  Mr.  Strait  died  in  1904,  but  Mrs.  Strait  still  survives,  and  resides  with 
Mr.  Butler  and  his  wife.  The  family  of  our  subject  numbers  five  children, 
who  were  born  on  the  following  dates:  Hazel.  November  26.  1889;  Lloyd, 
November  29,  i8qi  ;  Fern,  May  16,  1896;  Leonard,  August  11,  1903,  and 
Laura,  March  7,  1905.  In  politics  Mr.  Butler  is  a  Republican,  and  is  vitally 
interested  in  all  that  concerns  the  interests  of  his  party  and  the  welfare  of 
the  community  in  which  he  resides. 


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HISTORY  Ol-  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  391 

John  N.  Barlow^  who  follows  the  occupation  of  agriculture  in  Heath 
township,  has  been  a  resident  of  Allegan  county  for  fifty  years.  His  birth 
occurred  October  14,  1846,  and  when  ten  years  of  age  he  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Valley  township,  where  the\'  settled  on  the  Estabrook  farm.  They 
later  bought  what  was  known  as  the  Ryan  fami,  on  the  river  at  Mill  Grove, 
and  subsequently  purchased  the  farm  on  which  our  subject  now  lives.  The 
elder  Mr.  Barlow  engaged  in  lumbering  for  a  number  of  years — ^pine  timber 
being  then  very  plentiful — and  cleared  the  eight>--acre  farm  on  which  he  re- 
sided until  his  death,  which  occurred  November  25,  1883,  his  wife  having 
died  July  4,  1873.  Their  family  consisted  of  nine  children,  the  following  of 
whom  are  living :  Ezra,  who  lives  at  Byron  Center ;  Ann  Eassett,  residing  at 
Salem ;  John,  our  subject ;  Jane ;  David,  a  resident  of  Petoskey ;  Elizabeth 
McCloud,  at  Mill  Grove ;  Daniel,  of  Heath  township,  who  had  a  twin, 
Phoebe,  deceased ;  and  Clara  Dutcher,  who  lives  in  Chicago. 

Our  subject  when  a  young  man  worked  in  the  lumber  camps  and  on 
the  river.  In  1865  he  enlisted  for  one  year  in  Company  G,  Eleventh  Mich- 
igan Infantry,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  going  from  Jackson, 
Michigan,  to  Chattanooga,  and  then  to  Cleveland,  Tennessee,  where  he 
was  taken  sick  and  underwent  a  severe  illness.  After  the  close  of  the  war 
he  returned  home  and  took  half  of  his  father's  farm,  and  has  since  devoted 
himself  to  farming. 

On  January  3,  1871,  Mr.  Barlow  was  married  to  Mercy  Ann  Marks, 
of  Indiana,  and  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Electra  Lurette  (Eassett)  ]\Iarks, 
who  moved  from  Indiana  to  Salem  township,  Michigan,  where  they  lived 
for  some  years,  moving  subsequently  to  Osceola  county,  where  Jlrs.  Marks 
still  lives,  aged  about  eighty-one  years.  Mr.  Marks  during  the  Civil  war 
served  in  an  Indiana  regiment  and  received  a  gunshot  wound — in  the  battle 
near  Fortress  Monroe — which  resiilted  in  his  death. 

Mr.  Bariow  is  the  father  of  three  children:  Rosella.  late  wife  of  Edgar 
Anson,  and  mother  of  four  children,  Daisy,  Lloyd,  Clifford  (deceased),  and 
Harold:  Fred  Eugene,  born  January  26,  1877,  who  resides  at  home,  and 
Frank,  born  July  17,  1890,  who  is  also  living  with  his  parents. 

In  politics  Mr.  Barlow  is  a  Republican  and  has  held  the  office  of  school 
moderator,  and  of  pathmaster  for  twenty  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
John  W.  Purdy  Post  No.  346,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  at  Hamilton, 
and  has  been  for  three  }-ears  adjutant  of  that  post.  He  also  holds  member- 
ship in  Bear  Creek  Grange  No.  926,  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  and  in  the  Na- 
tional Protective  Legion  No.  192,  at  Dunning\'ille. 

Orrfx  a.  Jacofs,  whose  residence  in  Heath  township  covers  a  period 
of  over  thirty-five  years,  nineteen  years  of  which  was  spent  on  his  present 
place  and  the  one  next  adjoining,  was  born  in  Franklin  county.  New  York, 
March  9,  1846.  He  is  a  son  of  Elias  and  Maria  (Court)  Jacobs,  both  natives 
of  New  York.  The  latter  still  survives,  residing  at  Kalamazoo,  Michigan. 
She  was  the  mother  of  three  children:  Orrin  A.,  William  (deceased  at  the 
age  of  three  years),  and  EUa,  wife  of  Wilbur  Reed. 

Our  subject  in  1866  moved  from  New  York  to  Kalamazoo,  and  resided 
there  for  four  years.  He  then  removed  to  Allegan  county  and  settled  on 
the  farm  south  of  his  present  property,  building  a  log  cabin  and  clearing  the 
land  preparatory  to  cultivation.      In    1899  he  moved  to  his  present  farm. 


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392  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

which  comprises  sixty  acres,  and  his  father  built  the  house  in  which  our 
subject  now  lives.  He  devotes  his  time  to  general  farming,  including  the 
raising  of  apples  and  peaches. 

On  November  23,  1875,  Mr.  Jacobs  was  married  to  Anna  Gertrude 
Spofford,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  daughter  of  David  Spofford.  She 
is  the  mother  of  two  children:  Bert,  of  Kalamazoo,  who  married  Clara  Bell 
Purdy,  and  is  the  father  of  one  son,  Vaurice;  and  Elsie  M.,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Nicholas  Prince,  and  the  mother  of  one  child,  Inez. 

Our  subject  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  held  the  offices  of  high- 
way commissioner  and  of  township  treasurer  for  some  years.  In  a  fraternal 
way  he  is  a  member  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  and  of  the  National  Pro- 
tective Legion. 

Charles  Washington  Cummings,  a  worthy  citizen  of  Dunningville, 
Michigan,  first  came  to  that  place  over  thirty  years  ago,  in  company  with  his 
mother  and  his  step-father,  Washington  Cook.  Mr.  Cummings  was  born  in 
Jonesville,  Ohio,  January  9,  1858,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  Jackson, 
Michigan,  in  1861.  His  father,  Archibald  Cummings,  was  a  Scotchman. 
and  came  from  Canada  to  Ohio,  from  which  state  during  the  Civil  war  he 
enlisted  in  Company  F,  Sixth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  mustered 
into  the  service  November  7,  1862,  at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  He  participated  in 
the  engagements  of  Gaines  Mills,  Savage  (Virginia),  White  Oak  Swamp, 
Harrison's  Landing,  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  Antietam,  Snicker's  Gap, 
Battle  of  the  Wilderness,  Potomac  River,  Spottsylvania,  and  died  of  star- 
vation August  9,  1864,  at  Andersonville,  Georgia,  having  been  taken  pris- 
oner at  the  engagement  of  Spottsylvania.  Our  subject  had  also  three  uncles 
on  his  mother's  side  and  one  grandfather  in  the  Federal  army.  His  mother, 
Huldah  Ann  (Haskin)  Cummings.  was  a  native  of  Canada,  and  a  daughter 
of  Ithemer  Haskin,  who  came  originally  to  the  town  of  Cooper,  Allegan 
county,  and  subsequently  to  Casco,  Allegan  county,  and  Sheboygan,  Mich- 
igan, in  the  order  named.  Our  subject  is  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  of  a 
family  of  five  children :  John  Ithemer,  who  hves  at  Old  Mission ;  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  James  Gardner;  Alice,  deceased;  Charles  W..  and  Ursula,  deceased. 

Charles  W.  Cummings  was  but  seven  years  of  age  when  his  mother 
moved  to  Cooper,  Michigan.  Later  they  moved  to  Ganges  where  he  lived 
until  sixteen.  He  next  moved  to  Heath  township  and  settled  on  a  farm 
one  mile  northeast  of  his  present  place.  This  place  contained  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  and  was  his  home  until  about  seven  years  ago,  when  he  pur- 
chased a  sixty-acre  tract  adjoining  Dunningville,  where  he  has  resided 
since.  During  nine  years  he  sawed  in  a  mill  at  Manistique,  Michigan,  then 
one  at  Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  and  worked  for  a  time  in  Arkansas, 
then  returned  to  Michigan,  where  he  now  follows  general  farming  and 
stock  raising. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  1880,  Mr.  Cummings  was  united  in  the  bonds 
of  matrimony  to  Heleri  Greenwood,  a  native  of  Van  Buren  county,  Michi- 
gan, daughter  of  John  and  Candace  (Showerman)  Greenwood,  and  who  is 
the  mother  of  one  daughter,  Eeidah,  who  is  still  at  home  with  her  parents. 

Mr.  Cummings  is  a  Republican,  and  has  served  as  highway  commis- 
sioner, and  is  now  in  his  second  term  as  assessor.  He  is  a  member  of  Bear 
Creek  Grange  No.  926,  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  also  of  the  National  Pro- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUXTV  393 

tective  Legion,  and  foriiierl\  held  membership  in  Lodge  353  of  the  1,  O.  t>. 
F.,  at  Manistique. 

Henry  H.  Tien  is  the  efficient  postmaster  at  Graafschap,  in  thu  north- 
western part  of  Allegan  county,  where  he  is  also  the  proprietor  of  a  general 
store  which  does  a  large  business.  Mr.  Tien  is  a  native  of  Cook  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  was  born  July  22,  i860.  He  is  the  eldest  of  the  family 
of  six  children  of  Herman  Tien,  who  until  1881  lived  on  a  farm  in  Cook 
county,  Illinois.  Here  the  son,  Henry,  grew  to  manhood,  assisting  his 
father  with  the  farm  work  and  attending  school  in  the  winters,  thus  securing 
a  good  common  school  education.  The  family  came  to  Allegan  county  in 
1881  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Fillmore  township.  Henry  continued  farming 
in  this  state  until  in  the  autumn  of  18S4  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness, a  line  which  he  has  followed  ever  since.  He  was  first  in  partnership 
with  John  G.  Rutgers,  this  relation  being  continued  for  twenty-one  years, 
when  Mr.  Rutgers  sold  his  interest  in  the  business.  Mr.  Tien  continued  the 
firm,  which  is  now  known  as  Tien  &  Heneveld.  A  large  stock  of  general 
merchandise  is  carried  and  the  store  is  a  very  popular  out.  with  the  resi- 
dents of  a  wide  territory.  The  firm  has  a  reputation  for  fair  dealing  and 
liberal  and  courteous  treatment  and  as  they  aim  to  carry  such  a  line  as  will 
meet  the  needs  of  all  it  is  but  natural  that  they  should  transact  a  large  vol- 
ume of  business. 

Mr.  Tien,  on  account  of  his  natural  qualifications  and  the  trust  reposed 
in  him  by  his  fellow  townsmen,  has  been  called  upon  several  times  to  fill  po- 
sitions of  public  trust  and  responsibility.  He  has  been  a  justice  of  the  peace 
for  several  terms  and  has  also  twice  been  elected  as  township  school  in- 
spector. He  was  appointed  as  postmaster  at  Graafschap  in  September. 
1906. 

Mr.  Tien  was  married  April  12.  1S87,  in  FiHmore  township,  to  Miss 
Cornelia  Slink,  and  they  have  six  children,  as  follows:  Herman,  Gertie, 
Alle.  Henrietta,  John  and  Marie. 

Mr.  Tien  and  the  members  of  his  family  belong  to  the  Christian  Re- 
formed church,  in  which  the  head  of  the  family  takes  an  active  interest.  He 
■  is  also  interested  in  all  movements  tending  toward  the  betterment  of  his 
township  and  county,  is  a  firm  believer  in  the  value  of  onr  public  school  sys- 
tem and  is  a  man  who  cominan<ls  the  high  regard  of  all  who  know  him.  He 
has  been  successful  in  farming,  as  welt  as  in  the  mercantile  line  and  he  is 
rearing  his  children  carefully  and  giving  them  every  possible  advantage. 

Plain  WELL, 

The  village  of  Plainwell  was  born  of  the  once  important  but  now  almost 
forgotten  Plank  Road.  When  the  Plank  Road  was  superseded  by  the  rail- 
road, the  village  was  fortunate  in  becoming  a  station  on  two  railroad  lines, 
with  the  result  that  its  growth  was  uninterrupted.  It  is  easy  to  believe  that, 
had  the  railroads  passed  the  village  to  one  side,  the  railroad  era,  instead  of 
continuing  the  prosperity  of  the  village,  would  have  destroyed  it,  and  the 
seat  of  considerable  industry  and, business  and  of  a  population  of  a  thousand, 
as  was  the  case  when  the  railroad  came,  might  have  dwindled  to  the  in- 
significance of  a  hamlet.    Many  instances  of  like  growth  and  decline  have 


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394  HISTORY  OK  ALLEGAX  COUNTY 

marked  the  annals  of  every  state.  "Transportation  is  the  key  to  population," 
and  because  Plainwell  has  always  been  blessed  with  good  transportation 
facilities  its  population  and  material  resources  have  given  it  third  rank 
among  the  villages  of  the  county. 

The  building  of  the  Plank  Road  from  Kalamazoo  to  Grand  Rapids,  its 
importance  to  the  county,  have  been  described.  On  section  thirty  of  Gun 
Plains  township,  on  the  sonth  side  of  the  river,  was  designated  a  junction 
point,  whence  a  branch  of  the  Plank  Road  should  run  northwest  to  Allegan. 
The  advantages  of  a  junction  point  of  railroad  lines,  and  its  almost  inevit- 
able selection  as  a  site  for  a  population  center,  are  very  obvious  to  the  pres- 
ent generation.  Half  a  century  ago  the  same  wa^  equally  true  of  a  meeting 
point  of  two  important  highways  such  as  plank  roads  were  at  the  time. 
As  soon  as  the  Plank  Road  was  designated  and  construction  work  begun  on 
it  in  1852,  the  proposed  junction  point  attracted  attention  to  its  future  pos- 
sibilities. Here  the  streams  of  travel  and  traffic  would  meet.  Here  un- 
doubtedly would  be  located  a  stage  station,  with  stables  for  the  relay  horses 
and  accommodations  for  lodging  and  feeding  the  traveling  public.  This 
would  be  the  terminus  for  the  branch  line  to  Allegan.  Such  a  point  was  not 
likely  to  be  overlooked  by  men  of  enterprise. 

So  it  happened  that  a  Mr.  Weltever  bought  an  acre  of  land  at  the  junc- 
tion, in  the  angle  between  what  are  now  Allegan  and  Main  streets,  and  in  the 
fail  of  1853  began  the  construction  of  the  historic  Plainwell  House,  an  illus- 
tration of  which  appears  on  another  page.  He  did  not  remain  long  enough 
to  see  his  enterprise  through,  but  sold  the  land  and  the  unfinished  house  to 
Orson  D.  Dunham,  who  late  in  the  fall  of  1853  bought  forty  acres  surround- 
ing the  Wellever  tract  and  shortly  after  became  owner  of  the  hotel  site. 
The  Plainwell  House  was  opened  to  public  entertainment  in  July,  1854. 
Traffic  had  already  begun.  Wagons  loaded  with  merchandise,  lumber  and 
farm  produce  were  passing  over  the  road  from  morning  till  night,  and  the 
Junction — which  was  the  popular  designation  for  this  point  until  the  incor- 
poration of  the  village — profited  in  proportion.  With  the  opening  of  the 
road  a  stage  line  was  established,  and  until  the  coming  of  the  railroad  the 
rolling  four-horse  stage  was  as  famihar  to  the  people  along  the  line  as  the 
railroad  trains  of  today.  It  is  related  that  the  old  Plainwell  House  often  en- 
tertained at  dinner  the  passengers  of  seven  four-horse  stages,  from  which  an 
idea  may  be  formed  of  the  amount  of  travel  along  this  route. 

Until  the  Plank  Road  was  laid  out,  the  land  on  which  the  village  of 
Plainwell  now  stands  was  not  to  be  distinguished  from  the  surrounding 
country.  Indeed,  the  old  plat  of  Plainfield.  laid  out  by  William  Forbes  on 
section  eighteen,  was  the  only  place  in  the  township  that  resembled  a  village 
community.  Elsewhere  we  have  noticed  some  of  those  who  owned  land  in 
sections  twenty-nine  and  thirty,  covering  or  surrounding  the  site  of  Plain- 
well.  It  was  farming  land  only,  and  had  changed  owners  frequently,  among 
the  early  residents  of  the  locality  being  William  Still,  John  Anderson.  Will- 
iam Chart,  William  Woodhams  and  George  W.  Kennicott.  When  the  Plain- 
well  House  began  building,  William  Woodhams  was  the  only  resident  on 
what  became  the  village  site,  his  house  being  near  the  river  near  Bridge 
street.  An  unoccupied  log  cabin  gave  shelter  to  the  Dunham  family  until 
the  completion  of  the  hotel.  Mr.  Dunham  in  T855  sold  his  hotel  to  Mills  & 
Merritt,  and  for  a  time  it  was  known  by  the  name  of  the  Merritt  House. 


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THE  OLD  PLAINWELL  HOUSE 
HE  War  ;  Torn  Down  in  1891  ;  Replace:,  i 


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TIISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  395 

Business  enterprises  were  quickly  centered  at  the  Junction.  A  descrip- 
tion of  the  place  in  1855  mentions  the  following  residents  and  business  con- 
cerns ;  William  Woodhams,  Alfred  S.  and  Albert  Pierson,  proprietors  of  a 
grocery  store  on  Main  and  Bridge  streets,  these  merchants  having  succeeded 
George  H.  Anderson  who  was  the  first  to  open  a  stock  of  goods.  The 
Piersons  were  succeeded  by  Orson  D.  Dunham  in  the  same  year.  Dunham 
kept  the  postoffice  in  the  Plainwell  House.  A  schoolhouse  had  also  been 
built.  There  was  a  blacksmith  shop  and  John  H.  Lasher,  the  first  shoe- 
maker, opened  a  shop  the  same  year.  Other  residents  were  Hart  Dunham, 
Abel  Dunham,  Hiram  W.  Anderson,  Nathaniel  Seeley,  and  the  Lovelocks, 
and  across  the  river  were  the  old  residents,  William  Still,  John  Anderson 
and  Calvin  Dunham. 

The  building  of  the  Plank  Road,  the  estabhshment  of  the  Plainwell 
House,  the  stage  coach  line  were  the  foundation  of  Plainwell.  Then  in 
1856  the  Plainwell  Water  Power  Company  was  formed  by  George  C.  Mills, 
Orson  D.  Dunham,  Gilves  Sherwood,  William  H.  Woodhams.  John  K. 
Bingham  and  a  Mr.  Fairchilds.  Preyious  to  this  time  little  thought  had 
been  given  to  the  development  of  water  power  at  this  point.  By  the  con- 
struction of  a  long  race  across  the  bend  in  the  river,  and  the  building  of  a 
sawmill,  the  first  step  was  taken  toward  making  this  a  manufacturing  center. 
A  grist  mill  was  built  in  1858.  also  a  rake  factory,  and  in  i860  a  planing  mill. 

In  consequence  of  these  various  interests,  a  population  of  200  had  gath- 
ered at  this  locality.  The  next  step  was  the  platting  of  a  village.  The  sur- 
vey of  the  original  plat,  which  was  situated  on  section  29  west  of  the  river, 
was  made  by  Ira  Chichester  in  April,  1S63,  the  proprietors  of  the  plat  being 
William  H.  Woodhams,  George  H.  Anderson,  John  C.  Bannister.  M,  E. 
Cushman,  Peter  Hatfield  and  M.  E.  Gifford.  Shortly  afterward  O.  D. 
Dunham  and  the  Corbyns  built  a  flouring  mill,  and  when  this  burned  two 
years  later,  Eartley  &  Company  erected  another. 

In  t868  the  original  Kalamazoo  and  .Allegan  Railroad  completed  its 
line  to  Plainwell.  being  the  first  railroad  in  the  county,  and  soon  super- 
seding the  Plank  Road  as  a  through  route,  which  from  that  time  gradiially 
lost  its  character  and  importance.  The  population  had  increased  to  nearly 
a  thousand,  and  there  was  much  diversity  of  business  interests.  The  next 
step  in  village  growth  was  then  taken,  A  petition  for  incorporation  was  sent 
to  the  legislature,  and  by  an  act  approved  March  26,  i86g.  the  corporate 
limits  of  the  village  of  Plainwell  were  constituted  with  its  present  area.  The 
charter  election  followed  on  March  29th,  being  held  in  the  Plainwell  House. 
Two  hundred  and  fifteen  votes  were  polled,  and  the  first  set  of  ofiicials  to  di- 
rect the  affairs  of  the  village  were:  Joseph  W.  Hicks,  president  i  Henrv  W, 
Church,  clerk:  Augustus  H.  Hill,  treasurer:  William  Still,  James  T.  Hyde, 
Giles  Sherwood,  William  L.  Ripley.  D.  C.  Kenvon,  Abel  S.  Dunham,  trus- 
tees; C.  B.  Randall,  marshal.  The  principal  v.illage  officials  to  the  present 
time  are  given  in  the  official  lists. 

In  October,  1870,  trains  began  running  through  Plainwell  over  the 
G.  R.  &  I.  Railroad.  In  that  year  the  census  estimate  of  the  population  was 
^■°35'  3nd  in  some  respects  Plainwell  was  the  most  enterprising  and  pro- 
gressive village  of  the  county.  Public  improvements  were  keeping  pace  with 
business.  A  fire  department  was  established  by  the  village  council  on  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1870.  and  this  was  followed  in  the  next  month  by  the  report  of  a 


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396  HISTORY  Ob'  ALLEGAX  COUNTY 

committee  recommending  the  installation  of  tlie  Holly  system  of  water 
works  as  "the  best  and  most  secure  protection  against  fire  for  the  least 
money."  In  June,  1870,  it  was  resolved  to  appropriate  $3,400  to  instal  the 
water  works,  which  were  completed  in  the  spring  of  1872.  Dewitt  C.  Ken- 
yon  was  the  first  superintendent  of  the  water  works.  The  water  supply 
from  the  race  was  at  first  obtained  from  the  owners  of  the  race,  O.  D.  Dun- 
ham and  R.  P.  Corbyn,  but  on  the  reorganization  and  incorporation  of  the 
Plainwelt  Water  Power  Company  in  1873  the  village  became  part  owner 
and  obtained  first  right  in  the  use  of  the  water.  In  the  same  year  the  race 
was  enlarged  and  the  power  for  manufacturing  and  other  purpKises  greatly 
increased.  Suitable  fire-fighting  equipment  was  installed  in  connection  with 
the  water  works.  Halcyon  Hose  Company  was  formed  in  December,  1872, 
and  Hook  and  Ladder  Company  No.  i  was  formed  in  October,  1877.  In 
January.  1878,  a  fire  hall  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  $700. 

In- 1884-1885  the  pumphouse  was  rebuilt,  new  pumps  installed  and  the 
iron  pipe  taken  up  and  replaced  with  wooden.  For  the  next  ten  years  the 
work  of  extending  the  pipe  lines  was  pushed  until  every  resident  within 
the  corporation  was  given  fire  protection.  In  order  to  furnish  better  fire 
protection  to  the  property  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  the  Scott  Hose  Com- 
pany was  organized  and  incorporated  in  1888.  A  change  in  the  water  sup- 
ply from  the  river  to  wells  was  effected  in  the  spring  of  1905,  so  now  the 
best  of  well  water  is  supplied.  At  the  present  time  there  are  three  and  one- 
half  miles  of  water  pipe  laid,  about  2,000  feet  of  hose,  a  hook  and  ladder 
company  and  two  hose  companies  that  are  second  to  none. 

The  water  rights  are  divided  among  the  different  companies  as  their 
several  interests  appear,  the  Esley  Light  and  Power  Company  owning  the 
largest  share.  This  company,  which  was  organized  and  incorporated  in 
August.  1904,  has  installed  a  modem  plant  from  which  street,  commercial 
and  residence  lighting  is  furnished,  besides  power  for  operation  of  several 
mills  and  minor  plants. 

Albert  L.  Nktiols,  enjjaged  in  the  insurance  business  at  Plainwell, 
lias  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  supervisors  of  the  county  for  nine 
years,  and  is  serving  for  the  second  year  as  chairman.  His  residence  in 
Plainwell  covers  about  fifteen  years,  at  which  time  he  removed  from  Barry 
county  to  Allegan  county.  His  birth  occurred  in  Barry  county,  Michigan, 
January  23,  i860,  his  parents  being  Squire  M.  and  Alma  G.  (Ellis) 
Nichols,  who  came  to  Michigan  from  the  nrovince  of  Quebec,  Canada,  the 
grandfather.  John  Nichols,  removing  to  this  state  when  his  son  Squire  was 
a  young  lad.  The  latter  became  a  farmer  and  resided  in  Barry  county 
until  his  death.  In  1864  he  enhsted  in  response  to  the  further  call  for 
Union  soldiers,  becoming  a  member  of  Company  B,  Thirteenth  Michigan 
Infantry,  with  which  command  he  continued  with  Sherman  on  the  cele- 
brated march  to  the  sea.  In  the  last  engagement  of  the  army  at  Benton- 
ville.  North  Carolina,  he  was  shot  through  the  arm  and  the  member  was 
afterward  amputated,  so  that  he  was  thus  called  upon  to  make  a  great 
sacrifice  for  his  country.  He  died  in  Barry  county,  in  October.  1889,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-seven  years,  having  been  born  on  the  loth  of  March,  1822, 
Following  his  death  his  widow  lived  with  her  son,  Albert  L.,  imtil  her 
demise  in  December,  1903. 


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PLAl.WVELL   IX  1869 
Bvd.niNr.  THE  Eureka  Hai.l 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COL'XTY  397 

Albert  L.  Nichols,  reared  under  the  parental  roof,  pursued  his  pre- 
liminary education  in  the  district  schools  and  received  his  more  advanced 
training  in  the  Michigan  Agricultural  College,  at  Lansing,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1886.  Returning  to  the  fann,  he  devoted  his 
attention  through  two  succeeding  years  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  also 
taught  school,  having  to  some  extent  followed  that  profession  before  he 
entered  upon  his  college  course.  He  afterward  taught  for  two  years  at 
Hickory  Corners.  Leaving  the  farm  on  account  of  ill  health,  he  removed 
to  Plainwell  and  continued  teaching  through  two  winter  seasons.  At  the 
same  time  he  began  the  culture  of  small  fruit  on  his  present  place  within 
the  corporate  limits  of  the  town,  having  three  acres  of  land.  He  devoted 
three  years  to  that  business,  after  which  he  became  bookkeeper  for  the 
Plainwell  Church  Furniture  Company,  remaining  with  that  corporation 
until  the  factory  was  burned  in  March,  1896.  He  was  afterward  township 
treasurer  for  two  years,  and  in  the  meantime  he  took  up  the  insurance 
business  and  is  now  representative  of  six  old  line  fire  insurance  companies, 
together  with  the  Northwestern  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company,  Again 
he  was  called  to  public  office  in  1898,  being  elected  supervisor  from  his 
township,  and  at  each  succeeding  year  he  was  re-elected.  Although  a 
Democrat,  he  was  chosen  chairman  by  a  Republican  board— an  election 
which  was  certainly  very  complimentary  and  a  tribute  of  his  personal 
worth  as  well  as  an  indication  of  the  confidence  reposed  in  him.  In  1905 
he  served  as  mayor  of  the  village  of  Plainwell,  and  for  four  years  he 
was  a  member  of  the  village  council. 

On  the  nth  of  March,  1888., Mr.  Nichols  was  married  to  Miss  Carrie 
L.  Jessup,  a  native  of  Barry  county,  Michigan,  and  a  daughter  of  Samuel 

E.  and  Sophia  E.  Jessup,  both  now  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nichols  both 
hold  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  he  affiliates  with 
Plainwell  Lodge,  No.  185,  K.  of  P.,  and  with  Plainwell  Lodge,  No.  235, 

F.  &  A.  M.,  in  which  he  served  as  master  for  five  years,  being  one  of  the 
valued  and  exemplary  representatives  of  the  craft.  He  is  a  most  progressive 
and  enterprising  citizen,  an  efficient  and  trustworthy  officer,  occupying  an 
enviable  place  in  the  public  regard  and  continually  demonstrating  his  right 
to  the  good  will  and  confidence  in  which  he  is  held. 

Grouge  T.  Ive.s.  successfully  engaged  in  farming  and  stockraising  in 
Gun  Plains  township,  Allegan  county,  represents  one  of  the  old  and  promi- 
nent pioneer  families  of  this  section  of  the  state.  His  paternal  grand- 
parents. Friend  and  Harriet  (Warner)  Ives,  were  among  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Allegan  county.  The  former  was  bom  in  Plymouth.  Con- 
necticut, December  23,  1790,  and  in  early  life  traveled  extensively  through 
Maryland  and  Vii^inia  in  the  sale  of  Yankee  clocks.  Later  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Lebanon,  Columbia  county.  New  York,  the  family  home 
being  established  among  tiie  religious  sect  known  as  Shakers.  In  1818  he 
removed  to  Medina  county,  Ohio,  settling  near  Cleveland.  He  here  entered 
a  farm,  which  was  partially  cleared,  and  he  further  developed  and  improved 
the  property,  built  a  log  house,  in  which  the  family  lived  in  true  pioneer 
style,  and  there  engaged  in  general  agricultural  pursuits  until  1833,  in 
which  year  he  made  his  way  to  Allegan  county.  His  farm  was  located  near 
the  village  of  Plainwell,  in  what  is  now  Gun  Plains  township.    There  had 


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398  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

been  few  settlements  made  when  he  arrived  in  this  state,  so  that  Mr.  Ives 
had  a  wide  territory  from  which  to  select  a  location.  He  entered  his  land 
from  the  government,  the  original  patent  being  now  in  possession  of  the 
grandson,  George  T.  Ives.  The  land  lay  on  sections  20,  21,  22  and  15, 
and  this  was  greatly  improved  by  Mr.  Ives,  who  cleared  and  developed 
the  fields,  set  ont  a  good  orchard  and  erected  the  house  which  is  now 
occupied  by  H.  D.  Kreighbauni  but  which  was  used  at  that  time  as  a 
hotel.  He  was  a  man  of  good  business  ability,  and  his  worth  was  recog- 
nized hy  his  fellow  citizens,  so  that  he  was  freqtiently  called  upon  to  fill 
public  offices  of  honor  and  trust.  In  1835  he  was  elected  as  assessor  of 
the  town  of  Allegan  and  was  likewise  one  of  the  first  assessors  of  Plain- 
field,  which  is  now  known  as  Gun  Plains.  He  was  also  for  many  years 
associate  judge  of  the  county  and  served  his  district  in  the  state  legis- 
lature. 

It  was  during  the  residence  of  the  family  in  Ohio  that  the  son,  James 
Ives,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born.  He  was  a  little  lad  of  seven  years 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Allegan  county, 
assisting  his  father  in  the  work  of  clearing  and  developing  new  land,  being 
assigned  to  the  various  tasks  in  connection  therewith  as  his  age  and 
strength  permitted.  Through  a  long  period  he  carried  forward  the  work 
of  agricultural  development  which  had  been  instituted  by  his  father,  and 
he  built  the  brick  house  which  is  now  occupied  by  U.  G.  Brown,  this  dwell- 
ing being  constructed  in  the  year  1869-70.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Octavia  Chambers,  who  was  born  in  the  Empire  state,  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Adeline  Chambers,  who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Gvm  Plains 
township.  Mrs.  Ives  is  still  living  at  the  very  advanced  age  of  ninety-three 
years. 

George  T.  Ives,  the  only  child  bom  of  his  father's  marriage,  is  a 
native  of  Allegan  county,  his  natal  day  being  October  22,  and  the  year 
1852.  He  was  reared  to  the  occupation  of  farming  and  acquired  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  of  Gun  Plains  township.  He  remained  under 
the  parental  roof  until  after  he  had  attained  his  majority,  when  he  estab- 
lished a  home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage  to  Miss  Hattie  Lyndsley,  who 
was  born  in  Otsego  township,  Allegan  county,  a  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and 
Betsey  Lyndsley,  both  of  whom  are  deceased.  Mr.  Ives  has  always  followed 
tiie  occupation  to  which  he  was  reared  and  he  is  today  owning  and  operat- 
ing an  excellent  farm  in  Gun  Plains  township,  and  in  addition  to  his 
farming  interests  he  is  engaged  to  some  extent  in  the  raising  of  live  stock, 
keeping  only  the  best  grades  of  animals. 

Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born  three  children,  of  whom 
two  are  living — Fred,  who  makes  his  home  in  Texas;  Roy,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  nine  years,  and  Bessie,  who  is  a  public-school  student  at  Plain- 
well.  Mr.  Ives  is  independent  in  his  political  views,  voting  for  the  men 
whom  he  deems  best  qualified  for  office,  regardless  of  party  affiliation.  He 
has  served  as  district  school  officer,  but  aside  from  this  has  never  been 
active  as  an  office  seeker,  preferring  to  give  his  undivided  time  and  atten- 
ion  to  his  private  business  affairs,  which  are  being  successfully  con- 
ducted. Both  he  and  his  wife  hold  membership  with  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  while  he  affiliates  with  the  Maccabees,  the  Patricians  and  the 
Grange. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY  399 

M^r.  Ives  is  everywhere  known  as  a  reliable  and  straightforward 
business  man,  who  has  fully  sustained  the  reputation  borne  by  his  grand- 
father and  father,  and  he  is  today  classed  among  the  leading  and  influen- 
tial agriculturists  of  Allegan  county. 

Rev.  John  Fletcher  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  oldest  minister 
in  years  of  continuous  service  in  Michigan.  He  is  the  loved  pastor  of 
the  First  Baptist  church  of  Plainwell,  where  he  has  remained  since  the 
1st  of  October,  1864,  and  the  years  have  brought  him  into  close  connec- 
tion with  the  life  of  the  community  through  his  labors  as  pastor  and 
preacher. 

John  Fletcher  was  born  in  Worcestershire,  England,  July  9,  1832, 
and  was  seventeen  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Michigan,  settling  in 
Detroit.  His  father,  William  Fletcher,  also  a  native  of  England,  followed 
farming  on  a  small  scale  after  going  to  Detroit,  his  farm  adjoining  the 
city  limits.  At  a  later  date,  however,  he  sold  his  land  for  city  lots.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Miles,  and  luito  them  were  born  nine  children,  five  of 
whom  are  yet  living — William,  who  is  a  practicing  attorney  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C. ;  John,  of  this  review;  Mrs.  Marie  Shuffle,  a  widow,  residing  at 
Washington,  D.  C. ;  Mrs.  Miriam  Beadle,  a  resident  of  Detroit,  and  Mrs. 
Sarah  Deland,  also  of  Washington,  D.  C. 

John  Fletcher  attended  a  school  conducted  at  Birmingham,  England, 
whose  head  master  was  the  well-known  Professor  Pitman,  the  originator 
of  the  Pitman  system  of  phonography  and  stenography.  After  going 
to  Detroit  he  took  up  the  study  of  the  classics  and  theology  under  men 
of  scholarly  attainments,  including  the  Rev.  Estabrook,  who  was  head 
of  educational  matters  in  Ypsilanti.  Continuing  his  study  he  also  engaged 
in  preaching  in  the  vicinity  of  Detroit  until  about  1864,  when  he  became 
chaplain  of  the  Ninth  Michigan  Cavalry,  which  went  with  Sherman  on 
the  march  to  the  sea.  It  was  the  first  regiment  to  reach  the  coast  and 
opened  up  communication  with  the  fleet  off  Savannah.  The  army  later 
moved  northward  toward  Richmond,  wliere  they  received  news  of  Lee's 
surrender.  Rev.  Fletcher  was  then  honorably  discharged  in  August, 
1865.  The  regiment  covefed  probably  three  times  the  distance  of  the 
infantry  and  wagons  on  the  march  to  the  sea  and  the  cavalry  forces 
clashed   with  Wheeler's  cavalry  in  many  skirmishes. 

On  his  retirement  from  military  service  Rev.  Fletcher  came  to  Plain- 
well  and  accepted  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Baptist  church,  where  he  has 
remained  continuously  since.  Hon.  J.  M.  Gregory,  a  minister  and  edu- 
cator, and  the  president  of  Kalamazoo  College,  who  had  been  on  the 
ground  and  knew  the  field,  mentioned  Mr.  Fletcher  as  a  good  man  to 
take  charge  of  the  new  church,  and  in  September,  1865,  he  was  installed 
as  pastor  of  the  Plainwell  Baptist  church.  There  was  then  a  small  con- 
gregation who  had  been  attempting  to  build  a  little  church.  Mr.  Fletcher 
at  once  took  up  the  work  and  assisted  in  finishing  the  house  of  worship. 
Since  that  time  the  church  has  been  quadrupled  in  size.  Mr.  Fletcher  has 
not  only  each  Sunday  filled  his  place  in  the-  pulpit  and  promoted  the 
church  work  in  its  various  activities,  but  has  also  come  into  close  contact 
with  the  life  of  the  community  in  his  work  as  pastor  and  counselor  and 
through   the  burial   and   marriage   ceremonies  he  has  performed,   together 


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400  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

witli  his  participation  in  public  events.  He  has  dehvered  on  an  average 
of  about  fifty  funeral  sermons  annually  and  has  averaged  one  marriage  a 
month  during  the  forty-one  years  here  passed.  He  has  married  couples, 
and  later  their  children,  and  has  been  called  upon  to  perform  marriage 
ceremonies  and  burial  services  of  other  denominations.  His  sermons 
have  been  published  quite  extensively  and  thus  the  seeds  of  truth  he  has 
sown  have  been  scattered  broadcast  over  the  land  as  well  as  of  the  com- 
munity where  he  dwells,  bringing  forth  rich  fruit  in  many  lives,  and  his 
influence  is  immeasurable. 

Rev.  Fletcher  has  taken  a  most  active  and  helpful  interest  in  all 
departments  of  the  church  work  and  is  now  chairman  of  the  Michigan 
branch  of  the  Baptist  Ministers"  Aid  Society  at  Fenton,  Michigan.  He 
prepares  the  program  for  Thanksgiving  for  the  benefit  of  the  home  in  all 
Baptist  churches  of  the  five  states,  which  compose  the  field  of  this  society, 
Michigan,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Wisconsin.  In  1876  he  went  to 
Washington,  D.  C,  where  for  three  months  he  supplied  the  pulpit  in  the 
old  E  Street  church,  one  of  the  oldest  of  the  city.  The  people  of  Plain- 
well,  desirous  of  retaining  his  services,  sent  him  a  petition  signed  by  all 
the  prominent  residents  of  the  town,  and  thus  urged,  he  felt  that  he  could 
not  break  the  home  ties  formed  here,  and  he  returned  to  Plainwell,  where 
he  has  labored  for  more  than  four  decades.  In  1890  was  celebrated  the 
twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  his  coming  to  Plainwell.  on  which  occasion 
appropriate  services  were  held,  but  on  the  first  of  October,  1905,  still 
greater  honors  were  conferred  upon  him  in  the  celebration  of  the  fortieth 
anniversary  of  the  beginning  of  his  pastorate,  on  which  occasion  a  large 
number  of  people  came  from  a  distance,  while  many  letters  and  telegrams 
were  received,  among  them  a  congratulatory  letter  from  President  Roose- 
velt. The  other  ministers  of  the  village  joined  in  the  services,  together 
with  ministers  of  prominence  from  different  parts  of  the  state.  Dr.  H.  L. 
Stetson,  a  professor  in  Kalamazoo  College,  speaking  on  "Literary 
Demands  of  a  Forty-Year  Pastorate,"  estiinated  that  it  required  thirteen 
thousand  discourses,  which  would  make  five  hundred  volumes  of  three 
liundred  pages  with  two  hundred  and  fifty  words  to  a  page.  Rev,  J.  S. 
Boyden,  the  only  pastor  now  living  in  Michigan,  who  was  in  the  service 
when  Rev.  Fletcher  was  ordained,  referred  to  the  latter  as  being  with  him- 
self (Boyden)  the  "David  and  Jonathan  of  the  Baptist  denomination." 

Rev.  Fletcher  has  been  twice  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony. 
He  wedded  Miss  Alia  H.  Ladd.  a  daughter  of  Henry  Ladd,  and  they 
had  one  child,  John  B.,  who  was  married  and  died  in  early  manhood,  leav- 
ing a  daughter,  A  1th a  Fletcher,  who  lives  in  Florida.  Rev.  Fletcher's 
second  marriage  on  the  14th  of  January,  1887,  united  him  with  Elizabeth 
Tayler,  a  native  of  England,  who  was  four  years  of  age  when  brought  to- 
the  United  States  by  her  parents,  William  and  Christiana  (Shipp)  Tayler. 
The  father  was  of  the  parish  of  Yate,  Gloucestershire,  England,  and  was 
one  of  the  prominent  residents  of  the  southwestern  part  of  that  county. 
He  was  a  currier  by  trade  and  thus  provided  for  his  family  in  early  life. 
He  married  Christiana  Saunders,  nee  Shipp.  who  was  born  in  Chipping, 
Sodbury,  England,  June  i,  1808,  and  when  eighteen  years  of  age  became 
the  wife  of  Thomas  Saunders,  by  whom  she  had  one  child,  yet  living, 
William  Thomas,  now  a   resident  of  Oakland,  California.     In   1832  Mr, 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  401 

anri  Mrs.  Saunders  came  to  America.  The  voyage  was  a  memorable  one 
because  of  the  great  peril  in  which  all  were  placed.  The  brig  Kobert  de 
War,  heavily  loaded  with  railroad  iron,  on  the  bank  of  Newfoundland  was 
caught  by  a  northwestern  gale  and  driven  before  the  fierce  wind  to  the 
Bay  of  Biscay,  on  the  coast  of  Spain.  It  sprang  a  leak  and  was  greatly 
disabled  in  other  ways.  The  pumps  were  worked  night  and  day  for  six 
weeks  and  one  pumper  fell  dead,  while  another  fell  from  the  mast  head 
and  was  killed.  A  part  of  the  bulwark  was  washed  away  and  much  of 
the  rigging  was  lost.  Progress  was  slow  and  the  renewal  of  the  storm 
would  have  cost  them  their  lives.  They  were  nearly  starved,  so  that  they 
ate  the  crumbs  from  the  biscuit  boxes,  but  a  Dutch  vessel  reached  them 
just  in  time  to  prevent  starvation.  After  ninety-three  days  and  nights  in 
peril,  exposure  and  suspense  they  landed  at  New  York.  For  a  short  time 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Saunders  remained  in  Massachusetts  and  then  removed 
to  Silver  Creek,  New  York,  where,  in  crossing  the  stream,  Mr.  Saunders 
was  drowned.  His  widow  afterward  returned  to  England,  and  three 
years  later  married  William  Tayler.  Seven  children  were  born  unto 
them,  of  whom  three  are  living- — Lydia,  the  widow  of  R.  L.  Hewitt,  a 
resident  of  Plainwell;  Mrs,  Jane  Johnston,  of  Los  Angeles,  California, 
and  Mrs.  Fletcher.  On  coming  to  Michigan  the  family  located  at 
Ceresco,  Calhoun  county.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Fletcher  passed  away  in 
Lansing  at  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Hewitt,  at  the  very  advanced 
age  of  nearly  ninety-three  years. 

Mr.  Fletcher  is  chaplain  of  Mark  Thompson  Post,  No.  269,  G.  A.  R., 
at  Plainwell.     The  community  affairs  here  have   found  in  him  an  inter- 

.  ested  observer,  and  to  the  extent  of  his  time  and  ability  he  has  labored  to 
promote  every  movement  calculated  to  advance  the  welfare  of  the  village 
in  its  social,  educational  and  moral  development.  The  influence  of  such 
a  life  is  immeasurable.  His  labors,  however,  are  seen  in  the  lives  of  those 
with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact  and  who  bear  testimony  to  the  helpful- 
ness of  his  precepts  and  his  example.  A  man  of  strong  mental  endow- 
ment, he  has  used  his  talents  to  the  best  purpose  and  zealously  and  con- 
scientiously has  labored.  '  He  is  recognized  as  a  man  of  bi'oad,  scholarly 
attainments,  whose  sermons  are  reached  through  logic  and  sound  deduc- 
tion, and  his  strong  and  clear  presentation  of  the  truth  has  been  a  most 

potent  element  in  the  moral  life  of  Plainwell  and  this  portion  of  Michigan. 

Herbert  L.  Bliss,  one  of  the  prominent  and  enterprising  business  men 
of  Allegan  county,  came  to  Plainwell  twenty-three  years  ago  from  Alamo. 
Since  that  time  he  has  been  a  valued  factor  in  the  business  life  of  the  town, 
his  wise  counsel,  sound  judgment  and  unflagging  enterprise  proving  ele- 
ments in  commercial  activity  and  advancement  here.  A  native  son  of 
Michigan,  he  was  born  at  Cooper.  Kalamazoo  county,  September  28,  1854, 
and  is  a  son  of  George  W.  and  Helen  M.  {Boynton)  IJliss,  who  were  natives 
of  Wayne  county.  New  York.  After  their  marriage  they  removed  to  Kala- 
mazoo county,  Michigan,  and  settled  at  Traverse  Station.  Mr.  Bliss  secured 
a  tract  of  raw  land,  which  he  cleared  and  cultivated  and  he  removed  from 
Alamo  to  Plainwell,  after  having  purchased  and  sold  several  different  farms 
in  that  locality.  About  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago  he  took  up  his  abode  in 
.Plainwell  and  purchased  a  grocery  store,  to  which  he  added  a  stock  of  boots 


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402  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

and  shoes.  He  had  formerly  spent  a  brief  period  in  the  town  but  had  re- 
turned to  Alamo.  A  year  after  his  arrival  here  he  was  joined  by  his  son, 
Herbert  L.,  in  the  conduct  of  the  business.  This  partnership  was  continued 
for  a  year  when  the  father  sold  out  but  he  made  his  home  in  Plainwell  most 
of  the' time  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1901.  He  had  long  survived 
his  wife,  who  died  in  Alamo. 

Reared  under  the  parental  roof  Herbert  L.  Bliss  is  indebted  to  the  pub- 
lic school  system  of  the  state  for  the  educational  privileges  he  enjoyed.  A 
year  after  his  father  came  to  Plainwell,  he  also  took  up  his  abode  in  the  vil- 
lage and  the  partnership  was  formed  between  them  for  the  conduct  of  a  gen- 
eral store,  as  stated.  The  father  sold  out  a  year  later  to  E.  A.  Owen,  at 
which  time  the  firm  of  Bliss  &  Owen  was  formed.  This  relation  was  main- 
tained for  four  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  Mr.  Bliss  sold  his  interest  to 
his  partner.  After  being  out  of  business  for  a  year  he  bought  out  Mr.  Owen 
and  has  since  engaged  in  the  sale  of  shoes,  trunks,  traveling  bags,  hosiery, 
mitts  and  gloves,  sewing  machines,  books  and  stationery.  He  also  is  in  con- 
trol of  the  central  office  of  the  Michigan  State  Telephone  Company,  as  local 
manager,  acting  in  this  capacity  for  about  seven  years.  He  likewise  has  an 
interest  in  the  new  shoe  factory,  which  is  conducted  under  the  name  of  the 
Plainwell  Shoe  Company.  Whatever  he  undertakes  he  carries  forward  to 
successful  completion  and  his  stalwart  purpose  and  unflagging  enterprise 
have  been  the  salient  elements  in  his  success. 

On  the  27th  of  August,  1879,  Mr.  Bliss  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Lydia  Bachelder,  of  Alamo,  Michigan,  and  they  have  four  children :  Charles 
Lee  is  pursuing  a  course  of  study  in  the  dental  department  in  the  University 
of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor.  Herbert  Ray  is  a  graduate  of  the  University  of 
Michigan  and  is  now  practicing  law  in  Detroit.  He  was  married  at  Ann 
Arbor,  this  state.  Guy  Paul  is  pursuing  a  literary  course  in  the  University  of 
Michigan.  Helen  Ada  is  a  student  in  the  Plainwell  High  School.  After 
losing  his  first  wife  Mr,  Bliss  wedded  Mary  E.  Buxton,  a  resident  of  Plain- 
well,  and  they  have  five  children:  Harold  L.,  John  H.,  Mary  L.,  Fred  R.  and 
George  E. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Bliss  is  a  Prohibitionist.  He  served  as  village 
assessor  for  a  number  of  years,  has  also  been  treasurer  of  the  village,  a 
member  of  the  school  board  for  eight  years  and  now  secretary  of  the  board. 
Community  interests  awaken  his  attention  and  he  gives  hearty  endorsement 
to  those  measures  which  he  believes  will  prove  of  general  good.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  he  as  con- 
nected with  the  Modem  Woodmen  and  the  National  Protective  League.  In 
all  of  his  business  life  he  has  been  honorable  and  straightforward,  winning 
an  unassailable  reputation,  and  gaining  success  as  the  reward  of  laudable 
ambition  and  close  application. 

William  J.  Thomas,  superintendent  of  the  Michigan  Paper  Company, 
of  Plainwell,  in  which  capacity  he  has  grven  most  excellent  service  by  rea- 
son of  his  thorough  understanding  of  the  business  in  principle  and  detail. 
came  to  Allegan  county  nineteen  years  ago,  and  located  in  the  village  where 
he  now  makes  his  home.  He  was  born  at  Sandy  Hill,  in  Washington 
county.  New  York,  January  30,  1849,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah 
(Harper)  Thomas,  who  were  natives  of  England,  and  were  married  in  th?i 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  403 

country  prior  to  coming  to  the  United  States.  They  first  located  at  Toronto, 
Canada,  and  thence  removed  to  Sandy  Hill,  New  York.  The  father  was  a 
paper  maker  by  trade  and  followed  that  pursuit  in  England,  and  also  after 
coming  to  the  new  world.  He  made  his  home  at  Sandy  Hill  until  his  death 
in  1878. 

In  that  town  William  J.  Thomas  was  reared  and  educated.  His  first 
work  in  Michigan  was  in  the  paper  mill  of  J.  W.  French,  at  Three  Rivers. 
It  was  there  that  he  brought  into  use  his  new  process  of  paper  making — a 
process  which  has  been  demonstrated  to  be  most  practical  and  successful. 
Since  1887  he  has  continuously  served  as  superintendent  of  the  Michigan 
Paper  Company  of  Plainwell  and  the  success  of  this  enterprise  is  attributable 
in  large  measure  to  his  efforts.  He  originated  a  process  which  is  in  use  in 
this  plant,  whereby  stock  is  taken  from  the  cars  into  the  mill  and  in  seven 
hours  is  converted  into  finished  paper.  They  take  the  poorest  grades  and 
turn  out  a  superior  finished  product.  Mr.  Thomas  and  his  wife  originated 
the  process  after  considerable  study  and  experiment  and  have  thus  intro- 
duced into  the  world  an  industrial  interest  of  much  value.  Mrs.  Thomas 
has  charge  of  fifty  women  employed  in  the  factory.  She  is  an  experienced 
paper  maker  and  has  been  a  splendid  helpmate  to  her  husband  in  his  busi- 
ness life. 

It  was  in  1870  that  William  J.  Thomas  was  married  to  Miss  Ella  A. 
Hill,  a  native  of  Washington  county,  New  York,  and  a  daughter  of  George 
A.  and  Sarah  (Lummeraux)  Hill.  In  his  political  affiliation  Mr.  Thomas  is 
a  stalwart  Republican,  and  for  ten  years  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  vil- 
lage council,  exercising  his  official  prerogatives  in  support  of  those  meas- 
ures which  recognize  the  needs  and  possibilities  of  the  city.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church  and  he  belongs  to  Plainwell  Lodge 
No.  158,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Plainwell  Lodge,  K.  P.,  and  the  Knights  of  the  Mac- 
cabees, and  the  National  Protective  League.  He  is  an  able  business  man, 
alert  and  enterprising,  and  of  geniai  disposition,  displaying  much  tact  in 
carrying  on  the  work  of  the  factory.  He  has  indeed  earned  for  himself  an 
enviable  reputation  as  a  careful  man  of  business  and  in  his  dealings  is  known 
for  his  prompt  and  honorable  methods  which  have  won  him  the  deserved 
confidence  of  his  feilowmen, 

Wir.LiAM  H.  Hooper,  who  has  devoted  the  greater  part  of  his  life  to 
general  agricultural  pursuits  and  stock-raising,  his  home  being  on  section 
six.  Gun  Plains  township,  was  bom  in  Savannah,  Wayne  county,  New 
York,  March  3,  185 1.  He  is  a  son  of  Van  R.  Hooper,  a  well  known  resident 
'  of  this  county,  and  was  about  twelve  years  of  age  when  brought  to  Michi- 
gan. He  attended  the  district  schools  and  the  Plainwell  High  School,  and 
has  lived  most  of  his  life  in  Gun  Plains  township.  He  estabHshed  the  vil- 
lage of  Hooper,  in  Martin  township,  and  for  eight  or  nine  years  resided 
there,  after  which  he  returned  to  the  home  farm  and  for  about  twenty  years 
operated  a  thresher.  He  had  the  first  steam  engine  in  Allegan  county.  He 
has  been  upon  the  road  selling  threshers  and  other  farm  machinery,  and  he 
now  follows  general  farming  and  stock-raising,  keeping  sheep,  hogs,  cattle 
and  horses.  He  carefully  manages  both  branches  of  his  business,  and  in 
his  work  meets  with  a  very  desirable  measure  of  success. 

Mr.  Hooper  was  married,  December  19,  1877,  to  Miss  Ella  A.  Case, 


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4(*4  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY 

who  was  born  m  Watson  township  and  is  a  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Sarah 
(Harris)  Case.  The  father  was  only  six  years  of  age  when  he  lost  his 
father.  He  was  born  in  Henrietta,  Monroe  county,  New  York,  May  20, 
1824,  and  following  his  father's  demise  he  lived  with  an  uncle  until  twenty- 
two  years  of  age.  In  1848  he  purchased  land  in  Michigan.  Two  years 
later  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Harris,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  Har- 
ris, and  in  the  spring  of  1855  removed  with  his  family  to  Watson  township, 
becoming  one  of  its  earliest  residents  and  sharing  in  its  pioneer  develop- 
ment. In  1870  he  sold  his  original  farm  property  and  built  the  home  in 
which  he  spent  his  subsequent  years.  His  wife  died  November  21,  1893, 
while  Mr.  Case  departed  this  life  September  18,  1902.  They  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  named :  Mary  E.,  wife  of  James  R.  Fenner ;  Ardell 
S.,  the  wife  of  William  Shepherd;  Ella  A.,  the  wife  of  our  subject,  and 
Julia  P.,  the  wife  of  Delavan  R.  Hooper,  a  brother  of  William  H.  Hooper. 

Unto  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  H.  Hooper  have  been 
bom  four  daughters  and  the  family  circle  yet  remains  unbroken  by  the 
hand  of  death.  Pearlia,  the  eldest,  born  November  27,  1879,  is  the  wife  of 
J.  C.  Oviatt,  a  resident  of  Martin  township;  Delia  C.,  who  was  born  Jan- 
uary 16,  1883.  and  is  engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Aberdeen,  South  Da- 
kota; Clara  E.,  who  was  born  May  11,  1885,  and  is  the  wife  of  Herbert 
Haas,  a  resident  of  Kalamazoo,  Michigan,  and  Theda  S.,  who  was  born 
August  7,  1887,  and  teaches  school  in  the  home  district. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Hooper  has  always  been  a  Democrat  and  has 
served  as  highway  commissioner  and  as  drain  assessor.  He  has  also  twice 
been  the  nominee  of  his  party  for  county  sheriff.  He  belongs  to  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  to  the  Maccabees'  Tent  at  Martin.  Liv- 
ing in  this  county  from  the  age  of  twelve  years  he  has  a  wide  acquaintance 
within  its  borders  and  has  gained  many  warm  friends.  The  wise  system  of 
industrial  economics  he  has  followed  in  his  business  life  and  the  care  with 
which  he  has  managed  his  interests  have  placed  him  above  the  ranks  of  the 
many,  and  he  is  now  numbered  among  the  successful  few. 

Charles  A.  Rush,  the  senior  member  of  the  well  known  firm  of  Bu.sh 
&  Granger,  extensive  dealers  in  lumber,  lime,  building  materials  and  coal, 
has  been  a  Hfe-long  resident  of  Allegan  county.  He  was  born  on  what  is 
known  as  the  William  Forbes  farm  in  Gun  Plains  township.  December  25, 
T842.  a  son  of  Charles  and  Sophia  (Sutherland)  P.ush.  The  father  was 
bom. in  Worcester.  Massachusetts,  in  1798.  and  there  made  his  home  until 
1834,  when  he  came  to  Allegan  county,  being  one  of  its  earlie.st  settlers.  He 
made  his  way  to  Gun  Plains  township,  where,  in  partnership  with  a  Mr. 
Watson,  he  purchased  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  two  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  of  which  was  entered  from  the  government,  and  a  part  of 
this  tract  now  constitutes  the  farm  of  E.  A.  Springer.  In  1838  Mr.  Bush 
.sold  his  interest  to  his  partner,  after  which  he  spent  a  short  time  in  Wiscon- 
sin. His  health  had  become  Impaired,  and  being  induced  by  John  Forbes 
to  accompany  them  to  Scotland,  he  accordingly  made  the  journey  in  1839. 
While  in  that  country  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  the  lady  whom  he 
afterward  made  his  wife,  she  being  a  sister-in-law  of  Mr.  Forbes.  She  ac- 
companied the  gentlemen  on  their  return  to  the  United  States,  and  in  1847 
gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Mr.  Bush.    Following  their  marriage  the 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  4U5 

young  couple  located  on  a  farm  which  was  located  in  Gun  Plains  township, 
and  there  they  made  ttaiir  home  until  after  the  birth  of  their  eldest  child, 
when  Mr.  Bush  disposed  of  that  property  and  purchased  the  Robinson  farm 
on  section  twenty.  Gun  Plains  township,  which  continued  to  be  the  family 
home  for  many  years.  The  farm  was  cleared  and  developed  by  the  father, 
who  likewise  erected  all  of  the  buildings.  His  death  there  occurred  in 
1878,  when  he  had  reached  the  very  advanced  age  of  eighty  years,  while  he 
is  still  survived  by  his  widow  who,  although  she  has  passed  the  eighty-sixth 
anniversary  of  her  birth,  is  still  in  possession  of  her  mental  faculties,  and 
is  very  active  for  one  of  her  years.  She  was  born  in  Dingwell,  Rosshire, 
Scotland,  August  18,  1820,  and  was  there  reared  and  educated,  remaining 
in  that  country  until  she  was  a  young  lady  of  nineteen  years,  when,  as  stated, 
she  came  to  Michigan,  where  she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Mr.  Bush. 
In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were  the  following  named :  Charles 
A.,  whose  name  introduces  this  review;  Donald  S.,  who  makes  his  home  in 
Gun  Plains  township  near  Argenta ;  William  H.,  a  resident  of  Chicago ; 
Roderick  U.,  who  resides  in  Detroit :  Nye  A.,  who  died  in  Chicago,  in  April, 
1906 ;  Mary,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  E,  M.  Kenyon.  of  that  city ;  and  Geor- 
giana,  the  deceased  wife  of  John  S.  Madden,  of  Chicago.  The  father  gave 
his  early  political  support  to  the  whig  party  but  upon  the  organization  of 
the  new  Republican  party  gave  his  support  thereto. 

Charles  A.  Bush,  the  eldest  son  of  his  father's  family,  was  reared  on 
the  homestead  farm,  assisting  his  father  in  the  duties  and  labors  which 
usually  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agriculturist,  while  in  the  district  schools  near 
his  father's  home  he  pursued  his  studies  through  the  winter  months.  He 
remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  1883,  when,  thinking  other  pursuits 
would  be  more  congenial  to  him,  he  went  to  Plainwell,  where  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  Henry  F.  Woodhams  and  engaged  in  the  lumber  business. 
In  1886  they  consolidated  their  business  with  that  of  Riley  and  Charles  A. 
Granger,  and  the  four  gentlemen  continued  business  together  for  six  or 
eight  years,  when  Mr.  Woodhams  retired  from  the  firm,  and  the  business 
was  then  continued  by  Mr.  Bush  and  Messrs.  Granger  until  1898,  in  which 
year  the  latter  gentlemen  sold  their  interest  to  L,  R.  Delano,  father  of  Mrs. 
C.  A,  Bush,  and  the  firm  name  became  C.  A.  Bush  &  Company.  In  1904 
Charles  A.  Granger  again  entered  the  firm;  buying  the  interest  of  Mr.  De- 
lano, and  the  business  has  since  been  continued  under  the  style  of  Bush  & 
Granger.  The  firm  now  enjoy  a  large  patronage  both  in  Plainwell  and 
throughout  the  surrounding  territory,  and  its  success  is  largely  due  to  the 
untiring  efforts  of  Mr.  Bush,  who  has  been  interested  in  the  business  for 
almost  a  quarter  of  a  century,  or  since  its  inception.  They  carry  a  large 
line  of  lumber,  building  materials,  lime  and  coal,  and  their  trade  in  each 
commodity  is  extensive,  owing  to  the  fair  dealing  and  reasonable  prices. 

An  important  event  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Bush  occurred  October  26,  1892. 
when  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Clarissa  Delano,  who  was  born  in 
Gun  Plains,  a  daughter  of  Luther  R.  and  Marvette  (Anderson)  Delano. 
The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bush  has  been  blessed  with  an  interesting 
little  daughter  and  son:  Mary  D..  whose  birth  occurred  October  8,  1893. 
and  Charles  Luther,  who  was  born  August  3.  1896. 

Mr.  Bush  has  always  given  his  political  support  to  the  Republican  part>-. 
and  although  Gim  Plains  township  has  always  been  strongly  Democratic, 


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406  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

he  was  elected  supervisor,  in  which  office  he  served  for  six  years,  which 
indicates  his  popularity  among  his  fellow  citizens.  He  likewise  served  as 
highway  commissioner  for  one  year.  In  his  fraternal  relations  he  holds 
membership  with  Masonic  Lodge  No.  235,  at  Plainwell. 

Perhaps  no  citizen  of  Plainwell  has  done  more  for  the  upbuilding  of  its 
commercial  interests  than  Mr.  Bush,  who  today  stands  at  the  head  of  one  of 
the  most  important  enterprises  of  this  section  of  the  county.  He  has  given 
his  aid  to  many  movements  and  measures  which  have  tended  toward  the 
betterment  of  his  town  and  community,  and  by  strict  adherence  to  high 
and  manly  principles  he  has  won  a  wide  circle  of  friends  both  through  busi- 
ness and  social  relations. 

John  Crisfe,  president  of  the  Plainwell  Shoe  Company,  and  for  many 
years  one  of  the  most  progressive  citizens  here,  his  labors  being  of  direct 
benefit  in  the  stibstantial  improvement  and  upbuilding  of  the  town,  was 
born  in  Sutton,  Valance,  Kent  county,  England,  June  24,  1839,  and  is  a  son 
of  Edward  and  EHzabeth  (Munn)  Crispe.  The  family  is  of  Norman 
French  origin  and  because  of  their  religious  faith  its  representatives  were 
forced  to  leave  their  native  France.  They  had  previously  accompanied 
William  the  Conqueror  and  the  Normans  in  their  invasion  of  England  in 
the  year  1066.  They  had  been  prominent  in  public  affairs  in  northern 
France  and  undoubtedly  were  representatives  of  the  nobility  of  the  French 
monarchy,  having  in  their  possession  the  French  coat  of  arms.  They  also 
held  large  landed  estates  in  France  and  lived  there  until  early  in  the  fif- 
teenth century,  when  their  attitude  against  the  established  church  made  it 
necessary  for  them  to  take  refuge  with  the  Huguenots  in  England.  There 
they  were  destined  to  fame  in  national  affairs  in  military  and  civic  life,  nu- 
merous members  of  the  family  being  elevated  to  knighthood.  Their  advent 
in  America  dates  back  to  the  coming  of  the  Pilgrims  and  they  have  fur- 
nished this  nation  some  of  its  distinguished  citizens,  including  Charles  Fred- 
erick Crispe,  who  at  one  time  was  speaker  of  the  national  house  of  repre- 
sentatives. 

Edward  Crispe,  father  of  John  Crispe  of  this  review,  and  fifth  son  of 
William  and  Grace  Elizabeth  (Goodwin)  Crispe.  was  bom  in  England,  May 
I,  1802.  By  occupation  he  was  a  miller,  baker  and  farmer,  owning  the 
Forshan  farm.  On  the  17th  qf  February,  1852,  accompanied  by  his  wife 
and  nine  children,  he  sailed  for  America  and  located  at  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
In  November,  1854,  they  came  to  Plainwell,  Allegan  county,  Michigan, 
where  for  a  generation  Mr.  Crispe  engaged  in  the  milling  business.  His 
death  occurred  August  21,  1888,  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  eighty-six 
years,  and  his  wife  died  January  7,  1884,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years. 

John  Crispe  of  this  review  was  a  youth  of  about  twelve  years  when 
brought  to  America  upon  a  voyage  that  covered  more  than  thirty  days.  He 
attended  school  in  England  and  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  after  coming  to  Mich- 
igan began  learning  the  miller's  trade,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of  three 
years  and  nine  months  in  Otsego.  When  the  Civil  war  broke  out  he  was  the 
first  man  in  Gun  Plains  township  to  enroll  his  name  but  was  not  permitted  to 
serve  because  of  defective  sight.  In  December,  1862,  however,  he  enlisted 
and  was  accepted  as  a  member  of  the  Eighth  Michigan  Cavalry  under  Gen- 
eral Stockton.    He  was  enrolled  as  a  private,  was  soon  promotedto  second 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  CQUXTY  407 

duty  sergeant.  His  first  active  service  was  in  pursuit  of  the  wily  Morgan, 
whose  raid  was  terrorizing  some  of  the  northern  states.  They  took  part 
in  the  engagements  at  Hickman's  Bridge,  Treflet's  Bridge  and  Buffington 
Landing,  and  after  covering  five  hundred  and  seventy-eight  miles,  riding 
by  night  and  day,  they  finally  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  Morgan  taken 
captive.  Going  south  the  regiment  participated  in  the  siege  of  Knoxville 
under  Burnside  and  followed  Longstreet's  forces  to  LJell's  Gap.  Returning 
to  Knoxviile,  they  left  their  horses  and  went  on  foot  across  the  mountains 
to  Camp  Nelson,  Kentucky.  There  they  remounted  and  went  to  Chatta- 
nooga, thence  southward,  overtaking  Sherman  at  Resaca.  They  continued 
on  the  march  to  Atlanta  and  were  in  the  engagements  at  Jonesboro,  after 
which  they  were  in  the  engagements  under  General  Thomas  in  the  battles 
of  Franklin,  Columbia  and  Nashville.  Mr.  Crispe  was  honorably  discharged 
at  Nashville  September  22,  1865,  being  mustered  out  as  first  sergeant. 
After  the  termination  of  an  honorable  service  in  the  war  he  returned  to 
PlainwelJ  and  for  a  time  engaged  in  the  livery  business.  In  1867  he  estab- 
lished the  first  drug  store  in  the  village,  which  he  conducted  with  a  paper 
and  paint  store  until  1902,  when  he  disposed  of  the  drug  store,  while  in  1905 
he  sold  the  paper  store.  He  has  always  closely  identified  himself  with  the 
interests  of  Plainwell,  fostering  new  enterprises  and  assisting  in  municipal 
improvements  and  thus  he  takes  rank  among  the  foremost  representatives 
of  the  community.  He  owns  a  good  farm  in  Gun  Plains  township  and  has 
recently  sold  one,  and  he  has  a  fine  residence,  together  with  considerable 
business  property  in  Plainwell.  In  1903  he  erected  a  modern  two-story  ce- 
ment block,  containing  stores  and  offices. 

The  Plainwell  Shoe  Company,  of  which  he  is  now  president,  was  in- 
corporated in  August,  1906,  with  Mr.  Crispe  as  president;  F.  F.  Patterson, 
secretary ;  E.  W.  Eady,  vice-president ;  Frank  P.  Heath,  treasurer,  and 
A.  J.  Mathews,  manager.  The  four  first  named,  together  with  J.  W.  Gil- 
key,  F.  A.  Harwood  and  John  F.  Eesley,  constitute  the  board  of  directors. 
They  purchased  the  opera  house  block,  which  has  been  remodeled  and  which 
has  now  been  placed  in  operation  in  the  manufacture  of  shoes.  They  make 
some  specialties  in  boys'  and  women's  shoes,  and  the  new  enterprise  is 
proving  a  profitable  investment. 

In  February,  1867,  Mr.  Crispe  was  married  to  Mrs.  Amanda  Mesick, 
nee  Tibbits,  and  to  them  were  born  three  children,  Minnie,  Guy  and  Cherry, 
all  of  whom  were  laid  to  rest  in  childhood.  Mrs.  Crispe  passed  away  Decem- 
ber 21,  1898,  and  Mr.  Crispe  was  married  in  the  fall  of  1901  to  Miss  Martha 
Jane  Formbaum,  who  for  several  years  was  a  successful  teacher  in  tlie 
Plainwell  public  schools.  She  was  born  in  Wheeling.  West  Virginia,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  Adolph  and  Mary  (Hess)  Formbaum.  Her  father,  a  native 
of  Germany,  came  to  this  country  in  early  manhood  and  here  wedded  Miss 
Hess,  a  native  of  Virginia.  He  died  in  Parkersburg,  West  Virginia,  after 
which  his  widow  came  to  Michigan,  bringing  her  family  with  her.  Mrs. 
Crispe  was  then  nine  years  of  age.  Her  educational  training  was  received 
in  the  Plainwell  High  School  and  a  Catholic  convent,  which  is  the  pre- 
paratory department  to  Notre  Dame  University.  She  afterward  engaged  in 
teaching  in  Plainwell  until  her  marriage. 

Mr.  Crispe  is  a  stalwart  Republican  and  cast  his  first  vote  for  president 
for  Abraham  Lincoln.    He  has  taken  an  earnest  and  active  interest  in  party 


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408  HrST{.)RY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

aifairs,  serving  as  delegate  to  district  and  congressional  conventions  and 
was  a  delegate  to  the  national  convention,  which  nominated  Benjamin  Har- 
rison in  1888.  He  served  as  treasurer  of  Gun  Plains  township  foi;  five  years, 
and  in  January,  1877,  was  appointed  postmaster,  in  which  capacity  he 
served  for  ten  years  and  three  months.  Beginning  in  April,  r886,  he  filled 
the  office  of  supervisor  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner  for  six  years.  He 
was  one  of  the  building  committee  when  the  Allegan  courthouse  was  erected 
and  the  fact  that  not  all  of  the  appropriation  made  was  used  in  Its  construc- 
tion shows  the  economy  and  ability  displayed.  He  was  appointed  by  Gov. 
H.  S.  Pingree  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  control  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb 
School  erected  at  Flint,  Michigan.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the 
Masons,  Odd  Fellows  and  Maccabees  and  is  a  member  of  Mark  Thompson 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Plainwell.  In  his  life  he  has  displayed  indomitable  per- 
severance and  strong  inteliectitality,  together  with  great  breadth  of  wisdom. 
His  entire  life  accomplishment  represents  the  result  of  the  fitting  utilization 
of  the  innate  talent  which  is  his  and  the  directing  of  his  efforts  in  those 
lines  where  mature  Judgment  and  rare  discrimination  lead  the  way.  He  is 
a  man  of  indefatigable  enterprise  and  has  carved  his  name  deeply  on  the 
record  of  the  political  and  business  history  of  the  county,  which  owes  much 
of  its  advancement  to  his  efforts. 

Frank  P.  He.\th  has  been  a  resident  of  Plainwell  for  about  thirty 
years.  He  was  born  in  Gun  Plains  township,  December  22,  1857,  and  is . 
a  son  of  John  and  Alice  Elizabeth  (Attleberry)  Heath,  who  removed  from 
Cattaraugus  county.  New  York,  to  Michigan  at  a  time  when  the  old  plank 
road  was  the  highway  of  travel.  At  that  date,  however,  the  town  of  Plain- 
well  had  not  yet  been  established.  The  father  located  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  state  for  a  short  time  and  then  became  owner  of  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres  in  Gun  Plains  township.  He  cleared  and  cultivated  the  land,  bring- 
ing it  under  a  high  state  of  improvement,  and  after  living  there  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  and  in  other  locahties  at  different  periods  he  came  to  Gun 
Plains,  where  he  spent  his  remaining  days,  his  death  occurring  in  1901, 
when  he  was  seventy-eight  years  of  age.  His  widow  still  survives.  She 
was  born  in  England,  and  came  to  this  country  with  two  brothers,  at  which 
time  she  located  at  Cattaraugus  county,  New  York.  She  was  but  two  or 
three  years  old  when  brought  to  America,  but  her  brothers  were  grown. 
She  is  now  living  in  Plainwell  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years. 

Frank  P.  Heath  was  reared  upon  the  farm  until  about  twenty  years 
of  age.  He  was  a  youth  of  about  fourteen  years,  however,  when  his  people 
removed  to  town,  and  he  attended  several  terms  of  school  in  the  village. 
After  acquiring  his  education  and  reaching  man's  estate,  he  gave  his  atten- 
tion to  the  merchant  tailoring  business,  in  which  he  continued  for  fifteen 
years.  In  1894  he  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business  as  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Bishop  &  Company,  and  later  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Wag- 
goner &  Heath,  which  continued  until  1906,  when  he  sold  his  interest  to  his 
partner. 

Mr.  Heath  has  been  active  and  influential  in  community  affairs,  and 
on  the  1st  of  September,  1898.  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Plainwell, 
filling  the  position  continuously  since.  He  was  also  township  treasurer 
for  two  years  prior  to  entering  upon  the  duties  of  the  office,  in  which  he  is 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLKGAN  COUNTY  409 

now  serving.  As  his  present  incumbency  indicates,  he  is  a  Republican  in 
his  political  views.  Not  actively  engaged  in  business  affairs  at  the  present 
time  he  is,  nevertheless,  financially  interested  in  the  Plainwel!  Shoe  Com- 
pany, of  which  he  is  treasurer  and  director. 

Mr.  Heath  was  married  in  1884  to  Miss  Mary  Ella  Hitchcock,  a 
native  of  Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  and  a  daughter  of  Isaac  N.  Hitchcock. 
They  became  the  parents  of  two  children :  Nina,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
seven  months,  and  Roy,  who  attended  the  dental  department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor.  Mr.  Heath  was  again  married,  June 
16.  1892.  when  he  was  wedded  to  Alice  E.  Buchanan,  a  native  of  Otsego, 
Michigan,  and  a  daughter  of  George  and  Eliza  (Darrow)  Buchanan.  Her 
parents  came  from  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Ohio,  to  Allegan  county,  and  later 
located  in  Otsego,  while  subsequently  they  became  residents  of  Plainwell, 
the  father  carrying  on  general  agricultural  pursuits  until  his  removal  to 
Plainwell.  He  died  in  1896.  His  wife  survived  him  seven  years.  Their 
daughter,  Mrs.  Heath,  was  a  teacher  in  the  Plainwell  schools  for  ten 
years,  having  charge  of  the  kindergarten  for  two  years,  the  second  grade 
for  seven  years  and  the  seventh  grade  for  a  year.  She  was  remarkably 
successful  in  her  work  as  an  instructor,  and  teachers  from  nearby  towns 
frequently  visited  her  department  to  note  her  methods  of  teaching.  Mr. 
Heath  holds  membership  relations  with  the  Odd  Fellows  and  with  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees.  For  many  years  he  was  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative business  men  of  Plainwell  and  his  energy  and  ability  were  the 
elements  of  his  gratifying  success. 

Van  R.  Hooper,  whose  well-developed  and  valuable  farm  was  a  tract 
of  wild  and  uncultivated  land  when  it  came  into  his  possession  about  forty 
years  ago,  arrived  in  Allegan  county  in  1862,  and  after  spending  a  year 
in  Plainwel]  removed  to  his  present  farm  on  section  six.  Gun  Plains  town- 
ship. A  native  of  New  York,  he  was  born  in  Cayuga  county,  November 
23.  1823,  and  is  a  son  of  Simeon  Hooper,  who  followed  farming  in  the 
town  of  Savannah,  Wayne  county.  New  York,  and  who  in  June,  1862, 
came  to  Allegan  count}',  following  his  son  ^''an,  who  had  arrived  in  the 
previous  January.  He  first  went  to  Plainwell,  but  soon  afterward  removed 
to  Tuscola  coimty,  Michigan,  whence  he  returned  to  Allegan  county.  He 
also  had  two  sons  who  came,  but  did  not  reniain,  while  Jerry  Hooper  is 
now  living  in  Tuscola  county. 

The  other  member  of  the  family  still  living  in  Michigan  is  the  subject 
of  this  review.  He  was  reared  in  the  Empire  state,  acquired  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  and  throughout  his  entire  life  has  followed  the 
occupation  of  farming,  which  became  familiar  to  him  through  actual 
experience  in  his  boyhood  days.  Thinking  to  enjoy  better  opportunities  in 
the  middle  west,  he  made  his  way  to  Michigan  and  after  a  vear  spent  in 
Plainwell  came  to  his  present  farm  on  section  six.  Gun  Plains  township. 
He  located  on  forty  acres  of  land  which  he  cleared,  and  he  also  cleared 
forty  acres  of  the  sixty-acre  tract  which  he  bought  just  south  of  his  home. 
This  meant  arduous  and  unremitting  labor,  which  he  carefully  and  dili- 
gently performed,  and  as  the  year  passed  he  brought  his  fields  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  the  productiveness  o£  the  soil  being  greatly  enhanced 
through  his  efforts,  so  tliat  good  crops  were  annually  produced. 


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410  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

In  1850,  while  still  in  the  east,  Mr.  Hooper  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Ellen  Grawbarger,  a  native  of  New  York  state  and  a  daughter  of 
Henry  Grawl>arger.  They  traveled  life's  journey  together  as  man  and 
wife  for  more  than  half  a  century  and  were  separated  in  the  death  of  Mrs. 
Hooper  on  the  19th  of  March,  1906,  when  she  had  reached  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  years  and  six  months.  They  were  the  parents  of  three 
children,  who  lived  to  adult  age,  and  they  also  lost  one  in  infancy.  Those 
who  still  survive  are  William  H.,  living  upon  the  home  farm ;  Delavan  A., 
who  resides  at  Martin,  and  Lester,  living  at  Elk  Rapids,  Michigan. 

In  his  political  allegiance  Mr.  Hooper  is  and  has  always  been  a  Demo- 
crat. He  served  at  one  time  as  pathmaster,  but  though  he  has  always  been 
unfaltering  in  his  advocacy  of  the  principles  in  which  he  believes,  he  has 
never  sought  the  rewards  of  office  in  recognition  of  his  party  fealty.  He 
is  one  of  the  venerable  and  honored  pioneers  of  the  county,  and  he  and 
Henry  Smith  are  the  only  two  now  living  between  Plainwell  and  Martin 
on  the  old  plank  road  who  have  lived  here  many  years.  He  has  not  only 
been  a  witness  of  the  growth  and  development  of  the  county,  but  has  also 
been  a  participant  in  its  changes  and  interests,  and  his  labors  have  been 
a  factor  in  making  it  a  rich  agricultural  district.  He  has  now  reached  the 
age  of  eighty-three  years  and  can  look  back  over  the  past  without  regret, 
for  his  duties  have  been  faithfully  performed,  his  work  well  executed,  and 
at  al!  times  he  has  borne  an  honored  name  among  his  fellow  men. 

James  Brown,  who  owns  and  operates  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  situated  on  section  eight,  Gun  Plains  township,  has  made  his 
home  continuously  on  this  place  since  1850,  covering  a  period  of  fifty-six 
years.  He  is  a  native  of  Kent  county,  England,  born  May  6,  1824,  a  son 
of  James  and  Celia  (Bourn)  Brown,  who  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
in  1847,  the  family  home  being  established  in  Monroe  county,  New  York, 
where  they  remained  until  1850,  when  they  acconipanied  the  son  on  his 
removal  to  Allegan  county,  and  here  spent  their  remaining  days.  Their 
family  numbered  six  children,  but  the  three  daughters  and  one  son,  Henry, 
have  all  passed  away,  while  the  surviving  brother  of  our  subject  is  Burren, 
also  a  resident  of  Gun  Plains  township. 

Mr.  Brown  was  a  young  man  of  twenty-three  years  when  he 
accompanied  his  parents  on  their  emigration  to  the  United  States,  and  he 
remained  in  the  Keystone  state  during  the  succeeding  three  years,  sub- 
sequent to  which  time  he  came  to  Allegan  county  and  purchased  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  of  which  only  forty  acres  had  been  cleared. 
He  was  a  young  man  of  ambition  and  energy  anrf  at  once  began  the  arduous 
task  of  clean  g  tl  e  re  a  der  of  the  property,  which  he  soon  placed  under 
cidtivation  ai  1  1  le  co  rse  of  time  gathered  abundant  harvests.  It  will 
readily-be  see  tlat  tl  s  was  a  newly  settled  country,  for  many  wild  ani- 
mals were  st  11  to  be  fo  nd  roaming  over  the  prairies  when  Mr.  Brown 
first  located  1  ere  a  id  at  one  time  he  saw  a  herd  of  eleven  deer  in  his  wheat 
field.  He  ha  c  t  e  1  tl  e  work  of  development  and  improvement  on  his 
farm  to  the  prese  t  t  ne  and  has  now  made  it  one  of  the  productive  tracts 
of  his  section  of  tl  e  state  He  has  a  good  house,  barn  and  other  outbuild- 
ings, and  in  ad  i  t  on  to  ra  ing  the  cereals  best  adapted  to  soil  and  climate 
he  is  engaged  a  g  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs,  finding  this  branch  of  his 
business  a  good  source  of  r 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEG.W  COUN'I^'  411 

In  1856  Mr.  Brown  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eliza  Honeysette, 
a  native  of  Monroe  county,  New  York,  and  a  daughter  of  James  Honey- 
sette, who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Gun  Plains  township,  where  Vie 
passed  away.  Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born  two  sons. 
Charles  wedded  Miss  Gertrude  Wise  and  makes  his  home  in  Plainwell. 
They  are  the  parents  of  two  daughters,  Eva  and  Eliza.  William  Brown 
wedded  Miss  Jane  Norman,  by  whom  he  has  two  sons.  Lafayette  and  Roy. 
They  make  their  home  on  the  homestead  property  and  the  son  assists  his 
father  in  the  operation  of  the  farm. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Brown  is  a  Democrat,  stanch  in  support  of 
its  principles.  He  is  well  known  in  this  county,  where  he  has  lived  and 
labored  through  a  long  period,  and  where  he  has  so  utilized  his  opportuni- 
ties that  he  has  accumulated  a  competence  that  now  provides  himself  and 
family  with  the  comforts  of  life  and  enables  him  to  rest  from  the  more 
arduous  duties  of  a  business  career. 

Rkuiikn  House  is  the  owner  of  a  good  tract  of  land,  embracing  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  situated  on  section  eight.  Gun  Plains  township. 
He  is  a  native  of  New  York,  bom  November  28,  1831,  on  the  banks  of 
the  St.  I.^wrence  river,  in  Theresa  township,  Jefferson  county.  His  father. 
John  House,  was  likewise  a  native  of  the  Empire  state,  where  he  was  reared 
and  married  to  Miss  Catherine  Boyer.  who  was  born  in  Albany,  New 
York.  The  father  came  with  his  family  to  Allegan  county  in  1850,  and 
here  spent  his  remaining  days,  passing  away  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years, 
while  he  was  survived  by  his  widow,  who  passed  away  alxiut  ten  years  ago, 
when  she  had  reached  the  extreme  old  age  of  ninety-eight. 

Reuben  House  acquired  his  education  in  his  native  state,  and  was 
there  reared  to  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  when,  in  1850.  he  accompanied 
his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Allegan  county,  this  state.  He  remained 
with  his  father  for  one  year,  and  in  T851  started  out  in  life  on  his  own 
account,  purchasing  eighty  acres  of  land,  this  constituting  a  part  of  his 
present  place.  He  paid  five  dollars  per  acre  for  this  property,  which  was 
then  in  a  wild  and  uncultivated  state.  He  broke  the  land,  plowed  the  fields 
and  planted  his  crops,  which  in  due  coiicse  of  time  brought  forth  abundant 
harvests.  As  his  financial  resources  increased  he  added  to  his  original 
holdings  by  the  purchase  of  an  additional  forty-acre  tract,  making  in  all 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 

In  1859,  in  company  with  his  brother  Charles  and  Everett  Watson,  he 
made  an  overland  trip  to  the  west,  the  party  having  three  yoke  of  oxen  and 
two  cows.  They  were  five  months  in  making  the  journey  to  the  Sierra 
Nevada  mountains  and  Carson  valley,  contimung  their  jonrney  to  the 
Pacific  coast,  where  he  remained  for  six  and  a  half  years,  returning  to  his 
home  farm  in  1865.  Upon  going  to  the  west  Mr.  House  had  a  family  con- 
sisting of  wife  and  t^vo  children,  whom  he  left  on  the  home  place,  which 
was  leased  on  the  shares  during  his  absence.  Upon  his  return  home  he 
resumed  his  operations  on  the  home  farm,  and  in  addition  to  raising 
various  cereals,  was  aiso  engaged  in  raising  live  stock,  having  only  the 
best  grades  of  animals.  He  is  meeting  with  gratifying  success  in  his  farm 
labors,  for  he  follows  only  the  modern  and  practical  ideas  of  agricultural 
pursuits,  using  the  late.st  improved  machinery  to  facilitate  his  work. 


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■fA-i  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Two  years  after  his  arrival  in  Michigan,  in  1852,  Mr.  House  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Rebecca  House,  nee  Smith,  the  widow  of  his 
brother,  Moses  House.  The  only  child  of  that  marriage  died  at  the  age  of 
three  months.  After  losing  his  first  wife  ,Mr.  House  was  married  to 
Eleanor  Corey,  and  their  marriage  was  blessed  with  three  children:  Otis, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years ;  Reuben  Augustus,  who  was  born 
January  15,  1859,  and  is  now  a  resident  farmer  of  the  Yakima  valley,  in 
Washington,  and  Lena  B.,  who  was  born  December  12,  1866,  and  is  now 
the  wife  of  Elmer  Engles,  who  resides  in  the  northern  peninsnla  of  Michi- 
gan, twelve  miles  from  Marquette.  She  has  become  the  mother  of  ten 
children,  of  whom  four  sons  and  five  daughters  survive,  the  record  being 
as  follows;  Otis,  Willis,  Clyde,  Herman,  a  son  who  died  at  the  age  of 
three  months :  Ella,  Ruby,  Gertrude.  Lila  and  Edna.  After  the  death  of 
his  second  wife,  which  occurred  October  20,  1880,  Mr.  House  was  married 
a  third  time  to  Mrs.  Laura  Ann  Losee.  a  native  of  Jefferson  county,  New- 
York,  and  a  daughter  of  John  M.  Cooper,  who  passed  away  in  Watertown, 
that  state. 

Mr.  House  fonnerly  gave  his  political  support  to  the  Republican  -party, 
but  in  more  recent  years  has  been  a  Bryan  Democrat.  He  has  taken  an 
active  interest  in  the  local  ranks  of  his  party,  having  served  as  justice  of 
the  peace  for  twelve  years,  and  he  was  hkewise  commissioner  of  highways 
and  school  officer.  He  has  been  identified  with  the  Masonic  order  for  the 
past  forty  years,  holding  membership  with  Plainwell  Lodge,  No.  235.  He 
also  holds  membership  with  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry. 

Wlien  Mr.  House  located  in  Allegan  county  there  were  many  evi- 
dences of  pioneer  hfe  still  to  be  seen.  Few  settlements  had  been  made, 
the  homes  being  widely  scattered,  while  large  herds  of  deer  could  be  seen 
roaming  over  the  prairies  and  one  had  ample  opportunity  to  indulge  his 
love  of  hunting.  He  has  seen  all  this  changed,  however,  as  the  country 
has  become  more  thickly  populated,  thriving  towns  and  villages  have 
sprung  up  and  the  work  of  advancement  has  been  carried  forward  along 
many  lines.  He  has  lived  in  the  county  for  more  than  half  a  century,  so 
that  he  has  a  wide  acquaintance  and  a  host  of  warm  friends. 

Elezkr  C.  Knapf.— More  than  half  a  century  has  come  and  gone  since 
Elezer  C.  Knapp,  in  1854,  arrived  in  Allegan  county  and  took  up  his  abode 
on  .section  seventeen.  Gun  Plains  township,  where  he  still  lives,  being  today 
one  of  the  venerable  as  well  as  highly  respected  citizens  of  his  locality.  He 
was  bom  in  Dutchess  county.  New  York,  April  14,  1828,  and  is  a  son  of 
Peter  and  Temperance  (Conklin)  Knapp,  who  removed  from  Dutchess 
county  to  Wayne  county.  New  York,  where  the  father  died.  The  paternal 
grandfather  was  Asa  Knapp,  a  resident  of  Dutchess  county. 

Elezer  C.  Knapp  was  but  seven  years  of  age  when  the  family  home  was 
established  in  Wayne  county,  he  and  his  mother  going  by  canal  from  Al- 
bany, while  his  father  drove  across  the  country,  reaching  their  destination 
first.  In  the  schools  of  Wayne  county  Mr.  Knapp  of  this  review  pursued  his 
education,  after  which  he  learned  and  followed  the  carpenter's  trade  there 
for  two  years.  In  1852  he  went  to  California,  attracted  by  the  discovery  of 
gold  on  the  Pacific  coast,  the  journey  being  made  by  wav  of  the  isthmus. 
While  crossing  that  stretch  of  country  he  became  ill  with  the  isthmus  fever. 


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IllSIOin'  Ol-  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  413 

being  unable  to  travel  for  thirty-four  days,  wliile  for  several  years  there- 
after he  was  in  poor  health.  Returning  from  the  far  west  he  made  his  way 
to  Allegan  county,  Michigan,  traveling  by  raii  to  Kalamazoo  and  driving 
thence  to  his  farm  in  Gun  Plains  township  over  the  plank  road.  At  that 
time  seven  stages  left  Kalamazoo,  two  going  to  Allegan  and  five  going  to 
Grand  Rapids.  Plainwell  at  that  time  contained  only  three  dwellings— 
the  home  of  Judge  Anderson  and  Mr.  Woodhams  and  a  little  log  cabin  at 
Four  Comers.  Mr.  Knapp  purchased  one  hundred  acres  of  land  and  has 
cleared  all  but  twelve  acres,  where  his  house  now  stands,  it  having  already 
been  cleared.  The  farm  was  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  oak  timber 
and  much  arduous  labor  was  required  to  cut  down  the  trees  and  prepare  the 
fields  for  the  plow.  He  has  always  followed  general  farming  and  stock 
raising  and  at  one  time  was  successfully  engaged  in  raising  Durham  cattle. 
In  addition  to  his  home  place  he  also  has  forty  acres  adjoining  his  farm. 

Mr.  Knapp  was  married  to  Charlotte  Harvey,  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts, and  unto  them  was  born  a  daughter,  Ida,  the  wife  of  Henry  Crosby, 
of  Marlborough.  Michigan.  In  1858  Mr.  Knapp  wedded  Frances  Linder- 
man,  a  native  of  Cattaraugus  county,  New  York,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Desire  (Conrad)  Linderman.  There  are  two  children  of  this  marriage: 
William,  of  Grand  Rapids,  who  wedded  Rose  Adams,  and  has  one  son, 
Frank,  and  Mabel,  at  home. 

In  politics  Mr.  Knapp  is  a  stalwart  Democrat  and  served  as  road  com- 
missioner for  a  number  of  terms.  'He  was  likewise  supervisor  for  seventeen 
consecutive  years,  has  held  school  offices  and  has  been  pathniaster.  For  a 
long  period  he  was  recognized  as  a  leader  in  the  ranks  of  the  local  Democ- 
racy and  his  opinions  carry  considerable  weight  in  state  politics.  He  fre- 
quently attended  the  state  conventions,  and  in  1888  was  a  delegate  to  the 
Democratic  national  convention  at  St.  Louis,  which  nominated  Grover 
Cleveland  for  the  presidency.  He  has  been  a  Mason  from  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years,  having  joined  the  order  at  Newark,  New  York.  He  was 
instrumental  in  organizing  the  Plainweil  Agricultural  and  Industrial  Society, 
of  which  he  acted  as  president  for  a  number  of  years  and  also  as  one  of  the 
directors.  This  society  held  annual  fairs  in  Plainwell  and  its  wonderful 
success  was  due  to  his  perseverance,  energy  and  determination,  for  Mr. 
Knapp  is  a  man  of  excellent  executive  ability,  recognized  as  a  leader  among 
men.  doing  much  to  mold  public  thought  and  action  and  leaving  the  impress 
of  his  individuality  for  good  upon  the  public  life  of  the  communit}'. 

Stram  D,  Kreigheaum,  a  prosperous  fanner  of  Gun  Plains  township, 
residing  on  section  20,  has  lived  in  this  locality  for  the  past  quarter  of  a 
century.  He  was  born  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  June  13,  1848,  a  son  of 
William  and  Sarah  (Hane)  Kreighbaum.  The  Kreighbaum  family  was 
established  in  America  by  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  who  emi- 
grated to  this  country  from  Germany  at  an  early  day,  locating  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. It  was  his  son.  George  Kreighbaum,  who  became  the  father  of 
William  Kreighbaum.  a  native  of  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania.  The 
latter  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Stark  county.  Ohio,  antl 
there  conducted  a  sawmill,  in  addition  to  which  he  carried  on  agricultural 
pursuits  throughout  his  active  business  career.  He  was  there  married  to 
Miss  Sarah  Hane,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  of  whom 


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414  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY 

our  subject  is  the  only  one  who  ever  came  to  this  state.  Tlie  father  passed 
away  in  the  Buckeye  state,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years. 

Hiram  D.  Kreighbaum  was  reared  upon  the  old  homestead  farm  in 
Stark  county,  early  becoming  familiar  with  the  duties  connected  with  agri- 
cultural life.  During  the  winter  seasons  he  pursued  his  studies  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  thus  acquiring  the  knowledge  which  fitted  him  for  the  responsi- 
ble duties  of  life.  He  was  there  engaged  in  farming  until  1880,  when  he 
came  to  Michigan  and  purchased  a  small  tract  of  land  adjoining  his  present 
home  property.  After  making  his  home  there  for  a  few  years  he  purchased 
his  present  home,  which  had  been  located  by  Friend  Ives,  who  became  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Allegan  county.  This  farm,  however,  was  pur- 
chased by  Mr.  Kreighbaum  from  his  father-in-law  in  1901,  and  it  is  ac- 
counted one  of  the  most  valuable  and  productive  places  in  the  vicinity  of 
Plainwell.  He  is  here  engaged  in  fanning  and  stock  raising  and  is  meeting 
with  a  very  gratifying  measure  of  success,  owing  to  the  progressive  methods 
which  he  follows  in  the  prosecution  of  his  labors. 

On  the  loth  of  June,  1875,  Mr.  Kreighbaum  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Flora  Shutt,  who  was  bom  in  Portage,  Summit  county,  Ohio,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  and  Margaret  (Moore)  Shutt.  Her  father  was  a  son  of 
Philip  Shutt,  and  was  bom  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  but  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Stark  county,  that  state,  when  a  youth  of  eighteen  years.  The 
mother  was  born  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth 
(White)  Moore,  the  latter  a  native  of  New  York.  Mrs.  Kreighbaum's 
maternal  great-grandfather  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  whence  he  settled  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  both  her  grandfather  and  father  were  born,  the  latter 
removing  with  his  family  to  Stark  county  in  1812,  being  among  the  earliest 
settlers  of  that  portion  of  the  state. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kreighbaum  has  been  born  a  daughter,  Blanche, 
who  is  now  following  the  profession  of  teaching  and  residing  with  her 
parents.  Mr.  Kreighbaum  is  a  staiwart  Democrat  in  his  political  views  and 
affiliations.  In  the  spring  of  1897  he  was  elected  highway  commissioner, 
which  position  he  has  filled  continuously  since  with  the  exception  of  the 
year  1904.  He  has  proved  a  capable  official  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties 
and  during  his  term  of  service  many  substantial  and  needed  improvements 
have  been  made,  the  new  cement  bridge  in  Plainwell  having  been  con- 
structed under  his  able  supervision.  He  has  likewise  served  one  term  as 
pathmaster.  In  his  fraternal  relations  he  hold  membership  with  the  Mac- 
cabees. 

Mr.  Kreighbaum  and  his  family  are  well  known  in  Allegan  county  as 
highly  respected  people.  Their  pleasant  home  is  a  favorite  resort  for  their 
many  friends,  and  therein  hospitality  reigns  supreme. 

Trayton  Pacf,  is  one  of  the  prominent  representatives  of  agricultural 
interests  in  Allegan  county,  and  comes  of  foreign  birth,  his  natal  place  be- 
ing Cowbeach,  Sussex  county,  England,  and  the  date  October  6.  1857.  His 
parents,  Moses  and  Elizabeth  (Martin)  Page,  were  likewise  natives  of  Sus- 
sex county,  and  became  the  parents  of  six  children  of  whom  one  is  deceased 
and  all  except  our  subject  are  still  residents  of  England.  Ellen  is  the  wife 
of  William  Hatt  and  resides  in  London.  Harriett  Esther  and  Elizabeth  are 
residents  of  Sussex  county,  England,  and  Ruth  became  the  wife  of  J.  Hon- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  415 

eysett  and  died  in  ilichigan,   leaving  four  children,  two  of  whom  were 
reared  by  Mr.  Page  of  this  review. 

Trayton  Page  was  left  an  orphan  at  the  early  age  of  five  years,  and 
he  was  then  taken  into  the  home  of  an  aunt,  Mrs.  Harriet  Hook,  with  whom 
he  remained  for  several  years.  His  paternal  uncle,  Isaac  Page,  emigrated 
from  his  native  country  to  the  United  States  in  1855,  and  took  up  his  abode 
in  Allegan  county,  Michigan,  where  he  became  a  prosperous  farmer.  When 
he  arrived  in  this  country  his  cash  capital  consisted  of  but  twenty -five'cents, 
but  he  possessed  a  strong  and  determined  spirit,  and  at  once  secured  em- 
ployment and  thereby  provided  for  his  support.  He  prospered  in  his  work 
and  was  soon  enabled  to  make  purchase  of  land,  his  first  tract  comprising 
eighty  acres,  which  he  bought  in  i860,  but  he  disposed  of  this  ir,  1870,  and 
bought  a  more  desirable  property  elsewhere,  to  which  he  added  from  time 
to  time  until  he  became  possessed  of  over  two  hundred  acres  of  land.  He 
was  very  active  in  public  affairs,  and  at  different  times  filled  a  number  of 
positions  of  honor  and  trust.  His  wife  was  Susan  A.  Clay  in  her  maiden- 
hood, who  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  their  marriage  being  celebrated  March 
24,  1872.  In  the  meantime,  in  1868,  Isaac  Page  returned  to  his  native  coun- 
try to  pay  a  visit  to  his  relatives  and  friends,  and  upon  his  return  to  Amer- 
ica he  brought  with  him  his  little  nephew,  Trayton  Page,  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  record.     Isaac  Page  died  June  28,  1888. 

Trayton  Page  was  a  little  lad  of  eleven  years  when  he  crossed  the  At- 
lantic in  company  with  his  uncle,  and  upon  arriving  in  Michigan  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  latter's  household,  and  here  he  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated as  if  he  were  an  own  child.  He  remained  with  his  uncle  until  his 
uncle's  death.  Mr.  Page  inherited  his  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven  and  one-half  acres,  and  with  the  exception  of  five  acres  on  section 
fourteen,  all  is  situated  on  section  thirteen,  Watson  township.  Here  he  has 
since  engaged  in  general  agricultural  pursuits  and  he  makes  the  raising  of 
pure  blooded  cattle  an  important  feature  of  his  business  interests.  Since 
coming  into  possession  of  this  property  Mr.  Page  has  remodeled  all  of  the 
buildings,  and  now  has  one  of  the  finest  country  residences  in  this  section 
of  the  county,  in  the  rear  of  which  stands  a  large  bam  and  many  outbuild- 
ings for  the  shelter  of  grain  and  stock,  and  altogether  it  is  a  well  kept  and 
valuable  farm  property.  All  but  sixty-five  acres  of  the  land  is  under  culti- 
vation, and  each  year  he  gathers  good  crops  as  a  reward  for  the  care  and 
labor  he  bestows  upon  the  fields,  for  he  uses  only  the  latest  improved  ma- 
chinery to  facilitate  his  work  and  is  progressive  in  his  ideas  and  methods  of 
carrying  on  his  business  affairs. 

Wishing  to  establish  a  home  of  his  own,  Mr.  Page  was  married,  May 
I.  1878,  the  lady  of  his  choice  bearing  the  name  of  Miss  Lucy  Townsend, 
who  was  also  a  native  of  Sussex  county,  England,  and  a  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel and  Sarah  (Siggs)  Townsend,  likewise  natives  of  the  fatherland,  who 
emigrated  to  America  in  1871,  first  making  a  .settlement  in  Martin  town- 
ship, Allegan  county.  After  a  few  years  the  family  removed  to  Watson 
township,  locating  on  a  farm  on  section  thirteen.  The  father  passed  away  at 
Cadillac,  Michigan,  at  the  age  of  fifty  years,  and  the  mother  still  survives  and 
makes  her  home  on  the  farm  where  her  husband  died. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Page  have  become  the  parents  of  a  son-and  two  daugh- 


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416  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

ters,   Pearl  E.,  Eari   L,  and  Marion  E.     They  also  reared   two  nieces  of 
Mr.  Page,  Carrie  and  Nellie  Honeysett,  who  are  now  married. 

Mr.  Page  gives  his  political  support  to  the  principles  of  Democracy  and 
is  quite  active  in  the  local  ranks  of  his  party,  having  served  for  twenty-four 
consecutive  years  as  assessor  of  district  No.  3,  and  in  April,  1905,  he  was 
elected  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  his  duties  in  this  othce  are  ever  dis- 
charged in  a  straightforward  and  impartial  manner. 

Otsego. 

The  origin  of  the  village  of  Otsego  has  been  described  on  other  pages. 
The  platting  of  a  village  and  the  concentration  of  business  and  other  activi- 
ties followed  naturally  upon  the  development  of  the  water  power.  The  plat, 
which  was  completed  December  22,  1836,  is  the  most  important  early  rec- 
ord of  the  village.  It  shows  the  bridge  which  had  just  been  completed 
across  the  river  at  that  point,  the  dam  and  mill  race,  roads  converging  in 
all  directions,  and  appended  to  the  plat  is  the  following  statement  by  the  sur- 
veyor of  what  he  considers  the  principal  advantages  of  the  site :  "This  town 
is  situated  on  the  rapids  of  the  Kalamazoo  river,  immediately  below  its 
junction  with  Gun  river,  and  at  the  head  of  steamboat  navigation.  The 
water  power  at  Otsego  is  not  surpassed  by  any  in  Michigan,  having  a  fall 
of  fifteen  feet,  the  whole  river  for  a  race,  and  requiring  no  dam,  thus  af- 
fording sufficient  power  to  drive  any  number  of  stones  that  can  ever  be 
wanted.  Its  peculiar  location,  in  respect  to  other  towns  and  the  adjoining 
country,  the  concentration  of  roads  leading  to  it,  in  connection  with  its  im- 
mense water  power,  render  it  one  of  the  most  desirable  points  in  Michigan-" 

As  one  of  the  desirable  points  in  Michigan,  Otsego  has  remained  to 
this  day.  The  Comstock  enterprises  led  in  importance  for  a  few  years,  but 
as  the  village  and  the  entire  county  as  wel!  advanced  in  prosperity  beyond 
the  point  where  capital  counted  for  less  in  the  total  than  individual  energy 
and  ability,  village  life  and  affairs  were  broadened  and  distributed  among 
the  bulk  of  the  citizens.  Among  the  residents  and  business  men  in  1840, 
four  years  after  the  platting  of  the  village,  were  the  mercantile  firm  of  S.  & 
S.  D,  Foster  &  Co.,  which  began  business  in  1838,  although  S.  D.  Foster  had 
been  selling  goods  since  1836;  Samuel  Foster  was  still  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ness; H.  H.  Comstock  had  recently  completed  his  flouring  mill;  Roswell 
Crane  managed  the  sawmill  and  the  new  Exchange  Hotel  for  the  Comstock 
interests ;  Dr.  Coats  in  that  year  succeeded  to  the  office  of  postmaster,  which 
had  been  held  by  Dr.  Foster ;  L.  Buckley,  the  first  merchant  in  the  village, 
was  still  in  business. 

During  the  fifties  a  resume  of  the  busines  enterprise  adds  the  names  of 
George  H,  Foster,  who  had  a  furnace  on  the  mill  race;  William  Mansfield, 
proprietor  of  a  sawmill ;  James  Norton,  a  store  and  gristmill ;  Osmand 
Smith,  a  factory  on  the  race,  and  the  well  known  names  of  Joel  Eatchelor, 
T.  S.  Day,  Orsamus  Eaton,  Willard  Higgins, 

A  description  of  the  village  in  1880  spoke  of  several  good  brick  busi- 
ness blocks,  the  grouping  of  the  manufactures  along  the  river,  the  large 
iron  bridge  connecting  the  two  sides  of  town,  and  the  growing  importance 
of  .Otsego  in  manufacturing,  where  over  200,ocxj  bushels  of  wheat  was  con- 
verted into  flour  each  year,  where  there  were  factories  for  making  of  sash. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  ill 

doors  and  blinds,  chair  factory,  fanning  mills,  implement  factory  ,and  wood- 
turning  and  mechanical  shops.  Among  the  business  men  were  still  some 
who  had  been  with  the  village  since  its  beginnings,  notably,  S.  D.  Foster. 
Other  merchants  named  were  A.  D.  Botsford,  F.  K.  Cloud,  W.  C.  Edsell, 
Albert  R.  Foster,  Nelson  W.  Mills,  George  B.  Norton,  the  Rouse  brothers, 
Charles  D.  Gaylord,  Charles  Shepherd,  E.  W.  Sherwood,  A.  J.  Van  Wyck. 
Manufacturers  were  James  M.  Ballou,  the  Mills,  Peck  &  Co.,  C.  H.  Prentiss 
&  Co.,  Sprague  &  Yeckley,  A.  B.  and  C.  D.  Stuart,  W.  L.  Blair,  A.  and  P. 
G.  Hoag,  M.  D,  Prindle,  and  Edsell  &  Peck,  private  bankers.  Of  these  firms 
C.  H.  Prentiss  and  P.  G.  Hoag  are  the  only  ones  now  in  business. 

Nearly  thirty  years  passed  after  the  platting  of  Otsego  before  a  village 
incorporation  was  formed.  Incorporation  was  effected  by  act  of  the  legis- 
lature approved  March  15,  1865,  and  the  following  April  isth,  the  first 
election  of  village  officers  was  held.  Wiliard  Higgins,  who  had  been  lum- 
berman, business  man  and  a  leader  in  political  affairs  in  Otsego  and  vicinity 
for  a  number  of  years,  was  chosen  the  first  president,  and  the  six  trustees 
were  William  H.  Ingram,  Franklin  Chadsey,  Ethan  Allen.  Lenora  Foster, 
Henry  C.  Houghton,  Wilson  C.  Edsell.  The  principal  village  officers  to 
date  are  given  in  the  official  lists. 

For  a  number  of  years  the  village  had  no  protection  against  fire  other 
than  the  emergency  bucket  line  and  later  a  hand  engine  with  hook  and  lad- 
der apparatus.  Water  works  were  installed  in  the  eighties,  being  completed 
in  1888  and  in  the  same  year  the  Otsego  fire  company  was  organized.  There 
are  three  hose  companies,  with  a  membership  of  75,  and  the  apparatus  con- 
sists of  three  hose  carts,  one  hose  wagon,  and  two  hand  chemical  engines. 
The  officers  are:  Fred  Schoolcraft,  chief:  Frank  Fairfield,  assistant  chief; 
H.  Jackson,  second  assistant  chief;  William  Sweetland,  secretarj^;  J.  H. 
Lindsey,  treasurer. 

In  1905  a  village  hall,  constructed  of  cement  blocks,  was  completed  at 
a  cost  of  $5,000,  being  located  on  Farmer  and  Orlean  streets.  Since  i8q8 
the  village  has  had  electric  lighting  for  street  and  domestic  purposes,  the 
power  being  furnished  by  the  Commonwealth  Power  Company. 

Of  the  business  firms  of  the  village  mention  should  be  made  of  the  fol- 
lowing because  of  the  length  of  their  business  connections  with  the  village ; 
Kohlenstein  Bros.,  dry  goods :  Sherwood  Bros.,  hardware :  Woodbeck  & 
Eaton,  drugs;  Pipps,  hardware:  Miss  Marcia  Hall,  shoe  store:  N.  L.  Travis, 
harness  shop;  R.  V.  Monteith,  harness  shop;  Henry  Monteith,  harness  shop. 

WiLL.VRi)  HictiiNS,  owning  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on 
sections  one  and  thirtv-two  in  Otsego  township,  where  he  conducts  a  mi!!, 
is  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  Allegan  county,  dating  his  residence  here 
since  the  fall  of  1835,  covering  a  period  of  more  than  seventy  years.  He 
is  the  next  oldest  settler  in  the  county,  Chauncey  Scott,  son  of  Giles  Scott, 
alone  being  older.  He  was  bom  on  a  farm  in  Amity  township,  Allegany 
county.  New  York,  Octcvber  9,  1823.  and  represents  one  of  the  old  families 
of  the  east,  who  originated  from  England  but  comes  of  Irish  descent.  His 
father,  Jabin  Strong  Higgins,  was  born  in  the  eastern  part  of  New  York, 
March  9,  1799.  and  was  there  reared  and  married  Miss  Betsey  Aldrich,  who 
was  bom  near  Cooperstown,  New  York,  in  180T.  The  father  conducted  a 
sawmill  in  his  native  state,  and  in  1834  removed  with  his  family  to  Michi- 


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418  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

gan,  making  the  overland  journey,  which  required  twenty-one  days,  the 
family  home  being  established  in  Kalamazoo  county,  the  date  of  their 
arrival  being  October  2d.  The  father  followed  farming  in  Comstock  town- 
ship, where  he  made  his  home  until  March,  1836,  when  he  moved  the  family 
to  Allegan  county.  He  and  a  brother  had  already  in  1835  built  the  sawmill 
on  Pine  Creek  above  mentioned.  When  the  family  arrived  here  the  town 
of  Otsego  contained  but  three  houses.  He  was  connected  with  building 
operations,  erecting  a  house,  which  he  conducted  as  a  hotel  for  some  time, 
this  being  the  first  regular  hostelry  in  the  village.  Dr.  Foster's  place  not 
being  a  public  place  in  the  strict  sense.  He  and  his  brother  Gilbert  likewise 
built  what  are  now  known  as  the  Leighton  Mills,  a  mile  east  of  where  Mr, 
Higgins  now  resides,  and  for  many  years  he  was  connected  with  milling 
and  farming  interests  in  this  connty.  In  the  family  of  this  pioneer  couple 
were  eleven  children,  ten  of  whom  reached  mature  years,  while  one  died 
when  four  years  of  age.  Beside  Willard  there  are  three  sons — Marvin 
G.,  Zenas  A.  and  Orlin,  the  first  and  last  named  making  their  home  in 
Otsego  township,  while  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Harriet  Steel,  resides  in  Plain- 
well.  One  son  of  the  family,  Hugh,  served  in  the  Civil  war,  enlisting  in 
Minnesota,  and  his  death  occurred  in  Plainwell.  The  mother  of  this  family 
passed  away  in  Aliegan  county  about  1877,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years, 
while  the  father  spent  the  last  five  years  of  his  life  with  his  son,  Willard, 
and  died  in  November,  1881.  Thus  passed  away  one  of  the  worthy  pioneer 
couples  of  this  portion  of  the  state,  who  had  aided  in  much  of  the  develop- 
ment and  progress  of  their  home  locality. 

Willard  Higgins  was  a  little  lad  of  eleven  years  when  he  accompanied 
his  parents  on  their  removal  from  New  York  to  this  state,  and  he  still  has 
vivid  recollections  of  many  incidents  connected  with  the  long  and  tedious 
journey.  He  was  reared  to  farm  life,  assisting  his  father  in  the  duties  of 
the  fields,  and  at  the  early  age  of  twelve  years  he  was  employed  at  farm 
labor  by  others  for  ten  dollars  per  month.  He  likewise  learned  the  milling 
business  from  his  father  and  has  been  connected  with  this  industry  to  a 
greater  or  less  extent  throughout  his  entire  life.  He  spent  the  period  of 
his  boyhood  and  youth  on  the  home  farm  and  there  remained  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  being  employed  the  greater  portion  of 
the  time  by  his  father.  He  then  began  work  on  his  own  account  by  rent- 
ing the  Forbes  sawmill,  in  Gun  Plains,  which  was  operated  by  water  power, 
conducting  the  enterprise  for  two  years.  He  then  disposed  of  his  interests 
with  a  view  of  going  to  California,  for  it  was  during  the  period  of  the  gold 
excitement  on  the  Pacific  coast.  He,  however,  abandoned  that  idea  and, 
having  accumulated  about  one  thousand  dollars,  purchased  in  partnership 
a  stock  of  goods  in  the  spring  of  1850  and  engaged  in  commercial  pursuits 
in  Otsego  for  two  years,  when  his  brother-in-law  purchased  the  other 
party's  interest  and  became  a  member  of  the  firm,  which  so  continued  for 
one  year,  when,  in  March,  1853,  the  brother-in-law  died,  after  which  Mr 
Higgins  continued  the  business  alone  until  1855.  He  then  disposed  of  his 
stock  of  merchandise  and  engaged  in  lumbering  and  farming  for  a  time. 
He  also  conducted  the  first  circular  sawmill  in  Allegan  county,  conducting 
this  enterprise  until  the  spring  of  1865,  when  he  disposed  of  that  business 
and  once  more  entered  merchandising  in  Otsego,  conducting  a  general 
store  there  until  1871,  in  which  year  he  failed,  for  this  was  the  period  fol- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  419 

lowing  the  Civil  war,  when  prices  greatly  depredated  and  caused  a  finan- 
cial panic  all  over  the  country.  In  1867  he  invested  twelve  thousand  dollars 
in  the  woolen  factory,  which  had  been  established  a  short  time  before,  but 
sold  his  interest  therein  in  1872.  He  also  owned  at  one  time  a  tract  of  four 
hundred  and  twenty-seven  acres  of  land  all  in  one  body  adjoining  the  vil- 
lage east  and  south,  purchasing  this  in  1861,  and  in  addition  to  this  he 
owned  fifty  lots  in  the  village  of  Otsego,  but  he  suffered  a  great  loss  in 
this,  for  after  the  war  prices  in  property  also  greatly  depreciated.  In  1876 
Mr.  Higgins  removed  to  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  where  he  assumed  charge 
of  a  mill  for  one  year,  subsequent  to  which  time  he  again  returned  to 
Allegan  county,  taking  up  his  abode  in  Otsego  township,  where  he  pur- 
chased forty  acres  of  land  on  which  stood  a  mill,  this  constituting  a  portion 
of  his  present  home  property.  He  added  to  his  original  purchase  from 
time  to  time  until  his  farm  embraced  four  hundred  acres,  but  he  has  since 
disposed  of  some  of  it  and  now  retains  possession  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres.  This  he  has  greatly  improved,  erecting  modern  and  substan- 
tial buildings,  and  his  place  today  ranks  among  the  valuable  properties  of 
this  portion  of  the  county.  His  mill  and  barn  were  destroyed  by  fire,  which 
caused  him  a  loss  of  four  thousand  dollars,  as  he  had  no  insurance  on  the 
mill  property.  He  soon  rebuilt  the  sawmill,  however,  and  has  arranged 
a  feed  mill  in  connection. 

Mr.  Higgins  has  also  been  interested  in  the  railroad  development  of 
this  section  of  the  state,  having  owned  considerable  stock  in  the  Grand 
Trunk  Railroad  Company  as  well  as  in  the  Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana  Com- 
pany, but  he  lost  several  thousand  dollars  in  these  investments.  He  has 
been  interested  in  various  enterprises  from  an  early  day,  and  while  some 
have  proved  a  failure  financially  he  has  prospered  in  others,  so  that  he  has 
acquired  altogether  a  very  comfortable  competence. 

Mr.  Higgins  has  been  three  times  married.  He  was  first  wedded 
August  17,  1850,  to  Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Cole,  a  native  of  Allegheny  county,  New 
Y'ork,  who  in  her  maidenhood  bore  the  name  of  Fairweil.  Her  death 
occurred  in  the  Allegan  county  home,  March  i,  1884,  when  she  had  reached 
the  age  of  sixty-two  years,  her  birth  occurring  January  11,  1822,  There 
was  one  son  by  this  union,  Morton  Willard.  who  was  bom  September  15, 
1853,  and  died  April  15,  1868.  Mr.  Hi^ins  was  married  November  22, 
1885,  to  Miss  Harriet  A.  Blackman,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  February  5, 
1827,  and  came  to  Michigan  with  her  parents  in  1853,  her  father  being 
John  H.  Blackman.  Previous  to  her  marriage  she  was  engaged  for  several 
years  in  the  profession  of  teaching,  having  taught  for  eight  years  in  the 
Allegan  high  school  Her  death  occurred  May  19,  1890.  February  21, 
1891,  Mr.  Higgins  married  Mrs.  Lovinia  Seymour  Hurley,  a  daughter  of 
Frank  Seymour.  She  was  born  in  Clyde  township,  this  county,  April  9, 
1862.     She  is  a  niece  of  her  husband's  second  wife. 

Mr.  Higgins  supported  the  Whig  party  in  early  years,  casting  his  first 
presidential  ballot  for  Zachary  Taylor,  and  upon  the  formation  of  the  new 
Republican  party  he  supported  its  principles,  voting  for  its  first  presidential 
nominee,  Fremont,  and  has  since  supported  the  candidates  of  that  party. 
He  assisted  the  movement  to  establish  the  first  Republican  newspaper  in 
Kalamazoo  county,  the  Telegraph.  He  has  taken  an  active  and  helpful 
interest  in  all  public  affairs,  holding  the  office  of  school  director  for  many 


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430  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

years,  while  in  1850  he  was  elected  township  clerk,  filling  the  office  for  two 
years.  In  1856  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Allegan  county,  being  the  first 
Republican  sherilT,  the  nomination  having  been  urged  upon  him  by  a  com- 
mittee of  citizens.  He  served  in  that  capacity  for  two  years,  refusing  a 
renomination.  He  was  hkewise  the  first  president  of  the  village  of  Otsego, 
filling  the  office  for  three  or  four  terms,  while  for  more  than  two  decades 
he  has  served  his  school  district  as  assessor.  He  has  been  identified  with 
the  Congregational  church  at  Otsego  since  1863,  and  has  served  as  church 
trustee  for  many  years.  He  contributed  liberally  to  the  building  of  the 
church  of  that  denomination  and  has  since  been  a  heavy  contributor  to  its 
support.  He  is  identified  with  the  Masonic  order,  belonging  to  the  Blue 
Lodge  at  Otsego  and  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter  at  Kalamazoo. 

There  is  perhaps  no  man  in  Allegan  count)'  who  has  done  so  much  for 
the  development  and  upbuilding  of  various  commercial  and  industrial  enter- 
prises as  Mr.  Higgins.  He  has  given  both  time  and  money,  and  it  is  due- 
to  his  untiring  efforts  that  a  great  majority  of  the  public  enterprises  of  this- 
section  of  the  state  have  met  with  success.  When  he  came  to  Allegan 
county  as  a  boy  there  was  every  evidence  of  frontier  life  to  be  seen.  Many 
kinds  of  wild  animals  were  still  to  be  seen  roaming  over  the  prairies  and 
one  had  ample  opportunity  to  indulge  his  love  of  hunting.  Otsego  at  that  . 
time  contained  but  three  houses,  but  as  the  years  have  passed  it  has  now 
become  a  thriving  and  enterprising  little  village.  Mr,  Higgins  instituted 
the  milling  business  in  his  locality  and  this  business  has  since  become  one 
of  the  most  important  in  this  great  state.  Mr.  Higgins  has  ever  followed 
the  most  reliable  and  straightforward  methods  in  his  business  transactions 
and  has  therebycwon  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  has 
been  associated.  He  has  now  passed  the  eighty-third  milestone  on  life's 
journey  and  has  lived  in  Allegan  county  for  more  than  seven  decades, 
being  one  of  the  oldest  living  citizens  at  the  present  time  in  point  of  con- 
tinuous residence  in  the  countv. 


Frank  Fairfield,  who  is  filling  the  office  of  Supervisor  of  Otsego  and 
is  engaged  in  the  livery  business  there,  was  born  about  a  mile  east  of 
Allegan,  Juiy  17.  1863,  and  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  this  county.  His 
father,  .'\braham  Fairfield,  was  born  at  Grimsby,  Canada  west,  and  when 
twenty-one  years  of  age  came  alone  to  Allegan,  where  he  spent  his  subse- 
quent years.  His  time  and  energies  were  always  devoted  to  farming.  He 
continued  actively  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  his  life's  labors  were  ended 
in  death,  when  he  was  seventy-two  years  of  age.  His  wife,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Mary  E.  Otney,  was  born  in  Sandusky  county,  Ohio,  and 
is  now  residing  in  the  village  of  Allegan.  In  their  family  were  ten  children, 
all  of  whom  reached  years  of  maturity. 

Frank  Fairfield,  who  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth,  resided  upon  the 
home  farjn  with  his  parents  until  thirteen  years  of  age,  aiding  in  the  labors 
of  the  fields  when  not  in  school.  He  afterward  spent  two  or  three  years 
in  Kalamazoo  county  working  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month.  After  his 
marriage  he ,  began  farming  on  his  own  account  in  Trowbridge  township, 
Allegan  county,  and  later  lived  in  Montgomery  township  for  seven  years, 
on  the  expiration  loi  which  period  he  came  to  Otsego,  where  he  has  now 
lived  for  eleven  years.    He  first  engaged  in  the  butchering  business  in  part- 


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IIISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  431 

nership  with  C.  C.  Knobloch  for  three  years  and  then,  selhng  out  to  his 
partner,  was  employed  by  others  in  the  same  line  for  four  years.  On  the 
expiration  of  that  period  he  joined  his  brother,  Myron  A.  Fairiield,  in  the 
purchase  of  a  livery  stable  which  they  have  since  conducted.  They  have  a 
well-equipped  barn,  owning  a  number  of  a  good  horses  and  vehicles  of 
various  kinds,  for  which  they  find  a  ready  rental,  owing  to  their  obliging- 
ness and  their  efforts  to  please  their  patrons,  combined  with  tbeir  reason- 
able prices. 

In  the  spring  of  1905  Mr.  Fairfield  was  elected  to  the  ofifice  of  super- 
'  visor  of  Otsego  on  the  Citizens  ticket.  He  has  been  a  lifelong  Democrat, 
unwavering  in  his  fidelity  to  the  party,  and  has  been  chosen  alderman  of 
the  village,  but  resigned  the  office  because  of  his  business  interests.  He 
has  never  been  a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office  .seeking,  but  on  the  con- 
trary has  avoided  office,  and  his  present  position  of  supervisor  came  to  him 
unsought.  He  belongs  to  Otsego  Lodge  No.  78,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Otsego  Lodge 
No.  82,  K.  P.,  and  Otsego  Lodge  No.  23,  K.  O.  T.  M. 

On  the  17th  of  September,  1884,  Mr.  Fairfield  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Mary  E.  Tompkins,  a  daughter  of  Frank  and  Hannah  (Kenyon) 
Tompkins,  who  came  to  Allegan  county  from  Ohio  and  settled  in  Trow- 
bridge township,  where  the  daughter  was  born.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fairfield 
now  have  one  child.  Edna  L.  They  are  both  well  known  in  the  county, 
where  their  entire  lives  have  been  passed,  and  as  the  years  have  gone  by 
they  have  grown  in  favor  with  their  friends  and  neighbors  and  now  have 
many  friends  in  the  county. 

A.  Brink  Tucker,  the  present  efficient  postmaster  of' Otsego,  is  a 
native  son  of  Allegan  county,  his  birth  having  occurred  on  his  father's 
farm  two  miles  and  a  half  from  the  village,  in  Otsego  township.  May  19, 
1870,  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Susan  C.  (Brink)  Tucker.  Both  the  father  and 
mother  were  natives  of  New  York,  the  former  having  been  born  in  Otsego 
county,  while  the  latter  was  born  in  Steuben  county.  Both  were  reared  in 
their  native  state  and  were  there  married,  after  which  they  came  to  AHegan 
county  in  r86o,  locating  on  a  farm  of  Otsego  township,  where  the  father 
followed  general  agricultural  pursuits  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on 
the  farm  October  17.  1902.  His  widow  still  survives  and  yet  makes  her 
home  on  the  farm.  Their  family  numbered  five  children,  all  of  whom  still 
survive,  namely:  Fannie,  the  wife  of  Allison  Richmond,  of  Otsego  town- 
ship; Mary,  the  wife  of  E.  S.  Hicks,  of  Gun  Plains  township;  Hattie,  the 
wife  of  Dorric  Hall,  a  resident  of  Kalamazoo:  Frank  S.,  a  resident  of 
Otsego,  and  A.  Brink. 

Mr.  Tucker  was  reared  on  the  homestead  farm  in  much  the  usual 
manner  of  lads  of  that  period,  assisting  his  father  in  the  duties  of  the  fields 
through  the  period  of  his  boyhood  and  youth,  while  in  the  meantime,  dur- 
ing the  winter  months,  he  pursued  his  early  education  in  the  district  schools 
near  his  father's  home,  and  later  attended  the  high  school  at  Otsego,  being 
graduated  in  1889.  He  afterward  took  no  the  study  of  law,  being  graduated 
from  the  University  of  Michigan  in  1893,  subsequent  to  which  time  he 
practiced  his  profession  in  Otsego  for  one  year.  He  was  likewise  engaged 
in  the  profession  of  teaching  in  Allegan  county  for  about  six  years,  and 
was  engaged  in  the  drygoods  and  grocery  business  in  this  village  for  one 


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422  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

year.  He  also  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  for  four  years,  but  on  the 
1st  of  April,  1906,  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Otsego,  which  position  he 
is  now  capably  filling,  giving  entire  satisfaction  to  the  general  public. 

Mr.  Tucker  was  married  August  12,  1895,  to  Miss  Jennie  Allen,  a 
native  of  Otsego  township  and  a  daughter  of  Ogden  and  Anna  Allen,  the 
former  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  while  the  latter  was  bom  in  England.  The 
daughter  was  reared  and  educated  in  Allegan  county,  and  by  her  marriage 
has  become  the  mother  of  one  child,  Elton  B, 

Mr.  Tucker  has  been  a  lifelong  Repubhcan  and  for  two  years  served 
his  township  as  supervisor.  Fraternally  he  is  identified  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  Both  he  and  his  wife  have  spent  their  entire  lives  in 
or  near  Otsego  and  therefore  have  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 

Leighton  Township. 

Charles  Rice,  who  has  been  for  years  a  resident  of  Allegan  county, 
was  born  in  Gaines  township,  Kent  county,  Michigan,  September  15,  1852. 
He  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  (Bennett)  Rice,  both  natives  of  Niagara 
county. 

Daniel  Rice,  the  father,  located  on  a  farm  in  Gaines,  nine  miles  south- 
east of  Grand  Rapids,  in  the  fall  of  1843,  and  remained  there  for  ten  years. 
He  then  came  to  Leighton  township  and  purchased  the  farm  which  is  now 
the  property  of  his  son  Charles.  The  farm  was  in  heavy  timber,  and  it  was 
a  mile  in  either  direction  to  the  nearest  neighbor.  He  built  a  little  shanty 
and  prepared  to  get  his  land  in  a  condition  suitable  for  cultivation.  The 
o!d  Kalamazoo  road  ran  through  this  tract  of  land,  and  the  first  stage-coach 
the  Kalamazoo  and  Grand  Rapids  stage,  ran  over  this  road,  and  continued  to 
do  so  imtil  a  pJank  road  was  built.  In  1855  an  effort  was  made  to  run  the 
roads  on  section  hues.  Mr.  Rice  helped  to  cut  out  the  lines  for  the  new 
roads,  and  he  with  others  felled  timber  across  the  old  roads  and  trails,  in 
order  to  force  travel  to  the  new  section  line  roads.  Some  did  not  take  kindly 
to  this  new  idea  and  commenced  to  clear  the  fallen  timber  from  the  old 
trails.  This  led  to  angry  words  and  precipitated  what  was  known  locally  as 
the  "road  war."  Franklin  Peck  has  handed  down  the  account  of  this  "war" 
in  one  of  his  familiar  poems. 

Mr.  Rice  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  on  this  farm,  and  continued  to 
improve  it  as  opportunity  offered.  The  farm  was  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  in  extent,  the  price  paid  for  it  being  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per 
acre.  Here  he  died  March  4,  1869,  at  the  age  of  fifty-four  years.  His 
wife  survived  him  but  a  year  and  a  half,  dying  at  the  age  of  forty-seven. 
One  of  his  brothers,  James  Rice,  cleared  a  farm  in  Kent  county,  adjoining 
his  and  is  still  living  in  the  county,  aged  eighty-three  years.  Daniel  Rice  was 
the  father  of  four  daughters  and  three  sons,  viz. :  Martha,  who  died  forty 
years  ago;  Mary,  Jate  wife  of  Jacob  Rosenberger,  deceased  at  the  age  of 
twenty-eight;  Ellen,  who  died  in  Oregon  at  fifty-eight  years  of  age;  Sarah. 
wife  of  Adam  Clements  of  Leighton  township,  deceased  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two;  Charles,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Daniel  O.,  of  Oregon,  and 
Francis  G.,  of  Oceana  county,  Michigan. 

Charles  Rice  is  the  only  one  of  the  family  left  in  Allegan  county.  His 
boyhood  was  spent  at  home,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  upon  the  death 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COfNTV  433 

of  his  father  he  assumed  the  care  of  the  family  and  became  their  support. 
His  sister  Ellen  acted  as  housekeeper,  and  exercised  a  motherly  care  over 
her  brothers  and  sisters  until  they  were  grown.  Much  credit  is  due  her  for 
her  unfailing  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  family  for  so  many  years.  She 
did  not  marry  until  past  forty  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Rice  was  married  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  to  Miss  Cadett  Perry, 
daughter  of  Frank  Perry,  of  Kent  county.  She  was  born  in  Plainfield  town- 
ship, Kent  county,  and  was  eighteen  years  old  at  the  time  of  her  marriage. 
To  them  have  been  born  five  children :  Mary  Blanche,  wife  of  Fred  Peter 
Geib,  an  attorney  of  Grand  Rapids ;  Ethel  Marion,  a  trained  nurse  for  the 
G.  R.  U.  B.  A.;  Charity  Elva,  a  kindergarten  teacher  at  Soudan,  Minne- 
sota; Eulalie  Louisa,  and  Eunice  Vera.  The  four  oldest  children  are  grad- 
uates of  the  Grand  Rapids  High  School. 

The  associations  of  the  old  home  place  have  meant  so  much  to  Mr. 
Rice  that  as  his  brothers  became  of  age  and  entitled  to  their  share  of  the 
estate  he  purchased  their  interests  in  order  that  the  place  might  be  kept  in- 
tact. There  was  a  great  deal  of  black  walnut  on  the  property  originally,  and 
as  there  was  a  market  for  that  wood  at  the  time  it  was  sold  instead  of  be- 
ing converted  into  fire  wood.  The  best  grade  {No.  i)  black  walnut  sold  at 
that  time  for  four  dollars  per  thousand.  It  would  be  worth  today  one  hun- 
dred dollars  per  thousand.  He  is  a  breeder  of  Shropshire  sheep  and  keeps 
about  fifty  head.  This  is  one  of  the  principal  sources  of  his  income.  The 
buildings  on  the  farm  are  commodious  and  well  built.  The  barn,  forty  by 
sixty  feet,  was  built  by  his  father,  to  which  he  has  added  a  sheep  shed  thirty- 
two  by  eighty  feet  in  size.  He  has  recently  built  a  corn  house  and  new 
windmill.  The  latter  is  a  source  of  power  for  cutting  feed,  pumping  water, 
etc.    The  farm  is  thoroughly  up-to-date  and  prosperous  in  appearance. 

Mr,  Rice  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  State  Bank  of  Caledonia, 
which  was  chartered  in  June,  1904,  with  Mr,  Rice  as  president,  and  Mr. 
Smith  as  vice-president,  the  latter  in  personal  charge  of  the  institution.  The 
bank  has  a  capital  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  with  a  nice  surphis  after  hav- 
ing declared  a  seven  per  cent  dividend.  Mr.  Rice  is  a  Democrat,  and  has 
served  that  party  as  supervisor  for  a  term  of  two  years,  and  a?  township 
treasurer  for  three  years.  One  of  his  chief  recreations  is  hunting,  and  he 
still  possesses  the  rifle  which  his  father  used  when  he  first  came  to  this  part 
of  the  state. 

Allen  A.  Abbott,  a  citizen  of  Leighton  township  and  of  French  de- 
scent, was  bom  in  Coldwater,  Branch  county,  Michigan,  June  24,  1840.  His 
parents.  Charles  G.  Abbott,  bom  in  Detroit,  in  1808,  and  Sarah  (Long)  Ab- 
bott, born  in  Germany,  in  1808,  were  married  in  Buffalo.  Charles  G.  Abbott 
came  to  Coldwater  in  1836,  opening  the  first  blacksmith  shop  in  that  town. 
He  also  cleared  a  farm.  His  father  was  one  of  five  brothers,  all  Indian 
traders,  at  Detroit,  Mackinac,  and  around  the  lakes.  One  of  his  principal 
trading  posts  was  the  Old  Mission  near  Traverse  City.  He  finally  settled 
at  Coldwater,  where  he  died  past  eighty  years  of  age, 

Allen  Abbott's  boyhood  was  spent  in  the  town  and  on  the  farm.  He 
was  married  February  25,  1867,  at  Coldwater,  to  Marion  Wilson,  horn  at 
Union  City,  Branch  county,  August  17,  1840.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Mary  (Sprowles)  Wikon,  who  came  from  New  York  state  to  Branch 


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4?4  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY 

county  in  1838.  In  1864  Mr.  Abbott  came  to  Allegan  for  the  purpose  of 
purchasing  cheap  land  and  found  what  he' was  seeking  in  Wayland  town- 
ship. He  built  his  house  and  bam  and  made  other  improvements  before 
he  was  married.  Mrs.  Abbott's  parents,  who  had  come  to  Allegan  county 
in  1865,  passed  the  remainder  of  their  years  there,  he  dying  at  the  age  of 
sixty-nine  and  she  in  1884,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three.  Since  purchasing  his 
farm  Mr.  Abbott  has  resided  there  continuously.  He  has  two  sisters  in 
Allegan  county,  viz. :  Theodosia,  wife  of  A.  D.  Towsly,  deceased,  and  Ma- 
rion, wife  of  John  Jordon,  both  residents  of  Wayland  township. 

Mr.  Abbott  remained  on  his  first  farm  fourteen  years  after  his  mar- 
riage. Selling  this  he  came  to  the  present  farm  in  Leighton  township,  three 
and  one-half  miles  northeast  of  the  town  of  Wayland.  The  farm  consisted 
of  one  hundred  and  forty  acres,  of  which  he  cleared  forty-five  acres.  Some 
of  the  timber  was  milled  and  some  burnt.  The  barns  were  on  the  place 
when  he  purchased  it,  but  these  he  has  since  improved  and  enlarged.  He 
built  the  house  in  which  he  now  Jives  in  1889.  He  devotes  himself  to  the 
grain  and  dairy  business.  He  also  keeps  sheep,  which  have  yielded  him 
a  satisfactory  profit.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  is  a  frequent  delegate 
to  the  party  conventions. 

He  has  no  children,  but  has  adopted  and  raised  three :  Burton  Dickin- 
son, from  seven  till  twenty-three,  now  a  contractor  and  builder  at  Fitzgerald, 
Georgia;  Martha  May  Fox,  from  seven  till  twenty-one,  when  she  married 
Charles  Stockdale,  of  Grand  Rapids ;  and  Ida  Harvey,  from  eleven  until 
married.  She  was  placed  in  Mr.  Abbott's  family  by  Judge  Stockdale,  then 
judge  of  the  probate  court,  until  he  could  locate  her  permanently.  She 
became  so  attached  to  them  that  she  was  allowed  to  remain  in  the  family. 
They  were  all  given  good  advantages,  and  Mrs.  Abbott  has  been  a  kindly 
and  painstaking  mother  to  them. 

Mr.  Abbott  relates  that  when  a  boy  at  Coldwater  he  had  as  a  playmate 
a  little  Indian  boy,  who  became,  eventually,  chief  of  the  Pottawattamie 
Indians.  When  on  a  trip  to  the  west  in  1864  he  visited  this  tribe  and  was 
cordially  received  and  entertained  by  his  boyhood  playmate,  who  had  not 
forgotten  him. 

Henry  Conrad,  who  has  devoted  almost  his  entire  life  to  agricultural 
interests,  was  bom  in  Hinsdale,  Cattaraugus  county.  New  York,  November 
26.  1831.  His  parents  were  Joseph,  who  died  in  New  York,  and  Lucy 
(Thatcher)  Conrad,  who  spent  her  last  years  with  her  son  in  Michigan. 

Mr.  Conrad  came  to  Michigan  the  first  time  in  1850  to  secure  some 
land  on  a  soldier's  warrant  issued  to  his  brother,  Peter  Conrad,  who  died 
at  Vera  Cruz  while  seiTing  as  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  war.  The  warrant 
was  issued  to  himself  and  his  mother.  Mr.  Conrad  lived  successively  in 
Seneca  county,  Ohio,  with  an  uncle,  Joshua  Lake,  and  finally,  in 
1851,  returned  to  Michigan,  and  settled  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now 
resides.  He  made  another  trip  to  Ohio,  but  returned  to  Michigan  in  1853 
and  worked  at  Kellogg's  sawmill.  The  firm  of  Krouse  &  Dennison  were 
interested  in  the  mill,  but  Krouse  soon  died  and  Kellogg  van  the  mill,  which 
stood  one-half  a  mile  north  of  what  is  now  Wayland,  then  called  Chamber's 
Corners,  and  also  only  three-quarters  of  a  mile  distant  from  Mr.  Conrad's 
farm.     While  working  at  the  mill  he  was  at  the  same  time  clearing  and 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  a)UXTY  425 

improving  his  own  property.  He  buiit  a  frame  house  and  barn  and  erected 
his  present  residence  in  1882,  living  in  the  old  house  until  that  time.  The 
original  house  is  still  standing  and  is  rented.  It  is  the  oldest  house  still  used 
as  a  residence  in  the  vicinity.  There  is  a  line  barn  on  the  premises,  built  in 
1879.  The  new  house  is  about  one  mile  northeast  from  Wayland,  and  it, 
combined  with  the  lay  of  the  farm,  makes  it  one  of  the  most  desirable  farms 
in  the  county.  Of  the  farm  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  are  under 
cultivation.  The  land  was  all  taken  in  Mr.  Conrad's  name,  and  there  has 
never  been  a  mortgage  or  transfer  recorded  against  the  property  since  it 
came  into  his  possession.  He  has  combined  the  growing  of  grain  with 
sheep  raising,  but  latterly  has  been  making  dairying  a  specialty. 

His  first  wife,  Phebe  Lester  Conrad,  who  had  come  to  the  Michigan 
farm  with  him  as  a  pioneer,  died  after  six  years,  leaving  four  children : 
Seth,  who  lives  on  a  near-by  farm ;  Sid ;  Ola,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
four  ;  and  Nettie,  a  widow,  now  living  at  Coldwater.  Mr.  Conrad  was 
married  the  second  time  to  Almtra  Lester,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  by 
whom  he  had  one  child,  Lo,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three.  Mrs. 
Conrad  was  born  in  New  York  and  moved  to  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  when 
but  a  child.  She  came  to  Allegan  county,  Michigan,  with  her  brothers. 
Loren,  Harry  and  Daniel  Lester,  in  the  fall  of  1850.  Her  brothers  Loren 
and  Harry  bought  a  farm.  Loren  died  on  the  farm  and  Harry  moved  to 
Kansas  in  1870.  Daniel,  the  third  brother,  also  purchased  a  piece  of  prop- 
erty, on  which  he  resided  until  his  death.  Her  mother  died  in  Michigan 
at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  From  pohtical  inclination  Mr.  Conrad  is  a 
Democrat. 

Herbert  A.  Washburn,  well  known  in  Leighton  county  as  a  dairy- 
man, was  born  in  Muskegon  county,  Michigan,  July  4,  i86t.  His  parents 
were  William  and  Sarah  (Arcenal)  Washburn,  he  a  native  of  Vermont 
and  she  of  New  York  state.  They  were  married  in  Kent  county  and  came 
to  settle  in  Muskegon.  He  worked  in  the  Inmber  camps  in  winter  and  did 
a  little  lumbering  on  his  own  account.  He  came  in  1867  to  the  fann  on 
which  Herbert  Washburn  now  lives.  At  that  time  it  was  heavily  timbered, 
with  only  a  small  clearing  where  the  house  stood.  After  settling  here  he 
devoted  his  entire  time  to  farming  and  cleared  all  of  the  farm  excepting 
about  fifteen  acres.  He  died  January  31,  1888,  aged  fifty-two  years.  His 
wife  survived  him  until  1903,  when  she  died,  aged  sixty-nine  years.  He 
built  a  substantial  house,  which  stood  until  about  ten  years  ago,  when  it 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  Since  coming  into  possession  of  the  property  Herbert 
Washburn  has  rebuilt  the  house,  enlarged  the  barn,  and  built  a  good  sized 
silo,  while  in  addition  he  has  laid  some  four  hundred  rods  of  tile  for  drain- 
age and  has  improved  the  property'  generally.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
the  elder  of  two  sons,  viz.,  Herbert  W.  and  Frank,  who  died  in  Leighton 
township,  aged  forty-one  years,  and  was  unmarried. 

Mr.  Washburn  makes  a  specialty  of  dairying.  His  herd  consists  of 
Holsteins.  all  thoroughbred  and  of  high  grade.  He  milks  from  twenty  to 
twenty-fiv.e  cows.  He  is  systematic  in  his  method  of  marketing  his  milk 
and  keeps  account  of  the  production  of  each  cow  in  order  to  obtain  the  best 
results  and  not  leave  his  business  to  guesswork,  as  is  done  in  so  many 
dairies.    He  keeps  Mercede  Pride,  of  Oak  Grove,  at  the  head  of  his  herd. 


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426  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

This  animal  took  the  first  prize  at  the  State  Fair  at  Detroit  in  1895  as  a 
yearling.    Mr.  Washburn  makes  a  specialty  of  selling  breeding  animals. 

His  wife,  who  was  formerly  Gertrude  Mitchell,  of  Ingham  county,  is 
the  mother  of  four  children:  Fred,  who  lives  at  home;  Nellie,  wife  of 
Marcus  Crowfoot,  of  Leighton  township;  Elfa,  and  Oral.  The  two  latter 
are  still  at  home  and  attending  school.  Mr.  Washburn  is  a  Mason,  a  member 
of  the  Blue  Lodge,  and  is  also  an  Odd  F'ellow  (a  charter  member  of  Moline, 
Michigan),  Mason  Lodge  No.  224  of  Wayland,  and  a  Maccabee. 

John  W.  Stuhgis,  supervisor  of  Leighton  township,  Michigan,  was 
born  in  Salem  township,  Allegan  county,  this  state,  November  24,-  1866, 
His  parents  were  Isaac  H.  and  Sarah  A.  (Woodruff)  Sturgis,  both  natives 
of  New  York.  They  were  married  in  Noble  county,  Indiana.  Mrs.  Sturgis 
came  with  her  parents  to  Indiana  in  her  girlhood,  living  for  a  short  time 
with  them  in  BHssfield,  Michigan.  She  was  twenty-two  years  old  at  the 
time  of  her  marriage,  September  4,  1852.  Her  father  came  to  Salem,  in 
Allegan  county,  in  1856,  and  settled  on  a  farm  which  he  had  purchased 
there.  He  was  a  widower  at  the  time,  but  married  a  second  time  and 
passed  his  remaining  days  in  this  county,  dying  at  the  age  of  seventy-four 
in  1871.  In  1856  Isaac  Sturgis  and  his  wife  bought  a  farm  in  Salem,  of 
which  they  improved  eighty  acres.  They  remained  on  this  property  for 
twenty  years.  They  then  sold  and  purchased  another  farm,  on  which  they 
lived  for  four  years.  They  came  in  1882  to  Leighton  township  and 
purchased  a  farm  of  eighty -five  acres,  fifty  of  which  were  improved. 
They  rebuilt  the  buildings  and  cleared  the  balance  of  the  land.  Here  they 
both  died  in  1905,  he  on  January  21st  and  she  on  December  23d.  They  had 
lived  together  for  fifty-three  years  and  had  celebrated  the  fiftieth  anniversary 
of  their  wedding.  In  politics  he  was  a  staunch  Republican  and  had  been 
all  his  years  devoted  to  the  interests  of  his  party.  He  served  two  terms  as 
township  treasurer  in  Leighton.  His  children  were  three  in  number,  of 
whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  yoimgest,  viz.:  Franklin  E.,  an 
artist,  residing  at  East  Pasadena,  California;  Mary  E.,  wife  of  William 
Shuck,  of  Dighton,  Osceola  connty,  Michigan ;  and  John  W. 

John  Sturgis  remained  at  home  until  he  was  grown,  taking  entire 
charge  of  his  father's  farm  when  twenty  years  of  age.  When  twenty-four 
years  old  he  went  to  Grand  Rapids,  where  he  was  connected  with  the  whole- 
sale grocery  trade.  He  then  returned  home  and  resumed  farming.  He 
was  married  at  twenty-two  to  Rose  A.  Echtinaw,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Ann  Echtinaw,  who  had  located  in  Wayland  township  in  1866.  Mr.  Echti- 
naw is  still  living  and  resides  with  his  son  John  in  Leighton  township. 
Mrs.  Echtinaw  died  in  Wayland  in  1902,  aged  sixty  years. 

John  Sturgis  was  township  treasurer  for  two  terms  and  in  1900  was 
elected  supervisor,  and  has  been  re-elected  every  year  since.  His  services 
on  the  board  and  his  willingness  to  do  everything  possible  to  advance  the 
welfare  of  his  township.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party  and  is 
elected  delegate  to  most  of  the  party  conventions. 

Mr.  Sturgis  has  two  children:  Linnie,  a  student  at  the  Wayland  high 
school,  and  Isaac  H. 

Andrew  Brog,  of  Leighton  township,  was  born  in  Berne.  Switzerland, 
July  20,  1842.    His  parents,  Casper  and  Margaret  (Anderegg)  Brog,  came 


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HISTORY  or  AIXEGAN  COUNTY  '  437 

to  the  United  States  in  1851  and  settled  in  Ohio.  In  1869  they  moved  to 
Aiiegan  county,  Michigan,  and  settled  on  a  farm.  This  farm  consisted  of 
a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  fifty  acres  of  which  were  partially 
cleared,  but  only  twenty  were  in  condition  to  plow.  The  property  contained 
a  quantity  of  ash  and  whitewood  timber,  some  of  which  was  sold  and  some 
used  on  the  place.  Casper  Brog  remained  on  this  farm  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1895  at  the  age  of  seventy-six.  His  wife  died  in  1890, 
aged  eighty  years.  Their  children  were  five  in  number.  One  son  died  in 
Ohio,  and  beside  Andrew,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  there  were  three 
daughters:  Maggie,  widow  of  Fred  Steeby;  Katherine,  wife  of  Conrad 
Kahler,  and  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty;  and  Magdalena,  wife  of  Jacob 
Finkbiner,  of  Grand  Rapids. 

Andrew  Brog  came  to  Michigan  in  the  spring  of  1869.  In  a  short  time 
he  returned  to  Ohio  and  resumed  teaching  school.  He  taught  during  the 
winter  terms  for  twelve  years,  part  of  the  time  in  Ohio  and  later  in  Michi- 
gan. He  was  married  February  1,  1870,  in  Ohio,  to  Caroline  Baab,  a 
daughter  of  the  family  at  whose  home  he  had  boarded  during  the  second  term 
he  taught  in  that  vicinity.  She  was  nineteen  at  the  time  of  the  marriage. 
Mr.  Brog  soon  brought  his  young  wife  to  Michigan  and  undertook  the 
active  management  of  his  father's  farm.  The  farm  was  increased  by  the 
addition  of  eighty  acres,  making  a  total  acreage  of  two  hundred.  He  keeps 
from  twelve  to  fifteen  cows  and  about  forty  head  of  sheep.  His  sheep  are 
Shropshires  and  are  all  thoroughbred.  The  barn,  sheep  sheds  and  out- 
buildings generally  on  this  farm  are  well  built  and  among  the  best  in  the 
county.    Considerable  drainage  has  been  accomplished  by  laying  tile. 

Mr.  Brog  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  township  clerk  for  a  term  of 
two  years.  For  the  last  six  years  he  has  been  a  justice  of  the  peace.  He  is 
the  father  of  thirteen  children,  all  but  one  of  whom  are  living.  They  are,  in 
order  of  birth:  Mary,  wife  of  Henry  Finkbiner,  of  Leighton;  Katie,  wife 
of  Herbert  Johncox,  of  Orangeville,  Michigan;  Albert,  a  farmer  of  Leigh- 
ton  ;  Henry,  a  farmer  in  Barry  county ;  Edward,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two;  Lydia,  wife  of  Lewis  Smith,  of  Leighton  township:  Clara, 
wife  of  Irving  J.  Steeby,  of  Corning;  Maggie,  wife  of  Herman  Brown,  of 
Leighton  township ;  William,  who  is  still  at  home ;  Addie,  a  member  of  the 
senior  class  of  the  Wayiand  High  School ;  Emma  a  music  teacher ;  Frederick, 
who  is  now  attending  school ;  and  George,  also  in  school. .  Mr.  Brog's 
very  commendable  desire  is  that  his  children  receive  the  best  education 
possible  and  that  they  are  properly  started  on  their  way  to  success.  He  is 
a  faithful  member  of  the  Zion  church  of  the  Evangelical  Association  of 
Leighton.    He  has  been  for  some  time  a  trustee  and  steward  of  this  church. 

John  T.  Smith,  for  many  years  a  well  known  stock  breeder  of  Michi- 
gan, is  at  present  vice-president  and  cashier  of  The  State  Bank  of  Caledonia, 
a  bank  organized  June  22,  1904,  with  a  capital  stock  of  twenty  thousand 
dollars,  of  which  Charles  Rice,  of  Allegan  countv,  is  the  president.  The 
business  of  the  bank  has  been  very  successful.  The  deposits  have  increased 
to  one  hundred  and  thirty  thousand  dollars  and  there  is  a  handsome  surplus. 
Mr.  Smith  is  a  native  of  Canada  and  was  born  in  Toronto,  February  9, 
1850.  At  fourteen  he  came  to  Kent  county,  Michigan,  and  remained  there 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one.     His  parents,  Robert  and  Mariah 


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■498  I-ILSTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Smith,  continued  to  reside  in  Kent  cotmty  until  tlieir  death.  He  died  at 
the  age  of  sixty-six,  and  she  at  sixty-four. 

In  1871  Mr.  Smith  bought  a  farm  of  forty  acres  in  Allegan  county,  of 
which  only  twelve  acres  was  cleared.  Later  he  purchased  eighty  acres 
more,  and  at  a  later  date  sixty  more,  al!  of  which  is  cleared  and  productive. 
The  home  and  outbuildings  on  the  farm  are  neat  and  substantial.  The 
barn,  forty  by  sixty  feet,  has  a  "lean-to"  or  "L"  thirty  by  fifty  feet  in  size, 
and  a  basement  under  the  entire  building,  with  a  stable  capacity  for  sixty 
head  of  stock.  He  has  bred  Percheron  horses  since  1880  and  continued  to 
breed  them  until  1892.  He  introduced  the  first  Percherons  at  several  county 
fairs.  In  1895  he  began  to  breed  Aberdeen -Angus  cattle,  purchasings  his 
original  stock  from  a  Peoria,  Illinois,  dealer,  who  imported  them.  His 
her  consists  of  forty  head,  all  thoroughbreds  and  all  registered.  When  he 
began  there  was  only  one  other  breeder  of  this  variety  of  stock  in  the  state 
of  Michigan.  He  has  exhibited  at  county  and  state  fairs  and  has  received 
first  prize  with  his  herd  for  five  years  continuously.  He  has  sold  calves  at 
nine  months  for  five  hundred  dollars  a  head  and  at  three  months  for  four 
hundred  dollars.  The  State  Agricultural  College  purchased  several  steers 
of  him  to  study  the  breed.  He  has  found  cattle  breeding  very  satisfactory 
and  profitable. 

He  remained  on  his  farm  in  Leigbton  township  until  June,  1901.  Then 
he  spent  three  years  on  his  farm  in  Gaines  township.  Kent  county,  improving 
it  and  giving  it  his  personal  attention.  He  left  there  and  came  to  Caledonia 
to  take  charge  of  the  new  bank,  and  has  since  given  his  entire  time  to  the 
banking  interests.  In  politics  Mr.  Smith  is  a  Republican,  and  although  not 
an  ofifice-seeker  is  vitally  interested  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  interests  of  the 
commonwealth.  He  has  been  a  frequent  delegate  to  conventions.  His 
brother,  Conner  H.  Smith,  is  the  present  clerk  of  Kent  county. 

Mr.  Smith  was  married  at  twenty-one  to  Elizabeth  Davis,  of  Paris, 
who  died  after  twenty-one  years  of  married  life.  By  this  marriage  he  had 
two  sons,  Roscoe  and  Robert,  who  operate  the  old  farm  under  the  name 
of  Smith  Brothers.  His  second  marriage  occurred  in  December  of  1892  to 
Hattie  Heintz.  of  Gaines  township.  Kent  county.  They  have  two  sons- 
Roy  and  Ivy.  Mr.  Smith  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order  and  of  the 
Eastern  Star.  He  is  and  has  always  been  loyal  to  the  state  of  Michigan, 
considering  it  one  of  the  best  states  in  the  west,  both  as  a  place  of  re^^iderice 
and  for  business  opportunities. 

Francis  R.  Watkins,  of  Leigbton  township,  was  born  in  West  Hat- 
field, Windsor  county,  Vermont.  October  4.  1844.  His  parents  were  Rancil 
and  Hannah  (Hunt)  Watkins.  natives  of  Vermont  and  Connecticut,  resoec- 
tively.  They  were  married  in  Vermont  and  moved  to  Pennsylvania  in  1844, 
remained  there  four  years,  and  then  moved  to  Ohio.  In  1850  they  came  to 
Ionia,  Michigan,  but  returned  almost  immediately  to  Ohio.  The  next  vear  thev 
removed  to  Allegan  county,  near  Battle  Creek,  reaching  there  the  day  their 
son  Francis  was  seven  vears  old.  They  had  traded  some  property  in  Ohio 
for  a  land  warrant  and  located  their  land  in  section  2a,  in  Leigbton  town- 
ship, nearlv  all  of  which  homestead  is  retained  !n  the  family.  Rancil  Wat- 
kins died  in  185=;.  at  the  age  of  fiftv-five  years,  and  just  as  he  was  getting 
fairly  started  in  his  new  home.    He  left  a  widow  and  three  children :    Ruth, 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLKGAX'  COUNTY  439 

wife  of  Henry  Hooker;  Stiles,  in  Leighton  township;  and  Francis.  The 
widow,  four  years  later,  married  William  Hooker,  and  is  the  step-mother 
of  William  B.  Hooker,  with  whom  she  now  resides,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
ninety-one  years. 

After  his  mother's  second  marriage  Mr.  Watkins  went  to  live  with  an. 
aunt  in  Vermont  and  remained  with  her  on  the  farm  for  four  years.  At 
seventeen  he  enlisted  in  the  First  Connecticut  Cavalry.  He  had  been 
refused  the  consent  of  his  relatives  and  ran  away  to  enlist.  He  served  with 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  was  attached  to  the  famous  Custer  division. 
He  served  until  August  i,  1865,  was  on  duty  at  Washington  a  short  time 
after  the  Grand  Review,  and  was  discharged  August  17  in  Connecticut. 
He  was  with  the  famous  Wilson  raid,  on  detached  service  at  Washington 
and  the  Potomac  river,  and  later  with  the  Sheridan  raid  into  the  Shenan- 
doah Valley.  He  saw  much  active  service.  He  was  struck  in  the  right 
ankle  by  a  spent  ball,  hut  was  not  incapacitated  for  duty.  He  did  not  go 
back  to  his  relatives  in  Vermont  after  the  war,  but  came  to  Michigan,  near 
St.  Joseph,  and  worked  for  three  years  with  a  pile  driver  and  later  on  a 
fruit  farm.  In  1869  he  went  to  Chicago  and  obtained  work  with  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad,  at  which  he  was  engaged  for  seven  years.  In  1877  he 
went  back  to  Michigan  and  took  charge  of  his  present  farm,  which  at  that 
time  belonged  to  his  wife's  father. 

He  was  married  January  13.  1875,  to  Mary  Everson.  daughter  of  • 
Orville  and  Mary  Everson,  who  settled  on  the  farm  before  mentioned  in 
1864,  coming  from  Ohio.  Orville  Everson  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  but 
cared  very  little  about  farming,  so  he  proposed  that  his  son-in-iaw  take  the 
management  of  the  property.  There  was  about  five  acres  under  cultiva- 
tion at  that  time.  A  large  part  of  the  timber  was  sold,  there  being  a  sawmill 
in  the  vicinity.  Maple  sold  at  that  time  for  four  dollars  per  thousand  and 
had  to  be  hauled  into  Wayland.  More  recently  some  black  ash  was  sold 
from  the  property  for  twenty  dollars  per  thousand,  which  was  considered 
at  the  time  it  was  sold  a  good  price.  It  would  now  bring  forty  dollars  per 
thousand.  The  property  has  been  improved  with  two  residences  and  a  good 
bam,  the  whole  being  in  excellent  condition.  Orville  Everson  died  in  1880, 
but  his  widow  is  still  living,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years,  and  is  in 
excellent  health. 

Mr.  Watkin's  wife  died  December  26,  1905,  after  a  three  years'  illness. 
Two  children  survive  her,  viz. ;  Ralph  F..  a  carpenter,  employed  by  the 
government  on  the  Panama  Canal  construction  work;  Floyd  O.,  a  farmer, 
and  has  one  child,  named  Leon.  Mr.  Watkins  still  owns  about  seventy  acres 
of  timber,  including  pine,  maple,  ash  and  basswood.  His  maple  orchard 
produces  each  year  a  fine  income.  If  the  timber  that  was  on  the  place  thirty 
years  ago  were  still  standing,  the  place  would  bring  the  worth  of  half  a 
dozen  of  the  best  farms  in  the  county. 

Thomas  W.  Ronan,  whose  farm  is  located  on  the  Allegan  county  line 
seven  miles  northeast  of  Wayland.  Michigan,  was  born  in  Ireland  April 
18,  1836.  In  1843  he  came  to  America  with  his  parents  and  settled  in 
Monroe  county,  New  York,  where  they .  remained  for  five  years.  In  1849 
they  came  to  Battle  Creek  on  the  old  Michigan  Central  Railway  and  from 
there, hauled  their  goods  by  wagon  into  Allegan  county.     His  father  had  ' 


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430  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

purchased  one  hundred  acres  at  two  dollars  and  a  half  per  acre.  In  1849 
they  built  a  log  house,  men  from  that  vicinity  helping  in  the  raising.  The 
house  still  stands,  in  a  remarkable  state  of  preservation,  and  was  his  mother's 
home  until  Thomas  Ronan  built  the  house  in  which  he  now  lives,  in  1875, 
at  which  date  his  mother  came  to  live  with  him.  On  February  14,  1850,  his 
father  was  out  chopping  wood  and  was  killed  by  a  falling  limb  from  a  pine 
tree  which  had  lodged  against  a  dead  oak  and  which  he  was  attempting  to 
dislodge.  He  was  about  forty-four  years  of  age  at  the  time  he  was  killed. 
This  sad  accident  left  the  widow  in  a  new  and  only  partially  settled  country, 
dependent  on  herself,  and  with  the  two  young  boys,  Patrick,  aged  sixteen, 
and  Thomas  W.,  aged  fourteen,  to  care  for.  The  few  neighbors  that  they 
had,  however,  rallied  to  their  assistance  and  helped  to  clear  the  farm  and 
get  things  into  shape  for  working  until  the  boys  became  a  little  more  familiar 
with  what  was  demanded  of  them. 

In  1856  Patrick,  the  elder  brother,  went  to  Kansas  and  took  up  some 
land.  He  took  part  in  some  of  the  disturbances  that  occurred  at  that  time 
in  Kansas  and  received  a  blow  on  the  head  from  which  he  never  recovered 
and  which  was  the  result  of  his  loss  of  reason.  He  was  placed  in  an  asylum 
in  1865  and  remained  there  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  i8g6.  In 
1857  Thomas  left  the  farm  and  worked  out  by  the  month  at  Gull  Prairie, 
receiving  the  munificent  sum  of  thirteen  dollars  per  month.  For  splitting 
rails  he  received  fifty  cents  per  hundred  and  for  chopping  wood  twenty  cents 
per  cord.  But  by  his  energy  and  economy  he  managed  to  make  and  save 
enough  to  pay  for  his  farm  in  1862  and  to  have  one  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  in  cash  remaining  His  mother  lived  to  be  ninety-four  years  of  age 
and  died  in  January,  1887.  In  1863  Mr.  Ronan  started  to  improve  his  new 
farm  and  resided  there  until  1874,  when  he  sold  the  place  for  three  thousand 
six  hundred  dollars.  In  that  same  year  he  bought  his  brother's  interest  in 
the  old  home  place.  In  1875  he  built  the  new  house  before  referred  to. 
This  house  was  then  considered  and  is  still  a  fine  home,  and  was  a  great 
improvement  over  the  old  log  cabin.  In  1878  Mr.  Ronan  decided  to 
abandon  farming  as  a  means  of  support  and  started  a  business,  dealing  in 
stocks  and  real  estate.  He  has  owned  several  tracts  since  that  time,  over 
six  hundred  acres  at  one  time  in  different  farms.  His  home  farm  contains 
one  hundred  acres,  which  he  now  rents.  He  was  married  the  first  time  to 
Eliza  Jane  Fisher,  of  Prairieville,  Michigan,  who  was  a  teacher  in  Barry 
county.  She  is  now  dead.  They  had  three  children :  Mary,  wife  of  Mat- 
thew Parker,  of  Middlevilie,  Michigan;  Bertha  M.,  a  teacher  in  the  high 
school  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Michigan,  and  a  graduate  of  the  State  Normal 
School ;  and  Fred  H.,  who  died  in  his  third  year.  He  married  for  his  second 
wife  Alice  Seibel,  and  for  his  third  wife  Clara  MacDonald,  of  Detroit. 

As  a  young  man  Mr.  Ronan  set  his  mark  at  the  possession  of  twenty- 
five  thousand  dollars,  and  by  integrity  and  thrift  has  had  the  satisfaction  of 
more  than  passing  that  figure. 

Martin  Township. 

George  V.   Goucher,   now  making  his   home  at   Watson's   Corners, 

where  he  is  following  the  mason's  trade  and  where  he  has  been  connected 

with  various  commercial  and  industrial  enterprises,  has  spent  almost  his 

entire  life  in  Michigan.    He  is  a  native  of  Genesee  county,  New  York,  bom 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  431 

November  i,  1843,  and  conies  of  English  ancestry.  The  Goucher  family 
was  established  in  America  by  three  brothers  who  emigrated  from  the 
fatherland  in  colonial  days,  and  two  of  the  number  went  to  put  down  the 
Algerian  pirates  and  were  never  again  heard  from.  The  paternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  John  Goucher,  was  a  native  of  the  Empire  state  and 
there  spent  his  entire  life,  passing  away  at  the  extreme  old  age  of  ninety- 
eight  years.  He  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  son,  who  also 
bore  the  name  of  John  Goucher,  was  born  in  Plattsburg,  New  York,  in 
1807,  and  was  there  married  to  Miss  Malinda  Taylor,  also  a  native  of  the 
east,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  George  V.  Goucher,  whose  name 
introduces  this  review.  The  parents  removed  to  this  state  at  an  early 
epoch  ill  the  development  of  this  country,  and  the  family  home  was  estab- 
lished at  Maringo,  Calhoun  county,  in  1844,  where  they  made  their  home 
for  almost  a  decade,  subsequent  to  which  time  they  took  up  their  abode  on 
a  farm  in  Watson  township,  Allegan  county,  where  both  passed  away,  the 
father  having  reached  the  age  of  seventy-six  years,  while  the  mother  died 
about  a  year  after  coming  here,  after  which  the  father  was  married  a  second 
time. 

George  V.  Goucher  was  less  than  a  year  old  when  brought  by  his  parents 
to  this  state,  and  was  a  lad  of  ten  years  when  he  accompanied  them  on  their 
removal  to  Allegan  county.  He  pursued  his  education  in  the  district  schools 
near  his  father's  home,  and  when  not  occupied  with  his  studies  assisted  his 
father  in  the  work  of  the  fields  until  he  had  reached  the  age  of  fourteen 
years,  at  which  time,  his  father  having  married  again,  the  son  left  home 
and  began  making  his  own  way  in  the  world.  He  was  employed  for  two 
years  at  farm  labor,  and  when  sixteen  years  of  age  enlisted  for  service  in 
the  Civil  war  in  July,  1862,  becoming  a  member  of  Company  I,  Fifth  Michi- 
gan Cavalry,  under  Captain  Williams  and  Colonel  Alger.  The  company 
was  mustered  in  at  Detroit,  where  they  remained  until  the  fall  of  that  year, 
when  they  were  sent  to  Washington.  Mr.  Goucher  was  a  participant  in 
many  of  the  most  important  and  hardest  fought  battles  during  the  struggle, 
including  the  engagements  at  Gettysburg,  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  Spott- 
sylvania,  Braiidy  Station,  Winchester,  Cedar  Creek  and  many  others,  and 
altogether  took  part  in  sixty-three  battles,  being  the  only  one  in  his  regiment 
who  took  part  in  every  movement,  fie  was  three  times  taken  a  prisoner, 
and  his  service  in  the  army  lacked  but  eleven  days  of  covering  a  period  of 
three  years.  He  participated  in  the  grand  review  at  Washington,  and  was 
mustered  out  of  service  on  the  3d  of  July,  1865. 

Mr.  Goucher  at  once  returned  to  Allegan  county,  where  he  began 
learning  the  mason's  trade,  which  he  has  followed  to  a  greater  or  less  extent 
since  that  time,  although  he  is  now  practically  living  retired.  In  connection 
with  his  trade  he  also  conducted  a  store  at  Watson's  Corners  for  about  six 
years,  his  wife  assisting  him  in  the  management  of  the  enterprise.  For  one 
year  he  also  conducted  a  meat  market  in  connection  with  his  other  interests. 
As  he  prospered  in  his  business  affairs  he  accumulated  a  competence  suf- 
ficient to  justify  the  purchase  of  land,  owning  at  one  time  a  farm  of  forty- 
six  acres  in  Watson  township.  He  has  made  his  home  in  the  village  of 
Watson's  Corners  for  the  past  thirty  years,  first  making  a  purchase  of  nine- 
teen acres  in  this  place,  but  he  has  since  disposed  of  a  portion  of  this  and 
now  has  eight  and  a  quarter  acres,  in  the  midst  of  which  stands  a  fine  home, 


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432  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

which  is  occupied  by  himself  and  family,  and  by  his  careful  management 
and  close  application  to  his  business  interests  in  former  years  he  is  now 
enabled  to  rest  from  the  more  arduous  duties  of  life,  although  he  still 
follows  his  trade  to  some  extent.  He  has  lived  in  this  state  for  more  than 
a  half  century  and  is  one  of  the  three  surviving  members  of  nine  children 
bom  of  his  father's  family, 

Mr.  Goucher  established  a  home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage  May  i, 
1867,  to  Miss  Martha  Fassett.  who  was  born  in  Niagara  county,  New 
York,  November  29.  1842,  and  who  in  1854  came  to  this  state  with  her 
parents,  Jerome  and  Mary  A.  (Heirspool)  Fassett.  The  father  was  a  native 
of  Vermont  and  died  in  this  state  when  fifty-four  years  of  age.  The  mother 
was  born  in  Northamptonshire.  England,  in  1823,  and  at  the  age  of  nine 
years  accompanied  her  parents,  Edmond  and  Elizabeth  (Westfield)  Heir- 
spool,  on  their  emigration  to  America,  the  family  home  being  estabhshed  in 
Lockport,  New  York.  Mrs.  Fassett  still  survives  her  husband  and  now 
makes  her  home  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Goucher.  Unto  our  subject  and 
his  wife  have  been  bom  two  sons  and  one  daughter:  Vemer  J.,  now  a^ 
resident  of  Otsego,  Michigan;  Frank,  of  Watson  township:  and  Gertrude,' 
now  the  wife  of  Arthur  Layton,  also  of  Watson  township.  They  are  also 
rearing  a  little  daughter,  Leeta,  whom  they  adopted  at  the  age  of  four' 
months,  and  who  is  now  a  Httle  maiden  of  ten  years.  ' 

Mr.  Goucher  has  been  a  lifelong  Republican  and  cast  his  first  presi-.' 
dential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  he  has  supported  every  Republican 
candidate  since  that  time.  He  has  taken  a  very  active  and  helpful  interest 
ill  local  political  affairs,  having  served  for  twelve  years  as  justice  of  the' 
peace,  and  he  was  for  four  years  deputy  under  Sheriff  Hay  and  his  suc-_ 
cesser.  He  has  been  a  representative  of  the  county  Republican  committee 
from  Watson  township  for  many  years,  and  at  the  present  writing  is  acting' 
as  treasurer  of  school  district  No.  2.  Keeping  in  touch  with  his  old  army 
comrades,  he  is  identified  with  G.  B.  Wheeler  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Martin. 
He  also  belongs  to  Watson  Lodge  No.  266,  L  O.  O.  F.,  being  the  first, 
member  to  be  initiated  in  the  new  hall  in  1877.  He  is  also  identified  with 
the  Protective  Legion,  at  Martin.  In  the  community  where  he  resides  Mr. 
Goucher  is  honored  not  ^nly  for  his  progressive  citizenship,  hut  as  a  veteran; 
of  the  Civil  war.  in  which  he  performed  such  faithful  and  meritorious  service 
in  defense  of  the  Union  cause.  He  and  his  family  are  numbered  among 
the  best  people  of  Watson  township,  where  they  are  highly  esteemed. 

James  F.  Kent  is  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Allegan  county,  having 
since  i8d7  lived  in  Watson  township.  He  was  bom  in  Whitbv.  Ontario, 
Canada.  December  4,  1837,  and  traces  his  ancestrv  back  to  William  Kent, 
who  emigrated  from  Essex  county,  England,  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty 
years  ago.  He  married  a  Pennsylvania  woman  of  Holland  descent,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Tamer  Erower.  To  them  were  bom  eleven  children, 
five  boys  and  six  girls,  ten  of  whom  lived  to  maturity,  Jeremiah  dying  in 
infancy.  The  four  bovs  were  Robert,  John,  James,  and  William,  who  was 
the  youngest  of  the  family.  He  was  born  August  7,  1796.  in  Highgate. 
township,  Franklin  county.  Vermont.  He  married  Harriet  Henderson, 
who  was  born  in  Onandaga  countv,  town  of  Schoys,  New  York,  They 
settled  first  in  the  township  of  Whitby,  Canada,  where  they  remained  until 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  433 

1839,  when  tlicy  moved  to  the  township  of  FrankHn,  Lenawee  county, 
Michigan,  thence  to  the  township  of  Watson,  Allegan  county,  in  June,  1847. 

The  first  of  the  family  in  Michigan,  however,  was  James  Kent,  who 
removed  from  Ohio  to  Allegan  county  in  1845,  settling  north  of  the  village 
of  Otsego  on  a  farm  now  occupied  by  Albert  Gates,  where  he  remained  for 
about  a  year  and  then  removed  to  what  is  now  the  township  of  Watson, 
where  he  owned  one  thousand  five  and  a  half  acres  of  land. 

Wiiliam  S.  Kent  was  the  second  of  the  family  to  locate  in  Watson 
township,  moving  from  Lenawee  county  in  December,  1846.  In  the  early 
spring  of  1847,  accompanied  by  his  two  oldest  sons,  George  and  William, 
he  removed  to  Watson  township,  where  he  chopped  and  logged  four  acres 
of  land  and  on  the  clearing  erected  a  house  into  which  the  family  moved, 
the  parents  continuing  to  spend  their  remaining  days  there.  The  family 
brought  with  them  four  cows,  two  of  which  were  high  grade  Durhams, 
also  a  pair  of  yearling  steers,  which  grew  to  be  the  ox  team  that  James 
Kent  drove  for  a  long  time.  They  also  brought  a  drove  of  hogs  and  a 
three-year-old  colt,  and  at  that  time  there  was  but  one  other  horse  in  Wat- 
son township.  Farm  implements  were  exchanged  for  sheep,  but  sheep  did 
not  prove  profitable  because  they  continually  wandered  away,  and  in  his 
boyhood  James  Kent  spent  many  a  day  in  herding  them  but  drove  them 
home  in  less  numbers  each  time  until  they  were  nearly  all  gone.  On  one 
occasion  he  found  his  sheep  nine  miles  from  home.  Stock  of  ail  kinds  was 
inclined  to  wander  in  those  days  as  there  were  no  fences  or  anything  else 
to  hinder  them.  The  family  experienced  the  usual  liardships  and  trials  of 
pioneer  life.  There  was  much  illness  in  the  county  in  an  early  day  and 
at  times  neafly  all  of  the  members  of  the  household  would  be  ill  with  bilious 
fever  or  ague.  There  were  many  wiUI  animals  in  the  county  and  on  sev- 
eral occasions  bears  attacked  the  hogs. 

James  E.  Kent  was  only  eighteen  months  old  at  the  time  of  the  arrival 
of  the  family  in  Michigan,  at  which  time  their  home  was  established  at 
I'ranklin.  in  Lenawee  county.  As  stated,  they  removed  to  Watson  town- 
ship, Allegan  county,  in  June.  1847.  locating  on  a  farm  on  section  15, 
which  adjoins  the  present  home  of  our  subject.  Here  James  E.  Kent  has 
resided  continuously  since.  He  remained  at  home  until  his  marriage  but 
before  eighteen  years  of  age  he  bought  his  present  fann.  comprising  eighty 
acres  on  section  15.  It  was  all  woodland  and  he  performed  the  ardtious 
tasks  necessary  to  bringing  this  under  cultivation.  He  now  has  a  fine  farm 
well  improved,  upon  which  are  substantial  buildings  which  he  has  erected, 
for  he  is  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade  and  is  an  excellent  workman  in 
those  lines. 

There  were  many  pleasures  to  be  enjoyed  in  early  times  and  ^Ir.  Kent 
found  one  of  his  chief  sources  of  recreation  in  playing  the  violin,  in  which 
connection  he  was  often  called  upon  to  furnish  music  at  different  social 
gatherings.  He  remembers  playing  for  a  party  in  1847  when  only  ten 
years  of  age  and  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  furnished  music  at  social 
functions  all  over  the  county  and  also  in  Grand  Rapids.  He  has  ever  been 
a  great  lover  of  music  and  especially  of  the  violin. 

Mr.  Kent  has  been  married  twice.  On  the  7th  of  November,  1858,  he 
wedded  Mary  Monroe,  who  was  bom  in  Easton.  New  York,  August  2r, 
1836,  and  came  to  Otsego,  Michigan,  with  her  parents,  Otis  and  Frances 


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434  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Monroe.  She  died  May  i,  1883,  in  tlie  house  which  Mr.  Kent  still  occu- 
pies. There  were  nine  children  of  that  marriage,  of  whom  two  died  in 
childhood.  The  others  are  James  M.,  who  is  the  present  supervisor  of 
Watson  township,  serving  for  the  fifth  consecutive  year.  He  has  also 
served  as  township  clerk  for  two  years  and  he  is  married  and  resides  upon 
the  farm  adjoining  his  father's.  Hattie  Frances  is  the  wife  of  J.  C.  Yeakey, 
of  Wayland.  Frank  E.  is  an  engineer  on  the  Pere  Marquette  Railroad 
and  resides  at  Grand  Rapids.  Carrie  is  the  wife  of  A.  C.  Fassett,  of  Grand 
Rapids.  Maggie  is  the  wife  of  James  A.  Brooks,  of  Sears,  Osceola  county, 
Michigan.  Mamie  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Taylor,  clerk  of  Watson  township. 
Effit  is  the  wife  of  James  Masterson,  of  Hopkins.  Fred  E.,  a  twin  of 
Frank  E.,  died  in  infancy,  and  Georgiana  also  died  in  infancy.  For  his 
second  wife  Mr.  Kent  chose  Augusta  Nichols,  whom  he  married  March 
29,  1884.  She  was  born  in  Gun  Plains  township,  Allegan  county,  Decem- 
ber 4,  1853,  is  a  daughter  of  Chauncey  P.  and  Harriet  (Hazelton)  Nichols, 
and  has  always  lived  in  this  county. 

Mr.  Kent  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Abraham  Lincoln.  His  views  are  also  somewhat  socialistic  and  he 
ever  works  for  reform  and  improvement.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  since  the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  belonging  to  Otsego 
Lodge  No.  78,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  likewise  belongs  to  Watson  Grange 
Lodge  No.  144,  which  he  assisted  in  organizing  on  the  12th  of  December, 
1873.  He  was  likewise  a  stockholder  in  the  Grange  store  of  Allegan  for 
thirty  years  and  was  one  of  its  directors  for  a  number  of  years.  For  six 
decades  he  lias  been  a  resident  of  Allegan  county  and  deserves  prominent 
mention  among  its  pioneer  citizens. 

Perley  E.  Lonsburv. — An  excellent  farming  property  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres,  situated  on  section  17,  Watson  township,  is  the  birthplace 
of  Perley  E.  Lonsbury,  his  natal  day  being  February  4,  1857,  and  this  prop- 
erty has  continued  to  be  his  home  to  the  present  time.  The  Lonsbury  fam- 
ily was  established  in  Michigan  at  an  early  day,  the  grandfather  of  oiir 
subject  having  removed  from  New  York  to  this  state,  their  location  being 
Lenawee  county.  The  father  of  our  subject,  Nehemiah  K.  Lonsbury,  was  " 
born  near  Catskill,  New  York,  April  i,  1818,  and  when  quite  young  was 
taken  by  liis  parents  to  Wayne  county,  that  state,  where  he  lived  until  a 
youth  of  seventeen  years,  when  he  accompanied  his  father's  family  to  this 
state,  remaining  with  them  in  Lenawee  county,  during  the  succeeding  two 
years.  In  1837,  when  a  youth  of  nineteen  years,  he  packed  his  few  belong- 
ings and  made  his  way  to  Ailegan  county,  walking  the  entire  distance, 
much  of  the  journey  being  through  the  forests,  for  much  of  the  country 
was  still  in  its  wild  and  uncultivated  state  at  that  early  epoch.  He  had  some 
relatives  living  in  this  section  of  the  state  and  he  at  once  made  his  way  to 
where  they  were  located,  and  soon  after  his  arrival  here  he  entered  a  claim 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  from  the  government.  He  at 
once  began  the  work  of  clearing  the  land,  plowing  the  fields,  planting  the 
seed  and  in  due  course  of  time  he  gathered  rich  harvests  as  a  reward  for 
the  labor  he  had  bestowed  upon  the  land.  He  made  all  of  the  improve- 
ments which  are  here  seen  at  the  present  time  and  it  is  today  a  valuable  and 
well  improved  property.     He  endured  many  trials  and  hardships  during 


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that  pioneer  period,  and  he  took  a  deep  and  helpful  interest  in  much  of 
the  development  and  progress  which  was  carried  on  from  year  to  year. 
Mr.  Lonsbury  was  married  In  Allegan  county,  when  twenty-four  years 
of  age,  to  Miss  Lucy  Ann  Miner,  who  was  born  in  Canada,  September  23, 
1817,  and  when  she  was  very  young  her  parents,  Clement  and  Lucy  Miner, 
removed  to  Monroe  county,  New  York,  where  she  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated, and  there  the  family  made  their  home  until  1837,  when  they  took 
up  their  abode  in  Lenawee  county,  this  state,  where  the  father  died  at  a 
comparatively  early  age.  His  widow  survived  for  a  long  period,  when 
she,  too,  passed  away  in  Watson,  Allegan  county,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-four  years.  In  the  family  of  Mrs.  Lonsbury  were  fifteen  children, 
of  whom  nine  reached  mature  years,  while  six  of  the  number  died  before 
they  reached  the  age  of  nine  years.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nehemiah  Lons- 
bury passed  away  in  this  county,  the  latter  dying  May  15,  1895,  while  the 
death  of  the  former  occurred  January  8,  1889.  They  were  highly  respected 
people  in  the  county  where  they  so  long  made  their  home,  being  numbered 
among  its  pioneer  settlers. 

Perley  E.  Lonsbury  aided  his  father  in  the  development  of  the  home 
property,  and  was  early  trained  to  habits  of  industry  and  economy.  He 
has  always  made  his  home  on  his  present  farm,  this  property  being  inher- 
ited by  him  upon  his  father's  death,  and  here  he  continues  to  carry  forward 
the  work  which  was  begun  by  his  father  almost  seven  decades  ago.  In 
addition  to  his  agricultural  interests  Mr.  Lonsbury  is  engaged  quite  exten- 
sively in  the  raising  of  stock,  and  makes  a  specialty  of  Shropshire  sheep, 
having  imported  the  head  of  his  herd  from  Canada.  He  has  met  with  very 
gratifying  success  in  both  his  farming  and  stock-raising  interests  and  his 
property  constitutes  one  of  the  good  farms  of  Allegan  county. 

Choosing  as  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's  journey,  Mr.  Lons- 
bury was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Laura  J.  Wismer,  the  wedding  cere- 
mony being  performed  January  16,  1879.  She  is  a  native  of  Canada,  bom 
August  17,  1858,  and  she  accompanied  her  parents.  Jacob  E.  and  Sarah 
Wismer,  on  their  removal  from  that  country  to  Michigan.  Unto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lonsbury  has  been  born  one  daughter,  Beatrice  M.,  who  is  still  under 
the  parental  roof. 

Mr,  Lonsbury,  following  in  the  political  footsteps  of  his  father,  gives 
stalwart  support  to  the  Republican  party,  and  although  reared  in  the  faith 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  to  which  the  parents  belonged,  he  holds 
membership  with  the  Christian  denomination,  at  Watkin's  Corners.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  hospitable  people  and  enjoy  the  warm  friendship  of 
many  with  whom  they  are  associated.  The  place  on  which  Mr.  Lonsbury 
has  always  resided  has  become  endeared  to  him  through  the  associations  of 
his  boyhood  and  youth,  and  his  is  one  of  the  well  kept  and  attractive  homes 
of  this  section  of  the  county. 

Ransom  Aaron  Layton. — During  a  period  covering  almost  a  half 
century.  Ransom  A.  Layton  was  connected  with  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Allegan  county,  and  by  reason  of  the  honorable  and  straightforward  meth- 
ods which  he  ever  followed  he  had  gained  the  confidence,  good  will  and 
esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  was  associated,  so  that  his  death,  which 
occurred  August  2,  1898,  was  the  occasion  of  deep  regret  among  his  many 
friends,  as  well  as  to  his  immediate  family. 


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i;S(i  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Mr.  Layton  was  bom  in  Genesee  county,  New  York,  July  i6,  1841.  a 
son  of  Francis  and  Margaret  Ann  (Wagner)  Layton,  both  natives  of  New 
Jersey,  where  they  were  reared  and  married.  They  later  removed  to  the 
state  of  New  York,  where  the  mother  died  when  the  son  was  but  four 
years  of  age,  and  when  a  httle  lad  of  nine  years  he  was  brought  to  this 
state  by  his  father,  the  family  home  being  established  at  Cooper,  in  Kalama- 
zoo county,  and  the  latter  passed  away  at  that  place  when  he  had  reached 
the  extreme  old  age  of  eighty-four  years.  Ransom  A.  Layton  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Cooper,  and  upon  starting  out  to  make  his  own  way  in 
the  world  he  worked  at  farm  labor  near  that  place  until  he  had  saved  a 
sum  sufficient  to  justify  his  entrance  upon  business  oii  his  own  account, 
when  he  came  to  Allegan  county,  and  purchased  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  in 
Watson  township,  and  later,  as  he  prospered  in  his  undertakings,  he  added 
an  additional  tract  of  eighty  acres,  thus  coming  into  possession  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  constituting  a  valuable  and  well  improved  farm. 
He  was  an  industrious  and  very  hard  working  man,  and  in  addition  to  his 
farm  labor  he  worked  in  a  sawmill  during  a  long  period,  being  employed 
for  a  half  day  and  half  of  the  night  in  the  mill,  while  the  remainder  of  his 
time  was  spent  in  the  operation  of  his  land.  His  farm  was  entirely  unim- 
proved when  he  made  the  purchase,  but  in  due  time  he  had  it  cleared  of 
the  timber  and  placed  the  fields  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  added 
to  his  possessions  from  time  to  time  until  at  his  death  lie  left  a  valuable 
estate  of  one  hundred  and  ninety-five  acres.  He  also  made  all  of  the 
improvements  upon  tiie  place,  including  a  fine  home  and  good  outbuildings, 
and  he  always  manifested  the  progressive  spirit  which  has  been  the  domi- 
nant factor  in  the  upbuilding  and  development  of  agricultural  interests  in 
this  great  state. 

Desirous  of  establishing  a  home  of  his  own,  Mr.  Layton  was  married 
in  1868,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Hannah  Elvira  Leach,  a  native 
of  Solon,  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  whose  birth  occurred  August  26,  1848. 
When  five  years  of  age  she  was  brought  to  this  state  by  her  parents,  Justus 
and  Mercy  D.  (Mason)  Leach,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  New  York. 
Both  are  now  deceased,  having  passed  away  in  Allegan  county. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Layton  were  bom  three  daughters  and  one  son. 
as  follows:  Margaret  Edith  is  the  wife  of  Luther  Decker,  a  resident  of 
Hopkins,  and  she  is  the  mother  of  seven  children :  George  Oren,  Lee, 
Maude,  Roy,  William,  Annie  and  Leota.  Arthur  J.,  of  whom  more 
extended  mention  is  made  below,  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth.  Alta  is  the 
wife  of  Simon  Fox,  of  Bradley,  and  they  have  two  daughters,  Pearl 
Myrtle  and  Juanita.  Bell  Ethel  makes  her  home  with  her  mother  on  the 
old  homestead  farm.  Mr.  Layton  gave  his  political  support  to  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  while  he  was  loyal  to  the  best  interests  of  the  pubhc,  he 
was  never  active  as  an  office  seeker,  preferring  to  give  his  undivided  time 
to  his  business  affairs,  whereby  he  met  with  gratifying  success. 

He  may.  without  exaggeration,  be  called  a  self-made  man,  for,  start- 
ing out  in  early  life  in  the  humble  capacity  of  a  farmer  being  employed  by 
others,  through  his  industry,  economy  and  careful  management  he  worked 
his  way  year  by  year  until  he  was  the  possessor  of  a  valuable  property  of 
one  hundred  and  ninety-five  acres,  so  that  his  family  were  left  in  very  com- 
fortable circumstances  when  he  was  called  to  his  final  rest.     To  know  him 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  437 

was  to  respect  him,  and  his  many  friends  yet  cherish  his  memory,  for  he 
was  a  man  of  excellent  character  and  was  ever  ready  to  lend  a  helping 
hand  to  every  worthy  cause.  His  widow  still  survives  and  makes  her 
home  with  her  daughter  on  the  old  homestead.  She  is  an  estimable  lady, 
well  liked  by  all  her  associates,  and  now  in  the  evening  of  lite  she  is  able 
to  enjoy  the  comforts  of  a  good  home  and  property  which  was  loft  her  by 
her  husband. 

Arthur  J.  Laytoii,  the  only  son  of  his  father's  family,  was  born  on 
the  farm  which  is  stilt  his  home,  March  26,  1874.  He  was  early  trained  to 
the  work  of  the  farm,  assisting  his  father  in  the  various  tasks  which  are 
necessary  in  the  successful  conduct  of  agricultural  interests.  When  not 
employed  in  the  fields  he  pursued  his  studies  in  the  district  schools  near 
his  father's  home  and  thus  acquired  the  education  which  fitted  him  to  face 
the  responsible  duties  of  life,  so  that  at  his  father's  death,  which  occurred 
when  he  was  a  young  man  of  twenty-four  years,  having  in  the  meantime 
received  ample  school  and  farm  training,  he  was  capable  of  assuming 
charge  of  the  home  property.  Prospering  in  his  undertakings,  he  acquired 
the  competence  that  enabled  him  to  purchase  a  half  interest  in  the  prop- 
erty, and  he  is  today  numbered  among  the  young  and  prosperous  farmers 
of  Allegan  county. 

Mr.  Layton  was  happily  married  to  Miss  Gertrude  Mabel  Goucher, 
the  wedding  ceremony  being  performed  October  26,  1898,  and  they  occupy 
a  home  on  the  farm,  whereon  two  dwellings  have  been  erected,  the  second 
being  occupied  by  his  mother  and  sister.  Mrs.  Layton  is  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Martha  (Fassett)  Goucher,  who  are  mentioned  on  another 
page  of  this  work.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Layton  have  become  the  parents  of  a 
little  daughter  and  son,  Garnet  Clara  and  George  Russell.  The  parents 
are  popular  young  people  in  this  locality,  and  the  hospitality  of  their  pleas- 
ant home  is  greatly  enjoyed  by  their  many  friends. 

J.\coB  W.  Gorton,  owning  and  operating  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  section  13,  Watson  township,  claims  this  property  as 
the  place  of  his  birth,  which  occurred  October  5,  1863.  The  paternal 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Rev.  Thomas  Gorton,  who  was  a 
Baptist  minister,  and  in  1836  he  entered  the  entire  tract  of  land  lying  on 
section  13,  Watson  township,  and  became  a  very  large  landowner,  giving 
to  each  of  his  thirteen  children  a  tract  of  eighty  acres.  His  son,  William 
H.  (jorton,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  New  York,  Novem- 
ber 15,  iSoi,  and  was  married  in  the  east  to  Miss  Electa  Hitchcock,  who 
was  born  in  the  Empire  state,  February  14,  1799,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  Gorum  W.  Gorton,  the  father  of  Jacob  W.  Gorton,  whose  name 
introduces  this  record.  Gorum  W.  Gorton  was  born  in  Monroe  county. 
New  York,  August  29.  1829,  and  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  in  a 
family  of  six  children.  He  assisted  his  father  in  his  farming  pursuits 
until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age,  when,  in  -1849,  having  a  desire  to  see 
the  new  western  country,  he  came  to  Michigan,  and  at  once  settled  in 
Watson  township,  Allegan  county,  where,  as  alDove  stated,  his  grandfather 
had  entered  a  large  tract  of  land.  He  remained  in  this  state  for  one  year, 
after  which  he  returned  to  his  home  in  New  York,  where  he  worked  for 
his  father  during  the  succeeding  year,  and  he  was  married  in  that  state 


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438  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

to  Miss  Mary  A,  Mellows,  who  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  New  York, 
June  30,  1830,  and  was  the  third  in  a  family  of  eight  children  born  unto 
Thomas  and  Jane  (Davis)  Mellows,  natives  of  England.  When  Gorum 
W.  Gorton  made  his  first  trip  to  this  state  he  had  hired  a  clearing  made 
on  twenty  acres  of  iand,  whereon  was  erected  a  log  house,  and  in  1852  he 
brought  his  bride  to  this  place,  and  at  once  undertook  the  work  of  develop- 
ing and  cultivating  his  land,  and  here  they  endured  all  the  experiences  and 
hardships  of  the  western  frontier.  Here  they  reared  a  family  of  three 
children  and  spent  their  remaining  days,  the  father  passing  away  on  the 
2ist  of  March,  1882,  while  the  mother  survived  until  June  4,  1902.  Their 
children  are  as  follows:  Electa  J.,  who  was  born  December  15,  1851,  and 
is  now  the  wife  of  Maurice  Kent,  a  resident  of  Kalamazoo,  Michigan; 
Rosell  James,  who  was  born  May  12,  1857,  and  resides  in  Hoj^ins  town- 
ship, this  county ;  and  Jacob  W.,  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch. 

Jacob  W.  Gorton  was  reared  in  much  the  usual  manner  of  farm  lads, 
assisting  his  father  in  the  work  of  the  fields,  the  various  tasks  being 
assigned  to  him  as  his  strength  permitted,  and  when  not  busy  on  the  farm 
he  pursued  his  studies  in  the  district  schools  during  the  winter  months, 
and  thus  acquired  the  education  which  enabled  him  to  enter  upon  the 
responsible  duties  of  life  when  starting  out  in  life  on  his  own  account.  He 
was  trained  to  habits  of  industry  and  economy,  and  through  the  careful 
supervision  of  his  farming  interests  he  has  today  a  valuable  property  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  lying  on  section  13,  Watson  township,  which 
he  inherited  from  his  father's  estate,  it  having  been  entered  at  an  early  day 
b\'  his  great-grandfather  and  has  thus  been  in  possession  of  the  family 
through  four  generations. 

Mr.  Gorton  was  happily  married,  November  29,  1892,  to  Miss  Hattie 
Kimmel,  who  was  born  in  Hopkins  township,  this  county,  a  daughter  of 
Conrad  Kimmel,  Her  death  occurred  December  11,  1901,  when  she  was 
twenty-nine  years  of  age,  and  at  her  death  she  left  three  children,  May 
Bell,  Nona  Marie  and  Merle  K.  Mrs.  Gorton  had  many  friends  in  this 
part  of  Allegan  county  who  deeply  felt  her  loss  when  she  was  called  from 
this  life. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Gorton  is  a  Republican,  believing  firmly  in 
the  principles  as  set  forth  by  that  party.  He  is  now  serving  as  a  member 
of  the  board  of  review,  and  is  actively  and  deeply  interested  in  many 
movements  which  are  of  benefit  to  his  community.  He  is  one  of  the  pros- 
perous and  progressive  agriculturists  of  Watson  township  and  from  his 
farm  derives  an  excellent  income,  for  he  follows  the  most  progressive 
methods  in  carrying  on  his  work,  so  that  the  best  results  are  sure  to  follow, 

-Alfred  Taylor. — A  fine  farm  lying  on  section  27,  Watson  township, 
shows  the  capable  management  and  progressive  methods  of  Alfred  Taylor, 
who  located  thereon  in  1863,  when  the  tract  was  wild  and  unimproved  and 
who  tiirough  the  four  decades  which  have  since  come  and  gone  has  con- 
verted the  property  into  productive  fields  which  now  return  him  a  good 
annual  income,  sufficient  to  supply  himself  and  family  with  all  the  com- 
forts of  hfe. 

Mr.  Taylor  was  born  in  Oswego,  St.  Lawrence  county.  New  York, 
December  6,  1838,  a  son  of  Wilson  and  Sarah  Ann  (Palmer)  Taylor.    The 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  439 

father's  birth  occurred  in  the  northeastern  portion  of  the  Empire  state  in 
1803,  while  the  mother  was  born  in  Chenango  county,  that  state,  in  1813, 
their  ancestors  having  become  early  settlers  of  New  England.  In  1856 
the  father  removed  with  his  family  to  Michigan,  the  journey  being  made 
by  lake  and  the  St.  Lawrence  river  to  Chicago,  from  which  city  they 
traveled  by  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  to  Kalamazoo,  and  they  then 
continued  their  journey  to  Watson  township,  where  the  father  purchased 
a  tract  of  wild  land  on  section  27,  He  built  a  log  house,  in  which  the  fam- 
ily took  up  their  abode,  and  at  once  began  clearing  and  cultivating  the 
iields  and  soon  had  one  of  the  good  farms  of  the  locality.  He  engaged  in 
general  agricidtiiral  pursuits  throughout  his  remaining  days,  and  passed 
away  in  Allegan  county  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven  years,  while 
his  wife  passed  away  here  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years.  He  was  a  quiet, 
unassuming  man,  devoted  to  the  interests  of  his  family,  to  whom  he  left  a 
good  farm  of  eighty  acres  when  he  was  called  from  this  Ufe. 

Alfred  Taylor,  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  four  sons 
and  four  daughters,  was  a  youth  of  eighteen  years  when  he  accompanied 
his  parents  on  their  removal  from  the  east  to  Allegan  county,  Michigan. 
He  acquired  his  education  in  the  district  schools  previous  to  the  removal 
of  the  family  to  this  state,  and  subsequent  to  the  settlement  of  the  family 
on  the  new  farm  in.Watson  township,  he  assisted  his  father  in  clearing  and 
developing  the  land,  and  thus  gained  practical  experience  which  fitted  him 
to  later  engage  in  the  same  pursuits  on  his  own  account.  He  shared  with 
the  family  in  all  of  tlie  hardships  and  privations  which  were  here  to  be  met 
and  endured,  and  remained  with  his  father  until  1863,  when  he  purchased 
his  present  farm  property,  comprising  fifty-five  acres,  lying  on  section  26, 
Watson  township,  and  which  has  since  continued  to  be  his  home.  This 
was  all  wild  and  unimproved  when  it  came  into  his  possession,  but  he 
resolutely  set  to  work  to  develop  the  farm  by  clearing  it  of  the  trees,  plow- 
hig  the  land,  planting  the  seed,  and  in  due  time  the  fields  returned  golden 
harvests  as  a  result  of  the  work  which  he  had  put  upon  them.  All  this 
work  was  accomplished  through  his  own  industrj',  for  he  hired  help  for 
only  one  week.  He  has  ma<le  all  of  the  improvements  which  are  here  to 
be  seen,  including  a  good  residence  and  many  outbuildings  which  are 
essential  for  the  comfort  and  care  of  stock  and  grain.  He  possesses  con- 
siderable mechanical  ingenuity,  and  planned  and  built  all  of  his  buildings 
and  his  dwelling,  and  he  likewise  manufactures  his  wagons  and  many 
devices  which  are  used  to  facilitate  liis  farm  work.  In  addition  to  his 
farming  interests  he  also  operated  a  threshing  machine  for  twenty-five 
seasons,  and  during  the  winter  seasons  for  four  or  five  years  conducted  a 
sawmill.  Thus  he  has  become  very  widely  known  not  only  in  his  home 
locality,  but  throughout  the  entire  county  where  his  business  operations 
have  taken  him. 

In  1864  Mr.  Taylor  was  happily  married  to  Miss  Mary  Jane  Austin, 
who  was  born  in  Watson  township,  in  1843.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Floyd 
and  Sarah  (Nichols)  Austin,  both  natives  of  New  York,  who  came  to 
Allegan  county  at  an  early  period  in  the  development  of  this  state,  being 
numbered  among  its  pioneer  settlers.  Mr.  Austin  was  actively  connected 
with  much  of  the  development  of  this  portion  of  the  state  and  cleared  the 
laud   surrounding  the   courthouse  in  Allegan.     In   1889  Mr.  Taylor  was 


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440  ?ETSTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

calleci  upon  to  niourn  the  loss  of  his  'wife,  whose  death  occurred  on  the 
fith  of  January  of  that  year.  She  had  proved  to  him  a  faithful  companion 
and  helpmate,  ever  devoted  to  the  welfare  of  her  family  and  to  the  care 
of  her  household  affairs,  and  her  death  was  the  occasion  of  deep  sorrow  to 
her  many  friends,  to  whom  she  had  endeared  herself  by  the  possession  of 
many  sterling  traits  of  character.  The  children  of  this  marriage  are : 
Lenny,  the  wife  of  Fred  H.  Daily,  who  resides  in  San  Francisco;  Dora, 
the  wife  of  William  Lacrone,  of  Kalamazoo;  and  Frank  A.,  who  is  with 
his  father  and  operates  the  home  farm.  He  is  married  and  has  two 
children. 

Mr.  Taylor  was  formerly  an  advocate  of  the  Greenback  party  but  for 
a  long  period  has  supported  the  candidates  of  the  Democratic  party.  He 
has  never  been  active  in  public  affairs,  but  manifests  a  loya!  spirit  in  every 
movement  calculated  to  benefit  the  community.  He  is  identified  with  the 
Odd  Fellows  Lodge  No.  266  at  Watson,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Wat- 
son Grange.  Having  resided  in  Allegan  county  for  more  than  four 
decades.  Mr.  Taylor  is  widely  and  favorably  known,  for  in  all  his  business 
transactions  he  has  ever  been  reliable  and  straightforward,  so  that  he  has 
gained  the  high  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact. 

George  F>.  Myers,  who  was  formerly  actively  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  in  Allegan  county  but  is  now  living  practically  retired  on  his 
farm  on  section  27,  Watson  township,  is  a  native  of  New  York,  his  birth 
having  occurred  near  Lyons,  in  Wayne  county,  on  the  27th  of  February, 
1841.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Christopher  Myers,  was  also  a  native  of 
the  Empire  state,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  pursuits  throughout 
his  entire  life.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Annie  Winchett,  who  was  bom 
in  Connecticut,  and  who  at  her  death  was  ninety-one  years  of  age.  She 
was  a  little  maiden  of  seven  summers  at  the  time  of  the  outbreak  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  could  remember  many  of  the  experiences  of  the 
family  during  that  period,  and  the  grandson,  George  B.,  has  listened  to 
many  interesting  stories  concerning  the  Rei'olution,  as  related  to  him  by 
his  grandmother.  The  father,  Caleb  Myers,  was  born  in  New  York,  Sep- 
tember 28,  1811,  and  was  there  reared  and  educated.  He  learned  and  fol- 
lowed the  carpenter's  trade  both  in  his  native  state  and  in  Michigan.  He 
wedded  Lois  Burnett,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Massachusetts,  June  23. 
1810,  a  daughter  of  Andrew  J.  and  Lucy  Burnett.  The  father  removed 
with  his  family  from  New  York  to  Otsego.  Allegan  county,  Michigan. 
The  family  took  passage  on  a  canal  boat  from  Lyons  to  Buffalo,  where 
they  traveled  by  Lake  Erie,  their  vessel  encountering  a  severe  storm  which 
lasted  for  three  days,  and  which  finally  was  driven  to  the  Canadian  shore. 
Landing  in  Detroit  they  traveled  by  rail  to  Jackson,  Michigan,  and  thence 
by  wagon  to  Otsego,  their  destination,  the  time  of  their  arrival  being  in 
November,  1844.  Mr.  Myers  purchased  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  from 
Charles  Drew,  which  was  situated  in  Otsego  township.  Here  he  built  a 
log  house  in  which  the  family  took  up  their  abode  and  there  made  their 
home  for  several  years  but  on  account  of  not  having  a  clear  title  to  the 
place,  the  farm  was  lost.  Mr.  Myers  then  purchased  a  tract  of  eighty 
acres  in  Gun  Plains  township,  to  which  he  removed  with  his  family,  and 
thereon  engaged  in  farming,  in  addition  to  which  he   followed  the   car- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLFXiAX  COUNTY  441 

penter's  trade  to  some  extent.  Here  the  parents  reared  their  family  of 
seven  children  and  spent  their  remaining  days,  the  father's  death  occurring 
in  1872,  while  the  mother  had  preceded  him  to  the  home  beyond  on  the  12th 
of  May,  1857.  Their  children  are  as  follows:  Andrew  Jackson,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  seventy-two  years,  having  served  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land during  the  Civil  war :  Lucy,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years ; 
Mrs.  Annie  Monroe,  a  resident  of  Otsego  township,  Allegan  county;  Per- 
cis,  who  passed  away  at  the  age  of  nine  years;  George  B.,  of  this  review; 
Daniel,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years:  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Wilson,  like- 
wise a  resident  of  Otsego  township. 

Although  but  a  little  lad  of  three  years  when  brought  to  this  state 
by  his  parents,  George  B.  Myers  can  remember  many  incidents  connected 
with  the  voyage,  and  can  well  remember  that  during  the  trip  on  the  water 
his  sister  came  near  losing  her  life  by  falling  from  the  boat.  He  was 
reared  and  educated  in  Allegan  county  and  assisted  his  father  in  the  work 
of  the  farm  until  he  had  reached  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  when  his  mother 
died.  He  then  left  home,  and,  starting  out  to  make  his  own  way  in  the 
world,  obtained  employment  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  April  18,  1861.  when  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil  war, 
joining  Company  I.  Second  Michigan  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Captain 
Dwight  May  and  Colonel  I.  B.  Richardson.  The  company  was  first  sent 
to  Detroit,  from  which  place  they  went  into  service  under  General  Scott, 
as  Colonel  Richardson  had  been  under  him  in  Mexico.  They  went  into 
quarters  at  Camp  Scott  near  the  end  of  Chain  Bridge  across  the  Potomac 
river,  and  on  the  15th  of  July  of  that  year  started  on  their  march  to  Cen- 
terville,  Virginia.  He  participated  in  many  memorable  and  important 
battles,  participating  in  the  engagement  at  Blackburn'.s  Ford,  the  three 
days'  battle  of  Bull  Run  and  was  in  the  peninsula  campaign,  taking  part 
in  every  light  under  McClellan.  He  was  in  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run, 
South  Moimtain,  Maryland,  Chantilly,  Hagerstown,  and  followed  Lee 
back  to  Warrington  Junction.  He  was  also  in  the  battles  of  Fredericks- 
burg, \'icksburg.  Morgan's  raid  through  Kentucky,  Lebanon.  Jackson, 
Mississippi,  from  which  place  he  went  back  into  Kentucky  and  crossed  the 
Cumberland  Mountains  to  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  where  he  assisted  in  build- 
ing Fort  Saunders.  He  also  participated  in  the  important  battles  of  the 
Wilderness.  Spottsylvania  and  many  others,  after  which  he  returned  to  his 
home  on  July  21.  1864.  On  the  6th  of  March.  1865,  he  re-enlisted  for 
service  in  the  army  by  joining  the  Tenth  Cavalry  bnt  was  not  in  any 
engagements  and  was  musteretl  out  on  the  25th  of  July  of  that  year,  and 
he  was  among  the  first  three  to  enlist  from  Allegan  count}'. 

After  his  return  from  the  war  Mr.  Myers  bought  a  farm  of  sixty  acres 
situated  on  section  23,  Watson  township,  on  which  lie  erected  a  small 
house.  He  further  improved  the  place  by  the  erection  of  outbuildings  for 
the  shelter  of  grain  and  stock  and  he  also  set  out  a  good  peach  orchard. 
He  later  disposed  of  this  tract  and  bought  another  farm,  which  was  known 
as  the  Austin  property.  This  has  been  his  home  for  the  past  eighteen  years, 
the  place  comprising  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  situated  on  section  27. 
Watson  township.  He  has  added  many  improvements,  has  brought  his 
fields  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  altogether  the  farm  is  one  of 
the  valuable  tracts  of  this  section  of  the  countv.     There  are  two  residences 


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443  HISTORY  OF  AIXEGAX  COUNTY 

upon  the  farm  and  also  two  good  barns  beside  many  other  buildings  essen- 
tial to  a  farm  property.  For  many  years  he  was  actively  engaged  in  gen- 
eral agricultural  pursuits  but  is  now  leaving  the  more  arduous  labor  of 
carrying  on  the  work  to  his  son,  Mr.  Myers  merely  giving  supervision  to 
his  business  interests,  although  he  still  retains  his  residence  on  the  farm. 
In  former  years  he  worked  hard  and  diligently  to  acquire  a  competence  and 
a  valuable  property  and  today  his  property  is  the  visible  evidence  of  what 
he  has  accomplished,  and  he  is  now  able  to  rest  from  further  labor  and  to 
enjoy  the  comforts  of  life. 

On  the  14th  of  November,  1865,  occurred  the  marriage  of  George  B. 
Myers  and  Miss  Hulda  W.  Stone,  who  was  born  in  Watson  township,  Alle- 
gan county,  March  25,  1847,  and  acquired  her  education  in  school  district 
No.  2.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Hannah  (Billings)  Stone,  the  former 
a  native  of  New  York.  The  mother  accompanied  her  parents,  John  and 
Hulda  (Wolcott)  Billings,  on  their  removal  to  Allegan  county  from  the 
east,  when  she  was  eleven  years  of  age,  her  birth  having  occurred  in  Spring- 
field, Massachusetts.  Mr.  Billings  purchased  in  Allegan  county  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land,  this  lying  near  the  village  of  Trowbridge, 
which  at  the  time  he  settled  there  contained  but  one  store  and  a  sawmill. 

Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born  six  children,  namely: 
Edith  A.,  who  became  the  wife  of  John  Lukins,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
thirty-four  years,  leaving  one  son;  Inez  H.,  the  wife  of  Martin  Minor,  of 
Watson  township ;  Edwin  L.,  of  Osceola  county,  Michigan ;  Earl  C,  who 
operates  the  home  farm  and  resides  in  a  tenant  house  thereon ;  Charles  B., 
also  of  Watson  township,  and  Jessie  A.,  at  home.  Mr.  Myers  cast  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Liiicohi  and  was  a  stanch  advocate  of  Re- 
publican principles  until  1896,  in  which  year  he  became  a  Bryan  Democrat, 
and  has  given  his  support  to  the  latter  party  since  that  time.  He  has  never 
been  a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office  seeking,  but  has  done  his  full  duty  as  a 
private  citizen,  aiding  in  many  movements  and  measures  for  the  benefit 
of  the  locality.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Church  of  God.  and  fraternally  is 
identified  with  C.  J.  Bassett  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  No.  56,  at  Allegan,  and  he  like- 
wise holds  membership  relations  with  the  Grange,  in  all  of  which  he  is  a 
loyal  and  faithful  member.  He  is  ever  ready  to  give  assistance  to  the  poor 
and  needy  and  is  known  for  his  many  excellent  traits  of  heart  and  mind. 
He  and  his  family  are  highly  esteemed  in  the  community  in  which  they  live, 
and  they  have  a  host  of  warm  friends.  Mr.  Myers,  loyal  to  the  best  inter- 
ests of  his  country  during  the  dark  days  of  the  Civil  War,  is  equally  loyal 
to  the  interests  of  his  locality,  where  he  has  given  much  valuable  aid  in  the 
improvement  and  development  of  Allegan  county,  where  he  has  made  his 
home  for  more  than  six  decades. 

Randall  W.  BRfiOKS  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of  eighty  acres  situ- 
ated on  section  27,  Watson  township,  Allegan  county.  His  birth  occurred 
in  the  northern  part  of  New  York,  September  8,  1818,  and  he  has  therefore 
reached  the  very  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight  years.  His  parents,  Justin 
and  Lucretia  (Yerington)  Brooks,  were  natives  of  New  York  and  Cotmec- 
ticut,  respectively,  and  in  1820  they  took  up  their  abode  in  the  western  part 
of  New  York,  their  home  being  thirty  miles  northeast  of  Buffalo,  in  Genesee 
county,  and  there  the  family  continued  to  reside  for  several  vears,  subse- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  443 

quent  to  which  time  the  father  removed  with  his  family  to  Michigan,  the 
journey  being  made  by  lake  and  canal  to  Detroit,  whence  they  continued 
their  journey  westward.  They  settled  on  a  farm  four  miles  east  of  Ann 
Arbor,  the  year  of  their  arrival  in  this  state  being  in  September,  1832.  Here 
the  father  provided  for  himself  and  family  by  carrying  on  general  agricul- 
tural pursuits  for  many  years  and  his  death  occurred  in  Granville,  this  state, 
in  1840,  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years,  while  his  wife 
survived  for  a  long  period,  her  death  occurring  when  she  was  seventy  years 
of  age.  In  their  family  were  the  following  named :  Phoebe ;  Eveline :  Ruth ; 
Joel,  who  passed  away  in  Albion,  Michigan ;  Nancy :  Randall  W.,  whose 
name  heads  this  sketch;  Sophia;  William,  whose  death  occurred  in  Gran- 
ville, this  state-;  Amos,  who  died  in  Stanton  about  two  years  ago;  and 
Hannah,  who  died  when  thirteen  years  of  age.  .Ml  were  married  and  reared 
families  with  the  exception  of  the  youngest  daughter,  Hannah,  but  Randall 
W,  is  the  only  surviving  member  at  the  present  time. 

Randall  W.  Brooks  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  various  removals 
and  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  state  to  the  age  of  fourteen 
years,  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to  the  west,  the 
family  home,  as  before  stated,  being  established  on  a  fami  near  Ann  Arbor. 
He  assisted  his  father  in  carrying  on  the  work  of  the  home  place  during 
his  boyhood  and  youth,  and  the  first  money  which  he  ever  earned  was  in 
taking  an  Indian  canoe,  which  was  loaded  with  goods  from  Lyons  to  Grand 
Rapids  on  the  Grand  river,  being  accompanied  by  another  party.  Each 
received  one  dollar  as  compensation  for  their  service.  In  1835  he  went  to 
Grand  Rapids  to  attend  the  first  town  meeting  ever  held  in  that  place.  He 
later  went  to  Granville.  Michigan,  where  he  was  employed  at  splitting  rails 
for  a  short  time  and  later  for  two  months  was  employed  by  a  Mr.  Burton  at 
farm  labor.  Subsequent  to  that  time  he  was  employed  in  a  sawmill  until 
1838,  when  he  came  to  Allegan  county,  where  he  was  employed  for  a  short 
time  in  a  sawmill  belonging  to  Alexander  Eely.  Saving  his  earnings  he 
was  at  length  enabled  to  make  purcha.se  of  land  and  start  out  upon  an  inde- 
pendent business  career,  and  accordingly,  in  November.  1838,  he  bought 
eighty. acres,  situated  on  section  27,  Watson  township,  for  which  he  paid 
two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  This  was  in  its  natural  state,  not  a  stick  of 
wood  having  been  cut  on  the  place.  He  at  once  undertook  the  arduous 
task  of  clearing  the  property  of  the  trees,  after  which  he  broke  and  plowed 
the  land,  planted  his  seed  and  in  due  course  of  time  gathered  good  crops  as 
the  reward  of  his  labor.  He  also  erected  a  good  residence,  which  is  still 
standing,  built  outbuildings  and  otherwise  improved  the  place,  so  that  today 
it  rSnks  among  the  valuable  and  productive  farms  of  Allegan  county.  In 
addition  to  this  property  Mr.  Brooks  also  purchased  and  improved  forty 
acres  of  land,  also  located  on  section  27.  Watson  township,  which  he  has 
given  to  his  son. 

On  the  Toth  of  May.  1844.  Mr.  Brooks  chose  as  a  companion  and  help- 
mate for  life's  journey  Miss  Mary  Jane  Kenyon,  who  was  bom  iii  New 
York  in  1824.  She  came  to  this  county  in  company  with  her  uncle,  Noah 
Briggs,  who  settled  near  Monterey  Center,  where  she  was  married.  She 
became  the  mother  of  three  children :  Althea  Navis.  deceased ;  Marion 
Pierce,  a  resident  of  Monterey  township,  Allegan  county:  and  Julia,  who 
died  in  childhood.    The  mother  of  these  children  passed  aw^ay.  and  for  his 


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444  HIST(mY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

second  wife  Mr.  Brooks  wedded  Mrs.  Mary  Jane  Brewer,  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, and  she  is  also  deceased.  By  this  marriage  there  was  a  son  and 
daughter,  but  the  elder,  Ellen  A.,  is  now  deceased,  while  Justin  J.  is  the  only 
survivor.  He  is  now  operating  the  home  farm  for  his  father,  and  has  spent 
his  entire  life  in  Allegan  county  with  the  exception  of  two  years  spent  in 
Colorado,  where  he  entered  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  from 
the  government. 

Mr.  Brooks  was  twenty-one  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Allegan 
county  and  here  he  proudly  cast  his  first  presidential  vote,  supporting  the 
Democratic  candidate,  and  has  since  supported  that  party.  For  two  years 
he  served  as  township  treasurer,  and  he  is  a  charter  member  of  Watson 
Grange,  but  aside  from  that  he  is  not  identified  with  any  fraternal  organiza- 
tion. His  entire  life  has  been  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  through 
his  careful  management  and  close '  application  he  accumulated  a  good  prop- 
erty, from  which  he  derives  an  income  that  is  now  sufficient  in  his  old  age 
to  supply  him  with  all  the  comforts  of  life.  He  is  one  of  the  venerable  and 
highly  respected  citizens  of  this  locality,  for  he  has  ever  been  known  as  a 
reliable  man  in  all  his  business  dealings  and  has  therefore  won  the  confidence 
and  good  will  of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  associated. 

Charles  I.  Anderson,  owning  a  good  farm  of  eight_v  acres  situated 
on  section  31,  Watson  township,  is  one  of  the  worthy  and  highly  esteemed 
citizens  that  the  fatherland  has  furnished  to  this  state.  As  the  name  indi- 
cates, he  was  born  in  Yonkonings  Len,  Sweden,  his  natal  day  being  Decem- 
ber 11,  1840,  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Mary  (Anderson)  Anderson,  who  spent 
their  entire  lives  in  the  fatherland,  and  in  whose  family  were  but  two  chil- 
dren, the  sister  of  our  subject  being  Christine,  the  wife  of  Nelson  Johnson, 
a  resident  of  Watson  township. 

Charles  L  Anderson  was  afforded  only  limited  educational  advantages 
in  his  native  country,  spending  altogether  only  six  months  of  the  year  for 
three  years  in  the  school  room.  He.  however,  did  not  learn  to  write  until  he 
was  twenty  years  of  age,  and  then  by  his  own  efforts.  He  was  then  con- 
firmed and  had  to  start  out  in  life  to  provide  for  his  own  support,  for  his 
parents  were  in  very  limited  financial  circumstances.  At  the  early  age  of 
twelve  years  he  began  work  on  a  farm  in  his  native  land  and  continued  at 
that  occupation  until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  secured 
employment  on  the  construction  of  a  railroad,  being  employed  in  railroad 
work  for  the  succeeding  eleven  years,  during  which  time  he  carefully 
husbanded  his  earnines,  which  he  invested  in  a  small  tract  of  land,  which 
was  in  a  wild  state.  He  improved  and  cultivated  this  and  by  living  economi- 
cally and  working  hard  and  energetically  he  was  enabled  to  lay  by  a  sum, 
and  he  finallv  disposed  of  his  farm  to  good  advantage. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  married  in  Sweden,  in  1866,  to  Miss  Ulrika  Johnson, 
who  was  also  born  in  Sweden,  March  24.  1840,  a  daughter  of  John  Erickson. 
the  children  taking  the  father's  surname  and  adding  the  latter  syllable. 
Three  years  later  the  young  couple  decided  to  emigrate  to  the  new  world, 
and  the  money  which  Mr.  Anderson  had  saved  while  employed  at  railroad 
work,  which  amounted  to  about  four  hundred  dollars,  provided  for  their 
passage  to  the  United  States.  He  came  to  Michigan,  where  he  secured 
employment  on  the  Michigan  Centra!  Railroad,  this  being  about  the  period 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  445 

of  the  building  of  the  Lake  Shore  branch.  He  later  bought  eighty  acres  of 
wild  land,  situated  on  section  32,  Watson  township,  on  which  he  lived  for 
about  eight  years.  He  began  the  work  of  clearing  and  cultivating  his  land, 
and  later  disposed  of  forty  acres  to  his  brother-in-law,  but  he  still  retains 
possession  of  forty  acres  of  the  original  purchase,  and  he  has  since  added 
an  additional  eighty-acre  tract,  so  that  he  now  has  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  good  farm  property,  being  here  engaged  in  general  agricultural 
pursuits.  When  he  located  on  this  place  there  were  no  roads  leading  to  the 
farm  and  many  pioneer  conditions  were  seen  all  around,  but  all  this  has 
been  changed  in  the  years  that  have  since  come  and  gone  and  it  is  now  one 
of  the  productive  centers  of  the  agricultural  belt  of  Allegan  county.  Mr. 
Anderson  has  erected  two  good  dwellings  on  his  farm  and  also  has  many 
good  outbuildings  for  the  shelter  of  grain  and  stock. 

Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born  three  children:  Frank 
Oscar,  who  operates  the  home  farm,  residing  in  one  of  the  dwellings  on  the 
place ;  Melvina  Christina,  the  wife  of  George  Hendrickson,  a  resident  of 
Norway,  Michigan;  and  Selma  Cecelia,  the  wife  of  Andrew  Sandahl.  who 
operates  a  farm  belonging  to  Mr.  Anderson. 

Mr.  Anderson  gives  stalwart  support  to  the  Republican  party  and  for 
five  years  served  as  pathmaster.  He  holds  membership  with  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  church  at  Watson,  in  wliich  he  served  as  deacon  and  elder,  and  he 
was  instrumental  in  the  organization  of  the  church  at  that  place  and  has 
always  been  a  liberal  contributor  and  supporter  of  the  same.  Coming  to 
this  state  at  an  early  day.  ignorant  of  the  customs  and  language  of  American 
people,  Mr.  Anderson  soon  acquired  the  English  tongue  and  the  manners 
of  the  people  of  the  new  world,  and  year  by  year  he  has  worked  his  way 
steadily  upward  until  he  is  today  classed  among  the  honorable  and  pros- 
perous citizens  of  Allegan  county,  having  a  good  farm  property,  all  of 
which  has  been  acquired  through  the  labors  of  himself  and  wife,  and  from 
which  he  has  acquired  a  competence  that  now  enables  him  to  leave  the  more 
active  work  of  the  fields  to  others,  while  he  is  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his 
former  toil  in  a  well  earned  rest.  It  was  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Ander- 
son that  other  Swedish  settlers  were  induced  to  locate  in  this  section  of 
the  state,  for  he  was  the  first  of  the  colony  to  settle  here,  anti  being  pleased 
with  this  country  and  the  advantages  which  it  offered  to  its  inhabitants  he 
wrote  to  his  friends  in  his  native  land,  telling  them  of  the  bright  prospects 
which  this  state  presented  and  thereby  others  were  persuaded  to  locate 
here,  so  that  in  this  way  Mr.  Anderson  has  been  the  means  of  bringing 
about  much  of  the  development  and  improvement  of  this  part  of  Allegan 
county.  He  is  also  a  believer  in  good  schools,  for  being  deprived  of  good 
school  privileges  in  his  youth  and  realizing  the  value  of  education,  he  has 
given  to  his  children  good  advantages  in  this  direction. 

John  F.  Germain  is  one  of  the  worthy  citizens  that  Germany  has  fur- 
nished to  this  state,  his  birth  having  occurred' in  Mecklenburg,  Voerbende, 
January  30,  1847,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated  to  the  age  of  fifteen 
years,  after  which  he  followed  farming  for  one  year  in  the  fatherland,  sub- 
sequent to  which  time,  when  a  youth  of  sixteen,  he  accompanied  his  parents, 
Fred  and  Mary  (Vitt)  Germain  on  their  emigration  to  the  new  world. 
The  parents  were  both  natives  of  Germany,  aiid  the  father,  having  heard 


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446  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

favorable  reports  concerning  the  new  world,  and  the  opportunities  and 
advantages  which  were  here  to  be  enjoyed,  decided  to  try  his  fortune  in  the 
United  States,  and  accordingly,  in  1862,  the  family  embarked  on  a  sailing 
vessel  at  Hamburg.  The  journey  was  a  long  and  dangerous  one,  for  during 
the  voyage  they  encountered  a  storm,  three  masts  of  the  vessel  being  lost, 
after  which  it  floated  around  in  the  water  and  finally  reached  the  shore  of 
the  West  Indies,  and  after  four  weeks  more  spent  on  the  water  they  finally 
reached  New  York,  the  voyage  having  required  one  hundred  and  five  days. 
The  family  went  direct  to  Angola,  in  Erie  county.  New  York,  where  the 
father  and  son  secured  employment  at  chopping  four-foot  wood  and  re- 
ceived for  their  services  the  meager  sum  of  fifty  cents  per  cord.  The  father 
soon  made  his  way  with  his  family  to  Allegan  county,  Michigan,  their  home 
being  established  near  Hopkins,  and  there  both  parents  passed  away,  the 
father  when  he  had  reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years,  while  the 
mother  was  seventy-two  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her  demise.  Their 
family  numbered  nine  children,  of  whom  six  reached  years  of  maturity  and 
four  still  survive. 

John  F,  Germain,  the  eldest  of  his  father's  family,  was,  as  stated,  a 
youth  of  sixteen  years  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  emigra- 
tion to  the  new  world.  He  assisted  his  fatjier  at  farm  labor  for  a  few 
years  after  the  settlement  of  the  family  in  this  state,  and  when  starting 
out  upon  an  independent  business  career  he  chose  the  occupation  to  which 
he  had  been  reared,  and  in  1867  purchased  forty  acres  of  land,  which  con- 
stitutes a  portion  of  his  present  property,  to  which  he  later  added  a  second 
forty-acre  tract,  so  that  the  place  now  embraces  eighty  acres.  This  was  all 
wild  land  when  it  came  into  his  possession,  not  a  stick  of  timber  having 
been  ciit  nor  a  furrow  turned.  He  at  once  undertook  the  arduous  task  of 
clearing  and  cultivating  the  land,  and  in  due  course  of  time  converted  the 
land  into  productive  fields,  from  which  he  annually  harvested  good  crops. 
He  has  made  all  of  the  improvements  which  are  here  seen,  including  a  fine 
country  residence,  containing  ten  rooms,  and  supplied  with  all  the  equip- 
ments of  a  modern  home  for  the  comfort  of  the  inmates.  He  has  likewise 
erected  a  good  barn  thirty-two  by  ninety-four  feet,  which  affords  ample 
shelter  for  his  stock,  and  he  also  has  many  outbuildings  which  are  usually 
found  upon  a  farm  property.  His  first  home  was  a  little  shanty  ten  by 
twelve  feet,  in  which  he  kept  "bachelor's  hall"  during  the  period  spent  in 
the  clearing  and  development  of  his  farm.  Mr.  Germain  keeps  considerable 
stock  upon  his  place  and  furnishes  considerable  milk  and  cream  to  the 
creamery  in  Allegan,  keeping  eight  cows  for  this  purpose,  and  this  adds  not 
a  little  to  his  yearly  income.  In  former  years  Mr.  Germain  was  al.so  identi- 
fied with  other  interests  in  connection  with  his  agricultural  interests,  having 
worked  for  one  year  in  a  sawmill. 

Mr.  Germain  was  happily  married  November  4,  1870,  to  Miss  Barbara 
Jacobs,  who  was  horn  in  Kliding  on  the  Rhine,  February  16,  1851,  and  came 
to  this  country  with  her  parents  in  1867,  the  family  home  being  established 
in  Salem  township,  Allegan  county.  Her  parents  were  Paul  and  Mary 
Jacobs,  and  were  numbered  among  the  early  settlers  and  highly-esteemed 
people  of  this  section  of  the  state.  Following  their  marriage  Mr.  Germain 
took  his  bride  to  his  farm,  where  they  lived  for  one  year,  when,  in  1871.  he 
having  secured  employment  on  the  railroad,  necessitated  their  removal  to 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  447 

the  city  of  Allegan,  where  tliey  remained  for  seven  months,  after  which 
they  returned  to  the  farm,  although  Mr.  Germain  was  still  employed  at  rail- 
fT>ad  work  for  several  years,  walking  to  and  from  his  work  each  night  and 
morning,  a  distance  of  fonr  miles.  After  abandoning  that  work  he  again 
resumed  operations  on  his  home  farm,  being  thus  engaged  during  the  suc- 
ceeding fourteen  years,  subsequent  to  which  time  he  took  up  carpenter 
work  and  has  built  many  of  the  structures  which  are  today  scattered  over 
Allegan  county,  among  these  .being  forty-two  barns  in  his  home  locality. 
He  took  the  contract  for  furnishing  and  delivering  the  timber  used  in  the 
construction  of  the  Trowbridge  electric  dam,  and  was  later  employed  by  the 
Kalamazoo  Electric  Light  Company  to  secure  the  right  of  way  for  poles 
and  wires  for  a  dam  to  be  built  extending  to  Rattle  Creek,  and  he  was  en- 
gaged in  this  way  for  three  years.  He  then  again  resumed  his  farming 
pursuits,  which  has  continued  to  be  his  occupation  to  the  present  time.  In 
addition  to  his  home  farm  he  owns  a  tract  of  eightv  acres  of  finelv-improved 
land  situated  on  section  6,  Otsego  township,  and  this  returns  hiin  a  good 
annual  income. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Germain  have  been  born  nine  children,  of  whom 
two  have  passed  away:  Mary,  a  resident  of  Allegan;  John,  at  home; 
Elizabeth,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Christ  Metzger.  a  resident  of  Kalamazoo, 
Michigan;  William  and  George  D.,  both  under  the  parental  roof;  Bertha, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  xears ;  August,  who  is  still  at  home ;  Irving, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years;  and  Paul,  who  completes  the  family. 

Mr.  Germain  has  always  given  a  stalwart  support  to  the  Democratic 
party,  and  has  taken  an  active  and  beneficial  interest  in  local  political  affairs, 
having  served  as  county  drain  commissioner  for  three  terms  and  also  filled 
the  office  for  one  year  to  fill  a  vacancy.  For  the  past  two  years  he  has  filled 
the  office  of  school  treasurer,  and  the  cause  of  education  ever  finds  in  him  a 
warm  and  helpful  friend.  He  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  aided  in  building  and  supporting  the  church  of  that  denomina- 
tion in  Allegan  for  twenty  years,  but  for  the  past  eight  \'ears  has  not  been 
identified  with  any  church  organization. 

Through  almost  a  half  century  Mr.  Germain  has  been  not  only  an  in- 
terested witness  but  an  active  participant  in  the  work  of  development  and 
progress  which  has  been  carried  on  in  Allegan  county,  and  which  has  caused 
it  to  be  ranked  among  the  foremost  sections  of  the  state.  He  has  borne  his 
full  share  in  the  work  of  pioneer  development  and  has  endured  all  the  hard- 
ships and  privations  which  are  to  be  met  in  a  frontier  region.  When  he 
located  here  and  purchased  his  first  farm,  the  homes  of  the  settlers  were 
widely  scattered,  his  nearest  neighbor  being  three  miles  distant,  but  as  time 
passed  and  the  coimtry  became  more  thickly  populated  all  these  conditions 
were  changed  and  this  community  is  now  a  prosperous  and  thriving  center. 
Mr.  Germain  and  his  family  are  highly  respected  people,  and  the  hospitality 
of  their  own  pleasant  home  is  freely  extended  to  their  many  friends. 

John  Shea. — As  the  name  indicates,  John  Shea  is  of  Irish  birth,  his 
natal  place  being  county  Cork,  and  the  date  April  5,  1846.  Although  start- 
ing out  in  life  a  poor  boy  he  possessed  the  industry  which  has  ever  been  a 
dominant  factor  of  his  race,  and  today  he  is  the  owner  of  a  good  farm 
property  embracing  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  well  improved  land,  of 


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448  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY 

which  half  of  this  constitutes  the  home  place,  and  is  situated  on  section  31, 
Watson  township.  His  parents  were  Thomas  and  Johannah  (Lynch)  Shea, 
who  were  likewise  natives  of  county  Cork,  and  when  the  son  was  but  one 
year  of  age  the  parents  emigrated  to  the  new  world,  the  father  hoping  to 
provide  for  liis  family  to  better  advantage  in  tlie  new  world,  for  he  was 
then  in  very  limited  circumstances.  The  son  was  left  in  his  native  land  in 
the  home  of  an  uncle,  with  whom  he  remained  until  he  had  reached  the  age 
of  eleven  years.  Both  the  father  and  mother  were  ill  from  cholera  during 
the  voyage  across  the  Atlantic,  and  the  latter's  illness  proved  fatal,  her 
death  occurring  while  en  route  to  Che  new  world,  and  her  remains  were 
buried  at  Quebec.  The  father,  however,  recovered  and  continued  his  jour- 
ney to  Baldwinsville,  New  York,  where  he  continued  to  reside  with  his 
family  for  several  years.  In  1858  the  family  removed  to  this  state,  locating 
on  a  farm  in  Kalamazoo  township,  which  was  situated  three  miles  from  the 
city  of  Kalamazoo,  and  there  the  father  continued  his  residence  until  his 
death. 

When  a  little  lad  of  but  eleven  years  John  Shea  came  alone  to  the 
new  world,  joining  his  father  and  the  family,  of  whom  he  was  the  young- 
est and  now  the  only  surviving  member,  in  Baldwinsville,  New  York,  and 
then  accompanied  them  on  their  removal  to  this  state  a  few  years  later. 
He  remained  with  his  father  in  this  state,  assisting  him  in  the  cultivation 
and  improvement  of  the  home  farm  until  the  latter "s  death,  when  he 
started  out  upon  an  independent  business  career,  and  he  also  at  that  time 
established  a  home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage,  in  1867,  to  Miss  Margaret 
Tubrity,  the  wedding  being  celebrated  on  the  8th  of  January  of  that  year. 
She  was  likewise  born  in  Ireland,  in  county  Clare,  in  February,  1846,  and 
in  1866,  when  a  young  lady  of  twenty  years,  emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
coming  direct  to  this  state  and  locating  in  Kalamazoo,  the  date  of  her  ar- 
rival being  May  3d  of  that  year.  In  1868  Mr.  Shea  purchased  his  farm  of 
eighty  acres,  to  which  he  removed  with  his  family  in  1873,  and  which  has 
since  continued  to  be  his  place  of  residence.  This  is  shuated  on  section  31, 
Watson  township,  and  when  it  came  into  his  possession  it  was  all  wild  and 
unimproved  and  was  covered  with  the  native  growth  of  trees.  He  cleared 
a  place  large  enough  to  erect  a  little  log  house,  this  being  eighteen  by 
twenty-four  feet,  and  in  this  pioneer  home  the  family  took  up  their  abode, 
after  which  the  father  continued  the  work  of  clearing  and  cultivating  his 
land.  When  he  came  to  this  place  he  had  an  ox  team  and  wagon,  an  ax 
and  a  few  other  tools,  but  as  time  passed  he  gathered  various  farm  imple- 
ments about  him  for  use  in  his  farm  work,  and  as  he  prospered  in  his 
undertakings  he  added  to  his  original  purchase  another  tract  of  eighty  acres 
adjoining,  on  which  his  two  sons  now  reside.  He  has  devoted  his  entire 
life  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  has  been  very  successful  in  bis  work,  for 
he  has  applied  himself  diligently  and  assiduously,  has  allowed  no  obstacles 
to  deter  him  in  his  labors  and  by  his  careful  management  and  close  applica- 
tion he  is  now  in  possession  of  a  valuable  farm  property  which  places  him 
among  the  leading  and  well-to-do  citizens  of  this  part  of  the  county,  and  he 
owes  his  success  entirely  to  his  own  well-directed  energy.  His  original 
home  has  been  replaced  with  a  fine  country  .dwelling,  containing  eleven 
rooms  and  supplied  with  all  comforts  and  conveniences,  in  the  rear  of  which 
stand  a  fine  barn  thirty-two  feet  by  ninety  feet,  with  eighteen-feet  posts,  and 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  449 

many  other  outbuildings  which  are  essential  for  the  care  of  grain  and 
stock. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  eight  living  children:  Mary,  Thomas, 
John,  George,  Ellen,  Katherine,  Delia  and  Anna.  The  eldest  son,  Thomas, 
is  married  and  resides  on  one  of  his  father's  farms.  Mr.  Shea  gives  his 
political  support  to  the  Democratic  party,  but  has  never  been  active  in  public 
affairs,  and  he  is  a  communicant  of  the  Catholic  church  at  Watson,  and 
aided  in  building  the  house  of  worship  at  that  place. 

The  record  of  him  whose  name  introduces  this  record  should  serve  as  a 
source  of  encouragement  to  young  men  of  ambition  and  energy,  for  all  that 
he  today  owns  has  been  acquired  entirely  through  his  own  labors.  lie 
started  out  in  life  without  capital  or  assistance  from  friends  or  relatives  and 
today  he  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  very  valuable  and  well  im- 
proved land  and  is  accounted  one  of  the  prosperous  and  highly  esteemed 
citizens  of  his  community,  for  he  has  ever  been  honorable  and  straight- 
forward in  all  his  dealings  and  thereby  has  won  the  confidence  and  good 
will  of  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact.  Mr.  Shea  has  never  employed 
a  doctor  for  personal  assistance. 

William  Perry  Fenner. — There  are  very  few  native  of  Allegan 
county  who  have  passed  the  age  of  sixty  and  who  have  spent  their  entire 
lives  in  this  immediate  vicinity,  but  William  Perry  Fenner,  the  subject  of 
this  review,  is  one  of  these.  And,  too,  the  changes  which  he  has  seen  in  this 
section  during  his  lifetime  seem  almost  incredible.  His  boyhood  days  were 
passed  amid  the  scenes  of  an  entirely  new  country,  for  then  the  period  of  the 
white  man's  residence  in  Allegan  county  was  only  one  or  two  decades.  Our 
subject  saw  the  dense  forests  cleared  away  and  in  their  stead  well-cleared 
farms  which  soon  gave  plentifully  of  their  great  productiveness.  Then  next 
he  witnessed  the  formation  of  the  towns  and  villages,  and  with  it  all  a  slow 
but  sure  improvement  in  all  conditions,  until  now,  at  the  end  of  sixty  odd 
years,  he  sees  a  portion  of  the  great  state  of  Michigan,  which  is  unexcelled 
as  an  agricultural  region,  a  manufacturing  center  and  as  the  home  of  as 
prosperous  and  contented  a  people  as  may  be  foimd  anywhere  on  the  civil- 
ized globe.  This  advancement  and  these  vast  improvements  have  all  come 
during  his  lifetime  and  in  every  bit  of  the  progression  he  has  been  an  active 
and  efficient  factor. 

Mr.  Fenner  was  born  in  the  township  of  Martin,  Allegan  county,  De- 
cember 22,  1844.  His  parents  were  Russell  B.  and  Hannah  V,  (Schenck) 
Fenner,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Onondaga  coimty,  New  York,  where 
they  grew  to  maturity  and  were  married.  Russell  B.  Tenner's  father,  James 
L.  Fenner,  had  bought  government  land  in  Michigan,  although  he  never  be- 
came a  resident  of  this  state,  and  this  is  doubtless  what  first  attracted  Russell 
to  the  Wolverine  state.  A  few  years  after  the  marriage  of  the  parents  of 
our  subject  they  came  to  Michigan,  arriving  in  the  year  1844.  the  same  year 
as  the  birth  of  William  P.  Fenner.  The  young  couple  located  on  land  on 
sections  16  and  17,  Martin  township,  which  was  their  residence  for  nine 
years,  when  they  removed  to  another  farm  in  Gun  Plains  township,  which 
was  their  home  for  a  number  of  years.  On  both  of  these  farms  they  cleared 
the  land  and  made  many  improvements.  About  1894  they  removed  to  the 
village  of  Plainwell,  where  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  days,  Mr. 


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■450  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Fenner  dying  here  March  26,  1897,  and  his  estimable  widow  surviving  him 
several  years.  Mr.  Fenner  was  eighty-three  at  the  time  of  his  death,  while 
Mrs.  Fenner  was  past  eighty.  Russell  E.  Fenner  was  an  important  factor 
in  the  early  development  and  history  of  this  part  of  Allegan  county  and  in 
the  earlier  years  held  various  township  offices.  Politically  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat. During  his  early  residence  here  he  was  interested  with  his  brother, 
Darius  P.  Fenner,  in  the  building  and  operation  of  a  sawmill  near  his 
home.  Darius  P.  also  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  here,  dying  upon  the  old  farm 
at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  Russell  B.  also  owned  one  of  the  first 
threshing  machine  outfits  in  this  county  and  for  a  number  of  years  operated 
the  machine  over  several  townships.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell  B.  Fenner  had 
a  family  of  five  children,  as  follows :  Byron  R.  died  in  Barry  county,  Michi- 
gan, in  1905.  aged  sixty-seven  years;  Eliza  E.  is  now  Mrs.  Henry  Scott,  of 
Plainwell;  William  P.  is  the  subject  of  this  review;  Ruloff  J.  operates  a 
flouring  mill  at  Constantine,  this  state;  Franklin  M.  is  a  farmer  of  Gun 
Plains  township. 

William  Perry  Fenner  was  at  home  on  the  farm  until  he  attained  his 
majority.  He  was  in  a  store  several  months  in  his  young  manhood  and  his 
first  farming  was  on  rented  land  which  he  operated  for  four  years.  His 
first  purchase  was  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  and  which  adjoined 
his  father.  This  he  improved  and  made  his  home  for  thirteen  years  and  he 
still  retains  ownership  of  it.  In  1886  he  came  to  his  present  home  in  Martin 
township,  this  being  the  old  Sornbury  farm,  which  was  formerly  the  prop- 
erty of  his  wife's  father,  Horace  Sornbury,  and  which  was  obtained  from 
the  government  in  1S35. 

William  Perry  Fenner  was  married  December  22,  1864,  to  Mina  L. 
Sornbury,  daughter  of  Horace  and  Elizabeth  Jane  (Hicks)  Sornbury.  who 
came  to  Michigan  from  Canada,  Mrs.  Sornbury  being  a  native  of  New  York. 
They  were  among  the  earliest  pioneers  of  this  section,  obtaining  their  land 
here  in  1835  and  making  this  their  home  for  the  remainder  of  their  lives, 
her  sixty-first  year.  They  had  four  children,  as  follows:  Mina  L.,  the  wife 
of  our  subiect;  Armida  M.,  now  the  wife  of  Sanford  Monroe,  of  Martin 
township;  Myra  J.,  who  married  Burdette  Sisson,  of  Allegan,  and  who  died 
a  few  years  after  marriage;  Bruce  B.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-two 
years.  The  parents  were  highly  esteemed  people  and  they  spent  their  entire 
lives  on  the  farm  here.  Politically  Mr.  Sornbury  was  a  Democrat,  and  he 
several  times  filled  minor  township  offices. 

The  farm  home  of  the  Fenner  family  is  a  most  pleasant  place,  located 
about  two  miles  from  the  village  of  Martin.  Mr.  Fenner  has  added  forty 
acres  to  the  original  one  hundred  acres,  and  the  most  of  it  is  under  cultiva- 
tion. In  addition  he  owns  another  tract  a  short  distance  away.  His  former 
farm  in  Gun  Plains  township  is  leased.  For  the  past  two  years  Mr,  Fenner 
has  been  associated  with  his  son,  Ernest  W.,  in  a  general  store  at  Martin, 
which  is  in  charge  of  the  latter.  The  other  five  children  are  as  follows : 
Nellie  M.  married  Frank  Pratt  and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years; 
James  B.  died  when  twenty-nine  years  old,  two  weeks  after  going  into  the 
store  with  his  elder  brother ;  Jennie  H.  and  Pearl  E.  live  at  home  with  their 
parents ;  Orlie  P.  is  in  the  store  with  Ernest.  Mr.  Fenner  is  a  Prohibitionist 
in  politics  and  he  and  the  members  of  bis  family  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  451 

Archibald  Matthews. — Allegan  county  and  the  township  of  Martin 
contain  a  number  of  residents  who  have  passed  a  half-century  or  more 
in  this  locality  and  among  them  we  find  many  men  of  stability,  honor  and 
trustworthiness,  men  who  have  by  years  of  honest  labor  acquiretl  a  compe- 
tence and  at  the  same  time  been  alive  to  the  needs  of  the  community  wherein 
they  dwelt  and  ever  being  ready  to  forward  any  movement  for  the  Iietter- 
ment  of  their  fellow  men.  Men  such  as  these  are  really  the  bulwark  and, 
standby  of  the  state  and  nation,  and  although  they  may  have  never  achieved. 
great  personal  reputation  abroad,  nevertheless  they  stand  very  high  in  the 
regard  of  those  who  know  them  best  and  are  really  primarily  the  cause  of 
this  country's  greatness, 

A  man  of  this  character  is  Archibald  Matthews,  who  has  lived  continu- 
ously in  the  township  of  Martin  since  1852.  He  was  born  in  Westmoreland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  February  23,  1833,  his  parents  being  John  and  Nancy 
(Trimble)  Matthews.  Both  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  both  were 
of  Irish  parentage.  They  remained  in  Pennsylvania  after  marriage  until 
our  subject  was  about  eight  years  of  age,  and  then,  like  many  residents  of, 
the  Keystone  state  in  those  days,  thought  to  better  their  fortinies  in  the 
neighboring  state  of  Ohio,  where  they  took  their  family,  locating  irf  North- 
field.  Summit  county.  Here  they  remained  for  a  few  years  and  then  came 
into  Michigan,  selecting  as  their  home  a  farm  in  Martin  township,  close 
to  the  village  of  Martin,  then  a  mere  hamlet.  The  land  they  selected  was., 
new,  although  the  trees  thereon  had  been  girdled,  and  here  thev  made 
for  themselves  and  their  family  a  comfortable  home,  residing  here  until  the 
mother  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-three,  while  the  father  lived  to  be  seventy- 
three.  John  and  Nancy  Matthews  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  four 
sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom  only  one,  Archibald,  the  subject  of  this 
review,  survives.  Of  the  others  William  was  for  many  years  a  storekeeper 
in  Martin  and  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-three ;  Thomas,  who  was  connected 
with  the  mercantile  line  all  of  his  life,  died  at  about  the  same  age ;  James 
died  in  the  state  of  Montana,  whither  he  had  gone  when  still  a  young  man : 
Elizabeth  married  John  Monteith  and  died  in  middle  life ;  Martha  married 
Dr.  William  Anderson,  a  practicing  physician  at  Martin  and  Port  Huron, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  forty-five ;  Jemima  married  William  Gilmore  and 
died  in  middle  life. 

Archibald  was  with  his  father  for  fifteen  years  after  coming  to  Michi- 
gan and  during  this  long  experience  upon  the  home  farm  he  acquired  a 
most  excellent  knowledge  of  agriculture  as  carried  on  in  this  part  of  the 
country.  He  did  not  marry  until  he  had  reached  the  age  of  thirty-two 
years,  when  he  espoused  Miss  Margaret  Redpath,  several  years  his  junior, 
who  was  the  daughter  of  John  Redpath  and  wife,  who  were  also  pioneers 
of  this  region.  Immediately  after  marriage  Archibald  Matthews  and  his 
bride  settled  upon  the  farm  which  is  their  present  home.  It  was  all  in 
the  wild,  although  Archibald  had  slashed  twenty  acres  and  built  him  a  house 
previous  to  his  marriage.  The  farm  was  in  a  few  years  increased  in  size  to 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and  all  of  this  Mr.  Matthews  with  his  own 
hands  cleared,  fitted  and  placed  under  cultivation — a  task  which  would  ap- 
pear a  huge  one  to  the  young  man  of  the  present  generation.  He  has  sold 
eighty  acres  of  the  farm  and  still  retains  a  similar  amount,  which  makes 
a  fine  farm.    If  is  equipped  with  excellent  buildings  and  shows  careful  atten- 


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453  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

tioii.  Located  as  it  is  but  a  half  mile  from  the  village  of  Martin,  it  is  a  most 
convenient  homestead.  Mr,  Martin  has  devoted  his  entire  life  to  the  farni 
and  carries  on  a  general  line  of  agriculture,  although  he  has  paid  consider- 
able attention  to  wheat  raising  and  the  feeding  of  live  stock. 

Two  sons  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Matthews,  both  of  whom 
are  dead.  William  died  at  the  age  of  three  years,  while  the  eldest,  John, 
reached  manhood  and  middle  age,  when  he  met  with  a  tragic  death,  at  the 
age  of  forty-two.  While  spearing  fish  on  a  lake  in  company  with  Mack 
Campbell  in  the  spring  of  1905  a  storm  suddenly  arose  and  before  they 
could  reach  shore  John  was  struck  by  lightning  and  instantly  killed.  He 
was  married  and  had  lived  upon  a  farm  adjoining  that  of  his  father,  and 
their  entire  lives  had  been  passed  in  such  close  proximity  to  each  other  that 
his  loss  is  all  the  more  keenly  felt. 

As  this  son,  John,  left  no  children,  and  as  neither  of  Mr.  Matthews' 
brothers  have  any  living  children,  it  will  be  seen  that  this  branch  of  the 
Matthews  family  dies  out  with  our  subject.  Mr.  Matthews  still  carries  on 
his  farm,  although  he  finds  time  for  innocent  and  healthful  pleasures.  He 
generally  keeps  a  fine  pair  of  drivers  and  thoroughly  enjoys  his  outings  with 
these.  He  is  also  an  enthusiastic  hunter  and  fisherman  and  his  outdoor  life 
appeals  to  him  greatly.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican  and  he  has  always 
been  active  in  party  work  and  deliberations.  He  and  his  wife  are  iTiembers 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Martin. 

Valley  Township, 

William  Henry  Ely  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  dairy  farm,  beautifully 
located  on  the  Kalamazoo  river,  commanding  a  fine  view  of  the  stream  and 
the  surrounding  country.  It  is  situated  in  Valley  township  and  is  one  of  the 
attractive  farms  of  Allegan  coimty.  Mr.  Ely  was  born  in  Jefferson  county, 
New  York,  January  27,  1842,  his  parents  being  Henry  and  Harriet  (Terry) 
Ely,  who  were  born,  reared  and  married  in  Buckinghamshire,  England. 
In  1832  they  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America.  The  father  was  a  brick- 
layer and  mason  and  worked  at  his  trade  for  many  years  in  Jefferson  county. 
New  York. 

The  son,  William  H.  Ely,  supplemented  his  early  education,  acquired 
in  the  common  schools  of  the  Empire  state,  by  study  in  Carthage  Academy 
at  Carthage,  New  York,  and  also  at  Union  Academy,  Belleville,  New  York. 
In  response  to  the  first  call  of  President  Lincoln  for  seventy-five  thousand 
troops  to  serve  for  three  months  in  crushing  out  the  rebellion  in  the  south, 
Mr.  Ely  enlisted,  becoming  a  member  of  Company  E,  Twenty-fourth  New 
York  Infantry.  The  regiment,  however,  was  mustered  in  for  two  years 
instead  of  three  months  as  was  expected  and  thus  he  remained  at  the  front 
for  that  time.  The  Twenty-fourth  New  York  was  attached  to  the  First 
Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  did  service  under  Generals  Mc- 
Ciellan  and  McDowell,  being  largely  in  Virginia  to  guard  Washington.  Mr. 
Ely  participated  in  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run  and  was  with  his  com- 
mand mainly  at  Alexandria,  Fredericksburg,  Culpeper  and  in  the  Shenan- 
doah Valley.  In  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run  he  was  wounded  by  a  musket 
ball  in  the  left  thigh  and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels,  but  was  paroled 
on  the  field.    He  was  then  sent  to  a  hospital  at  Washington  and  afterward 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY  453 

to  Philadelphia,  hut  was  j-eleased  in  time  to  be  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. He  then  entered  the  quartermaster's  department  in  Washington  and 
was  stationed  at  Morehead  City,  North  Carolina,  remaining  in  the  employ 
of  the  government  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Much  of  his  work  was  to 
draw  and  reissue  rations. 

Returning  to  New  York  when  the  war  was  over,  Mr.  Ely  taught  school 
for  two  years,  and  was  then  engaged  in  husiness  for  a  number  of  }'ears 
and  was  married  in  Ellisburg,  that  state,  in  October,  1873.  In  the  mean- 
time, however,  he  had  visited  various  states,  also  points  in  Canada,  Mexico 
and  South  America.  In  the  fall  of  1872  he  purchased  his  present  farm  in 
Valley  township,  Allegan  county,  Michigan,  and  further  completed  his  ar- 
rangements for  having  a  home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage  in  October,  1873, 
to  Miss  Mary  Antoinette  Salisbury,  of  New  York.  The  land  which  he  had 
purchased  lay  along  the  Kalamazoo  river  and  was  all  covered  with  forest 
trees.  Upon  this  place  he  built  a  bouse  of  concrete,  it  being  the  first  con- 
crete farm  house  in  the  county,  and  has  since  resided  here,  developing  a 
good  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  He  now  has  eighty  acres  un- 
der cultivation,  the  place  being  used  largely  as  a  dairy  farm.  He  finds  a 
ready  sale  for  his  product  and  at  one'  time  sold  considerable  mitk  in  Allegan. 
His  residence  is  about  five  miles  below  Allegan  on  the  farm  on  the  Kala- 
mazoo river  and  is  a  very  suitable  resort  location,  commanding  a  fine  view 
of  the  river  and  the  surrounding  country. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ely  lost  their  two  children,  but  have  an  adopted  <laughter. 
Elva  B.  Ely,  who  came  to  them  when  two  years  old  and  is  now  a  young 
lady.  She  is  still  a  member  of  the  family  and  is  at  the  present  time  occupy- 
ing a  position  in  the  abstract  office  in  Allegan.  In  igoo  Mr.  Ely  was  called 
upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  in  that  year.  Two  years  later 
he  was  married  to  Nelhe  Ingham,  a  daughter  of  Giles  H.  Hill.  She  was 
born  upon  a  farm  in  Valley  township  and  has  always  resided  in  this  county, 
except  five  years  spent  in  Washington  and  Idaho. 

In  community  affairs  Mr.  Ely  has  been  quite  active  and  prominent  and 
has  been  called  upon  to  fill  a  number  of  public  offices.  Since  1890  he  has 
served  as  supervisor,  ten  years,  frequently  being  elected  without  opposition. 
He  attends  the  conventions  of  his  party  as  a  delegate,  but  his  time  and 
energies  have  been  more  largely  concentrated  upon  his  business  affairs. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Allegan  post,  the  Masonic  fraternity  at  Allegan,  and 
was  for  a  number  of  years  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Labor.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Grange,  in  the  work  of  which  he  takes  an  active  part.  He 
has  served  as  master  of  the  local  Grange  and  was  master  of  the  county,  or 
Pomona  Grange.  He  has  also  several  times  been  a  delegate  to  the  state 
Grange  and  is  one  of  the  stockholders  and  a  director  in  the  Co-operative 
Store,  which  was  established  by  the  Grange.  He  is  also  a  director  in  the 
Patrons'  Fire  Insurance  Company  and  a  stockholder  in  the  Allegan  Cream- 
ery. His  residence  in  the  county  covers  a  period  of  more  than  a  third  of  a 
century,  during  which  time  he  has  made  an' excellent  record  as  a  progres- 
sive business  man  and  public- spirited  citizen,  being  as  loyal  to  th^  country 
in  days  of  peace  as  when  he  followed  the  Stars  and  Stripes  iipon  the  battle- 
fields of  the  south.  Liberal  in  politics  and  religion,  he  not  only  advocates  a 
life  of  sterling  worth,  honesty  and  purity  but  lives  it. 


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4S4  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Charles  L.  Barrett  is  the  owner  of  an  excellent  farm  pleasantly  and 
conveniently  situated  abont  three  miles  from  the  village  of  Allegan.  He 
was  horn  August  2,  1^48,  in  Richland  township,  Kalamazoo  coimty,  Michi- 
gan, and  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  old  pioneer  families  of  this  part 
of  the  state.  His  paternal  grandparents  were  Hildah  and  Elizabeth  (Cum- 
mings)  Barrett,  natives  of  New  York,  who  came  to  Michigan  at  an  early 
epoch  in  its  development  and  were  soon  closely  identified  with  its  farming 
interests.  The  year  1832  witnessed  their  arrival,  at  which  time  the  state 
was  largely  a  forest  district,  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  oak,  beech, 
ash,  maple  and  pine  trees  according  to  locality.  Hildah  Barrett  settled 
with  his  family  in  Kalamazoo  county,  where  he  and  his  wife  spent  their 
remaining  days.  In  his  business  undertakings  he  prospered,  becoming  a 
wealthy  man.  He  was  also  a  most  earnest  Christian  gentleman,  active  in 
support  of  the  cause  and  he  loaned  money  freely  for  the  erection  of  churches, 
assisting  in  organizing  and  building  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Richland. 

Marvin  Barrett,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  New  York  and  ac- 
companied his  parents  on  their  removal  to  this  state  in  1832.  He  then  set- 
tled upon  a  farm  in  Richland  township,  where  he  died  in  1882.  He  married 
Helen  M.  Dolson,  a  native  of  New  York,  who  still  lives  in  Richland  town- 
ship. She  was  a  daughter  of  John  H.  Dolson,  a  native  of  New  York  city, 
and  one  of  the  pioneer  residents  of  Michigan.  He  was  a  Revolutionary 
soldier  and  served  throughout  the  war.  He  was  married  three  times  and 
became  the  father  of  twenty-seven  children.  At  a  pioneer  epoch  in  the 
history  of  the  state  he  took  up  his  abode  on  the  present  site  of  Battle  Creek,, 
where  he  passed  away  and  was  buried.  Marvin  Barrett  also  devoted  his 
life  to  general  agricultural  pursuits.  He  gave  his  early  political  allegiance 
to  the  Abolition  party  and  when  the  Republican  party  was  formed  to  pre- 
vent the  further  extension  of  slavery  he  joined  its  ranks.  He  occupied  many 
positions  of  public  honor  and  trust  in  his  township  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  were  devoted  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Their  lives  were 
upright  and  honorable  and  at  all  times  Marvin  Barrett  was  characterized 
by  unfaltering  allegiance  to  manly  principles  and  high  ideals.  The  family 
numbered  nine  children,  six  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  Charles  L.,  Mrs. 
Emma  Little,  James,  Frank  W.,  William  E.,  and  George  M. 

Charles  L.  Barrett  supplemented  his  early  education,  acquired  in  the 
common  schools,  by  study  in  the  .seminary  at  Richland,  Michigan,  and  by 
study  in  the  Northwestern  University,  at  Evanston.  Illinois.  His  education 
completed,  he  afterward  engaged  in  teaching  school  through  several  winter 
terms,  and  in  the  summer  months  devoted  his  energies  to  general  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  He  came  to  Allegan  county  in  1876,  and  for  four  years  was 
engaged  in  merchandising  at  Mill  Grove.  He  then  purchased  a  farm  in 
Valley  township,  where  he  has  since  lived  and  which  is  pleasantly  located 
about  three  miles  from  the  village  of  Allegan.  He  has  here  a  good  home 
and  fine  tract  of  land,  which  is  very  rich  and  productive,  responding  readily 
to  the  care  and  labor  that  he  bestows  upon  the  iields. 

On  the  15th  of  October,  1872,  Mr.  Barrett  was  married  to  Miss  Emma 
Crosby,  of  Richland  township,  a  daughter  of  Randall  and  Elizabeth  (Miles') 
Crosby,  who  were  natives  of  the  Empire  state  and  early  settlers  of  Richland 
township,  Kalamazoo  county,  Michigan.  Her  father  died  on  the  old  home- 
stead there,  and  the  mother  passed  away  in  Allegan.    Unto  Mr,  and  Mrs. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  455 

Barrett  have  been  born  ten  children:  Randall  M.,  Carl  H.,  Florence  B.,  Hat- 
tie  C,  Margery  N.,  Florine  M.,  Crosby  C,  Mildred  E.,  and  two  who  died 
in  childhood.  Mr.  Barrett  gives  his  political  allegiance  to  the  Republican 
party  and  has  held  various  official  positions,  serving  :is  township  clerk  for 
four  years,  as  county  clerk  for  six  terms  and  has  been  school  director  for 
many  years.  The  duties  of  these  different  positions  were  discharged  with 
promptness  and  fidelity  and  his  political  record  is  entirely  a  creditable  one. 
Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the  Kiiij;hts  of  Pvthias  and  the  United 
Workmen. 

Ch.vkles  C.  Cl.\kk,  residing  at  Mill  Grove,  in  Valley  township,  has ' 
now  passed  his  eighty-second  milestone  on  life's  journey,  having  been  born 
at  Niagara  Falls,  New  York,  April  13,  1824.  His  has  been  in  many  respects 
an  eventful  and  varied  career,  embracing  as  it  does  all  of  the  experiences 
of  pioneer  life  in  the  west.  His  father.  Enos  Clark,  was  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts and  a  stonemason  by  trade.  He  worked  on  a  mill  in  Canada  for  a 
time  and  afterward  went  to  Lockport,  New  York.  In  1839  he  came  to  Cal- 
houn county,  Michigan,  at  which  time  Charles  C.  Clark  was  in  his  sixteenth 
year.  The  family  settled  on  a  new  farm  and  both  parents  died  in  1843. 
their  deaths  occurring  only  nine  weeks  apart.  They  left  eleven  children,  one 
an  infant. 

The  children  became  scattered  and  Charles  C.  Clark  began  working  in 
the  neighborhood  in  order  to  provide  for  his  own  support.  He,  however, 
had  a  guardian  who  directed  his  labors.  He  worked  for  a  time  at  the  car- 
penter's trade  or  until  his  employer  killed  his  wife  and  was  sent  to  state's 
prison.  Mr.  Clark  continued  to  reside  in  Calhoun  county  luitil  1853,  and 
in  the  meantime  he  rented  and  bought  land,  which  he  cleared  and  devel- 
oped. He  cleared  about  fifty  acres  of  land  in  Calhoun  county.  He  came  to 
Allegan  county  in  1853.  and  two  years  later  located  on  what  is  his  present 
home.  In  the  meantime,  however,  he  had  spent  two  years  in  hunting  on 
the  plains  on  the  other  side  of  the  Kalamazoo  river,  camping  at  Bailey's 
Mill,  which  had  been  built  years  before  and  was  abandoned.  The  district 
was  an  unbroken  wilderness  and  he  made  his  camp  in  the  old  mill  office 
while  engaged  in  hunting.  He  and  his  brother  killed  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  deer  between  October  and  January,  selling  the  hides  for  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-five  dollars  to  Jack  Jones  at  Allegan.  They  traded  venison 
for  bread  at  the  old  Pine  Plains  House,  which  was  situated  on  the  stage  road 
between  Allegan  and  Saugatuck,  and  was  the  only  house  between  the  two 
places — a  distance  of  twenty-five  miles. 

In  1855  Mr.  Clark  returned  to  Allegan  county  and  lived  with  his 
brother-in-law.  John  Heath,  during  which  time  he  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  shingles.  In  company  with  Mr.  Heath  and  his  brother,  George  P. 
Heath,  he  purchased,  in  1856,  the  Wheeler  mill  at  Mill  Grove.  This  was  a 
shingle  mill  and  also  contained  a  circular  saw.  for  the  manufacture  of  lum- 
ber. It  was  built  by  Fuller  &  Harris.  In  the  new  enterprise  the  partners 
prospered  and  later  Mr.  Dark  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Clark,  Heath 
&  Company.  This  was  operated  until  the  war.  In  the  meantime  George 
Heath  retired  from  the  partnership  which  had  been  fonued,  and  Mr.  Clark 
and  John  Heath  conducted  the  business  up  to  the  period  of  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  war.     Prices,  however,  were  so  low  that  thev  made  little  monev. 


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45tl  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

They  had  rafted  one  hundred  thousand  feet  of  lumber  down  the  Kalamazoo 
river  to  Saugatuck,  where  they  sold  it  for  only  four  dollars  per  thousand 
and  thus  they  made  little  more  than  a  living  out  of  their  undertakings. 
Seeing  that  they  could  not  pay  for  the  mill  they  gave  it  up  to  the  firm  of 
Holmes  &  Company,  who  held  the  mortgage.  Later,  however,  they  bought 
it  back  and  continued  its  operation  until  1862,  when  they  sold  out  to  Mr. 
Alonzo  Vosburg. 

The  following  year  Mr.  Clark  located  on  his  present  farm  at  Mill 
Grove.  He  was  employed,  however,  on  the  John  Heath  place  until  the 
time  of  his  marriage,  which  was  celebrated  in  1863,  to  Miss  Melissa 
La  Bar,  a  yoimg  lady  of  twenty-two  years,  from  Rochester,  New  York, 
becoming  his  wife.  They  began  their  domestic  life  on  the  farm  and  Mr. 
Clark  afterward  purchased  more  land,  which  he  cleared  from  the  timber  and 
developed  into  productive  fields.  He  owned  and  cultivated  thirty  acres, 
which  he  planted  to  peaches,  which  proved  a  very  profitable  crop  until  the 
yellows  took  the  orchard.  In  the  meantime  he  spent  one  year  in  Allegan, 
where  he  conducted  a  feed  store,  after  which  he  returned  to  the  farm.  In 
1869  he  built  his  home  upon  his  land  and  soon  set  out  his  peach  orchard.  He 
also  engaged  in  raising  strawberries,  apples  and  other  friiit.  and  later  he 
planted  a  second  peach  orchard.  For  twenty  years  his  son-in-law  has 
operated  the  farm,  while  Mr.  Clark  is  practically  living  retired.  The  third 
orchard  has  been  set  out  by  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  Gardiner,  and  the  farm  is 
now  an  improved  property,  largely  devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  fruit. 

In  1898  Mr.  Clark  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who 
died  on  the  20th  of  May  of  that  year,  after  they  had  traveled  life's  journey 
together  for  thirty-five  years.  They  had  but  one  daughter,  Mary  Elizabeth, 
who  is  now  the  wife  of  Alfred  N.  Gardiner,  and  who  has  always  remained 
with  her  father  because  of  her  mother's  poor  health.  Mr.  Gardiner  is  a 
carpenter  as  well  as  a  farmer,  and  unto  this  marriage  three  children  have 
been  bom :  Clark  La  Ear  Gardiner,  now  eight  years  of  age ;  Louis  Alfred 
Gardiner,  a  youth  of  five  years,  and  a  son  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr,  Clark's 
home  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  vicinity,  and  in  the  evening  of  his  life  he  is 
now  very  comfortably  situated.  In  politics  he  is  a  Roosevelt  Democrat,  for, 
though  he  usually  has  supported  the  Democratic  party,  he  has  great  admira- 
tion for  the  president  and  cast  his  last  ballot  in  his  support.  His  memory 
compasses  the  period  of  early  pioneer  development  in  this  portion  of  the 
state  and  he  relates  in  most  interesting  manner  events  of  frontier  life  in 
Michigan,  especially  concerning  his  camping  experiences  and  his  early  mill- 
ing operations. 

Cheshire  Townshtp. 

John  R.  GRAH.^M.^The  family  of  Graham  has  done  an  important  work 
in  the  settlement  and  improvement  of  this  portion  of  the  prosperous  county 
of  Allegan  and  its  members  have  ever  been  active  in  movements  tending 
toward  a  betterment  of  conditions  in  the  section  where  they  have  made 
their  homes.  John  B.  Graham  was  born  in  Steuben  county.  New  York, 
November  26,  1855,  and  that  was  his  home  until  he  was  four  years  old, 
when  the  family  moved  to  this  locality.  He  was  the  eldest  of  nine  children 
of  James  D.  and  Katherine  E.  (Fuller)  Graham.  James  D.  Graham  was 
born  in  county  Sligo,  Ireland,  April  8,  1830,  and  he  came  to  America  with 


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MR.  AXIJ  MRS.  ,70HK   R.  GRAHAM 


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MR.  AND  MRS,  JAMES  D.  GRAHAM 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  457 

his  parents  in  1847,  they  locating  in  Canada.  In  1849  he  went  into  the  state 
of  New  York  and  began  working  on  his  own  account  in  a  sawmill,  where  he 
was  employed  for  eight  years.  He  was  married  in  1853  to  Miss  Katherine 
Fuller,  a  native  of  Jerusalem,  Yates  county,  New  York,  where  she  was  born 
in  1838.  They  remained  in  New  York  state  for  six  years  after  their  mar- 
riage and  then  came  to  Michigan,  settling  upon  section  13,  Cheshire  town- 
ship, Allegan  county,  on  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  where 
the  remainder  of  his  life  was  passed  and  where  his  widow  still  resides.  It 
was  a  very  new  country  when  he  came  here  and  there  was  no  road  leading 
to  his  farm,  while  all  of  his  land  was  in  its  natural  state.  At  one  time  he 
owned  one  hundred  and  ninety  acres  of  land,  of  which  he  placed  about  one 
hundred  acres  under  cultivation,  placing  good  buildings  thereon  and  set- 
ting out  large  orchards.  In  this  section  James  D.  Graham  was  for  many 
years  a  most  potent  factor  for  good.  For  many  years  he  was  a  deacon  and 
trustee  in  the  Baptist  church  and  a  faithful  worker  in  the  Sunday-school, 
being  teacher  and  superintendent  therein  for  many  years.  PoHtically  he 
was  a  Republican  and  he  held  numerous  local  ofifices  in  the  early  history  of 
Cheshire  township.  Besides  being  a  school  olficer  for  more  than  twenty 
years,  he  was  township  drain  commissioner  for  eight  years  and  also  deputy 
county  drain  commissioner  under  County  Commissioner  Wilcox.  Previous 
to  his  incumbency  there  had  been  very  little  drainage  done  in  this  township 
and  Mr.  Graham  did  most  effective  work  in  this  hne,  as  well  as  in  the  lay- 
ing out  of  highways.  After  a  long  life  of  usefulness  he  passed  away  here 
May  31,  1901,  leaving  a  widow  and  nine  children,  as  follows:  John  B.,  the 
eldest,  is  the  subject  of  this  review;  George  resides  in  Montana  and  James 
in  British  Columbia :  Andrew  is  a  resident  of  Allegan ;  Charles  and  his 
family  live  on  the  old  homestead  on  section  13  with  his  mother;  Bert  is  a 
farmer  of  this  county ;  Julia  is  the  wife  of  Horace  Eldred,  of  Allegan  ;  Alice 
is  the  wife  of  Lucien  F.  Huntley,  of  Chicago;  and  Laura  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  Hillman,  of  Allegan  township. 

John  B.  Graham,  the  eldest  of  the  family,  came  to  Michigan  with  his 
parents  in  1859  and  lived  upon  the  old  farm  rmtil  1896.  Then  he  pur- 
chased a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  acres  adjoining  that  of  his 
father  and  h'ing  on  the  town  line  between  Cheshire  and  Trowbridge,  a  part 
of  his  farm  being  on  section  13.  Cheshire,  and  the  remainder  on  section  19, 
Trowbridge  township.  His  residence  and  other  buildings,  are,  however,  in 
Cheshire.  He  first  took  this  place  as  wild  land  and  the  improvements  have 
all  been  made  by  himself.  It  is  now  one  of  the  best  farms  in  this  section, 
thoroughly  improved  and  equipped  with  substantial  buildings.  In  addition 
to  general  farming  Mr.  Graham  is  largely  interested  in  Percheron  horses 
and  is  one  of  a  company  of  dealers  in  Percheron  stallions.  Politically  he  is 
a  Republican  and  he  is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  highway  commis- 
sioner of  Cheshire  township.  He  has  had  a  long  and  extended  experience 
in  the  building  of  highways  and  even  assisted  .his  father  in  building  the 
first  road  by  the  old  farm,  which  was  a  corduroy.  During  his  two  years' 
incumbency  as  highway  commissioner  there  has  been  an  unprecedented 
amount  of  effective  work  done  in  the  way  of  improving  the  highways  of  the 
township,  and  last  year  twenty-five  hundred  dollars  was  appropriated  for 
this  purpose.    He  takes  a  deep  interest  in  educational  affairs  and  has  been 


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458  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

a  school  officer  for  a  number  of  vears.  Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  the 
K.  O.  T.  M. 

He  was  married  January  6,  1896,  to  Mrs.  Amelia  Lewis,  who  was 
bom  in  Toronto,  Ontario,  and  came  here  just  previous  to  her  marriage. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  J.  (Graham)  Tilson,  her  mother 
being  a  sister  of  our  subject's  father. 

Mr.  Graham  is  a  man  of  influence  in  this  portion  of  Allegan  county,  an 
intelligent  and  prosperous  farmer  and  his  place  shows  unusual  thrift  and 


Joseph  Antony  Trutsch. — Although  almost  three  decades  have  come 
and  gone  since  Joseph  Antony  Trutsch  was  called  from  this  life,  he  is 
yet  remembered  by  many  of  the  citizens  as  a  man  of  genuine  personal  merit 
and  a  worthy  representative  of  farming  interests  in  Allegan  cormty.  He 
was  born  in  Switzerland  and  died  in  Michigan  in  1868  at  the  age  of  forty- 
two  years.  He  remained  a  resident  of  the  land  of  the  Alps  until  about 
twelve  or  fourteen  years  prior  to  his  death.  He  came  to  the  United  States 
with  his  sister,  Mary  Ann.  He  had  not  been  a  resident  of  the  country  for 
a  very  long  period  when  the  Civil  war  broke  out,  and  he  manifested  his 
patriotism  and  his  loyalty  to  his  adopted  country  by  enlisting  from  Allegan 
county  and  serving  for  three  years  with  a  regiment  of  volunteer  infantry. 
He  never  faltered  in  the  performance  of  any  task  assigned  to  him  whether 
it  called  him  to  the  lonely  picket  line  or  to  the  firing  line. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Trutsch  was  united  in  marriage  on  the  17th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1865,  to  Miss  Clarissa  Harriet  Jackson,  who  was  born  in  Bed- 
ford, Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  February  6,  1835.  When  twenty-two  years 
of  age  she  came  to  Allegan  county  with  her  brother,  Amos  J.  Jackson,  a 
veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  and  since  that  time  has  resided  continuously  in, 
Allegan  county.  She  is  a  daughter  of  David  and  Clarissa  (Ives)  Jackson, 
who  were  natives  of  New  York.  She  was  the  youngest  of  eleven  children 
and  by  her  marriage  has  become  the  mother  of  one  daughter  and  one  son : 
Edna  Ann,  who  is  now  the  widow  of  Allen  Boyce,  of  Allegaii  township,  and 
Joseph  Antony,  who  operates  the  home  farm. 

Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Trutsch  purchased  what  has  since  been 
known  as  the  home  farm,  comprising  eighty  acres  of  woodland  on  section 
23,  Cheshire  township.  He  at  once  began  its  development  and  cultivation, 
but  was  not  long  permitted  to  enjoy  his  new  home,  for  his  death  occurred 
three  years  after  he  made  the  purchase.  Since  that  time  the  farm  work  has 
been  carried  on  by  Mrs.  Trutsch  and  her  son,  who  have  erected  good  build- 
ings here  and  have  made  many  modem  improvements.  Everything  about 
the  place  is  neat  and  attractive  in  appearance  and  the  work  of  the  agricul- 
turist is  carried  forward  with  good  results.  Mrs.  Trutsch  has  remained 
continuously  a  resident  of  the  county  for  almost  a  third  of  a  century  and  has 
therefore  been  a  witness  of  much  of  its  growth  and  progress. 

Edmund  S.  Rogers. — One  of  the  successful  farmers  of  Cheshire  town- 
ship is  the  gentleman  named  above,  who  resides  in  a  most  comfortable  and 
tasteful  farm  home  on  section  9.  Here  he  has  cleared  his  land  and  made 
all  of  the  other  improvements  upon  the  place  and  here  he  takes  great  pleas- 
ure in  life,  enjoying  that  freedom  and  independence  only  known  upon  the 
well-regulated  farm. 


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JOSEPH  A.  TRUTSCH  MRS.  CLARISSA  H.  TRUTSCH 


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fTISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  4^ 

Mr,  Rogers  was  born  in  Summit  county,  Ohio.  March  23,  1847.  He 
was  the  eldest  child  of  Justus  S.  and  Katherine  (Shuman)  Rogers,  natives 
respectively  of  Vermont  and  New  York.  Justus  Rogers  went  into  Ohio 
with  his  father  in  a  very  early  day  and  there  they  made  their  home.  An 
idea  of  the  unsettled  condition  of  the  state  of  Ohio  may  be  realized  when 
we  state  that  at  the  time  the  Rogers  family  went  there  from  the  east  it 
required  a  search  over  no  less  than  four  townships  to  secure  the  services  of 
enough  men  to  help  raise  a  log  house,  and  some  of  these  men  were  Indians. 
Justus  and  Katherine  Rogers  came  into  Michigan  in  1856,  locating  in  Alle- 
eran  county,  a  few  miles  northwest  of  the  now  thriving  city  of  Allegan. 
Here  they  made  their  home  on  a  farm,  where  they  lived  nearly  all  the 
remainder  of  their  lives,  Mr.  Rogers  dying  here  at  the  advanced  age  of 
seventy  years,  his  estimable  wife  dying  at  Howard  City,  Michigan,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-five.  In  his  younger  days  Justus  Rogers  was  a  hunter  and 
trapper  of  note  and  he  continued  along  these  lines  long  after  he  moved 
into  Michigan.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  the  subject  of 
this  review  being  the  eldest  and  the  others  being  as  follows :  Henrv  lived 
in  the  west  for  a  number  of  years  and  was  killed  while  a  resident  of  the 
state  of  Washington,  in  August.  1906;  Lewis  died  at  the  age  of  twenty 
vears;  EInor  McMartin  died  in  Colorado:  Abbie.  now  Mrs.  Handy,  is  a 
resident  of  the  state  of  Washington. 

Edmund  S.  Rogers  was  only  nine  years  old  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  from  Ohio  to  Michigan,  and  he  remained  upon  the  home  farm  in 
Allegan  township  luitil  he  had  attained  the  age  of  seventeen  years.  The 
great  Civil  war  had  been  raging  for  several  years  and  the  lad  became  fired 
with  a  desire  to  go  in  the  aid  of  his  country.  But  not  until  he  was  seven- 
teen did  the  opportunity-  offer,  and  then  be  -was  quick  to  take  it.  enlisting 
in  February,  1865.  in  Company  F,  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  \'olunteer  In- 
fantry. He  was  sent  with  his  regiment  to  Springfield.  Illinois,  where  they 
remained  for  about  four  months,  when  the  war  closed.  While  at  Springfield 
Mr.  R(^ers.  with  other  members  of  his  regiment,  acted  as  a  guard  of  honor 
during  the  burialof  the  lamented  President  Lincoln, 

.After  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  the  old  home  in  Allegan 
county,  and  for  several  }-ears  to  follow  worked  in  sawmills  and  lumber 
camps.  Then  in  1873  he  purchased  his  present  home  in  Cheshire  township, 
the  same  being  located  on  section  g.  His  first  purchase  of  land  was  only 
forty  acres,  the  same  having  only  seven  acres  cleared  and  with  a  log  house, 
twelve  by  twenty  feet  in  size,  with  a  small  porch  in  front  and  a  grapevine 
growing  over  it.  Later  he  bought  an  additional  twenty  acres,  and  the  sixty 
comprises  his  present  holdings.  Mr.  Refers  has  cleared  this  place  himself 
and  made  all  of  the  improvements  thereon.  He  has  an  up-to-date  house, 
good  barns  and  other  buildings  and  the  whole  place  reflects  the  good  man- 
agement and  care  of  the  owner.     It  is  styled  "The  Old  Homestead  Farm." 

Our  subject  was  married  July  t6.  1869.  when  he  took  for  his  life  part- 
ner Miss  Josephine  Davis,  a  native  of  Belfast.  Allegheny  county,  New 
York,  where  she  was  bom  December  12.  1849.  Her  father  was  Orrin 
Davis,  a  native  of  Bristol,  Connecticut,  who  was  for  many  years  a  success- 
ful teacher  and  in  later  years  a  physician  in  the  state  of  New  York.  Here 
he  met  and  married  Marlah  Buck,  and  in  later  years,  when  their  daughter 
was  seventeen  years  old.  they  came  to  Michigan  and  located  in  Allegan 


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460  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

count}',  making  their  home  in  Cheshire  township  on  a  fann.  Here  the 
father  cliec!  at  the  age  of  ninety-two  and  the  mother  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
four. 

The  imioii  of  Edmund  S.  and  Josephine  Davis  has  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  three  children,  all  of  whom  are  living,  as  follows :  Edna  May  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  Peas,  of  Casco  township,  and  they  have  three  children, 
Veryl,  Rollin  and  Esther;  Grace  is  the  wife  of  Homer  Connery  and  they 
have  one  son,  Roger,  their  home  being  in  the  township  of  Pine  Grove ; 
Ruby,  the  youngest,  lives  at  home  with  her  parents.  Previoiis  to  their  mar- 
riages, the  two  eldest  daughters  were  for  a  number  of  years  successful 
teachers  in  this  and  adjoining  counties. 

Mr.  Rogers  in  politics  is  an  independent  Republican.  He  has  served 
his  township  two  terms  as  highway  commissioner  and  has  also  been  a 
school  director  for  twelve  vears.  He  has  wide  fraternal  relations  and  be- 
longs to  B.  F.  Chapin  Post,'G.  A.  R.,  of  Cheshire  township,  the  F.  &  A.  M. 
Lodge  at  Allegan  and  also  to  the  Grange. 

Charles  U.  Schermerhorn, — The  gentleman  nained  above  is  a  life- 
long resident  of  the  township  of  Cheshire,  where  he  was  born  March  7, 
1854.  That  he  is  a  man  who  commands  the  high  regard  and  thorough 
confidence  of  the  people  of  this  section  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  he  is 
now  filling  his  sixth  consecutive  term  as  .supervisor  of  Cheshire  township, 
a  position  which  he  occupies  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  satisfaction 
of  his  constituents.  It  is  a  notable  fact  that  he  is  the  only  native  of  the 
township  to  be  chosen  as  supervisor  and  that  with  but  one  exception  he 
has  held  the  office  longer  than  any  other  incumbent. 

The  Schermerhorns  are  of  Holland  descent  and  the  prefix  "Van"  was 
until  some  years  ago  attached  to  the  name.  They  were  among  the  leading 
Dutch  families  in  the  days  of  New  York,  or,  as  it  was  then  styled,  New 
Amsterdam,  and  many  of  the  descendants  of  the  original  family  still  reside 
in  eastern  New  York  state. 

Our  subject's  father,  James  U.,  was  born  in  Little  Falls,  Herkimer 
county.  New  York,  January  8.  1820.  His  young  manhood  was  spent  as 
a  boatman  on  the  then  celebrated  Erie  canal,  and  it  was  in  Herkimer 
county  that  he  met  and  married  Sarah  Ann  Dayger,  a  native  of  Columbia, 
that  county,  where  she  was  born  July  29,  1828.  In  the  fall  of  1852  they 
came  west  to  Michigan  City,  Indiana,  and  after  a  brief  residence  there 
they  came  the  following  year  into  Michigan,  locating  on  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Cheshire  township,  which  he  cleared  and 
improved  and  where  he  died  July  17,  1879.  He  was  one  of  a  family  of 
thirteen  children,  eleven  boys  and  two  girls.  An  idea  of  the  crude  state 
of  this  section  at  the  time  he  came  here  may  be  gained  from  the  statement 
that  at  that  time  he  was  obliged  to  carry  provisions  for  his  family  from 
Kalamazoo,  a  distance  of  thirty  miles,  on  his  back  and  traversed  the  dis- 
tance afoot.  James  U.  Schermerhorn  enhsted  in  1864  in  the  Ninth  Michi- 
gan Volunteer  Infantry  for  service  in  the  Civil  war  and  went  at  once  to  the 
front  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  was  with  his  regiment  all  of  the 
time  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  the  father  of  ten  children,  all 
but  two  of  whom  are  still  living:  Ida  A.  Allen  lives  in  North  Dakota; 
Olive  Elizabeth  Case  is  a  resident  of  Allegan;  Charles  U.  is  the  subject 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  4fil 

of  this  review;  Ann  and  Sarah  are  both  deceased;  James  J.  and  Benjamin 
live  in  Holland;  Labin  H.  is  in  Louisville,  Kentucky;  John  is  in  Chicago, 
and  Frank  lives  in  Allegan.  Their  mother  is  still  living  and  is  a  resident 
of  Allegan,  where  several  of  the  children  live. 

Charles  U.  lived  on  the  farm  with  his  parents  until  he  was  twenty-one 
years  old  and  assisted  in  the  clearing  and  improvement  of  the  place.  Then 
he  began  life  for  himself  and  worked  in  a  sawmill  on  the  lake  shore  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  was  with  one  fimi  for  six  years  and  was  employed 
the  most  of  the  time  in  superintending  mill  and  dock  work.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  187S  to  Miss  Emma  Reafel,  a  native  of  Brant  Center.  Kew  York, 
where  she  was  born  September  18,  1862.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Martin 
and  Ann  (Green)  Reafel,  both  of  whom  were  of  German  birth.  She  came 
to  Michigan  with  her  parents  in  1865.  Soon  after  their  marriage  Mr. 
Scliermerhorn  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  on  section  23,  Cheshire 
township,  which  he  improved  by  the  erection  of  fine  buildings.  For 
a  number  of  years  he  rented  this  farm  and  lived  on  the  B.  D.  Prichard 
farm,  of  which  he  was  foreman.  He  also  has  engaged  largely  in  the  rais- 
ing of  live  stock,  being  for  seven  years  in  this  line  with  Peter  A.  Olcutt,  of 
Allegan.  In  1904  he  sold  his  farm  on  section  23  and  purchased  his 
present  place  of  fifty  acres  on  section  10,  where  he  has  already  made 
many  improvements.  Here  he  has  one  thousand  thrifty  peach  trees  and 
also  makes  a  specialty  of  stock  raising.  He  has  numerous  fraternal  affilia- 
tions and  has  been  a  member  of  Cliicora  Grange  for  nearly  two  years.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Cheshire  Banner  Grange  for  about  ten  years  before 
taking  a  transfer  to  Chicora  Lodge.  He  also  belongs  to  Chicora  Legion, 
No.  1,014,  Legion  of  Honor,  and  to  the  K.  O.  T.  M. 

Alrert  O.  Rebel. — Few  men  in  the  county  of  Allegan  have  led  a 
more  eventful  and  romantic  career  or  seen  more  of  the  world  for  a  man  of 
his  years  than  Mr.  Albert  O.  Rebel,  who  now  resides  upon  a  fine  farm  in 
the  township  of  Cheshire,  where  he  seems  to  enjoy  Hfe  even  more  than 
during  his  world-wide  wanderings. 

Mr.  Rebel  is  a  native  of  Prussia.  Germany,  where  he  was  born  April 
23,  1869.  His  father  was  Herman  Rebel,  also  a  native  of  Prussia,  where 
his  entire  Hfe  was  passed.  There  were  two  sons  in  the  family.  The  mother 
died  when  our  subject  was  but  an  infant.  His  brother,  Max,  is  still  a  resi- 
dent of  Prussia.  Albert  Rebel's  boyhood  days  were  passed  in  Germany, 
where  he  attended  the  public  and  high  schools,  securing  a  good  common 
school  education.  When  fifteen  years  of  age  he  decided  to  try  his  fortunes 
in  the  new  world  and  he  accordingly  came  alone  to  America,  locating  first 
in  Chicago.  Staying  there  but  a  short  time,  he  went  into  the  lumbering  and 
mining  districts  of  northern  Michigan,  where  he  first  took  a  position  as 
assistant  cook  in  a  mining  camp.  He  stayed  here  only  about  a  month,  but 
long  enough  to  imbibe  a  touch  of  the  mining  fever,  and  then  he  went  to 
Leadville,  Colorado,  where  he  prospected  and  mined  for  gold  and  silver 
and  also  did  placer  mining.  He  was  thus  occupied  for  some  six  or  seven 
years  and  then  went  into  British  Columbia  and  from  there  to  Alaska  when 
the  latter  country  was  beginning  to  become  noted  as  a  mining  country.  He 
prospected  most  of  the  time  in  British  Columbia  and  Alaska  and  this  period 
of  his  life  was  filled  with  some  stirring  incidents  and  thrilling  experiences. 


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462  TTISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

In  addition  to  the  stirrinsr  life  of  the  miner,  there  was  moiiiitain  climbing:, 
encounters  with  wild  animals  and  many  other  incidents  peculiar  to  a  life 
of  this  character. 

During-  the  panic  of  1873  the  depreciation  of  silver  made  it  evident 
that  mining  would  not  be  a  profitable  occupation  for  a  number  of  years,  at 
least,  so  he  decided  to  give  his  attention  to  other  matters.  After  leaving 
Alaska  he  spent  a  vear  in  travel,  spending  some  time  in  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland  and  also  visiting  nearly  every  countn'  in  Europe,  (^f  course  he 
visited  the  Fatherland,  and  during  his  stay  in  Prussia  he  married  Miss 
Johanna  L.  Genekow,  a  native  of  that  country,  their  marriage  occurring  in 
1901.  They  soon  thereafter  returned  to  the  United  States,  where  Mr. 
Rebel  decided  to  turn  his  attention  to  farming.  He  came  to  Michigan  and 
located  in  Allegan  county,  purchasing  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  50,  Cheshire  township.  The  place  was  cleared  and  well 
improved,  with  a  fine  residence  of  commodious  proportions  and  three  good, 
large  barns.  In  addition  to  its  good  condition  when  he  purchased  it,  Mr, 
Rebel  has  made  many  minor  improvements  in  the  way  of  fencing,  clearing 
the  land  of  stumps  and  the  like,  and  he  now  has  one  of  the  finest  pieces 
of  farm  propertv  in  the  township.  He  is  a  member  of  Deer  Lake  Grange, 
of  which  organization  he  is  also  secretary,  and  he  is  a  director  of  the 
Grange  Fire  Insurance  Company,  of  Allegan  county.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Bloomingdale.  and  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rebel  are  the  parents  of  two  sons — Herbert,  born  July 
7,  1902,  and  Chester,  born  July  27,  1906,  who  died  September  17.  1906. 

William  W.  G.  RowE.^Like  so  many  of  the  sterling  residents  of 
Michigan  who  have  spent  a  lifetime  here,  Mr.  Rowe  is  a  native  of  the  state 
of  New  York,  where  he  was  born  in  Cazenovia,  Madison  county,  October 
17,  i8-i7.  His  father  was  William  C.  Rowe,  a  native  of  Cortland  county, 
New  York,  while  his  mother,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  was  previous  to  her 
marriage  Miss  Mary  Andrews,  whose  parents  were  from  Connecticut, 
although  thev  spent  their  latter  days  in  the  state  of  New  York.  William  C. 
Rdwe  and  his  wife  were  married  in  New  York  and  came  to  Michigan  in 
1841  with  their  little  familv,  making  the  journey  in  the  rather  primitive 
manner  of  the  times,  the  initial  portion  of  it  being  via  the  old  Erie  canal  to 
Buffalo,  then  by  boat  to  Monroe.  Michigan,  and  the  latter  oart  of  the  trip 
by  wagon  to  Allegan  county.  They  located  at  Allegan,  where  they  lived 
four  years,  and  then  settled  on  a  one  hundred  and  sixty  acre  farm  in  Wat- 
son township.  Here  thev  made  a  home,  the  father  clearing  the  land, 
assisted  in  later  years  by  his  sons.  Here  William  C.  Rowe  was  a  man  of 
influence  and  probity  in  the  community  and  he  did  much  in  shaping  the 
history  of  this  part  of  Allegan  county.  He  was  a  lifelong  Republican  and 
in  the  earlier  years  of  the  formation  of  Watson  township  he  held  various 
offices,  being  township  treasurer  a  number  of  terms  and  for  many  years 
the  highway  commissioner.  In  connection  with  his  duties  as  the  last  named 
officer  he  assisted  in  laying  out  manv  of  the  original  highways  of  this 
township  and  also  assisted  in  many  other  public  improvements.  He  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life  upon  the  farm  which  he  had  first  selected,  his 
death  occurring  when  be  was  seventy-three  years  old.    The  mother  of  our 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  463 

subject  did  not  live  long  in  her  new  home,  she  dying  here  in  lier  thirty- 
second  year,  when  William  W.  G.  was  only  fifteen  years  old.  Of  the  seven 
children  in  the  family  the  subject  of  this  review  was  the  eldest,  his  brothers 
and  sisters  being  as  follows :  Charles  H.  was  a  participant  in  the  Civil 
war,  serving  in  the  Twenty-eighth  Michigan  Infantry,  and  he  now  lives 
upon  the  old  homestead  in  Watson  township :  Ralph  died  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  years;  Alex  H.  is  a  resident  of  Trowbridge  township,  this  county; 
Mary  J.  married  Winslow  Feek  and  both  are  deceased :  Sarah  Maria  died 
at  the  age  of  four  years;  Elizabeth  became  the  wife  of  Daniel  Broclin  and 
both  are  dead. 

From  the  foregoing  it  will  be  seen  that  the  eldest  son.  William,  was 
only  four  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  from  New  York 
state  to  Michigan,  but  even  at  this  day  he  remembers  the  details  of  that 
long  journey  into  a  new  and  strange  country.  After  spending  four  years 
in  Allegan  village,  during  which  time  he  attended  school,  he  went  with 
his  father  and  mother  to  Watson  township  to  live.  An  idea  of  the  condi- 
tion of  the  country  at  that  time  may  be  gained  when  we  learn  that  the  only 
highways  were  tracks  through  the  woods  and  around  trees,  with  the  near- 
est neighbors  one  and  four  miles  distant.  Here  on  the  farm  on  section  9 
the  lad  remained  until  young  manhood,  when  in  1861  the  outbreak  of  the 
great  Civil  war  fired  his  imagination  and  his  patriotism.  He  enlisted  at 
Allegan  in  August  of  1862  in  Berdan's  Sharp  Shooters,  when  it  was  found 
that  the  register  was  full.  He  re-enlisted  in  Company  L  Fifth  Michigan 
Cavalry,  and  was  later  transferred  to  the  Fourth  Michigan  Cavalry.  He 
went  to  the  front  with  his  regiment.  He  was  in  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland, tinder  Thomas  and  Sherman,  and  one  of  his  first  active  duties 
consisted  of  soirtees  after  Morgan.  Later  he  was  in  Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee scouting,  and  afterward  joined  in  the  historic  march  of  Sherman  to 
Atlanta.  He  was  in  numerous  engagements  and  battles,  including  Chicka- 
mauga,  Murfreesboro  and  Atlanta,  being  fourteen  days  in  the  nfle  pitts, 
and  it  was  his  regiment  that  cut  the  railroads  around  Atlanta  With  the 
exception  of  a  brief  period  of  illness,  he  was  with  his  regiment  all  through 
the  campaign  and  also  participated  in  the  capture  of  the  Rebel  leader,  Jef- 
ferson Davis.  He  was  mustered  out  with  the  other  members  of  his  regi- 
ment at  Edgefield,  Tennessee,  in  July.  1865.  After  the  close  of  his  duties 
as  a  soldier  he  returned  to  the  family  home  in  Watson  township  and  on 
June  28.  1866,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Alice  Barbero,  daughter  of  Edwin 
and  Rachel  (Balding)  Barbero.  She  was  born  near  Chagrin  Falls,  Ohio, 
and  came  to  Allegan  county  with  her  parents  when  she  was  only  four  years 
old.  Our  subject's  early  life  had  been  passed  upon  the, farm,  with  occa- 
sional employment  in  the  lumber  camps  and  woods,  so  it  was  natural  that 
he  should  decide  upon  agriculture  as  a  life's  vocation.  In  the  autumn  fol- 
lowing his  marriage  he  selected  a  farm  for  himself  on  sections  24 
and  25,  Cheshire  township,  the  same  consisting  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres.  It  was  new  land,  there  being  only  a  few  acres  chopped 
off  when  he  bought  it.  He  soon  built  a  log  house  and  then  proceeded  to 
clear  his  farm,  which  he  accomplished  almost  unaided.  In  later  years  he 
built  a  most  comfortable  residence  and  also  excellent  barns  and  other 
buildings,  including  a  blacksmith  shop.  General  farming  was  followed 
until  a  few  years  ago,  since  which  time  he  has  devoted  more  attention  to 


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•164  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

the  dairy  line  and  fruit  growing.  For  ten  years  he  has  had  a  fine  stock  of 
Jersey  cows  and  pays  considerable  attention  to  milk  production,  his  product 
going  to  Merson.  His  farm  is  now  in  an  almost  perfect  state  of  cultivation 
and  in  addition  he  also  has  various  outside  interests,  including  stock  in  the 
celebrated  Allegan  Creamery.  Like  all  intelligent  farmers,  he  believes  in 
organizations  for  their  especial  benefit,  and  he  was  one  of  the  charter  mem- 
bers of  the  Grange  of  Watson  township,  although  now  belonging  to  Banner 
Grange,  of  Cheshire.  He  has  also  been  a  stockholder  in  the  Grange  store 
at  Allegan  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  this  insti- 
tution for  the  past  nine  years.  Politically  he  has  always  been  a  loyal  Repub- 
lican and  his  first  presidential  ballot  was  cast  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  since 
which  time  he  has  voted  for  every  Republican  candidate  for  this  exalted 
office.  His  fellow  townsmen  have  reposed  confidence  in  him  as  a  man  and 
faithful  officer  and  he  has  filled  numerous  local  offices,  being  township 
treasurer  of  Cheshire  for  six  years,  assessor  of  his  school  district  several 
terms  and  overseer  of  highways  several  times.  He  was  a  school  officer  dur- 
ing the  building  of  the  new  school  building  in  District  No.  8.  Fraternally 
he  is  affiliated  with  B.  F.  Chapin  Post,  No.  278,  G.  A.  R.,  and  has  filled 
nearly  every  office  in  the  post,  being  the  present  quartermaster. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rowe  have  three  children,  as  follows;  Cora,  wife  of 
John  Wehner,  of  Otsego  township;  Ed.,  who  runs  the  home  farm  and 
resides  here,  and  Shirley,  of  Minnesota. 

Leonard  M.  Webster  is  the  youngest  child  of  Charles  and  Sophia 
(Harriden)  Webster,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Vennont,  having  been 
married  there  and  after  several  years  removed  to  Medina  county,  Ohio. 
They  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  of  whom  CaroHne,  Solomon  and 
Harriet  are  deceased,  while  Marcena  is  now  a  resident  of  Trowbridge  town- 
ship, this  county.  The  father  died  in  Ohio,  April  5,  1851,  and  the  same 
year  the  widowed  mother  and  her  five  children  made  their  way  into  Mich- 
igan, crossing  Lake  Erie  by  boat  and  then  journeying  on  the  old  wooden 
rail  Michigan  Central  Railroad  from  Detroit  westward  into  Allegan  county. 
The  youngest  son,  Leonard,  was  only  sixteen  years  of  age  at  that  time  and 
he  stili  bears  a  vivid  recollection  of  the  journey,  which  in  those  days  was 
considered  a  long  and  tedious  one.  Leonard  was  bom  in  Medina  county, 
Ohio,  November  23,  1834.  In  the  journey  into  western  Michigan,  the  rail- 
road ran  only  as  far  as  Kalamazoo,  and  from  that  point  they  were  compelled 
to  travel  by  wagon  into  Allegan  county.  They  located  in  west  woods,  Trow- 
bridge township,  where  eighty  acres  of  new  land  were  secured  and  a  cabin 
erected  in  which  to  live.  Our  subject  remained  there  one  year,  working  at 
home  and  by  the  month  in  the  woods  with  team.  In  April  of  1853  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  O'Dell,  the  daughter  of  Benajah  and 
CaroHne  (Smith)  O'Dell,  both  of  Ohio,  where  Mrs.  O'Dell  died,  the  wid- 
owed father  afterward  coming  to  Michigan  with  his  family.  Sarah  O'Dell 
was  born  in  Catteraugus  county.  New  York,  February  23,  1837,  and  she 
was  only  fifteen  years  of  age  when  she  was  brought  to  Michigan  by  her 
father.  Their  home  was  in  Allegan  county,  where  the  daughter  grew  to 
young  womanhood  and  where  she  met  and  was  married  to  the  subject  of 
this  review.  After  marriage  they  both  worked  by  the  month  for  some 
time  and   then  they  bought  a  forty-acre   farm   in   Trowbridge   township. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUKTY  465 

In  this  township  they  owned  several  small  farms  and  finally  they  sold  out 
and  came  into  Cheshire  township,  buying  their  present  farm  on  section 
26  in  1877,  Here  Mr.  Webster  has  done  much  in  the  way  of  improve- 
ment, erecting  good  buildings  and  setting  out  many  trees,  this  place  now 
being  known  as  "Maple  Lane." 

In  August,  1864,  Mr.  Webster  enhsted  in  Company  I,  First  Michigan 
Engineers  and  Mechanics,  and  was  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  and 
also  in  the  memorable  march  of  Sherman  to  the  sea.  tie  was  honorably 
discharged  from  the  army  at  the  close  of  the  war,  at  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
June  3,  1865.  Like  many  others  who  endured  the  privations  and  hardships 
of  camp  life,  Mr.  Webster  had  his  health  and  constittition  shattered  thereby 
and  since  the  war  he  has  not  been  able  to  do  any  great  amount  of  hard 
labor.  Four  children  have  been  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Webster,  as  fol- 
lows :  Nellie  Melissa  Decker  is  deceased,  leaving  four  children ;  Lillie  is 
the  widow  of  Eugene  Relong  of  this  township,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren; Mary  is  the  wife  of  M.  D.  Cooley,  and  Caroline  is  the  wife  of  Irving 
Fox.  The  families  of  the  last  three  live  on  farms  adjoining  on  Eagle 
Lake  in  this  township.  This  is  a  popular  resort  and  all  of  the  places  are 
popular  with  summer  resorters,  who  find  comfortable  qiiarters  here. 

Mr.  Webster  has  been  a  Republican  all  of  his  life  and  his  first  vote  for 
president  was  cast  for  Fremont.  He  has  been  called  upon  to  fill  numerous 
offices,  having  been  justice  of  the  peace  one  term.  United  States  census 
enumerator  in  1880  and  1890,  and  a  school  officer  for  fifteen  years.  He  is 
a  member  of  Banner  Grange  of  Cheshire  township,  and  a  comrade  in  Ed- 
win Colvin  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Bloomingdale.  He  and  the  members  of  his 
family  are  also  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Blooming- 
dale. 

John  F.  Doud  is  another  of  the  pioneer  residents  of  Allegan  county 
who  has  not  only  been  a  witnes.s  of  the  development  of  this  section  from 
an  almost  unbroken  wilderness  to  its  present  status  of  productiveness  and 
general  prosperity  and  enterprise,  but  is  also  one  who  has  been  an  active 
participant  in  this  important  transformation. 

John  F.  Doud  is  a  native  of  Hum  Mountain  township,  Alleghany 
county.  New  York,  where  he  was  born  January  ii,  1829.  He  is  the  son 
of  John  and  Charlotte  (Trawl)  Doud,  who  were  among  the  worthy  pioneers 
of  Alleghany  county.  New  York,  that  region  being  almost  entirely  new 
when  they  settled  there.  They  made  this  county  their  permanent  home, 
passing  through  all  of  those  privations  incident  to  life  in  a  new  country, 
and  having  just  such  an  experience  as  was  to  be  that  of  their  son  in  Mich- 
igan a  ha!f-century  later.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  as  fol- 
lows :  Warren,  the  eldest,  came  to  Michigan  in  the  early  fifties  and  located 
in  Allegan.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade  and  worked  at  this  line  in  Alle- 
gan and  also  in  the  woods  in  Cheshire  tpwnship,  where  he  later  made  a 
home.  He  afterward  moved  to  Eaton  county  and  from  there  to  Chatta- 
nooga, Tennessee,  finally  returning  to  Michigan  and  locating  at  Coldwater, 
where  he  died.  Four  daughters.  Marilla,  Marian,  Charlotte  and  Lucretia, 
have  all  passed  away  and  the  only  surviving  member  of  this  large  family 
is  John  F.  Doud,  the  subject  of  this  review,  who  was  next  to  the  youngest 
of  the  children. 


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J6G  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

John  F.  Doud  remained  upon  the  home  farm  in  New  York  state  with 
his  parents  until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years,  when  he 
became  infected  with  the  western  fever,  then  so  rampant  in  the  east.  He 
went  first  to  Buffalo  and  then  by  boat  into  the  middle  west,  stopping  first 
in  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  where  he  spent  a  summer  and  a  winter.  Then  in  the 
spring  of  1857  he  retraced  steps  for  a  distance  and  came  to  Allegan  county, 
whither  his  brother,  Warren,  had  preceded  him  several  years.  Eager  with 
the  desire  to  possess  land  of  his  own  ht  stayed  only  a  few  days  in  Allegan 
and  then,  in  company  with  his  brother,  started  out  afoot  to  locate  a  farm. 
They  traveled  over  thifty  miles  the  first  day  and  on  the  way  shared  their 
dinner  with  Indians,  which  were  then  very  numerous  in  this  locality.  An 
idea  of  the  newness  of  the  country  may  be  obtained  when  we  state  that  at 
the  time  this  journey  was  made  there  were  only  twelve  families  living  in  the 
northern  half  of  Cheshire  township.  John  F.  selected  forty  acres  of  school 
land  on  section  16,  paying  forty  dollars  down.  So  limited  was  his 
exchequer  that  after  making  this  first  payment  upon  his  land  he  had  left 
only  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  in  cash.  His  other  belongings  were  also 
very  few,  for  all  he  had  he  carried  in  a  satchel.  He  went  to  work  for 
Richard  Ferris  in  a  little  sawmill,  receiving  one  dollar  per  day,  and  thus  he 
saved  enough  money  to  get  lumber  with  which  to  build  a  shanty.  This  ac- 
complished, he  at  once  sent  to  New  York  state  for  his  young  wife  and  she 
came  at  once  to  him,  bringing  with  her  a  very  few  belongings.  He  had 
been  marled  in  the  Empire  state  on  his  twenty-fifth  birthday  anniversary  to 
Sally  Ann  Wood.  She  was  born  in  Warsaw,  Wyoming  county.  New  York, 
in  1826,  the  daughter  of  William  and  Maria  Wood,  who  moved  from 
Wyoming  county  to  Allegheny  county  when  their  daughter  was  young.  Here 
the  twain  met  and  their  acquaintance  ripened  into  love  and  culminated  in 
an  early  marriage.  When  the  young  wife  first  joined  her  husband  in  Mich- 
igan it  was  plain  to  be  seen  that  there  was  a  hard  battle  before  them  to 
make  for  themselves  a  comfortable  home  here.  They  even  had  to  go  into 
debt  for  a  stove  and  other  household  furniture  and  the  money  to  pay  for 
this  outfit  was  earned  by  Mr.  Doud  by  chopping  in  the  woods. 

Then,  in  1862,  just  as  they  were  beginning  to  see  their  way  clear,  came 
the  Civil  war  and  the  young  husband  was  drafted  into  the  service  along  with 
many  others.  Our  subject,  however,  did  not  take  it  so  seriously  as  did 
some,  but  went  cheerfully  to  Kalamazoo  for  examination.  This  over,  he 
was  given  ten  days  to  either  find  a  substitute  or  report  for  service  and  after 
a  little  search  he  succeeded  in  borrowing  the  money  with  which  to  Obtain  a 
substitute.  Thus  they  were  again  placed  deeply  in  debt,  and  to  obtain  the 
necessary  money  quickiy  they  hired  out  to  work  in  a  lurtiber  camp  for  one 
season.  In  the  spring  of  1867  they  were  again  ready  to  renew  their  labors 
upon  their  farm,  and  here  they  afterward  remained.  They  prospered  and 
added  Ho  their  original  farm,  when  in  1874  death  claimed  fhe  loving  wife 
and  the  home  was  left  desolate.  One  son  was  born  to  them,  Willie,  and  he 
lived  to  be  eighteen  years  of  age,  then  being  killed  by  being  thrown  frbiri 
a  horse. 

In  November,  1^5,  Mf.  Dburf  was  married  to  Maty  Myers,  who  was 
bortt'  ih  Otsego,  Michigan,  in  1^846^,  She  wis  the  daughter  of  Charles  and 
Dally  Slyers,  natives  of  Ohio  and  rtfassachusetts,  respectively,  who  came 
here  in  an  early  day.    This  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  orte  son.  Jay, 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  467 

who  lives  upon  a  farm  in  this  township.    He  married  Dora  Slantz,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Claude  and  Stephen. 

The  Doud  hortie  is  a  pleasant  one  and  stands  upon  the  original  forty 
acres  which  Mr.  Doud  obtained  from  the  government.  The  farm  is  close 
to  the  little  village  of  Chicora,  or,  as  Mr.  Doud  styles  it,  "Jimtown,"  which 
is  a  thriving  little  settlement.  Here  our  subject  in  January,  1965,  leased  to 
the  Allegan  Creamery  Company  for  ninety-nine  years  a  plat  of  ground  on 
section  17,  just  oppo.site  the  residence,  upon  which  they  have  erected 
a  creamery  which  does  a  large  business.  This  lease  becomes  null  and  void 
if  the  premises  are  ever  used  for  any  purpose  except  a  creamery  and  .skim- 
ming station,  at  which  time  the  property  and  buildings  revert  back  to  the 
owner  or  his  assigns. 

Warner  W.  Spknchr  is  one  of  the  wide-awake  and  progressive  farm- 
ers of  the  township  of  Cheshire,  where  he-  has  lived  for  the  past  forty  years. 
He  has  advanced  ideas  in  agricultural  matters  and  is  not  content  to  keep 
in  the  old  rut  of  gerieral  farming  followed  by  so  many,  but  is  ever  eager 
to  learri  of  improved  methods  and  willing  to  experiment  along  new  lines 
which  promise  success  and  profit.  To  men  such  as  he  is  the  advanced  pros- 
perity of  this  country  in  an  agricultural  way  due,  for  when  they  demon- 
strate the  advantage  of  new  crops  or  improved  methods  of  raising  the  old 
ones,  others  follow  their  example  and  Mother  Earth  is  thus  encouraged  to 
give  of  her  best. 

Mr.  Spencer  is  the  son  of  John  R.  and  Sally  (Spencer)  Whitney,  na- 
tives of  the  states  of  New  York  and  Connecticut,  respectively.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  four  sons,  Warren  and  Warner,  who  were  twins; 
Elisha  and  Frank.  Warner  W.  was  born  in  Camden  township,  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  August  15,  1839.  For  several  good  reasons,  he  was  in  his  in- 
fancy taken  into  the  family  of  his  maternal  grandparents,  Elisha  and  Sylvia 
(Bacon)  Spencer,  natives  of  Connecticut  and  Vermont,  respectively.  Their 
own  children  had  grown  up  and  gone  away  into  homes  of  their  own  and 
they  took  by  adoption  Warner  and  also  a  daughter.  Thus  the  boy's  name 
became  Spencer,  instead  of  Whitney,  and  he  has  retained  this  name  ever 
since.  He  was  carefully  reared  by  these  grandparents  arid  the  young  man 
repaid  the  debt  so  far  as  he  was  able  by  caring  for  them  in  their  later  years. 
They  both  passed  away  before  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  and  thus  bein^ 
left  without  any  near  ties  of  relationship  he  promptly  responded  to  the  first 
call  of  his  country  for  volunteers  and  enlisted  in  i8i5i  in  Company  H  of  the 
Eighth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Captain  Starr.  He  was  sent  to 
Camp  Dennison  and  there  re-enlisted  for  three  years  in  Company  I  of  the 
same  regiment,  under  Captain  Allen.  He  was  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
and  he  participated  in  all  the  numerous  engagements  of  his  regiment,  with 
the  exception  of  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run  and  the  Antietam  fight,  he 
bemg  dl  m  hospital  upon  both  of  these  occasions.  After  tw-p  years  or'  serv- 
ice he  was  discharged  on  account  of  physical  disability.  He  weighed  two 
hundred  and  tWo  pounds  before  going  to  Petersburg  and  at  the  time  of  his 
discharge  was  reduced  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  pounds.  After  his 
discharge  he  returned  to  OMo,  where  he  wtirked  by  the  month  on  a  farm 
for  one  summer  atid  the  following  winter  in  the  Woods."  He  was  then  en- 
gaged about  a  year  on  a  government  contract,  getting  out  wood  hubs  and 


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468  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

spokes  for  the  artillery.  He  then  worked  at  the  cooperage  business  for  a 
number  of  months  and  this  was  followed  by  his  going  into  the  dairy  busi- 
ness on  a  farm  in  partnership  with  another,  their  farm  being-  n  ;ar  Welling- 
ton, Ohio.  They  ran  this  one  season  and  then  Mr.  Spencer  came  to 
Cheshire  township  in  1866  and  located  upon  his  present  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  on  section  19,  where  he  has  lived  ever  since.  At 
the  time  of  his  purchase  this  farm  was  all  timber  land  and  he  cut  the  first 
tree  in  the  operation  of  clearing.  He  now  has  about  one  hundred  acres 
under  cultivation,  forty  acres  of  pasture  and  the  remainder  is  a  fine  tim- 
ber lot.  On  the  farm  are  two  dwellings  and  other  substantial  buildings, 
including  a  fine  barn  forty-two  by  sixty-four  feet  in  size,  with  twenty-foot 
posts  and  a  ten-foot  basement.  The  place  is  known  as  Hickory  Grove 
Farm,  from  a  large  grove  of  fine  hickories  thereon.  The  specialties  are 
fruit  and  dairying.  From  ten  to  fifteen  cows  have  been  milked  for  the 
past  fifteen  years,  and  there  is  a  vast  amount  of  fruit  on  the  place.  He 
has  set  out  seven  acres  of  peaches,  eight  acres  of  apples  and  two  acres 
of  pears,  plums  and  cherries,  his  trees  being  thrifty  and  good  bearers. 

Politically  Mr.  Spencer  is  a  Republican,  and  he  has  been  elected  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  for  consecutive  terms,  refusing,  however  to  qualify  for 
the  last  term.  I-^e  has  been  a  school  officer  for  a  number  of  years  and 
was  assessor  of  his  district  at  the  time  of  the  building  of  the  new  school 
house.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church  of  Cheshire,  in 
which  he  is  an  active  worker,  being  chairman  of  the  board  of  trustees 
ever  since  the  church  was  built,  and  chairman  of  the  board  of  finance,  as 
well  as  being  steward  and  class  leader.  His  brothers,  Elisha  and  Frank, 
also  served  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  each  of  the  three  putting  in  three 
years  or  more,  and  two  of  them  receiving  bullet  wounds.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1864  to  Naoraa  A.  Waite,  who  was  born  in  Vermont,  July  27, 
1835.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Levi  and  Sarah  (Randall)  Waite.  They 
removed  to  New  York  state  and  later  to  Ohio,  where  she  was  married. 

Two  children  have  been  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spencer,  as  follows: 
George  Wesley,  born  March  18,  1866,  was  accidentally  shot  and  killed 
December  i,  1897,  after  returning  from  a  hunting  expedition.  He  left 
a  widow  and  one  child,  Evelina.  Anna  N.,  the  daughter  of  the  family, 
is  the  wife  of  Albert  H.  Flannigan,  of  Peoria,  Illinois. 

Rev.  Joseph  Cross,  who  has  been  an  active  and  valued  factor  in  the 
moral  development  of  Cheshire  township,  and  who  is  also  engaged  suc- 
cessfully in  farming,  was  born  in  northern  Alabama,  near  the  Tennessee 
line,  May  10,  1844.  There  he  remained  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  when 
he  came  alone  to  Oakland  county.  Michigan,  and  for  about  a  year  was 
employed  at  farm  labor.  At  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  he  was  a  stalwart 
charfipion  of  the  Union  cause  and  enlisted  from  Springfield  township,  Oak- 
land county,  Michigan,  February  26,  1864,  in  the  First  Michigan  Colored 
Infantry.  He  was  afterward  transferred  to  the  One  Hundred  and  Second 
United  States  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  did  active  duty  in  South  Carolina, 
North  Carolina,  Florida  and  Georgia,  participating  in  all  of  the  engage- 
ments with  his  regiment  until  mustered  out  on  the  28th  of  October,  1865. 

When  the  war  was  over  and  Rev.  Cross  had  done  his  full  part  in 
upholding  the  Union  and  in  establishing  freedom  in  the  south,  he  returned 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  469 

to  Oakland  county,  Michigan,  where  he  resumed  farming.  After  a  brief 
period,  however,  he  removed  to  Cass  county,  this  state,  arid  for  nine  years 
resided  within  its  borders,  being  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  account. 
He  worked  industriously  and  perseveringly  and  gained  the  capital  which 
made  it  possible  for  him  to  purchase  land.  His  first  property  consisted  of  a 
tract  of  forty  acres,  which  he  cultivated  for  some  time.  Later,  however,  he 
sold  this  and  rented  a  farm  of  others.  In  1876,  however,  he  came  to  his 
present  farm  on  section  25,  Cheshire  township,  comprising  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land.  In  fact,  he  has  two  farms  here  with  two  sets  of 
buildings,  one  being  a  tract  of  forty  acres,  while  the  other  comprises  eighty 
acres,  and  both  are  situated  on  section  25.  The  eighty  acres  have  been 
improved  by  Rev.  Cross,  who  has  erected  good  buildings  upon  it  and  has 
devoted  his  land  to  general  farming  purposes,  producing  good  crops  and 
having  a  well-kept  place. 

For  the  past  twenty  years  the  Rev.  Joseph  Cross  has  been  a  clergyman 
of  the  Baptist  church,  having  been  ordained  about  fifteen  years  ago.  He 
was  pastor  of  a  church  in  Cass  cotinty  in  i8go  and  1891,  and  also  for  one 
year  at  Benton  Harbor,  while  the  remainder  of  the  time  he  has  found  his 
field  for  ministerial  labor  in  Allegan  county.  He  was  instrumental  recently 
in  building  a  new  church  called  the  Messiah  Baptist  church,  at  Cheshire, 
and  has  a  congregation  numbered  between  forty  and  fifty.  He  was  the 
founder  of  the  Baptist  church  in  this  locality,  organizing  the  congregation 
in  1895.  During  that  time  there  has  been  a  steady  increase  in  the  member- 
ship, and  although  death  has  removed  many,  others  have  been  added  and 
the  work  of  the  church  has  been  carried  steadily  forward.  Rev.  Cross  was 
first  identified  with  the  Chain  Lake  Baptist  Association,  and  since  that 
time  he  ha.s  put  forth  earnest  and  far-reaching  effort  for  the  moral  develop- 
ment of  his  people. 

He  was  married  in  Cass  county  in  1867  to  Miss  Susan  Jones,  who  was 
born  in  North  Carolina,  March  12,  1843.  Their  children  are:  Lavina 
Jane,  the  deceased  wife  of  Frank  Turner;  William  Isaiah,  who  is  married 
and  is  upon  the  home  farm  with  his  father ;  Joseph  F.,  who  is  living  in 
Copper  township,  Kalamazoo  county,  and  Charles,  who  also  resides  in  the 
same  locality. 

In  his  political  views  Rev.  Mr.  Cross  has  always  been  a  stalwart 
Republican  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  party  and  its  work.  He 
belongs  to  B.  F.  Chapin  Post,  No.  287.  G.  A.  R.,  of  Cheshire  township. 
Always  a  hard  worker,  he  is  an  industrious  and  a  self-made  man,  who  owes 
his  success  to  his  own  efforts.  He  has  been  called  the  Booker  T.  Wash- 
ington of  Allegan  county  and  has  a  marked  influence  with  his  people,  and 
his  efforts  are  always  put  forth  on  the  side  of  right,  progress,  truth  and 
justice. 

James  Winchell.  who  is  the  second  largest  land  owner  in  the  town- 
ship of  Cheshire  and  reputed  its  wealthiest  man,  is  one  who  has  unaided 
made  his  way  through  life,  performing  all  of  its  duties  as  they  presented 
themselves  and  ever  acquitting  himself  honorably.  In  time  of  peace  he 
gave  his  attention  to  his  usual  avocations,  working  industriously  and  ac- 
cumulating property,  and  when  the  call  came  he  bravely  went  to  the  front 
and  defended  his  country's  honor.     Then,  the  conflict  settled,  he  returned 


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470  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

sadly  disabled  to  his  peaceful  labors,  handicapped,  to  be  sure,  from  his 
physical  disability,  but  never  complaining,  and  by  his  industry  and  energy 
succeeding  where  many  a  physically  perfect  man  has  failed. 

James  Winchell  is  a  native  of  the  township  of  Lee,  Oneida  county, 
Xew  York,  where  he  was  born  March  24,  1835.  His  parents  were  John 
and  Nancy  (Richards)  Winchell,  both  of  whom  were  New  Yorkers  by 
birth,  the  former  being  a  native  of  Oneida  county  and  the  latter  of  Broome 
county.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  four  of  whom  died  in 
infancy,  the  six  to  reach  maturity  being  as  follows :  Henry  served  two 
years  and  three  months  under  General  Crook  and  was  a  sergeant  in  a 
cavalry  company.  He  was  shot  and  killed  at  Cloud  Mountain.  Seth,  the 
second  son,  also  served  over  two  years  in  the  same  conflict  in  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Forty-second  New  York  Infantry.  He  was  shot  through  the  left 
arm'at  Fort  Fisher,  North  CaroHna,  January  16,  1865.  After  the  close  of 
the  war  he  was  accidentally  killed  while  assisting  at  a  barn  raising  in  the 
state  of  New  York.  Marriette  married,  and  both  herself  and  husband  are 
deceased.  Elmerine  married  Arthur  Higham,  of  Crispan,  New  York.  The 
parents,  John  and  Nancy  Winchell,  spent  their  entire  lives  in  the  state  of 
New  York. 

James  Winchell  was  reared  upon  the  home  farin  in  New  York, 
where  he  remained  until  the  opening  of  the  great  Civil  conflict.  Then  he 
enlisted  in  December,  1861,  in  Company  D,  Berdan's  First  Regiment  of 
Sharpshooters.  He  was  in  the  battles  and  skiniiishes  at  Yorktown,  New- 
port, Hanover  Court  House.  Gaines  Mills,  Fair  Oaks  and  others,  and  in 
the  seven  days'  fight  at  Gaines  Mills  he  lost  his  left  arm,  this  being  in  1862. 
Here  also  he  was  taken  prisoner  and  remained  a  captive  for  thirty  days, 
finally  being  exchanged  and  returned  to  his  former  home  in  New  York. 
There  he  remained  until  1870,  when  he  thought  to  better  his  fortunes  in 
the  West.  He  came  to  Michigan  and  settled  in  Allegan  county,  selecting  a 
home  in  Cheshire  township.  His  first  purchase  was  one  hundred  and 
twenty-nine  acres,  to  which  he  afterward  added  eighty  acres.  This  land 
was  unimproved,  with  the  exception  of  forty  acres  which  had  been  cleared 
and  a  shanty  built.  Undeterred  by  the  loss  of  one  of  his  arms,  he  set  reso- 
lutely to  work  and  continued  the  improvement  of  the  place  which  was  to 
be  his  home  for  so  many  years  thereafter.  Although  it  seems  almost 
incredible,  nevertheless  it  is  a  fact  that  he  performed  all  kinds  of  work 
upon  the  farm,  even  chopping  and  logging  unaided  and  guiding  the  plow 
and  other  tools.  Each  year  saw  considerable  improvement  in  the  place, 
until  today  it  is  one  of  the  model  farm  homes  in  this  part  of  the  county, 
with  broad  and  fertile  fields,  a  handsome  and  commodious  dwelling  house 
and  the  best  of  barns  and  other  buildings.  The  farm  is  beautifully  located 
upon  the  banks  of  Swan  Lake,  which  is  a  popular  summer  resort,  and  the 
residence  stands  facing  the  lake,  with  only  the  highway  running  between 
it  and  the  shore,  thus  giving  a  magnificent  view  of  the  waters. 

Mr.  Winchell  was  married  in  1865  to  Matilda  Simon,  daughter  of 
Hartman  and  Amelia  (Houghton)  Simon,  who  were  natives  of  Baden, 
Germany,  where  they  were  married  and  where  their  daughter  was  also 
born,  December  2.  1844.  She  came  to  America  with  her  parents  when  she 
was  only  three  years  old,  they  locating  in  New  York  state,  where  the 
remainder  of  their  lives  were  passed.     There  also  the  daughter  met  and 


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married  James  Winchel!,  and  to  them  were  born  four  children,  only  one  of 
whom,  Amelia,  is  now  living,  her  home  being  in  Wisconsin.  Those  who 
have  passed  away  are  as  follows:  Charles  D.,  the  eldest,  died  here  in 
December,  1905,  leaving  a  widow,  but  no  children:  John  D.  died  in 
infancy,  and  James,  the  youngest,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years.  The 
wife  and  mother  passed  away  in  April,  1899. 

And  now,  after  a  long  Hfe  of  activity  and  usefulness,  James  Winchell 
is  enjoying  a  well-deserved  rest  from  arduous  labor,  although  he  still  keeps 
employed  in  various  ways.  All  his  life  he  has  been  a  stanch  Republican, 
casting  his  first  presidential  ballot  for  Fremont  and  continuing  to  vote  for 
each  Republican  candidate  for  President.  He  has  always  taken  an  interest 
in  politics  and  has  been  called  upon  to  fill  numerous  positions  of  trust  and 
resfH)nsibiIity.  He  was  township  collector  in  New  York  state  for  several 
years  and  in  his  Michigan  home  served  as  highway  commissioner  for  no 
less  than  ten  terms.  As  a  man  of  affairs  he  is  often  consulted  by  others 
and  his  fellow  townsmen  have  a  very  high  opinion  of  his  good  judgment. 
Of  late  years  he  has  leased  his  fine  farm,  although  maintaining  a  home 
here  with  the  tenants,  and  the  cold  winters  almost  invariably  see  him  in 
California  for  the  season. 

Marcus  A.  Ferris,  who  is  one  of  the  largest  land  owners  in  the  town- 
!hip  of  Cheshire,  as  well  as  one  of  its  most  intelligent  and  progressive 
farmers,  is  a  native  of  this  township,  where  he  was  born  December  17, 
1857,  and  where  he  has  lived  ever  since  upon  the  same  farm,  which  is 
located  on  section  seventeen.  Mr.  Ferris  is  justly  proud  of  his  ancestry 
and  a  suitable  review  of  the  same  in  this  connection  is  most  appropriate. 
His  father.  Hon.  Richard  Ferris,  was  the  seventh  in  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren and  he  was  bom  in  the  town  of  Butler,  Wayne  county.  New  York, 
August  7,  1822.  Until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age  he  remained  upon  the 
farm  of  his  father  in  the  Empire  state,  and  then  he  began  life  for  himself. 
In  1842  he  decided  that  the  middle  west,  which  was  in  those  days  called 
the  far  west,  was  the  place  for  a  young  man  to  achieve  success,  and  accord- 
ingly he  went  into  Indiana,  stopping  at  Mishawaka,  where  he  stayed  for 
some  time,  working  summers  on  a  farm  and  the  remainder  of  the  year  in 
a  sawmill.  Then  he  came  to  Michigan  and  worked  for  some  eight  months 
in  Cass  county.  By  this  time  he  realized  that  a  man  without  education  was 
greatly  handicapped  in  the  contest  for  a  comfortable  livelihood,  so  he 
returned  to  Mishawaka  and  attended  a  select  school  during  one  winter  and 
in  the  spring  went  to  work  again  in  the  millyard,  his  wages  at  this  time 
being  only  twenty  dollars  per  month.  His  employer,  William  Milburn, 
soon  realized  that  there  was  ability  in  the  young  man  and  he  promoted 
him  to  head  sawyer  and  finally  gave  the  entire  mill  into  his  management. 
Here  he  remained  constantly  from  1845  ^ntil  1851,  with  the  exception  of 
one  year  passed  in  study  at  Notre  Dame  University,  where  he  acquired 
much  useful  knowledge.  April  19,  1851,  Mr.  Ferris  married  Miss  Hannah 
Milburn,  a  sister  of  his  employer.  He  passed  one  summer  in  a  sawmill 
at  Lawrence,  Michigan,  teaching  school  in  the  winter,  and  then  returned 
to.  Mishawaka  again,  where  he  purchased  an  interest  in  a  new  sawmill 
which  had  been  established  there.  After  operating  it  a  short  time  he 
returned  to  Lawrence  and  bought  an  interest  in  another  sawmill,  which  he 


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47^  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

operated  until  1854.  Then  selling  this  property,  he  came  into  Allegan 
county  and  settled  upon  a  four  hundred  and  eighty  acre  tract  of  new  land 
in  Cheshire  township,  where  he  built  a  log  house  of  unusually  large  dimen- 
sions and  began  to  clear  his  land. 

In  the  spring  following  his  arrival  he  built  a  sawmill  and  ran  it  suc- 
cessfully for  a  number  of  years,  when  it  burned.  Nothing  daunted,  he 
erected  another  mill,  b«t  when  the  water  power  which  operated  it  failed  a 
few  years  later  he  gave  up  lumbering  operations  altogether  and  devoted  his 
entire  attention  to  farming.  He  sold  a  portion  of  his  tract  of  land,  reserv- 
ing three  hundred  and  forty  acres,  and  in  a  few  years  he  had  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  this  under  cultivation  and  had  many  improvements.  His 
house,  which  was  erected  in  i860,  was  for  many  years  the  finest  dwelling 
in  the  township,  and  his  other  buildings  were  on  a  par  with  it.  In  later 
years  he  devoted  a  great  deal  of  attention  to  raising  fine  stock  in  the  way 
of  sheep  and  draft  and  coach  horses,  and  he  did  much  to  improve  the  class 
of  live  stock  in  this  vicinity. 

It  was  but  natural  that  a  man  of  Mr.  Ferris'  ability  and  energy  should 
take  a  prominent  part  in  the  public  affairs  of  his  township  and  coimty,  and 
for  years  he  was  considered  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  this  section.  In 
educational  affairs  his  deep  interest  led  to  his  selection  as  a  school  officer 
and  he  served  his  district  faithfully  in  this  direction  for  many  years,  also 
acting  for  a  number  of  years  as  township  school  Inspector.  He  was  also 
township  clerk  here  and  in  Lawrence  township.  Van  Buren  county.  Mr. 
Ferris  was  during  the  most  of  his  life  an  ardent  Republican  and  his  first 
presidential  vote  was  cast  for  Henry  Clay,  In  the  early  history  of  Cheshire 
township  he  was  a  power  for  his  party  and  he  did  much  to  give  the  town- 
ship its  long  continued  Republican  majorities.  In  1870  he  was  chosen  as 
representative  from  his  district  in  the  state  legislature,  and  here  his  sterling 
qualities  were  evident.  He  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  lumber,  a 
member  of  the  committee  on  prisons,  and  also  a  member  of  the  joint  com- 
mittee of  both  houses  appointed  to  visit  the  penal  and  reformatory  institu- 
tions of  the  state. 

Although  his  affiliations  were  for  so  many  years  with  the  Republican 
party,  nevertheless  Mr.  Ferris  was  always  deeply  interested  in  temperance 
work  and  he  did  great  good  in  this  direction.  Ever  obedient  to  the  dictates 
of  his  conscience,  he  thought  he  saw  great  financial  relief  in  the  free  silver 
movement  and  he  bravely  differed  from  his  party  on  this  question  and 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life  advocated  the  free  silver  doctrine.  Mr. 
Ferris  was  reared  as  a  Catholic,  although  in  his  later  years  he  was  not 
affiliated  with  this  faith.  He  was  an  organizer  and  fatihfu!  member  of  the 
Allegan  County  Pioneer  Society,  and  for  many  years  a  meeting  of  this 
organization  was  not  considered  complete  without  his  cheerful  presence. 
He  had  had  much  to  do  with  the  history  of  the  township  and  county  and 
he  possessed  a  most  interesting  fund  of  reminiscence.  He  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life  upon  the  farm  which  he  had  made,  and  here  he  died 
May  28,  1904.  Mrs.  Ferris  was  a  most  capable  helpmeet  for  her  worthy 
husband  during  his  long  and  successful  career.  She  was  an  earnest  mem- 
ber of  the  Church  of  England  and  was  noted  for  her  generous  and  charita- 
ble deeds.  Her  death  preceded  that  of  her  husband,  she  passing  away 
November  15,  1900.     They  were  the  parents  of  four  children,  as  follows; 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  473 

William  M.  is  a  resident  of  this  township ;  Mary  E.  married  Robert  O'Brien 
and  she  is  now  deceased;  Marcus  A.  is  the  subject  of  this  review,  and 
Joseph  G.  is  deceased. 

Marcus  A.  was  reared  upon  the  home  farm  and  this  has  been  his  home 
ever  since.  Witli  his  father's  example  before  him  it  .is  no  wonder  that  he 
became  a  capable  man  and  a  good  farmer.  He  is  the  present  owner  of  the 
old  homestead  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  and  he  has  continued  the 
improvements  started  by  the  senior  Mr.  Ferris  until  now  "Swan  Creek 
Stock  Farm"  is  one  of  the  finest  places  in  Allegan  county.  Ahhough  it  has 
always  been  a  general  purpose  farm,  the  present  owner  is  determined  to 
make  it  in  the  future  a  model  dairy  farm,  and  here  we  find  some  excellent 
strains  of  Jersey  and  Holstein  cattle.  Mr.  Ferris  was  married  in  1890  to 
Miss  Florence  V.  Motter.  who  was  born  in  Lee  township,  April  ig,  1870. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  George  and  Mary  J.  (Smith)  Motter,  who  were 
natives  respectively  of  Ohio  and  Indiana.  They  were  married  in  Indiana 
and  came  to  Lee  township  in  1866.  with  a  family  of  five  children,  two  more 
being  born  after  they  became  residents  of  this  section.  They  passed  the 
remainder  of  their  hves  here,  where  the  wife  and  mother  died  at  the  age 
of  forty-eight,  the  husband  and  father  passing  away  at  the  advanced  age  of 
seventy-two. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marcus  Ferris  have  had  seven  children,  as  follows: 
Hannah  B.,  Joseph  G..  Harold,  Carl,  Henry  Howard,  Jannette  and  Richard. 
All  are  living  with  the  exception  of  Henry  Howard,  who  was  accidentally 
drowned  when  two  and  one -half  years  old. 

Mr.  Ferris  was  always  a  Republican  until  the  advent  of  Bryan,  since 
which  time  he  has  advocated  the  doctrines  of  this  brilliant  westerner.  He 
has  never  accepted  public  office,  although  his  counsel  and  good  judgment 
are  eagerly  sought  on  many  matters.  He  is  a  member  of  Deer  Lake  Grange 
and  the  Cheshire  K.  O.  T.  M.  He  is  devoted  to  his  family,  and  his  fine 
farm  and  his  home  is  one  of  the  model  farm  places  in  the  prosperous 
county  of  Allegan. 

JuDSON  D.  Wedge,  who  is  engaged  in  general  fanning  on  section 
8,  Cheshire  township,  was  born  near  Forestville,  Ontario,  Canada,  Avigust 
18,  1875.  His  paternal  grandparents  were  both  natives  of  Toronto. 
Canada,  and  were  representatives  of  old  Ontario  families  who  located  in 
that  portion  of  the  countri-  during  the  pioneer  epoch  in  its  history.  The 
Wedge  family  is  of  English  lineage,  but  was  founded  in  America  at  an 
early  day.  The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Jordan  and  Hannah  (Parker) 
Wedge,  who  were  likewise  natives  of  Ontario  but  now  reside  upon  a  farm 
near  Carsonville,  Michigan.  Their  children  were  two  in  number — Judson 
D.  and  Pearl  Arthur. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of  our  subject  we  present  to  our 
readers  the  life  record  of  one  who  is  widejy  and  favorably  known  in 
Allegan  county.  He  was  reared  upon  a  farm  in  the  place  of  his  nativity 
until  thirteen  years  of  age,  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  Sanilac,  Michigan,  near  Carsonville,  there  remaining  from  the 
fall  until  the  following  spring,  when  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  he  went 
to  Chicago  and  became  connected  with  the  commission  business,  being  for 
eleven  years  an  employe  in  the  wholesale  fruit  house  of  Parker  Brothers. 


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474  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

He  became  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  trade  in  principle  and  detail  and 
for  three  years  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself  in  the  metropolis,  on  the 
txpiration  of  which  period  he  sold  his  interest  to  other  members  of  the 
firm.  The  business  is  still  conducted  under  the  style  of  Hall,  Wedge  & 
Carter.  In  1901  Mr.  Wedge  had  purchased  his  present  fann  in  connection 
with  his  father  and  brother  an<l  removing  from  the  city  to  Allegan,  he 
ictively  began  farm  work.  After  two  years  he  purchased  the  interest  of 
(he  other  members  of  the  firm  in  this  property  and  now  owns  and  conducts 
the  farm  alone  on  section  8,  Cheshire  township.  The  entire  place  is 
under  cultivation  with  the  exception  of  a  ten-acre  sugar  bush,  and  there 
are  good  buildings  and  inany  modern  equipments.  In  connection  with  gen- 
eral farming  lie  carries  on  the  dairy  business  and  is  also  engaged  in  raising 
hogs  and  sheep.  In  all  departments  of  his  work  he  displays  keen  discrimina- 
tion and  has  secured  a  goodly  measure  of  success  that  shows  he  is  a  man 
of  considerable  adaptability,  for  leaving  mercantile  life  he  took  up  farm- 
work,  with  which  lie  was  at  that  time  largely  imfamiliar.  and  soon  through 
experience,  observation  an<l  study,  learned  the  best  methods  of  caring  for 
the  fields  and  the  stock. 

Mr.  Wedge  was  married  in  Chicago,  January  25,  1896,  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Freund,  a  native  of  Fond  du  Lac,  Wisconsin,  and  a  daughter  of  Mr, 
and  Mrs.  Peter  Freund.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Germany  and  came 
to  the  United  States  in  early  life.  They  were  married  in  this  country  and 
unto  them  were  born  fourteen  chiklren^seven  sons  and  seven  daughters. 
All  are  now  living,  most  of  them  being  residents  of  Fond  du  I-ac.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wedge  have  been  born  four  children — Wilmont  Emerson, 
Howard  Stanley,  Elmer  Clayton  and  Harvey  Alvin.  I'oth  Air.  and  Mrs. 
Wedge  hold  membership  in  the  United  Brethren  church  at  Chicora.  and  his 
political  allegiance  is  given  to  the  Republican  party,  but  he  is  not  actively 
interested  in  politics  to  the  extent  of  seeking  office,  as  he  prefers  to  concen- 
trate his  energies  npon  his  business  interfsts,  in  which  he  is  meeting  with 
signal  success. 

Tkow nun )(;[■:  Towx-^Tiir. 

Wiu.iAM  HiiMMETT.  who  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  was  identified 
with  the  farming  interests  of  Allegan  county,  was  a  native  of  England,  in 
which  coimtry  he  was  reared  and  educated.  There  he  provided  for  his 
own  support  by  working  in  the  factories,  and  shortly  after  his  marriage, 
believing  that  he  might  have  better  business  opportunities  in  the  new  world, 
he  came  to  America  with  his  wife  and  one  child.  He  remained  in  the 
Empire  state  until  1855,  spending  the  greater  part  of  the  time  in  Niagara 
coimty,  and  then  came  to  Michigan,  settling  on  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  on 
section  twenty-one,  Trowbridge  township,  Allegan  county,  where  he  spent 
his  remaining  days,  liis  time  and  energies  being  given  to  the  work  of  tlic 
farm  in  its  various  branches.  When  he  purchased  the  farm  it  was  covered 
with  the  native  growth  of  timber.  He  cleared  away  the  trees  and  placed 
the  fields  under  the  plow,  his  cultivation  transforming  the  soil  into  a  very 
productive  tract  of  land. 

Mr.  Hemmett  was  married  in  England  to  Miss  Mary  Riordon,  a  native 
of  Ireland,  who  died  here  in  1872,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  In  their 
family  were  eight  children — Sarah,  who  was  born  in  England  and  is  now 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  CC^UNTY  4?5 

deceased;  John,  who  was  born  in  New  York  and  enhstcd  in  February,  1864, 
as  a  member  of  the  First  Michigan  Light  Artillery,  his  death  occurring 
August  22,  1864,  in  the  hospital  at  Atlanta,  Georgia;  William,  a  resident 
of  Nebraska;  Esther  Helen,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years;  Mary  H. ; 
Thomas,  who  died  when  but  nine  months  old ;  Thomas  G.,  now  living  in 
Nebraska,  and  Margaret,  who  became  the  wife  of  James  Kent  and  died  in 
1879.  The  death  of  the  father  occurred  on  the  farm  in  1880,  when  he  was 
about  sixty-five  years  of  age.  He  was  a  self-made  man  who  came  to  the 
new  world  practically  empty-handed,  but  he  worked  diligently  and  per- 
sistently and  his  labors  resulted  in  the  acquirement  of  a  good  farm  property 
which  has  remained  in  possession  of  the  family  to  the  present  year.  In  1906 
his  daughter  Mary  disposed  of  it. 

William  D.  Russell,  engaged  in  general  farming  on  section  twenty- 
nine,  Trowbridge  township,  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  state,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  in  Covington  township,  Livingston  county,  July  28,  1842.  He 
was  only  five  years  of  age  when  brought  to  Kalamazoo  county,  Michigan, 
by  his  parents,  Lester  and  Adaline  B.  (Hotchkiss)  Russell.  The  father  was 
bom  in  New  York  in  1814,  and  spent  his  entire  life  in  that  state  and  in 
Michigan.  During  the  greater  part  of  his  business  career  he  was  a  mill- 
wright but  also  conducted  a  fanu  and  spent  his  last  days  in  Otsego  town- 
ship, Allegan  county,  where  he  passed  away  in  his  eighty-fifth  year.  He 
was  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  millwrights  in  this  part  of  the  country  and 
possessed  considerable  inventive  genius  which  resulted  in  the  manufacture 
of  useful  devices  along  the  hues  of  his  work.  He  held  membership  in  the 
Adventist  church  and  was  a  gentleman  of  upright  purpose  and  high  prin- 
ciples. His  wife  died  prior  to  the  removal  of  the  family  from  New  York  to 
Michigan,  leaving  two  children,  William  D.  and  Leroy.  the  latter  now  de- 
ceased. The  father  was  five  times  married,  his  first  wife  being  a  sister  of 
the  mother  of  our  subject.  By  another  marriage  he  had  a  son  and  daughter. 
He  lost  all  his  wives  by  death. 

At  the  time  of  the  removal  of  the  family  from  New  York  to  Michigan 
a  settlement  was  made  in  Cooper  township,  Kalamazoo  county.  The  jour- 
ney was  by  way  of  the  lakes  and  thence  across  the  country  to  their  destina- 
tion. The  voyage  was  such  a  rough  one  that  it  left  an  indelible  impression 
upon  the  mind  of  William  D.  Riissell,  who,  however,  at  that  time  was  only 
five  years  of  age.  After  living  for  two  or  three  years  in  Kalamazoo  county 
the  family  came  to  Allegan  county,  settling  in  Otsego  township.  After  a 
number  of  years  the  father  built  a  mill  on  Pine  creek  on  the  Kalamazoo 
river  and  in  his  youth  William  D.  Russell  assisted  his  father  in  the  work 
of  the  farm  and  of  the  mill,  remaining  with  him  until  twenty-one  years  of 
age.  He  then  purchased  a  tract  of  land  at  Otsego,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  for  a  number  of  years.  Later  his  father  purchased  a  mill  and  tract 
of  land  in  Monterey  township,  and  Mr.  Russell  of  this  review  was  with  him 
for  a  few  years.  He  then  came  to  Allegan  township  and  after  spending 
four  years  on  a  farm  within  its  borders  removed  to  Trowbridge  township 
on  the  1st  of  April,  1880.  He  has  since  resided  upon  his  present  farm,  com- 
prising forty-seven  and  a  half  acres  of  land  on  section  29.  The 
greater  part  of  it  was  covered  with  timber  when  it  came  into  his  posses- 
sion and  there  were  no  buildings.     Today  it  is  a  well  improved  property 


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4?()  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

al!  under  cultivation  and  liis  dwelling  is  the  best  in  the  township.  He  has 
given  his  time  and  attention  to  his  farm  work  and  his  labors  find  visible  evi- 
dence in  his  splendidly  improved  property.  On  the  r5th  of  July,  1906,  he 
lost  his  home  by  fire  but  has  since  purchased  a  fine  residence  adjoining. 

In  i866  Mr.  Russell  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Emma  G.  Randall, 
who  was  born  near  Ada,  in  Kent  county,  Michigan,  August  25,  1848,  and 
died  in  Kalamazoo,  meeting  her  death  in  an  accident  on  the  4th  of  January, 
1904.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Ursula  Randall,  and  by  her  marriage  had  one 
son,  Clifford  A.,  who  is  now  living  in  Otsego  township.  He  wedded  Delia 
Odell,  a  native  of  Trowbridge  township,  and  they  have  three  children,  Har- 
old, Mildred  and  Hollis.  On  the  15th  of  Atigust,  1906,  Mr.  Russell  was 
again  married,  his  second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Cummins,  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  White. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Russell  is  a  stalwart  Republican  but  without 
aspiration  for  office.  He  belongs  to  the  Seventh  Day  Adventist  church  at 
Allegan  and  is  serving  as  one  of  its  deacons.  Closely  associated  with  in- 
dustrial and  agricultural  interests  in  this  county  for  many  years  he  has  lived 
a  life  of  activity  and  his  prosperity  is  the  measure  of  his  ability,  making  him 
one  of  the  representative  and  leading  farmers  of  Allegan  county, 

Fked  B.  McCarn  is  living  on  section  18,  Trowbridge  township, 
where  he  carries  on  general  agricultural  pursuits.  His  father,  Myron  H. 
McCarn,  was  born  at  Lansing,  Tompkins  county.  New  York,  August  25. 
1827,  and  was  a  son  of  Henry  and  Sarah  (Williams)  McCarn,  who  were 
natives  of  western  New  York.  The  father  had  seventeen  children.  There 
were  two  children  born  of  his  first  marriage  and  fifteen  children  born  of  the 
second  marriage. 

Myron  H.  McCarn  was  only  five  years  of  age  when  his  parents  re- 
moved from  the  Empire  state  to  Potter  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
resided  until  1850.  He  was  at  that  time  twenty-three  years  of  age.  He  had 
in  the  meantime  been  engaged  in  the  lumber  and  milling  business  as  an  em- 
ploye but  in  1850  he  determined  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  gold  fields  of 
CaHfornia  and  went  to  the  Pacific  coast  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama, 
spending  four  years  in  the  Golden  State.  He  engaged  in  prospecting  for  a 
time  and  afterward  operated  a  sawmill,  having  been  employed  as  a  sawyer  in 
the  east.  He  now  has  in  hts  possession  a  ring  made  of  gold  which  he  dug 
from  the  mines  in  California  and  which  he  had  made  in  New  York  city.  In 
1854  he  returned  to  Potter  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  after  about  a  year 
came  to  Michigan.  He  then  spent  a  year  and  a  half  in  traveling  in  this 
state,  in  Wisconsin,  Illinois  and  Kansas,  and  in  the  last  named  state  worked 
in  a  mill.  Subsequent  to  that  time  he  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Potter 
county,  Pennsylvania. 

In  1859  Mr.  McCarn  was  married  and  removed  to  Knox  county,  Illi- 
nois, settling  in  the  vicinity  of  Galesburg,  where  he  devoted  three  vears  to 
farming.  In  February,  1863,  he  arrived  in  Allegan  county,  Michigan,  and 
located  at  Otsego.  Here  he  was  identified  with  industrial  interests  as  a  car- 
penter and  mill  man,  spending  about  nine  years  in  that  way.  In  March. 
1872,  he  came  to  Trowbridge  township  and  settled  on  his  present  farm. 
where  he  has  since  resided,  covering  a  period  of  thirty-four  years.  He  now 
has  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  acres  of  land  on  section   t8.    This  was 


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HISTORY  01'   ALLEGAX  CtJL'XTV  477 

covered  with  timber  when  he  made  the  purchase  but  the  greater  part  of  it 
is  now  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  has  good  buildings  upon  it.  The 
entire  work  of  development  and  improvement  has  been  done  by  Mr.  Mc- 
Carn  and  his  sons.  For  the  past  eight  years,  however,  he  has  not  been 
active  in  the  work,  which  has  been  left  to  liis  sons,  owing  to  his  ill  health. 

In  politics  Mr.  McCarn  has  always  worked  along  lines  of  reform,  first 
with  the  Republican  party,  afterward  with  the  Democratic  party  and  sub- 
sequently with  the  Populist  party.  He  is  one  of  the  best  read  men  in  the 
community  and  is  thoroughly  informed  concerning  the  political  questions 
and  issues  of  the  day.  He  is  also  a  man  of  broad  general  information  and 
is  entirely  self-educated.  He  spent  his  days  at  work  and  his  nights  at  read- 
ing and  thus  he  has  acquired  a  broad  fund  of  knowledge.  His  fellow  towns- 
men, recognizing  his  worth  and  ability,  have  frequently  called  him  to  public 
office.  He  has  served  for  several  terms  as  justice  of  the  peace,  has  also  been 
drain  commissioner,  was  assessor  and  for  four  \'ears  acted  as  county  drain 
commissioner.  His  fraternal  relations  were  with  the  Masonic  lodge  and 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  until  he  became  too  old  to  attend 
the  meetings  and  take  an  active  part  in  those  societies. 

In  1859  Mr.  McCarn  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ann  Ingraham, 
who  was  bom  in  Albany  county,  New  York,  November  21,  1834,  and  who 
died  May  13,  1906.  She  was  a  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  (Hyier) 
Ingraham,  also  natives  of  the  Empire  state.  Removing  to  the  middle  west 
they  settled  first  in  Illinois  and  afterward  came  to  Allegan  county,  Michi- 
gan where  they  spent  their  last  days. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myron  McCarn  have  been  born  seven  children,  of 
whom  William  H.  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Charles,  the 
second  of  the  family,  was  bom  in  Knox  county,  Illinois.  September  25, 
1862,  and  is  now  living  on  the  old  homestead.  Fred  B.,  who  was  born  in 
the  village  of  Otsego,  Michigan.  August  12,  1866,  now  owns  a  good  farm 
adjoining  the  old  home  property.  The  place  formerly  comprised  eighty 
acres  but  he  has  sold  thirty  acres  and  now  retains  possession  of  fifty  acres, 
and  it  is  to  him  that  we  are  indebted  for  the  history  of  his  honored  father, 
who  is  one  of  the  prominent  pioneer  residents  of  this  portion  of  the  state. 
Forest  E.,  the  fourth  member  of  the  family,  died  in  infancy.  Archie  C. 
bom  in  Otsego,  April  21,  1870.  is  married  and  resides  in  Iowa.  He  also 
owns  a  farm  of  forty  acres  in  Trowbridge  township.  He  and  his  brother 
Fred  B.  are  now  partners  in  a  mercantile  business  in  Tama,  Iowa,  which  is 
conducted  under  the  firm  style  of  McCarn  Brothers.  Adelbert  and  Herbert 
are  twins,  and  were  born  in  Trowbridge  township,  October  g,  1872.  The 
former  is  living  in  his  native  township,  while  the  latter  is  a  resident  farmer 
of  Cheshire  township  and  both  are  married. 

Wir.LiAM  H.  McC.\HN,  who  resides  on  section  7,  Trowbridge  town- 
ship, where  he  is  engaged  in  general  farming,  was  bom  in  northern  Illinois 
on  the  29th  of  September,  t86o.  and  when  about  two  years  of  age  was 
brought  to  Otsego,  Allegan  county.  Michigan,  by  his  parents,  Myron  E, 
and  Anna  (Ingraham)  McCarn,  the  former  a  native  of  Tompkins  county. 
New  York,  and  the  latter  of  Albany  county,  that  state.  They  were  reared 
and  married  in  the  east,  after  which  they  removed  to  Illinois  and,  as  stated,  . 
came  to  Allegan  county  in  1862.    Here  the  father  turned  his  attention  to  . 


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478  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

farming  and  now  resides  on  section  eighteen,  Trowbridge  township.  In 
the  family  were  six  sons,  namely :  William  H.,  of  this  review ;  Charles'  and 
Fred  B.,  who  are  assisting  their  father  on  the  home  farm ;  Archie,  of  Tama, 
Iowa;  Adelbert,  of  Trowbridge  township,  and  Herbert,  who  is  Hviiig  in 
Cheshire  township,  Allegan  county.    The  last  two  are  twins. 

William  H.  McCarn  spent  his  early  boyhood  days  in  Otsego  township 
and  when  twelve  years  of  age  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to 
Trowbridge  township,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  remained  upon  the 
old  homestead  farm  until  his  marriage,  when  he  came  to  his  present  farm, 
which  comprises  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  acres  of  land  on  sections  7 
and  8,  This  constitutes  an  excellent  farm  property,  many  of  the  im- 
provements having  been  placed  here  by  the  present  owner.  He  has  erected 
one  of  the  best  dweUings  in  the  township  and  the  other  biiildings  upon  the 
place  are  in  keeping  with  his  residence.  He  carries  on  general  agricultural 
pursuits  and  is  also  a  director  in  the  Allegan  Creamery  and  Cold  Storage 
Company. 

On  the  22d  of  March,  1883,  Mr.  McCarn  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy 
Colburn,  who  was  born  in  Trowbridge  township,  January  ij,  1860,  and  has 
always  resided  within  its  borders.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Eliza- 
beth (Wright)  Colburn,  of  Trowbridge,  natives  of  New  Hampshire.  Both 
were  pioneer  settlers  here  arid  died  in  Allegan.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCarn 
have  been  born  four  children,  Lillie,  Floyd,  Nora  and  Myron. 

In  bis  political  views  Mr.  McCarn  is  a  Republican  and  has  held  some 
minor  offices  but  prefers  to  give  his  undivided  atterition  to  his  business  af- 
fairs. He  has  always  followed  the  occupation  of  farming  and  in  this  work 
has  found  ample  opportunity  for  the  exercise  of  his  native  talents.  As  the 
years  have  passed  he  has  prospered  and  his  labors  have  resulted  in  the  ac- 
quirement of  a  comfortable  competence,  making  him  one  of  the  substantial 
residents  of  the  community. 

Harmon  W.  Calkins. — A  resident  of  Allegan  county  since  1855,  Har- 
mon W,  Calkins,  in  the  period  of  his  manhood,  has  been  identified  with  in- 
dustrial and  agricultural  interests  and  is  now  living  upon  a  good  farm  on 
section  2\.  Trowbridge  township,  where  he  is  successfully  engaged 
in  raising  and  dealing  in  Shorthorn  cattle,  in  which  connection' he  is  widely 
known,  being  one  of  the  leading  cattle  dealers  in  this  part  of  the  state.  A 
native  son  of  Michigan,  he  was  born  in  Richmond,  Kalamazoo  county,  Jan- 
uary 5,  1846,  and  was  a  lad  of  eieveii  years  when  he  came  to  Allegan  county 
with  his  parents.  Chauticy  W.  aind  Corilelia'E.  (Eld^ed)  Calkins,  natives  of 
New  York  and  Vermont  respectively.  They  were  married  in  Kalamazoo 
county,  Michigan.  The  father  was  a  merchant  and  wool  buyer  and  spent 
the  greater  part  of  his  life  at  Richmond  and  Allegan.  For  eighteen  years  be 
was  superintendent  of  the  Allegah  county  poor  farm  and  proved  a  moSt  cap- 
able official.  When  he  came  to  this  coiitity  there  were  no  roads  in  this  part  of 
the  state  and  he  made  the  joutiiey  on  horseback  through  the  forest  from  his 
old  home  iri  Kalamazoo  county  to  SaiigatUck'.  He  was  a  man  of  irreproach- 
able integrity  and  honor.  Who  lived  a  cdrtsisterit  Christian  life  and  had  many 
friends.  He  served  as  deacofl  in  the  Baptist  cliurch  of  Alle'gan,  in  thtwdrk' 
of  which  hetoofc  an  active  part.  His  p6Iitical  siippdrt  wiis  given  the  Democ- 
racy until  Cleveland  was  the  nominee  of  the  party.    He  was  ever  a  man  of 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COCXTY  479 

firm  convictions  and  never  faltered  in  a  course  which  he  believed  to  be  right. 
He  died  in  Allegan  in  1895,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years,  while  his  wife 
passed  away  in  1885,  when  about  seventy-five  years  of  age,  dying  at  the 
home  of  her  daughter  while  visiting  in  Ohio.  Her  remains,  however,  were 
brought  back  to  Allegan  for  interment.  In  the  family  of  this  worthy  c6uple 
were  three  children :  Almeron  E.,  a  miller  of  Allegati ;  Harmon,  and  Aristena 
R.,  the  wife  of  A.  L.  Spitzer,  president  of  a  bank  in  Medina,  Ohio. 

Hamion  W.  Calkins,  coming  to  Allegan  at  the  age  of  eleven  years,  spent 
twenty-five  years  in  tliat  city,  where  in  his  youth  he  attended  the  public 
schools  and  later  worked  more  or  less  in  his  father's  store.  In  early  man- 
hood he  learned  the  machinist's  trade  and  after  spending  three  years  in  the 
employ  of  others,  he  established  the  Gage  foundry  in  1865.  It  was  first 
conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  Fowler,  McQueeny  &  Calkins,  afterward 
McQtieeny  &  Catkins,  and  later  of  Calkins  &  Company,  at  which  time  the 
partners  were  our  subject  and  his  brother.  After  about  eight  years  spent  in 
the  above  associations  Mr.  Calkins  of  this  review  sold  out  and  purchased  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres  and  later  added  to  it  sixty-five  acres.  Later  he  sold 
that  property  and  bought  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  which  he  also  dis- 
posed of  at  a  later  date.  He  is  now'  the  owner  of  eighty  acres  of  choice 
land  on  section  21,  Trowbridge  township,  and  he  gives  his  time  ex- 
clusively to  raising  and  dealing  in  Shorthorn  cattle,  always  having  a  number 
of  head  of  fine  stock  tipon  his  place.  He  has  exhibited  his  stock  at  various 
county  and  state  fairs  for  the  last  forty  years,  principally  in  Michigan  and 
Ohio  and  annually  wins  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  one  hundred  and 
eighty  dollars  in  premiums. 

On  October  29,  1868,  Mr.  Calkins  was  married  to  Miss  Cynthia  Maria 
Stone,  who  was  born  in  Dunham,  Canada,  January  19,  1848,  and  came  to 
Michigan  with  her  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  W,  Stone.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Calkins  now  have  eight  children:  Lottie,  the  wife  of  Wilham  J.  Delano,  of 
Hastings,  this  state;  Lena,  the  wife  of  Dr.  S.  B.  Stedgeman,  of  Vermontville, 
Michigan;  Chauncy,  at  home;  Hugh,  who  is  pastor  of  the  Disciples'  church 
at  Owen  Sound,  Ontario ;  Elsie,  the  wife  of  Martin  Blair,  of  Watson,  Michi- 
gan ;  Abhie,  the  wife  of  WiUard  Brest,  of  Trowbridge  township ;  Avis,  in  the 
abstract  office  at  Allegan,  and  Lrdia,  at  home.  Mr.  Calkins  has  given  his 
children  excellent  educational  privileges  and  four  of  them  have  pursued 
courses  of  study  in  the  State  University  at  Ann  Arbor,  while  the  family  rec- 
ord is  one  of  which  the  parents  have  every  reason  to  be  proud. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Caikins  is  a  Democrat  and  has  a  citizen's  in- 
terest in  the  questions  and  issues  which  divide  the  two  great  parties,  but  has 
held  only  school  offices.  The  cause  of  education  indeed  finds  in  him  a  warm 
friend^one  who  is  ready  to  do  anything  in  his  power  for  the  betterment  of 
schools.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Disciples'  or  Christian  church  in  Trow- 
bridge township  and  assisted  in  building  their  brick  house  of  worship.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  connected  with  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees!  Men  who  know 
him  recognize  his  high  principles",  unswerving  'integrity  and  fidelity  to  duty. 
He  has  resided  in  the  county  for  more  than  half  a  centufy  and  his  labors 
have  been  a  helpful  element  in  general  growth  and  development. 

Wn.Li.^M  A.  Raber'  has  for  seven  years  resided  Upon"  his  present  farm 
on  section  9,  Trowbridge  township,  having  here  two  hundred  and  three 


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480  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

acres  of  land,  in  addition  to  which  he  has  forty  acres  of  section  4,  of  the 
same  township.  The  extent  of  his  holdings  and  the  importance  of  his  agri- 
cultural interests  indicate  his  life  of  activity  and  well  directed  effort. 

A  native  of  Summit  county,  Ohio,  William  A.  Raber  was  born  near 
Akron,  October  24,  1862,  a  son  of  Louis  E.  and  Katharine  (Sarah)  Raber, 
who  were  natives  of  Stark  county,  Ohio,  and  were  of  German  descent.  The 
father  died  at  Plainwell,  Michigan,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years,  while  the 
mother  died  at  the  home  of  her  son  Andrew  C,  when  sixty-two  years  of 
age.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  namely:  Mrs.  Martha  Dreis- 
bach,  of  Summit  county,  Ohio;  Mrs.  Rose  Belle  Zellars,  who  died  about  four 
years  ago ;  Mrs.  Katharine  Blakeley,  of  Plainwell,  this  state ;  William  Al- 
bert, and  Andrew  Curtis  Raber,  who  is  living  in  Allegan  township. 

When  only  about  five  years  of  age  William  A.  Raber  was  taken  by  his 
parents  to  Portage  county,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until  he  reached  the 
age  of  twelve  years.  He  then  accompanied  the  family  on  their  removal  to 
Plainwell,  Michigan,  and  resided  in  that  locality  until  eighteen  years  of  age. 
The  succeeding  decade  was  passed  at  Martin,  this  state,  where  for  five 
years  he  engaged  in  farming  and  for  a  similar  period  conducted  a  repair 
shop,  having  learned  and  followed  the  blacksmithing  and  wagon-making 
trades  in  earlier  life.  For  seven  years  he  has  resided  upon  his  present  farm, 
having  two  hundred  and  forty-three  acres  of  rich  land,  which  he  has  placed 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  upon  which  he  has  made  many  good 
improvements,  including  the  erection  of  first  class  buildings,  while  his  farm 
work  is  carried  forward  along  most  progressive  lines. 

On  the  14th  of  September,  1882,  Mr.  Raber  was  married  to  Miss  Hattie 
Delano,  a  native  of  Martin,  Michigan,  born  November  22,  i860,  and  a 
daughter  of  Luther  and  Maryette  (Anderson)  Delano.  The  former,  a  native 
of  Macedon.  Wayne  county.  New  York,  was  born  September  9,  1816.  His 
father  was  Israel  Delano  and  his  mother's  maiden  name  was  Martha  Rogers. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  General  William  Rogers  of  Revolutionary  fame. 
Both  parents  were  of  Yankee  origin,  and  both  were  members  of  the  Baptist 
church.  Their  son  was  named  after  Rev.  Luther  Rice,  the  first  great  Bur- 
mah  missionary,  and  the  latter,  Mrs.  Maryette  Anderson  Delano,  was  born 
in  Mayfield,  New  York,  in  1830,  came  wilJi  her  parents  to  Plainwell,  Mich- 
igan, when  four  years  old.  Her  childhood  playmates  were  Indians.  Her 
father,  Judge  John  Anderson,  was  the  first  white  man  to  build  a  house  in 
what  is  now  the  village  of  Plainwell.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Raber  were  born 
three  children :  Hazel  M.,  the  wife  of  J.  Bentley,  of  this  township ;  Zella  W., 
who  died  in  March,  1904,  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  and  Roger  Z.,  at 
home. 

Mr.  Raber  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  Republican  party,  but  is  without  aspiration  for  office.  He 
belongs  to  the  Knights  of  the-  Maccabees,  and  is  a  typical  citizens  of  the  mid- 
dle west,  who  by  the  utilization  of  his  opportunities  has  advanced  from  a 
humble  financial  position  to  one  of  affluence,  winning  thereby  the  admira- 
tion and  respect  of  his  fellow  townsmen. 

Ransom  M.  Brodock,  whose  home  farm  is  pleasantly  located  on  .section 
22.  Trowbridge  township,  not  far  from  Allegan,  was  born  in  Hud- 
son, Lenawee  county.  Michigan,  October  18,  1847.     His  father,  Harry  B. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  481 

Brodock,  was  a  native  of  Penfield,  New  York,  born  in  1812,  and  he  died 
January  24,  1896,  upon  the  farm  which  is  now  the  home  of  our  subject.  At 
an  early  day  in  the  development  of  Michigan  he  became  a  resident  of  Adrian, 
where  he  worked  at  shoemaking  for  a  number  of  years.  He  afterward  re- 
moved to  Hudson,  this  state,  where  he  established  a  shoe  business  and  still 
later  he  entered  one  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Hillsdale  county,  Michigan, 
near  Hudson,  which  he  improved,  continuing  its  cultivation  and  develop- 
ment until  his  removal  to  Allegan  county.  In  1864  he  enlisted  from  Hud- 
son as  a  member  of  Company  F.  of  the  Fourth  Michigan  Infantry,  which 
was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  was  wounded  in  the  battle 
vi  the  Wilderness,  and  being  thus  unfitted  for  further  field  duty  was  hon- 
orably discharged  about  a  year  later.  He  was  familiar  with  all  of  the  ex- 
periences of  pioneer  life  in  Michigan,  and  in  the  early  days  would  go  to 
Adrian  on  horseback  for  siipplies  for  his  shoemaking  business.  He  was 
also  a  great  hunter  and  found  ample  opportunity  to  indulge  his  love  of  the 
sport  because  deer  and  other  kinds  of  wild  game  abounded  in  the  forests. 
His  political  allegiance  was  first  given  to  the  whig  party  and  upon  its  dis- 
solution he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  new  Republican  party.  He  took  an  active 
interest  in  everything  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  the  community,  poiitical 
and  otherwise,  and  during  the  greater  part  of  his  life  held  local  offices  in 
Hillsdale  county.  Soon  after  the  war  while  mowing  with  a  team  he  fell 
from  the  seat  of  the  mower  and  had  his  right  hand  cut  off  by  the  knives  of 
the  mower.  He  lost  his  first  wife  after  about  a  year  of  married  life  and  sub- 
sequently married  Julia  A,  Smith  in  Adrian.  She  was  a  native  of  New  York 
and  had  accompanied  her  parents  on  their  removal  to  Michigan,  her  brother 
being  at  that  time  proprietor  of  the  largest  shoe  house  in  Adrian.  Mrs. 
Brodock  died  in  Hudson  when  about  fifty-six  years  of  age.  In  the  family 
were  four  children:  Henry  M.,  who  is  now  living  in  Douglas,  Michigan, 
where  he  follows  carpentering:  Julia  A.,  the  wife  of  Marvin  Gillet,  of 
Douglas;  Ransom  M.,  and  Jennie  F,,  the  wife  of  Charles  Pratt,  of  Detroit. 

Ransom  M,  Brodock  spent  the  first  twenty-eight  years  of  his  life  in 
Lenawee  and  in  Hillsdale  counties,  living  with  his  parents  upon  a  farm  or  in 
the  city.  When  sixteen  years  of  age  he  began  learning  the  mason's  trade, 
which  he  has  followed  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  since  that  time.  In  1879 
he  came  to  his  present  place  of  residence  on  section  22,  Trowbridge 
township,  in  company  with  his  father,  his  mother  having  previously 
passed  away.  He  has  since  lived  upon  this  farm,  comprising  one  hundred 
acres  of  land  on  section  22.  It  was  partially  cleared  when  they  took 
possession  of  the  property  but  was  in  bad  shape,  owing  to  its  neglect  by 
former  occupants.  Mr.  Brodock  has  remodeled  some  of  the  buildings  and 
has  erected  others  and  he  now  has  a  well  improved  property,  devoted  to  the 
raising  of  grain  and  stock.  He  has  also  followed  the  mason's  trade  to  some 
extent  and  has  lived  a  most  active,  energetic  life,  earning  a  good  living 
throxigh  his  well  directed  efforts  and  also  accumulating  a  comfortable  com- 
petence for  a  rainy  day. 

In  1879,  soon  after  locating  upon  his  present  farm,  Mr.  Brodock  was 
married  to  Miss  Sarah  M.  Maynard,  who  was  born  in  Cass  county.  Michi- 
gan, in  1850,  and  died  upon  the  old  home  property  here  June  9,  1904.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Truman  and  Lucv  Maynard.  who  were  natives  of  New 
York. 


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482  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Mr.  Brodock  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  RepubHcan  party  and  has  always  taken  an  active  interest 
in  politics.  He  belongs  to  the  Odd  Fellows'  lodge  at  Allegan,  with  which 
he  has  been  identified  for  the  past  nineteen  years.  Starting  out  upon  his 
business  career  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  has  worked  persistently  and 
energetically  as  the  years  have  gone  by  and  his  diligence  and  indefatigable 
energy  have  been  strong  elements  in  his  success. 

James  Morton  Reynolds,  a  representative  of  the  farming  interests 
of  Trowbridge  township,  living  on  section  19,  was  born  in  Moscow, 
New  York,  October  20,  1852,  and  during  his  infancy  was  brought  to  Alle- 
gan comity  by  his  parents,  William  and  Eliza  (McMaii)  Reynolds,  who 
settled  on  the  lake  shore.  The  father  was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  died 
when  his  son  James  was  only  seven  years  of  age,  he  being  at  that  time 
about  thirty  years  of  age.  The  mother  afterward  removed  with  her  family 
to  Monterey  township  and  later  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  G.  B.  Wil- 
cox. She  survived  to  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years,  and  died  upon  the  fann 
which  is  now  the  home  of  our  subject.  By  her  first  marriage  she  had  live 
children:  Eliza  Jane,  now  the  wife  of  Charles  Streator,  of  Lake  county, 
Michigan;  William  H.,  who  is  living  in  Battle  Creek  township;  James  M., 
of  this  review;  Charles  Edgar,  of  Allegan,  and  Albert  Nelson,  a  resident  of 
Allegan. 

James  Morton  Reynolds  has  practically  spent  his  entire  life  in  this 
county.  He  was  reared  in  his  mother's  home,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
years  began  working  for  others  by  the  day  or  month.  He  was  principally 
employed  at  farm  labor  and  as  opportunity  offered  he  attended  the  district 
schools  during  the  winter  seasons,  thus  acquiring  the  education  that  fitted 
him  for  the  transaction  of  business.  In  1880  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Hattie  Judd,  a  native  of  Heath  township,  this  county,  who  died  in 
1882,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years.  She  left  one  son,  Glenn  B.,  who  is  a  car 
inspector  for  the  Fere  Marquette  Railroad  Company. 

After  losing  his  iirst  wife  Mr.  Reynolds  removed  to  his  present  farm, 
which  was  then  owned  and  occupied  by  his  mother,  and  here  he  has  since 
resided.  The  place  comprises  forty  acres  of  good  land  on  section  19, 
Trowbridge  township,  and  has  been  greatly  improved  by  the  present 
owner.  He  has  recently  erected  a  fine  barn  and  has  set  out  a  peach  orchard 
of  seven  hundred  trees,  making  fruit  the  special  feature  of  his  farming. 
His  entire  time  is  devoted  to  the  improvement  of  this  place  and  it  gives 
every  evidence  of  his  care  and  supervision. 

In  igoi  Mr.  Reynolds  was  again  married,  his  second  union  being  with 
Mrs.  Richendy  Elizabeth  (Everett)  Ross  Bush,  who  was  born  in  Suffolk, 
England,  March  15,  1854,  and  when  six  months  old  was  taken  by  her 
parents  to  Auburn,  New  York.  She  was  married  in  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan, 
to  Theodore  Ross,  by  whom  she  had  five  children.  She  afterward  married 
Sylvanus  Bush,  of  Bloomingdale,  Michigan,  by  whom  she  had  one  child. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  John  H.  and  Richendy  (Jackson)  Everett,  both  natives 
of  Suffolk,  England,  The  mother  died  in  Auburn,  New  York,  at  the  age 
of  thirty-five  years,  while  the  father's  death  occurred  in  Chicago  in  1903, 
at  the  very  remarkable  old  age  of  one  hundred  and  four  years.     He  was 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  483 

married  twice  and  had  sixteen  children  by  his  first  wife  and  one  by  the 
second  wife,  Mrs.  Reynolds  being  a  twin. 

Mr.  Reynolds  takes  a  public- spirited  interest  in  community  affairs  and 
gives  his  political  support  at  the  polls  to  the  Republican  party,  but  has 
never  sought  or  desired  office  for  himself,  preferring  to  concentrate  his 
time  and  energies  upon  his  business  affairs,  in  which  he  is  meeting  with 
signal  success. 

James  Almond,  who  since  1877  has  made  his  home  on  section  eight, 
Trowbridge  township,  and  has  placed  the  greater  part  of  the  improvements 
upon  the  farm,  was  bom  in  Yorkshire,  England,  February  21,  1832.  His 
parents  were  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Ellis)  Almond,  who  were  likewise  natives 
of  Yorkshire,  and  there  spent  their  entire  lives,  as  had  their  parents  before 
them.  The  mother  belonged  to  an  old  family  connected  with  the  Society  of 
Friends,  or  Quakers,  but  married  outside  of  the  church.  The  father  and 
brothers  of  our  subject  were  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  woolen  cloth  in 
England,  The  family  numbered  eight  children,  but  James  Almond  is  the 
only  one  who  ever  came  to  the  United  States.  Owing  to  business  losses  in 
the  woolen  manufactory  caused  by  the  falling  off  of  trade  owing  to  the 
Civil  war  in  the  United  States,  James  Almond  left  his  native  country  and 
crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America.  He  made  his  way  to  Michigan,  and  in 
1877  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  on  section  8, 
Trowbridge  township.  He  still  retains  fifty  acres  of  this  and  has  sold 
sixty  acres  to  his  son,  who  afterward  disposed  of  the  property  and  removed 
to  Calhoun  county.  Mr.  Almond  has  made  the  greater  part  of  the  improve- 
ments upon  the  property  and  it  is  now  an  excellent  farm,  equipped  with 
many  modern  conveniences  and  accessories.  His  entire  time  and  attention 
has  been  devoted  to  general  agricultural  pursuits  and  in  this  work  he  has 
met  with  a  gratifying  measure  of  success, 

Mr.  Almond  was  married  in  1856  to  Miss  Anna  Bosfield,  who  was  born 
in  the  vicinity  of  her  husband's  birthplace  in  Yorkshire,  England.  They 
were  the  parents  of  five  sons  and  three  daughters  when  they  came  to  the 
new  world.  They  traveled  life's  journey  together  for  almost  a  half  century 
and  were  separated  by  the  death  of  the  wife  on  the  22d  of  August,  1905, 
when  she  was  seventy-six  years  of  age.  Their  children  were  as  follows: 
George,  who  is  now  proprietor  of  a  jewelry  store  in  Winnipeg,  Canada; 
Fannie,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Walker,  of  Trowbridge  township ;  John,  living 
in  San  Francisco,  California;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Frank  Sprague,  who  is 
connected  with  the  postoffice  in  San  Francisco;  Fred,  also  living  in  that 
city ;  Martha,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years ;  Samuel,  a  resident 
farmer  of  Calhoun  county,  Michigan,  and  Stead,  who  is  a  milkman  of  Bat- 
tle Creek,  Michigan. 

Mr.  Almond  gives  his  political  allegiance  to  the  Democracy  and  has 
always  kept  well  informed  on  the  questions  and  issues  of  the  day.  For  the 
past  twenty  years  he  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  his  decisions 
have  been  strictly  fair  and  impartial,  as  is  indicated  by  his  long  continuance 
in  oifice,  which  is  also  proof  of  the  confidence  and  trust  reposed  in  him  by 
his  fellow  townsmen.  He  holds  membership  in  the  Baptist  church  at  Alle- 
gan and  for  twenty  years  has  served  therein  as  deacon.  His  life  is  honora- 
ble and  upright,  his  actions  manly  and  sincere,  and  he  deserves  and  receives 
the  good  will  and  confidence  of  all  who  know  him. 


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484  HISTORY  OV  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Stei'hen  Opell  is  the  owner  of  valuable  farming  interests  in  Alle- 
gan county  and  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  infliiential  citizens  who  has 
been  active  in  public  life  and  has  wielded  a  wide  and  beneficial  influence  in 
affairs  relating  to  the  county's  progress  and  upbuilding.  His  life  record 
began  at  Seneca  Falls,  in  Seneca  county,  New  York,  April  30,  1835,  his 
parents  being  Benajah  W.  and  Caroline  E.  (Smith)  Odell,  natives  of  New 
York.  The  mother  died  in  Ohio  when  her  son  Stephen  was  about  thirteen 
years  of  age,  and  the  father's  death  occurred  in  Allegan  county  when  he 
was  in  his  sixty-seventh  year.  By  his  first  marriage  he  had  seven  children, 
and  there  were  also  seven  of  the  second  marriage. 

Stephen  CWell  was  the  second  in  order  of  birth.  He  had  one  brother, 
Charles  Odell.  who  served  in  the  Civil  war,  being  a  member  of  the  Mechan- 
ics' and  Engineers'  Corps.  When  only  about  two  years  of  age  Stephen 
Odell  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  the 
family  home  being  established  near  Norwalk,  where  he  remained  until  four- 
teen years  of  age,  when  the  family  home  was  established  in  Trowbridge 
township,  Allegan  county,  Michigan.  They  settled  upon  a  tract  of  wooded 
land  near  the  center  of  the  township  in  1849,  and  our  subject  has  since 
resided  in  this  township  with  the  exception  of  a  period  of  about  four  and  a 
half  years  spent  in  the  Civil  war.  In  his  younger  days  he  worked  in  the 
woods  felhng  trees,  and  also  in  the  harvest  fields  swinging  the  cradle  and 
raking  and  binding  the  grain,  all  of  which  work  was  done  by  hand.  At  the 
time  of  hostilities  between  the  north  and  the  south  he  espoused  the  Union 
cause  and  demonstrated  his  loyalty  by  enlisting  on  the  9th  of  October,  1861, 
as  a  member  of  Company  A,  Third  Michigan  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  Kel- 
logg, and  later  under  Colonel  Misner.  He  participated  in  a  number  of 
important  engagements,  including  the  battles  of  Corinth.  luka,  Pittsburg 
Landing,  the  Mississippi  campaign  to  Island  No,  10  and  other  engagements. 
He  aided  in  destroying  the  rolling  stock  of  the  railroad  between  Jackson 
and  Corinth,  a  distance  of  five  hundred  miles,  and  for  two  months  he  was 
absent  from  his  regiment  on  account  of  illness.  On  the  expiration  of  his 
first  term  of  service  he  veteranized  in  the  same  company  and  regiment  and 
was  stationed  at  San  Antonio,  Texas,  after  about  nine  months  after  the 
close  of  the  war.  after  which  he  was  mustered  out  at  Jackson,  Michigan,  in 
March.  1866.  He  returned  to  his  home  with  a  most  creditable  military 
record,  having  ever  faithfully  discharged  the  duties  that  devolved  upon  him 
whether  in  the  active  field  of  duty  or  on  guard  <luty. 

When  the  country  no  longer  needed  his  aid  Mr.  Odell  returned  to 
Allegan  county  and  resumed  farming  in  Trowbridge  township.  At  one 
time  he  spent  five  years  in  the  village  of  Allegan  in  order  to  educate  his 
children  in  the  town  schools,  and  while  there  residing  conducted  a  feed 
business.  For  twenty-three  years,  however,  he  has  resided  on  his  present 
farm  on  section  20.  Trowbridge  township.  The  place  comprises  eighty 
acres  on  this  section  and  also  five  acres  on  section  29,  on  which  his 
dwelling  stands.  He  had  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  this  farm  until  he 
sold  a  part  of  iffoliis  son.  He  has  owned  a  number  of  different  farms  in 
the  township,  buying  and  selling  at  diiTerent  times  and  generally  meeting 
with  good  profit  in  these  ventures. 

In  1864  Mr.  Odell  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Martha  J.  Fair- 
child,  who  was  born  in  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  June  6,  1842,  and  who  died 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  485 

in  this  county  November  4.  1904..  She  came  to  Michigan  with  her  widowed 
mother.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Asa  and  Elizabeth  Fairchild,  but  her  father 
passed  away  in  the  Buckeye  state.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Odell  liave  been 
bom  nine  children:  Mayton  V.,  of  Trowbridge  township ;Xarohne  E.,  the 
wife  of  John  H.  Wurtz,  of  Pennsylvania;  Arthur,  who  is  also  living  in 
Trowbridge  township;  Adelia,  the  wife  of  Chfford  Russell,  of  the  same 
township;  Flora,  at  home;  Ella  Tyler,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-two 
years;  John,  of  Trowbridge  township;  Nina  V.,  the  wife  of  Theodore 
Rueault,  of  New  Mexico,  and  Ernest  E.,  at  home. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Odell  has  been  a  life-long  Republican  since 
casting  his  first  presidential  ballot  for  John  C.  Fremont.  He  has  voted  for 
each  candidate  at  the  head  of  the  ticket  since  that  time  and  has  served  in 
various  local  offices.  For  three  or  four  terms  he  was  highway  commis- 
sioner, was  township  treasurer  for  one  term,  and  for  several  years  has  been 
school  director.  In  his  fraternal  relations  he  is  connected  with  C.  J.  Bas- 
sett  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Allegan,  and  thus  maintains  pleasant  relations  with 
his  old  army  comrades,  delighting  in  the  reminiscences  of 'field  and  camp 
life.  He  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  respected  and  substantial  citizens  of 
Trowbridge  township,  and  has  a  good  farm  and  home  as  the  result  of 
his  enterprise  and  untiring  labor  in  former  years.  He  has  now  passed  the 
Psalmist's  span  of  three  score  years  and  ten  and  is  respected  by  all  who 
know  him. 

James  J.vckson  Russell  is  numbered  among  those  men  of  sterling 
worth  whose  activitv  and  perseverance  constitute  the  basis  of  their  success, 
and  upon  these  qualities  he  has  builded  his  prosperity,  becoming  one  of  the 
substantial  farmers  of  Trowbridge  township,  his  home  being  on  section 
29.  He  was  born  in  Potter,  Yates  county,  New  York,  May  9,  1841, 
a  son  of  John  and  Ruth  Ann  (Andrews)  Russell.  The  father  was 
born  in  the  North  of  Ireland  and  was  educated  for  the  law.  After  coming 
to  America  he  practiced  for  some  time  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  His 
wife  was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  and  both  died  before  they  were  forty  years 
of  age.  In  1844  they  removed  from  Potter,  New  York,  to  Italy,  Steuben 
county,  that  state,  and  afterward  to  Naples,  New  York.  While  living  in 
the  last  mentioned  place  the  death  of  the  father  occurred,  and  when  nine 
years  of  age  James  J.  Russell,  of  this  review,  came  to  Michigan,  landing 
at  New  Baltimore  in  1852.  He  crossed  Lake  Erie  on  a  vessel  known  as  the 
Buckeye  State.  He  made  the  journey  alone  in  1852,  and  later  was  joined 
by  his  widowed  mother  and  her  family,  who  arrived  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year.  She  died  in  the  village  of  New  Baltimore  the  following  year.  In 
the  family  were  five  children,  of  whom  James  J.,  of  this  review,  is  the  eldest. 
The  others  are:  Ruth  Ann,  a  resident  of  Saybrook,  Connecticut;  George 
M..  who  is  engaged  ii!  the  manufacture  of  cigars  in  Detroit;  Spencer,  who 
is  interested  in  a  water  cure  at  Mount  Clemens,  and  Henry  E..  who  was 
a  soldier  of  the  Civil  war.  He  enlisted  from  this  state  as  a  member  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  Infantry,  and  at  the  time  of  the  assassination  of 
Lincoln  stood  guard  over  the  corp.se  of  the  martyred  President.  On  the 
1st  of  May,  1873,  Spencer  B.  Russell,  a  brother  of  Henry  E.  Russell,  pur- 
chased the  Mount  Clemens  Press,  and  Henry  E.  first  became  assoc' 
with  his  brother  in  the  publication  of  the  paper,  the  association  being  ri 


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486  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

tained  until  1888.  In  September,  1895,  Henry  Russell  established  the 
Mount  Clemens  Advertiser,  but  afterward  sold  out.  In  1889  he  and  W.  J. 
Morris  made  the  first  experiment  on  a  daily  paper  in  Mount  Clemens  by 
beginning  the  issue  of  what  was  then  called  the  Remny  Leader  and  is  now 
the  Daily  Leader.  Mr.  Russell  retired  from  the  business  at  a  later  date. 
In  1903  with  several  others  he  took  up  the  Advertiser  and  issued  a  daily 
publication  for  some  time.  He  was  not  only  a  practical  printer,  but  was 
an  editor  and  writer  of  superior  ability.  He  was  bom  in  Yates  county. 
New  York,  January  18,  1849,  and  died  April  12,  1906. 

James  Jackson  Russell,  whose  name  introduces  this  record,  has  been 
dependent  upon  his  own  resources  from  the  early  age  of  nine  years.  Com- 
ing alone  to  Michigan,  as  before  stated,  he  worked  in  Macomb  county  upon 
a  farm  at  four  dollars  per  month  and  for  two  winters  attended  school  in 
that  county.  In  1859  he  came  to  Allegan  county  by  boat,  landing  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Kalamazoo  river.  He  spent  the  winter  in  that  locality  and 
went  to  work  at  a  wage  of  thirteen  dollars  per  month  in  the  Dwtcher  lumber 
mill.  He  was  employed  there  at  different  periods  until  he  became  head 
sawyer  at  a  wage  of  four  dollars  per  day.  He  sailed  on  the  lakes  in  the 
summer  and  worked  in  the  mills  in  the  winter  months,  thus  alternating  for 
three  or  four  years.  He  was  married  in  1863  and  for  two  years  afterward 
continued  to  work  in  the  mill.  In  1864  he  came  to  Trowbridge  township 
and  purchased  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he 
lived  for  a  year.  He  then  returned  to  the  lumber  woods  in  order  to  obtain 
ready  money  that  might  be  used  in  carrying  on  his  farmwork.  He  came  to 
his  present  farm  in  1873  and  has  resided  here  continuously  since,  having 
sixty-five  acres  of  land  which  is  pleasantly  located  on  Lake  Emerson  and 
the  Paw  Paw  road.  About  twenty  acres  were  cleared  when  it  came  into 
his  possessicm.  He  cleared  the  remainder,  erected  the  buildings  thereon 
and  has  transformed  it  into  a  rich  and  productive  farm.  The  land  was 
originally  covered  with  fine  black  walnut  and  white  wood  timber.  Emerson 
Lake  is  a  fine  summer  resort,  and  in  addition  to  cultivating  his  fields  Mr. 
Russell  conducts  a  boat  livery  and  has  a  fine  grove  and  picnic  grounds  upon 
his  place.  He  also  entertains  summer  boarders  and  this  branch  of  bis 
business  is  proving  to  him  a  gratifying  source  of  income. 

On  the  1st  of  August,  1863,  Mr.  Russell  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Juliette  Kent,  who  was  born  in  South  Hero,  Vermont,  August  8,  1842, 
and  came  to  Watson,  Michigan,  when  seven  years  of  age,  while  two  years 
later  she  removed  to  Allegan  county  in  company  with  her  parents,  James 
W.  and  Ann  S.  (Allen)  Kent.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Plattsburg, 
New  York,  bom  February  16,  1814.  He  followed  the  blacksmith's  trade 
from  the  age  of  nineteen  years  until  his  demise,  which  occurred  January 
26,  1885.  His  wife  was  born  at  Grand  Isle,  Vermont,  March  13,  1810,  and 
died  in  this  county,  October  25,  i86g.  She  was  a  descendant  of  one  of 
seven  brothers  of  Scotch  birth,  who  came  to  the  United  States  in  colonial 
days  and  was  a  relative  of  Colonel  Ethan  Allen,  the  distinguished  leader  of 
the  Green  Mountain  boys  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kent  were  bom  seven  children:  Sylva,  now  deceased;  Eunice;  William, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years ;  Mrs.  Russell ;  James  W.,  of  Allegan ; 
Mrs.  Amanda  Gates,  of  Monterey,  and  David,  of  Trowbridge  township. 
The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell  has  been  blessed  with  four  children: 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN'  COUNTY  487 

Annie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  one  year;  EveHne,  who  died  when  four  years 
of  age:  Frank  E,,  who  is  living  in  Almond,  Michigan,  and  Myrtle  M.,  the 
wife  of  Arthur  Newton,  of  Trowbridge  township. 

In  his  political  afiiliation  Mr.  Russell  is  a  Republican  and  has  served 
as  drain  commissioner  for  two  years.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian church  and  he  assisted  in  building  the  house  of  worship  and  .contributes 
to  the  support  of  the  church.  Starting  out  in  life  empty-handed  when  but 
a  lad  of  nine  years,  he  has  made  steady  progress  toward  the  goal  of  pros- 
perity and  owes  his  success  entirely  to  his  own  labors  and  the  assistance  of 
his  estimable  wife,  who  has  indeed  been  a  faithful  companion  and  helpmate 
to  him  on  life's  journey.  The  years  brought  him  earnest,  arduous  labor, 
but  he  persevered  in  his  undertakings,  proved  his  ability  and  worth  to  all 
by  whom  he  was  employed  and  gradually  made  advancement  until  he  was 
enabled  to  purchase  and  improve  a  farm  of  his  own.  He  now  has  a  good 
property  in  Trowbridge  township  and  is  comfortably  situated  in  life. 

Samuel  Gagex  Stockdale,  who  for  fifteen  years  has  owned  and  op- 
erated the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides  on  section  g,  Trowbridge 
township,  has,  during  this  period,  Converted  it  from  a  tract  of  wild  land 
into  fields  of  rich  fertility  and  productiveness.  He  is  a  native  son  of  Eng- 
land and  came  to  Allegan  county  when  eight  years  of  age.  He  was  born 
in  Norfolk,  England,  November  6,  1863,  a  son  of  Charles  Stockdale,  who 
was  also  born  there.  He  came  to  Michigan  with  his  family  about  1871  and 
purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Otsego  township, 
together  with  a  house  and  twelve  acres  of  land  near  the  Otsego  school.  He 
followed  farming  throughout  his  entire  life.  In  his  native  country  he 
had  operated  three  hundred  acres  of  rented  land  for  a  number  of  years  and 
he  brought  with  htm  to  America  about  seventeen  thousand  dollars,  which 
he  had  made  from  his  farming  interests  in  the  old  world.  He  lived  only 
about  three  years  after  coming  to  this  country  and  died  at  the  age  of  forty- 
five.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Mary  Gagen,  and  was  a  na- 
tive of  Norfolk,  England,  died  at  that  place  when  her  son  Samuel  was  but 
six  years  of  age.  In  the  family  were  eight  children :  Elizabeth  and  Joseph, 
both  deceased;  Mrs.  Lottie  Welch,  of  Trowbridge  township;  Mrs.  Rachel 
Hoyer,  of  the  same  township;  Mrs.  Mary  Wade,  of  Grand  Rapids:  Sam- 
uel, Mrs,  Rebecca  Dwam,  of  Minnesota,  and  Charles,  of  this  township. 

Samuel  G.  Stockdale,  reared  in  England  to  the  age  of  eight  years,  then 
accompanied  his  father  to  the  new  world  and  at  his  father's  death  came  to 
Trowbridge  township  to  live  with  William  Hemmitt.  After  a  few  years  he 
began  working  by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand  and  later  went  to  Nebraska, 
where  he  spent  six  years  on  a  cattle  ranch,  returning  to  Allegan  county  in 
1886.  He  then  went  to  live  on  the  old  home  place  in  Otsego  township  and 
fifteen  years  ago  came  to  his  present  farm  on  section  9,  Trowbridge 
township.  It  was  mostly  covered  with  stumps  when  he  took  it  and  today 
it  is  a  well  improved  farm  with  good  buildings  and  well  tilled  fields — -visi- 
ble proof  of  his  life  of  activity  and  energy. 

Mr.  Stockdale  was  married  March  31,  1888,  to  Jennie  Fisher,  who  was 
born  in  Jackson  county,  Michigan,  January  21,  1866,  a  daughter  of  David 
and  Olive  (Van  Nest)  Fisher,  the  former  a  native  of  New  Jersey  and  the 
latter  of  Hillsdale  county,  Michigan.      Mr.  Fisher  died  at  Grand  Rapids, 


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488  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Michigan,  and  his  wife  at  Kalamazoo.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stockdale  have 
been  born  five  children :  Flossie  Olive,  Mary,  Joseph,  Rachel  and  David, 
all  yet  at  home.  The  parents  are  highly  esteemed  in  the  community  where 
they  reside  and  their  friends  are  many.  Mr.  Stockdale  votes  with  the  Re- 
publican party  and  is  a  pubhc-spirited  citizen,  interested  in  the  general  wel- 
fare to  the.  extent  of  giving  helpfnl  aid  to  many  measnres  which  have  for 
their  basic  element  the  good  of  the  commimity  at  large. 

Clyde  Township. 

E.  P.  J.^MES,  a  well  known  and  respected  citizen  of  Fennville,  is  living 
a  quiet  and  retired  life  in  that  place,  after  a  career  of  nsefiihiess  and  indus- 
try, the  last  twenty-eighf  vears  having  been  spent  as  a  resident  of  Clyde 
township. 

Mr.  James'  birth  occurred  in  1832,  in  Ohio,  where  he  lived  seven  years, 
and  the  family  then  moved  to  Indiana,  where  he  was  reared  and  where  he 
received  his  education.  There  he  lived  up  to  the  time  of  his  removal  to 
Michigan,  which  happened  in  1878.  Preceding  this  date  he  was  imited  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Helen  M.  Pratt,  a  native  of  Indiana,  who  was  born  there 
in  January.  1840.  Out  of  a  family  of  nine  children  they  have  but  six  re- 
maining: Mary  E.,  born  in  May,  1863;  Lulu,  born  in  1866:  Dolly  R., 
March,  1871;  Eell.  Januarv,  1874:  John,  October,  1877.  and  Jesse,  born  in 
July.  i88r. 

Out  subject  is  a  son  of  James  R.  and  Livina  (Ward)  James,  who  were 
the  parents  of  twelve  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living,  namelv,  John, 
Benjamin  and  E.  P. 

During  the  dark  days  of  the  Civil  war  our  subject  moved  by  a  spirit  of 
patriotism  and  loyalty  to  the  flag  of  the  Union,  became  a  volunteer  soldier 
in  the  Army  of  the  North,  enlisting  February  16,  1864,  as  a  private  in  Com- 
pany H.  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth  Indiana  VoUmteer  Infantry,  and 
during  his  period  of  service  participating  in  the  following  battles:  Resaca, 
Altoona  Pass,  Dalton,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Burnt  Hickory,  Franklin,  Nash- 
ville, and  some  minor  engagements.  He  was  overcome  by  the  heat  while  in 
the  army  but  was  fortunate  in  returning  to  his  home  unwounded  and  without 
having  at  any  time  been  taken  prisoner. 

Mr.  James  had  five  brothers  in  the  service  of  the  north:  Benjamin  P., 
captain  of  Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Twentv-ninth  Indiana  Volunteer 
Infantry:  Reuben,  first  lieutenant  in  Company  G.  of  the  same  regiment; 
Zebedee.  an  orderly  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-eighth  Indiana;  John, 
an  orderly  sergeant  of  Company  H,  same  regiment,  and  Joseph,  a  musician. 
He  had  also  two  brothers-in-law  and  three  nephews  in  the  Federal  army. 
His  father,  James  R.,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  his  grandfather, 
Zebedee,  fought  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  Such  a  war  record  is  as  re- 
markable as  it  is  rare,  and  Mr.  James  may  well  lie  proud  of  his  association 
with  a  family  that  has  contributed  so  many  men  to  their  country's  defense, 
to  say  nothing  of  his  own  military  record,  which  ended  with  his  honorable 
discharge  in  1865. 

During  his  residence  on  his  farm  in  Clyde  township,  which  consists  of 
forty-eight  acres  of  fine  farming  land.  Mr.  James  has  not  been  too  busy 
to  lend  his  aid  and  counsel  to  the  public  affairs  which  concern  every  com- 


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HISTORY  or  ALLEGAX  COUNTY  489 

munity,  and  which  many,  through  indifference,  perhaps,  so  often  neglect, 
and  has  served  in  the  following  public  oflGces :  As  a  member  of  the  board  of 
review,  on  which  he  served  for  seven  years;  postmaster  for  a  term  of  two 
years;  highway  commissioner  for  one  year,  and  as  a  school  director.  He 
now  rents  his  farm,  preferring  to  pass  his  remaining  years  quietly  and  leave 
to  younger  men  the  toil  and  competition  which  he  so  eagerly  entered  in  his 
youth,  but  from  which  the  limitations  of  advancing  years  now  debar  him. 

William  Green,  who  follows  farming  in  Clyde  township,  is  one  of 
the  pioneer  settlers  of  Allegan  county.  He  was  bom  in  Franklin  county, 
Ohio,  in  1831,  where  he  resided  until  grown,  following  agriculture  from  his 
youth.  In  1852  he  moved  to  Indiana,  where  he  resided  until  1862,  enlisting 
on  August  4th,  of  that  year,  as  private  in  the  Eighty-eighth  Indiana  Volun- 
teer Infantry.  He  was  with  Sherman's  command  on  that  historic  March  to 
the  Sea,  and  in  addition  participated  in  the  battles  of  Perryville,  Snake  Creek 
Gap,  Resaca,  Stone  River,  Murfreesboro,  Chickamauga,  Lookout  Mountain, 
Peachtree  Creek,  Atlanta,  Jonesboro,  Missionary  Ridge,  Kenesaw  Mountain, 
Big  Shanty,  and  numerous  other  engagements  of  minor  importance,  and 
was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service  on  June  20,  1S65. 

Mr.  Green  moved  to  Michigan  October  20.  1867,  and  located  at  Fenn- 
ville,  purchasing  at  the  same  time  forty  acres  of  unimproved  land  in  Clyde 
township.  This  he  put  under  cultivation  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and  built 
fine  and  commodious  buildings.  Later  he  saw  the  value  of  low  or  marsh 
land  for  the  production  of  mint,  and  with  this  in  view  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  ground,  which  he  cleared  and  now  devotes  to  the  growth  of  this 
aromatic  herb. 

Our  subject  was  married  to  Miss  Maria  Richmond,  to  whom  five  chil- 
dren were  born:  Lydia  E..  Louisa  A.,  William  C.  (deceased),  Benjamin 
(deceased),  and  Leonard  H.  As  would  be  naturally  expected  from  one  who 
served  so  long  in  the  Union  army,  Mr.  Green  is  vitally  interested  in  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  holds  his  membership  in  Jacob  G.  Frv 
Post  No.  46. 

Erasmus  Johnson,  of  Clyde  township,  whose  postoffice  is  on  rural 
free  delivery  route  No.  3  from  Fennville,  can  point  with  pride  to  twenty-six 
years  of  continuous  residence  in  Allegan  county.  He  is  a  native  of  Den- 
mark, his  birth  occurring  in  that  country  in  1861.  His  parents  were  Nels 
and  Marie  Jansen.  both  Danes,  whose  family  consisted  of  seven  children. 
three  of  whom  emigrated  to  America,  viz.:  Andrew,  James  (deceased),  and 
Erasmus. 

When  Erasmus  Johnson  first  came  to  this  country  he  purchased  twenty 
acres  of  land,  which  he  inmiediately  set  about  to  improve,  building  a  house 
and  the  necessary  outbuildings.  Here  he  resided  until  1896,  when  he  bought 
his  present  property,  consisting  of  ninety  acres  of  valuable  farming  land,  de- 
voted to  general  produce  and  peppermint.  In  1904  he  built  a  fine  modern 
house  upon  his  property,  with  barns  and  other  buildings  in  keeping,  and 
equipped  with  all  the  latest  improvements  available,  making  the  farm  a  par- 
ticularly desirable  place  of  residence.  He  has  a  select  herd  of  cattle  besides 
his  horses,  which  are  all  fine  draught  animals. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  1886  to  Miss  Maren  Larsen,  who  was  also 
born  in  Denmark  on  the   12th  of  June.   1866.  and  who  emigrated  to  the 


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490  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

United  States  in  1884,  They  have  two  children,  Louis  N.  and  Kate  E.  Mr. 
Johnson  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  In  affairs 
which  concern  the  pubhc  weal  he  is  always  vitally  interested,  and  is  a  loyal 
and  respected  citizen  of  his  community. 

H.  O.  Peterson,  like  many  another  of  our  industrious  fanners  through- 
out the  middle  west,  is  a  native  of  Sweden,  his  birth  occurring  in  that 
country  on  Jime  16,  1844. 

He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Ann  Peterson,  both  Swedish,  whose  family 
consisted  of  seven  children,  three  of  whom  came  to  the  United  States.  Of 
the  three  who  came  to  this  country  our  subject  is  the  sole  survivor.  He 
arrived  in  America  in  1865,  stopping  at  Chicago  for  several  years,  .but  sub- 
sequently moving  to  Saugatuck,  Michigan,  and  in  1873  purchasing  his  pres- 
ent property  in  Clyde  township.  This  property  is  now  a  well  cultivated  and 
productive  farm  of  forty-four  acres,  devoted  to  general  farming  and  frint 
raising.  When  Mr.  Peterson  purchased  this  land  it  was  unimproved,  and 
his  constant  effort  has  been  to  make  it  one  of  the  best  farms  for  its  size 
that  thought  and  labor  could  produce.  One  has  but  to  look  at  the  modern 
and  convenient  buildings,  the  well-kept  fruit  orchards  and  the  general  thrifty 
appearance  of  everything  connected  with  the  place  to  see  how  far  he  has 
succeeded  in  his  desires.  He  has  planted  with  his  own  hands  about  one 
thousand  peach,  plum,  pear  and  cherry  trees,  to  say  nothing  of  a  thousand 
or  more  currant  bushes,  and  everything  on  the  farm  receives  his  personal  at- 
tention in  so  far  as  time  permits. 

In  1873  our  subject  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Susan  Judy.  Their 
children  were  eight  in  number,  of  whom  seven  are  still  living,  the  following 
being  the  order  of  their  birth:  Anna,  wife  of  W.  Bebee;  Willis  H:  Mabel, 
now  Mrs.  Richards;  Edith,  wife  of  S.  Purdy;  Rose,  Mary  and  Cecil. 

Frkp  T.  Rasmusren,  in  common  with  many  of  the  successful  farmers 
and  business  men  of  Allegan  county,  is  a  son  of  Denmark,  in  which  country 
he  was  born  in  1872.  His  parents,  Haus  and  Metta  Rasmussen,  both 
natives  of  Denmark,  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  four  of  whom  came 
to  the  United  States,  viz. :  Carl,  James,  Fred  T.  and  Peter  C.  AH  of  these 
have  become  citizens  of  this  country. 

Mr.  Rasmussen  emigrated  to  and  settled  in  Clyde  township  in  1895, 
and  has  since  remained  there,  purchasing  in  1898  a  farm  of  sixty  acres  of 
farming  land  formerly  the  property  of  James  Johnson,  deceased.  This 
farm  is  devoted  to  general  produce.  Our  subject  is  at  present  a  director 
of  the  Pearl  Creamery,  located  at  Pearl,  in  this  same  county,  and  which  is 
doing  a  thriving  business,  with  fine  prospects  for  the  future. 

In  1898  Mr.  Rasmussen  was  married  to  the  widow  of  James  Johnson, 
who  had  by  her  former  marriage  five  children:  Ts^elsie  H.,  Marie  F., 
Andrew,  Arthur  and  Jennie  M.  Since  becoming  the  wife  of  Mr.  Ras- 
mussen there  have  been  bom  to  her  two  children,  of  whom  one,  Ravmond 
L,  is  living. 

George  W.  Perham,  a  progressive  farmer  of  Clyde  township,  in  which 
he  owns  three  hundred  acres  of  valuable  and  productive  land,  was  born  in 
Vermont  in  1858  and  resided  there  until  in  1878,  when  he  moved  to  Michi- 
gan and  tooic  up  his  abode  at  Pearl,  in  Allegan  county.     He  is  a  son  of 


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MR.  AND  MRS.  II.  O.  I'ETERSON 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  491 

Joseph  and  Rhoda  (Hewey)  Perham,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of  twelve 
children,  eight  of  whom  hved  to  reach  maturity.  Three  of  that  number 
are  now  living:  Mary-,  Joseph  and  George  W.,  although  the  latter  is  the 
only  one  of  the  three  resident  in  Michigan.  One  of  the  brothers,  Henry, 
was  in  the  Civil  war  as  a  member  of  a  Vermont  regiment,  and  died  while 
in  the  service.  A  brother-in-law,  Daniel  W.,  was  also  in  the  Federal  army 
during  that  war. 

While  still  a  resident  of  Vermont,  Mr.  Perham  was  married  to  Miss 
Elma  M.,  the  daughter  of  Franklin  and  Elizabeth  (Pulsipher)  Severens 
and  sister  of  Judge  Severens,  of  that  state.  One  child  has  been  born  to 
them,  a  daughter  named  Carrie  E.,  now  the  wife  of  Ralph  N.  Leverich  and 
the  mother  of  two  children  :   Leon  and  Inez. 

The  farm  on  which  Mr.  Perham  now  resides  has  been  in  his  posses- 
sion about  eight  years.  He  is  extensively  engaged  in  mint  culture,  devoting 
one  hundred  acres  to  the  growing  of  that  herb.  In  addition  he  also  owns 
and  operates  a  distillery,  in  which  he  distills  his  own  peppermint  and  that 
of  his  neighbors,  finding  it  more  satisfactory  and  lucrative  to  prepare  the 
essential  oil  for  the  market  than  to  sell  the  dry  herb.  All  the  buildings  on 
the  farm  were  built  by  the  present  owner  and  are  of  modern  construc- 
tion and  of  neat  appearance. 

Our  subject  is  connected  by  membership  with  Saint  John's  Lodge,  No. 
41,  of  the  Masonic  Order  of  the  State  of  Vermont,  and  is  a  respected  and 
creditable  member  of  the  same. 

Anders  Anderskn.  who  farms  within  the  bounds  of  rural  free  deliv- 
ery route  No.  3,  of  Fennville,  Clyde  township,  became  owner  of  his  present 
property,  "Maple  Hill  Farm,"  in  1906. 

Mr.  Andersen  was  born  in  Denmark,  in  December,  1861,  and  is  the  son 
of  Soren  and  Kirsten  Andersen,  natives  of  Denmark,  who  were  the  parents 
of  five  children,  two  of  whom  emigrated  to  the  United  States.  Our  subject 
came  in  1883  and  located  in  Chicago,  where  he  remained  up  until  the  pres- 
ent year,  1906.  He  was  engaged  in  a  number  of  pur.siiits  while  residing 
in  that  city,  working  in  a  soap  factory  for  three  years,  being  an  employe  of 
the  street  railway  company  for  three  years  and  being  in  business  for  him- 
self for  seventeen  years  as  a  retail  milk  dealer,  earning  thereby  more  than 
enough  to  purchase  his  present  farm.  Like  so  many  of  his  countrymen  who 
have  come  to  America,  Mr.  Andersen  is  a  loyal  and  faithful  citizen  of  the 
country  of  his  adoption. 

In  1890  our  subject  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Annie  Catherine 
Jorgenson,  who  was  born  in  Denmark  in  January,  1865,  and  emigrated  to 
America  in  1882.  They  have  one  child,  a  daughter,  Alice  C.,  who  was 
Ijorn  in  i8gi. 

Mr.  Andersen  is  a  member  of  the  Danes  Brotherhood  and  the  Tribe 
of  Ben  Hur,  and  was  for  a  number  of  years  a  member  of  the  Milk  Dealers' 
Association,  of  Chicago,  of  which  body  he  was  secretary.  Mr.  Andersen's 
residence  in  the  United  States  has  been  one  of  thrift,  hard  work  and 
capacity,  and  his  friends  bespeak  for  him  a  still  greater  success  in  his  new 
field  of  labor. 

William  Walters,  of  Clyde  township,  who  owns  an  attractive  farm 
of  thirty-five  acres  on  the  south  shore  of  Hutchins  Lake,  and  known  as  the 


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4!)3  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

"Rose  Ridg'e  Farm,"  was  born  in  Rochester,  New  York,  and  came  to  Michi- 
gan when  but  four  years  old. 

His  parents  were  David  and  Caroline  (Junke)  Walters,  both  of  Ger- 
man birth,  who  came  to  this  country  in  1849.  They  were  both  passengers 
on  the  same  vessel  and  became  man  and  wife  after  reaching  America.  In 
1854  they  came  to  Michigan  and  located  in  Clyde  township  on  August  4th, 
purchasing  eighty  acres  of  land  in  sections  7  and  8  of  that  town- 
ship. David  Waiters  was  a  man  well  known  and  highly  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat  and  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  township  clerk  in  a  strong  Republican  township,  which  office  he 
held  for  eighteen  years.  He  died  in  1890,  his  wife  following  him  in  1899. 
They  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  all  living,  who  were  born  in  the  fol- 
lowing order :  William :  Lissetta,  now  the  wife  of  Horace  Hutchins ; 
Charles  F.,  now  a  resident  of  Montana:  Carrie,  who  became  the  wife  of 
James  Palmer,  of  Spokane.  Washington ;  Henry  J.,  and  Julius  D.,  at  present 
living  in  Deer  Park.  Washington. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker  when  a 
young  man  and  followed  the  trade  successfully  in  Fennville  for  thirty-six 
years.  In  1899  he  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  is  now 
engaged  in  fruit  farming.  The  farm  on  which  he  now  lives  has  been  his 
property  since  1876  and  is  planted  to  a  diversity  of  fruits,  all  in  fine  con- 
dition, in  addition  to  three  acres  on  which  he  raises  peppermint.  In  1871 
he  was  married  to  Alpha,  daughter  of  Newton  and  Harriet  Arnold,  and  of 
this  union  were  born  three  children,  the  following  being  the  order  in  which 
they  were  bom :   Carl  J :  Rose,  now  wife  of  John  H.  White,  and  "Babe." 

Mr.  Walters  is  a  loyal  member  of  the  Democratic  party  and  has  been 
honored  with  numerous  public  offices,  among  them  that  of  drain  commis- 
sioner for  a  term  of  two  years,  dog  warden  for  two  years  and  marshal  of 
Fennville  for  the  same  length  of  time. 

WiLUAM  H.  Stlcox. — Perhaps  no  man  in  Clyde  township  has  done 
more  for  the  improvement  of  his  neighborhood  than  William  H,  Silcox. 
He  is  a  man  of  large  experience  and  a  close  student  of  men  and  affairs, 
and  his  influence  in  his  community  has  done  much  to  bring  it  into  the  pros- 
perity which  now  obtains  there. 

Mr.  Silcox  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  having  been  born  there  October  30, 
184Q,  receiving  his  early  training  and  schooling  in  that  state.  He  is  a  son 
of  William  and  Mahala  Betraum  Silcox,  whose  family  comprised  eleven 
children,  three  of  whom  moved  to  Michigan.  Our  subject,  however,  and 
John,  a  manufacturer  of  Detroit,  are  the  only  ones  that  remained  in  the 
state.  In  1859  William  Williams  and  James  Reed  took  up  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  each  in  Clyde  township,  being  among  the  first  white  men 
to  become  land  proprietors  in  that  township.  Thev  did  not,  however, 
become  residents  of  the  state.  In  1865  a  brother  of  our  subject  came  to 
Michigan  and  purchased  the  Reed  one  hundred  and  sixty,  acres,  but  after 
remaining  a  couple  of  years  sold  out  and  moved  back  to  Ohio. 

In  1868  William  H.  Silcox  moved  to  Clyde  township  and  purchased  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and  in  1874  purchased  and  occupied 
his  present  farm,  which  consists  of  three  hundred  acres  of  the  best  farm- 
ing land  in  the  county.    Of  this  farm  seventy  acres  are  planted  to  pepper- 


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MR.  AND  MRS.  WILLIAM  H.  SILCOX 


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MR,  AfJl>  MRS.  I'K'IF.R  C.  RASMUSSEX  axii  St).\ 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY  493 

mint,  and  beside  this  mint  culture — which  is  extensive  and  lucrative — Mr. 
Silcox  deals  in  genera!  produce  and  maintains  a  dairy  of  twenty-five  head 
of  fine  cattle. 

His  marriage  took  place  to  Estella  W.  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Nancy 
Calvin,  of  Ohio,  who  has  borne  him  eight  children:  Calvin,  who  married 
Miss  Susie  Perry;  Geraldiiie,  now  the  wife  of  R.  Clum ;  Effie;  May;  Belle, 
wife  of  B.  Holtoii;  Burr,  Kate  and  Iva. 

Mr.  Silcox  has  held  the  following  public  offices:  Justice  of  the  peace, 
commissioner  of  highways,  moderator  of  the  school  board,  of  which  he  has 
been  a  member  for  a  number  of  years,  and  assessor,  in  which  capacity  he 
has  served  for  the  past  twenty  years.  In  a  social  way  he  holds  member- 
ship in  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  which  organization  he  is 
a  worthy  and  respected  member. 

Petrr  C.  R.^smussen.  who  is  a  respected  farmer  of  Clyde  township, 
was  born  in  Denmark  in  1869  and  emigrated  to  this  country  in  1889.  His 
parents,  Hans  and  Katherine  Rasmussen,  both  natives  of  Denmark,  are  the 
parents  of  five  children,  four  of  whom  came  to  the  United  States,  viz. :  Carl, 
James,  Fredrick  and  Peter.  These  brothers  are  all  loyal  citizens  of  the 
country  of  their  adoption  and  enjoy  the  confidence  and  respect  of  their 
fellow  citizens  in  their  several  communities. 

Our  subject  returned  to  his  former  home  in  Denmark  in  1891  and  while 
there  married  Miss  Hannah  Nelson,  who  returned  with  him  to  be  mistress 
of  his  new  home  in  Michigan.  Three  children  were  bom  to  them,  two  of 
whom  are  living — W.  C.  and  Leonard  T. 

Mr.  Rasmussen  has  resided  on  his  present  farm  since  1898.  at  which 
time  he  purchased  the  property  of  John  Vanderburg.  At  that  time  the 
farm  comprised  eighty  acres,  but  twenty  have  since  been  disposed  of.  The 
property  is  a  particularly  desirable  one,  and  the  manner  in  which  it  is  kept 
up  and  the  modem  and  convenient  buildings  which  grace  it  show  Mr.  Ras- 
mussen to  be  a  man  of  taste  and  progressive  ideas. 

The  Pubhshers,  in  acknowledging  their  indebtedness  to  the  Editor, 
Dr.  Thomas,  whose  interest  in  every  department  of  the  undertaking  and  in- 
fluence directed  toward  the  securing  of  proper  material  insure  to  the  public 
the  value  of  this  volume  as  a  history  of  the  county,  take  this  opportunity  in 
the  closing  pages  to  give  a  brief  sketch  of  his  life  and  career. 

Dr.  Thomas'  father  was  Rev.  David  Thomas,  a  pioneer  Methodist  min- 
ister in  the  Michigan  conference.  For  a  number  of  years  following  the 
early  settlement  of  this  portion  of  the  state  he  rode  his  circuit  from  place 
to  place,  preaching  the  gospel  almost  in  the  wilderness,  keeping  the  spiritual 
truths  alive  in  the  midst  of  the  hardness  and  prosaic  actuality  of  pioneer  ex- 
istence. He  exercised  much  influence  over  the  Indian  population  that  re- 
mained here  after  the  general  removal  of  the  tribes  to  the  west,  and  after  his 
home  was  moved  to  Allegan  Dr.  Thomas  often  entertained  in  his  house  the 
dusky  friends  of  his  father,  whose  kindly  work  among  them  they  never 
forgot. 

Bom  in  Jackson  county,  Michigan.  December  17,  1843,  Mr.  Thomas 
entered  Albion  College  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and  two  years  later  interrupted 
his  schooling  to  go  to  the  war.  Enlisting  in  the  Seventh  Michigan  Cavalry, 
he  saw  service  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  in  Gen.  Kilpatrick's  raid  on 


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iM  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Richmond,  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  under  Sheridan  and  his  raid  on 
Richmond,  and  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  campaign,  in  the  siege  of  Peters- 
burg, and  at  the  close  of  the  war  continued  with  his  command  during  the 
summer  of  1865  in  the  Indian  and  frontier  service.  He  was  promoted  to 
rank  of  second  lieutenant  in  1864. 

Graduating  from  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan 
in  1868,  after  a  year's  practice  at  Constantine,  this  state,  he  located  in  Alle- 
gan. It  will  be  remembered  that  the  railroad  came  to  Allegan  in  that  year, 
that  the  lumber  industry  was  still  a  flourishing  business,  that  population  was 
increasing  more  rapidly  than  at  any  time  before  or  since,  and  that  prospects 
in  every  direction  were  exceedingly  bright.  Allegan  was  already  the  county 
seat  of  a  large  county ;  it  was  at  the  head  of  navigation  on  the  Kalamazoo, 
and  far  enough  from  Grand  Rapids  to  become  an  independent  city.  These 
prospective  advantages  appealed  to  Dr.  Thomas,  as  to  many  others,  and 
he  entered  upon  professional  and  business  connections  that  have  been  almost 
unbroken  for  nearly  forty  years.  He  has  been  in  active  practice  except 
during  his  terms  in  the  legislature  during  the  seventies  and  his  two  terms 
in  Congress  during  the  fifty-fourth  and  fifty-fifth  sessions,  though  for  the 
past  ten  years  he  has  attended  to  only  such  professional  business  as  came 
to  him. 

In  January,  1907,  in  rect^nition  of  his  splendid  public  record,  Dr. 
Thomas  was  appointed  surgeon  of  the  Soldiers'  Home  at  Grand  Rapids, 
to  succeed  Dr.  H.  W.  Mills.  This  position  carries  with  it  the  military 
rank  of  major.  Dr.  Thomas  will  have  entire  charge  of  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  home,  supervising  the  physicians  connected  with  the  Home,' 
Though  retaining  his  property  interests  in  Allegan,  Dr.  Thomas  takes  up 
his  residence  at  Grand  Rapids  on  January  15th. 

Dr.  Thomas  has  been  identi6ed  with  Allegan  county  in  many  ways.  For 
many  years  he  has  been  one  of  the  leading  physicians  in  practice  and  also 
taking  part  in  the  work  of  the  fraternity  in  general.  His  business  activities 
have  led  him  into  extensive  real  estate  investments  and  also  various  enter- 
prises at  Allegan.  He  is  now  president  of  the  Allegan  Creamery  Co.  and 
has  done  much  to  promote  the  dairy  interests  of  the  county,  besides  lending 
his  influence  to  the  improvement  of  general  agriculture.  Politically  he  has 
been  a  factor  in  Allegan  county  and  western  Michigan  for  over  thirty 
years,  and  to  a  greater  degree  than  many  has  kept  pace  with  the  progressive 
spirit  of  politics  and  governmental  policies  in  state  and  national  affairs. 


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CHAPTER  VI. 
AGRICUT/rURAL  AND  KINDRED  INTERESTS. 

Of  the  pursuit  of  the  basic  art  of  farming  during  the  early  history  of  the 
county,  much  has  been  said  on  previous  pages.  Farming,  as  we  know,  was 
not  the  first  occupation  that  chiefly  engaged  the  pioneer  settlers.  MilUng, 
river  traffic  and  the  promotion  of  manufacturing  enterprises  engaged  the 
attention  of  such  men  as  Hull  Sherwood.  W.  G.  Butler,  the  Fosters,  Elys  and 
others,  though  in  each  case  the  tilling  of  the  soil  formed  a  minor  part  of  the 
pioneer  labor. 

Allegan  coimty  has  been  the  arena  of  several  important  industries. 
Until  the  middle  seventies  lumbering  took  precedence  over  all  other.  On 
fertile  Gun  Plains  farming  from  the  first  was  a  profitable  pursuit,  and  it 
gradually  occupied  the  region  cleared  of  the  timber.  Hundreds  of  persons 
came  to  the  county  as  laborers  in  clearing  ofl  the  timber,  which  was  made 
up  for  various  uses — lumber,  railroad  ties,  telegraph  poles,  etc.  After  the 
railroad  came  there  was  a  steady  demand  for  wood  as  fuel — wood  being  used 
instead  of  coal  at  that  time — and  this  also  afforded  a  remunerative  occupa- 
tion. Many  of  the  prosperous  residents  of  the  county  at  this  time,  persons 
owning  comfortable  homes  and  well  tilled  acres,  came  to  the  county  in  the 
first  instance  to  engage  in  the  more  or  less  temporary  occupations  men- 
tioned above. 

The  work  of  clearing  and  preparing  the  land  for  cultivation  is  still  go- 
ing on.  The  large  timber  is  nearly  all  gone,  burned  off  in  the  forest  fires  of 
1871  or  cut  away  b}'  lumbermen,  but  the  smaller  growth  and  the  stumps  re- 
mained to  hinder  agriculture.  Some  forty  or  fifty  years  ago  some  one  In- 
troduced a  very  practical  kind  of  stump-puller — a  sort  of  derrick  and  cork- 
screw affair  which  worked  b>'  a  couple  of  men  and  a  team  of  horses  has  a 
wonderful  power  of  drawing  the  immense  stumps  that  cumber  the  land. 
One  of  these  stump-pullers  has  been  in  constant  use  in  the  county  for  thirty 
or  forty  years.  In  many  parts  of  the  county  clnmsy  but  picturesque  fences 
have  been  made  with  these  stumps,  and  while  perhaps  not  so  lasting  they  are 
as  truly  characteristic  and  practical  as  the  famous  stone  fences  of  the  east- 
cm  states. 

All  this  vast  labor  has  been  necessary  to  render  Allegan  county  an  agri- 
CTiltural  district.  But  not  less  important  than  the  clearing  of  the  forests 
has  been  the  draining  of  the  surface.  Drainage,  both  natural  and  artificial, 
has  been  a  matter  of  foremost  importance  from  early  settlement  to  the  pres- 
ent time.     Many  lakes  on  the  surface  of  the  county  indicate  that  natural 


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49(i  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

drainage  is  defective,  although  Allegan  county,  with  the  Kalamazoo  and 
various  smaller  streams,  is  much  better  off  in  this  respect  than  some  other 
counties.. 

The  pioneers  found  many  portions  of  the  county  unfit  for  cultivation 
and  agricultural  improvement.  Marsh  hay  was  the  only  product  of  value 
furnished  by  these  areas,  and  to  offset  this  the  flats  and  marshes  were  the 
breeding  grounds  of  chills  and  fevers  and  for  many  years  a  source  of 
disease  to  all  who  lived  here.  The  lands  along  Gun  river  in  southeastern 
Allegan  were  notable  for  their  marsh  hay,  and  for  years  the  attention  of 
the  drainage  authorities  has  been  directed  to  this  portion  of  the  county. 
Now  these  same  places  are  the  sites  of  some  of  the  most  productive,  valuable 
and  healthful  farmsteads  in  the  county.  Not  alone  the  system  of  ditching, 
under  individual  and  county  enterprise,  has  been  responsible  for  this.  The 
clearing  of  the  timber  tracts  and  undergrowth  and  the  loosening  and  upturn- 
ing of  the  soil  by  the  plow  increased  surface  evaporation  and  sub-drainage, 
and  these  were  the  first  important  agencies  in  removing  the  excess  moisture 
and  making  the  land  more  habitable  as  well  as  arable. 

The  first  acts  of  the  legislature  with  reference  to  drainage  were  passed 
in  1846.  For  ten  years  all  the  public  drainage  undertaken  was  under  the 
direction  of  township  authorities.  In  1857  the  board  of  supervisors  were 
given  power  to  appoint  three  commissioners  to  construct  and  maintain 
drains.  This  act  was  amended  at  different  times.  In  1881  it  was  provided 
that  one  drain  commissioner  might  be  appointed  in  each  county,  to  hold 
office  two  years,  and  in  1897  the  office  of  drain  commissioner  was  formally 
established  in  each  county,  to  be  filled  by  appointment  of  the  board  of 
supervisors  for  a  term  of  two  years,  the  first  full  term  dating  from  January, 
1898.  In  consideration  of  the  vast  benefit  conferred  upon  the  counties  of 
Michigan  by  drainage  works,  it  is  noteworthy  that  the  laws  and  court 
decisions  expressly  affirm  that  such  construction  and  maintenance  of  drains 
can  be  undertaken  only  on  the  ground  that  they  are  "conducive  to  the 
pubhc  health,  convenience  and  welfare."  In  other  words,  the  increased 
value  of  lands  and  the  benefits  to  private  individuals  are  only  incidental. 

In  the  records  of  the  supervisors  perhaps  as  much  space  is  taken  up  by 
drainage  affairs  as  any  other  one  subject.  Every  township  in  the  county 
has  benefited  in  the  work.  Mr.  Elmer  E.  Gable,  the  present  drain  commis- 
sioner, is  a  practical  man  from  the  western  side  of  the  county,  and  during 
his  incumbency  has  redeemed  many  thousands  of  acres  for  the  uses  of 
agriculture. 

Public  drains  may  now  be  found  in  all  parts  of  the  county.  In  some 
places  the  digging  of  a  ditch  through  a  natural  barrier  and  the  maintenance 
of  a  straight  channel  in  place  of  a  former  tortuous  and  sluggish  outlet,  has 
effected  the  complete  drainage  of  a  lake  basin,  thus  ending  another  dominion 
of  the  picturesque  tamarack  and  marsh  grass  and  making  room  for  waving 
grain  fields.  As  a  result  of  drainage  many  of  the  lakes  which  the  pioneers 
knew  and  which  are  designated  on  the  county  maps  in  use  today,  are  now 
quite  dry  and  cultivable,  and  in  the  course  of  another  generation  many  more 
of  these  sheets  of  crystal  water,  reminiscent  of  geologic  age  and  picturesque 
featxires  of  the  landscape,  will  disappear  because  inconsistent  with  practical 
utility  and  the  welfare  of  mankind. 

Not  alone  has  the  farming  area  been  extended,  but  farming  methods 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN'  COUNTY  497 

have  undergone  change.  Farming  has  become  easier  with  every  year.  Its 
conditions  and  surroundings  are  no  longer  those  of  the  common  laborer. 
Several  things  have  contributed  to  this  change.  Some  claim  that  the  inven- 
tion of  labor-saving  machinery  and  its  general  use  has  done  more  to  elevate 
agriculture  than  any  other  factor.  It  certainly  is  not  wide  of  the  mark  to 
measure  the  progress  of  agriculture  by  the  difference  that  separates  the 
self-binder  from  the  cradle.  Yet  there  are  other  factors.  The  working  and 
hiring  of  help  has  been  quite  reformed  from  the  methods  of  forty  years  ago. 
The  progressive  farmer  no  longer  depends  on  transient  labor.  Not  many 
years  ago,  when  harvest  time  or  other  extra  press  of  work  arrived,  the 
farmer  would  start  out  into  the  surrounding  country  and  hire  by  the  day 
such  men  as  were  available.  This  is  neither  practicable  nor  possible  now. 
Improved  machinery  has  done  much  to  relieve  the  farmer  of  the  necessity 
of  hiring  day  laborers.  His  policy  now  is  to  hire  a  man  by  the  year,  and 
often  a  man  of  family,  who  will  live  on  the  farm  and  give  it  his  entire  atten- 
tion. 

Transportation  has  also  effected  many  changes  in  farming  methods. 
In  place  of  marketing  by  the  bushel,  the  farmer  now  markets  "on  the  hoof," 
that  is,  feeds  his  grain  products  to  stock  on  his  own  land. 

One  of  the  methods  of  caring  for  crops  should  be  mentioned.  Within 
recent  years  progressive  farmers  have  built  silo  plants  for  the  purpose  of  pre- 
serving the  essential  qualities  of  fodder  during  the  winter  season.  One  of 
the  first  things  to  catch  the  attention  on  many  farms  in  the  county  is  the 
silo  plant,  and  often  there  are  several  of  them.  In  these  large  cylindrical, 
air-tight  tanks,  built  of  "silo  lumber,"  and  some  of  the  recent  ones  of  cement, 
the  nearly  matured  corn,  stalk  and  all,  after  being  cut  up  by  a  machine  is 
stored  very  much  as  vegetables  are  canned.  While  in  the  reservoir  it  under- 
goes a  slight  fermentation  process,  but  with  the  exception  of  a  small  portion 
on  the  surface,  which  rots  and  molds  just  as  the  top  of  a  can  of  fruit  often 
does,  and  which  is  thrown  out  before  the  rest  is  used,  the  entire  contents 
of  the  tank  are  preserved  with  original  sweetness  and  wliolesomeness  for 
feeding  to  stock.  In  1880  there  were  only  80  silos  in  the  entire  country.  It 
is  probable  that  any  agricultural  county  of  Michigan  could  show  a  greater 
number  than  that  at  this  time. 

The  silo  is  especially  vahiable  to  the  dairy  industry.  Dairying,  though 
well  suited  to  Allegan  county's  soil  and  natural  advantages,  has  advanced  to 
an  important  place  among  the  productive  industries  only  during  the  last  few 
years.  Furthermore,  the  Michigan  Dairy  and  Food  Department  is  a  recent 
institution,  a  product  of  Governor  Warner's  administration,  and  only  two 
years  old.  The  information  collected  by  this  valuable  department  of  the 
state  service  unfortunately  does  not  render  a  comparative  statement 
of  progress  possible.  However,  the  commissioner,  A.  C.  Bird,  has  furnished 
the  following  figures,  which  are  of  interest  and  show  the  dairy  products  of 
the  county  for  two  years,  though  not  complete  because  some  of  the  factories 
did  not  report  their  output. 

The  following  creameries,  skimming  stations  and  cheese  factories 
received  for  the  year  ending  December  31,  1904,  30,074,565  pounds  milk 
and  78,666  pounds  cream,  and  manufactured  1.558,216  pounds  butter  and 
202,622  pounds  cheese: 


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49S  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Wayland  Creamery.  Springdale  Cheese  Factory. 

Hilliards  Creamery,  Riverside  Cheese  Factory. 

Overisel  Creamery.  East  Saugatuck  Creamery. 

Bentheim  Creamery.  Daisy  Creamery,  Graafschap. 

Hopkins  Creamery.  Salem  Butter  and  Cheese  Company. 

Monterey  Skimming  Station.  Martin  Creamery. 

Kellogg:  Creamery.  Otsego  Creamery. 

Plainwell  Creamery.  Merson  Skimming  Station. 

Dorr  Creamery. 

The  following  named  plants  in  Allegan  county,  although  registering, 
did  not  report  amount  of  business  done : 

Fillmore  Center  Creamery.  Moline  Skimming  Station,  belonging 

Pearle  Creamery,  to  Sanitary  Milk  Ccanpany. 

Rndell  Skimming  Station  at  Bradley,  Allegan  Creamery  and  Cold  Storage, 

The  following  creameries,  skimming  stations  and  cheese  factories 
received  for  the  year  ending  December  31,  1905,  45,124,923  pounds  milk, 
141,586  pounds  cream,  and  manufactured  1,961,397  pounds  butter  and  106,- 
833  pounds  cheese: 

Dorr  Creamery.  Kellc^g  Creamery, 

Hiiliards  Creamery,  Overisel  Creamery. 

Wayland  Creamery,  Bentheim  Creamery. 

Merson  Skimming  Station.  Fillmore  Center  Creamery. 

Plainwell  Creamery,  ^ast  Saugatuck  Creamery. 

Hopkins  Creamery,  Salem  Butter  and  Cheese  Company. 

Miner  Lake  Skimming  Station.  Daisy  Creamery  Company. 

Monterey  Skimming  Station.  Allegan  Creamery. 

Otsego  Creamery,  ""'iicora  Oeamery. 

Springdale  Cheese  Factory,  Hamilton  Skimming  Station, 

The  following  named  plants  in  Allegan  county,  although  registered,  did 
not  report  amount  of  business  done : 

Hopkins  Cheese  Factory.  Rudell  Skimming  Station,  Bradley. 

Pearle  Creamery.  Martin  Skimming  Station. 

Horticulture. 

In  1850  the  value  of  orchard  products  in  Allegan  county  was  $2,582. 
This  little  item  in  the  county's  economy  indicates  a  beginning  point  in  an 
industry  that  has  since  attained  to  remarkable  proportions,  Allegan  count;' 
is  a  part  of  the  "Michigan  Fruit  Belt,"  extending  along  the  lake  from  Ber- 
rien county  on  the  south  to  Oceana  on  the  north. 

Some  of  the  pioneers  brought  seeds  or  roots  of  several  kinds  of  fruit 
along  with  them  to  the  county.  Various  persons  have  claimed  the  honor 
of  raising  the  first  peaches,  apples  or  other  fruit.  It  is  a  tradition  that  the 
Indian  traders  or  perhaps  the  Indians  themselves  had  a  peach  orchard  near 
Saugatuck  before  the  coming  of  the  settlers.  But  the  fruit  that  was  raised 
during  the  first  twenty  years  was  not  a  large  source  of  profit  and  was 
almost  entirely  for  home  use.  But  it  was  early  recognized  that  the  soil  and 
climate  were  admirably  adapted  to  fruit  culture,  and  as  soon  as  the  pioneer 
period  was  over  attention  was  directed  to  this  industry. 


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DURING  THE  PEACH-PACKIN(;  SEASON  ON  J.  K.  BARDEN'S  FARM, 

CASCO  TOWNSHIP 

IN  H.  C.  BARDEN'S  PEACH  ORCHARD,  CASCO  TOWNSHIP 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


499 


Especially  in  the  western  townships,  after  their  area  was  denuded  of 
the  forests,  was  horticulture  encouraged.  Unfortunately,  statistics  for  indi- 
vidual townships  are  lacking,  but  it  is  true  that  the  ^^reater  proportion  of  the 
fruit-raising  interests  are  in  two  western  ranges  of  the  county.  Saugatuck, 
Douglas,  Fennville,  Glenn  and  several  smaller  places  in  Casco  and  Ganges, 
besides  South  Haven  just  across  the  county  line,  are  all  busy  fruit-shipping 
centers.  For  a  more  detailed  account  of  the  fruit  industry  at  these  points 
and  some  mention  of  persons  prominently  engaged  in  the  business,  the 
reader  is  referred  to  the  histories  of  those  centers  in  a  previous  chapter. 

The  most  graphic  account  of  the  fruit  industry  in  the  county  is  found 
in  the  following  figures  of  production  for  three  decades.  The  correspond- 
ing items  for  the  adjacent  counties  of  Van  Buren  and  Ottawa  are  appended 
for  suggestive  comparisons : 


il 
il 
ill 

1004 
Cem 

Allegan   

■111 

'li 

8,362 

'iei 

B«sMl^      ratue. 

48|9T7         '.'.','.'.'. 
1,208.940     (294,846 

■  36:247    ::::;: 

335,767         91,617 

140,778         

32,078         

314,180       176,581 

R  AS  PBB  RniES , 

■  4,596     $  '  8,339 
lV,723          2T.2G4 

■  6.9S2         'l'2,3i9 

**8!367 

"a! 

1.507 

li 

12.745 
"iai 
'116 

SS?f 

8,836 
23.213 

13:555 

Voluel 
$346,677 

397.699 
67.960 

104:393 

8.     Coontlee. 

177,41 
Buahe 

■- 

156.864 

iaf»" 

5.74 

1     9,100 

8B4 

iE 

!10* 

Ta„B«rei,   

3,50 

6,206 

4,21 

7,407 

1884* 

1,412 

203 
TOT 

'220 

*'i2 
in 

Bmhela.       Value. ' 

'  6.672         '.'.'.'.'.'. 
42.676       J3I,121 

5.037         '  4,465 

'v.ios    :;.'::: 

18.548          15,402 
Bushels.       rat«e. 
'  8,536       114.298 
■■'i62         "'316 
■  K464         ■  4,802 
Busftcls."     Value.  T 

7',is9    iia'.ois 
■767        1,4b6 
4,145          7.342       1 

Acnt. 

'804 

'235 

'568 
, G 

"sT 
"2 
"52 

766 

170 

BushBU 

Value. 

T^X 

16,33 

J16.310 

6,50 

4.787 

18R4 
I8fl4 

lit 

Allegtin    

5,77 

■  v.is 

■■•■4 

■' 

S2,6.36 

III 

..,,'■' 

11.04 

ia!)4 

1884 
1904 

■ 

BvsheU. 
V5*,626 

le'sog 

49;S74 

3.054 
Vahie. ' 

16.5.962 

30.476 

63,635 

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500  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

, — Otheh  Smm,l  t"BUiT. — ,  r — GBiPEa.^ — —, 

Cenaua.     Conntiea.                                      .icrea.      Buahela.     Value,  Acren.  Pounds.     Wine,  Gain. 

ias4 1                                                            I     ...             216  61,151                 ISO 

1894  i-Aliegan     ■!     ...             383           756,759           

il)ll4J                                                            [      51           3,a03       $3,077  279  718,693          '$9,714 

18U4                                                              I     ...             158  129,367                 450 

1804    Ottawa      i     ...             318       l,I5a,578           

1904  J                                                            L        1                70             159  33U  1,044,633        •|13,709 

1884                                                              I 260  135,791                    15 

l«U4>Vau   Buren    i     ...             1,821       3,273,989           

1904  J                                                            I,    136           1,755          4,454  12,131  13,461,546     'JiOO.aOS 

It  is  noteworthy  that,  so  far  as  the  figures  for  the  census  years  given 
are  to  be  relied  upon,  the  acreage  and  fruit  production  of  the  county  have 
not  increased  during  the  last  ten  years.  Allegan  county  began  raising  fruit 
in  quantities  for  commerce  about  1870.  In  fifteen  years  the  fruit  busi- 
ness had  been  developed  almost  as  far  as  at  present  with  regard  to  acreage 
and  yield. 

It  appears  that  other  forms  of  productive  farming  are  encroaching 
somewhat  on  the  fruit  business.  In  the  northwest  part  of  the  county  a 
large  acreage  is  devoted,  especially  by  the  Holland  population,  to  the  pro- 
duction of  sugar  beets.  A  large  sugar  factory  in  Holland  consumes  all 
the  yield  of  this  section.  Another  product  that  has  been  profitably  culti- 
vated is  peppermint,  though  not  to  the  extent  found  in  other  southwest 
Michigan  counties. 

Undoubtedly  this  diversification  of  farming,  which  is  one  of  the  mod- 
ern progressive  tendencies,  has  reacted  against  some  of  the  staple  crops, 
both  of  cereals  and  fruits,  and  the  farmer  of  to-day,  in  order  not  to  "put 
all  his  eggs  in  one  basket,"  gives  attention  to  various  crops. 

With  regard  to  the  present  outlook  for  the  fruit  business,  an  address 
by  H.  G.  Welch  of  Douglas  at  the  recent  meeting  of  the  State  Horticul- 
tural Society  did  not  indicate  a  very  promising  future,  as  he  said  that  owing 
to  the  combined  effect  of  frosts  and  freezing,  yellows,  "httle  peach,"  and 
San  Jose  scale,  many  of  the  jwach-growers  are  going  out  of  the  fruit  busi- 
ness. If  this  continues  for  the  next  five  years  as  in  the  past,  the  acreage 
of  orchards  in  Michigan  will  be  greatly  reduced.  The  trouble  is  largely 
due  to  the  neglect  of  the  owners,  who  leave  the  trees  without  cultivation 
and  do  nothing  to  replace  the  plant  food.  At  present  it  would  be  better 
for  the  owners  if  one-half  of  the  peach  orchards  were  dug  out.  While 
San  Jose  scale  and  yellows  can  be  readily  detected  in  orchards,  it  is 
extremely  difficult  to  detect  the  presence  of  "little  peach,"  especially  in 
orchards  that  are  neglected,  and  hence  this  disease  is  more  difficult  to 
handle.  The  future  is  bright  for  those  who  cultivate,  prune,  and  spray 
their  orchards,  and  if  the  fruit  is  carefully  graded  and  honestly  packed 
even  better  prices  can  be  expected  than  in  the  past.  In  some  sections 
where  peach  trees  are  being  taken  out  the  land  will  be  reset  with  apples. 

The  Saugatuck  and  Ganges  Pomological  Society,  organized  in  Douglas 
in  September,  1871,  was  first  known  as  the  Lake  Shore  Agricultural  and 
Pomological  Society,  its  scope  of  work  and  influence  embracing  the  entire 
western  half  of  Allegan  county.  It  is  significant  of  the  increasing  prcani- 
nence  of  fruit  raising  in  the  county  that  in  1877  it  was  decided  to  drop  ^e 
name  Agricultural  and  also  to  confine  the  society's  interest,  in  the  main, 
to  Saugatuck  and  Ganges  townships.  A  quotation  from  this  resolution  in 
1877  has  direct  bearing  on  the  growth  of  the  fruit  business  during  the 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  501 

early  years  of  the  seventies,  namely:  "Since  the  organization,  seven  years 
a^o,  the  production  has  increased  from  not  enough  to  supply  home  con- 
sumption to  over  100,000  bushels  for  shipment  from  the  towns  of  Sauga- 
tuck  and  Ganges  alone,  and  only  a  small  proportion  of  the  trees  in  full 
bearing,"  The  production  of  peaches  in  1906  was  over  one  million  bushels, 
besides  a  large  amount  of  other  fruits. 

The  first  president  of  the  society  was  D.  W.  Wiley,  who  has  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  fruit  interests  of  this  section  of  the  county 
for  over  a  third  of  a  century  and  is  the  present  incumbent  of  the  office  of 
president  of  the  society.  Other  well  known  farmers  and  fruit  growers 
were  among  the  first  officers,  namely:  J.  J.  Holmes,  S.  R.  Lewis,  James 
McCormick,  B.  F.  Dressier,  R.  C.  Eaton,  R.  B.  Newnham,  C,  A.  Ensign, 
E.  W.  Perry,  J.  S.  Owen,  H.  H.  Goodrich,  J.  P.  Leland,  Alexander  Hamil- 
ton, J.  F.  Taylor,  Thomas  Grav,  Daniel  Gerber,  Levi  Loomis,  H.  L,  House, 
D.  C.  Putnam. 

Besides  Mr.  Wiley  those  who  have  been  longest  and  most  directly 
concerned  in  the  society's  work  have  been ;  Will  Dunn,  J.  P.  Wade,  P. 
Purdy,  Robert  Reid,  Sr.,  Thomas  Gray,  and  Levi  Loomis.  The  present 
most  active  members  are  Ed.  Hawley,  Edward  Huchins,  R.  Bennett,  John 
Crane,  C.  E.  Bassett,  H.  H.  Goodrich.  C.  B.  Welch  and  H.  G.  Welch.  The 
present  officers  of  the  society  are :  D,  W,  Wiley,  president ;  C.  B.  Welch, 
secretary,  and  H.  G.  Welch,  treasurer. 


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CH.^PTER  VII. 

MANUFACTURING. 

r  of  1905  Allegan  county  was  visited  by  the  state  factory 
inspector,  and  his  report  on  the  establishments  of  the  county  furnishes  the 
latest  official  statistics  of  manufacturing.  The  number  of  factories  in- 
spected was  89  and  the  total  number  of  employes  1,067.  These  were  dis- 
tributed according  to  villages  as  follows : 

No.  Factories.  Ko.  Employes, 

Allegan  25  214 

Douglas   I  128 

Fennville    2  9 

Otsego   9  468 

Plainwell   14  99 

Wayland 5  26 

TJie  details  of  the  report  showing  name  of  factory  or  firm  at  the  time 
of  inspection,  the  location,  kind  of  output  and  the  date  of  establishment 
are  given  below : 


iVflme  or  factory  or  fl, 

Allegan  Lt.  &  Power  Co. 

Foundry  &  Maeh 

;;          Creamery    Co... 

"^v-v- 

:::::^" 

Loco  Ho  11. 

or  handled.            tablia 
. , .  Ble«trldty  

8B*6 

^"r"*^ 

aae 

Balnea   &  Maaler  Cabinet 

Co 

Klteben   cablneta 

904 

Bensley,  Edward    

Cltj   Water   Worka 

FaiVeld  &  Kolvoorf.."::;;:!::::::::;:: 

GrteBb'y   &  S  trattin  .* .' .'  .* .'   .' .'    ' '.    '. '.'.'.'. '.  '.'.'.       ; 

S!-i:^V:V:::V::::-::::'::'::-':::    '■ 

:::;::::::)fi^ur°::-:..r:r:::::;;: 

8*7 

BOS 

Rowe  Bros.  Manufacturing 

Co 

...Wood  tarslne. 

fl04 

Tbe  illegan  Press 

...Laundry   work 

:helm 

. . .  Butter   

nuflell   Creamery   Co 

884 

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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


Beck,  George   . . . ._ Itvu'nlpa  Comers.. . 

JJorc   Creamerv   Co Dorr 

Graj,    M.    K ■-       

Weed,  B.  K.  It  Co DoivglaB 

Cooper,   W.   H Diamond  Springs.. 

I.Dker,  C.  J.  &  Co E.  Saiiaatuck iiuntr   

FennvlUe  Boiler  Mills Fennyine l''loiiv   1886 

"  Herald    ■■  I'rLnted    matter 1892 

FJUmore  CcEter  Creamery  Co Fillmore     Butter    1904 

Dalsey  Creamery  Co Graatadinp   "       1897 

All !■ !•„  Iljimilton    Sblmmlng   station 1902 

Ituilding  material 1880 

"  Flour    1903 

"  Flour  and  imnhec 1893 

I'nlmer,  M.   W "  Machine   repairs 1903 

Zppland  Brirk   t'o "  Brick    1883 

The  HllUardB   Creamery   Co Ullllards    Skimming    station 1903 

l>eal,  .loBeph Hooper   Staves   1888 

BuBklrk,  Mrs.  Ida Hopklna  Station Cheese 1889 

Illeks.   M.   W '•  ■■  ■■  18T5 

Hopkins  Creamery  Co ■'  "         .    .  Butter   1902 

l.oeweke,  ti "  "       ...   firaln   1900 

Walters.  L.  C ■■  ••        Lumber    1894 

Martin   Creamery   Co Martin   Bulti-r    1899 

Kedpath  &   Campbell ■■        firaln   1870 

firay.  Mllo  F Mollne    Tlour    1895 

Moline    Creamery    Co "         Skiroralug    station 1902 

Strout,  H.  H JCniltPrey  "  "        1903 

Bardeen    Paper   Co Otsego    Paper   1887 

Henry  Homer ■■  [.sundry   work 1908 

noag.    r.    G ■•  i.-iour    .'^ 1868 

Otsego  Chair  Co ■'  Phnirs    1890 

Creamery  Co ■•  llutter    1903 

Water   Works    "         .  rt'ater 1888 

SIple.  R.  II ■'  . .    .  Orain   1890 

The  Kady  Shoe  Co "         Children's    shoes 1903 

The  Otsego  Union ■'         Printed    matter 187-'> 

IlotCman  &  Son Overlsel   Oround  feed 1902 

"iverlsel  Creamery  Co ■'        Butter   1896 

"    "    "  riflinwll PlanInK    mil! 1883 

'■  Electricity    1895 

.  iiauiiirio.    e>.    I. "  Printed    matter 19(10 

City  Water  Works "  Water     1890 

Eealey,  J.  F.  &  Co "  Flour  and  grain 1887 

Fstes.  M.  W •<  Cigars    190.1 

narwood,    F.  A "  Produce   ISOn 

Michigan    Paper    Co "  funk  paper   1887 

MIddnugh,  O "  Clears    190S 

llainwell   Creamery   Co "  . ,    .  Rnttpr    1893 

RhaylpR.  B.   C ■•  . .    .  Flour    ISno 

ftnnt.    .T.    A "  ...  "       1S7n 

The    Plalnwell    TJewa ■'  Piinted    matter 1899 

"  '■  Enterprise  "  "  "      1885 

Commo"wealth   Power  Co Trowbridge ElectrlcHv    IBOa 

■■    "  "  1898 

Henderson    A    Sons Wavland    Flour    

Powell.  F,   E ■■'  Lumber    1880 

The  Saturday  filobe '■  Printed    matter 1884 

«......_.  ^ ^_  „  Butter    189S 

"  Feed    190* 

In  I9CX)  there  were  234  establishments  in  Allegan  county  classed  under 
the  head  of  manufactnrine:.  The  total  of  capital  was  $1  .-^48.3  ^6,  the  average 
number  of  wa^e-earning  employes  was  1,066.  representing  about  -^  per  cent 
of  the  population,  and  their  earning;  capacity  was  measured  bv  the  sum  of 
$445,014,     These  plants  produced  articles  valued  at  $1,862,480. 


t  Manufacture. 


Of  the  thirty-one  paper  and  piilo  mills  in  Michie:an  three  are  located 
ill  Allegan  county,  one  of  them  being;  among  the  largest  in  productive 
capacity.  Mr.  Georg-e  E.  Bardeen,  one  of  the  leading  manufacturers  in 
Michigan,  who  is  at  the  head  of  the  plant  at  Otsego,  recently  contributed 


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504  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

an  article  on  the  progress  of  paper  manufacture  during  the  past  thirty-five 
years,  and  the  following  extracts  will  be  pertinent  to  this  history : 

"In  1870  there  were  very  few  mills  in  this  state,  all  having  a  daily 
capacity  for  production :  Soda  pulp,  24,000  pounds ;  ground  wood  pulp, 
40,000  pounds;  book,  writing  and  print  paper,  19,000  pounds;  wrapping 
paper  and  boards,  27,000,  a  total  of  110,000  pounds.  At  the  present  time 
we  have  about  33  mills  in  this  state  with  a  capacity  for  the  daily  production 
of  rag,  wrapping  and  boards  of  541,000  pounds;  fibers  and  news,  547,000 
pounds;  book  and  writing,  704,000  pounds;  ground  wood  pulp,  139,000 
pounds ;  sulphite  pulp,  466,000  pounds,  a  total  of  2,397,000  pounds,  showing 
an  increase  of  over  2,000  per  cent  since  1870. 

"Statistics  show  that  in  1870  Michigan  stood  number  twelve  in  the  state 
hst  of  mills  in  the  United  States,  and  in  1905  it  stood  number  seven  in  the 
list  of  mills,  the  increase  meaning  more  than  the  actual  figures  represent. 
In  1870  Michigan  stood  number  fifteen  in  the  list  of  tonnage  and  in  1905 
it  stood  number  five  in  this  list,  and,  too,  during  this  period  the  two  mills 
making  soda  in  the  state  have  discontinued,  so  that  no  soda  wood  is  pro- 
duced within  the  confines  of  the  state.  In  the  meanwhile  the  production  of 
all  other  grades  has  increased  many  fold.  It  is  a  matter  of  interest  that  in 
1870  a  rag  news  paper  was  considered  the  best  news  paper  produced  and 
sold  at  14  cents  per  pound.  The  same  paper  today  sells  for  1.85  to  3  cents 
per  pound. 

"In  1870  the  products  of  mills  in  Michigan  were  mostly  marketed 
within  our  state  and  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois.  Today  they  are  shipped  to 
almost  every  country  on  the  globe,  and  while  the  production  of  rag  paper 
has  increased  very  materially,  the  great  increased  production  is  due  to  the 
use  of  sulphite  and  ground  wood  pulps. 

"The  book  paper  industry  was  started  by  L.  A.  Barnes  at  the  Penin- 
sular Paper  Company,  Ypsilanti,  in  the  early  '60s.  The  Kalamazoo  Paper 
Company  was  started  in  Kalamazoo  in  1867,  B.  F.  Lyon  being  the  first 
superintendent.  In  March,  1870,  he  was  succeeded  by  S.  A.  Gibson.  The 
product  was  high  grade  rag  news.  In  June,  1870,  G,  E.  Bardeen  joined 
the  Kalamazoo  Paper  Company's  forces.  In  September,  1872,  the  Kala- 
mazoo Paper  Mil)  was  entirely  destroyed  by  fire.  A  new  mill  was  built 
and  started  up  in  May,  1873,  making  book  paper. 

"In  1887  Messrs.  Bardeen  and  Bryant  started  the  Bardeen  Paper  Com- 
pany at  Otsego,  later  the  Botsford  Paper  Company;  afterwards  the 
Wolverine  Paper  Company  (now  the  Kalamazoo  Paper  Company)  was 
built.  Then  followed  the  Bryant  Paper  Company,  the  King  Paper  Com- 
pany, the  Superior  Paper  Company,  the  Lee  Paper  Company,  the  Standard 
Paper  Company  and  the  MacSinBar  Paper  Company,  all  officered  and  run 
by  parties  formerly  with  the  Bardeen  Paper  Company.  The  Kalamazoo 
Paper  Company  sold  their  mill  to  the  Gibson  Paper  Company  and  built  a 
large  mill  east  of  their  mill  No.  2.  The  Gibson  Paper  Company  sold  to  the 
Monarch  Paper  Company,  who  have  demolished  the  mill  and  are  erecting 
a  modern  mill  on  its  site. 

"George  E.  Bardeen  started  as  bookkeeper  of  the  Kalamazoo  Paper 
Company  in  1870,  then  became  secretary  and  later  president  and  manager 
of  the  Bardeen  Paper  Company,  vice-president  of  the  Lee  Paper  Company, 
and  treasurer  of  the  MacSinBar  Paper  Company. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COLNTY  505 

"Noali  Bryant,  who  started  as  machine  tender  for  the  Kalamazoo  Paper 
Company  in  1874,  was  made  foreman  and  then  superintendent  of  the  Bardeen 
Paper  Company,  and  later  president  of  the  Bryant  Paper  Company.  F.  H. 
Milhani  started  in  1887  as  receiving  clerk  of  the  Bardeen  Paper  Company, 
later  was  bookkeeper,  then  secretary  and  manager  of  the  Bryant  Paper 
Company,  and  is  now  the  secretary  of  the  Superior  and  Munising  Paper 
Companies.  John  King  came  to  the  Bardeen  Paper  Company  as  machine 
tender,  then  was  made  foreman  and  later  superintendent  of  the  King  Paper 
Company.  Walter  S.  Hodges  started  as  bookkeeper  for  the  Kalamazoo 
Paper  Company,  later  held  the  same  position  with  the  Bardeen  Company, 
and  was  made  president  of  the  Superior  Paper  Company. 

"Henry  D.  Eddy  came  to  the  Bardeen  Paper  Compan>'  as  a  clerk  and 
was  later  made  manager  of  the  Standard  Paper  Company.  George  O.  Com- 
fort started  as  bookkeeper  for  the  Bardeen  Paper  Company,  later  was  with 
the  Bryant  and  the  King  Paper  Companies,  and  is  now  president  of  the 
Monarch  Paper  Company.  F.  D.  Haskell  came  with  the  Kalamazoo  Paper 
Company  in  1887,  later  was  made  president  of  the  Gibson  Paper  Company 
and  is  now  secretary  of  the  King  Paper  Company.  F.  M.  Hodge  came  to 
the  Kalamazoo  Paper  Company  in  1887  and  has  been  with  them  as  presi- 
dent since  the  death  of  Mr.  Gibson.  Norman  Bardeen  was  first  with  the 
Bardeen  Paper  Company,  later  becoming  secretary  and  manager  of  the  Lee 
Paper  Company.  W.  H.  Goodenough.  superintendent  of  the  Lee  Paper 
Company,  came  from  the  American  Writing  Paper  Company,  and  lias 
always  been  identified  with  high  grade  mills. 

"Mr.  W.  B.  McClellan  started  as  a  paper  dealer  in  Minneapolis  and 
later  joined  the  Bardeen  Paper  Company's  forces  and  is  now  president  of 
the  MacSinEar  Paper  Company,  S.  W.  Simpson  came  to  the  Bardeen 
Paper  Company  as  a  machine  tender,  later  was  made  superintendent,  and  is 
now  vice-president  of  the  MacSinEar  Paper  Company.  R.  W.  Reynolds 
joined  the  Bardeen  Paper  Companv's  forces  in  1899  and  is  now  secretary 
of  the  MacSinEar  Paper  Company." 

The  Michigan  P.\pee  Company,  of  Plainwell,  which  ranks  foremost 
among  Allegan  county's  industrial  concerns,  was  established  in  1887  as  a 
corporation.  Among  the  prime  movers  in  its  organization  were  such  well 
known  business  men  as  J.  W.  Hicks,  H.  W.  Page,  C.  O.  Gilkey  and 
William  J.  Thomas.  It  was  established  as  a  one  machine  mill,  and  its 
product  included  finished  book  paper,  French  folio,  catalogue  and  specialties. 

Its  present  officers  are:  J.  D,  Wagner,  president:  F,  M.  Storms,  vice- 
president  :  J.  I.  Bush,  treasurer :  J.  W.  Gilkev,  secretary  and  manager,  and 
William  J.  Thomas,  superintendent.  In  addition  to  the  officers  the  direc- 
torate includes:  R.  L.  Soide,  of  Plainwell:  E,  W.  Bowman  and  G,  E. 
Dunbar,  of  Kalamazoo,  Michigan;  J,  W,  Beardsley,  of  Holland.  Michigan, 
and  F,  C,  Miller,  of  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  Under  the  capable  manage- 
ment of  this  corps  of  officers  the  business  grew  at  a  rapid  pace  and  it  soon 
became  apparent  the  plant  must  be  enlarged.  In  the  spring  of  1906  the 
capital  stock  was  increased  from  fiftv-six  thousand  to  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five  thousand  dollars  and  the  plant  shut  down  for  remodeline.  With 
the  exception  of  the  engine  room  the  old  plant  was  torn  down  and  imme- 
diately new  buildings  were  erected  as  follows:    A  stock  house  and  sorting 


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506  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

room,  including;  three  stories  and  basement,  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight 
by  sixty- four  feet  in  dimensions;  a  two-story  chemical  and  duster  room 
fifty-six  by  forty  feet;  cooker  room,  two  stories  and  basement,  forty-six  by 
ninety  feet;  beater  room,  one  story  and  basement,  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
eight  by  sixty-six  feet ;  bleach  room,  thirty-two  by  seventy-five  feet ;  machine 
room,  one  story  and  basement,  two  hundred  and  eight  by  sixty  feet;  finish 
room,  seventy-two  by  sixty  feet,  one  story  and  basement;  engine  room,  one 
story,  sixty-four  by  forty-eight  feet;  boiler  room,  one  story,  thirty-two  by 
forty-eight  feet,  and  thirty-five  feet  high ;  and  coal  house,  forty-eight  by 
forty-eight  feet.  It  is  equipped  with  the  latest  and  best  improved  machinery 
and  has  been  increased  to  four  times  its  former  capacity.  The  floors  and 
supports  of  the  buildings  are  of  solid  concrete,  and  both  in  construction  and 
equipment  the  plant  will  be  unexcelled.  From  one  hundred  to  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  people  are  given  employment,  about  half  of  them  being 
women.  Every  convenience  has  been  provided  for  the  employes,  notably  a 
rest  room  for  the  women.  The  plant  is  provided  with  water  and  steam,  and 
the  entire  plant  equipped  with  the  automatic  sprinkler,  which  guarantees 
safety  from  fire. 

The  Michigan  Paper  Company,  stable  and  prosperous,  means  much  to 
the  thriving  village  of  Plainwell,  and  is  a  credit  to  the  community. 


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CHAPTER  VIII. 
EDUCATION. 

"Schools  and  the  mtans  of  education  ^H.'all  forever  be  encouraged." 
These  words  are  found  in  the  famous  ordinUhtie  of  1787  for  the  government 
of  the  Northwest  Territory,  including'  what  is  now  Michigan.  A  congres- 
sional act  of  1804,  also  with  reference  to  what  is  now  Michigan,  reserved 
from  sale  section  16  of  each  township  "for  the  support  of  schools."  These 
acts  of  the  national  government  were  passed  before  the  Territory  of  Michi- 
gan was  organized  and  years  before  the  surveys  were  made  and  the  boun- 
daries defined  for  Allegan  county.  But  in  so  far  as  the  state  has  undertaken 
to  controlthe  scheme  and  machinery  of  education,  the  educational  system 
which  the  people  of  this  county  have  used  has  been  provided  by  Michigan 
as  a  state  and  not  as  a  territory.  A  brief  glance  at  the  history  of  education 
in  Michigan  will  be  a  proper  introduction  to  a  more  detailed  account  of  the 
educational  affairs  of  the  county. 

Michigan  was  under  the  government  of  France  from  1634  until  1760. 
Settlements  were  made  at  various  places  around  the  Great  Lakes  by  the 
Jesuit  missionaries,  but  the  most  important  Frencii  settlement  was  the 
founding  of  Detroit  by  Cadillac  in  1701. 

Under  the  French  control  centralization  was  the  fundamental  principle 
in  all  affairs.  The  military  commandant  was  supreme  in  the  state  and  the 
priest  or  bishop  in  the  church.  Education  was  a  function  of  the  church. 
The  initiative  in  everything  was  in  the  officials,  not  in  the  people.  There 
were  no  semi -independent  local  organizations  like  the  New  England  towns 
to  provide  for  the  manageinent  and  support  of  schools. 

Two  years  after  the  founding  of  Detroit,  Cadillac  recommended  the 
establishment  of  a  seminary  at  that  place  for  the  instruction  of  children 
of  the  savages  with  those  of  the  French.  It  is  doubtful  if  this  recommenda- 
tion produced  any  immediate  results,  as  it  is  stated  that  no  indication  of 
,  schools  or  teachers  can  be  found  until  1755,  a  half  century  later.  Private 
schools  of  varying  degrees  of  excellence  are  reported  to  have  existed  frohi 
1755.    Most  of  these  were  short-lived  and  6'f  inferior  character. 

Under  English  control  educational  affairs  remained  the  same  as  under 
the  French.  The  land  reserved  for  school  purposes  was  the  first  step  taken 
by  the  American  general  government.  The  sixteenth  section  of  each  town- 
ship granted  for  the  support  of  the  schools  became,  through  the  efforts  of 
Gen.  Isaac  E.  Crary,  Michigan's  first  congressman,  a  principal  source  of 


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508  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

the  State  Primary  Fund,  which  is  now  a  matter  of  pride  to  every  citizen  of 
the  state.  It  was  a  wise  provision,  based  on  the  experience  of  other  states, 
that  turned  the  proceeds  from  the  sale  of  school  lands  into  a  state  fund 
instead  of  giving  them  to  the  township  in  which  the  section  was  located. 
Where  the  latter  practice  prevailed  serious  inequalities  resulted  from  the 
fact  that  the  designated  section  was  often  inferior  land  and  when  sold 
brought  little  or  nothing  to  the  township  treasury.  And,  also,  the  manage- 
ment of  one  large  central  fund  was  more  economical  and  subject  to  less 
risks  than  if  the  money  had  been  left  in  the  many  township  treasuries.  The 
Primary  School  Fund  has  increased  from  year  to  year,  so  that  the  per 
capita  annual  distribution  of  interest  therefrom  has  more  than  kept  pace 
with  the  increase  of  school  population. 

The  primary  money  in  1845  was  twenty-eight  cents  a  scholar.  There 
was  a  slow  increase  per  capita  until  1880,  when  it  was  forty-seven  cents  a 
scholar.  After  1880  a  portion  of  all  specific  state  taxes,  except  those 
received  from  the  mining  companies  of  the  upper  peninsula,  were  applied 
to  the  primary  school  fund  distribution.  Since  then  there  has  been  a 
notable  increase.  In  1881  the  per  capita  amount  was  $r.o6;  in  1890,  $1.33; 
in  1900,  $2.15 :  in  1905,  $3.30.  On  account  of  the  back  taxes  on  railroads 
paid  during  the  year  igo6  the  primary  money  for  the  November  semi- 
annual apportionment  was  $1 1  for  each  child  of  school  age  in  the  county. 
The  per  capita  distribution  for  the  entire  year  1906  was  $12. 

If  efficiency  of  instruction  is  measured  by  money  expended,  the  children 
of  today  are  many  times  better  off  than  those  of  fifty  years  ago.  In  1850 
there  were  1,196  pupils  in  Allegan  county.  The  total  school  income  for  the 
year  was  $4,431,  of  which  $2,781  was  raised  by  direct  local  taxation,  and 
$1,650,  or  about  one-third,  came  from  public  funds.  In  1906  there  were 
11,768  school  children  entitled  to  share  in  the  school  funds.  That  is  almost 
exactly  ten  times  the  number  in  1850.  And  in  this  time  the  interest  on  the 
Primary  School  Fund  alone  is  ten  times  greater  than  the  income  from  all 
the  public  funds  in  1850. 

The  moneys  used  for  the  support  of  the  common  schools  are  the  interest 
from  the  Primary  School  Fund,  the  one-mill  tax,  the  unappropriated  dog 
tax,  library  moneys  which  are  appropriated  by  the  township  board  for  school 
purposes,*  the  tuition  of  non-resident  pupils  and  the  voted  tax  in  the  district. 
The  primary  money  can  be  used  for  no  other  purpose  than  the  payment  of 
the  wages  of  legally  qualified  teachers  and  only  by  districts  in  which  five 
months  of  school  were  maintained  during  the  last  preceding  year. 

The  supervisor  usually  assesses  upon  the  taxable  property  in  his  town- 
ship one  mill  upon  each  dollar  of  valuation.  This  tax  is  paid  over  to  the 
treasurers  of  the  several  school  districts.  But  by  a  law  passed  at  the  session 
of  1905  the  supervisor  does  not  assess  this  tax  if  the  surplus  in  the  school 
fund,  exclusive  of  money  for  building  purposes,  is  equal  to  or  in  excess  of 
teachers'  wages  paid  the  preceding  year,  A  large  number  of  districts  in  the 
countv  will  not  assess  this  tax  this  year. 

The  qualified  voters  may  levy  a  tax  for  general  school  purposes.  When 
a  tax  is  voted,  it  is  reported  to  the  supervisor,  who  assesses  it  on  the  taxable 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGA\  COUNTY  509 

.property  of  the  district.  Whenever  the  unappropriated  dog  tax  in  any 
township  is  over  and  above  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars,  it  is  apportioned 
among  the  several  school  districts  of  such  township  or  city  in  proportion  to 
the  number  of  children  of  school  age. 

The  primary  school  interest  for  the  past  twenty-five  years  is  thus  shown : 

1880   $  5.575-61      1900   $25,96770 

1890 16,760.66      1905    39-405-30 

The  apportionment  for  November,   1906,  is  shown  by  the  following 
table : 

Townships  No.  in  Appor-  Amt.  Ap- 

AND  Cities.  tionment.  portioneu. 

Allegan   : 982 $  10,802 

Casco 621 6,831 

Cheshire    432 4.752 

Clyde 262 2,882 

Dorr  593 6,523 

Fillmore  702 7,722 

Ganges 458 5.038 

Gun  Plains   568 6,248 

Heath    345 3,795 

Hopkins 518 5,698 

Laketown    377 4.147 

Lee 353 3.883 

Leighton   331 3,641 

Maniiiis 566 6,226 

Martin   262 2.882 

Monterey 387 4.257 

Otsego 853 9,383 

Overisel 637 7,007 

Salem 640 7,040 

Saugatuck 541 5,951 

Trowbridge 400 4,400 

Valley    . ." 134 t,474 

Watson   312 3.432 

Wa}-Iand   494 5434 


Total    11,768  $129,448 

Deficiencv  from   Manlius   township,  May   10,    1906 10 


$129,458 


The  school  legislation  of  Michigan  while  a  territory  had  little  bearing 
on  the  schools  of  Allegan  county,  nor,  in  fact,  on  those  in  any  other  part 
of  the  territory.  But  the  legislature  in  1827  provided  that  "every  town- 
ship containing  fifty  inhabitants  or  householders  should  employ  a  school- 
master of  good  morals  to  teach  children  to  read  and  write  and  to  instruct 
them  in  the  English  language  as   well  as  in  arithmetic,   orthography   and 


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610  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

decent  behavior."  A  department  of  education  was  also  established,  at 
whose  head  was  to  be  a  superintendent  of  common  schools  appointed  by 
the  governor. 

But  very  little  was  actually  done  in  the  way  of  public  schools  pre- 
vious to  the  state  organization.  The  first  schools  in  Allegan  county  were 
ihe  result  of  voluntary  effort  on  the  part  of  the  pioneers.  The  first  set- 
tlers came,  as  we  know,  largely  from  New  York  and  the  New  England 
states,  where  education  was  fundamental  and  thoroughly  a  part  of  every- 
day life.  It  was  natural,  therefore,  that  whenever  half  a  dozen  families 
within  a  circle  of  two  or  three  miles  had  secured  a  comfortable  home  shel- 
ter, the  next  business  in  order  was  to  organize  a  school.  A  site  was 
selected,  a  log  building  erected,  and  some  person  in  the  community  who 
had  had  exceptional  advantages  in  the  east  or  who  professed  ability  as  a 
pedagogue  was  employed  to  conduct  the  school.  And  from  each  home  a 
path  was  blazed  through  the  forest  trees  by  which  the  children  could  find 
their  way  to  and  from  the  schoolhouse. 

The  building  of  this  first  log  schoolhonse  marked  a  stage  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  community.  Almost  without  exception  in  this  part  of  the 
middle  west  the  school  was  the  first  institution.  It  preceded  the  church, 
and  sometimes  the  first  town  meeting  was  held  there.  It  was  the  central 
point  of  the  community  life.  There  the  settlers  met  to  vote  and  perform 
the  civil  business;  there  the  questions  that  confront  a  new  social  organiza- 
tion were  discussed  and  solved ;  there  the  people  met  for  social  enjoyment, 
and  there  they  came  together  for  religious  worship.  The  schoolhonse  was 
the  focal  point  of  pioneer  life,  and  its  importance  cannot  be  too  strongly 
emphasized. 

The  early  schoolhouses  have  often  been  described.  Many  were  built 
of  logs,  some  of  sawed  lumber,  while  a  few  were  made  of  stone  or  brick. 
That  the  log  schoolhouse  is  something  more  than  tradition  to  men  and 
women  of  Allegan  county  who  are  still  in  the  prime  of  life,  may  be  inferred 
from  the  fact  that  less  than  thirty  years  ago  there  was  at  least  one  such 
school  building  in  use  in  the  county. 

While  the  exterior  of  the  building  varied,  the  interior  furnishings  were 
about  the  same.  Built  at  one  end  of  the  room  was  the  mud  and  stick 
chimney,  with  the  broad  fire-place.  To  keep  the  fire  blazing  briskly  by  a 
plentiful  supply  of  logs  was  the  task  of  the  older  boys,  while  in  the  sum- 
mer some  of  the  girls  would  often  fill  the  hearth  space  with  flowering 
plants.  The  rough  walls  of  the  rooms  were  unadorned  except  as  the  indi- 
vidual taste  of  the  teacher  might  seek  to  relieve  its  dreariness ;  the  floors 
were  often  of  broad  roughly  hewn  puncheons  laid  on  the  ground,  or,  if 
the  building  was  of  frame,  thick  boards  were  spiked  to  ground  sills,  with 
wide  cracks  between  the  boards  affording  an  easy  escape  for  pencils,  jack- 
knives  and  other  schoolboy  impedimenta. 

The  seats  were  indeed  primitive.  They  were  nothing  more  than  a 
spht  1<^  with  the  flat  surface  up,  and  resting  on  legs  driven  into  holes  on 
the  under  side ;  or  the  timber  for  the  seat  might  be  a  plank  with  some 
attempt  at  smoothing  the  top  surface.  There  were  no  back  to  these  benches, 
and  the  tired  bodies  of  pioneer  chiidreu  got  no  rest  except  by  leaning  for- 
ward. There  were  no  desks  in  the  modern  sense  of  the  term.  Around 
two  or  three  sides  of  the  room  was  fixed  a  broad  board,  with  a  slant  con- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COLWTY  511 

veiiieiit  for  the  writer,  and  on  this  the  pupils,  or  as  many  of  them  as  this 
rough  form  of  desk  would  accommodate,  did  their  writing;  and  figuring. 
A  piece  of  slate  was  used  for  all  calculations,  and  paper  was  only  used  for 
penmanship  exercises. 

Of  school  apparatus  there  was  none.  As  late  as  1866  the  inspector 
for  Otsego,  one  of  the  most  advanced  townships,  reported:  "There- is  no 
apparatus  in  the  school  houses."  A  blackboard,  which  was  the  extent  of 
equipment  in  many  schools  during  the  sixties,  was  introduced  many  years 
after  the  pioneers'  children  had  gone  from  tlie  schools  into  actual  life. 
Graphite  pencils  were  also  unknown.  A  "pen  knife"  was  then  a  necessary 
part  of  the  teacher's  equipment,  for  he  used  that  instrument  in  a  way  to 
suggest  the  name,  that  is,  to  fashion  for  each  scholar  a  pen  from  a  selected 
goosequill.  Paper  was  coarse  and  expensive,  and  the  era  of  cheap  wood- 
pulp  paper  tablets  did  not  begin  until  comparatively  recently. 

When  the  settlers  came  from  the  east  many  of  them  brought  along  a 
few  school  books  such  as  the  parents  had  used.  Coming  from  every  one 
of  the  New  England  and  middle  Atlantic  states,  these  books  when  brought 
into  the  school  by  individual  pupils  formed  a  heterogeneous  collection. 
Yet  from  these  the  teacher  was  supposed  to  assign  the  lessons,  and  from 
a  chaos  of  texts  to  reduce  uniformity.  The  difficulty  was  not  so  great  as 
might  be  imagined.  For  the  curriculum  consisted  of  the  three  r's — "read- 
ing, 'riting  and  'rithmetic,"  and  so  far  as  the  instructions  in  these  branches 
went  it  might  be  obtained  from  almost  any  set  of  books.  The  one  book 
that  seems  to  have  an  abiding  place  in  every  memory  was  the  old  blue- 
backed  Webster's  Elementary  Speller.  This  was  the  backbone  of  every 
school,  and  far  from  being  cast  aside  when  school  days  were  over  it  con- 
tinued as  the  basis  for  spelling  schools  which  young  and  old  attended  until 
within  the  memory  of  men  and  women  who  are  still  in  the  prime  of  life. 

A  school  report  from  Newark  township  in  1838  mentions  Webster's 
Spelling  Book  among  the  books  used  for  instruction.  A  similar  report  of 
1840  names  the  speller  and  also  "Elementary  English  Readers"  and  the 
"Woodbridge  Geography."  DaboH's  Arithmetic  was  long  used  as  a  text- 
book, and  occasionally  the  Testament  is  classed  among  the  text-books. 
Murray's  and  Kirkham's  grammars  were  favorites. 

Such  were,  in  general,  the  first  schools  in  Allegan  county.  Very  little 
substantial  school  work  was  done  in  the  county  during  territorial  days,  and 
that  little  was  accomplished  by  the  voluntary  association  of  the  settlers,  as 
already  noted. 

For  the  foundation  of  its  general  system  of  education  Michigan  owes 
a  large  debt  of  gratitude  to  Isaac  E.  Crary  and  Rev.  John  D.  Pierce.  More 
than  any  other  two  men  they  were  instrumental  in  laying  the  foundations 
of  education  and  giving  direction  to  its  early  development.  Under  the 
first  state  constitution  Mr.  Pierce  was  appointed  the  first  superintendent  of 
public  instruction.  In  accordance  with  a  vote  of  the  legislature  he  reported 
to  that  body  in  January,  1837,  a  code  of  school  laws,  which  was  adopted 
with  but  little  change. 

The  township  was  the  unit.  Each  township  had  three  school  inspec- 
tors, whose  duty  it  was  to  organize  school  districts,  to  apportion  the  school 
moneys  to  the  districts ;  to  examine  teachers  and  grant  certificates ;  and  to 
appoint  one  of  their  number  to  visit  the  schools  twice  a  year  and  make 


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512  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

an  annual  report  to  the  county  clerk.  These  boards  of  inspectors  contin- 
ued to  exercise  control  over  the  schools  of  their  respective  townships  until 
the  county  siiperintendency  was  established  in  1867. 

Each  district,  however,  had  the  control  of  its  own  school.  A  district 
could  vote  a  tax  for  buildings,  not  to  exceed  $500  in  any  one  year.  Each 
district  was  required  to  hold  school  at  least  three  months  each  year.  Each 
district  had  to  assess  a  tax  in  addition  to  the  primary  school  fund  appor- 
tioned to  the  district,  and  if  the  teacher's  wages  exceeded  the  funds,  the 
board  could  assess  a  tax  to  meet  the  deficiency,  but  not  to  exceed  $90,  the 
limit  fixed  by  law.  Also,  the  district  could  vote  ten  dollars  a  year  for  a 
library. 

One  of  the  provisions  with  which  the  early  settlers  became  unwillingly 
familiar  was  the  famous  "rate  bill"  law,  passed  in  1843,  which  provided 
that  the  patrons  of  each  school  might  raise  the  funds  necessary  to  continue 
the  school  through  the  term.  The  parents  or  guardians  of  the  children 
were  assessed  a  tax  in  proportion  to  the  time  such  children  attended  school. 
This  rate  bill  was  made  out  by  the  teacher  at  the  close  of  each  term,  and 
the  amount  distributed  among  the  patrons.  The  law  did  not  work  well, 
for  the  poor  parents  or  those  indifferent  to  education  would  send  to  school 
as  long  as  the  public  funds  lasted,  and  when  the  rate  bill  set  in  would  take 
their  children  out.  Primary  education  thus  became  a  question  of  ability 
to  pay  for  it,  and  the  fundamental  principle  of  popular  education  was 
threatened.  Nevertheless,  despite  the  inequality,  the  rate  hill  law  was  not 
repealed  until  1869. 

The  original  plan,  as  above  outlined,  contemplated  only  single  districts, 
with  a  single  house,  and  but  one  teacher.  No  provision  was  made  for  the 
union  of  districts  or  for  the  grading  of  schools.  The  report  for  1850 
shows  there  were  just  as  many  schools  as  there  were  teachers — forty-four 
of  each.  But  as  the  population  increased  it  was  seen  that  expediency  often 
demanded  more  than  one  teacher  for  a  single  school,  and  sometimes  more 
than  one  schoolhouse  in  the  same  district.  The  township  board  under 
these  conditions  would  have  had  no  option  but  to  subdivide  the  district 
and  provide  for  two  or  more  separate  schools  in  the  original  district.  To 
maintain  several  adjacent  district  schools,  co-ordinate  in  'work  and  rank, 
was  evidently  at  the  expense  of  efficiency  and  economy.  The  laws  were 
therefore  amended  so  as  to  permit  a  union  of  adjoining  districts  wherever 
the  population  was  sufficiently  dense  to  admit  of  bringing  a  large  number 
of  children  into  one  system  of  graded  schools,  without  embracing  too  much 
territory  to  be  thus  well  accommodated. 

This  was  the  origin  of  the  "union  school"  in  Michigan.  The  true  sig- 
nificance of  the  term  had  reference  not  so  much  to  the  uniting  of  the  dis- 
tricts as  to  the  system  of  grading  which  was  permitted  by  the  same  act  of 
the  legislature.  The  real  meaning  of  a  "union  school"  was  therefore  a 
graded  school,  located  in  the  more  populous  communities,  with  one  central 
schoolhouse,  and  usually  separate  quarters  for  the  different  grades.  The 
first  graded  school  was  established  at  Flint  in  1846.  From  1846  to  i860 
there  were  twenty-seven  graded  schools  established  in  the  state.  No  such 
school  was  established  in  Allegan  county  until  1867.  The  organization  of 
a  union  or  graded  school  marked  an  important  stage  in  the  development 
of  educational  institutions  in  each  of  the  villages.     The  graded  schools  in 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAK  COUNTY  5i3 

Allegan  county  at  the  present  time  are  located  at  Allegan,  Otsego,  Plain- 
well,  Saugatuck,  Douglas,  Fennville,  Wayland,  Martin,  Hopkins,  Burnip's 
Corners,  Hamilton,  and  Graafschap. 

The  first  constitution  of  the  state  provided  for  the  establishment  of 
branches  of  the  University.  These  branches  were  to  serve  a  three-fold 
purpose,  provide  for  local  needs,  fit  students  for  the  University,  and  pre- 
pare teachers  for  the  primary  schools.  Branches  were  established  at  Pon- 
tiac,  Monroe,  Niles,  Tecumseh,  Detroit,  Kalamazoo,  Romeo  and  White 
Pigeon.  These  branches  were  supported  by  appropriations  made  by  the 
regents  of  the  University.  After  graded  schools  began  to  be  established 
in  1846,  the  University  branches  fell  into  disfavor,  and  they  ceased  to  exist 
after  1849.  High  schools  then  became  the  connecting  link  between  the 
University  and  the  ordinary  common  schools. 

As  early  as  1868  the  state  superintendent  of  public  instruction  called 
attention  to  the  need  of  uniting  rather  than  dividing  districts.  He  showed 
the  waste  and  inefificiency  of  small  districts,  which  condition  continued 
because  the  people  desired  to  have  a  schoolhouse  "near  by,"  a  false  esti- 
mate being  placed  upon  the  value  of  a  "home  school."  Since  then  condi- 
tions have  materially  changed.  Roads  are  better,  and  with  increased  facili- 
ties of  transportation  the  bounds  of  community  life  have  been  widened. 
The  interests  of  the  whole  people  are  more  closely  knit  together,  and  old 
forms  of  individualism  are  disappearing. 

The  movement  which  fifty  years  ago  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the 
first  "union  schools"  is  now  being  extended  to  the  rural  schools.  In  line 
with  this  direction  of  progress,  the  state  legislature  enacted  a  law  which 
became  effective  September  17,  1903,  permitting  the  transportation  of  pupils 
to  and  from  school  at  the  expense  of  the  districts  concerned.  This  impor- 
tant piece  of  legislation  supplements  and  perfects  the  act  of  1901  permit- 
ting the  organization  of  township  high  schools  and  the  law  of  1903  for 
the  consolidation  of  rural  school  districts,  with  the  consent  of  a  majority 
of  tlie  resident  taxpayers  of  each  district.  The  consolidated  district  may 
levy  taxes  for  the  transportation  of  scholars  and  may  use  the  funds  arising 
from  the  one-mill  tax  for  the  same  purpose.  As  yet  no  districts  have  been 
consolidated  in  this  county,  but  in  both  the  adjacent  counties  of  Kent  and 
Kalamazoo  the  plan  is  being  tried,  and  it  seems  only  a  matter  of  time  when 
this  system  will  work  almost  a  revolution  in  rural  schools. 

In  1903  the  legislature  passed  a  law  authorizing  the  establishment  of 
County  Normal  Training  Classes  for  teachers  of  rural  schools.  The  grad- 
uates of  these  classes  are  granted  three-year  certificates  which  may  be 
renewed  in  the  county  where  received,  or  they  may  be  transferred  to  other 
-  counties.  In  accordance  with  the  law,  an  Allegan  county  class  was  organ- 
ized in  October,  1905,  and  has  been  conducted  in  connection  with  the  Alle- 
gan village  schools,  being  housed  in  the  Dawson.  There  are  nineteen 
pupils  taking  the  course.  The  state  appropriates  $1,000  for  its  support. 
The  cost  this  year  will  be  $1,500,  the  excess  $500  being  divided  equally 
between  Allegan  village  and  the  county. 

Another  subject  that  should  be  mentioned  in  a  history  of  the  Allegan 
county  schools  is  "compulsory  education."  Until  1905  the  law  vested  the 
power  to  compel  attendance  with  the  township  board,  the  chairman  of  which 
was  the  executive  officer  to  carry  the  law  into  effect.     Practically,  it  was 


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E14  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

optional  with  this  board  whether  the  law  should  be  enforced,  and  at  best 
the  board  could  require  the  child  to  attend  school  only  four  months  of 
sixteen  days  each,  or  sixty-four  days  in  the  entire  year. 

Beginning  with  the  year  1905-06  a  new  law  became  operative.  Instead 
of  the  enforcement  of  the  law  being  left  with  each  township,  it  is  the  duty 
of  the  county  commissioner  of  schools  to  see  that  its  provisions  are  cifective 
in  all  districts  throughout  the  entire  school  year.  The  executive  or  truant 
officer  is  a  deputy  sheriff  appointed  by  the  sheriff  and  acting  under  the 
supervision  of  the  county  commissioner.  All  children  between  and  includ- 
ing the  ages  of  seven  and  fifteen  years  are  compelled  to  attend  school  so 
long  as  schools  are  in  session  in  their  district,  in  other  words,  for  the  entire 
school'  year.  The  only  exceptions  to  this  rule  are  children  excused  by 
physician's  certificate ;  or  those  in  attendance  at  a  private  or  parochial 
school  in  which  the  same  grade  of  work  is  done  as  in  the  public  schools ; 
or  in  case  of  children  over  fourteen  years  of  age  whose  labor  is  necessary 
to  the  support  of  the  family,  who  may  be  excused  from  attendance  by  the 
unanimous  consent  of  the  district  school  board  and  the  recommendation 
of  the  county  commissioner. 

In  the  opinion  of  Mr.  Thorpe,  the  present  commissioner,  the  new  law 
has  had  remarkable  results,  in  proof  of  which  he  adduces  the  following 
comparisons:  In  1903-04,  his  first  year  as  commissioner,  when  the  old 
law  was  still  in  force,  the  average  attendance  in  the  schools  of  the  county 
was  65  per  cent  of  the  school  population,  and  that  proportion  would  hold 
for  most  of  the  previous  years;  and  in  the  second  year  of  his  administra- 
he  was  able  to  raise  the  per  cent  of  attendance  only  to  66.  But  last  year, 
1905-06,  under  the  new  law,  the  average  of  attendance  was  above  80  per 
cent  of  the  total,  showing  a  notable  increase  of  15  per  cent.  Or  numer- 
icaiiy,  about  1,500  children  were  returned  to  the  schools  who  had  in  pre- 
vious years  been  habitually  absent.  So  far  this  year  the  average  of  attend- 
ance has  been  well  upward  of  go  per  cent.  There  is  little  difficulty  in 
enforcing  the  law.  In  certain  parts  of  the  county  where  the  foreign  popu- 
lation predominates  or  where  the  conditions  of  agriculture  demand  all 
possible  help  in  the  fields  at  a  certain  time  of  year,  there  is  some  variance 
with  the  law,  but  on  the  whole  its  effect  has  been  most  salutary. 

Supervision  of  Schools. 

The  general  supervision  and  control  of  the  schools  of  the  county  has 
been  vested  by  the  legislature  in  different  bodies  at  various  times.  The 
township  board  of  inspectors  established  by  the  original  laws  was  changed 
by  an  act  of  March  13,  1867,  which  created  the  office  of  county  superin- 
tendent of  schools.  The  first  to  hold  this  office  in  Allegan  county  was 
James  M.  Ballou  of  Otsego,  elected  April  i,  1867.  Patroelus  A.  Latta, 
now  superintendent  of  schools  at  Saugatuck,  succeeded  him  in  i86g,  and 
was  re-elected  in  1871.  Isaac  H.  Lamoreaux,  of  Manlius,  was  the  last 
incumbent  of  the  office,  serving  from  1873  to  1875,  when  the  office  was 
abolished. 

March  31,  1875,  the  law  took  effect  transferring  the  control  once  more 
to  the  township,  and  requiring  the  election  in  each  township  of  one  super- 
intendent and  one  school  inspector.     The  township  superintendent,   with 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  515 

the  school  inspector  and  the  township  clerk,  constituted  the  board  of  school 
inspectors  for  each  township. 

In  1881  the  legislature  provided  for  a  county  board  of  school  exami- 
ners. This  board  consisted  of  three  members,  and  were  elected  for  three 
years  by  the  chairmen  of  the  township  boards  of  school  inspectors. 

In  1887  the  constituency  of  the  board  of  examiners  was  changed.    Two 
county  examiners  were  chosen  for  two  years  by  the  chairmen  of  township 
boards  of  inspectors.     These  two  examiners,  with  the  judge  of  probate, 
appointed  and  employed  a  secretary  for  a  term  of  one  year,  who  became 
ex-officio  a  member  of  the  county  board  and  its  executive  officer.     The 
secretary  visited  schools  and  received  a  salary  of  $800  per  annum.     The 
following  are  the  boards  of  county  examiners  under  this  act: 
1887-S8— P.  A.  Latta,  Sec,  J.  W.  Humphrey,  Mr,  Taylor. 
1888-8?— P.  A.  Latta,  J.  W.  Humphrey,  Mr.  Taylor. 
1889-90— P.  A.  Latta,  J.  W.  Humphrey,  Mr.  Taylor. 
1890-91 — P.  A.  Latta. 

In  1891  the  law  still  in  force  was  passed.  This  required  that  the  board 
of  supervisors  should  appoint  a  county  commissioner  of  schools  who  should 
hold  office  until  July  i,  1893,  at  which  time  the  commissioner  regularly 
elected  by  the  people  the  preceding  April  should  begin  his  duties.  At  the 
same  meeting  the  supervisors  should  appoint  two  school  examiners,  for 
one  and  two  year  terms  respectively,  and  the  board  should  thereafter 
appoint  one  examiner  at  each  annual  meeting.  The  county  commissioner 
and  the  two  examiners  constitute  the  board  of  school  examiners.  By  a 
law  passed  in  1903,  the  county  commissioner  holds  office  four  years. 

The  county  commissioners  who  have  served  in  Allegan  county  since 
the  act  of  1891  have  been  the  following: 

Commissioners — 1891-93.  P.  A.  Latta;  1893-95,  J-  W.  Humphrey; 
1895-97,  J-  W.  Humphrey;  1897-98  (resigned  December  31st),  J.  W. 
Humphrey;  January,  1899-99  {elected  by  county  board  of  school  inspec- 
tors, July  1st),  O.  S.  Flanagan;  July  i,  1899-1903  (two  terms),  J.  E. 
McDonald;  1903-1907,  Ira  G.  Thorp. 

Examiners — 1891-93,  Mrs.  D.  V.  Pursell,  J.  Warnock;  1893-95,  ^^s- 
D.  V.  Pursell,  Benjamin  Neerken;  1895-97,  Mrs.  D.  V.  Pursell  (died  Feb- 
ruary, 1897),  Benjamin  Neerken;  1897-98,  Mary  Eassett,  Benjamin  Neer- 
ken; 1899,  Mary  Bassett,  (1898)  C.  F.  Bacon;  1899-1903,  Mrs.  Wilder, 
C.  F.  Bacon  (resigned)  ;  May  19,  1902  (appointed),  Ralph  Spague,  Mrs. 
Wilder;  October,  1903,  Volney  Stuck,  R.  Spague. 

1891-93 — P.  A.  Latta. 

I893-95-J-  W,  Humphrey. 

1895-97— J.  W'.  Humphrey, 

1897-98— J.  W.  Humphrey. 

At  the  end  of  1898  Mr.  Humphrey  resigned  to  enter  the  legislature, 
and  for  the  existing  vacancy  to  the  following  July  the  county  board  of 
school  inspectors  chose  O.  S.  Flanagan. 

1899-01— J.  E.  McDonald. 

1901-03 — J.  E.  McDonald. 

1903-07 — Ira  G.  Thorp. 

The  county  examiners  in  this  time  have  been:  Mrs.  D.  V.  Pursell 
and  J.  Warnock,  the  first  appointees.    Mrs.  Pursell  served  till  her  death  in 


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516  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

February,  1897.  Benjamin  Neerken  was  examiner  from  1893  to  1899. 
Mary  Bassett  succeeded  Mrs.  Pursell  and  served  two  terms,  C.  F~.  Bacon 
served  from  1898  till  his  resignation  in  May,  1902.  Ralph  Sprague, 
appointed  in  his  stead,  has  since  been  on  the  board.  Mrs.  Wilder  followed 
Mary  Bassett  and  was  in  turn  succeeded,  in  October,  1903,  by  Volney 
Stuck,  present  examiner. 

Following  the  passage  of  the  general  school  laws  in  1837,  the  organ- 
ized townships  chose  their  school  inspectors,  who  proceeded  to  divide  the 
territory  under  their  control  into  convenient  districts  and  organize  schools 
in  each.  There  were  at  the  time  only  four  townships  in  Allegan  county. 
The  total  population  was  less  than  1,500  persons,  distributed  mainly  about 
the  four  settlements  along  the  Kalamazoo — at  Saugatuck,  Allegan,  Otsego 
and  Gun  Plains.  It  is  hardly  to  be  expected,  therefore,  that  a  complete 
school  system  would  spring  into  existence  at  once.  Unfortunately  com- 
plete data  is  not  at  hand  to  describe  the  organization  of  the  various  dis- 
tricts, though  the  reports  for  Allegan  are  better  preserved  than  in  many 
counties  of  the  state.  From  the  meagre  reports  filed  with  the  county  clerk 
in  the  fall  of  1837,  the  schools  organized  in  the  county  the  first  year  were 
as  follows: 

In  Plainfield  township,  comprising  the  east  tier  of  townships,  nine  and 
one  fractional  districts  had  been  organized — extending  partly  into  the  pres- 
ent Martin  township,  but  for  the  most  part  in  the  present  Gun  Plains  town- 
ship. Only  two  districts  reported.  No.  2  gave  17  children  in  attendance, 
$25  raised  for  support  of  the  school,  while  district  No.  4  reported  29  schol- 
ars, a  nine  months'  school,  and  $90  raised  for  support  of  the  school. 

Otsego  township  in  1837  reported  four  districts  organized,  two  mak- 
ing reports  to  the  inspectors.  In  No.  i  there  were  30  children  of  school 
age,  and  a  six  months'  school.  In  No.  2  were  35  scholars  and  a  six  months' 
school. 

Coming  to  Allegan  township,  in  reality  Allegan  village,  where  the  pop- 
ulation was  concentrated  at  the  time,  we  find  but  one  district,  that  being 
the  village  school  elsewhere  described.  There  were  96  of  school  age  in 
the  district,  60  of  whom  attended  school,  a  five  months'  term  was  taught, 
and  $500  had  been  raised  for  a  schoolhouse  and  $200  for  the  pay  of  the 
teacher. 

This  is  al!  the  information  the  reports  of  1837  give  us.  It  is  probable 
that  in  Newark  township  no  district  was  legally  organized  the  first  year, 
though  the  children  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  must  have  been  provided 
with  some  private-school  instruction.  In  1838,  however,  one  district  is 
reported  in  that  township.  District  No.  i  contained  42  children  of  school 
^gc,  30  of  whom  attended  school  some  part  of  the  three  months'  term. 
Ninety  dollars  was  raised  for  building  a  schoolhouse.  By  the  following 
year  three  districts  had  been  formed,  and  No.  i  had  voted  a  tax  of  $500 
for  a  schoolhouse. 

In  1840  the  report  made  to  the  state  superintendent  of  public  instruc- 
tion names  the  six  townships  of  which  the  county  was  then  composed- — 
Martin  and  Manlius  having  been  organized,  though  no  districts  had  as 
yet  been  formed  in  Manlius.  Plainfield  (Gun  Plains)  had  ten  districts, 
Otsego-  5,  Allegan  5,  Martin  4,  and  Newark  3.    Of  these  only  ten  districts. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  517 

reported,  in  which  were  268  scholars,  and  $1,071.72  had  been  raised  for 
school  purposes. 

As  population  increased  and  was  distributed  over  the  townships,  new 
districts  were  fonned.  Often  an  entire  township  contained  but  a  single 
district,  and  then  as  settlement  proceeded  new  district  areas  were  formed 
and  the  old  lines  changed.  Even  if  the  records  were  complete,  it  would 
be  impossible  to  follow  in  detail  the  formation  of  these  various  districts. 
During  the  last  fifteen  years  the  number  of  districts  in  the  county,  as  also 
.in  the  state,  has  remained  substantially  the  same,  and  the  tendency  hence- 
forth will  be,  as  we  have  stated,  to  a  decrease  rather  than  increase  in  the 
number  of  districts. 

Thirty  years  ago,  Mr.  P.  A.  Latta,  then  superintendent  of  Allegan 
township,  published  some  statistics  regarding  the  schools  of  the  county 
that  form  a  good  basis  for  comparisons.  The  important  items  in  his  sum- 
mary— for  the  school  year  ending  September,  1877 — were: 

Number  school  districts  in  Allegan  county 178 

Number  children  between  5  and  20  years 11,846 

Number  of  children  that  attended   school 9.532 

School  buildings — frame  169.  log  6,  brick  9 184 

Number   men  teachers   employed 106 

Number   women   teachers   employed 286 

Amount  2-mil]  tax $17,121.35 

Amount  primary  school   fund 5,810.00 

Amount  district  taxes  for  all  purposes 34,574.21 

Since  then  six  districts  have  been  added  to  the  total.  The  number  of 
school  population  remains  ahnost  the  same.  The  log  buildings  have  all 
disappeared.  The  amount  of  the  primary  interest  has  increased  more  than 
seven-fold.  Altogether,  educational  resources  make  a  much  better  show- 
ing now  than  thirty  years  ago. 

A  school  district  is  often  more  than  a  mere  township  subdivision.  As 
above  stated,  a  school  is  a  central  point  of  a  community.  Children  grow 
to  adtilt  life  with  the  old  schoolhouse  as  the  most  common  meeting  place, 
not  only  for  purposes  of  instruction,  but  for  social  and  religious  gather- 
ings. These  associations  around  a  school  are  strong  ties  in  binding  a 
community  together,  and  very  often  we  find  the  people's  social  life  defined 
quite  distinctly  by  the  same  limits  as  the  school  district  in  which  they  live. 
With  greater  facility  of  communication,  brought  about  by  better  roads, 
telephones  and  other  improvements,  this  will  become  less  apparent  as  the 
years  go  by.  Eiit  the  instances  are  many  in  which  a  neighborhood  i6  best 
known  by  the  name  of  its  schoolhouse — as  the  "Prouty  school"  neighbor- 
hood in  Trowbridge,  or  the  "Sand  Hill  school"  in  Salem.  For  purposes 
of  permanent  reference  it  has  been  considered  advisable  to  tabulate  the 
school  districts  of  the  various  townships  and  designate  each  by  its  popular 
name  as  far  as  that  is  possible. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


District  No. 

ALLEGAN. 

Naw£. 

Distrkt  No. 

-, 

BroHPll 

i 

tifr 

Van  Keuren 

7 

Babylun 

Mmir  Lake 

10  fr 

1 

Ca&lj 

King 

McVoy.eU 

Tarnum 

Iddles 

8 
in 

1 
.  tr 

4 

Lron 

■i 

Eue 

4 

fi 

Ha.lanay 

'■>  fr 

Berry 

7  fr 

Sfr 

Kihbv 

8 

Manlni'J 

PencwUe 

Mid  (laugh 

Gi11p> 


1  Martin 

Lii)d'<k>         -'  Walkpi 

Brown         4  Monteith 

iisp  Line        5  fr  Bloaaom 

Ferns         b  Crittedon 


Marble 


RusphPr  "  Butler 

fJarielmk  fi  Masselmk 
PiUmore 
Pleasant    Valiev                                       Salem 

Klomparens  -  Sanfi   Hill 

Lohman  "*  Burnip'a   Corner^" 

Ganges  '>  — . 

Peach    Belt  6  Goodnnn 

DarhuR  7  L               New  Salem 

nienn  8  fr  Diamond  Springs 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


District  Na. 

Ganges. 
..'.....    Unioi 

Reed 

1    (or   Ganges) 

District  No. 

Salem. 

Name. 

6 

10 

3...'.'.'. ,'.'.'. 

'J 

1 

2  f r 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Trowbridge. 

...    Melliah 

Saugatuck 
. .    Douglas 
.'8  Landing 
....    Cliase 
.    Barrager 

10 

1   fr 

Gun  Plains 

Grange    llali 
■    Silver  Creek 

4  fr 

White 

...   Proiity 
.    Blackman 
Wilkinson 
.  .  .    Foster 
....    Hicks 
.  .    Clifford 
. . .  Harper 

.  .     BelliDgham 

lU 

Heath. 

Hooper 

Hooper 

Dimningville 

1 

V-1.I,1,EY. 

Frayer 

. .  .     ParkhiirBt 

4 

2 

3 

4  fr 

Crill 

.    Braninger 

Hopkins 

Hketotl-j 
Lee 

Uljio    (  oriiers 

Tishhouse 
Hillnrds 

WiPks 

Frolim 

Bnnkman 

(  ihaon 

I,ut.er- 

St   Clair 

Burrows 

Smith 

Horseshoe 

PulIraiD 

Hilton 

WildiTootl 

....    Miner 

1 

1 

Watson. 

1 

3  fr 

4 

5 

P«ge 

. .  .    Oabnrn 

Wicka 

.  .    Anderson 

11  fr 

1 

9 

10 

11 

Waylakd. 

...    Burham 
, ..   Aljronia 

-* 

2'fr.'.'.'-'.','. 
3 

.  .    Wayland 
.  .    Bradley 
....    Gregg 

S  fr 
4 

1 

6  fr 

Sfr... .,*.'. 

10 

11 

. ...    Angell 
ShelbyviUo 

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CHAPTER  IX. 

VILLAGE  SCHOOLS. 

Allegan. 

Allegan  did  not  have  the  first  school  in  the  county,  but  education 
began  as  soon  as  the  first  considerable  group  of  settlers  had  located  here. 
A  school  term  was  held  by  a  Miss  Hinsdale,  of  Kalamazoo  county,  in 
1835,  and  in  1836  the  district  was  organized  and  the  first  important  public 
building  in  the  village  was  erected.  A  frame  building  of  rather  generous 
proportions  for  the  time,  its  ground  dimensions  being  26  by  40  feet,  this 
schoolhouse,  which  stood  on  the  south  side  of  Trowbridge  street  just  east 
of  Pine,  was  the  first  court  house  and  church  edifice.  The  bell  in  the  cupola 
called  the  children  together  in  the  morning,  and  in  the  evenings  and  during 
vacations  it  rang  to  summon  the  officers  of  law  to  duty  or  called  the  people 
to  town  meeting  or  social  event;  while  on  the  Lord's  day  it  solemnly  con- 
voked to  religious  observance.  The  subsequent  history  of  this  first  public 
building  in  the  village  has  been  described  in  connection  with  the  account 
of  the  court  house  and  other  county  buildings. 

Some  of  the  early  teachers  in  Allegan,  besides  Miss  Hinsdale,  were 
Miss  Eliza  Littlejohn,  Miss  Mary  Parkhnrst,  Miss  Lavia  Bingham,  Spencer 
Marsh,  G.  Y.  Warner,  E.  Parkhurst,  and  Harvey  Munger,  all  well  known 
names  in  the  pioneer  history. 

The  union  or  graded  school  did  not  find  a  place  in  Michigan's  scheme 
of  education  until  during  the  forties,  and  the  Allegan  union  school  was  not 
organized  until  1867.  In  the  meantime  the  population  of  the  village  was 
about  2,000,  and  several  institutions  had  been  established  to  supplement  the 
work  of  the  district  school.  One  was  the  .Allegan  Academy,  organized  in 
1846,  and  conducted  for  several  years  by  Elisha  B.  Bassett,  a  man  of  thor- 
ough education  and  ability,  who  is  also  known  through  his  connection  with 
other  phases  of  the  county's  history. 

Most  noted  of  these  schools  was  Pine  Grove  Seminary,  which  was 
built  in  1857  by  Judge  H.  H.  Booth,  in  his  time  one  of  the  most  liberal 
and  public -spirited  men  of  Allegan.  He  donated  the  use  of  this  building 
to  teachers  who  would  maintain  a  school  of  primary  and  academic  grade. 
Rev.  L.  F.  Waldo  was  one  of  the  teachers  who  used  it  for  this  purpose. 
The  structure  stood  in  a  pine  grove,  whence  its  name,  on  the  eminence 
where  the  high  school  is  now  located.  When  the  movement  to  organize 
a  union  school  took  shape.  Judge  Booth  sold  the  building  to  the  school 


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ALLEGAN  HIGH  SCHOOL 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  521 

district,  and  it  served  for  a  number  of  years  as  the  central  school  of  the 
viilage.     It  was  a  frame  building,  containing  six  rooms. 

Twenty-five  years  ago  the  public  school  buildings  in  Allegan  were 
the  following:  The  Central  school,  which  was  the  old  seminary  building; 
the  north  school,  on  Race  street  opposite  Water  street;  the  west  ward 
school,  occupying  the  campus  with  the  Central  school ;  and  the  south  ward 
school,  near  Fifth  and  Bond  streets.  The  three  smaller  buildings,  each 
containing  two  rooms,  were  of  brick. 

Since  then  have  been  added  two  excellent  modern  buildings  to  the 
school  architecture  of  Allegan,  The  high  school  building,  on  the  hill  where 
the  old  Central  school  stood,  is  a  two-story  brick  building,  with  good 
equipment  and  accommodations  for  the  older  pupils,  while  the  Dawson 
building  contains  besides  the  rooms  for  the  grades  an  auditorium  seating 
several  hundred  persons  and  used  for  many  public  purposes,  meetings  and 
entertainments. 

The  list  of  sujserintendents  from  the  organization  of  the  union  school 
to  the  present  are : 

i867-68~William  H.  Stone. 

1868-71— Silas  Wood. 

1871-74 — Albert  Jennings. 

1874-77 — Daniel  P.  Simmons. 

1877-81— Edmund  D.  Barry. 

1881-83— W.  E.  Bellows. 

I S82-83— -Margaret  Morton. 

1883-87— W.  B.  Garvin. 

1887-88— W.  L.  Lawrence. 

1888-90 — H.  A.  Simonds. 

1890-92 — E.  N.  Brown. 

1892-94 — Mr.  Wixon. 

1894-95 — W.  H.  Cobnm. 

1895— H.  W.  Jlclntosh. 

The  graduates  of  the  Allegan  high  school,  named  by  years  of  gradua- 
tion below,  are  386  in  number.  Man\-  of  tliem  are  well  known  and  influ- 
ential people  both  at  home  and  abroad, 

Ali,eg.\n  Graduates, 

1876 — Isabel  ^^  Partridge.  Ella  Williams.  Isabel  M,  Barclay,  Hattie 
S.  Smith,  Minnie  B.  Franks,  Lizzie  Eager,  Chas.  Wilkes,  Frank  B,  Lav, 
Chas.  F.  Bingham. 

1877— Will  Oliver,  Kate  Dreber.  Lizzie  Smith, 

1878— Mary  Smith, 

1879 — Dora  Chaffee.  Delia  Town.  Lillian  Grimes,  Luella  Scott.  Leon 
Chichester.  Theodore  Williams, 

1880 — Nellie  Coleman,  Tinnie  Chaffee,  Jennie  Whitmore,  Will  L. 
Edmunds.  Burtis  Wood.  Janies  A.  Latta. 

1881— Delia  Cook,  Eva  M.  Dryden,  M.  Jennie  Mabbs,  Ettie  C.  Col- 
burn,  A,  Louise  Walter,  Mary  E.  Goodrich,  Frank  H.  Williams,  Fred  M. 
Sisson, 

1882 — Chas.  E.  Bassett,  Austin  A,  Colburn. 


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532  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

1883 — Zella  Leighton,  Ella  Colburn,  Minnie  Eiseiiberg,  Anna  Young, 
Ellen  Hudson,  Cliester  Wetmore. 

1884- — Franc  Arnold,  Fred  L  Chichester,  Grace  Hart,  Jennie  R.  Latta, 
John  A.  McKeever,  Ahce  H,  Lilly,  M.  Gertrude  Porter,  Clara  B.  Sher- 
wood, Lillian  Nelson,  Will  E.  Ryan,  Frank  E.  Semon. 

1885 — Guy  Bnrton,  Florence  Lonsbury,  Pearl  Town,  Bertha  Pritchard, 
Riibie  Sherwood,  Minnie  Bucher,  Wolcot  Butler,  Kate  Whitniore,  Myron 
Moore,  Isabel  Stegeman. 

1886— Nellie  N.  Elackman.  Augustus  S.  Butler,  Tillie  Waddell,  Alfred 
Calkins,  Jessie  Thew,  Bessie  Bell  Thew,  Oscar  Swift,  Mabel  Dunn. 

1887— Edith  Foster,  Maud  Howe,  Chas.  Calkins,  Lavinda  Nichols, 
Florence  H.  Pope. 

1888— Lulu  H.  Williams,  May  B.  Starr,  Bess  Wetmore,  Adah  M. 
Giles,  Fannie  E.  Giles,  Will  Saunders,  Flora  E.  Wilhams,  Sella  A.  Ryan. 

1889 — Alice_  Bingham,  Kate  Murphy,  Nellie  Van  Middlesworth,  Emma 
Knapp,  Lizzie  Madison,  Pearl  Chaffee,  Agnes  Ingerson. 

1890 — Mary  Coney,  Ina  Bailey,  Maud  Powers,  Kittie  Wells,  Uora 
Bailey,  Nina  Carter,  Delia  Youngs,  Rebecca  Spears,  William  De  Lano, 
Grace  Wiiliams,  Frank  Giles,  William  Colburn. 

1891 — N.  Ella  Van  Aiken,  Lenora  Porter,  Nettie  Bigelow,  Fred  P. 
Austin,  Nellie  Smith,  Hettie  Spraw,  Mina  Rumery,  Marion  Cook,  Belle 
Buyce,  Dwight  Calkins,  Will  Follett,  Alexander  Heringer. 

1892 — Ira  Montague,  Eva  O.  Cook,  Florence  Leweke,  Maud  Nelson, 
Orrel  Grigsby,  Hattie  Weeks,  Cora  HoVe,  Adah  McLaughlin.  Ina  Moore, 
Fred  Coney,  Elwin  Spears,  Samuel  Stegeman,  Edna  Town,  Mary  Hirner. 

1893 — Mary  Robinson,  Adah  Hoffman,  Maud  Lonsbury,  Mabel  A. 
Cackler,  John  W.  Arnold,  Morris  E.  Harvey. 

1894 — Alvie  Weeks,  Nellie  Coney,  E.  Estella  Oliver,  Eva  Philips, 
Grant  Goodrich.  N.  Mae  Burton,  Clifford  Manwaring,  Anna  Wilson,  Mary 
Wilson,  Judson  Baker,  Orcena  Luade  Spears,  Mame  Bailey,  Bernath  Sher- 
wood. 

1895 — Agnes  Langshaw,  Edith  Perrigo,  Howard  Stuch,  Aban  Weeks, 
John  Bills,  Floyd  Fuller,  Clayton  Hoffman,  Chas.  Spafford,  Mae  McKin- 
non,  Rena  Schujuan,  Jessie  Smith,  Minnie  Smith,  Bernie  Woodworth. 

1896 — -Harlan  Lindsley,  Hiram  Cornell  Clapp,  Ned  Bassett  Killian, 
Albert  A.  Stegeman,  Belle  Lewis  Barton,  Roie  C.  Seerey,  George  Stege- 
man, Park  Whitmore,  Leon  B,  Stratton,  Clarence  Billings. 

i897^Clara  Coykendall,  Herman  Priebe,  Ethel  McLaughlin,  Gertrude 
Young,  Nellie  Bailey,  Bess  Adams,  Clifford  Russell,  Gracia  Cook,  Idabelle 
Hullinger,  Charles  R.  Stewart,  Grace  Morse,  Guy  Hale,  Charlotte  Coney, 
Arcell  Spears.  Etta  M.  Hurst,  M.  Everett  Dick,  Belle  M.  Lidsley. 

1898 — Lucy  Sheffer,  Agnes  Sheffer,  Claudia  Lowe,  Glen  Kent,  Lizzie 
Campbell,  Will  Sawyer,  Fred  Sawyer,  Elroy  Bidwell,  Eertha  Sisson,  Julia 
Wilson,  John  Wilson,  Harlan  Wilson,  Dan  Arnold  Killian,  Frank  Stege- 
man, Maud  Roberts,  Lula  Lockard,  Mildred  Reed,  Harrison  Weeks. 

1899— Roy  B.  Fairfield,  Elisabeth  Mav  Streeter,  Niel  L.  Goodrich, 
Chas.  W.  Hullinger,  William  A.  Peck,  Walter  H.  Bidwell,  Elsie  Orr,  Fred 
Hanchett,  Paul  Lidner,  Flora  Mary  Koons,  Clara  Belle  Gibson,  Hedwig 
Brenner,  Ines  Baker,  Myrtle  Knapp,  Grace  Louise  Howe,  Harriette  Esther 
Cook,  Novie  Iven  Lonsbury,  James  A.  Butrick,  Roy  L.  Adams,  Myrtle  L. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  523 

Perrigo,  Nellie  Coydendall,  Emelinc  Ruth  Coney,  Myrnie  E.  Malloy,  Mame 
E.  Malloy. 

1900 — ^Laura  May  Fmich,  Hugh  S.  Calkins,  Will  L.  Davis,  N.  Fern 
Haynes,  Ethel  H.  Hickok,  Alice  Ida  Liechts,  A.  Pearl  Lilly,  Amah  A. 
Nichols,  Dessie  Priest,  Lena  B.  Sawyer,  Bernice  Van  Kuren,  Hazel  Van 
Ostrand,  William  Weeks. 

igoi — Charlotte  Smith,  Ada  Coney,  Glenn  DeLano,  Louise  DeLano, 
Bessie  Hicks,  Edith  Barnes.  John  Bidwell,  Anna  Newell,  Maggie  Wynne, 
Margaret  Arnold,  George  Horan,  Lizzie  Moon,  Frank  Peck,  Bertha  Mead, 
Ada  Wager,  Wayne  Stuch,  Ethel  Langshaw,  Clarence  .Smith,  Alvina  Becker. 

1902 — Harriet  Barrett,  Florence  Barrett,  Mabelle  Elenger,  Bruce 
Leighton,  Scott  Lilly,  Amy  Lowe,  A.  Lorraine  Oliver,  Lura  Patrick,  Bertha 
Nuger,  Harold  Weeks,  Eidon  Soper,  George  Barney,  Grover  Tripp,  Edwin 
E.  Allett,  Jessie  McKinnon,  Lottie  Moon,  Harvey  Buck,  Arthur  Maskey, 
Clara  Post,  Joseph  Griffith,  Harold  Fritz. 

1903 — Matie  Blaisdell,  Bessie  Brown,  Ruby  Buck,  Grace  Clock,  Harlow 
Clock,  Margaret  Campbell,  Earl  DeLano,  Harold  Fish,  Harry  Griffith, 
Edward  Horan,  William  Kennedy,  Maud  Maxfield,  Altine  McKee,  Ethel 
Miner,  Fred  Moore,  Louise  Nelson,  May  Perrigo,  Maurice  Post,  Clara 
Smith,  Frances  Sterling,  Bess  Torrey,  Alice  Van  Henlen,  Laura  Wise,  John 
LaDue. 

1904 — Clinton  Mark  Walter,  Francina  J.  Slaghuis,  Marion  Almira  Bills, 
Nellie  Mary  Stratton,  Hazella  Letta  Cook,  Gertrude  Louise  Nichols,  Eva 
M.  Clock,  Clare  D.  Wilbur.  Chas.  F.  Weeks,  Russell  C.  Furber.  Elsie 
Pauline  Gitchel,  Kittle  Bell  Nelson,  Margaret  Netah  Barrett,  Mary  A.  Wil- 
son, Grace  Louise  Williams,  Chas.  H.  Freyer,  Roy  E.  Gibson,  Richard  B. 
Van  Dusen,  Edwy  B.  Ried.  Ray  Perrigo,  Laura  Engle.  Grace  E.  Miner, 
Bessie  M.  Barber,  Grace  Coney,  Herbert  A.  Wood,  George  F.  Wilson,  V. 
Pearl  McAlpine.  Bessie  May  Kidwell,  Rachel  V.  Wilson. 

1905 — Floyd  Holland,  Edmund  M.  Cook,  George  Updyke,  Dana  C. 
Post,  Vernice  E.  DeWright,  Harry  Lee  Barnum,  Edna  A.  Schuman,  Nina 
E.  Wynne,  Charles  DeLano,  Otto  J.  Armstrong,  Claude  Firestone,  Dolly 
Gibson,  Clyde  Smith,  Fred  Bradt,  Matilda  Swanty,  Avis  Calkins,  Florence 
C.  Kolvoord,  Hollis  Baker,  Anna  J.  Koons,  Eugene  Nash,  Gertrude  Strab- 
bing,  J.  Ford  Stratton,  Pearle  Bracelin,  Reine  Conway. 

1906 — Florine  May  Barrett.  Emma  Irene  Priebe.  Will  George  Cooper, 
John  A.  Sommers,  Gertrude  W.  Slaghuis,  Lilly  B.  Dannenberg,  Pansy  May 
Lemoin,  Elizabeth  J.  Weame,  Pearl  Julia  Kolloff.  Leon  A.  Kolvoord, 
Clarence  W.  Messenger,  W.  Clare  Fear,  George  E.  DeLano,  Guy  E.  Fair- 
field, Gertrude  H.  Langshaw,  Emily  Seymore  Wise,  Grace  B.  Thompson, 
Lida  Calkins,  Bernice  E.  Morgan,  Claude  V.  A.  Whitbeck.  Mabel  F. 
Sackeiter,  Mildred  M.  Fish,  Florence  Augusta  Ried,  Winifred  B,  Holmes, 
Alice  P.  Cook,  Charles  E.  Stone. 

Plain  WELL. 

The  history  of  the  educational  facilities  of  this  village  go  back  to  the 
spring  of  1834,  when  the  first  schoolhouse  for  the  Gun  Plains  neighborhood 
was  built  on  section  20.  A  log  structure,  such  as  was  common  at  the  time, 
this  "Gun  Plains  schoolhouse"  was  the  meeting  place  for  the  early  Baptists 


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524  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY 

and  Congregatioiialists  as  well  as  the  first  educational  center.  Miss  Sabra 
Ives,  who  afterwards  married  Dr.  L.  B.  Coates,  the  first  schoolmaster  and 
long  a  prominent  citizen  of  Otsego,  taught  the  first  term  of  school,  the  first 
teacher  employed  being  unable  to  carry  on  her  duties  on  account  of  illness. 

When  the  school  system,  elsewhere  described,  was  formulated  by  the 
first  state  government,  the  school  commissioners  elected  for  the  township  in 
1837  met  in  September  of  that  year  and  divided  the  town  into  nine  districts. 
Districts  2  and  3,  which  were  consolidated  in  February,  1841,  as  district 
No.  2,  contained  originally  tlie  territory  embracing  the  present  village  cor- 
poration, namely,  sections  28,  29,  30,  31.  32,  33.  For  several  years  the 
school  population  in  this  area  was  found  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  and 
in  1838  the  apportionment  of  school  money  was  made  to  only  ten  children 
of  school  age  in  this  district.  At  the  same  time  there  were  nineteen  school 
children  in  district  No.  4,  in  which  was  located  the  old  Gun  Plains  school- 
house,  while'  in  district  No.  i,  in  the  Silver  Creek  neighborhood,  were 
twenty-three  of  school  age.  District  No.  2  had  twenty-five  pupils  in  1843, 
which  showed  a  relatively  larger  increase  than  in  the  adjoining  districts 
Just  mentioned. 

The  first  red  schoolhouse  was  built  about  1843,  and  stood  where  Dr. 
Woolsey's  house  now  stands.  It  was  a  small  frame  structure  used  for 
schools  during  the  week,  for  religious  services  on  Sunday,  and  public  meet- 
ings, such  as  singing-schools,  spelling- schools  and  school-meetings  on 
appointed  evenings.  Some  time  about  1855  the  white  school  house,  then  a 
one-story  building,  was  constructed,  and  the  old  red  building  was  moved 
down  Allegan  street,  and  still  exists  as  a  part  of  the  house  owned  by  Mrs. 
George  A.  Brown.  The  Junction,  as  it  was  then  called,  grew  so  rapidly 
that  in  the  late  fifties  or  early  sixties  a  second  story  was  added  to  the  white 
building,  and  two  departments  were  organized.  In  1867  the  small  building, 
now  used  for  office  at  the  Dewey  livery  bam,  was  built  beside  the  white 
building  for  the  primary  pupils  and  there  existed  the  primary,  intermediate 
and  grammar  departments.  In  two  more  years  the  intermediate  was  divided 
and  a  grade  was  seated  in  a  room  of  the  present  opera  house. 

After  much  deliberation  and  frequent  calls  for  special  school  meetings 
the  present  brick  building  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  village  was  completed 
and  occupied  in  September  of  1870.  The  south  projection  was  extended 
in  the  year  1886.  the  amount  of  contract  being  $1,574.28.  It  seemed  then 
that  there  would  be  sufficient  room  for  years  to  come,  but  at  this  writing 
the  demand  is  "more  room."  The  present  valuation  of  the  school  property 
is  $20,000.  Leading  citizens  whose  names  appear  in  the  records  are  Giles 
Sherwood.  J.  W.  Hicks,  George  Mills,  T.  V.  Rogers.  George  H.  Anderson, 
A.  H.  Hill,  N.  P.  Kellogg  and  O.  J.  Woodard.  It  is  a  matter  of  interest 
to  find  the  records  fidl  and  carefully  recorded  during  the  administration  of 
Mr.  Woodard,  he  having  been  continued  on  the  board   for  twenty-seven 

District  No.  2  was  organized  under  a  board  of  trustees  into  a  graded 
school  bv  vote  at  the  regular  school  meeting  of  September  7.  t868.  There 
were  then  three  departments.  The  high  school  had  its  beginning  in  iSfig, 
under  the  tuition  of  Miss  May  Wright. 

Some  of  the  older  citizens  recall  with  pleasure  the  names  of  early 
teachers,  among  them  Orlena  Beebe  and  his  spelling  school,  George  Brainard, 


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HIGH  SCHOOL  BUI  LDING,  PLAIKWRLL 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COLXTY  525 

Mahala  Murphy,  Edward  Phetteplace,  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Noble  Sherwood ; 
of  his  sister  Sarah,  now  Mrs.  Sarah  Thiers,  of  Mt.  Pleasant;  Miss  Mary 
Woodhams,  now  Mrs.  W.  H.  Rouse,  of  CaUfomia.  The  superintendents 
have  been  May  Wright,  E.  W.  Thompson,  N.  A.  Barrett,  W.  W.  Cole, 
L.  W.  Mills,  L.  E.  Ireland  from  '79  to  '91,  G.  E.  Rogers,  C.  H.  Norton, 
H.  C.  Daley  and  E.  C.  Hambleton.  J.  W.  Hicks,  Miss  Louise  Chamberlain 
and  Miss  Lon  Kennicott  were  principals  before  the  high  school  was 
organized. 

The  position  of  preceptress  has  been  filled  by  the  Misses  Chart,  Stough- 
ton.  Hall  from  '/S-'gi,  Mrs.  Jennie  K.  Hill,  Harriet  MacKenzie,  V.  Blanche 
Graham,  Adah  M.  Spalding  and  Elsie  Cooper. 
_  In  the  grades  many  of  the  home  girls  have  been  employed  at  different 

times — some  of  them  are  still  residents — Mesdames  Julia  Arnold,  E.  J. 
Anderson,  W.  W.  Woodhams,  F.  F.  Patterson,  Lizzie  Gilkey,  Frank  P. 
Heath,  M.  H.  Granger  and  W.  E.  Forbes.  The  names  of  Mrs.  Burton  and 
Julia  Dibble  could  not  be  omitted — neither  can  one  forget  the  influence  of 
the  departed  Mattie  VanHorn,  Mary  Hatfield  Warrant,  Libbie  Conine  and 
Dolly  Messick  Pursel. 

Music  as  a  science  has  been  taught  since  1891.  Miss  Briggs  was  the 
first  teacher.  Miss  Bingham  organized  the  ladies'  quartette.  Miss  Daisy  Sonle 
taught  with  inspiring  zeal,  and  Miss  Lida  Sprau  continues  the  work. 

In  all  the  years  three  hundred  and  twenty  have  gone  out  as  graduates. 
The  first  was  a  class  of  five :  Charles  Hyde,  Susie  Warrant.  Carrie  Hatfield 
Wright,  Mattie  VanHorn  and  Mary  Hatfield  Warrant.  In  tlie  smallest, 
class  of  '74,  were  Effie  Hyde  Lewis  and  Harvey  Warrant.  The  largest  class, 
twenty-nine  in  number,  finished  in  1903.  Charles  Hyde  is  a  practicing 
physician  in  Lenawee  county,  Clemma  Woodard  Barber  was  a  Bible  student 
and  conducted  a  large  correspondence  class  for  several  years,  Will  Hawks 
is  a  superintendent  of  schools,  John  S.  and  W.  H.  Madden  are  journalists, 
George  Hopkins  a  judge  of  probate  in  Kalamazoo  county,  and  Dwight  B. 
Waldo  is  president  of  the  State  Mormal  at  Kalamazoo.  Our  citizens  may 
justly  be  proud  of  the  work  accomplished  by  district  No.  2.  It  has  honored 
representatives  in  all  the  walks  of  life  and  their  success  is  gratifying. 

There  is  no  more  popular  social  function  in  Plainwell  than  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  alumni  of  the  Plainwell  high  school.  The  association  was 
organized  in  1892. 

The  school  library  has  grown  from  six  volumes,  the  remains  of  the  old 
township  library,  to  more  than  six  hundred  volumes.  The  Plainwell  high- 
school  stands  on  the  approved  lists  of  the  State  Normal  and  the  University 
and  graduates  are  admitted  without  examination. 

Pl.mnwell  High  School  Alumni. 

1873— Chas.  Hyde,,  Carrie  Hatfield  Wright,  Mary  Hatfield  Warrant, 
Mattie  VanHorn,  Susie  Warrant. 

1874 — Effie  Hvde  Lewis,  Harvev  Warrant. 

1875— Belle.  Earr-ett  Lilly,  Dollie  Mesick-  Pursel,  Clemma  Woodard 
Barber,  Delmer  Woodard.  -    ■  . 

1876— Georgia  Bailey  Linton,  Libbie  Hatfield,  William  Hatfield,  Eda 
McKay  Hubbard,  David  B.  McMartin,  Emma  Seeley  Hicks. 


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62C  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY 

1877 — Laura  Chambers  T'ratt,  Ella  Griffin  Fowle,  Mary  Keeler  Dunham, 
James  Rogers. 

1878— George  Hopkins,  Kittie  Monteith  McLeod,  Addison  Pengelly, 
Arthur  Roberts,  Jennie  Sherman  Merriman. 

1879 — ^Georgia  Btish  Maddeti,  Florence  Elms,  Mabel  Hatfield  Marsh, 
Mabel  Knapp,  Anna  Marsh  Perkins,  Ella  Surjjam  DesAutels,  Alva 
Thompson,  D wight  Waldo, 

1880 — -Marion  Granger,  Will  Hawkes,  Grace  Marsh,  Chas.  E.  Monroe, 
Cora  Shepard  Granger,  Delia  Siddall  Pierce. 

1881— Sophia  Linton,  John  S.  Madden,  Frtd  Mesick,  Belle  Winter 
Howe. 

1882— Annie  Brush  Flanigan,  Alice  Buchanan  Heath,  John  Conrad, 
Cora  Hill,  Dora  Monteith,  Kittie  Scott  Eesley,  Mittie  Smith  Henry. 

1883 — Elizabeth  Conine,  Maud  Bristol  Owen,  Louie  Copp  Hook,  Ida 
Chamberlin  Fletcher,  Nettie  King  Williams,  Lizzie  McMartin  Anderson, 
Lenora  McKay  Temple,  Jessie  Roberts  Orcutt,  Addie  Siddall  Marshall, 
Ella  Scott  Walker,  Nettie  Sherwood  Scott,  Claribel  Stiff  White. 

1884— Fred  Bliss,  Nettie  Brown  Johnson,  Emma  Bussard,  Clara  Car- 
penter Peschmann,  Eddie  Farr,  Fred  Heath,  Jennie  Lindsey  Wells,  Maggie 
Monteith  Harper,  Mamie  Monteith  English,  Lois  Southwick,  Mamie  Talbot 
Mesick. 

1885 — Mary  Buxton  Bliss,  Herbert  Brown,  Carl  Copp,  Nora  Heath 
Blackmore,  Laura  Hill,  Ernest  Hawkes,  Jesse  Johnson,  Ella  Spencer  Murray, 
John  Tomiinson,  Lillie  Woodhams  Price. 

■  1886 — Jennie  Bean  Skillman,  Nelson  Beers,  Kate  Crispe,  Eva  Conine 
Hawkes.  Nellie  Dunham  Porteous,  Matfie  Fourmbum  Crispe,  Nannie  Gil- 
more,  Alice  Hanna  Vosbiirg,  Hattie  Ives,  Alida  McAllister  Allen,  Cleo 
Tomiinson  Garrison,  Effie  Madden  Brown. 

1887- — Frank  Bean,  Sarah  Beadle  Longyear,  Ada  Curtis  Barth,  Lilla 
Donovan  Murray,  Minnie  Eldred  Mapes,  Myrtie  Ferguson  Marshall,  Bertha 
Grable  Bicknell,  Flo  Scott  Harwood,  Ernest  Owen,  Rowland  Lucius  Soule. 

1888 — Mary  Chart,  Nettie  Carruthers  Carruthers,  Rose  Evart,  Minnie 
Handy  Hopper,  Nettie  Scott  Keyes,  Dee  Storms. 

1889-— Bessie  Hopkins,  Clair  Jackson,  Beulah  Marshall  Ross,  Walter 
Palmer,  Bert  Piatt,  Caldwell  Priced  Daisy  E.  Soule  Hugo,  Ray  White,  Ida 
Whitconib  Williams,  Clark  Wheeler. 

189a— Lottie  Anderson,  Inez  Chart,  Anna  English  Taylor,  Laura 
Graham,  Lora  McAllister  Earl,  Edna  Poore  Graves. 

i8gi — ^Thorne  Earle,  Lottie  Cressey,  Lalia  Cressey  Summers,  Alia  Hoyt 
Brown,  Carl  Jones,  Delia  Kahler  Spencer,  Olive  Kronk  Moody,  Charles 
Palmer,  Ray  Schoonmaker,  Marshall  Warwick. 

1892 — Sada  Bellingham  Dunwell,  Otis  Earl,  Alice  Hyder  Trites,  Anna 
Kahler,  Bemice  Lewis,  Ellis  G.  Soule. 

1893 — Marian  Brooks  Mathers,  Ethelyn  Clancey  McGee,  Katherine 
Eldred  Sinclair,  Curtis  Gilkey,  Sada  Howard  Soule,  Edith  Johnson,  Cora 
Mussulman,  Belle  Warrant. 

1894 — Carrie  Anway,  Alberta  Brown,  Pbebe  Clendenen  Chamberlin, 
Lee  Gray,  Frank  Hitchcock,  Harry  Irland,  Burtoii  Peer,  Jennie  R.  Scales, 
Edith  Wilson  Harrington. 

1895— L.  Carl  Anderson,  Harold  Arnold,  William  S.  Forbes,  Bertha 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  527 

Howard  Cheever,  Alice  Harroun  Wells,  Mattie  Hill,  Grace  Harroun 
McElroy,  Lulu  Keiser,  Cloe  Kahler  Woodhanis,  Ethel  Wilson  Stout,  Martha 
Walton  Dart,  Grace  Walton,  Edward  Woodhams. 

1896— Lee  Clancey,  William  Knorr,  Rena  Lasher,  William  Purdy, 
Lillian  W heater. 

1897 — Katie  Eldred  Johnson,  Blanche  Kreigbaum,  Ray  Palmer,  Eunice 
Rumery. 

1898 — May  Biilings  Burchett,  Myrtle  Clendenen  Meister,  Charlotte 
Fenner,  Charles  Lasher,  William  H.  Madden,  WHbur  Chamberlin,  Cora 
Finch,  William  Jackson,  Helen  Murphy  Fairbanks,  Beth  Scales. 

1899 — Bessie  Anderson  Gilleland,  Fred  Birchard,  George  Gilkey,  Lillian 
Harwood,  Pearl  Hayes  Spaeth,  Alice  Howard,  Alfred  E.  Madden,  Laura 
Thompson,  Lura' Warner  Avery,  Edith  Whitcomb,  Marie  Bean  Birchard, 
Harry  Crosby,  Clare  Granger,  Adah  Hawley,  John  Hogan,  Lucille  Irland, 
Elizabeth  Murphy,  Grace  Travis,  Harold  Warwick. 

1900 — Bertha  Blakely,  Ray  Bliss,  Bernice  DeLano  Payne,  Rudolph 
Gilkey,  Will  Hancock,  Charles  Jackson,  Cora  Peil,  Maud  Stout  Harrison, 
George  Thompson,  Mildred  Wilson  Drew,  Edward  Walton,  Lee  Bliss,  Wirt 
Cook,  John  Goldsmith,  May  Housel,  Lee  Hubbard,  Mina  Nelson,  Irving 
Palmer,  Gertrude  Squier  May,  Anna  Thompson,  Pearl  Wheater  Evans, 
Charles  Woodhams. 

1901 — Leila  Arnold,  Evah  Brown,  Alice  Chart,  Bert  Honeywell,  Ernest 
Hoyt,  Grace  Minar  Freeman,  Fred  Nelson,  Athelia  Phillips,  Winifred 
Scales,  George  Shand,  Arthur  Brown,  Bertha  Brest,  Marguerite  Gilkey, 
Mabel  Hamilton,  Delia  Hooper,  Evelyn  Neelley,  Floy  Potter,  Minnie  Rollins 
Hall,  Alva  Stamp. 

1902 — Maud  Armstrong,  Louise  Bryant,  Louise  Bovillc  Johnson,  Mar- 
garet Benedict,  Guy  Bliss,  Gertrude  Carpenter  Stuck,  Mary  Goss  Fritts, 
Lindsay  R.  Goss,  William  Y.  Gilkey,  Kathryn  Granger,  Dale  Huntley,  Lou 
Ingraham,  Henry  A.  Kelley.  Mary  Madden  Goss,  Nina  Madden  Bullard, 
Nellie  McMartin,  Frank  J.  McMichael,  Myrtle  Root  Pell,  Adelaide  Stearns, 
Clin  H,  Stuck,  Cora  Theobald,  Harry  C.  Walton,  Clarence  Walton. 

1903- — Fern  Abrams,  Heber  Bingham,  Olive  Brigham,  Cleo  Brown  Jack- 
son, Thomas  Carroll,  Frank  Campbell,  Hoyt  Dunwell,  Fred  Granger,  Wil- 
liam Graham,  Roy  Heath,  LuKi  Hitchcock,  Cleo  Hoyt,  Homer  Hoyt,  Clara 
Hooper  Haas,  Hazel  Kahler.  Charles  Kester,  Fannie  Kester,  Starr  Lasher, 
Lala  McMartin,  Anna  Murphy,  Verne  Shand,  Dorothy  Thompson,  John 
Walker,  Clare  Wagner,  Beatrice  Warrant,  Grace  Warner,  Marcia  Warner, 
Walter  Wheater,  Glenn  Williams. 

1904 — Edith  Eoman  Scribncr,  Le  Roy  Brown,  Frank  M.  Bowman,  Clara 
Belle  Emery,  Julian  Elton  Gilkey,  Bess  C.  Hall,  Margie  Hyder,  Ernest 
Jackson,  Clark  D.  Mason,  Marian  B.  Monroe,  Bernard  C.  Roberts,  Myrtice 
Skinner,  Lonzella  Theobald,  Rubie  Williams. 

T905— Allen  Bingham,  Mabel  Butler,  Clarence  Collister,  Louise  Fisher, 
Frank  Hale,  Guy  V.  Howe,  Theda  Hooper,  Haze!  McRoberts,  Edith  Pat- 
terson, Mabel  Rix,  Marion  Sherwood,  Karl  Shultes,  Miriam  Wheater. 

1906 — Charles  E.  Campbell,  Fannie  E.  Deming,  Job  C.  Estcs,  Ina  C. 
Estes,  Catherine  O.  Goss.  Charlotte  May  Herbert,  Ruby  L.  Hicks,  Cleo 
May  Hill.  Carolyn  May  Hicks,  Jessie  Hollands,  Jay  E.  McCall,  Clyde  D. 
McCall,  John  D.  McMartin,  Edward  R.  Negus,  Sarah  C.  Webster,  Lois 


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528  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Lapham  Warrant.   Bernice  J.  Wenham,  Eernice   C.  Warner,  Clarence  L. 
White. 

Saugatuck. 

In  1838  there  was  oiilj'  one  organized  district  in  all  the  region  of 
Newark  township,  with  forty-two  pupils  of  school  age.  In  that  year  ninety 
dollars  was  raised  for  building  a  schoolhonse.  In  the  following  year  five 
hundred  dollars  was  appropriated  for  building  a  schoolhouse.  A  private 
school,  attended  by  five  pupils,  is  mentioned  in  that  year.  The  first  school 
in  the  vicinity  is  said  to  have  been  a  private  school,  held  near  Singapore. 
By  1840  three  districts  were  organized  in  the  township,  of  which  district 
No.  2  eventually  became  limited  to  comprise  the  territory  of  Saugatuck 
village. 

At  a  school  meeting  September  3,  1866,  it  was  resolved  to  grade  district 
No.  2.  Bonds  to  the  amount  of  four  thousand  dollars  were  issued  to  pay 
for  a  new  schoolhouse.  Thus  Saugatuck  was  one  of  the  first  villages  of  the 
county  to  have  a  graded  school.  The  first  board  of  trustees  for  the  graded 
district  were :  James  G.  Williams,  moderator ;  Geo.  E.  Dunn,  director ; 
Frank  B.  Stockbridge,  assessor,  and  Samuel  Johnson,  Warren  Cook.  H.  H. 
Stimson.  Dr.  Stimson,  the  last  named,  is  still  living  and  one  of  the  very 
oldest  residents  of  the  village  and  vicinity.  Clara  Stimpson  and  Mary  Porter 
were  hired  to  teach  the  first  term. 

August,  1867,  R.  Barnard  was  hired  as  principal  and  continued  until 
1872.  His  successors  have  been:  W.  L.  Swan.  1872;  W.  P.  Sutton,  1875; 
G.  W.  Bellows,  1878;  Ida  Shotwell,  1881 :  E.  G.  Trowbridge,  1882;  James 
Warnock,  1892;  E.  H.  Calhoun,  1896:  P.  A.  Latta,  1897  to  the  present  time. 
Mr.  Latta  is  one  of  the  strongest,  as  he  is  perhaps  the  oldest  of  Allegan 
county's  educators.  He  has  been  engaged  in  school  work  almost  continuously 
for  forty  years. 

The  old  school  building,  together  with  a  ward  school,  was  in  use  for 
thirty  years.  In  September,  1896,  district  No.  2  voted  a  five  thousand  dollar 
bond  issue,  the  bonds  payable  at  intervals  through  eight  years.  A  bid  of 
six  thousand  two  hundred  and  thirty-two  dollars  for  construction  of  a  two- 
story  brick  building  was  accepted  and  the  school  was  accepted  and  has  been 
in  use  since  the  summer  of  1897. 

.  The  following  record  of  graduates  of  the  high  school  has  been  taken 
from  the  alumni  book,  there  being  no  list  of  graduates  in  the  official  records 
of  the  school  officers : 

Gr-^duates  of  thk  High  School,  Saugatuck. 

i878-:-Maria  Newnham,  Grace  Taylor. 

1880 — Abbie  Wheeler,  Jessie  House,  Anna  Griffin. 

1886 — Minnie  Breuckman.  Clara  Elliott. 
.  1890— John  Nies. 

1891— Grace  Baudle,  Josie  Simonson,  Grace  Halverson.  Mary  Hirner, 
Josie  Goshorn. 

1892 — -Louisa  Lundgren,  William  Baker,  William  Dole,  Belle  Smith, 
William  Smith,  Mattie  Hames,  Minnie  Reid,  Clyde  Reid,  Myrtle  Allen, 
George  Knowles,  Rena  Ames.  Rosina  Perry,  Cora  Hollister.  Charles 
Knowles,  Winnie  Cummings,  James  Smead,  Lena  Randall. 


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HISTORY  OF  AIXEGAN  COUNTY  ryid 

1893 — Mae  Francis,  Gilbert  Pride,  Mae  Naughtin,  Emma  Randall, 
Archie  Pierce,  Gertrude  Shriver,  Ray  Nies. 

1894 — Oscar  Wiley,  Laniis  Swemer,  Anna  Haiit,  Mattie  Dole,  Harry 
Bird,  Susie  Tisdale.  Mamie  Lundgren,  Winnie  Dole,  Nellie  Van  Leuin, 
George  Pride,  Mabel  Coif,  Lizzie  Nysson. 

1895— Allan  Falconer,  Arthur  Williams,  Carrie  Inderbitzin,  Ethel 
Sutton. 

1896 — Joseph  Swemer,  Harry  Newcomb,  John  S  chum  alter.  Pearl 
Phelps,  Jason  Dick,  Bessie  Handle,  Bina  Annesley,  Edith  Brown, 

1899— Harry  Oleson,  Murba  Greenlees,  James  Koning,  Amelia  Shriver, 
Mattie  Simonson,  Herman  Simon  son. 

1900 — William  Tisdale,  Edward  Winslow.  Elsie  Vork,  Florence  Up- 
dyke,  Gussie  Barber,  Russell  Knox,  Laura  Miller.  Charlie  Upham,  Bessie 
Newnham,  Mae  Belle  Haywood,  Blanche  Baudle,  Arie  Koning,  Ethel 
Baker,  Ella  Brown,  Worth  Durham. 

igoi^Ciarence  Winslow,  Robert  Oleson,  John  Blink,  Jennie  Veits, 
Olive  Ludwig,  Louisa  Walz,  Mattie  Hirner,  Marie  Upliam,  Faith  Kirby, 
Ethel  Winslow,  Lottie  Hancock,  Mamie  Schumaker,  Florence  Miller,  How- 
ard Coates,  Louis  Knox,  Clarence  Halverson. 

1902 — ^Jessie  Veits,  Elsworth  Ellis.  Eldon  Dick.  Josephine  Walbcrg, 
Louise  Johns,  Anna  Oleson.  Stella  Dailey,  Mildred  Ireland, 

i903^Margaret  Coxford.  Pearl  Heuer,  Blanche  McGregor.  Besf^ie 
Wilson,  Edith  Leiand,  Eva  Lundgren,  Julia  Shriver,  Jennie  Vork,  Edith 
Brown.  Bessie  Riley,  Theodore  Hoffman,  George  Bradley,  Arthur  Reyn- 
olds. 

1904— Frank  Wade,  Blanche  Lamreaux,  Bessie  Smalley.  Fannie  Dailey, 
Marie  Walz,  Lizzie  Schumaker,  Pearl  Olsen,  Adelaide  Wade,  Julia  Mc- 
intosh, Anna  Carton,  Milton  Coates,  Grace  Haberer,  Bertha  Weed,  Mona 
Jones,  Lucina  Taylor.  Mack  Atwater,  Eva  Haberer,  Charles  Atwater,  Lizzie 
Dreher. 

i905^MacLean  Babcock.  Lottie  Force,  Edna  Oleson,  Maud  Johns, 
Frances  Garton,  Jessie  St.  Johns,  Gladys  Rapalee,  Edward  Burdick.  Edna 
Link.  Mabel  Wilson.  Mary  Randall.  Nita  Fort,  Irene  Kingsbury.  Frank 
Johns,  Eileen  Manning.  Myron  Heath  .Estelle  Heath,  Edward  Redpath, 
Ellsworth  Lundgren,  Anna  Burch,  Faye  Meade,  Sarah  Tisdale, 

1906 — Chris.  Walz,  Dorothy  Dailey,  Jessie  Crow,  Cornelia  Koning, 
Alfaretta  Smalley,  Frank  Smith.  Charles  Gilman.  Alta  Arends,  Leon 
Chase,  Marie  Schaberg,  Julia  Brittian.  Helen  Erikson,  Lizzie  Dorman, 
I^is  Helm,  Robert  Goodwin,  Dawn  Meade,  Dora  Wentzel. 

Fennville. 

In  1898  fractional  district  No,  2,  of  Manlius,  was  organized  for  high 
school  work.  Up  to  that  time  the  old  building  west  of  the  village  had 
served  as  the  school  home,  but  in  that  year  a  new  brick  building  was 
erected  in  the  village  on  the  north  side  of  Main  street,  and  the  old  struc- 
ture abandoned.  The  high  school  has  been  brought  to  rank  with  the 
schools  of  the  other  villages  in  the  county.  The  principals  and  graduates 
from  1898  to  the  present  time  are  as  follows: 

1898 — W,  G.  Loomis,  Prin, ;  Floyd  Loomis,  Millie  Turrel,  Lee  Robin- 
son, Robert  Collins,  Gertrude  Barry,  Calvin  Wilcox. 


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530  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

igoo — C.  F.  Bacon,  Frin. ;  Bessie  Bale,  Harry  Hutchins,  Carrie  Hurl- 
burt,  Blanche  Billings,  Louise  Smeed. 

1902 — L.  W.  Bacon,  Prin, ;  Leon  French,  Robert  Day,  Bui  Kibby, 
Ethel  Crane,  Roy  Fisher,  Gertrude  Fislier,  Laura  Young,  Gladys  Chapman, 
Grace  Thome,  Ivy  Barber,  Zelda  Barrow,  Ruby  Wightman,  Anna  Owens, 
Hattie  Knowlton. 

1903— L.  Q.  Martin,  Prin. ;  Hattie  Truax,  Harvey  Adams,  Leo 
Swartz,  John  McCormick  (dead),  Isabelle  Thome,  Lillian  Arnold,  Carol 
Walters,  Laura  Hutchins,  Wm.  Hoover,  Eugene  Mann,  Oliver  Henderson, 
Everard  Leland,  Clarissa  Hurlburt,  Flossy  Taylor,  Eva  Paine,  Russell 
Wightman. 

1904 — L.  Q.  Martin,  Prin.;  Grace  McCartney,  Nellie  Grant,  Alary 
Peterson,  Belva  McCormick,  George  Whitney. 

1905 — L  .Q.  Martin,  Prin.;  Chas,  Reid,  Lee  Hutchins,  Serene  Chase, 
Mildred  Watson,  Blanche  Stauffer,  Tressa  Orther,  Mary  Geske,  Belle  Sil- 
cox,  Hattie  Johnson,  Alice  Baron. 

1906 — W.  B.  Sheehan,  Prin.;  Florence  Mead,  Lelah  Frye,  Fern  Green, 
Alfa  Pearle. 

BuENip's  Corners. 

Bumip's  Corners  district  school  was  organized  in  1856  and  the  school 
building,  or  log  house,  was  erected  at  Salem  Center.  In  1876  a  new  frame 
building  was  erected  one-quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  Salem  Center  in  what 
is  known  as  Burnip's  Corners.  The  present  two-room  brick  building  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  three  thousand  dollars  in  1886. 

The  school  was  organized  into  a  graded  school  of  ten  grades  in  18S6, 
with  Eugene  Gregory  as  first  principal.  The  principals  to  date  are  as 
follows:  Eugene  Gregory,  1886  to  1887;  A.  J.  Dan,  1887  to  1891 ;  Chas. 
Bacon,  1891  to  1895;  L.  B.  Plummer,  1895  to  1897;  Frank  Brown,  1897 
to  1898;  F.  M.  Cosner,  1898  to  1900;  Malcolm  Smith,  1900  to  1903;  Ralph 
Sprague,  1903  to  1904 ;  Ira  J.  Arehart,  1904  to  present  time. 

The  first  commencement  exercises  were  held  in  1890.  There  has  been 
a  class  each  year  since,  with  two  exceptions,  namely,  1894  and  1898.  The 
following  is  a  list  of  graduates  by  years : 

1890 — Minnie  D.  Binley,  Norman  L.  Bond,  Lewis  Van  Wormer,  E. 
joy  Heck,  H.  Otis  Jones,  and  Gerrit  Masselink, 

1891 — Eleroy  A.  Smith,  Herman  A.  Rigterink,  Roxy  Stauffer,  Charles 
R.  Newell,  Minnie  Hardy,  John  W.  Rigterink. 

1892 — Henry  A.  Dibble,  Benjamin  F.  Masselink,  and  Geo.  H.  Rig- 
terink. 

1893 — Frank  Smith,  Francis  Goodmann,  Dirk  Lanting,  Arthur  Wine- 
gar,  Garrit  Walcott,  Bertha  Loew,  and  Nettie  Sebright. 

1895 — Fred  Loew,  Theodore  Long,  May  Roberts,  Cora  Sebright. 

1896 — Oker  Gordon,  Flossie  Heck,  Viola  Heasley,  Iva  Hardy,  Floy 
Sprau. 

1897 — Norman  Buege,  Loren  Heasley,  Carl  Green,  Perry  Fleetwood, 
Imogen e  Burt,  Henry  Rigterink. 

1899— George  Brower,  George  R,  Newell,  Martin  Loew. 

1900 — Harry  W.  Davis,  G.  Elmer  Smith,  L.  Maud  Bradv,  Grace  A. 
Brady,  Huldah  C.  Heasley,  Lulu  M.  Newell,  William  Flese'r,  Flora  H. 
Raab,  Tillie  M.  Slagle. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  631 

1901 — Maud  Strang,  Louisa  Ritz,  Estela  Zimmerman,  Jennie  Long, 
Ernest  Wells. 

1902 — G.  Carl  Roberts,  Adam  A.  Sebright,  Edythe  M.  Loomis,  Ida  M. 
Newell,  H.  Faithe  lirady,  Flossie  P.  Loew. 

1903— Albert  A.  Riddering,  Oscar  F,  Raab,  Arthur  A.  Buege,  Ger- 
trude I,  Heasley,  Lulu  Cronkhite. 

1904 — Nellie  De  Jongh,  Leafy  Mesick,  Gladys  Hardy,  John  Vander 
Bosch,  Claud  Sturgis,  Maud  Enos,  Glenn  Gordon,  Grab  Leweke,  George 
Glaus,  Winifred  Bear,  Peter  Giebe,  Lydia  Biiege,  George  Davis,  Laura 
Raab,  George  Ritz. 

1905 — Bessie  Newell,  Lemuel  Brady.  John  De  Jongh. 

igo6 — Hallie  Sprau,  Mary  L.  Beck,  G.  Ray  Sturgis,  Clara  Baker, 
Martin  Van  Duine. 

The  curriculum  comprises  ten  grades,  the  number  of  teachers  is  two, 
and  number  of  pupils  one  hundred  ten. 

Way  LAND. 

The  Wayland  graded  schools  have  developed,  as  other  such  schools 
in  the  count}',  from  the  district  system.  When  the  township  was  divided 
into  school  districts  in  1844,  district  No.  2  was  made  to  contain  the  entire 
northwest  corner  of  the  township,  namely,  sections  5,  6,  7,  8,  17,  rS,  19,  20. 
The  log  house  previously  inhabited  by  Nelson  Chambers,  located  at  Cham- 
bers Comers,  within  the  limits  of  the  present  village  of  Wayland,  was  cori- 
verted  into  the  first  school  house.  Miss  Belinda  Eldred  {later  the  wife  of 
Ebenezer  Wilder  of  Martin;  her  death  occurred  July  2,  1905)  taught  a 
summer  term  in  1844,  among  her  twelve  scholars  being  children  of  Nelson 
Chambers,  Joseph  Heydenberk  and  John  Parsons.  District  No.  3,  com- 
prising a  large  part  of  the  south  side  of  the  township,  had  much  the  greater 
number  of  school  children,  in  the  fall  of  1848  having  forty-six  against  six- 
teen in  district  No.  2.  There  were  twentv  scholars  in  the  latter  district  in 
1850. 

The  next  school  house  was  the  little  red  school  house  built  about  1850. 
Its  size  was  about  sixteen  by  twenty  feet,  with  desks  on  either  side  and 
long  benches  made  stationary  for  seats  and  was  capable  of  seating  about 
twenty  scholars.  This  was  at  a  time  when  those  who  sent  children  to  school 
had  to  pay  their  tuition  and  when  the  teachers  received  for  their  services 
about  three  dollars  per  week  and  waited  for  their  pay  until  the  end  of  the 
term.  The  teachers  made  what  was  called  a  rate  bill  or  an  assessment  roll 
and  the  parents  paid  a  ratable  proportion  of  the  teacher's  wages  according 
to  the  number  of  children  sent  to  school,  and  it  was  the  duty  of  the  teacher 
to  make  collections.  The  parents  had  also  to  furnish  their  proportion  of 
wood  needed  to  warm  the  school  house.  Among  the  early  teachers  were 
Mary  West,  Amanda  J.  Chambers,  Margaret  Mosher,  Augusta  K.  Harrison 
(now  Augusta  K.  Hunter),  Addie  McMartin  (now  Addie  E.  Hoyt).  After 
1862  the  following  persons  were  among  the.  teachers :  Emily  Chambers, 
William  Mason,  Otis  Parsons,  Cornelia  Chambers,  Mary  J.  McMartin  (now 
Mary  J,  Clark),  Deborah  Parsons,  Ida  Loomis,  Mary  Beach,  Fannie  Cole- 
man, Minnie  Everson,  E.  W.  Pickett,  E.  S.  Linsley,  Samuel  Hendricks,  E. 
Congdon,  George  Gable.  Ed  Gene  Arnold  and  James  W.  Humphrey.  Mr. 
HiuTiphrey  began  teaching  in   the  Wayland   school   in    1877,  and   it  was 


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633  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

throiigli  liis  influence  that  the  school  was  graded,  when  the  new  brick  school 
house  was  first  occupied  in  1879.  Tliis  building  was  burned  in  1896  and 
was  replaced  during  the  same  year  by  the  one  now  in  use.  In  1883  Mr. 
Humphrey  succeeded  in  establishing  a  Normal  class  which  lasted  as  long 
as  he  had  charge  of  the  school.  When  he  began  teaching  there  were  only 
three  teachers  employed,  but  before  he  finished  his  work  there  were  five. 
He  left  here  after  ten  years'  successful  work  to  take  a  position  in  Hope  Col- 
lege at  Holland.  The  teachers  associated  with  him  were  Ellen  Clark,  Elva 
Clark,  Jettie  Euskirk,  Ellen  M.  Camer,  Nettie  Conrad,  Hattie  Wallbrecht, 
Estella  Rathbum,  Metta  Rawson,  Libbie  Sooy,  Mary  Hayes,  Lucy  Avery, 
Franc  Smith  and  Jessie  Hoyt. 

The  principals  following  Mr.  Humphrey  were  A.  C.  Roberts,  William 
McNamara,  E.  M.  Vroman  (for  nine  years),  W.  G.  Glazier,  and  Charles 
W.  Appleton,  since  1902. 

The  present  school  building  is  a  fine  two-story  brick  structure  with  a 
large  basement.  It  is  steam  heated,  well  lighted,  ventilated  and  furnished. 
Besides  the  high  school,  intermediate  and  primary  rooms  tliere  is  a  large 
recitation  room,  laboratory  and  bookkeeping  room.  The  physical  laboratory 
contains  about  $400  worth  of  apparatus,  most  of  which  has  been  added 
through  the  efforts  of  the  present  superintendent. 

During  the  past  year  the  enrollment  has  been  about  two  hundred  and 
forty,  of  which  one  hundred  and  twenty  were  in  the  high  room,  with  about 
twenty-five  per  cent  non-resident  pupils.  Last  year  the  twelfth  grade  was 
added  to  the  curriculum.  The  school  is  now  on  the  approved  list  of  Normal 
schools  of  the  state  and  it  is  hoped  to  place  it  on  the  University  list  in  the 
near  future. 


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CHAPTER  X. 

BANKS. 

As  elsewhere  related,,  Allegan  county  had  its  exyiieriences  with  "wild- 
cat" banking  during  the  years  immediately  following  the  erection  of  Michi- 
gan as  a  state  and  the  unbridled  period  of  speculation  and  promotion  of  the 
late  thirties.  Allegan  county  also  had  rather  more  than  its  share  of  these 
speculative  enterprises,  the  most  prominent  centers  of  which  were  at  Otsego, 
Allegan  and  Singapore.  Almost  a  natural  accompaniment  of  such  an  under- 
taking as  the  building  up  of  a  village  on  a  capitalistic  basis  was  a  bank  pat- 
terned after  the  kind  then  so  prevalent  throughout  the  country. 

The  Allegan  bank  was  established  in  the  fall  of  1837,  with  Alexander 
L.  Ely  as  president  and  Hovey  K.  Clarke  as  cashier.  Some  of  the  bills  of 
this  institution  are  stil!  to  be  found  about  the  county,  being  nothing  more 
than  promises  to  pay  based  on  the  personal  credit  of  the  stockholders  and  on 
the  highly-inflated  real  estate  values  of  the  Allegan  company.  Owing  to 
some  fortunate  circumstances  the  Allegan  bank  notes  had  rather  more 
prestige  abroad  than  those  of  many  of  these  banks,  and  for  a  time  they 
passed  more  or  less  current  among  the  eastern  communities.  But  the  in- 
evitable crash  followed  within  a  year  or  so,  and  the  institution  passed  out 
of  historj'.  Mention  has  elsewhere  been  made  of  the  similar  institution 
founded  at  Singapore  about  the  same  time,  which  shared  the  general  fate. 
The  oldest  bank  in  Allegan  county  is  the  Allegan  State  Savings  bank, 
the  name  being  the  Allegan  City  bank  until  recently,  when  it  was  incor- 
porated under  a  state  charter.  As  a  private  bank  its  first  proprietors,  in 
i860,  were  Augustus  S.  Butler  and  H,  B.  Peck.  In  1873  a  reorganization 
was  effected  and  the  firm  of  H.  M,  and  H.  B,  Peck  became  the  owners,  and 
continued  so  for  a  number  of  years.  I-ater  the  firm  of  Chaddock  and  De- 
Lano  became  proprietors. 

The  only  National  bank  in  the  county  is  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Allegan,  which  was  organized  in  June,  1870,  six  years  after  the  passage  of 
the  national  banking  act.  The  first  board  of  directors  were  B.  D.  Pritchard, 
T.  C.  Jenner,  W.  H,  Nickerson,  G.  E.  Robinson,  Z,  L.  Griswold.  Gen.  B. 
D.  Britchartl  was  president  of  this  institution  from  its  organization  until 
1905.  Ira  Chichester  was  irom  the  first  interested  in  the  bank  and  served 
for  many  years  as  vice  president,  and  since  the  reorganization  in  1905  his 
son  F.  I.  has  controlled  the  majority  of  the  stock  and  has  been  cashier.  I.  P. 
Griswold,  now  president,  lias  been  connected  with  the  bank  over  twenty-five 
years,  as  has  also  Leon  Chichester,  vice  president. 

When  Gen.  Pritchard  withdrew  from  the  First  National  bank  in  1905 


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534 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


he  organized  the  First  State  Bank  of  Allegan,  which  at  once  took  its  place 
as  one  of  the  recognized  strong  financial  institntions  of  the  county  owing  to 
the  character  of  the  men  in  control  and  the  impregnable  financial  resources 
at  its  command. 

In  Otsego  the  first  banking  house  was  established  by  Wilson  C.  Edsell 
and  H.  N.  Peck  in  1869,  and  under  varions  proprietors,  recently  the  firm  of 
DeLano  and  Clapp,  this  bank  has  continued  a  successful  existence,  and  is 
now  incorporated  under  the  title  of  the  First  State  and  Savings  Bank  of 
Otsego. 

The  Plainwell  Exchange  bank  was  established  as  a  private  bank  by 
Winegar  and  Soule  in  1869.  In  1876  Joseph  W.  Hicks  became  a  partner  in 
this  institution  and  remained  one  of  the  proprietors  until  his  death  in  1893. 
In  1903  the  private  bank  gave  way  to  a  state  bank,  and  the  Citizens'  State 
Savings  Bank  was  established. 

The  Old  State  bank  at  Fennville  dates  from  1887.  The  Hutchinsons 
have  been  most  prominently  connected  with  its  history,  and  another  well- 
known  business  man  of  that  vicinity  now  connected  with  it  is  George  L. 
Dutcher. 

The  Fruit  Growers"  Bank  of  Saugatuck  began  as  a  private  bank  in 
1892,  and  in  October,  1896,  was  made  a  state  bank.  A.  B.  Taylor  as  presi- 
dent and  W.  K.  Takken  as  cashier  have  been  at  the  head  of  this  institution 
for  ten  years  or  more. 

Several  other  banks  of  the  county  are  mentioned  below  in  the  sum- 
marized list  of  the  county's  banks  as  given  in  the  Bankers"  Directory  for 
September,  1906: 


Allegan   State    Savings   Bank,    Est,    ISfiO. 
Capital,  $30,000. 

Surplua  and  Profits,  $2,581. 
Deposits,  $239,110. 
The  present  officers  are: 
J.  W.  Chadflofk,  President. 
H.  A.  DeLano,  Vice  Presiclent. 
W.  H.  Chaddoek,  Cashier. 

First  National  Bank  of  Allegan.  Eat  1870. 
Capital,  $.50,000. 

Surplus  and  Profits,  $13,000, 
Deposits,  $525,247. 
The  officers  are: 
I.  P.  Griawold,  President. 
L.  Chichester,  Vice  President. 
F.  L.  Chichester,  Cashier 

First  State  Bank    Est.  1905. 
Capita],  $50,000. 

Deposits,   $200,000. 
The  officers  are: 

B,  D.  Pritchard,  President. 

M.  V.  B.  Mo.Alpine,  Vice  President. 

H.  D.  Pritchard,  Cashier. 

DOTreiAs. 


Exchange  Bank.     Est.   18S 
Capital,  $30,000. 
Furber  and  Kidder,  Proprie 


Martin   Exchange   Bank.      Est.    1905. 

A  private  hank,  with  $23,000  capital  and 

$97,000  deposits. 

Officers : 

T.  H.  Shepherd,  President. 
Leo  W.  Shepherd,  Cashier. 


Old  State  Bank.     Eat.  1S87. 
Capital,  $15,000. 

SnrplHs  and  Profits,  $1,730. 
Deposits,  $100,303. 

The  officers: 

L.  S.  Dickinson,  President. 

George  L.  Dutcher,  Vice  President. 

J.  E.  Hutchinson,  Cashier. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUiXTY 


WAVLAKD. 

Wayland     State     Bank.      Eat. 
Capital,  $20,000. 

DepoBitB,  $10,000. 
The  officers: 

E.  O.  Hanlon,  President. 
John  Frohm,  Vice  President. 
E.  W,  Pieiett,  Cashier. 

Otsboo. 

First  State  &  Savings  Banli.      E; 
Capital,    S25,000. 
George   E.   Delano,   Cashiei 


Plain  WELL. 
Citizens  State   Savings  Bank.     Est.   . 
Capital,  $24,000. 

Surplus  and  Profits,  $2,000. 
Deposits,  $230,102. 
The  officers: 
John  N.  Kansom,  President. 
J.  W.  Gilkey,  Vice  President. 
A.  I.  Shepard,  Cashier, 

Saugatuck. 


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CHAPTER  XI. 
HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESS. 

There  is  recorded  an  attempt  to  establish  a  paper  at  New  Rocliester 
when  that  settlement  was  at  the  height  of  its  prosperity,  but  nothing  prac- 
tical ever  came  of  the  movement, 

Moses  Hawks  was  the  first  printer  and  publisher  in  the  county.  He  es- 
tablished the  Allegan  County  Democrat  at  Otsego,  the  first  number  of  which 
was  issued  April  12,  1842.  Democratic  in  politics,  and  lasting  only  a  few 
months,  is  the  sum  of  its  history.  The  apparatus  was  purchased  by  A.  L. 
Ely,  of  Allegan,  who  moved  the  material  to  that  village,  and,  January  23, 
1843,  issued  a  copy  of  the  Allegan  and  Barry  Record.  Mr.  Ely  did  not  per- 
sonally conduct  the  paper,  and  some  other  well-known  men  were  connected 
with  it  in  the  capacity  of  publishers  and  editors.  Hovey  K.  Clarke  was  the 
first  editor.  Augustine  W.  Adams  and  Moses  Hawks  were  publishers  of 
the  journal  for  short  periods.  When  Mr.  Ely  removed  to  Iowa  in  1846 
{where  he  became  the  founder  of  the  town  of  Cedar  Falls,  where  he  died 
in  1848),  Mr.  Hawks  bought  the  plant  and  continued  the  publication  under 
his  name  until  1857.  Donald  C.  Henderson,  the  dean  of  the  newspaper  pro- 
fession in  Allegan  county  and  one  of  the  oldest  journalists  in  Michigan, 
stiil  living  in  the  county,  began  his  newspaper  career  with  the  Record  dur- 
ing the  forties.  From  1847  Mr.  E.  B.  Bassett  was  chief  editor  of  the  jour- 
nal, and  in  1861  purchased  the  plant  from  William  Francis,  an  accomplished 
English  gentleman,  who  was  long  a  resident  of  Allegan.  The  Record  was 
for  thirteen  years  the  only  paper  published  in  this  county.  A  political  organ 
in  the  old-fashioned  sense  of  that  word,  it  fought  the  battles  of  Democracy 
with  the  vehemence  and  uncompromising  ardor  characteristic  of  the  period. 

Allegan  Journal. 

Donald  C.  Henderson,  who  began  his  career  with  the  Record  and  later 
became  connected  with  the  New  York  Trilnine,  founded  the  Allegan  Journal 
in  April,  1856,  the  first  number  being  issued  the  last  clay  of  that  month. 
The  RepubUcan  party  being  then  two  years  old  in  Michigan,  the  paper  was 
founded  partly  for  the  purpose  of  advocating  the  principles  of  the  party. 
The  paper  in  the  growing  interests  of  the  day  in  anti-slavery  flourished  at 
the  expense  of  its  rival,  the  Record,  and  in  1862,  after  the  strife  had  al- 
ready been  joined  and  militant  Democracy  was  for  the  time  moribund  in 
Michigan,  Mr.  Bassett  was  unable  to  continue  the  publication  of  the  Record 


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HISTORY  OV  ALI.EGAX  COUNTY  537 

and  sold  the  plant  to  Mr.  Henderson,  who  at  once  consoHdated  it  with  the 
Joitrnal. 

Mr.  Henderson  served  during  the  last  two  years  of  the  war  as  a  private, 
and  at  the  close  resumed  the  editorship  of  the  Journal,  which  he  held  until 
his  retirement  from  active  duties  in  July,  1897. 

In  1874  Edwy  C.  Reici,  who  had  been  connected  with  western  Michigan 
journalism  since  a  boy  of  sixteen,  and  for  the  preceding  two  years  had  been 
local  editor  of  the  Joitmal,  associated  himself  witli  Mr,  Henderson  as  one 
of  the  proprietors,  and  for  the  following  eight  years  the  firm  of  Henderson 
and  Reid  conducted  the  Journal.  In  1882  the  partnership  was  dissolved, 
and  with  the  aid  of  friends  Mr.  Reid  established  the  Allegan  Gazette,  which 
will  complete  a  quarter  century  of  existence  in  May.  1907,  and  logically  is 
the  continuation  of  the  old  Allegan  Journal,  established  over  half  a  century 
ago. 

Edwy  Campbell  Reid,  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Gazette  and  post- 
master at  Allegan,  is  a  native  of  Brantford,  Ontario.  Canada,  his  father's 
people  being  residents  for  several  generations  of  New  Jersey  and  his 
mother  a  native  of  Norfolkshire,  England.  When  eighteen  months  old 
he  was  brought  to  Michigan  by  his  parents,  and  was  reared  at  Otsego.  Hav- 
ing attended  the  village  schools  there,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  he  began  an 
apprenticeship  with  the  Otsego  Herald.  As  part  owner  and  publisher  of 
the  Otsego  Record,  compositor  and  job  printer  on  the  Kalamazoo  Telegraph, 
foreman  of  the  Kalamazoo  Ga::elte,  the  Allegan  Democrat,  and  the  Allegan 
Journal,  and  later  partner  with  Mr.  Henderson  in  publishing  the  latter 
paper,  and  finally  for  the  last  twenty-five  years  editor  and  publisher  of  the 
Allegan  Gazelle.  Mr.  Reid  has  had  a  varied  newspaper  career.  He  is  known 
as  one  of  the  best  editorial  writers  in  this  part  of  Michigan,  his  power  as 
correspondent  and  descriptive  news  writer  fully  equaling  his  ability  as  pub- 
Usher.  Mr.  Reid  has  been  a  successful  publisher,  and  without  trimming  his 
editorials  always  to  accord  with  nerveless  opinion  has  made  his  paper  a 
I'eal  director  of  public  sentiment  and  a  power  in  any  work  of  reform  or  im- 
provement. 

Since  his  appointment  by  President  McKinley  in  June,  1898,  Mr.  Reid 
has  held  the  office  of  postmaster  at  Allegan.  The  Allegan  postoffice  has 
made  notable  advances  since  that  time.  Rural  free  delivery  has  caused  a 
concentration  of  postal  business  at  this  point,  and  from  one  rural  mail  route 
in  1899,  the  office  is  now  center  for  eight  routes,  radiating  in  all  directions 
from  the  village.  The  postal  receipts  have  increased  from  $8,000  to  $12,- 
000.  This  increase  in  postal  business  has  caused  Allegan  to  be  made  a 
city  free  delivery  office,  and  since  June,  1905,  the  village  has  enjoyed  fre- 
quent deliveries  and  niaii  collections  antl  all  the  postal  facilities  of  a  city. 

Mr.  Reid  has  been  closely  identified  with  the  fruit  industry  in  this  part 
of  Michigan,  and  besides  being  interested  in  fruit  exhibits  at  the  state  fairs 
and  Detroit  expositions  was  for  many  years  secretary  of  the  State  Horti- 
cultural Society.  Mr.  Reid  is  a  director  on  the  Allegan  Board  of  Trade, 
being  the  prime  leader  in  the  organization  of  that  body,  for  eight  years  a 
member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  state  asylum  for  the  insane  at  Ionia, 
acting  as  president  of  the  board  part  of  the  time,  for  three  years  a  trustee 
of  Oak  Grove  cemetery,  and  as  an  active  Republican  was  secretary  for  four- 
teen years  of  the  Republican  county  conmiittee  and  otherwise  a  leader  of  his 


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53fi  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

party  in  the  county.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  executive  committee  of 
the  Michigan  RepubHcan  Press  Association.  Fraternally  lie  affiliates  with 
the  Odd  Fellows,  the  Foresters,  the  Maccabees  and  the  United  Workmen, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Allegan  Congregational  church. 

Mr.  Reid  was  married  in  1876  to  Miss  M.  A.  Borradaile,  of  Sodus, 
New  York.  Mrs.  Reid,  who  died  June  10,  1906,  was  well  known  in  social 
and  educational  circles  in  Allegan,  and  a  number  of  years  ago  was  pre- 
ceptress of  the  high  school.  She  left  a  son  and  a  daughter,  both  now  in 
college,  Edwy  B.  being  a  student  in  the  state  university  and  Florence  A.  at 
(Jlivet  college. 

December  11.  1867,  another  Democratic  newspaper  was  published  in 
the  county  under  the  name  of  the  AUegan  County  Democrat,  the  second  of 
the  name.  Freeman  D.  Austin  was  publisher  until  his  death  in  July,  1869, 
and  later  the  paper  was  controlled  by  Martin  T.  Ryan  and  Cieorge  C.  Fur- 
ber.  In  1874  W.  W.  Watkins  entered  the  firm  and  the  Northwestern  Bible 
and  Publishing  company  was  organized,  the  Democrat  being  continued  by 
this  firm.  This  company  was  dissolved  in  October,  1876,  and  for  the  follow- 
ing two  years  the  Democrat  was  published  by  a  stock  company  of  prominent 
Democrats.    The  last  number  was  issued  December  31,  1879. 

The  plant  of  the  Democrat  had  been  purchased  by  E.  R.  Morgan  and 
Frank  W.  Bailey,  and  in  January,  1880,  they  began  the  publication  of  the 
Allegan  Tribune,  as  a  Republican  paper,  the  veteran  newspaper  man,  G.  A. 
Morgan,  being  editor. 

The  Allegan  Democrat  was  established  in  immediate  succession  to  the 
passing  of  the  AUegan  County  Democrat,  its  first  number  being  issued  Jan- 
uary 7,  1880.  It  had  neither  business  nor  material  connection  with  the 
former  paper,  being  only  similar  in  politics,  George  Scales,  of  the  Plain- 
well  Independent  Republic,  installed  a  complete  new  plant  at  Allegan  for 
the  publication  of  this  paper.  D.  R.  Waters  was  connected  with  the  paper 
as  editor. 

The  Allegan  Ne^vs.  the  present  Democratic  newspaper  at  the  county 
seat,  was  established  in  1899,  and  is  published  by  John  J.  Firestone,  ably 
assisted  by  his  wife  and  son.  Mr.  Firestone  began  his  newspaper  career  in 
Elkhart  county,  Indiana,  and  since  coming  to  Allegan  county  has  brought 
his  paper  to  the  front  as  one  of  the  newsy  and  able  journals  of  the  county. 

The  Allegan  Press,  the  other  newspaper  published  at  Allegan,  now  in 
its  sixth  volume,  is  edited  and  published  by  Charles  F.  Davison,  in  whose 
career  the  history  of  the  journal  will  be  found,  Mr.  Davison  was  born  in 
Wayland  township,  AUegan  county,  January  13,  1870.  His  father,  Cephas 
E.  Davison,  was  bom  in  the  eastern  part  of  New  York  state  and  removed 
thence  to  Massachusetts,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood.  He  prepared 
for  the  dental  profession,  and  in  1865  came  to  Wayland  township,  Allegan 
county,  Michigan,  where  he  opened  a  dental  office,  continuing  actively  in 
practice  until  the  fall  of  1887.  He  then  went  to  California  on  a  prospect- 
ing trip,  and  while  there  became  ill  and  died,  passing  away  in  San  Diego, 
February  3,  1888.  He  was  active  in  community  affairs  in  Wayland  town- 
ship, was  a  member  of  the  school  board  for  a  number  of  years,  and  also 
held  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  was  trus- 
tee, while  in  the  Sunday-school  he  acted  as  superintendent.  He  was  like- 
wise township  clerk  for  two  years  and  was  a  very  prominent  and  influential 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  539 

mail  ill  liis  locality.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Elizabeth  A.  Cole- 
man, and  was  born  in  Wisconsin.  She  still  survives,  her  home  being  now  in 
Wayland  village.  She  was  married  a  second  time,  becoming  the  wife  of 
Francis  C.  Elliott,  who  passed  away  February  25,  1902.  In  the  family  were 
four  children:   Charles  F.,  Royal  E..  and  two  who  have  passed  away, 

Charles  F.  Davidson  was  reared  in  the  place  of  his  nativity  and  passed 
through  successive  grades  in  the  public  schools  of  Wayland  until  he  was 
graduated  from  the  high  school  in  the  class  of  1887.  At  the  age  of  eighteen 
years  he  came  to  Allegan,  this  being  in  1888.  and  entered  the  ofifice  of  the 
Allegan  Gai:etfe  to  learn  the  printer's  trade.  He  began  as  "devil,"  gradu- 
ally worked  his  way  upward,  filling  during  the  succeeding  thirteen  years 
various  positions,  after  completing  his  three  years'  apprenticeship.  He  was 
reporter  and  later  city  editor  for  ten  years.  On  the  4th  of  April,  1902,  the 
first  issue  of  the  Allegan  Press  was  published.  This  paper  was  pubHshed 
by  Charles  F.  Davison,  Charles  E.  Ingram  and  Frank  M.  Weber.  The 
partnership  was  maintained  until  July,  when  Mr.  Weber  sold  his  interest 
to  the  other  two  and  Mr,  Davison  and  Mr.  Ingram  continued  the  publica- 
tion of  the  Press  until  October,  1905,  when  Mr.  Davison  purchased  his  part- 
ner's interest  and  is  now  sole  proprietor  of  the  paper,  which  is  published 
weekly  and  is  a  bright,  interesting  journal,  with  a  large  circulation.  It  is 
also  an  excellent  advertising  medium  and  has  a  good  patronage  in  tnat  di- 
rection, 

Mr,  Davison  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  edits  his  paper  in  support 
of  the  party.  He  held  the  office  of  village  clerk  of  Allegan  from  1900  until 
1903,  and  at  the  first  election  defeated  William  H.  Dorgan,  who  had  for- 
merly defeated  Mr,  Davison  when  he  was  first  nominated  for  the  office  in 
1899.  Later  Mr.  Davison  was  re-elected,  again  defeating  Mr.  Dorgan.  At 
the  last  election  he  was  elected  b\-  four  votes,  and  on  a  recount  it  was  found 
that  he  had  three  more  votes,  defeating  Frank  A.  Ewer.  He  has  always 
been  very  active  and  influential  in  politics  and  is  now  serving  for  the  third 
term  as  a  member  of  the  Republican  county  committee,  of  which  he  is  act- 
ing as  secretary.  He  was  also  secretary  of  the  McKinley  and  Hobart  Club 
in  1896  and  secretary  of  the  McKinley  and  Roosevelt  Club  in  1900.  He  is 
likewise  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  Allegan,  his  term  expiring  in 
1909. 

On  the  loth  of  June,  1896.  in  this  village.  Mr.  Davison  was  married  to 
Miss  Ella  Van  Auken.  a  native  of  Iowa,  and  they  have  one  child,  Francis 
Charles,  who  was  born  in  Allegan  May  18,  1897.  Mr,  Davison  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Foresters  and  is  a  rising  young  man  held  in  high  esteem  because 
of  his  activity  in  support  of  many  public  progressive  measures  and  his  well- 
known  devotion  to  the  general  good.  His  paper  has  been  a  success  and  is  a 
credit  to  the  village  which  he  represents. 

The  first  paper  at  Otsego  was  the  Otsego  Courier,  and  likewise  the 
first  Republican  newspaper  in  the  county.  -It  wa.s  established  in  1855,  just 
after  the  rise  of  the  Republican  party  to  power  in  the  state.  It  was  founded 
for  political  purposes,  being  an  offshoot  of  the  Kalamazoo  Telegraph,  the 
publisher  being  George  A.  Fitch  of  that  paper  and  the  material  being  ob- 
tained from  the  Telegraph  plant.  With  the  establishment  of  the  Allegan 
Journal  in  1856  party  patronage  ceased  to  come  to  the  Courier,  and  it  was 
soon  reabsorbed  in  the  newspaper  activities  of  Kalamazoo. 


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540  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

The  Otsego  Herald  was  founded  in  1865  by  George  W.  I^arks  and 
lasted  four  years,  during  which  time  a  number  of  men  otherwise  connected 
with  Allegan  -county  journalism  were  in  its  management.  It  was  never  suc- 
cess fully  revived  after  1869. 

The  Allegan  County  Record  succeeded  the  Herald  in  the  same  office 
in  1869,  though  with  an  entirely  new  plant.  This  little  Republican  paper 
was  published  by  H.  E.  J.  Clute,  and  in  September,  1870,  E.  C.  Reid  became 
a  partner  in  the  enterprise.  The  paper  was  discontinued  in  May.  1871,  and 
Otsego  had  no  regular  paper  for  several  years. 

The  history  of  the  Otsego  Union,  which  was  founded  by  C.  H.  Harris 
and  V.  \.  Campbell,  its  first  number  being  issued  August  2,  1875,  is  con- 
tinued to  date  and  detailed  in  the  sketch  of  George  R.  Brown,  its  proprietor. 

No  better  criterion  of  the  character  of  a  town  can  be  obtained  than  its 
newspapers,  which  reflect  the  wideawake  and  enterprising  spirit  of  the 
community  or  indicate  its  apathy  and  lack  of  ambition  and  desire  for  ad- 
vancement. The  newspaper,  too,  is  often  the  stimulus  of  the  growth  and 
development  of  a  community.  The  Otsego  Umon  is  of  this  type.  George 
R.  Brown,  owner  and  publisher,  is  a  native  son  of  Micliigan,  having  been 
born  in  Williamston  in  1866.  His  parents  were  George  W.  and  Avis 
(Hunker)  Brown,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  New  York,  and  are  now 
deceased.  The  father  was  superintendent  of  schools  in  Ingham  county, 
Michigan,  and  at  the  time  of  the  old  school  system  held  that  office  in  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  state.  In  the  family  were  iive  children:  Charles  F.,  who 
for  twenty  years  was  engaged  in  the  publication  of  a  newspaper  at  Alma, 
Michigan,  where  he  is  now  serving  as  postmaster;  Fred  L.,  a  resident 
farmer  of  Delton,  Michigan;  George  R.,  of  this  review;  Edwin  E.,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  newspaper  business  at  Morenci,  Michigan ;  and  Lou  Belle, 
who  is  with  her  brother  George  in  the  office  of  the  Otsego  Union. 

CJeorge  R.  Drown  was  educated  in  the  place  of  his  nativity  and  after 
reaching  manhood  he  worked  upon  the  home  farm,  while  later  he  learned 
the  printer's  trade  at  Sheridan,  Michigan,  in  the  office  of  the  Ndvs,  think- 
ing to  find  journalism  a  more  congenial  occupation  than  agricultural  pur- 
suits. Subsequently  he  was  connected  with  Iiis  brother  in  the  newspaper 
work  at  Alma,  Michigan,  and  afterward  became  foreman  of  the  Grand 
Ledge  Independent,  with  which  he  was  connected  for  three  years.  He 
then  joined  his  brother,  Edwin  E.  Brown,  and  leased  the  Flushing  Obseriier, 
at  Flushing,  Michigan,  which  they  conducted  for  two  years,  when  they 
purchased  the  Otsego  Union  in  April,  1893,  and  began  its  publication  under 
the  firm  style  of  Brown  Brothers,  which  relation  was  maintained  until 
1897,  when  George  R.  Brown  purchased  his  brother's  interest  and  has  since 
been  sole  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  paper.  This  is  a  good  country  news- 
paijer,  devoted  to  local  interests  and  the  dissemination  of  general  news,  and 
during  Mr.  Brown's  connection  therewith  the  patronage  in  both  the  circu- 
lation and  advertising  departments  has  greatly  increased.  He  is  also  a 
stockholder  in  the  Eady  Shoe  Factory  and  is  secretary  of  the  Otsego  Cream- 
ery Company,  having  thus  been  identified  with  the  latter  enterprise  for  four 
years. 

Mr.  Brown  is  a  stalwart  Republican  in  his  political  belief  and  has 
served  as  township  clerk  of  Otsego  township  for  nine  terms,  being  the  in- 
cumbent at  the  present  writing.       Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  541 

Knights  of  i'ythias  and  the  Maccabees.  In  1891,  at  Grand  Ledge,  Michi- 
gan, he  was  married  to  Miss  Pet  Fornian,  a  native  of  that  place,  and  they 
now  have  one  son,  George  Fonnan,  who  was  born  in  Otsego.  The  family 
attend  the  Methodist  church  and  are  prominent  socially,  while  the  hospi- 
tality of  their  own  pleasant  home  is  greatly  enjoyed  by  the  many  friends 
whom  they  have  met  during  the  years  of  their  residence  in  Otsego. 


The  first  newspaper  published  in  Plainwell  was  a  small  four-page  paper 
entitled  the  X-'lainwell  Express,  which  lasted  only  thirteen  weeks  during 
1868. 

The  next  attempt  was  the  Plainwell  Republic,  started  February  10, 
1871,  by  Jerome  Winchell,  editor,  and  H.  S.  Warren,  associate.  The  next 
year  the  firm  became  Winchell  and  (C.  H.)  Hickok.  May  25,  1876,  George 
Scales  published  the  first  number  of  the  Plainwell  hidependent,  and  a  year 
later  bought  out  the  rival  paper  and  consolidated  tlie  two  as  the  Independent 
Republic.  The  local  newspaper  office  in  those  days  furnished  an  ainirable 
training  school  for  the  bright  bo>s  of  the  village,  several  of  whom  became 
all-around  newspaper  men,  among  them  being  G.  H.  Hickok,  F,  F.  Patter- 
son, T.  Hurle)',  C.  A.  Brakeman,  L.  G.  Graves,  J.  S.  Madden,  and  otliers. 
In  1880  the  palmer  resumed  its  old  title  of  the  Plainwell  Independent,  with 
A.  C.  Roberts  editor  and  F.  F.  Patterson  business  manager.  Mr.  Scales, 
though  retaining  his  interest  in  the  Independent,  was  at  that  time  conduct- 
ing the  Democratic  paper  in  Allegan,  but  a  year  later  returned  to  active 
management  of  the  Otsego  pa^jer  and  continued  it  until  1892,  when  the 
paper  was  discontinued. 

The  Plainwell  Leader  was  started  in  May,  1884,  by  T.  M.  Sheriff. 
C.  A.  Brakeman,  at  first  the  local  editor,  became  proprietor  of  the  paper 
after  the  first  year,  but  after  another  year  sold  the  plant,  which  was  ab- 
sorbed in  part  by  the  Independent  and  in  part  by  Graves  and  Eesley,  job 
printers. 

Within  two  weeks  after  the  sale  of  the  Leader  appeared  the  initial  num- 
ber of  the  Plainwell  Enterprise,  February  10,  1886,  published  by  Wilson 
and  Mann,  with  J.  S.  Madden  as  local  editor.  In  July  Mr.  Wilson  retired 
from  the  firm,  and  on  January  1,  1887,  the  Maddens,  father  and  son,  pur- 
chased the  outfit  and  have  continued  its  publication  successfully  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  Mr.  Madden  is  an  enterprising  newspaper  man,  introducing  many 
novel  and  interesting  features  into  his  columns,  and  is  extremely  desirous  of 
recording  faitlifully  the  progress  of  his  village  and  county. 

The  Plainwell  Xei(^,  the  only  paper  published  twice  a  week  in  the 
county,  was  established  in  March,  1899,  Misses  Lillian  and  Ida  Klock  being 
editors  and  publishers.  It  was  soon  changed  to  a  semi-weekly,  and  in 
1905  was  sold  to  G.  S.  Lasher,  the  present  publisher  and  editor.  A 
"Woman's  Edition"  of  the  Plainwell  Kexvs,  published  April  13,  1906,  was  an 
historical  ninnber  of  much  value,  and  from  it  much  has  been  obtained  to 
supplement  the  accounts  of  Plainwell  in  this  history. 

.A  Little  History. 

The  Saugatuck  Commercial  was  established  July  9,  1868,  by  Dr.  A.  H. 
Pattee,  who  published  it  under  that  name  till  July  11,  1870,  when  E.  Perry 


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5-19  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

took  charge  anri  nained  it  the  Lake  Shore  CovimerciaJ.  Fehruary  7,  1873, 
finds  Myron  W.  Tarbox  in  charge  and  January  29,  1875,  C,  M.  Winslow, 
who  afterwards  started  the  Douglas  Record.  Following  these  came  Mark- 
ham  and  Wasson  in  1877,  and  Byron  Markham  the  same  year,  then  Mark- 
ham  and  Wasson  again  in  1878;  but  before  the  year  was  over  Charles  W. 
Wasson  managed  the  business  alone  till  May  2,  1879.  when  Mrs.  Lena 
Woodhull  was  associated  with  Charles  F.  Wasson  as  editor.  Then  in 
January,  1880.  Mrs.  Woodhull  took  charge  alone  and  ran  the  business  till 
March,  1882.  when  the  firm  was  Woodhull  and  Wade,  but  Adrian  Hout- 
kamp  took  it  in  April  of  1882,  and  at  the  end  of  1885  discontinued  it  for  a 
few  weeks,  but  finally  Fred  Wade  bought  the  plant  and  began  business.  He 
published  it  until  September  2,  1898,  when  he  sold  out  to  William  P.  Dun- 
ton,  who  bought  the  subscription  list  of  the  Douglas  Record,  and  April  11, 
igo2,  the  first  issue  of  the  Commercial-Record  was  published.  On  Decem- 
ber I,  1902,  Otis  O.  Hauke  bought  the  plant  and  April  i,  1903.  Ashley  D. 
Rowe  was  taken  in  partnership,  but  this  partnership  was  dissolved  the  lat- 
ter part  of  November,  1903.  and  Otis  O.  Hauke  took  charge.  He  issues  a 
very  excellent  paper,  containing  news  and  promoting  the  best  interests  of 
the  entire  Lake  Shore  vicinity. 

The  Hopkins  Times  is  now  in  its  first  year.  Its  publication  was  begun 
in  April,  1906,  and  G.  O.  Currey  is  its  publisher.  The  paper  is  devoted  to 
the  interests  of  Hopkins  and  vicinity  and  its  columns  teem  with  news. 

Before  the  establishment  of  the  Saturday  Globe  at  Wayland  in  1884 
several  had  tried  that  field  unsuccessfully.  The  Wayland  Neifs  was  estab- 
lished in  1870  and  continued  about  two  years.  This  was  followed  by  the 
Venture,  of  short  duration,  and  in  1876  the  Wayland  Courier  entered  upon 
its  short  career. 

The  Saturday  Globe  was  established  in  September.  1884,  and  edited 
by  Mr.  G.  A.  Mosher  until  January,  1906.  It  was  first  called  the  Wayland 
Globe,  and  afterwards  changed  to  the  Saturday  Globe,  by  which  name  it 
went  till  sold  to  F.  C.  Wing,  who  changed  the  name  back  to  the  Wayland 
Globe,  also  enlarging  the  paper  from  seven  columns,  four  pages,  to  six  col- 
umns, eight  pages,  installing  a  new  press  and  making  various  other  im- 
provements. 

Fay  C.  Wing,  who  is  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Wayland  Globe,  came 
into  possession  of  this  paper  on  the  22d  of  January,  1906.  He  purchased 
the  paper  from  its  former  proprietor,  George  A.  Mosher,  who  established 
it  and  conducted  it  with  marked  ability  from  September  25,  1884,  until 
January.  1906.  The  paper  has  from  the  beginning  been  classed  among  the 
best  in  the  county  and  a  liberal  policy  will  be  maintained  by  Mr.  Wing, 
who  is  thoroughly  conversant  with  the  business  and  is  recognized  as  a  man 
of  excellent  business  capacity  and  enterprise. 

The  Fennville  Herald,  an  independent  journal  was  established  in  1892 
by  Mr.  Charles  E.  Bassett,  who  is  still  its  sole  proprietor.  The  paper,  being 
published  in  the  center  of  a  large  commercial  faiit  district,  and  Mr.  Bassett 
being  secretary  of  the  Michigan  State  Horticultural  Society,  much  space  is 
devoted  to  practical  fruit  culture.  In  the  editing  of  the  Herald  Mr.  Bassett 
is  ably  assisted  by  his  wife,  formerly  Miss  Carrie  E.  Kingsley,  whom  he 
married  when  he  started  the  Herald— hoth  ventures  having  been  highly 
successful.     They  have  one  daughter,  Marcia. 


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CHAPTER  XII. 
MEDICINE  AKD  SURGERY. 

The  history  of  Otsego  and  Gun  Plains  opens  with  the  enterprise  of 
two  physicians.  Dr.  Samuel  Foster  and  Dr.  Cyrenius  Thompson.  They  are 
deserving  of  mention  among  the  founders  if  not  the  founders  of  the  village 
of  Otsego  and  the  settlement  of  Gun  Plains,  and  were  active  workers  in  the 
affairs  of  those  places  through  their  pioneer  history.  But  neither  of  these 
men,  though  so  prominent  in  other  affairs,  took  an  active  part  as  medical 
practitioners  in  this  county. 

The  first  active  physician  was  Dr.  Linsford  B.  Coates.  of  Otsego,  a 
man  of  nnusual  versatility  and  power.  As  a  physician  he  rode  the  country 
for  miles  around,  attending  to  the  sick  and  distressed  and  from  his  saddle- 
bags furnishing  medical  relief  to  all  who  called  him.  Pioneer  doctoring  was 
a  simple  matter  in  comparison  with  modem  practice.  Yet  it  involved  hard- 
ships on  the  practitioner  that  are  almost  inconceivable  at  this  time..  There 
were  no  well-made  roads  over  which  to  find  the  way  by  horseback  at  night. 
The  patients  often  lived  twenty  miles  or  more  from  the  doctor's  home,  and 
there  were  no  telephones  to  summon  him  to  their  aid.  The  physician's  life 
was  one  of  constant  toil  and  anxiety,  and  yet  in  the  case  of  Dr.  Coates  he 
was  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  affairs  in  the  southeastern  part  of 
the  county. 

Successors  of  Dr.  Coates  in  his  part  of  the  county  were  Erastus  N. 
Upjohn,  the  first  resident  physician  in  Gun  Plains  excepting  Dr.  Thompson, 
and  who  practiced  from  1840  to  1855;  Dr.  Charles  W.  Hawley,  who  prac- 
ticed for  many  years  following  1850  in  Gun  Plains  and  vicinity  and  in  1875 
took  up  his  residence  at  Plainwell,  and  J.  D.  Peters,  who  began  practicing 
in  Otsego  in  i860  and  the  following  year  located  at  Plainwell. 

At  Allegan  the  first  physician  was  R.  M.  Bigelow,  who  was  here  from 
1836  to  1847,  but  the  one  best  remembered,  both  for  his  prominence  in  the 
profession  and  as  a  citizen,  was  Dr.  Osman  D.  Goodrich,  who  came  to  the 
village  in  March,  1836,  and  lived  here  until  his  death  in  1887,  He  was  the 
last  of  the  early  physicians  to  pass  away,  and  his  career  of  fifty  years  ranked 
him  among  the  foremost  of  the  pioneers.  His  early  practice,  like  that  of 
Dr.  Coates,  took  him  all  over  the  county,  on  most  arduous  horseback  rides 
from  one  home  to  another,  and  his  exertions  finally  broke  his  health  so  that 
he  was  compelled  to  return  to  the  east,  where  he  remained  ten  years.  In 
the  meantime  he  studied  medicine  in  the  homteopathic  school  and  on  his 
return  became  the  first  homceopath  in  this  county. 


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544 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


Another  prominent  physician  of  Allegan  was  Dr.  IL  S.  Lay,  who 
began  practice  in  the  village  in  1849  and  with  brief  exceptions  practiced  in 
the  county  over  thirty  years.  A  contemporary  of  his  was  Dr.  Abram  R. 
Calkins,  who  began  his  preparation  for  medicine  with  Dr.  Coates  at  Otsego  . 
and  after  graduation  from  a  medical  college  in  New  York  located  in 
Allegan  during  the  forties.  His  was  also  a  pioneer  practice,  and  for  thirty 
years  he  was  one  of  the  best  known  citizens  of  Allegan.  He  served  as  sur- 
geon in  the  Seventeenth  Michigan  Infantry  during  the  war  and  took  part 
in  local  politics  and  public  affairs.    He  died  in  Allegan  in  1873. 

Other  pioneer  physicians  of  the  county  who  deserve  mention  were  Dr, 
C.  C.  White,  of  Martin,  already  mentioned  as  a  pioneer  and  who,  like  Drs. 
Foster  and  Thompson,  was  more  active  in  developing  the  country  than  as  a 
physician,  and  Dr.  Chauncey  E.  Goodrich,  who  practiced  in  the  western 
part  of  tiie  county  from  1843  until  his  death  in  1879,  first  at  Saugatuck  and 
then  in  Ganges. 

The  practicing  physicians  of  Allegan  county  in  1880,  with  date  of  their 
location  where  known,  were  as  follows: 

Allegax. 


H.  S.  Lay,  1849. 
E.   Amsden,    1868. 
H.  F.  Thomas,  1869. 

W.  H.  P.iUs,  1872. 
F.  M.  Calkins.  1874. 
Charles  Russell,  1879. 

0.  D.  Goodrich,  183 
F.  R.  Hynes,  1877. 
A.  G.  Weeks. 

Plainwell. 

C.  W.  Hawley,   1853. 
J.  D,   Teters,   1S60. 

0.  E.  Yates, 
benjamin  Thompson. 

V.  E.  Rosenkrans, 

Otsego. 

Milton  Chase,  1867. 
John  H.  Fulton. 

S. 

W.  Thompson,  i86q. 
Martin, 

Wayland. 

Geo,  13,  Nichols,  185 

John  Graves,  1862. 
James  Ball.  1865, 

Douglas. 

A.  H.  Parks,  1879, 

Saugatuck, 

C.  E.  Davison,  1865. 
J,  IT.  Turner,  1870. 

H.  H.  Stinison.  1853. 

Hopkins. 

J.  B.  Cook,  1862. 

J.  H.  Luddington. 
N.  E.  Leighton. 

U,  R,  Fox. 
Lafayette  Stuck. 

C.  C.  Lindslcy. 

Salem, 

Dr,  Palmer. 

Theodore  Cole,  1870, 


Ganges. 
E.  E.  Brunson,  1875. 
Dorr. 
H.  P.  Evarts.  J,  H.  Smith. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


Drs.   Andrews  and  JNIeaghan. 

Ky  the  provisions  of  a  recent  law  tlie  county  clerk  keeps  a  register  of 
the  licensed  physicians  in  the  county.  Accordhig  to  this  record  (from 
which,  however,  some  names  are  missing)  the  Allegan  county  physicians, 
with  the  date  of  registration  of  each  and  residence,  are  as  follows: 

List  uf  Physicians. 

Date  of 
registration. 

May  26,  1905  Albright,  William  S.,  Allegan. 

May  15,  1905  Andruss,  William  H.,  Fennville. 

May  26,  1905  Bills.  W.  H.,  Allegan. 

May  15,  1905  Bachman,  Gustave,  Dorr. 

June  10,  1905  Boss,  Henry,  Fillmore  Centre. 

May  15,  1905  Burroughs,  Orrin  F.,  Plainwell. 

May    9,  1905  Bartholomew,  Earl,  Martin. 

May  12,  1905  Campbell,  James  D.,  Hopkins  Station. 

June     6,  1905  Clark.  L.  E..  Otsego. 

June     6,  1905  Chase.  Milton,  Otsego. 

June     6,  1905  Chase,  Sarah  T.,  Otsego. 

June    6,  1905  Crosby,  John  H..  Otsego. 

May  15,  1905  Dreyer,  Adolph  E..  Moline. 

May  19,  1905  De  Vries,  legor,  Overisel. 

June  10,  1905  Fortnine.  Hemian  A.,  Overisel. 

May  12.  1905  Fisher,  Peter  H..  Hamilton. 

May  15,  1905  Hazlewood.  Arthur,  Plainwell, 

May  18.  1905  Heasley.  H.  W.,  Salem. 

April  21.  1905  Hanton,  Edward  O..  Wayland. 

May  12.  1905  Leighton,  N.  E.,  Hopkins  Station. 

ATay    9,  1905  Ladd,  Lewis  F..  Martin. 

May  20,   1905  Mowers,  John  H.,  Fennville. 

May    9.  1905  Nichols,  George  B.,  Martin. 

May  26,  1905  Osmun.  E.  D.,  Allegan. 

May  15,  1905  Onontyhio,  Peter,  Plainwell. 

May  II,  1905  Peppier,  Julius  F.,  Laketown. 

May  26,  1905  Palmer.  George  C,  Bumips  Corners. 

May  26,  1905  Rowe,  W.  E.,  Allegan. 

May     5,  1905  Rigterink,  George  H.,  Hamilton, 

May  26,  1905  Stuck.  L.  F.,  Allegan. 

May  15,  1905  Stuck,  Cicero  M.,  Plainwell. 

May  15.  1905  Shephard.  Benjamin  A.,  Plainwell. 

May   15,  1905  Sessions,  Edwin  D.,  Fennville. 

Jiuie     7,  1905  Stinson,  H.  H.,  Saugatuck. 

May  26,  1905  Taylor,  G.  G.,  Allegan. 

May  26,  1905  Thomas,  Henry  F.,  Allegan. 

June    6,  1905  Thompson,  S.  W.,  Otsego. 

June     7,  1905  Trieber,  L.  P.,  Douglas. 


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546  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

May  15,  1905  Turner,  Horace  J.,  Waylaiid. 

June    6,  1905  Van  Horn,  Leander  T.,  Otsego. 

June    6,  1905  Van  Horn,  A.  L.,  Otsego. 

June    6,  1905  Woolsey,  Frederick  E.,  Plainwell. 

May  12,  1905  Wicks,  A.  H.,  Hopkins  Station. 

June    6,  1905  Whitney,  Howard  E.,  Otsego. 

June    7,  1905  Walker,  E.  J.,  Saugatuck. 


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CHAPTER  XTII. 
COURTS  AND  LAWYERS. 

Judge  Philip  Padgham,  in  his  address  at  the  laying  of  the  corner- 
stone of  the  court  house  in  1889,  described  the  judicial  system  of  Michigan 
as  it  pertained  to  this  county,  and  the  following  paragraphs  are  quoted  from 
that  address : 

"Under  the  constitution  of  1835  the  judicial  power  was  vested  in  the 
supreme  court  and  such  other  courts  as  the  legislature  might  from  time  to 
time  establish.  The  judges  of  the  stipreme  court  were  nominated  and 
appointed  by  the  governor  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  senate.  The 
supreme  court  as  thus  constituted  was  composed  of  one  chief  justice  and 
three  associate  justices.  The  court  was  held  at  different  places  in  the 
state,  as  follows ;  Twice  each  year  at  Detroit,  twice  each  year  at  the  vil- 
lage of  Ann  Arbor,  once  each  year  at  Kalamazoo,  and  once  each  year  at 
Pontiac.  When  sitting  at  Kalamazoo  it  exercised  appellate  jurisdiction  in 
all  suits  and  cases  originating  in  the  counties  of  Branch,  St.  Joseph,  Cass, 
Berrien,  Van  Buren,  Kalamazoo,  Calhoun  and  Allegan. 

"Under  this  constitution  also  there  was  a  separate  court  of  chancery, 
and  the  powers  of  that  court  were  vested  in  the  chancellor.  There  were 
three  chancery  circuits  in  the  state,  the  third  circuit  being  composed  of  the 
counties  of  Branch,  St.  Joseph,  Cass,  Berrien,  Van  Buren,  Kalamazoo,  Cal- 
houn, Kent,  Ionia  and  Allegan.  The  sittings  of  this  court  were  held  for 
the  third  circuit  in  Kalamazoo  twice  in  each  year. 

"The  state  was  further  divided  into  four  judicial  circuits  for  the  pur- 
pose of  holding  circuit  courts.  Allegan  county  was  in  the  third  circuit. 
These  circuit  courts  were  held  in  the  several  counties  and  were  presided 
over  by  one  of  the  judges  of  the  supreme  court  and  two  associate  judges 
resident  in  the  county. 

"By  an  act  of  the  legislature  approved  April  2,  1848,  the  supreme  court 
was  made  to  consist  of  five  judges,  and  it  was  by  the  same  act  made  their 
duty  to  divide  the  state  into  five  judicial  circuits,  the  fifth  circuit  to  be 
made  up  of  counties  in  the  Grand  River  section,  thus  -bringing  Allegan 
county  into  the  fifth  circuit. 

"In  the  year  1851  the  state,  by  an  act  of-the  legislature  approved  April 
8  of  that  year,  was  again  divided  into  eight  judicial  circuits,  Allegan  county 
remaining  in  the  fifth  circuit,  which  was  composed  of  the  counties  of  Cal- 
houn, Kalamazoo,  Eaton,  Van  Buren  and  Allegan. 

"Allegan  remained  in  the  fifth  circuit  from  1851  to  1858,  when  the 
state  was  divided  into  ten  judicial  circuits,  Allegan  county  being  set  off 


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548  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

into  the  ninth  circuit.  This  was  composed  of  the  following  organized 
counties;  Allegan,  Ottawa,  Newaygo,  Oceana,  Mason,  Manistee,  Manitou 
and  Grand  Traverse,  and  the  unorganized  counties  of  Emmet,  Charlevoix, 
Antrim,  Kalkaska,  Wexford,  Missaukee,  Lake,  Mecosta  and  Osceola. 
(Muskegon  county  was  added  to  the  ninth  circuit  in  1859.) 

"By  act  of  the  legislature,  approved  February  15,  1867,  the  ninth  cir- 
cuit was  reorganized,  being  then  composed  of  the  counties  of  Allegan, 
Kalamazoo  and  Van  Buren.  These  three  counties  formed  the  ninth  judicial 
circuit  until  1873,  when  Allegan  was  joined  with  Ottawa  county  and  the 
two  formed  into  one  judicial  circuit,  designated  as  the  twentieth  judicial 
circuit,  as  which  it  remains  to  this  time. 

"The  first  session  of  the  circuit  court  for  Allegan  county  opened  on 
November  7,  1836.  Neither  of  the  judges  being  present  on  that  day,  the 
sheriff  adjourned  the  court  until  the  next  morning  at  ten  o'clock,  at  which 
time  Hon.  Epaphroditus  Ransom,  circuit  judge,  and  Elisha  Ely  and  John 
Anderson,  associate  judges,  were  present.  The  court  was  opened  in  due 
form." 

Since  its  organization  in  Allegan  county  the  circuit  court  has  been  pre- 
sided over  by  the  following  named  judges: 

1836-48 — Epaphroditus  Ransom. 
1849-51— Charles  W.  Whipple. 
1852-56— Abner  Pratt. 
1858-69— F,  J.  Littlejohn. 
1869-73 — Charles  R.  Brown.' 
1874 — John  W.  Stone." 
1875-1892 — Dan  J,  Arnold.^ 
1892 — Hannibal  Hart. 
1893-1912 — Philip  Padgham. 

The  portraits  of  Judges  Littlejohn  and  Arnold  now  adorn  the  circuit 
court  room,  the  first  having  been  donated  by  the  artist,  J.  Krumbine,  of  Al- 
legan, and  the  latter  by  members  of  the  bar. 

An  obsolete  adjunct  of  the  early  judicial  system  were  the  associate 
judges.  Judge  Padgham  thus  describes  them  in  the  address  already  quoted: 
"The  associate  judges  (or  side  judges  as  they  were  sometimes  called)  were 
two  in  number,  and  were  residers  of  the  county  wherein  they  were  elected. 
They  were  not  required  to  be  lawyers.  They  were  undoubtedly  elected  to 
add  dignity  to  the  bench,  which  they  very  Hkely  did,  as  they  had  plenty  of 
time  and  leisure  to  do  so.  They  knew  no  law  and  took  no  part  in  the  judi- 
cial proceedings.  .  ,  .  The  constitution  of  1850  changed  this  matter  in 
providing  for  the  election  of  one  circuit  judge  in  each  circuit,  and  since  that 
time  the  kind  and  benevolent  old  faces  of  the  associate  judges  were  not  seen 
occupying  a  place  in  the  legal  tribunals." 


'  Appointed   1869,   vice   Judgp   Littlejohn  resignefl 

'Eesigned   NovemlDer,   1874,   D.  J.   Arnold  serving  by  appointment  until  Nnvemlier, 
1S75,  when  elected  for  full  term. 

'  Died  April,  ^^9.2.     Hannibal  Hart  appointed   to    serve   tOl   December   31,    1392. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY  549 

Associate  Judges. 

1836— Elisha  Ely,  John  Anderson. 
1841 — John  Anderson,  John  R.  Kellogg. 
1845— John  Anderson,  John  R.  Kellogg. 

County  Courts. 

The  county  court,  of  interinediate  powers  between  the  courts  held  by 
the  justices  of  the  peace  and  the  circuit  courts,  was  an  institution  of  justice 
in  Allegan  county  during  the  latter  forties.  The  original  county  court  was 
established  in  Michigan  territory  in  1815,  but  was  abolished  in  the  organ- 
ized counties  of  the  territory  in  April,  1833.  The  institution  was  revived  in 
1846  and  continued  until  its  final  abolition  in  the  constitution  of  the  state 
adopted  in  1850.  However,  the  schedule  of  the  constitution  provided  for  a 
continuance  of  the  jurisdiction  of  the  county  court  not  later  than  January 
I,  1852,  when  the  circuit  court  should  assume  all  its  unfinished  business. 
The  tenn  of  the  county  judge  being  fixed  at  four  years,  there  were  two  sets 
of  these  judges  elected  in  Allegan  county,  the  first  elected  in  November, 
1846.  and  the  second  elected  in  November,  1850,  and  continuing  until  the 
final  adjournment  of  their  courts.  Two  judges  were  elected  in  each 
county,  being  known  as  "first"  and  "second"  judges.  The  first  session  of 
the  county  court  was  held  in  Allegan,  April  5,  1847.  ^nd  adjourned  sine  die 
because  it  found  no  business  before  it. 

County  Judces, 

1847 — Henry  TT.  ISooth,  first  judge;   Eber  Sherwood,  second  judge. 
1851 — Abran!  T.  Dcdrick,  first  judge:    Abrain  Hoag,  second  Judge. 

AuxGAN  County  Bar. 

The  bar  of  Allegan  county  has  a  history  extending  over  seventy  years, 
dating  back  to  November  8.  1836,  when  G.  Y.  Warner  was  admitted  to 
practice.  He  took  up  his  residence  at  Allegan  before  that  date,  since  he  was 
one  of  the  bridegrooms  in  a  double  wedding  in  the  village  on  Christmas  day 
of  1835,  that  being  the  first  wedding  in  the  village.  There  was  very  little 
civil  or  criminal  practice  in  those  days,  and  lawyers  who  had  no  other  pur- 
suit risked  starvation  in  locating  in  a  pioneer  community.  At  the  first  ses- 
sion of  the  circuit  court,  held  in  Allegan  in  November.  1836,  the  grand  jury 
announced  that  no  business  was  submitted  to  them,  and  civil  case  No.  i, 
with  Isaac  Aldrich  appellee  and  William  Forbes  appellant,  was  continued 
till  the  next  term  of  court,  after  which  the  court  adjourned  sine  die. 

Practically  the  only  business  of  this  court  aside  from  the  formalities 
concerned  the  licensing  of  the  first  attorney.  The  record  reads  as  follows: 
"George  Y.  Warner  made  application  to  the  court  to  be  admitted  as  an 
attorney  and  counselor  at  law.  and  having  produced  satisfactory  evi<lence 
to  the  court  that  he  had  been  regidarly  admitted  as  an  attorney  and  coun- 
selor at  law  in  the  states  of  Tennessee,  Georgia  and  Virginia,  and  has  been 
in  the  practice  of  law  in  the  said  states  during  the  period    of   two   years 


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550  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

previous  to  his  application  for  admission,  that  he  is  of  good  character  and 
has  sustained  the  character  of  an  able  and  fair  practitioner,  and  that  he 
actually  resides  in  this  state,  was  admitted  to  an  examination,  and  .  .  . 
on  such  examination  had,  the  said  judges  being  of  opinion  that  he  is  quali- 
fied and  is  of  good  moral  character,  it  is  ordered  that  he  take  and  subscrihe 
the  oath  of  office,  and  that  the  clerk  of  this  court  record  the  admission  of 
George  Y.  Warner.  Whereupon  the  said  George  Y.  Warner  appeared  in 
court  and  took  and  subscribed  the  oath  prescribed  by  law." 

The  second  resident  lawyer  was  Hon.  Flavius  J.  Littlejohn,  whose 
prominent  career  in  political,  judicial  and  business  life  causes  his  name  to 
be  frequently  mentioned  in  these  pages.  He  was  a  resident  here  from 
1836,  but  his  early  activity  was  directed  more  to  official  business  and  the 
affairs  of  the  village  than  to  legal  practice. 

Hovey  K.  Clark,  who  died  at  Detroit  in  July,  i88g,  aged  seventy-seven 
years,  and  who  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers  and  political 
leaders  of  Michigan,  practically  began  his  career  in  Allegan.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  here  in  1837,  when  twenty-five  years  old,  and  was 
identified  with  the  Boston  and  Allegan  companies,  being  cashier  of  their 
Allegan  Bank,  an  institution  described  on  other  pages.  His  name  is  signed 
in  his  official  capacity  to  some  of  the  bank  notes  issued  by  this  concern. 

Other  early  lawyers  were  DeWitt  C.  Chapin,  at  one  time  probate  judge ; 
Theodore  Chapin,  Robert  Goble,  Gilbert  Moyers  and  Henry  C.  Stoughton. 
men  of  more  or  less  consequence  in  affairs  as  well  as  in  the  law.  The  last 
two  were  officers  in  the  Civil  war.  In  early  days,  much  more  than  is  the 
case  now,  lawyers  from  the  older  and  more  populous  counties  attended  to 
the  legal  business  of  clients  in  Allegan  county.  The  lawyers  used  to  ride  on 
horseback  from  one  county  to  another  on  the  large  circuit,  put  up  at  the 
hotel  and  attend  the  session  of  court.  They  used  to  tell  stories  and  have 
jolly  social  times,  and  circuit  court  sessions  were  more  of  an  event  than  they 
are  now.  The  peregrinations  of  the  circuit  court  were  accompanied  by  a 
large  force  of  lawyers,  and  it  thus  happened  that  many  lawyers  from  adjoin- 
ing counties  became  almost  as  well  known  professionally  in  this  county  as 
the  few  who  had  their  residence  here. 

The  late  William  B.  Williams,  who.se  career  on  the  bench  and  in  pub- 
lic affairs  entitled  him  to  a  foremost  place  among  Allegan  county's  citizens 
of  the  last  century,  began  practice  in  Allegan  in  1855,  ranking  second  in 
seniority  to  Judge  Littlejohn,  and  from  1880  until  his  death  being  the 
Nestor  of  the  county  bar.  A  contemporary  of  his  was  Elisha  B.  Bassett, 
who  had  been  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1849,  and  was  a  figure  in  official  and 
civic  life  at  the  middle  of  the  century. 

During  the  years  following  the  location  of  Judge  Williams  at  Allegan 
many  well-known  names  were  added  to  the  county  bar.  The  list  of  attor- 
nej'S  of  Allegan  county  since  1855,  in  order  of  their  admission  to  the  bar, 
have  been : 

Joseph  Thew,  1857.  W.  W.  Warner,  1871. 

Elisha  Belcher.  Bronson  Shoonmaker,  1873. 

Geo.  H.  House,  1858.  John  H.  Padgham,  1873. 

W.  C.  Edsell.  1858.  W.  A.  Woodworth,  1874. 

Silas  Stafford.  1859.  Lyman  H.  Babbitt,  1874. 

John  N.  York,  1859.  O'gden  Tomlinson,  1874. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


J.  M.  Eaton,  1876. 
Richard  L.  Newnham,  1876. 

E.  J.  Anderson,  1876. 

F.  S.  Donaldson. 
J.  Lee  Potts.  1876. 
Hiram  B.  Hudson,  1876. 
Jolm  E.  Babbitt,  1876. 
George  F.  Pecli,  1877. 
Frank  P..  Lay,  1878. 
Dion  i-I.  Pope,  1879. 

C.  T.  Bennett. 
C.  L.  Bailey. 
C.  R.  Browneli. 
W.  B.  Garvin. 

E.  D.  Barry. 

F.  H.  Williams. 
CM.  Humphrey. 
R.  M.  Parlin. 
William  Connell. 

E.  O.  Brien. 
C.  R.  Wilkes. 

F.  E.  Fish. 
W.  E.  Rvan. 


James  F.  Stuck,  i860. 
Levi  M.  Comstock,  i860. 
B.  F.  Travis,  i860. 
R.  B.  Coles,  i860. 
Henry  C.  Briggs,  1861. 
B.  D.  Pritchard,  1861. 
Francis  X.  Ward,  1861. 
John  W.  Stone,  1862. 
L.  L.  Crosby,  1862. 
Alfred  Wallin,  1863. 
H.  N.  Averill,  1865. 
Johnson  Parsons,  1865. 
A.  H.  Chandler,  1866. 
P.  A.  Latta,  1866. 
John  P.  Hoyt,  1867. 
J.  B.  Humphrey,  1868. 
Philip  Padgham,  1868. 
Frank  Bracehn,  1868. 
E.  B.  Grover,  1868. 
Albert  H.  Fenn,  1868. 
Tacob  V.  Rogers.  1868. 
E.  D.  Steele,  1868. 
Daniel  Earle,  1870. 
M.  D.  Wilbur.  1871. 

Kot  more  than  a  third  of  this  entire  list  were  active  in  the  practice  of 
the  county. 

The  practicing  attorneys  of  Allegan  county,  as  shown  by  the  court 
calendar  for  1905,  with  their  place  of  residence,  are: 


Philip     Padgham,     Circuit    Judge, 
Allegan. 

E.  D.  Pritchard,  Allegan. 
H.  H.  Pope,  Allegan. 
Ethol  W.  Stone,  Allegan. 
W.  W.  Warner,  Allegan. 
C.  R.  Wilkes,  Allegan. 

F.  E.  Fish.  Allegan. 

F.  H.  Williams,  Allegan. 
Ira  C.  Montague,  Allegan. 
M.  B.  Moore,  Allegan. 
A.  S.  Butler,  Allegan. 
W.  H.  Dorgan,  Allegan. 
PerleL.  Fouch,  Allegan. 


Charles  Thew,  Allegan. 
C.  E.  Hoffman,  Allegan. 
Lewis  L.  Thompson,  Allegan. 
Orien  S.  Cross,  Allegan. 
Fred  I.  Chichester,  Allegan. 
A.  B.  Tucker,  Otsego, 
Grant  N.  Gilbert,  Otsego. 
Ogden  Tomlinson,  Plainwell. 
E.  J.  Anderson,  Plainwell. 
W.  A.  Woodworth,  Saugatuck. 
Theodore  Wade,  Fennville. 
William  R.  Gardner,  Fennville. 
David  Stockdale,  Way  land. 
John  B.  Stockdale,  Wayland. 


Joseph  Thew.  father  of  the  present  attorney,  held  office  of  circuit  court 
commissioner  upwards  of  thirty  years  until  his  death.  He  was  a  legal 
student  of  wide  learning  and  had  a  broad  knowledge  of  public  men  and 
lawyers  of  national  prominence. 

W.  C.  Edsell  was  not  an  active  lawyer,  being  prominent  in  banking 
and  serving  in  the  state  senate. 


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553  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Silas  Stafford  was  Philip  Padgham's  first  partner,  and  was  prosecut- 
ing attorney  during  the  war, 

Janies  F,  Stuck  was  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Pope  and  Stuck  until  he 
left  for  the  west.     He  excelled  in  chancery  practice. 

Henry  C.  Eriggs,  once  county  clerk,  went  to  Kalamazoo  in  the  seven- 
ties, and  is  now  referee  in  bankruptcy  for  this  district. 

General  B.  D.  Pritchard,  who  was  admitted  in  1861  and  became  a 
partner  of  W.  B.  Williams  soon  after  going  to  the  war,  has  made  a  record 
ill  banking  more  than  in  the  law,  his  career  being  described  elsewhere. 

John  W.  Stone,  county  clerk,  prosecuting  attorney  and  partner  of 
Judge  Arnold,  was  a  leading  lawyer  and  was  circuit  judge  imtil  he  resigned 
and  located  in  Grand  Rapids.  He  served  two  terms  in  Congress,  was  then 
federa'  district  attorney,  and  is  now  living  in  Marquette,  Michigan,  where 
he  is  circuit  judge. 

Johnson  Parsons  came  here  as  a  lawyer  and  after  practicing  a  few 
years  with  success,  died  in  Allegan. 

J.  B,  Humphrey,  of  the  firm  of  Humphrey  and  Williams,  served  as 
probate  judge  and  then  served  as  assistant  state  treasurer,  after  which  he 
located  at  Ironwood,  Michigan.    He  died  at  Holland. 

Albert  H.  Fenn  was  a  leading  criminal  lawyer  of  the  county  for  some 
years,  being  eloquent  as  an  advocate. 

J.  V.  Rogers  enjoyed  an  extensive  practice  in  the  county  for  some 
years. 

Philip  Padgham.  who  is  now  serving  his  third  term  as  circiiit  judge, 
will  at  the  close  of  his  term  have  held  the  office  longer  than  any  previous 
inciimbent.    He  has  been  in  practice  in  the  county  since  1868. 

W.  W,  Warner  has  been  in  practice  since  1871  and  has  given  particular 
attention  to  the  pension  business. 

J.  H.  Padgham,  a  nephew  of  Judge  Padgham,  now  in  Idaho  in  prac- 
tice, was  a  partner  of  Judge  Padgham  twelve  years. 

Ogden  Tomlinson  is  still  in  practice  at  Plainwell. 

Richard  L.  Newnham  held  office  as  circuit  court  commissioner,  was  a 
leading  citizen  of  Saugatuck.  and  finally  removing  to  Grand  Rapids,  was 
superior  court  judge  one  term. 

E.  J.  Anderson  is  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  bar,  with  good 
practice,  and  a  resident  of  Plainwell  throughout  his  career. 

H.  B.  Hudson  served  as  county  clerk  and  prosecuting  attorney. 

F.  H.  Williams  began  practice  with  his  father,  and  now  is  in  his  third 
term  as  probate  judge. 

C.  M.  Humphrey  is  a  son  of  Judge  Humphrey,  and  was  a  partner  of 
Judge  Padgham's  until  going  to  Ironwood,  where  he  is  now  city  attorney. 

C.  R.  Wilkes,  now  leading  lawyer  with  perhaps  the  largest  practice  in 
the  coiuity.  has  practiced  in  the  county  for  over  twenty-five  years.  He  has 
held  office  as  prosecuting  attorney  two  terms. 

F.  E.  Fish  has  enjoyed  a  large  practice  for  a  number  of  years,  and  was 
prosecuting  attorney  three  terms  during  the  local  option  regime. 

H.  H.  Pope,  of  Pope  and  Stuck,  Pope  and  Hart,  and  now  head  of  the 
firm  of  Pope,  Thew  and  Thompson,  has  enjoyed  a  good  practice  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  and  is  admittedly  one  of  the  thorough  and  able  lawyers  of  the 
county. 


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CHAPTER  XIV. 
POLITICS  IN  ALLEGAN'  COUNTY. 

Wlien  Allegan  county  became  an  independent  political  division  there 
were  two  national  parties  in  the  field — tJie  Democrats  and  the  Whigs.  To 
follow  the  lines  of  party  sentiment  as  it  was  manifested  in  the  selection  of 
county  officials  would  be  an  impossible  task.  Considerations  of  fitness  for 
office  and  personal  popularity  have  ahvavs  broken  partisan  lines.  Notwith- 
standing that  party  feeling  was  shown  with  more  passion  and  more  uncom- 
promisingly fift>'  and  seventy  years  ago  than  now,  popidation  was  less  and 
people  knew  their  neighbors  perhaps  better  than  they  do  now.  So  that 
while  the  party  banner  counted  for  more  then  than  now,  this  fact  was 
neutralized  in  local  politics  by  personal  considerations. 

Before  proceeding  with  the  details  of  county  politics  it  is  proper  to 
state  the  remarkable  difference  in  spirit  between  political  contests  of  this 
day  and  those  of  fifty  years  ago.  At  the  fall  election  of  1906,  when  fetleral, 
state  and  coimty  officers  were  chosen,  so  far  as  could  be  observed  there  was 
a  notable  absence  of  excitement  or  tension  among  the  people,  local  business 
went  on  as  usual,  and  if  the  surface  of  political  sentiment  was  disturbed  at 
all  it  was  due  to  the  remarkable  contest  in  New  York  state  rather  than  at 
home.  Of  old-time  ralHes  and  political  mass  meetings  there  were  none, 
and  the  few  meetings  held  about  the  county  were,  as  a  rule,  poorly  attended 
and  unenthusiastic. 

Going  back  lialf  a  century,  although  twenty-five  years  ago  the  condi- 
tions still  continued  to  a  large  degree,  we  find  a  political  campaign  to  be 
attended  with  very  different  features.  Partisan  discussion,  especially  in 
presidential  elections,  often  became  virulent,  and  passionate  invective  was 
as  frequent  as  calm  discussion.  There  was  less  discrimination  between  local 
and  national  politics,  and  the  candidate  for  local  office  had  to  bear  all  the 
denunciation  that  was  heaped  upon  his  party  in  general.  Processions,  bon- 
fires, crowded  meetings  rapt  to  enthusiasm  by  fiery  oratory,  tense  excite- 
ment for  several  weeks  before  election,  characterized  a  campaign  of  that 
period  and  made  it  one  of  the  most  notable  features  of  American  life. 

The  newspaper  and  the  quicker  diffusion  of  knowledge  have  undoubt- 
edly had  most  to  do  with  changing  politics  from  an  absorbing  excitemeait  to 
a  quietness  that  often  seems  apath\'.  The  newspaper  reporter  with  his 
"interviews"  and  summaries  of  speeches,  and  the  editor  with  his  printed 
logic,  reached  more  people  and  reached  them  more  convincingly  than  the 
campaign  orator,  so  that  now  the  average  citizen  sits  at  home  and  quietly 
forms  his  opinions  with  the  aid  of  newspapers.  As  a  result  flamboyant  cam- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


paign  oratsrj   is  ^  ing  out   and  bolid  lattb  a 
as  a  basis  for  judgment  ot  men  and  issues 


V  demanded  bj  the  \ 


I  niiiK 
Ha  rlsan   Vi  hig 
C  a  J     Wnla 
Xaylor    Whig 
bcott,    W  hlg 


Haj  es,  Keii 
(ja'fleld,  Kep 
Blaine     Hep 


18D<I     McKinley     Kep 


McLlellaa    Dem 


4    HI  llldeu    Dem 

4  SDd  Uancoik     Dem 

iOHU  LlevelBud    i>ufi  De 

d  U  K  cleieland,  Dem. 

4  233  (.leveland,  Dem. 


,   Jiep      5  5SJ    laker   Dem 


TES       F    ALIiGUAN    CU 

rrowbtidge  \Milg 
>  Woodbrldge  niiii 
Pitcher   \VWb 
6    J    Llttlejohn 
n  hig  and  IT  goit 
-■"  -     tthlg 


Bingham  Rep 
^V  Isuer  Kep 
rtlair    Rep 


Baldwin  Rep 
Bagley  Hfp 
Bagley  Rep 
CrMwell  Kep 
LroHwell     Kep 


2dJ     M  Clelland 


2  we 

2  610 


.    lllal     Lib 
I    Chamberlain    Dem 
I     Webbe      Dem 
i    Bb  nes    Dem 

Holloway   Dem 
:     Begole    I<    B 


Sllgh    bus 
Whiting    Dem 
Mnybucy    Dem 


3  46       Duran  I 


3  a^T  1  roh  L 

2  034  Prohib 

8  883  Prohlb 

3 136  Prohlb 


Woo  (6r  to      Far 


The  conspicuous  fact  and  one  that  is  famihar  to  the  residents  of  the 
coiintv  is  that  Alleg;an  county  has  been,  with  a  brief  exception,  safely  Whig 
and  RepubHcan  for  nearly  seventy  years.     It  is  somewhat  surprising  that 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  555 

all  the  votes  of  the  county  were  given  to  tlie  Democratic  candidate,  Van 
Biiren,  in  1836,  and  none  to  Harrison,  the  Whig,  But  in  the  "log  cabin  and 
hard  cider  campaign"  of  1840  the  same  candidate  obtained  a  majority  of 
eighty  ont  of  less  than  five  hundred  votes.  In  1848  Taylor,  the  Whig,  was 
a  rather  weak  candidate  throughout  the  county,  while  Cass,  the  Democrat, 
drew  a  large  Michigan  vote  on  account  of  his  previous  prominence  in 
Michigan  politics,  and  he  obtained  a  small  plurality  in  this  county.  At  this 
election  the  Free  Soilers  show  a  surprising  gain.  In  1843  Birney,  the  first 
candidate  for  governor  on  anti-salvery  principles,  obtained  only  three  votes 
in  the  county,  whereas  five  years  later  one  hundred  and  seventy-four  votes 
were  given  to  the  movement.  That  the  sentiment  of  the  county  at  that  time 
inclined  rather  to  Democracy  than  the  decadent  Whig  party  or  the  radical 
Free  Soilers  is  shown  by  the  gubernatorial  election  of  1849,  when  F.  J. 
Littlejohn,  Whig  and  Free  Soil  candidate,  polled  one  hundred  and  nine  less 
votes  in  his  own  county  than  Barry,  the  Democratic  nominee. 

Democratic  strength  was  dominant  for  several  years.  The  county  gave 
the  Democratic  nominee  for  governor  a  majority  in  1851  and  a  small 
plurality  to  Franklin  Pierce  in  the  presidential  election  of  1852.  though  the 
combined  votes  of  Whigs  and  Free  Soilers  in  that  year  showed  increase. 

In  1854  the  Republican  party  was  organized  at  Jackson,  "under  the 
oaks,"  and  before  the  name  had  been  adopted  by  other  states  Michigan  had 
entered  the  Republican  fold  by  electing  Bingham  as  governor.  But  in  that 
year  Allegan  county  continued 'to  show  its  preference  for  the  Democratic 
candidate,  giving  Barry  a  majority  of  thirl^-six  in  a  total  vote  of  one 
thousand  four  hundred.  In  1856.  however,  in  both  national  and  state  elec- 
tions the  county  returned  a  majority  of  nearly  five  hundred  for  Republican 
nominees.  During  the  next  eight  years  the  Republicans  were  safely  in  the 
lead,  though  the  two  parties  were  quite  well  balanced  in  the  county.  In 
1866  Crapo  for  governor  had  a  majority  of  more  than  a  thousand  over  the 
Democratic  opponent,  and  two  years  later  the  county  gave  General  Grant 
a  clear  majority  of  more  than  one  thousand  two  hundred.  RepubHcan  suc- 
cess was  even  more  marked  in  1872,  when  both  presidential  and  guber- 
natorial candidates  received  two-thirds  of  the  votes  cast  in  the  county. 

In  1874  the  division  of  votes  was  fairly  equal,  and  in  1876  the  Demo- 
crats doubled  their  vote  over  that  of  four  years  previous,  though  Repub- 
lican majority  was  still  over  a  thousand.  In  1880  the  Republicans  again 
polled  twice  as  many  votes  as  the  Democrats.  The  parties  were  more  nearly 
matched  during  the  eighties  than  at  any  time  since.  Though  Michigan 
elected  a  fusion  Democrat  for  governor  in  1882  and  a  Democrat  in  1890, 
and  lacked  only  a  few  thousand  of  giving  Cleveland  a  plurality  in  1884, 
Allegan  county  continued  safe  in  Republican  ranks,  though  by  reduced 
Republican  majorities,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  above  tables. 
During  the  last  three  presidential  elections  the  Republican  vote  has  remained 
nearly  stationary,  while  the  Democratic  vote  decreased  from  three  thousand 
nine  hundred  and  thirty-seven  given  Bryan  in  1896  to  one  thousand  five 
hundred  and  seventy-six  for  Parker  in  1904. 

The  rise  of  the  minor  parties  in  the  county  is  also  illustrated  in  the 
above  tables.  The  Greenback  idea  remained  an  issue  for  three  presidential 
elections — 1876,  1880  and  1884 — the  votes  in  the  county  for  these  respective 
years  being:  274,  1,209,  7^0-    The  Prohibition  party  has  exhibited  a  similar 


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5oC  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

rise  and  decline.  In  1880  only  four  votes  were  cast  under  this  heading.  In 
1884  this  had  increased  to  1,004  ^oi"  the  candidate  for  governor.  Since  then 
there  has  been  a  steadj'  falling  off,  the  vote  being  (for  President)  721  in 
1888,  544  in  1892  and  93  in  1896. 

Other  deductions  than  political  ones  might  be  drawa  from  the  figures 
given.  The  gubernatorial  vote  by  townships  in  1839  illustrates  quite  well 
the  division  of  population  at  the  time.  Also,  there  are  some  surprising 
increases  in  number  of  votes  between  successive  elections,  which  cannot  be 
explained  altogether  by  interest  in  the  campaign,  but  rather  by  large  addi- 
tions to  the  population  nii  account  of  immigration  and  settlement  during  the 
period. 


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CHAPTER  X\". 

UBRAT^TES  AND  LITERARY  CLUBS. 

Allegan  Library. 

One  o£  the  most  popular  and  valuable  institutions  of  Allegan  is  the 
public  library,  which  has  been  developed  from  the  usual  grade  of  township 
library  to  one  of  wide  range  of  usefulness.  Up  to  1903  the  library  was  of 
the  ordinary  type,  was  maintained  without  library  sj'Stem,  and  only  the  inci- 
dental fees  and  taxes  were  devoted  to  its  support.  In  1903  H.  L.  Green, 
township  clerk,  asked  for  a  one  and  one-half  mill  tax  on  the  township,  the 
proceeds  from  which  should  be  devoted  to  the  improvement  of  the  library. 
This  was  granted,  and  the  amount  appropriated  to  the  library  since  that 
time  has  been  as  follows : 

1905— $1,179. 

1906— $1,195.53. 

1907— $1,049.73. 

February  22,  1905,  the  Ladies'  History  Class  donated  one  hundred  dol- 
lars, and  May  8,  1905,  another  sum  of  one  hundred  and  five  dollars.  A 
large  room  has  been  set  apart  for  the  library  in  the  rear  of  the  Masonic 
Temple  and  large  additions  are  being  made  each  year  to  the  collection  of 
books,  tiiere  being  at  the  present  writing  four  thousand  one  hundred  and 
eighty  volumes  on  the  shelves.  Fifteen  hundred  dollars  were  expended  for 
new  books  during  1905.  The  librarian.  Lenora  Porter,  is  still  engaged  in 
cataloging  the  books  and  making  the  collection  of  increased  usefulness  to 
the  public.  The  names  of  S.  F.  ilurphj'.  H.  L.  Green  and  Rev.  Lucas,  the 
Episcopal  minister,  should  be  mentioned  because  of  the  leading  part  they 
took  in  securing  the  special  tax  levy  and  in  other  ways  promoting  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  real  public  library  for  Allegan. 

The  old  Allegan  Library  and  Literan,-  Association  should  also  he  men- 
tioned in  this  connection.  Organized  in  1871,  the  association  in  1875 
became  a  stock  company,  shares  being  sold  at  twenty-five  dollars  each.  Its 
members,  between  thirty  and  fortj'  in  number,  organized  for  literary 
improvement,  and  for  this  purpose  purchased  a  considerable  librarj',  alto- 
gether about  a  thousand  volumes.  Some  years  ago  the  organi;iation  was 
dissolved  and  the  assets,  consisting  principally  of  books,  were  divided 
among  the  individual  stockholders.  This  association  had  no  connection 
with  the  town  librarv.  Among  the  leaders  in  the  movement  were  General 
B.  D.  Pritchard,  J.  B.  Humphrey.  A.  S.  Butler,  John  W.  Stone,  H.  C- 
Weeks,  E.  Amsden,  W.  W.  Warner  and  others. 


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558  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Tin;  Hemika  Library  at  Wayland. 

Having  the  future  educational  welfare  of  Waylanti  at  heart,  Mrs.  Julia 
Henika,  one  of  the  prominent  and  pub  lie -spirited  women,  bequeathed  in 
her  will  the  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars  for  the  erection  of  a  library.  To 
this  amount  was  added  five  hundred  dollars  by  George  H.  Henika  at  one 
time,  and  again  two  hundred  dollars ;  Mrs.  Mary  Forbes  added  five  hundred 
dollars,  and  the  village  purchased  the  lots  on  which  this  handsome  library 
stands,  a  credit  to  the  community  and  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  those, 
especially  Mrs.  Henika,  through  whose  generosity  this  building  was  made 
possible. 

The  library  contains  about  five  hundred  volumes,  part  of  which  have 
been  donated.  At  the  last  spring  election  a  library  board  was  appointed, 
who  have  general  supervision  of  the  work.  An  appropriation  of  a  one-mill 
tax  has  been  granted  by  the  village,  which  will  give  about  four  hundred 
dollars  to  be  spent  for  books,  periodicals  and  running  expenses  for  the  pres- 
ent year. 

Laejies'  Library  Association,  Plainwell. 

The  organization  known  as  the  Plainwell  Ladies'  Library  Association 
was  effected  in  February,  1868.  The  idea  had  birth  some  months  previous 
in  a  doorstep  conversation  between  two  neighbors  and  the  idea  having  been 
born  it  grew.  It  was  discussed  with  neighbors  and  friends.  The  experience 
of  friends  in  other  towns  was  drawn  upon ;  then  a  meeting  of  all  interested 
was  called  to  discuss  the  project.  Several  meetings  were  held  before  the 
organization  was  perfected.  After  careful  consideration  a  constitution  was 
adopted,  officers  elected  and  a  name  chosen.  It  has  been  a  helpful  agency 
in  giving  character  to  our  town.  It  has  always  been  the  aim  of  the  board 
of  managers  to  have  only  pure  and  helpful  books  in  circulation.  All  the 
work  of  maintaining  this  library  has  been  gratuitous,  even  the  librarian's 
work  being  freely  given. 

The  Library  Association  has  no  endowment  and  no  debts.  It  has  given 
many  and  various  courses  of  entertainment  and  they  have  always  been  of 
a  high  order.  The  first  courses  of  public  lectures  ever  given  in  our  town 
were  conducted  by  the  L.  L.  A.  For  more  than  two  years  the  members  of 
the  board  at  their  monthly  meetings  after  the  business  of  the  hour  have 
enjoyed  a  literary  feast  prepared  by  one  of  its  members  on  some  subject  of 
interest. 

The  present  assets  of  the  association  are  a  pleasant  library  home,  newly 
decorated  and  carpeted,  something  over  two  thousand  volumes  arranged  on 
convenient  shelving  and  the  nucleus  of  a  museum.  It  is  the  strong  hope 
of  those  who  have  longest  been  identified  with  this  association  that  in  the 
near  future  some  way  may  open  whereby  it  may  become  a  free  public 
library. 

Saugatuck  Woman's  Club. 

This  club  was  founded  November  i,  1904.  The  charter  members  were: 
Mrs.  Sarah  Hodge,  first  president;  Mrs.  W.  R.  Takken,  Mrs.  Edwin  Booth, 
Mrs.  W.  P.  Sutton,  Mrs.  C.  E,  Bird,  Mrs.  F.  G.  Hayes,  Mrs.  George  Haines, 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  559 

Mrs.  G.  C.  Vreeland,  Mrs.  D.  Falconer,  Mrs.  R.  J.  Walker,  Mrs.  D.  A. 
Heath,  Mrs.  Wayne  Coates,  president  1906-07;  Mrs.  J.  H.  Perrin,  Mrs. 
Edwin  House,  Mrs.  J.  E.  Francis,  Mrs.  T.  W.  Leland,  Mrs.  H.  M.  Bird, 
Miss  Margaret  Booth,  Mrs.  John  Rodey,  Miss  Edith  Hodge,  Miss  Alice 
Baker,  Mrs.  Simonson,  Mrs.  W.  A.  Woodworth,  Mrs.  Joseph  Zwemer,  Mrs. 
Minnie  Lovejoy,  Mrs.  C.  Parrish,  Mrs.  N.  W.  Mather,  Miss  Hubbard,  Mrs. 
Crissey,  Mrs.  P.  A.  Latta,  Mrs.  W.  G.  Edgecombe,  Mrs.  Smalley,  Mrs.  Bed- 
ford, Mrs.  D.  L.  Barber,  Mrs.  T.  Daggett,  Mrs.  W.  Wilson,  Mrs.  R.  Ames, 
Mrs.  E.  Reed,  Mrs.  H.  Holt,  Mrs.  Breathwaite,  Mrs.  H.  L.  House,  Miss 
Bessie  White,  Miss  Louise  Walz,  Miss  Gertrude  Shriver,  Mrs.  BilHngton, 
Mrs.  J.  J.  Brown,  Mrs.  Whitney,  Mrs.  W.  C.  Manning,  Mrs.  William 
Turnbitll,  Mrs.  W.  B.  Smith,  Mrs.  L.  A.  Phelps,  Miss  Grace  Taylor.  Miss 
Hattie  Spencer,  Miss  Ellen  Kerr,  Mrs.  Alex.  Thompson,  Mrs.  D.  F.  Lud- 
wig,  Mrs.  Nellie  Naughtin,  Mrs.  S.  Lee  Uphani  and  Mrs.  S.  D.  E._Calkins. 
There  are  fifty-five  members  at  present,  and  the  officers  are:  Mrs.  Goates, 
president ;  Mrs.  F.  G.  Hayes,  vice-president ;  Mrs.  G.  C.  Vreeland,  secre- 
tary ;  Mrs.  R.  J.  Walker,  treasurer,  and  Mrs.  D.  F,  Ludwig,  librarian. 

In  1905  the  Douglas  Culture  Club,  of  which  Mrs.  William  Turnbull  is 
president,  was  organized.  This  drew  away  from  the  Saugatuck  Society 
some  of  the  ladies  from  Douglas  who  had  previouslv  been  associated  with 
that  club. 

Ladies'  Library  Club,  Wayland. 

February  22,  1893,  a  few  women,  possessed  of  progressive  ideas,  met 
at  the  home  of  Mrs.  L.  F.  Wallbrecht  and  there  laid  plans  for  a  society 
which  should  be  known  as  the  Ladies'  Literary  Association.  Officers  elected 
at  that  meeting  were :  President,  Mrs.  Mary  Clark ;  vice-president,  Mrs. 
Lillian  Buskirk;  secretary  and  treasurer,  Mrs.  Sara  Manley. 

The  object  of  the  organization  is  given  in  the  following  extract  from 
the  constitution : 

"The  object  of  this  association  is  mutual  improvement  and  a  desire  to 
keep  abreast  of  the  time?,  and  to  become  better  informed  of  the  general 
interests  of  the  day  as  well  as  the  history  and  literature  of  the  past." 

In  September,  1896,  the  constitution  was  revised,  the  yearly  dues  raised 
to  twenty-five  cents,  and  the  society's  name  changed  to  Ladies'  Literary 
Club.  In  May,  1899,  the  club  became  incorporated  under  the  name  of 
Ladies'  Library  Club,  and  since  that  date  the  annual  dues  have  been  fifty 
cents. 

The  first  year-book  of  the  club  was  printed  for  the  season  of  1898-99 
and  contained  only  the  dates  of  meetings  and  topics  for  each  evening. 
Previous  to  that  the  evening's  program  was  planned  and  rendered  by  a 
committee  appointed  a  week  or  two  in  advance. 

Fifteen  women  whose  names  were  enrolled  as  members  in  the  club's 
initial  year  were  active  members  during  the  past  season.  They  are:  Mes- 
dames  Eila  Heazlit,  Flora  Fitch.  Emma  AUgeo,  Belle  Turner,  Ellen  Hoyt, 
Mabel  Schuyler,  Dell  Chappie,  Allie  Shattuck,  Mary  Clark,  Sara  Manley, 
Margaret  Schuh,  Lillian  Buskirk,  Hattie  Wallbrecht,  Cynthia  Slade  and 
Miss  Fannie  Hoyt.  The  seven  last  mentioned  in  the  list  have  kept  that 
membership  unbroken,  the  others  having  allowed  their  names  to  be  dropped 
from  the  roll  in  some  of  the  intervening  years. 


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rm  TTTSTORY  OF  ALLF.GAN  COUNTY 

For  a  few  years  the  funds  realized  from  dues  and  ati  occasional  enter- 
tainment, aside  from  the  amount  needed  to  meet  the  club's  financial  require- 
ments, were  expended  in  books,  and  a  small  library  is  maintained. 

But  for  the  past  three  years  the  club  has  been  interested  in  a  movement 
that  is  of  a  more  general  benefit,  the  entertainment  course;  hence,  it  has 
been  deemed  advisable  to  hold  a  larger  fund  in  reserve  against  a  possible 
time  of  need,  in  case  the  expenditures  for  attractions  exceed  the  ticket  sales. 

The  names  of  nearly  one  hundred  women  have  at  one  time  or  another 
been  recorded  as  members  of  the  society,  forty-four  having  been  enrolled 
the  past  year. 

The  question  has  been  agitated  relative  to  joining  the  Federation  of 
Women's  Clubs,  but  no  steps  have  been  taken  in  that  direction. 

Woman's  History  Class,  Allegan. 

For  the  past  thirty-one  years  this  association  has  existed  for  the  study 
of  general  history  and  the  broadening  of  the  intellectual  tastes  of  its  mem- 
bers. Its  positive  benefits  in  this  direction  and  its  active  existence  for  so 
many  years  cause  it  to  rank  almost  as  an  institution  in  the  village.  The 
year-book  for  1906-07,  which  must  be  commended  for  its  handsome  typo- 
graphical appearance  and  artistic  arrangement  of  matter,  is  in  itself  the 
best  commentary  on  the  club's  ideals  and  work.  The  general  topic  for  the 
year  is  "History  as  Seen  Through  the  Novel  and  Drama,"  and  the  weekly 
programs  from  September  to  May  are  devoted  to  various  classics  illustrative 
of  epochs  and  characters  of  history  from  the  beginning  of  the  Roman 
empire  to  the  heroic  struggles  of  Thaddeus  of  Warsaw. 

The  class  was  organized  February  i.  1875.  with  twenty  charter  mem- 
bers. In  1878  the  name  was  changed  to  the  Woman's  Lyceum,  with  some 
corresponding  change  in  the  manner  of  conducting  the  meetings.  The 
original  name  has  since  been  resumed.  In  1904  the  class  was  federated 
with  the  State  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs,  at  whose  annual  meetings  it 
is  represented  by  delegates.  The  present  officers  and  the  membership  list 
follow : 

Officers— President,  Miss  Alice  Weeks:  vice-president,  Mrs.  W.  H. 
Stone:  secretary,  Mrs.  Perry  Sirrine;  treasurer.  Miss  Cora  Wilkes;  critic. 
Miss  Allie  I.  Engle. 

Active  members— Mrs.  Albright,  Mrs.  Baker,  Mrs.  Bills,  Mrs.  C.  Bom, 
Mrs.  Butler,  Mrs.  Calkins.  Mrs.  Colburn,  Mrs.  Cornwell,  Mrs.  Cross,  Mrs.  J. 
E.  Davis,  Mrs.  Dorgan,  Mrs.  Estabrook,  Mrs.  Fear,  Mrs.  Fish,  Mrs.  Grey, 
Mrs.  Hulley,  Mrs.  Lamour,  Mrs.  Lindsay,  Mrs.  A.  M.  Moore,  Mrs.  H.  D. 
Moore,  Mrs.  C.  Messinger.  Mrs.  Maentz,  Mrs.  Mcintosh,  Mrs.  Noble,  Mrs. 
L.  Perrigo,  Mrs.  H.  Pritchard,  Mrs.  Artus  Sherwood,  Mrs.  Sturgis,  Mrs. 
Stone.  Mrs.  Stratton,  Mrs.  Sirrine.  Mrs.  G.  Stern.  Mrs.  D.  Stern,  Mrs. 
Stuch,  Mrs.  Sawver.  Mrs.  Tripp,  Mrs.  Turner,  Mrs.  Van  Ostrand,  Mrs. 
Weeks,  Mrs.  W.  B.  Williams.  Mrs.  Wilkes,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Williams,  Mrs.  G. 
D.  Williams.  Miss  Hattie  Aldworth.  Miss  Mary  Bassett.  Miss  Butler,  Miss 
Coney,  Miss  Dawson,  Miss  Allie  Engle,  Miss  Jones,  Miss  Leggett,  Miss 
Nellie  Parsons.  Miss  Partridge.  Miss  Smith,  Miss  Stone,  Miss  Sawyer.  Miss 
Schumann.  Miss  Van  Ostrand,  Miss  Alice  Weeks,  Miss  Bessie  Wetmore, 
Miss  Cora  Wilkes,  Miss  Hannah  Way,  Mrs.  Bills  and  Miss  Clara  Wheeler. 

Associate  members — Mrs.  Crocker,  Mrs.  Hart,  Mrs.  Jones,  Mrs.  Ed 


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HISTORY  OF  ALI^GAN  COUNTY  561 

Messinger,  Mrs.  Oliver,  Mrs.  H.  Perrigo,  Mrs.  Priest,  Mrs.  Seery,  Mrs.  M. 
C.  Sherwood,  Mrs.  St.  Germaine,  Mrs.  Terry,  Mrs.  White,  Miss  Cook  and 
Miss  Winters. 

The  deceased  members  of  the  class,  recorded  In  Memoriam,  are:  Mrs. 
Willard  Higgins,  Mrs.  Emma  R.  Pond,  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Amsden,  Mrs.  Frank 
Bailey,  Mrs.  B.  D.  Pritchard,  Mrs.  Josephine  Packard,  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Bing- 
ham, Mrs.  Emma  S.  Barrows,  Mrs.  James  Rockwell,  Mrs.  A.  E.  Bassett, 
Miss  Frances  H.  Wilkes,  Mrs.  Etta  B.  Killian,  Miss  Mabel  Grice  and  Mrs. 
Edwy  C.  Reid. 

TREiiLE  Ci-Ei-  Society. 

The  Treble  Clef  Society  was  organized  July  19,  1889,  at  the  home  of 
Mrs.  J.  M.  Killian,  although  it  did  not  receive  Its  name  until  the  following 
meeting,  September  14.  Ihere  were  eighteen  charter  members — Mesdames 
J.  M.  Killian,  E.  T.  Cruse,  Ed  Jenner,  L.  !•.  Sollendine,  E.  T.  Van  Ostrand, 
W.  B.  Williams,  J.  W.  Howe,  V.  M.  Burleigh,  and  Misses  Mary  Bassett, 
Hattie  Smith,  Clara  Sherwood,  Martha  Sherwood,  Lizzie  Jenner,  Helen 
Peck,  Rubie  Sherwood,  Xina  Sherwood,  Pearl  Moore  and  Bertha  Pritchard, 

The  first  officers— President,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Killian;  secretary,  Mrs.  V.  M. 
Burleigh.  At  the  fourth  meeting  a  critic  was  elected  and  later  a  vice-presi- 
dent and  treasurer. 

Quoting  from  the  constitution,  article  11:  "The  object  of  this  society 
shall  be  the  cultivation  of  a  taste  for  the  higher  class  of  music  and  a  better 
appreciation  of  the  masters." 

Members  consist  of  both  active  and  honorary.  The  meetings  are  held 
the  first  Monday  of  every  month,  excepting  July,  August  and  September. 

A  program  committee  of  three  outline  the  work  for  the  coming  year, 
placing  each  meeting  in  the  hands  of  a  committee,  who  arrange  the  pro- 
gram for  that  particular  evening.  Each  evening  is  devoted  either  to  some 
noted  composer,  some  particular  style  of  music  or  some  group  of  composers, 
such  as  Polish  or  German, 

The  present  membership  numbers,  active  fifty-four  and  honorary  fifty, 
with  the  following  officers :  President,  Mrs.  Pearle  iloore  Gray ;  vice-presi- 
dent, Mrs,  Clarence  Messinger;  secretary,  Mrs.  Ernest  N.  HuUey ;  treasurer, 
Mrs,  William  Lucas ;  critic.  Miss  Weeks ;  executive  committee,  Mrs.  Fred 
Chischester,  Mrs.  Charles  Wilkes  and  Miss  \"an  Ostrand;  program  commit- 
tee, Mrs.  Pearle  Moore  Gray,  Miss  Weeks  and  Mrs.  W.  B.  Williams. 

This  year  (1906-07),  as  an  example,  there  are  the  following  evenings 
each  in  charge  of  a  special  committee:  President's  evening;  Polish  corn- 
posers;  Grieg  (Folk  Song);  American  composers;  students'  evening; 
orchestration  (symphony);  Beethoven  (Sonata);  light  opera;  open  meet- 
ing; women  composers,  and  two  artist  recitals.  The  colors  are  yellow  and 
white  and  the  flower  the  carnation. 


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CHAPTER  XVL 


Allegan. 


The  second  Masonic  organization  in  the  county  is  Ahegan  Lodge,  No, 
III,  F.  &  A.  M.  Dispensation  was  granted  August  4,  1858,  and  the  charter 
is  dated  January  14,  1859.  The  lodge  has  a  membership  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty. 

The  first  ofikers  were :  E.  B.  Bassett,  W.  M. ;  E.  D.  Follett,  S.  W. ;  A. 
Rossman,  J.  W. ;  J.  E.  Babbitt,  treasurer ;  H.  Mauson,  secretary. 

The  following  have  filled  the  office  of  worshipful  master:  E.  B.  Bas- 
sett, E.  D.  Follett,  G.  D.  Smith,  A,  S.  Butler,  William  J.  Pollard,  E.  E. 
Edwards,  G.  R.  Stone,  H.  Franks,  E.  D.  Motley,  P.  J.  Davis,  George  W. 
Lonsbury,  S.  D.  Pond,  W.  H.  Bills,  W.  Benjamin,  Charles  Eley,  Thomas 
Dryden,  F.  E.  Martin,  F.  H.  Williams,  A.  S.  Butler,  2d,  and  L.  L.  Thompson. 

The  present  officers  are :  L.  L.  Thompson,  W.  M. ;  P.  M.  Grice,  S.  W. ; 
H.  Desenbery,  J.  W. ;  D.  Stern,  treasurer,  and  S.  D.  Pond,  secretary. 

Eureka  Chapter,  No.  50,  R.  A.  M.,  Allegan,  was  chartered  January 
8,  1868,  dispensation  having  been  granted  May  23,  1867,  The  charter  mem- 
bers were :  A.  J.  Kellogg,  George  D.  Smith,  George  Geppert,  Zara  Clifford, 
H,  S.  Butler,  R.  S,  Updyke,  A.  B.  Case,  W.  J.  Pollard  and  F,  B.  Schoms. 

The  present  officers  are :  F.  H.  Williams,  H.  P. :  Dan  Stern,  king;  John 
Phillips,  scribe;  S,  D.  Pond.  C  of  H. ;  A.  S.  Butler,  P.  S.;  H.  O.  Maentz, 
treasurer ;  Artus  Sherwood,  secretary ;  Hugh  McDougal,  R.  A.  C. ;  G.  L. 
Hicks,  M.  third  V.;  Ira  Montague,  M,  second  V. ;  Roy  Davison,  M.  first  V., 
and  William  J.  Pollard,  sentry. 

Plain  WELL. 

Plainwell  Lodge,  No.  235,  F,  &  A.  M.,  was  chartered  January  9,  1868, 
dispensation  having  been  granted  September  9  of  the  previous  year.  Its 
first  officers  were :  Jacob  V.  Refers,  W.  M, ;  James  J,  Hart,  S.  W. ;  Walter 
C.  Piersons,  J,  W, ;  Jerome  J.  Monroe,  secretary;  Simeon  R.  Piersons, 
treasurer ;  James  B.  Smith,  S.  D. ;  Henry  Sherman,  J.  D.,  and  P.  S.  Steams, 
tyler. 

Oldest  members^O.  J.  Woodard,  William  E,  Forbes.  E,  C,  Knapp, 
Reuben  House,  J.  E.  Watson,  William  E.  Estes,  N,  L.  Birchard,  William 
Adams,  James  Smith,  D.  E.  White,  O.  E.  Goldsmith,  L.  E.  Irland,  H.  D. 
Storms,  A.  L.  Reese,  C.  A.  Bush,  William  Thomas,  J,  N.  Neelley,  Joseph 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  563 

Toates,  D.  R.  Mann,  J.  H.  Clement,  F.  M.  Storms,  S.  B.  Kegus,  Charles  A. 
Granger,  John  Crispe,  William  Crispe  and  A.  L.  Thompson. 

Worshipful  masters — J.  V.  Rogers,  William  E.  Forbes,  Jerome  J.  Mon- 
roe, Benjamin  Thompson,  George  H.  Bean,  D.  E.  White,  L.  E.  Irland,  A.  L. 
Reese,  A.  L.  Nichols,  J.  W.  Gilkey  and  A.  J.  Stamp. 

Present  officers— A.  J.  Stamp,  W.  M.;  E.  E.  East,  S.  W.;  A.  T.  Mur- 
ray, J.  W. ;  R.  L.  Souie,  secretary;  C.  W.  Machemer,  treasurer;  W.  Y. 
Gilkey,  S.  D. ;  George  W.  Gilkey,  J.  D. ;  George  H.  Copp  and  F.  C.  Smith, 
stewards;  William  ITibbard,  tyler,  and  James  Smith,  chaplain. 

Wayl.\nd. 

James  Fenton  Lodge,  No.  224,  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  chartered  January  9, 
1868,  the  same  day  with  Plainwell  Lodge.  It  began  work  under  dispensa- 
tion granted  February  i,  1867.  There  were  eight  original  members  and  the 
first  officers  were :  George  W.  Pease,  W.  M. ;  Robert  Deuel,  S.  W. ;  Ansel 
G.  Smith,  J.  W. ;  J.  H.  D.  Snell,  secretary ;  Seth  Shattuck,  treasurer ;  D.  R. 
Latham.  S.  D. ;  William  Brown,  J.  D.,  and  A.  N.  Worden,  tyler. 

Worshipful  masters  since  i868--George  W.  Pease,  1867,  1868,  1869 
and  1870;  Alonzo  E.  Blanch,  1871,  1872,  1874,  1875,  1876 and  1878;  Charles 
W.  Watkins,  1873:  Darwin  E.  White,  1877;  I.  N.  Hoyt,  1879  and  1880; 
V.  P.  Fales,  1881,  1882,  1890,  1899,  1900,  1901,  1904  and  1905;  E.  D.  Sigler, 
1883,  1884,  1S85,  1886,  1887,  1S88,  1889,  1891,  1892,  1893,  1894,  1902  and 
1903;  A.  Bragg,  1895;  H.  S.  Blowers,  i8g6,  1S98  and  1906;  George 
McConnell,  1897. 

The  offices  are  now  held  by:  H.  S.  Blowers,  W.  M.;  I.  H.  Brush,  S. 
W. ;  Earl  Stockaie,  J.  W. :  F.  S.  Sigler,  secretary;  N.  Crowell,  treasurer; 
C.  M.  Seas,  S.  D. ;  L.  W.  Morford,  J.  D.,  and  A.  Naveril,  tyler. 

The  oldest  members— W.  L.  Heazlitt,  raised  September  20,  1S67;  I.  N. 
Hoyt,  raised  September  28.  1867;  E.  S.  Allen,  raised  October  r8,  1867;  L. 
Van  Valkenburgh,  raised  November  27,  1867;  W.  Stockdale,  raised  May  i, 
1868,  and  C.  R.  Hollister,  raised  January  8,  1869. 

Dorr. 

P.  S.  Pullen  Lodge,  No.  307,  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  organized  in  the  grist 
mill  at  Dorr  Center,  July  i,  1871,  and  the  first  regular  communication  was 
held  February  21,  1872,  in  their  new  hall.  The  first  officers  were:  J.  M. 
Burnett,  W.  M. ;  William  J.  Sproat,  secretary;  E.  J.  Boynton,  S.  W. ;  Otto 
R.  Fritsche,  J.  W. ;  Harmon  Campbell,  S.  D.;  Eli  Driskell,  J.  D.;  Fred 
Custer,  tyler.  These  and  the  following  were  the  charter  members :  Philetus 
S.  Pullen,  Frank  Neuman,  Ferdinand  Neuman,  A  .G.  McConough,  .Charles 
L.  Christie,  John  McNeal,  Thomas  Carruthers  and  William  H.  Retd.  The 
oldest  members  are:  W.  J.  Sproat,  R.  J,  Barns,  A.  Fleaser,  A.  Truax  and 
A.  Emmons. 

The  worshipful  masters,  1872-1906 — ^J.  M.  Burnett,  EH  Driskell,  Henry 
P.  Evarts,  George  W.  Shriner,  William  J,  Sproat,  A.  Truax,  Charles  Wade- 
man,  Adam  Fleaser,  R.  A.  Vielkind  and  J.  G.  Heinznian,  1906. 

The  present  officers — J.  G.  Heinzman,  W.  M. ;  E.  M.  Huntley, 
S.  W. ;  F.  Shriner,  J.  W. ;  O.  R.  Douglas,  treasurer ;  R.  J.  Barris,  secretary ; 
Chris  Zaiser,  S.  D. ;  Edgar  W.  Brown,  J.  D.,  and  A.  Emmons. 

Bradley  Lodge  No.  296,  F.  &  A.  M.— On  January  14,  1871,  Bradley 


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564  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Lodge  was  granted  dispensation  and  on  January  lo,  1872,  was  granted  a 
charter  as  a  regularly  appointed  lodge,  naming  as  their  first  officers:  Lee 
Deuel,  W.  M. ;  C.  H.  Adams,  S.  W. ;  A.  J.  Votary,  J.  W. ;  John  W.  Doxey, 
secretary;  J.  E.  Harding,  treasurer;  Robert  B.  Deuel,  S.  D. ;  Chas.  Hoore, 
J.  D. ;  Elijah  Adams,  tyler. 

The  following  have  served  as  worshipful  masters:  Lee  Deuel,  1871, 
1880,  i88i.  1882,  1884;  C.  H.  Adams,  1872,  1873,  1876,  1877;  CoHis  E. 
Eldred,  1874,  1S75,  1879;  Leonard  M.  Doxey,  1878;  Marcus  W,  Ward, 
1883-1898;  Rollin  M.  Congdon,  1885;  Marion  C.  Eddv,  1886;  Charles  W. 
Button,  1887,  1888,  1889,  1891  to  1897  and  1899  to  1902;  John  W,  Lewis, 
1890;  Charles  E.  Selkirk,  1903  to  1907. 

Of  the  charter  members  of  Bradley  Lodge  only  one  is  still  in  active 
membership,  Bro.  Lee  Deuel,  P.  M.  On  May  i,  1904,  their  hall  at  Bradley 
burned  with  all  regalia  and  furniture,  also  charter.  The  Grand  I-odge 
immediately  replaced  their  charter,  granting  permission  to  move  the  lodge 
to  Shelbyville,  where  they  have  built  an  elegant  new  hall,  which  was  dedi- 
cated December  6,  1905. 

The  present  officers  are  Charles  E.  Selkirk,  W.  M. ;  W.  Earl  Briggs, 
S.  W.;  Ered  Snell,  J.  W. ;  Arthur  F.  Gurley,  treasurer;  William  L.  Bost- 
wick,  secretary;  James  C.  Keith,  S.  D. ;  David  E.  Curie,  J.  D. ;  Edgar  C. 
Doxey,  tyler. 

Saugatuck. 

Saugatuck  Lodge  No.  328,  F.  &  A.  M..  was  demitted  from  the  older 
Dutcher  I.x)dge  at  Douglas,  and  instituted  January  26,  1876,  with  a  mem- 
bership of  16.  The  first  officers  were :  James  G.  WiUiams,  W.  M. ;  Reuben 
T.  Rogers,  S.  W.;  L.  W.  Grant,  J.  W. 

Past  Masters  have  been  James  G.  Williams,  Wm.  P.  Hanson,  Wallace 

B.  Griffin,  Amos  H.  Gardner,  Reuben  T.  Refers,  Frank  A.  Winslow,  Ralph 

C.  Brittain,  Jacob  F,  Metzger,  Thornton  W.  Leland. 

Oldest  members  of  the  lodge  are  Henry  Bird,  Sr.,  James  Elliott,  Wm. 
G.  Edgcomb,  J.  F.  Metzger,  John  B.  Martel,  F.  N.  Plummer,  R.  T.  Rogers, 
A.  B.  Taylor,  J.  G.  Williams. 

The  present  officers :  T.  W.  Leland,  W.  M. ;  H.  M.  Bird,  S.  W. ;  Chas. 
Scales,  J.  W. ;  S.  C.  Reed,  treasurer;  W.  R.  Takken,  secretary;  Morgan 
Edgcomb,  S.  D. ;  E.  G.  Crowe,  J.  D. ;  Jas.  Koning,  tyler.  The  lodge  now 
has  57  members. 

Fenxvili-e, 

Damascus  Lodge  No.  415,  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  under  dispensation  from 
November  9,  1895,  to  January  27,  1897,  when  a  charter  was  granted.  Fol- 
lowing are  the  charter  members :  Geo.  W.  Forrest,  Wm.  H.  Andrews, 
Wm.  McCormick,  Henry  Hawley,  Edward  Hawley,  John  Whitbeck,  George 
Leland.  Chas.  G.  Abbott,  Stephen  Atwater.  Wm.  H.  Whitbeck,  George  L. 
Dutcher.  Jesse  E.  Hutchinson,  Samuel  Caldwell,  Thomas  B.  Dutcher  and 
Wm.  Bale. 

First  officers:  G.eo.. Wilson  Forrest,  W.  M. :  Wm.  H.  Andrews,  S. 
W. ;  Wm.  H.  McCormick,  J.  W. ;  J.  Henry  Hawley,  secretary;  Edward 
Hawley,  treasurer ;  John  Whitbeck,  S.  D. ;  Geo.  Leland,  J.  D. ;  Chas.  G. 
Abbott,  tyler. 

The  charter  members  still  in  active  membership  are  Wm.  H.  Andrews,. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  5G5 

Wm.  H.  McCormick,  Chas.  G.  Abbott.  Wni.  Whitbeck,  J.  Henry  Hawley, 
Edward  Hawley,  George  Leiand,  George  L.  Dutcher,  Stephen  Atwater, 
Jesse  E.  Hutchinson.  List  of  worshipful  masters:  G.  Wilson  Forrest, 
Wni.  H.  Whitbeck.  George  Leiand,  John  A.  Pieters.  Theo.  Wade.  Mathew 
J.  Orr.  Allen  L.  Whitbeck,  Wm.  H.  McCormick,  Mathew  J.  Orr. 

The  present  officers:  Mathew  J.  Orr,  W.  M.:  F.  A.  Turrell,  S.  W.; 
George  Leiand,  J.  W. :  Chas.  M.  Billings,  S.  D.:  Warren  L.  Duell..  J.  D. ; 
Chas.  Johnson,  tyler ;  B.  R.  Barber,  treasurer;  Gordon  A.  Spencer,  secretary. 
The  present  membership  numbers  73. 

Independent  Order  or  Odd  Fellows. 
Allegan. 

No.  105 — The  first  organization  of  Odd  Fellowship  in  the  county  was 
Allegan  Lodge  No.  105.  instituted  November  9,  1866.  by  WilHam  Oakes, 
G.  M.,  its  charter  bearing  date  January  14,  1867.  The  charter  members 
were:  Allen  Wood,  Sherman  P.  Stanley,  A.  F.  Howe,  S.  H.  Priest,  James 
Caskey.  Sr.  and  Jr. 

The  oldest  members  of  the  lodge  are :  Benjamin  D.  Pritchard,  P.  G. 
and  G..  treasurer,  initiated  January  10,  1868;  Joseph  W.  Ely,  P.  G.  and 
P.  G.  R.,  inhiated  April  10,  1868;  Charles  F.  Tubah.  P.  G..  initiated  June  3. 
1868;  Clark  Colhns,  P.  G.,  initiated  March  7,  1873;  Richard  Baker,  P.  G., 
initiated  March  7,  1873. 

The  first  officers  were :  James  Caskey.  N.  G. ;  Sherman  P.  Stanley, 
V.  G, :  A.  F.  Howe,  secretary:  Allen  Wood,  treasurer.  Its  present  officers 
are  Charles  Fisher,  noble  grand :  Perle  L.  Fouch,  vice  grand :  Joseph  W. 
Ely,  recording  secretary ;  James  Terry,  per  secretary ;  Martin  Foot,  treas- 
urer. 

No.  290 — About  ten  years  after  the  organization  of  the  first  lodge  of 
Odd  Fellows,  dispensation  was  granted  W.  H,  Shepard.  L.  Livingston, 
D.  R.  Thralls.  R.  R.  Tick,  J.  E.  Babbitt.  L.  H.  Babbitt,  J.  J.  McConkie, 
James  E.  Fuller,  who  organized  Home  Lodge  No,  290.  The  charter  was 
granted  March  28,  1877.  and  the  first  set  of  officers  were:  J.  E.  Babbitt, 
N.  G.:  James  E.  Ftdler.  V.  G. ;  D,  R,  Thralls,  secretary:  J.  J.  McConkie, 
treasurer. 

The  present  officers  are :  Austin  J.  Colburn,  N.  G. ;  J.  B.  Wood.  V.  G. ; 
Joe  D.  Welsh,  recording  secretary ;  F.  A.  Ewer,  per  secretary ;  J.  S.  Wilson, 
treasurer. 

The  following  have  held  the  office  of  Noble  Grand:  J.  E.  Babbitt, 
Wm.  B.  Andrus.  John  Allett.  Carl  H.  Allen,  John  E.  Babbitt.  Wm.  H. 
Rearce.  Edward  Benslev.  W.  A.  Chenev.  F.  M.  Calkins,  T-  G.  Ellinger, 
R.  N.  Ellis.  F.  A.  Ewef,  Jas.  E.  Fuller.  J.  B.  Fenton,  M.  P.  Grice.  Wm. 
Godfrey.  O.  E.  Perkins.  G.  K.  Willey.  John  S.  Wilson.  John  Poveltich.  Wm. 
Weeks.  F.  P.  Blaine.  Geo.  Austin.  John  Hippler.  A.  C.  Wilson,  John  Stock- 
dale.  Chas.  L.  Barrett.  O.  G.  Vahne,  Curtis  Wise.  N.  J.  Williams.  C.  E. 
Ingram,  Chas.  A.  Wilson,  Geo.  Staring,  Geo.  R.  Smith,  David  Pulsipher. 
Geo.  Hare.  F.  A.  Ewer,  L.  C.  Smith,  Frank  Stafford,  Fred  E.  Mason.  John 
North. 

The  oldest  members:  E.  C.  Reid.  A.  C.  Wilson.  Burton  Allen.  W.  H. 
Williams,  Glen  Priest,  T.  S.  Kenyon,  F.  P.  Blaine,  Wm.  Godfred,  W.  A. 


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BSfi  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Cheney,  A,  C.  McCarn,  Thos.  Godfrey,  Edward  Bensley,  O.  G.  Vahne, 
J.  B.  Kenton. 

Heart  and  Hand  Encampment  No.  32  was  instituted  September   17, 

1868,  and  its  charter  was  dated  January  20,  1869.  The  charter  members 
were  Henry  Vosburgh,  Eugene  E.  Bacon,  Fayette  S.  Day,  Nelson  F. 
Strong,  John  C.  Gorman,  George  Hall,  Titus  Doane,  William  W.  Ward. 
The  offices  were  first  filled  by  Henry  Vosburgh,  C.  P. ;  Fayette  S.  Day, 
H.  P. ;  John  C.  Gorman,  S.  W, ;  Eugene  E.  Bacon,  scribe ;  William  W. 
Ward,  treasurer;  George  Hall,  J.  W. 

The  present  officers :  Charles  Guest,  C.  P. ;  Frank  Stafford,  H.  P. ; 
W.  Tillotsom,  S.  W, ;  James  S.  Terry,  scribe ;  John  S.  Curtis,  treasurer ; 
Hale  P.  Bartlett,  J.  W. 

The  oldest  members:  Joseph  W.  Ely,  P.  G,  P.  and  P.  G.  R.,  joined 
September  17,  1868;  diaries  F.  Tubah,  P.  C.  P..  joined  September  17, 
1868;  Clark  Collins,  P.  C.  P.,  joined  1873;  '^-  ^-  Thompson,  P.  C.  P.  and 
P.  G.  S.,  joined  1873. 

Plain  WELL. 
Gim  Plains  Lodge  No.  120,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  the  second  lodge  of  the  order 
in  the  county,  was  instituted  July  2,  1868.     The  first  officers  were :     Milo 

E.  Gifford,  N.  G. ;  Henry  Day,  V.  G. ;  C.  J.  Poore,  secretary,  William  Starr, 
treasurer;  J.  B.  Munson,  warden. 

The  present  officers :  Noble  grand,  F.  M.  Storms ;  vice  grand,  Elwood 
Ross ;  secretary,  Wm.  D.  Talbot. 

Plainwell  Encampment  No.  71  was  instituted  April  26,  1875.  The 
first  officers  were:     William  Cox.  C.  P.;  Joseph  W.  Hicks,  H.  P.;  Samuel 

F.  Murphy,  S.  W. ;  Jerome  Winchell,  secretary. 

Wayland. 
Wayland  Lodge  No.   129,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  instituted  February  24, 

1869,  with  the  following  charter  officers  and  members:  Edward  M.  Fitch, 
N.  G. ;  Titus  Doan,  V.  G. ;  John  Graham,  secretary ;  Norton  Briggs,  treas- 
urer; J.  Simkins,  B.  L.  Lee,  E.  W,  Powers,  P.  H.  Schuh,  William  Seaver, 
James  Armstrong. 

The  present  officers :  Noble  grand,  H.  S.  Blowers ;  vice  grand,  N. 
Crowell :  secretary,  W.  H.  Schuh ;  treasurer,  T—  F.  Walbrecht. 

Salem, 

Salem  Lodge  No.  169,  L  O.  O.  F.,  at  Burnips  Corners,  was  chartered 
August  24,  1871.  The  (kid  Fellows  hall  at  Salem  was  completed  and  ded- 
icated by  the  lodge  August  24,  1874,  the  Grand  Master  of  the  state  being 
in  charge  of  the  ceremonies. 

The  first  officers  were  Joshua  Myers,  N.  G. ;  Jesse  Bond,  V.  G. ;  James 
Eavens,  secretary ;  William  H.  Gordon,  treasurer.  The  present  officers : 
Noble  grand,  Lewis  R.  Heasley ;  vice  grand,  Gottlieb  Miller ;  secretary, 
Fred  Palmer;  treasurer,  Henry  Goodman. 

Salem  Encampment  No.  84,  L  O.  O.  F.,  was  chartered  February  11, 
1876.  The  first  officers  were  George  Heck,  C.  P. ;  C.  A.  Ball.  H.  P. ;  J.  F. 
Gardiner,  S.  W. ;  William  Heck,  J.  W. ;  Theodore  Castor,  scribe ;  C.  Sutter, 
treasurer. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY  567 

Saugatuck. 

Saiigatuck  Lodge  Xo.  196.  I.  O.  O.  F.,  instituted  October  17,  1872, 
had  the  following  charter  officers  and  members:  Henry  Ebmeyer,  N.  G. ; 
David  White,  V.  G. ;  E.  O.  Cole,  secretary ;  Amos  B.  Titus  and  Joseph 
Fischer.  Some  of  the  first  Noble  (irands  were  Henry  Ebmeyer,  David 
White,  Isaac  Wilson,  John  Wilson,  John  Priest.  James  A.  Houtcamp, 
Edmond  Skinner,  James  M.  Pond,  P.  H.  Hancock,  Samuel  Clipson,  J.  G. 
Williams.  William  F.  Metzger.  C.  M.  Cook.  R.  G.  Annesley. 

The  present  officers :  Noble  grand,  John  Utton :  vice  grand,  Clarence 
Halverson ;  secretary,  Wm.  Kencha ;  treasurer,  Carl  Ebmeyer.  The  lodge 
built  the  three-story  Odd  Fellows  hall  in  1878,  for  public,  lodge  and  com- 
mercial purposes. 

Saugatuck  Encampment  No.  60,  I.  O.  O.  F,,  was  instituted  August  7, 
1873,  the  first  officers  and  members  being:  H.  Ebmeyer,  C.  P.;  Isaac  Wil- 
son, H.  P. ;  John  Wilson.  S.  W. ;  John  Priest,  J.  W. ;  Samuel  Clipson,  treas- 
urer; William   Corner,  J.  A.   Houtcamp,   A.    R.  Tittis,  Charles  H.   Cham- 

Watson. 
Watson  Lodge  No.  226,  I.  .O.  O.  F.,  was  instituted  September  30, 
1875,  with  the  following  members:  James  B.  Lonsbury,  N.  G. ;  David  R. 
Miller,  V.  G. ;  J.  A.  Frost,  secretary ;  William  R.  Rowe,  treasurer ;  Zach- 
ariah  Foster,  S.  Van  Duzen,  Daniel  K.  Davis,  David  Bracelin,  Charles  E. 
White.  The  present  officers  are:  Noble  grand,  Abram  Kent;  vice  grand, 
J.  F.  Blair;  secretary,  F.  A.  Taylor;  treasurer,  C.  E.  Shepard. 

Hamilton. 

Hamilton  Lodge  No.  315.  I.  O.  O.  F..  was  chartered  October  19,  1878, 
the  first  officers  being  G.  B.  Sheffield,  N.  G.;  C.  E.  Siple,  V.  G.;  C.  W. 
Stone,  secretary ;  J.  Bowman,  treasurer. 

Its  present  officers  are;  Noble  grand,  Jacob  Eding;  vice  grand.  Hugh 
Sheifield  ;  secretary,  Geo.  A.  Piriknev, 

Fennvjlle. 
Fennville  Lodge  No.  338  was  instituted  March  26,  1880,  by  E.  G.  D. 
Holden.  grand  master.     The  present  officers  are:     Noble  grand,  Leonard 
Van  Bois:  vice  grand,  F.  F.  AtM'ood :  secretary,  F.  L.  Stevens;  treasurer, 
Wm.  Reed. 

MOLINE. 

Moline  Lodge  No.  343  was  instituted  October  16.  1903,  by  A.  H, 
Brown,  grand  master.  The  present  oilicers  are;  Noble  grand.  Charles 
Wa<leman  ;  secretary,  W.  F.  Ro.se  ;  treasurer,  J.  11.  Jeffers. 

Martin, 
Martin  Lodge  No.  356  was  instituted  November  28,  1881,  by  Samuel 
Adams,  grand  master.     Present  officers:     Noble  grand,  Amasa  Carpenter; 
vice  grand,  William  S.  Baird;  secretary,  W.  F.  Woodman;  treasurer,  J.  A. 
Middleton. 

Leasuhe. 
East  Casco  f.odge  No.  508,  at  Casco,  was  instituted  March  20.  1905. 


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568  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Charter  members:  W.  J.  Blayney,  C.  H.  Blanchard,  Charles  Overhiser, 
Joseph  R.  Mort,  Herschell  Adkhis,  G.  B.  Marshall,  C.  P.  Coppock,  C.  S. 
Pease,  John  C.  Bell.  E.  W.  Leisure,  Charles  Fry,  Lerov  V.  Lnndv,  Thomas 
N.  Marshall,  D.  D.  G.  M..  W.  J.  Blayney. 

Present  officers:  Noble  grand,  Charles  Overhiser:  vice  grand,  G.  B. 
Marshall ;  secretary,  Henry  C.  Dow ;  treasurer,  Frank  Pratt. 

Pullman. 

Energy-  Lodge  No.  509  was  instituted  March  21,  1905.  Charter  mem- 
bers: Lester  E.  Drumb,  George  K.  Tavlor,  G.  C.  Harrison,  Nelson  ri. 
Barber.  James  B.  Miller.  Alfred  Sauer.  D.  D.  G.  M..  O.  S.  Almack,  of 
Lodge  No.  33. 

Officers  for  1906:  Noble  grand,  Estel  J.  Hoffman ;  vice  grand,  Nelson 
H.  Barber;  secretary,  A.  A.  Leily. 

Otsego. 
Otsego  Lodge  No.  164,  L  O.  O.  F.,  was  institntecl  Jmie  7,  1871.     Its 
name   was   Henry  Day   Lodge    until    1873-      The    charter    members   were: 
Henry  Dav.  N.  G. :  A.  S.  Tompkins,  V,  G. ;  A.  B.  Wav,  R.  S. ;  Nabum  Gil- 
bert, treasurer;  John  B.  Millard,  D.  F.  Sweet,  Cbarle's  E.  McKay. 

Hopkins. 
Hopkins  Lodge  No.  270,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  organized  February  19,  1876,  had 
the  following  charter  members :  James  Armstrong,  A.  P.  Vamey,  C.  B. 
Eldred,  E.  B.  Congdon.  Richard  Redhead,  U.  R.  Fox,  John  Hicks,  Erwin 
Hill,  William  Edgell,  Thomas  Hicks.  M.  T.  Smith.  H.  M.  Raker,  George 
Blake.    This  lodge  is  no  longer  in  existence. 

Monterey. 
Lodge  No.  130,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  organized  in  April,  1869,  so  that  it 
was  one  of  the  older  branches  of  that  order  in  the  county.  Its  officers 
under  dispensation  were  Fayette  S,  Day,  N.  G. ;  M.  A.  Powell.  V.  G. ; 
Daniel  Loeb,  secretary;  Oliver  Gordon,  finnancial  secretary;  Joseph  Hoof- 
master,  treasurer. 

Allegan. 

May  Lodge  No.  i5.  Daughters  of  Rebekah.  the  ladies'  auxiliary  of  the 
Odd  Fellows,  was  organized  September  2,  1875,  its  first  officers  being: 
William  J.  Frost,  N.  G. :  Mrs.  Eliza  Baker,  V.  G. ;  Mrs.  Nettie  Ely,  secre- 
tary ;  Mrs.  Jennie  Frost,  treasurer ;  Mrs.  C.  E.  Hopkins  per  secretary. 

In  the  destructive  fire  of  March,  1884.  which  destroyed  a  large  portion 
of  the  business  section  of  Allegan,  the  archives  of  the  May  lodge  were  con- 
sumed, and  the  lodge  did  not  resume  activity,  its  charter  being  dropped. 

May  31,  1900,  the  Rebekah's  auxiliary  was  again  instituted  in  the  vil- 
lage, when  Victor  Rebekah  Lodge  No.  358  was  installed  by  Clara  Stover, 
state  president  of  the  D.  of  R.  The  charter  members  were:  Mesdames 
Lottie  Williams,  Addie  E.  Currey,  Hattie  St.  Germain,  Phila  Walker, 
Amanda  Curtis.  Marilda  Stafford.  The  first  officers  were:  Mrs.  Williams, 
N.  G. ;  Mrs.  St.  Germain,  V.  G. ;  Mrs.  Currey,  secretary;  Mrs.  Walker, 
treasurer.     There  were  eighteen  initiates  the  first  evening. 


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HISTORY  OF  ATJ-EGAN  COUNTY  S(59 

April  27.  1901,  Mystic  Rebekah  Lodge  No.  264  of  Watson  consoli- 
dated with  \'ictor  Lodge,  the  name  of  the  latter  bein^  retained  with  the 
lodge  number.  The  meeting  was  conducted  by  Sister  Crandall,  past  presi- 
dent, of  Muskegon,  and  the  members  entering  the  new  organization  from 
Watson  were :  Mary  E.  Rurnham.  ^^elissa  J.  Leggett.  Emma  Stone.  Sarah 
Andrews,  Clara  Dunton.  Charles  Dunton,  A.  C.  Rurnham.  J.  C.  Leggett, 
Mary  Hurley. 

Victor  Lodge  now  has  a  membership  of  66,  with  meetings  twice  a 
month.  The  officers  at  this  writing  (1906)  are:  Valonia  A.  Knapp, 
N.  G. :  Hattie  Wilson,  V.  G, :  M.  E.  Burnham,  recording  secretary;  Addie 
Nichols,  financial  secretary;  Ella   Atkins,  treasurer. 

K.  O.  T.  M, 

Allegan  Tent  No.  63  was  organized  in  1882.  Charter  metnliers :  Sam- 
uel Murphy,  James  Fuller,  A.  H.  Rensenhouse,  E.  D.  Alexander,  F.  Maxim, 
Charles  E.  White,  Chas.  A.  Jones,  A.  J.  Knapp.  Ogden  Tomilson,  Isaac 
Leagart.  R.  D.  Thompson,  F.  A.  Abott.  A.  E.  Knerr,  G.  M.  Hartson. 

Present  Officers :  H.  E.  Elliott,  Com. :  J.  R.  Wood,  R.  K. :  A.  P.  Lons- 
bery,  F.  K.    Allegan  Tent  has  about  350  members. 

L.  O.  T.  M. 

Allegan  TTive  No,  60  was  organized  May  20.  ;8qo.  Char- 
ter members:  Nellie  C.  Leweke.  Sarah  Powers,  Estella  Leh- 
man. Rosa  Brand.  Lolah  Smith.  Helen  Walters.  Mary  Cady,  Man,' 
J.  Delhnger.  Helen  Fuller.  Mar\'  Wing,  Lucrecia  Robinson,  Cath- 
erine Van  Hess.  Mrs.  Cook, 

First  Officers:  Flora  Nichols.  P.  L.  C:  Fanny  Hicks.  L.  C;  Annis 
Van  Kuren,  Leut.  Com. :  Lizzie  Stockdale,  record  keeper ;  Ida  Vander  Cook, 
finance  keeper;  .Anna  Lear,  chaplain:  Fannv  Solomon,  m  i  stress -a  t-ann  s ; 
Hannah  Kolofif,  sergeant-at-arms;  Elizabeth  Gardener,  Sent;  Nellie  White, 
picket. 

Present  Officers:  Hattie  Wilson,  Com.:  Frances  Spafford,  R.  K. ; 
Mamie  Benjamin,  F.  K.    Allegan  Hive  has  about  150  members. 

Anctent  Order  of  LInited  Workmen'. 

AlleEraii  Ijidgc  No.  41.  A.  O.  IT.  W..  was  organized  in  March,  1878.  its 
membership  being  increased  to  fortv  during  the  first  vear.  Its  first  officers 
were :  Fayette  S.  Day,  M.  W. :  Joseph  W.  Elv,  S.  W. :  H.  Leroy  Peck,  O. ; 
A.  M.  Sheoard.  Recorder:  E,  Leavenworth,  Receiver:  A.  D,  Nelson,  Fin,; 
Dr.  H.  S.  Lay,  Med,  Exam. 


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CHAPTER  XVII. 
PIONEERS. 

There  follows  a  brief  chronological  record  of  pioneers  who  came  to 
the  county  before  1840  and  later  became  members  of  the  Pioneer  Society. 
The  society's  records  have  not  been  kept  in  sufficient  detail  to  allow  this 
list  to  approach  completeness,  but  it  is  believed  the  facts  given  will  supple- 
ment some  other  portions  of  the  history. 

Ammerman,  Daniel, — Bom  in  Bethel,  Pennsylvania,  June  18,  1814; 
came  to  Allegan  September  2,  1836,  where  he  died  August  28,  1879. 

Askins,  John. — Born  in  Chatham,  Canada,  September  15,  1815;  came 
to  Allegan  April  22,  1835;  died  June  15,  i88k  His  wife,  Esther  Askins, 
born  in  Indian  Orchard,  Pennsylvania,  September  13,  1819;  came  to  Alle- 
gan July  22,  1838,  where  she  died  November  18,  1885. 

Black]Tian,  Henry  E.— Born  in  Aurora,  Ohio,  January  6,  1820;  came 
to  Gun  Plain  January  21,  1839. 

Blackman,  L.  S. — Born  in  Otsego,  Michigan,  August  8,  1835. 

Bailey,  Jacob  B. — Born  in  Marlborough,  New  York,  September  7, 
1807;  came  to  Allegan  November  20,  1836;  deceased. 

His  wife,  Mary  L.  Bailey,  bom  in  New  York  City,  New  York,  Jan- 
uary 9,  1809:  came  to  Allegan  June  3,  1837;  died  December  i,  1881. 

Brownell,  Ephraim. — Bom  in  Ogden,  New  York,  April  4,  1817;  came 
to  Allegan  May  i,  1837;  deceased. 

Brooks,  Randal  W. — Born  in  Alabama,  New  York,  September  10, 
1817;  came  to  Allegan  in  March,  1838;  deceased. 

Bliss,  William  A. — ^Born  in  Rochester,  New  York,  September  17, 
1828;  came  to  Allegan  July  4,  1836;  deceased. 

His  wife,  Rhoda  M.  Bliss,  born  in  Westford,  New  York,  October  17, 
1828;  died  April  29,  1887. 

Booth,  Ruth  E. — Born  in  East  Bloomfield,  New  York,  April  27,  181 1 ; 
came  to  Allegan  October  10,  1836. 

Chaffee,  Ira.— Born  in  Onegatche,  New  Jersey,  July  2,  1812;  came  to 
Altegan  October  28,  1835 ;  deceased. 

His  wife,  Lavinda  Chaffee,  bom  in  Indian  Orchard,  Pennsylvania, 
November  x8,  1821 ;  came  to  Allegan  July  22,  1838;  deceased. 

Chichester,  Ira. — Born  in  Unadilla,  New  York,  March  6,  1823 ;  came 
to  Otsego  July  7,  1835 ;  deceased. 

His  wife,  Ann  Mary  Chichester,  born  in  Medina,  Ohio,  June  17,  1827; 
came  to  Gun  Plain  October,  1833. 

570 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY  571 

Clark,  Hovev  K. — Born  in  New  England  July  I2,  1812;  died  at  Detroit 
July  21,  1889. 

Dumont,  Henry. — Born  in  Seneca  county,  New  York,  June  5,  1815; 
came  to  Gun  Plain  October  \y,  1835;  deceased. 

His  wife,  Luvina  D.  Dumont,  born  in  Barnet,  \'ermont.  May  15,  1821 ; 
came  to  Allegan  June  9,  1836;  deceased. 

Drew,  Joseph  W. — Born  in  Stanbridge,  Canada,  December  11,  1826; 
came  to  Otsego  in  September,  1836;  died  April  27,  1887.  His  wife,  Sally 
Drew,  bom  in  New  York  February  15,  1800;  came  to  Otsego  in  September, 
1836;  died  February  15,  1885. 

Davis,  Hannah  J. — Born  in  Bolton,  New  York,  May  10,  1814;  came 
to  Allegan  May  19,  1836;  died  September  30,  1877. 

Eager,  Benjamin, — Bom  in  Lancaster,  Massachusetts,  March  10, 
1813;  came  to  Allegan  March  30,  1835,  where  he  died  August  19,  1877. 
His  wife,  Julia  A.  Eager,  born  in  Royalton,  Vermont,  June  8,  1817;  came 
to  Allegan  in  1839;  deceased. 

Eaton,  Orsamus. — Born  in  Chester,  New  York,  April  10,  1810;  came 
to  Otsego  in  September,  1834;  died  August  27,  1885. 

Goodrich,  Osman  D. — Born  in  New  Hartford,  New  York,  May  10, 
1808;  came  to  Allegan  May  6,  1831 ;  died  November  3,  1887. 

Henderson,  D,  C. — Born  in  Thurso,  Scotland,  March  20,  1826;  came 
to  Allegan  in  1841. 

Higgins,  John.— Born  in  Sutton  Valanae,  England,  July  9,  1809;  came 
to  Allegan  June,  1836;  died  October  10,  1879. 

Hurd,  H.  L, — Bom  in  Dunham,  Canada.  September  i8,  1833 ;  came  to 
Allegan  November  4,  1839;  deceased. 

Knapp,  Wm.  A. — Born  in  Lima,  New  York,  Decejiibcr  15,  1820;  came 
to  Allegan  September  13,  1835;  deceased. 

Kingsbury,  Henry. — Born  in  Lima,  New  York,  June  8,  1800;  came 
to  Allegan  November  4,  1839;  died  October  3,  1883. 

Fisk,  Joseph. — Born  in  Charlemont,  Massachusetts,  May  22,  1810; 
came  to  Allegan  March  7,  1834,  and  there  died  May  19,  1884.  His  wife, 
Betsey  Fisk,  born  in  Hartford,  New  York,  September  22,  1810;  came  to 
Allegan  March  7,  1834,  and  there  died. 

Loomis,  Levi.— Born  in  Hamilton.  New  York.  September  6,  i8ro; 
came  to  Allegan  in  June,  1836;  deceased. 

His  wife,  Salty  A.  Loomis,  born  in  Hamilton,  New  York,  September 
6,  r8o6;  came  to  Allegan  January  25,  1837;  deceased. 

Littlejohn,  F.  J. — Bom  in  Litchfield,  New  York,  July  20,  1804;  came 
to  Allegan  1836;  died  May  15,  1880.  His  wife,  Harriet  B.  Littlejohn,  born 
in  Herkimer,  New  York. 

Leggett,  Daniel. — Born  in  Saratoga.  New  York,  January  25.  1807; 
came  to  Allegan  October  4,  1837;  deceased. 

McMartin,  Duncan  A.— Born  in  Amsterdam,  New  York,  July  19, 
1810;  came  to  Allegan  October  29,  1836,  and  there  died  April  10,  1883. 

Morse,  Asa.— Bom  in  Oneida  county.  New  York,  October  5,  1803; 
came  to  Allegan  June  15.  1837,  and  there  died  Febmarv  11,  1883, 

McMartin.  M.  T.— Born  in  Henrietta,  New  York,  Jime  5,  1829;  came 
to  Gun  Plains  September  ig,  1833;  deceased. 


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673  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNT-t: 

Marsh,  Spencer. — Bom  in  Lansing,  New  York,  March  25,  1805;  came 
to  Allegan  July  5,  1836,  and  there  died  March  18,  1877. 

Murray.  E.   A. — Ijorn  in  Charlton,   New  York,   February  28,   1814; 
came  to  Allegan  in  November,  1835;  died  April  12,  1882. 

Muma,  Ann. — Born  in  Dumfries,  Canada,  November  16,  1830;  came 
to  Allegan  February  6,  1837;  deceased. 

Parsons,    John. — Born   in    Lyme,    Connecticut,    December    15,    1805; 
came  to  Watson  in  September,  1840;  died  April  23,  1882. 

Peabody,  Johnathan. — ^Born   in    EUisburg,   New   York,   September    17, 
i8i2;  came  to  Allegan  September  10,  1836;  deceased. 

Plummer,  Benjamin. 

Rossman,   Alby, — Born  in   Harding,   New   York,   January   14,    1812; 
came  to  Allegan  July  20,  1836;  deceased. 

His  wife.  Electa  Rossman.  born  in  Conquest,  New  York,  May  6,  1819; 
came  to  Allegan  October  21,  1837;  deceased. 

Rumery,   S.    R. — Born  in   Lockport,   New  York,   February    17,    1820; 
came  to  Allegan  October  15,  1839;  died  in  Monterey  August  24,  1884. 

Streeter,  J.  B. — Born  in  Rochester.  New  York.  July  4,  1829;  came  to 
Allegan  in  September,  1835 ;  deceased. 

Stone,  Jesse  D. — Born  in  Canajohari,  New  York.  February  13,  1812; 
came  to  Allegan  in  October,  1836;  deceased. 

Smith.   Cynthia. — Born   in    Conqiiest,   New    York,   October   8,    1834; 
came  to  Allegan  in  1837 ;  deceased. 

Spear,  Charles.— Born  in  Charlotte,  Vermont.  August  25,  1828;  came 
to  Gun  Plains  in  December,  1835 ;  deceased. 

Sherwood,  M.  C. — Born  in  Otsego,  Michigan,  January  11,  1833. 

Weeks,  Alanson  S. — Born  in  Wheelock.  Vermont,  January  12,   1812; 
came  to  Allegan  in  June,  1835,  where  he  died  October  18,  1880. 

White,  Calvin  C. — Born  in  Grafton,  Massachusetts,  February  10,  1803; 
came  to  Gun  Plain  in  1832  and  there  died  November  7,  1880. 

Watkins,  Lyman  W.- — Born   in  Chester.  Vermont,   March   10,    1817; 
came  to  Allegan  in  May,  1836;  deceased. 

His  wife,  Sylvia  Watkins,  born  in  Lansing,  New   York,   March   14, 
1823;  came  to  Allegan  in  October,  1843;  deceased. 

Weare,  Richard. — Bom  in  Bolton.  Canada.  December  21,  1806;  came 
to  Allegan  April,  1834;  deceased. 

Wilson.  Charles  S. — Born  in  Springfield,  Massachusetts,  May  16,  1819; 
came  to  Allegan  in  September,  1838;  deceased. 

Wetmore,  Jos.  H. — Born  in  Westford.  New  York,  March  27,  1S26; 
came  to  Gun  Plains  in  November,  1835 ;  deceased. 

His  wife.   Caroline  F.  Wetmore,  born  in   Seneca   Falls,   New  York, 
February  3,  1832;  came  to  Allegan  in  1836;  deceased. 

Wetmore,  Albert  D. — Born  in  Middlefield,  New  York,  April  17,  T833; 
came  to  Gun  Plains  in  November,  1835 ;  deceased. 


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CHAPTER  XVIJI. 
THE  CHURCHES. 
Baptist  Church. 

Shortly  after  the  organization  of  Allegan  comity,  and  before  it  had 
been  divided  into  tlie  fonr  original  townships,  a  meeting  was  held  in  the 
house  of  Silas  Dunham  near  what  is  now  the  village  of  Plainwell,  Decem- 
ber 26,  1835,  ^*  which  was  formed  the  first  Baptist  church  in  Allegan 
county,  as  well  as  the  first  permanent  religious  body  in  the  same  territory. 
The  names  of  those  taking  part  in  that  meeting  represent  some  of  the 
eariiest  pioneer  families  of  the  sotitheast  part  of  the  county.  They  were: 
Silas  Dunham,  Curtis  Brigham.  S.  Calkins,  Elisha  IJ.  Seely,  James  Calkins, 
Alfred  S.  Dunham,  Lydia  Brigham,  Edwin  S.  Dunham.  Tirza  Dunham, 
Joanna  Calkins,  Sarah  Seely  and  Matilda  Calkins.  The  council  held  for 
the  recognition  of  this  church  February  4.  1836,  was  presided  over  by 
Elder  Jeremiah  Hall  as  moderator,  who  also  became  the  first  pastor  of  the 
body.  Previous  to  this  meetings  had  been  held,  generally  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  Dunham,  since  1833,  and  in  March,  1835,  Deacon  Curtis  Brigham  had 
commenced  stated  meetings  at  the  log  schoolhoiise  on  the  Plains. 

This  was  the  mother  church  in  the  county,  and  from  it  have  been 
formed  several  of  the  Baptist  churches  now  active  in  the  county.  It  con- 
tained adherents  from  all  over  southeastern  Allegan  count}-,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  had  no  fixed  abode,  services  being  held  in  schoolhouses  or  resi- 
dences over  the  area  now  included  in  Gun  Plains,  Otsego  and  Allegan  town- 
ships, and  also  in  Cooper  township  of  Kalamazoo  county.  The  first  separa- 
tion to  form  a  church  with  smaller  limits  was  that  of  December,  1840, 
when  the  Baptists  of  Cooper  organized  a  church  of  their  own.  The  mem- 
bers living  in  and  about  Allegan  formed  a  church  of  their  own  in  January, 
1841,  and  in  the  following  year  the  remainder  of  the  congregation  fixed 
upon  Otsego  as  a  central  and  permanent  church  abo<le.  Two  other  branches 
have  come  from  the  parent  church,  one  portion  forming  a  church  in  Trow- 
bridge and  another  a  church  in  Plainwell.  the  latter  in  the  year  1864,  and 
the  former  about  1869. 

Olsego. 

During  the  first  thirty  years  the  Otsego  church  was  served  by  the  fol- 
lowing ministers:  Elder  Jeremiah  Hall,  Deacon  Curtis  Brigham,  Elder 
William  A.  Bronson  (in  1844) ;  Rev.  Harvey  Munger,  1840-44;  Rev.  A.  M. 


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674  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Buck,  1851-57;  H.  Stanwood,  1858:  A.  M.  Buck,  1859-63;  O.  S.  Wolfe, 
1864;  H.  B.  Taft,  1864-65;  A.  M.  Buck,  1872.  A  house  of  worship  was 
erected  in  1855  at  a  cost  of  about  $t,ooo. 

Plamu'cll. 

The  origin  of  the  Baptist  church  at  this  village  has  been  described. 
Meetings  were  held  both  on  the  Plains  and  at  Otsego  for  some  years,  and 
after  the  building  of  the  plank  road  and  the  beginning  of  the  Junction,  the 
schoolhouse  at  this  point  served  for  the  house  of  worship.  When  the  Junc- 
tion began  growing  rapidly  as  a  village,  to  which  the  name  Plainwell  was 
given,  an  independent  Baptist  church  was  organized,  on  May  ir,  1864, 
22  persons  entering  with  letters  of  dismission  from  the  Otsego  congrega- 
tion. Rev.  O.  S.  Wolfe  was  the  first  pastor,  and  was  followed  by  Rev.  J. 
Fletcher  October  1.  1865,  who  has  served  this  church  continuously  forty- 
one  years.  This  record  makes  him  the  dean  of  Allegan  county  ministers. 
He  is  really  the  only  pastor  this,  as  a  separate  church,  has  had.  Many  of 
the  Otsego  members  lived  in  this  vicinity,  and  for  their  accommodation 
meetings  were  held  in  the  schoolhouse  here,  the  people  here  doing  their  part 
in  the  support  of  the  Otsego  pastor.  When  the  23  persons  called  for  letters 
of  dismission  to  form  the  church  here,  one  condition  was  that  the  existing 
arrangement  about  paying  pastor  should  continue  until  the  end  of  that  finan- 
cial year,  he  continuing  to  preach  here  for  some  period,  but  was  the  Otsego 
pastor. 

The  church  at  Plainwell  was  built  in  1865-66,  being  enlarged  in  1870. 
Its  location  is  at  the  corner  of  Bridge  and  Church  streets.  A  chapel  was 
built  in  1871  two  and  a  half  miles  east  of  the  village  for  the  convenience  of 
the  people  residing  in  that  neighborhood.  The  oldest  members  are:  H.  J. 
Cushman  and  wife,  J.  W.  Brigham  and  wife,  Josiah  Woodhams  and  wife, 
Henry  Keeler  and  wife,  Abel  S.  Dunham  and  wife. 

Allegan. 

As  related,  the  Baptists  of  Allegan  were  first  connected  with  the 
Plainfieid  society.  In  the  old  church  record,  now  yellow  with  age,  the  first 
regular  entry,  dated  December  26,  1840.  reads  as  follows :  "According  to 
previous  appointment,  the  Baptist  church  of  Plainfieid  held  their  covenant 
meeting  in  Allegan,  when  it  was  resolved  that  some  of  the  brethren  and 
sisters  in  Allegan  present  a  request  to  the  Plainfieid  church  to  be  considered 
a  branch  of  that  church.  Appointed  Jasper  Fisk  to  make  the  request." 
Then  follows  another  minute,  dated  January  15,  1841 :  "This  day  by  a 
vote  of  the  Plainfieid  church,  the  following  brethren  were  constituted  into 
a  branch":  Jasper  Fisk,  H.  Munger,  minister,  O.  Ross,  Oramel  Fisk,  A. 
Ross,  H.  Ross,  John  Colburn,  Noah  Briggs,  Rhoda  Munger,  J,  Ross,  H. 
Fisk,  Hannah  Davi.s,  Mary  Ann  Stone,  E.  Colburn,  S.  Briggs,  M.  Finn. 
Some  who  united  with  the  church  in  the  same  year  were:  Aurelia  Fuller, 
Betsey  Fisk,  Chester  Wetmore,  Daniel  Leggett,  John  Griffith,  Joseph  Fisk,  , 
Jonathan  Peabody,  Frederick  Day,  Amanda  Grifllith,  Mary  Jane  Kenyon, 
Lemuel  Wilcox,  Leonard  Ross,  Samuel 'Wilcox,  Fanny  Day,  Phebe  Ross, 
Levi  Wilcox. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUl\'T\  675 

As  early  as  March,  1838,  the  proprietors  of  the  Allegan  village  plat 
{Samuel  Hubbard  and  wife,  and  C.  C.  Trowbridge  acting  for  A.  L.  Ely) 
had  deeded  to  the  trustees  of  the  First  Baptist  church  of  Allegan  a  portion 
of  five  lots  in  the  square  west  of  the  public  square.  But  no  church  edifice 
was  erected  for  some  years  after  the  organization.  A  minute,  July  5, 
1845,  records  the  acceptance  of  the  report  of  a  committee  "to  procure  a 
house  for  to  worship  in,"  for  which  the  church  would  be  charged  twenty-five 
cents  a  day.  A  brick  building  was  finally  begun  on  the  west  side  of  Wal- 
nut street,  but  there  were  difficulties  in  completing  it,  Rev.  Munger  being 
deputized  as  agent  to  solicit -funds  among  other  communities  during  1852. 
As  is  known,  this  building  was  purchased  by  the  county  in  1854  and  con- 
verted into  a  court  house,  which  was  used  until  condemned  in  1887.  The 
liandsome  brick  edifice  now  used  was  dedicated  May  21,  1892,  being  one  of 
the  best  church  buildings  in  the  county,  and  in  keeping  with  the  artistic  and 
modern  appearance  of  the  blocks  surrounding  the  public  square.  The  build- 
ing was  made  possible  by  a  legacy  from  Mrs.  Hannah  Davis,  amounting  to 
$10,000,  and  was  begun  in  April,  1891.  The  total  cost  was  $22,000.  The 
building  committee  were  A.  B.  Eaton.  E.  P.  Arnold,  B.  E.  Peabodv.  J.  E. 
Wood,  C.  W.  Calkins. 

Harvey  Munger  was  the  first  regular  minister  of  the  church,  though 
his  time  was  not  devoted  entirely  to  this  charge.  He  was  succeeded  in  the 
fall  of  1846  by  T.  Z.  R.  Jones,  and  the  latter  by  Daniel  Piatt  in  1848.  Rev. 
Munger  was  recalled  in  May,  1850,  and  while  he  was  engaged  in  soliciting 
funds  to  complete  the  church  building  A.  M.  Buck  served  a  time  as  min- 
ister. The  list  of  ministers  as  given  on  the  memorial  windows  of  the  new 
church  is  as  follows:  Rev.  H.  Munger,  1841-54:  T.  Z.  R.  Jones,  1854-55; 
David  Piatt,  1855-56:  A.  J.  Bingham,  1856-59;  Henry  Stanwood,  1860-61; 
Wm.  McCarthv,  1862-66;  A.  Snyder,  1866-69;  R-  Reynolds,  1870-72;  L.  L. 
Gage,  1873-76;  O.  O.  Fletcher,  1877-79:  C.  J.  Fish,  1880-82;  J.  M.  Titter- 
ington,  1882-84;  E.  A.  Gay,  1884-91;  C.  R.  Baker,  1892 -September,  1893; 
E.  Haines,  December,  1893-September,  1895 ;  A.  H.  Bailev,  September, 
1895-1898;  J.  E.  Littell,  December,  1898-May,  1906;  Rev.  Cooper,  October, 
1906. 

The  Second  Baptist  church  of  Allegan  was  organized  in  October,  1877, 
by  Elder  Fletcher  of  Allegan  and  Elder  Brown  of  Cheshire.  The  charter 
members  now  living  are  Rev.  Joseph  Cross  and  Samuel  Chandler.  The 
list  of  pastors  who  have  served  this  congregation  are :  Elder  Rolands, 
Joseph  Green,  Elders  Andrew,  Bazy,  Nancy,  Thomas,  William  Thompson, 
William  Brown,  Cassam  Thompson,  Joseph  Cross. 

The  First  Baptist  church  of  Ganges  was  organized  as  a  branch  of  the 
Allegan  church  by  Elder  Harvey  Munger,  on  July  16,  1853.  The  nine 
members  who  composed  it  were:  Levi  Loomis,  Sarah  Ann  Loomis,  Joseph 
Collins,  Marcus  Sutherland,  Almira  Hudson,  Charlotte  Collins,  Mrs.  Suth- 
erland, Eunice  Crawford,  Bathsheba  Rockwell.  Meetings  were  at  first 
held  ill  schoolhouses.  .  The  early  pastors  were :  Austin  Harmann,  C.  P. 
Grosvenor,  Silas  Bowker,  Abner  Webb,  E.  O'Brien,  William  Munger,  T.  E. 
Piatt.  *    ^ 

September  22,  1868,  seventeen  persons,  inchiding  some  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  first  church,  organized  the  Second  Baptist  church  of  Ganges. 


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67fi  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Tlie  first  pastor  was  Silas  Bowker,  and  the  first  officers  were  William  P. 
Sliernian,  J.  H.  Barden  and  Levi  Loomis. 

Trowbridge. 
The  church  at  Otsego  established  a  branch  in  Trowbridge  and  held 
meetings  in  the  Ross  schoolhouse.     A  church  was  organized  with  a  mem- 
bership of  46  persons  in  1868.     May  21,  1873,  a  church  building  costing 
$3,000  was  dedicated,  its  location  being  on  section  24. 

St.  Marcahet's  Catholic  Parish,  Otsego,  and  Sacred  Heart  Mission, 

M^atsou. 

In  tracing  the  history  of  St.  Margaret's  Parish,  Otsego,  wc  will  have 
to  begin  with  the  Sacred  Heart  Mission  in  Watson  township.  As  early  as 
the  fifties,  Catholics  began  to  settle  in  and  around  Watson  township,  and, 
at  the  close  of  that  decade,  there  were  twelve  or  fifteen  families  who  wor- 
shipped God  according  to  Catholic  rite.  Father  La  Bell,  whose  memory  is 
held  in  benediction  by  the  old  settlers,  was  the  first  priest  to  minister  to  the 
wants  of  Catholics  in  what  may  be  called  the  wilds  of  Watson.  The  Holy 
Sacrifice  of  the  Mass  was  offered  for  the  first  time  in  the  house  of  Daniel 
Bracelin  in  1856.  As  time  went  on,  new  settlers  came,  and  in  1862  those 
sturdy  settlers  erected  a  church,  where  the  beautiful  ceremonial  of  Cath- 
olic service  could  be  carried  out.  The  church  is  still  standing  and  used  as 
an  assembly  hall.  It  has  a  seating  capacity  for  250  and  is,  perhaps,  one  of 
the  most  substantia!  of  the  old  church  buildings  in  the  county.  It  is 
regarded  by  many  of  the  present  congregation  as  intimately  connected  with 
their  lives.  In  it  they  were  baptized,  received  first  holy  communion  and 
finally  made  those  solemn  promises.  bin<ling  upon  husband  and  wife. 

A  cemetery  was  provided  about  the  time  the  church  was  built,  and 
almost  all  the  deceased  members  of  the  congregation  were  buried  in  this 
plot  of  ground.  It  being  opposite  the  church,  the  living  find  it  convenient 
to  visit  the  graves  of  their  deceased  friends  when  they  attend  divine  service. 

The  following  priests  were  pastors  of  the  Watson  congregation: 
Father  Herwig,  from  1865  to  1870;  Father  Seyboldt,  from  1870  to  1874; 
Father  Broeger,  from  1874  to  1877:  Father  Lovett,  from  1877  to  1880; 
Father  Dempsey.  now  vicar-general  of  the  diocese  of  Detroit,  for  two  and 
one-half  years;  Father  Wernert,  for  ten  months;  Father  Van  Antwerp,  for 
two  and  one-half  years.  During  these  years  the  congregation  increased  in 
number  to  such  a  degree  that  a  larger  house  of  worship  became  necessary. 
Father  O'Brien,  of  Kalamazoo,  now  became  pastor  and  under  his  direction, 
and  that  of  his  able  assistant,  Father  Ryan,  now  of  Pontiac,  a  new  church 
was  erected.  The  structure  is  of  red  brick  and  has  a  seating  capacity  of 
350.  The  stained  glass  memorial  windows  and  up  to  date  furniture  make 
it  one  of  the  prettiest  churches  in  Allegan  county.  The  style  of  architec- 
ture is  that  of  the  English  chapel.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  in  1888  and 
the  church  was  dedicated  the  following  year.  The  following  priests  labored 
in  this  mission  since  the  new  church  was  built :  Fathers  De  Gryse,  Ken- 
nedy, Maner,  Lochbiler,  Connolly,  Rivard,  Cullinane  and  O'Shea. 

All  this  time   Catholics  were  settling  in  and  around   Plainwell.     Tn 


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(lX(;kK(;ATI()XAI,  CIICRCII 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  577, 

1873  thev  resolved  to  have  a  church  of  their  own,  and  bought  the  old  Pres- 
byterian'church.  Here  they  worshipped  till  December,  1903,  when  they 
amalgamated  with  the  Otsego  congregation. 

The  erection  of  the  Bardeen  Paper  mills  in  Otsego  in  1887  meant  prog- 
ress for  Otsego  in  everj'  sense.  Many  Catholics  who  were  employed  in 
the  mills  found  it  inconvenient  to  go  to  Plainwell  for  worship,  and  con- 
cluded that  a  Catholic  church  would  have  to  be  built  in  the  thriving  village. 
Accordingly,  in  1890,  the  corner  stone  of  St.  Margaret's  church  was  laid 
and  before  winter  the  building  was  complete.  It  was  a  pleasure  to  all 
progressive  citizens,  and  the  non-Catholic  contribution  was  a  very  hand- 
some sum. 

For  ten  years  Otsego  was  attended  from  Kalamazoo,  but  at  the  end  of 
this  period  CJtsego  was  erected  into  a  parish,  with  Watson  and  Plainwell 
as  missions.  Father  John  Desmond  O'Shea  was  the  first  pastor  of  the  new 
parish.  He  and  his  faithful  people  worked  strenuously  to  build  the  hand- 
some rectory  and  at  the  close  of  the  first  year  had  it  ready  for  occupancy. 

In  July  of  1903  the  present  pastor,  Father  O'Neill,  was  assigned  to 
St.  Margaret's  parish,  Otsego,  and  the  missions  of  Watson  and  Plainwell. 
In  December  the  Plainwell  congregation  was  united  with  Otsego. 

The  parish  was  always  flourishing  and  the  future  would  seem  to  have 
still  greater  prosperity  in  store.  Recently  a  beautiful  site  was  purchased  in 
the  village  of  Allegan  and  soon  a  new  church  will  raise  its  spire  heaven- 
ward, pointing  out  to  men  their  end  and  destiny. 

CoNt;KKGATI0N\\L  CHUKCII. 


Under  the  "plan  of  union"  by  which  the  early  Presbyterians  and  Con- 
gregation alists  worshipped,  it  happens  that  the  Congregational  church  of 
Otsego  and  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Plainwell  trace  their  origin  to  the 
same  meeting,  which  has  been  described  in  the  sketch  of  the  Plainwell 
Presbvterian  church.  The  first  religious  services  of  the  society  were  held 
at  Otsego  February  26,  1837.  After  the  Plainfield  church  was  attached  to 
the  Kalamazoo  presbytery  in  1842,  the  Otsego  church  was  continued  inde- 
pendently. Its  first  house  of  worship  in  Otsego  was  built  in  1846.  Fire 
destroyed  this  in  March,  1865,  and  two  years  later  a  new  edifice  was  com- 
pleted at  the  corner  of  Franklin  and  Farmer  streets. 

In  1891  a  comfortable  parsonage  was  built,  which  has  been  kept  in 
excellent  repair  to  date.  The  congregation  still  worships  in  the  edifice  built 
in  1865,  which  has  been  repaired  and  changed,  but  is  not  meeting  the  needs 
of  the  church,  and  a  new  one  is  the  desire  of  the  church. 

Since  1842  the  following  pastors  have  served:  J.  Bliss,  Rev.  McMath, 
S.  Stevens,  F.  L.  Fuller,  David  S.  Morse,  Charles  Temple,  John  Jackson, 
A.  B.  Allen,  Thomas  Towler,  A.  M.  Buck,  D.  W.  Comstock,  J.  W.  Homer, 
F.  Bissell,  J.  R.  Chaplain,  A.  B.  Cochran,  E.  A.  Fredenhogen,  L.  K.  Long, 
J.  W.  Arnev,  E.  J.  Burgess,  F.  M.  Coddington,  S.  W.  Seihert,  O.  B.  Van 
Florn,  C.  M'.  Taylor. 

The  following  families  have  been  best  and  longest  known  for  support 
and  active  membership  in  the  church:     Matthew  J.  Coffin,  W.  C.  Edseel, 


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r<'^»  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

J.  M,  Baliou,  H.  C.  Stoiightou,  Clias.  Temple,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Cushman,  Mrs. 
N.  W.  Mills. 

Allegan. 

The  Congregational  church  at  Allegan  was  organized  June  lo,  1858, 
at  the  home  of  H.  H.  Booth.  Forty  years  later  an  anniversary  celebration 
of  this  occasion  was  held,  at  which  time  the  history  of  the  church  was  thor- 
oughly recalled.  The  late  N.  B.  West  was  chosen  moderator  of  the  organ- 
ization meeting,  and  Andrew  Oliver,  now  the  only  living  charter  member, 
was  scribe.     The  other  charter  members  were:     Melissa  G.  West,  Edwin 

A.  Murray,  Roxana  Murray,  Ruth  Elizabeth  Booth,  Desire  M.  Booth,  Jacob 

B.  Bailey,  Mary  L.  Bailey.  These,  with  Mr.  West  and  Mr.  Booth,  had  up 
to  that  time  been  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Allegan.  Mr. 
Oliver's  church  connection  had  been  with  a  Free-will  Baptist  church,  and 
two  united  with  the  church  on  profession  of  faith — E.  Dewey  Follett  and 
Sarah  B.  Follett. 

The  church  united  with  the  Kalamazoo  Association  October  13,  1858. 
The  Sunday  services  were  held  in  the  Pine  Grove  Seminary  building  until 
the  erection  of  the  first  church  edifice.  Legal  incorporation  was  effected 
July  25,  1862,  the  first  trustees  being  N.  B.  West,  J,  H.  Mayhew  and  Leon- 
ard Bailey.  A  very  plain  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1864  on  Cutler 
street,  at  a  cost  of  $2,700,  being  dedicated  January  i,  1865.  This  was 
rebuilt  in  1882,  at  a  cost  of  $4,100,  and  rededicated  November  i6th.  In 
1897  the  chapel  was  made  more  commodious  and  convenient  at  a  cost  of 
$1,300.  In  March,  i8g8,  a  fine  pipe  organ  was  put  into  the  church,  a  gift 
from  Deacon  and  Mrs.  N.  B.  West.  A  parsonage  was  completed  in  the 
spring  of  1875,  being  built  on  a  lot  nearly  opposite  the  church,  costing  about 
$2,000.  Deacon  West,  a  short  time  before  his  death  in  1905,  gave  the 
church  an  endowment  fund  of  $5,000,  and  at  the  same  time  made  a  gift 
of  $4,000  to  Olivet  College. 

The  Ladies'  Mite  Society  was  organized  May  16,  i860:  a  Woman's 
Missionary  Society  was  organized  May  16,  1875;  the  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E.  was 
organized  January  3,  1886,  and  the  junior  society  in  July,  1893. 

The  pastors  who  have  served  the  church  since  the  first  regular  minister 
was  installed  have  been:  David  Wirt,  November  6,  1858,  to  i860;  Lucien 
H.  Jones,  1860-61 ;  Levi  F.  Waldo,  1861-65 ;  Elizur  Andrus,  1865-70 ;  Rufus 
Apthorp,  1870-71 ;  Levi  F.  Bickford,  1871-73 ;  Daniel  E.  Hathaway,  1874- 
75 :  John  Sailor,  1875-80;  George  R.  Milton,  1880-81 ;  Isaac  W.  McKeever. 
1881-86;  Henry  F.  Tyler,  1886-90;  Moses  M.  Martin,  1890-96;  Frank  W. 
Hullinger,   1896-99;  Wilfred  Lindsay,   1899-1906. 

SaMgatu<:k. 

A  church  was  organized  at  the  Saugatuck  schoolhouse  January  11, 
i860,  with  the  following  members:  Rev.  C.  H.  Eaton,  F.  B.  Walhn,  Moses 
Philbrook,  Alanson  Gardner,  Mrs.  M.  F.  Eaton,  Mrs.  Orcetia  Wallin,  Mary 
Philbrook,  Marila  Gardner,  Elnathan  Judson  and  wife,  John  Harris,  Han- 
nah Cook,  Andrew  Alexander,  Sarah  Jane  Cowles.  The  following  summer 
the  society  built  the  first  house  of  worship  in  the  village. 

The  pastors  have  been:    C.  H.  Eaton,  J.  C.  Myers,  1862;  J.  F.  Taylor, 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  579 

1868;  W.  C.  Allen  and  W.  B,  Sutherland,  Rev.  John  Sailor,  1880;  Rev. 
W.  D.  Attack,  1883:  Rev.  E.  D.  Curtis,  1885;  Rev.  E.  S.  Smith,  1886;  Rev. 
Humphrey,  1889;  Rev.  C.  C.  Wood,  1890;  Rev.  W.  R.  Seaver,  pastor  Sauga- 
tuck  and  Douglas  Congregational  churches,  1891 ;  Rev.  W.  R.  Seaver,  1894; 
Rev.  W.  Lindsay,  1899;  Rev.  E.  S.  Ireland,  1902;  Rev.  W.  Millar,  1905; 
Rev.  J.  E.  Tedford,  1906;  Rev.  Francis  D.  White,  1906. 

The  members  of  long  standing  are  Mrs.  George  Hames,  Mrs.  R.  D. 
Ames.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Koning,  Mr.  L.  W.  Grant,  Mrs.  John  Loomis, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Schaberg.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  A.  Aliber,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 

C.  E.  Bird,  Mr.  Joseph  Bedford,  Miss  Mary  Skinner.  All  these  joined  in 
the  early  seventies  and  are  now  active  members. 

The  church  building  has  been  enlarged  in  recent  years,  and  the  church 
owns  the  finest  residence  and  business  location  in  the  village,  on  which 
there  is  a  fine  parsonage  surrounded  by  beautiful  grounds. 

Douglas. 

The  Congregational  church  at  Douglas  was  organized  December  12, 
1882,  with  tlie  following  charter  members:  Mr.  Ephraim  Welch,  Mrs. 
Ephraim  Welch.  Miss  Dora  Welch.  Mrs.  H.  Langdon,  Mrs.  H.  Graham, 
Mrs.  Daniel  Gerber,  Mr.  Daniel  Gerber,  Mr.  William  Weed,  Mrs.  William 
Weed.  Mr.  Henry  Bird,  Mrs.  Henrv  Bird,  Mr.  George  Thomas,  Mrs. 
George  Thomas,  Miss  E.  M.  Ensign,  Rev.  J.  F.  Taylor.  Mrs.  J.  F.  Taylor, 
Mrs,  McClure,  Mr.  McClure,  Miss  J.  Warnock,  Miss  Hattie  Spencer,  Mrs. 

D.  C.  Putnam,  Miss  Anna  Henges,  Mrs.  Ehle,  Miss  Carrie  Durham,  Mrs. 
J.  Thome,  Mr.  J.  Thorne,  Dr.  J.  F.  Young. 

The  following  have  served  the  church  as  ministers :  R.  J.  Sailor,  J.  F. 
Taylor,  B.  J.  Baxter,  E.  Andrus,  J.  J.  Bunnell,  Rev.  Haun.  E.  W.  Miller, 
H.  Willis,  W.  F.  Bush,  the  present  pastor. 

The  church  society  has  a  neat  church  building  valued  at  $2,500  and 
a  parsonage  valued  at  $1,200,  the  Congregation  Church  Building  Associa- 
tion having  furnished  part  of  the  means  for  building  the  church,  this  being 
in  the  nature  of  a  loan,  which  is  repaid  by  annual  collections.  The  church 
has  a  membership  of  about  80. 


The  Congregational  society  whose  building  stands  on  section  2  of  this 
township  was  organized  August  27,  1857,  in  the  schoolhouse  across  the 
road.  Its  eleven  charter  members  were:  Bradley  Gilbert,  Martha  J.  Gil- 
bert, Nahum  Snow,  Sarah  Snow,  Lauren  C.  Gilbert,  Judith  Gilbert, 
Edward  Averill,  Mary  B.  Averill,  William  A.  Smith,  EHzabeth  Smith, 
Sarah  Smith. 

Meetings  were  held  in  the  schoolhouse  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1872 
it  was  proposed  to  consolidated  this  congregation  with  that  of  the  newly 
established  Dorr  Center,  where  a  church  building  would  be  erected,  and 
for  a  time  services  were  held  at  the  Center.  But  in  1875  the  congregation 
returned  to  the  old  schoolhouse,  and  in  the  following  year  the  church  was 
built  on  section  2.  In  1895  the  church  was  removed  to  the  village  of 
Moline  and  its  name  changed  to  the  First  Congregational  church  of  MoHne. 


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580  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

The  pastors  in  charge  have  been:  James  A.  McKay,  1858;  N.  K. 
Evarts,  1862;  C.  N.  Coulter,  N.  K.  Evarts,  Moore,  G.  W.  Sterling,  N.  K. 
Evarts,  Albert  C.  Lee,  George  Candee,  Norman  Millard,  C.  B.  Shear, 
George  Wain,  Harry  Appjeton,  Henry  Robinson,  A.  D.  Whaley,  Charles 
Rilev,  John  Gordon,  Frederick  York,  E.  E.  Harring,  E.  A.  Cragg. 

Dorr  Center. 

By  the  consolidation  of  the  two  congregations  above  mentioned,  a 
church  edifice  was  begun  at  this  place  in  1873,  and  was  soon  after  com- 
pleted, although  not  accepted,  owing  to  alleged  failure  on  the  part  of  the 
contractor  to  comply  with  the  terms  of  the  building  committee.  The  sep- 
arate organization  of  the  church  society,  after  the  withdrawal  of  the  mem- 
bership from  the  northeast  part  of  the  township,  took  place  November  11, 
1875,  the  original  members  being  Adrian  C.  Clark  and  wife,  William  H. 
Ewing,  H.  T.  Pomeroy  and  wife,  Antoinette  Kelley,  Christina  Patterson, 
Horace  Barton  and  wife,  N.  K.  Evarts  (pastor)  and  wife,  and  Mary  J. 
Byles. 

Way  land. 

The  First  Congregational  church  of  Wayland  was  organized  in  1859, 
and  a  church  building  was  erected  the  following  year.  There  were  seven- 
teen original  members  and  Rev.  A.  McKay  was  the  first  pastor. 

Many  pastors  have  been  with  the  church  since  its  organization,  each 
period  having  its  share  of  prosperity  and  adversity,  and  today  it  takes  a 
prominent  part  in  the  religious  work  of  the  village. 

In  1896,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  F.  P.  Sprague,  the  old  building 
was  disposed  of  and  the  present  structure  erected  on  the  same  site  at  a 
cost  of  $2,500,  being  dedicated  early  in  1897.  Mrs.  Mary  Forbes  donated 
the  bell  and  $700  toward  the  cost  of  the  church. 

Hopkins. 

A  Congregational  society  was  formed  in  September,  1S82  in  the 
schoolhouse  of  district  No.  6  with  nine  members.  It  continued  to  hold  its 
services  in  the  schoolhouse  until  the  church  was  completed  one  mile  east 
and  near  Hilliards  railroad  station.  The  Congregational  church  of  Hilliards 
was  dedicated  December  4,  1892. 

The  Congregational  church  of  Hopkins  Station  was  formed  into  a 
society  March  27,  1878,  with  13  members:  D.  B.  Kidder,  Alice  E.  Kidder, 
Andrew  Bates,  Sarah  Bates,  Henry  HoiFmaster,  Lydia  Hofifmaster,  Martha 
Squires,  Chas.  H.  Fiirber,  Mary  A.  C.  Furber,  Dorothy  Allen,  Mary  Allen, 
Louisa  Smith,  Alice  Baker.    The  church  was  dedicated  August  22,  1886. 

The  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  church  at  Hopkins  was  organized  in  1864  by 
Rev.  Forrer,  its  charter  members  being  Peter  Knobloch,  John  Nicholai, 
Konrad  Krug,  Gottlieb  Hoffmeister  and  Joseph  Hoffmeister.  The  first 
services  were  held  in  a  schoolhouse.  In  1879  the  first  church,  built  one 
mile  west  and  a  half  mile  north  of  Hopkins,  was  struck  by  lightning  in  1893 
and  totally  destroyed.  Another  one  was  immediately  built  on  the  same 
site  and  dedicated  in  November  of  the  same  year.    From  the  time  of  their 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  581 

organization  until  1903  this  congregation,  with  St.  John's  in  Allegan, 
belonged  to  the  same  parish ;  hence  both  were  tinder  the  pastoral  care  of 
the  same  minister.  In  1903  the  parish  was  divided,  the  church  here  extend- 
ing a  call  to  Rev.  Leyser,  which  was  accepted.  He  is  its  present  pastor, 
and  two  out-parishes  are  connected  with  the  churches,  St.  Peter's  Lutheran 
church  in  Dorr,  organized  in  1899.  with  a  present  membership  of 
about  sixty  communicants,  and  St.  Paul's  at  Salem,  with  forty  communi- 
cants. The  church  is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  numbering  about  one  hun- 
<lred  communicants. 

Metiiouist  Church, 

The  Allegan  Methodists  were  also  organized  in  the  spring  of  1836 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Williams  of  the  Ohio  conference,  the  first  class  consistmg  of 
the  following  named  persons:  Mrs.  Weighty  Wilson,  Enoch  Baker  and 
wife,  Miss  Qarissa  Wilson,  Miss  Streeter,  Mr.  Allen,  and  Mr.  Torrey. 
Spencer  Marsh  was  an  early  member.  The  church  was  organized  and 
incorporated  in  1837.  Meetings  were  first  held  in  a  schoolhouse  on  Hub- 
bard street,  and  in  1839  a  church  was  completed  on  the  corner  of  Trow- 
bridge and  Walnut  streets,  west  of  the  public  square.  This  was  replaced 
with  a  new  building  in  1853,  which  was  enlarged  in  1866,  and  was  used 
for  a  generation  more,  when  it  was  removed  in  1903  to  make  way  for  the 
present  beautiful  stone  edifice,  which  was  dedicated  September  4.  1905. 
costing  $16,000. 

The  Rev.  William  H.  C.  Bliss  and  wife  came  from  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
in  1837.  He  was  a  local  preacher  and  rendered  great  service  to  the  young 
society  and  to  Methodism  in  the  county.  "Father  Bliss."  as  he  came  to  be 
called,  continued  a  member  until  his  death  sometime  in  the  eighties.  In 
1839  and  1840  the  Methodist  classes  in  this  county  appear  in  the  records 
as  "Allegan  Mission"  of  the  Indiana  Conference,  Rev.  William  Todd, 
missionary.  For  a  number  of  years  the  classes  at  Allegan,  Otsego,  Gun 
Plains,  Silver  Creek,  Alamo,  and  several  other  neighborhoods  not  now 
identified  comprised  what  was  called  Allegan  Circuit.  Later  Martin  and 
Wayland  appear  as  part  of  it.  and  about  1850  it  extended  west  to  Ganges. 
According  to  the  custom  of  those  times  two  preachers,  a  senior  and  a 
junior,  were  usually  appointed  to  travel  the  circuit.  They  were  as  follows, 
September  of  the  vear  designated  being  the  time  of  their  appointment: 

Mr.   Williams.   1836:  1837-38:  William   Todd,    1839;   Franklin 

Gage.  1841:  Daniel  Bush  and  E.  L.  Kellog.  1842:  T.  S.  Jackaway  and 
Stephen  Stringham.  1843:  I,  C.  Abbot  and  J.  E,  Parker,  1844;  George 
King  and  Alexander  Campbell.  184s:  M.  B.  Camburn  and  V.  G.  Boynton, 
1846;  Curtis  Mosher  and  Caleb  Ereanbrach,  1847:  Curtis  Mosher  and 
Foughtv,  1848 :  A.  J.  Eklred  and  W.  H.  C.  Bliss,  1849- 

In  1850' Allegan  circuit  was  divided  and  Otsego  circuit  formed.  The 
former  for  some  years  consisted  of  classes  at  Allegan.  Monterey,  and 
Watson.  Since  1850  the  pastors  at  Allegan  have  l)een  as  follows: 
G.  Bignell,  1850 :  F.  Glass.  1851 ;  J.  H.  Pitezel,  1853 ;  S.  A.  Osborne,  1855 ; 
D    Bush,  1856;  A.  A.  Dunton,  1858;  D.  R.  Latham,  i860;  A.  J.  Graham, 


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682  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

i86i;  N.  L.  Otis,  1862;  James  Billings,  1864;  Elisha  Marble,  1865;  H.  C. 
Peck,  1867;  H.  P.  Henderson,  1868;  George  W.  Sherman,  1870;  James 
Hamilton,  1872;  R.  C.  Crawford,  1874;  L.  M.  Edmonds,  1876;  W.  A. 
Hunsberger,  1879;  B.  S.  Mills,  1881 ;  (supplied),  1883;  R.  Shorts,  1884; 
J.  J.  McAllister,  1885;  E.  E.  McChesney,  1886;  J.  B.  Wliitford,  1887;  H.  S. 
Bargelt,  1888;  S.  D.  McKee,  1890;  J.  C.  Cook,  1894;  A.  M.  Griffith,  1899; 
G.  R.  Arnold,  1900;  George  A.  Brown,  1905. 

The  families  whose  names  have  been  longest  on  the  church  rolls  are 
as  follows:  Mrs.  Harriett  Allen,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Buice,  Mary  J-  Quirk,  Mrs. 
Squire  Davison,  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Warner,  A.  B.  Seery  and  wife,  Henry  Wells 
and  wife,  C.  T.  Tiibah,  William  Sowersby  and  wife. 

Mill  Grove. 

A  Methodist  Episcopal  class  was  organized  at  Mill  Grove,  four  miles 
northwest  of  Allegan,  some  time  in  the  sixties.  A  comfortable  edifice  was 
erected  in  1870-72  largely  through  the  hberality  of  Mr.  Alonzo  Vosburg. 
The  building  is  still  in  use.  The  class  was  once  a  part  of  Monterey  cir- 
cuit, and  once  for  a  year  or  so  supported  a  pastor  of  its  own,  but  is  now 
attached  to  the  Allegan  charge. 

Otsego. 

The  organization  of  the  Otsego  circuit  and  the  history  of  early  Meth- 
odism in  this  vicinity  has  been  related  above.  The  Otsego  church  was  or- 
ganized in  1842,  and  its  first  house  of  worship  was  commenced  in  1843 
and  completed  in  1847,  located  on  Allegan  street  between  Fair  and  Wil- 
mot.  In  1888-89  't  became  too  small  to  accommodate  the  membership  and 
the  increasing  congregation.  In  May  of  this  year  it  was  decided  to  erect 
a  new  building  and  plans  were  perfected  for  the  same.  The  present  church 
edifice,  costing  $7,500,  was  built,  and  dedicated  December  22,  1889. 

The  pastors  who  served  this  congregation  in  early  years  have  already 
been  named  in  connection  with  other  churches.  The  later  pastors  have 
been:  N.  M.  Steel,  George  L.  Haight,  William  Paddock,  Wright  Barrett, 
C  T.  Van  Antwerp,  I.  B.  Tallman,  Frank  L.  McCov,  E.  A.  Tanner,  A.  T. 
Ferguson,  George  B.  Kulp,  W.  Herald  Stacev,  John'W.  McDougall,  Henry 
Abraham,  F.  C.  Larabee,  H.  D.  Skinner. 

When  the  church  was  organized  in  1842  its  first  members  were  Lucius 
Anderson  and  wife.  Miss  M.  Bailey,  Sidney  Ketchum,  and  Angeline  Lane. 
Those  who  have  been  connected  with  the  church  long  and  actively  since 
then  have  been:  Ogden  Allen  and  wife.  Henry  Beebe  and  wife,  H.  H. 
French  and  wife.  Mrs.  Amy  Hoag.  Charles  P.  Hale  and  wife,  John  F. 
Hale  and  wife,  C.  D.  Nickols  and  wife. 

Plaimvdl. 

The  beginning  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  this  vicinitv  was 
in  1836,  when  a  class  of  five  members  was  formed  in  the  Silver  Creek 
settlements  at  the  home  of  Elisha  Tracv.  In  1839  a  class  of  seven  members 
wa.':  organized  in  the  school  house  a  mile  north  of  Plainwell  and  formed 


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FIRST  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH,  PJ.AINWELL 

FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH,  PLAINWELU 

FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  PI.AINWELL 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  583 

part  of  the  Allegan  circuit  until  1851,  when  it  was  made  part  of  the  Otsego 
circuit.  In  1867  prayer  meetings  were  held  in  the  old  Bridge  street  school. 
In  May,  1869,  the  work  of  building  a  church  was  commenced.  It  was  com- 
pleted and  dedicated  February  3,  1870.  In  1878  the  chapel  and  kitchen 
were  built.  In  1881  a  parsonage  was  purchased  and  in  1904  was  entirely 
rebuilt.  The  Ladies'  Aid  society  came  imo  existence  with  the  building  of 
the  church;  the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  society  in  1885.  These  so- 
cieties have  all  been  important  factors  in  advancing  the  interest  of  the 
church.  The  Epworth  and  Junior  Leagues  afford  avenues  for  efficient 
work  by  and  for  j'oung  people  and  children.  A  mission  study  class  has 
been  maintained  for  months  by  the  Epworth  League.  The  economy  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  does  not  admit  of  an  extended  pastorate. 
Eighteen  ministers  have  served  the  charge  since  the  building  of  the  church. 
The  present  pastor,  Rev.  Thomas  Laity,  was  assigned  here  in  September, 
1905,  and  has  already  won  his  way  to  the  hearts  of  the  people. 


The  first  regular  preaching  which  eventually  formed  the  nucleus  of 
the  Ganges  church  was  at  a  lumber  camp  near  Swan  Creek  in  1847  bv  Rev. 
G.  W.  Vanalstine,  at  that  time  pastor  of  the  Allegan  circuit.  This  service 
was  continued  at  that  place  and  at  private  houses  until  1851,  when  Ganges 
was  cut  off  from  the  Allegan  circuit  and  with  some  outlying  points  or- 
ganized into  a  charge  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  E.  F.  Doughty.  In  i860 
and  i86i_a  parsonage  was  built  and  in  1861  a  chtirch  was  erected  at  Pier 
Cove,  which  was  in  1S82  torn  down  and  a  new  church  built  on  the  present 
site. 

In  1873  Ganges  was  united  with  Douglas  charge  under  one  pastorate 
and  remained  so  united  luitil  r888.  when  it  was  restored  to  its  original 
name,  since  which  time  it  has  remained  under  its  present  name,  Ganges 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  In  1888  a  new  parsonage  was  built  on  the 
church  property.  In  1896  the  church  was  enlarged  and  remodeled,  mak- 
ing it  the  largest  and  most  commodious  church  building  in  western  Alle- 
gan county.  It  has  a  present  membership  of  one  htmdred  and  twenty- 
five. 

The  earlier  members  were:  V.  R.  Wadsworth  and  wife,  William 
Carver  and  wife,  William  Dunn  and  wife,  Charles  Goodeve,  Philander  Tay- 
lor and  wife,  E.  S.  Collins  and  wife,  F.  W.  Wadsworth  and  wife,  John 
Goodeve  and  wife,  Roswell  Daily  and  wife,  Nathaniel  Plummer  and  wife, 
David  Hoover  and  wife,  William  Furgeson  and  wife,  William  H.  Hoover 
and  wife,  A.  T.  Rowland  and  wife,  all  of  whom  have  been  prominent  in 
upbuilding  and  maintaining  the  church  and  its  interests. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows :  B.  F.  Doughty,  one  vear ;  Ben  P. 
Chase,  one  year :  W.  Stafford,  one  year :  A.  J.  Von  Wyck,  one  year ;  J.  H. 
Tanner,  one  year ;  L.  Benson,  one  year ;  J.  W.  Cowthome,  two  years ;  H.  M. 
Deitz,  one  year;  J.  R.  Oden,  one  year;  V.  G.  Boynton,  one  year;  O.  E. 
Wightman.  two  years:  D.  W.  Fow,  three  years;  R.  N.  Middleton,  two 
years;  C.  F.  Brown,  one  year;  A.  M.  Griffith,  five  vears;  J.  B.  Peatling, 
three  years ;  L.  W.  Earl,  one  year ;  J.  T.  Rabe,  one  vear ;  W.  F.  Jenkins,  two 
years ;  W.  H.  C.  Bliss,  two  years ;  G.  A.  Von  Horn,  two  years ;  G.  W. 


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5R4  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Chapin,  one  year;  J.  H.  Potts,  two  years;  Thomas  Clark,  two  years;  S.  P. 
Hewitt,  two  years ;  N.  M.  Steel,  two  years ;  C.  W.  Calkins,  one  year ;  O.  D. 
Watkins,  one  year ;  W.  W.  Devine,  two  years ;  W.  F.  Harding,  two  years ; 
W.  F.  Kendrick,  three  years ;  W.  H.  Hathaway,  one  year ;  H.  R.  E.  Quant, 
present  pastor. 

Cheshire. 

The  colored  people  of  Cheshire,  principal  among  whom  were  William 
Thompson,  Jesse  F.  Ridgley,  Ezekiel  Howard,  M.  C,  McCully,  Matthew 
and  James  T.  Russell,  formed  a  Methodist  church  and  began  the  construc- 
tion of  a  building  during  the  seventies,  the  membership  including  about  fifty 
names. 

Monterey. 

The  Methodists  of  this  township  were  made  a  separate  ciiarge  in 
1867,  and  Rev.  Joseph  Wood  installed  as  the  fir.st  pastor.  The  church 
building  on  section  26  was  constructed  in  1862. 

Hopkins  Station. 

The  Methodist  society  here  erected  a  beautiful  new  brick  church  build- 
ing and  parsonage  in  the  vear  1900.  Since  that  time  Revs.  C.  E.  Allen,  J. 
C.  Dorris,  F.  M.  Clough  and  W.  R.  Kitzmitler  have  served  as  pastors.  The 
society  is  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

Burnt ps   Corners. 

A  new  brick  church  building  was  erected  by  the  Methodists  of  Salem 
township  in  the  year  1900  under  the  presiding  eldership  of  Rev.  J.  C. 
Floj'd.  This  charge  proudly  boasts  of  one  of  the  largest  Epworth  Leagues 
and  Sunday-schools  in  the  county,  under  the  management  of  Sherman 
Moored.     Rev.  Kitzmiller  is  pastor. 

Martin. 

The  Methodist  church  of  this  locality  was  formed  in  184D  by  Rev. 
William  Todd,  from  the  Allegan  circuit.  The  first  members  were  Ashbel 
Gates,  Phoebe  Gates,  Abram  Shellman,  Mary  A.  Shellman,  Mrs.  Hanmer. 
They  met  in  a  log  house  a  mile  and  a  quarter  southeast  of  Martin's  Cor- 
ners, and  when  a  school  house  was  built  held  their  meetings  there.  In 
January,  1868,  their  house  of  worship  in  Martin's  Corners  was  completed 
and  dedicated. 

The  Martin  church  was  placed  in  the  Otsego  circuit  in  1850,  and  five 
years  later  in  the  Wayland  circuit,  and  finally  in  1868  was  attached  to  the 
Plainwell  charge.  In  1873  Martin  and  Shelbyville  became  a  separate 
charge. 

The  following  pastors  have  served  the  charge :  WiUiam  Todd,  Frank- 
lin Gage,  Daniel  Bush,  Thomas  Jakeways,  Jacob  Parker,  George  King,  M. 

B.  Camburn,  Curtis  Moshier.  A.  J.  Eldred,  Goodel,  T.  H.  Bignall, 

Amos  Wakefield,  W.  F.  Jenkins,  Porter  Wilhams,  A.  C.  Beach,  L.  M.  Ben- 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  685 

nett, Cleveland,  J.  Billings,  — Blowers,  C.  H.  Fisher,  D.  R.  Latham, 

L  R.  A.  Wightmaii,  B.  S.  Mills,  J.  W.  Miller,  J.  C.  Hartley,  J.  T.  Idclings, 
A.  J.  Van  Wyck,  D.  M.  Ward.  N.  Saunders,  G.  W.  Hoag,  T.  Clark,  O.  E. 
Weightman,  N.  M.  Steele,  S.  P.  Warner,  G.  B.  -Kiilp,  L.  W.  Calkins,  S.  D. 
McKee,  W.  W.  Lamport.  George  Donaldson,  W.  H.  Phelps,  F.  W.  Cor- 
bett,  E.  W.  Lang,  A.  W.  Burns,  J.  G.  Bierv,  and  the  present  pastor,  J.  W. 
Foy. 

Some  of  the  old  families  connected  with  the  church  in  addition  to  the 
above  were:  Edward  P.  Kimball,  John  Blair,  Thomas  Barnaby,  W.  H. 
Southwick,  A.  C.  Wheeler,  Henry  Shutter,  R.  G.  Smith,  Israel  S.  Harding, 
Joel  T.  Carpenter,  Samuel  Eldrid,  Milo  Ross,  William  Wetheral,  Ebenezer 
Wilder,  A.  W.  Milkr,  William  A.  Chappell.  Amasa  Beebe. 

Shclhy-c-Ule. 

In  1885  two  school  house  appointments.  South  Wayland  and  Criteii- 
lions,  united  and  under  the  leadership  of  the  Rev.  L.  W.  Calkins  built  a 
church  at  Shelbyville.  This  church  has  always  been  a  part  of  the  Martin 
circuit,  and  has  therefore  been  served  by  the  same  pastors  that  have  served 
the  chiu'ch  at  Martin. 

One  of  the  men  most  identified  with  the  bi\ilding  of  the  church  was 
Lemuel  Doxev.  Some  of  the  names  most  prominent  in  the  membership 
of  the  church 'are  Henry  Herbert,  J,  W.  :Moore.  J.  J.  Williams.  Avery  Gil- 
lette, A.  L.   Buskirk.  Tliomas  Brabor,  David  Gilger. 

IV a  viand. 

Methodist  services  were  held  in  this  township  by  ministers  from  Gun 
Plains  and  Otsego  from  about  1846  on.  Among  the  early  members  were : 
Joseph  Heydenberk,  Elizabeth  Heydenberk.  H.  Lester  and  wife,  Abram 
Buskirk  and  wife.  William  Buskirk,  David  M.  Griswold,  Mrs.  Eldred,  Mat- 
thew Van  Duzen,  Lydia  Van  Ditzen.  Stephen  S.  Germond,  Mary  Germond, 
Darius  Starr,  Mary  Starr,  Abijah  and  Elizabeth  Brown, 

The  Wayland  circuit  was  established  in  October,  1S56,  Porter  Wil- 
liams being  its  first  pastor.  August  10,  1865.  a  church  edifice  on  Church 
and  Maple  streets,  in  Wayland,  was  dedicated.  Rev.  Charles  H.  Fisher  be- 
ing pastor,  but  the  work  was  commenced  in  1862  by  Rev.  W.  E.  Blowers. 
The  dedicatory  services  were  conducted  by  Rev.  George  B.  Joslyn,  presi- 
dent of  Albion  college.  The  Wayland  Boys  in  Blue,  twenty  in  number, 
ornamented  the  puipit  with  a  handsome  Bible,  while  the  trustees  adorned 
the  building  with  a  six-hundred  dollar  mortgage.  The  latter  was  finally 
removed  in  1870  through  the  exertions  of  Rev.  James  E,  White.  Previous 
to  October,  1866.  a  Union  Sabbath  school  had  been  conducted  jointly  by 
the  Congregational  and  Methodist  Episcopal  churches,  when  a  Methodist 
Episcopal  Sunday-school  was  organized  with  H.  S.  Warren  as  its  first 
superintendent.  During  the  year  1873,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  G.  A. 
Phillips,  tliere  was  purchased  for  ]jarsonage  purposes  a  house  and  lot  on 
Maple  street,  facing  the  Public  Square. 

About  niidnight,  May  24,  1897,  fire  was  discovered  in  a  small  room 
of  the  church  and  resulted  in  the  total  loss  of  the  church  and  furniture, 


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586  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAM  COUNTY 

including  a  new  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollar  organ.    The  i 

on  the  church  had  expired  only  a  few  days.    Under  the  leadership  of  Rev- 

C.  W.  Marshall,  who  was  pastor,  the  erection  of  a  new  and  better  church 
was  accomplished,  the  church  and  furniture  costing  three  thousand  dollars. 
The  new  building  was  dedicated  October  9,  1898.  In  the  spring  of  1901, 
during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  E.  Messener,  the  erection  of  a  new  parson- 
age was  commenced  on  the  old  site.  The  building  was  completed  March, 
1902,  at  a  cost  of  nearly  twenty-five  hundred  dollars.  Much  credit  is  due 
the  Ladies'  Aid  society,  who  has  assumed  a  good  share  of  the  debt,  which 
at  the  completion  of  the  parsonage  was  six  hundred  dollars. 

The  pastors  who  have  been  in  charge  following  Porter  Williams  were ; 
Ainos  E.  Beach,  1857;  L.  M.  Bennett.  1858:  N.  Cleveland,  1859;  James 
BiUings.  1860-61:  W.  B.  Blowers,  1862-63;  Charles  H.  Fisher,  1864-65; 

D.  R.  Latham,  1866;  I.  R.  A.  Wightman,  1867:  James  E.  White,  1868- 
6(:)-70:  Gilbert  A.  Phillips,  1871-72-73;  George  E.  Hollister,  1874;  Linus 
Bathridsin,  1875-76;  J.  P.  Force.  1877;  T.  J.  Spencer,  1878;  W.  H.  Hath- 
wav,  1879;  J.  M.  Aiken,  1880;  W.  J.  Swift,  1881;  N.  D.  Marsh,  1882;  R. 
Phillips,  1883-84;  W.  G.  Golding,  1885-86;  J.  N.  Dayton,  1886-88;  J.  E. 
White,  1888-89;  D.  C.  Woodward,  1S89-90;  J.  W.  Buell,  189091 ;  C.  W. 
Jones,  1891-94;  C.  W.  Marshall,  1894-99;  W.  F.  Glass,  1899-1900;  J.  E. 
Alessenger,  1900-03;  E.  E.  Harring,  1903-05;  J.  G.  Robeson,  1905,  who  is 
the  present  pastor. 

Dorr. 

The  church  at  Dorr  was  built  by  the  Congregational  society  in  1873 
and  occupied  by  them  until  1887,  when  it  was  purchased  by  the  Methodist 
society  of  Dorr  an<l  has  been  occupied  by  them  since  that  time.  The  char- 
ter members  of  the  Metho<list  societv  were:  P.  T,  Pullin,  A.  Patterson, 
T.  N.  Kennedy.  W.  E.  Mills,  L  L.  Barney. 

pRliSliVTEHIAN    ChURCII. 

Allegan. 

The  orjjanization  of  the  Presbyterians  of  Allegan  village  and  vicinity 
into  a  religious  body  followed  not  long  after  the  beginnings  of  that  vil- 
lage's history.  W.  C.  Jenner,  who  had  become  Allegan's  first  shoemaker 
in  1835,  took  a  leading  part  in  the  organization  of  this  church  by  offering 
his  home  at  the  corner  of  Locust  and  Hubbard  streets  as  the  meeting  place 
of  those  interested  in  the  formation  of  a  church  body,  on  April  23,  1836. 
Besides  him  there  were  present  and  enrolled  as  charter  members  of  this 
church,  his  wife  Sarah  and  sons  Thomas  C.  and  William  B.,  Alexander  L. 
Ely,  John  Littlejohn,  Silas  F,  Littlejohn,  and  Julia  S.  Austin.  The  original 
membership  was  increased  to  fourteen  the  next  day  by  the  reception  of 
Mary  A.  N.  Ely,  Milo  Winslow,  George  Y.  Warner,  Mrs.  Hannah  Winslow 
and  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Littlejohn.  This  was  the  first  Presbyterian  church  in 
the  county. 

The  places  of  worship,  besides  Mr.  Tenner's  house,  were,  first,  a  small 
building  erected  for  the  society  by  the  Allegan  Company,  but  which  burned 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUXTY  587 

down  within  two  or  three  weeks  after  its  occupancy:  then  a  carpenter  shop, 
again  the  Jenner  home,  as  well  as  the  residence  of  Silas  F.  Littlejohn,  until 
finally  the  society's  worship  was  conducted  in  the  schoolhonse,  which  served 
early  Allegan  for  so  varied  public  uses. 

The  society  erected  its  first  house  of  worship  in  1842  at  a  cost  of  $850. 
Repairs  and  additions  were  made  to  the  building,  and  it  served  as  the  church 
home  over  thirty  years,  until  its  destruction  by  fire  in  the  fall  of  1874.  In 
consequence  the  society  almost  at  once  began  the  erection  of  a  new  edifice 
on  the  same  site,  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Chestnut  and  Cutler  streets. 
This  building,  which  was  completed  in  1875  at  a  cost  of  about  twelve  thou- 
sand dollars,  was  constructed  after  a  plan  of  religious  architecture  much  in 
vogue  at  the  time  and  examples  of  which  are  numerous  among  the  churches 
erected  thirty  years  ago.  Built  of  brick,  with  lofty  tower  and  steeple  in 
front,  commodious  and  substantial,  it  has  served  a  generation  of  church- 
goers who  have  grown  fond  of  its  classic  proportions,  and  doubtless  its  dis- 
appearance from  the  landmarks  of  the  village  will  be  noted  with  a  sigh  by 
both  old  and  young. 

The  pastors  who  have  served  this  church  from  first  to  last  are  named 
as  follows:  William  Jones.  1836-7:  Augustus  Littlejohn  and  George  W. 
Elliott,  each  a  brief  period:  Luke  Lyons,  1837-9;  Harvey  Hyde,  1839-42; 
Samuel  Newbury,  1842-5:  E.  F.  Waldo.  1846-8;  William  Page,  1849-50; 
Charles  M.  Morehouse.  1851-4;  Joseph  A.  Rannev,  1854-9;  Joel  Kennedy, 
1860-4:  John  Sailor.  1865-74;  John  D.  McCord,  1874-8;  A.  B.  Allen, 
T879-82:  Judson  Swift.  1882-88:  Henry  W.  Harvey.  1888-92;  J.  A.  Barnes, 
1892-95:  T.  A.  Scott.  1895-99:  Francis  A.  Strongh,  igoQ-02,  and  A.  B. 
Brashear,  1903. 

Among  the  members  who  have  been  with  the  church  for  a  long  number 
of  years  and  have  been  closely  identified  with  its  work  are  to  be  (nentioned 
Mrs.  William  C.  Jenner,  a  charter  member  and  wife  of  Mr.  Jenner.  at 
whose  home  was  held  the  meeting  for  organization,  and  Mrs.  Lilly.  Most 
of  the  old  members  have  passed  awa}'. 

PlaimveH. 

Within  a  year  after  the  formation  of  the  Presbyterian  Society  at  the 
county  seat  a  number  of  people  of  that  denomination  in  Plainfield  township 
met  to  organize  a  similar  church  body.  The  meeting  was  held  at  the  house 
of  George  N.  Smith  fwhose  place  of  residence  at  the  time  cannot  be  ascer- 
tained). January  7,  1837.  The  charter  members  are  named  thus:  Rev,  Mr. 
Knapoen,  of  Gull  Prairie,  moderator;  Rev.  A.  S.  Ware  and  wife.  Mr. 
Chamberlin  and  wife  and  son,  George  N.  Smith  and  wife,  Cyreniiis  Thomp- 
son and  wife.  John  Forbes  and  wife.  Mrs.  Foster.  Mrs.  Powers,  Mrs. 
Adams  and  Mr.  Orr. 

After  being  attached  to  the  Kalamazoo  Presbytery  in  1842  the  society 
erected  a  house  of  worship  one  mile  north  of  the  present  site  of  Plainwell 
village.  This  was  a  country  church  by  origin  and  membership  and  was  not 
transferred  to  the  village  until  Plainwell  had  begun  to  grow  and  become  a 
center  for  the  institutions  of  the  surroimding  country.  The  old  building 
was  moved  to  the  village  in  1866.  being  located  on  River  street,  near  Main, 
where  it  later  became  the  Catholic  place  of  worship.    By  1872  the  Presby- 


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S88  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

terians  were  able  to  build  a  new  home,  a  new  situation  for  which  was  secured 
south  of  the  river  at  Bridge  and  Woodhams  streets.  The  church  cost 
$4,600  and  an  addition  in  1879  cost  $400.  The  fine  bell  in  the  tower  of  the 
church  was  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Mary  V,  Forbes,  as  was  also  the  manse,  which 
is  conveniently  and  pleasantly  located.  Another  gift  worthy  of- mention  is 
that  of  $200  by  Mrs.  C,  McKinney,  the  interest  of  which  is  to  be  used  each 
year  as  part  payment  of  pastor's  salary.  The  church  building  has  always 
been  kept  in  good  repair  and  during  the  present  year  (1906)  has  been  fitted 
out  with  electric  lights  and  supplied  with  water  from  the  village  system. 
The  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E.,  organized  by  Rev.  C.  P.  Bates,  is  a  strong  and  efficient 
factor  in  the  church. 

On  November  11,  1906,  thirty-nine  members  were  added  to  the  churcli 
roll,  being  the  largest  number  at  one  time  in  the  history  of  the  church. 
Under  the  administration  of  Rev.  F.  M.  Coddington  the  church  is  doing 
most  efficient  work. 

The  pastors  from  organization  to  the  present  have  been :  Revs. 
McLaurens,  M.  Fuller,  E.  F.  Waldo,  1842-50;  R.  McMath,  1850-2;  S. 
Stevens,  1852-4;  F.  Fuller.  1854-8;  David  S.  Morse.  1858-62;  S.  Osinga, 
1862-5;  John  Jackson,  1865-7;  P-  ^,  McMartin.  1867-71;  H.  H.  Morgan, 
1871-3;  J.  A.  Ramsev,  1873;  J-  Crane,  1873-6;  L.  G.  Marsh,  1876-81; 
David  Van  Dyke,  1881-3:  Moses  L.  McFarland,  1883-4;  Charles  P.  Bates, 
1884-90;  Francis  Z.  Rossiter,  1890-1905.  F.  M.  Coddington,  the  present 
pastor,  began  his  work  here  November  12,  1905. 

Among  the  elders  of  the  early  days  of  the  church  were :  Dr.  Cyrenius 
Thompson,  Thomas  C.  Chamberlain.  Duncan  A.  and  Daniel  D.  McMartin, 
and  among  those  who  came  later  we  may  mention  John  Anderson,  William 
Monteith,  G.  Van  Vranken,  F.  A.  Hayes,  John  I.  McMartin,  C.  W.  Hawley, 
James  Hawkes  and  N.  P.  Keilogg.  Those  now  in  office  are :  O.  J.  Woodar'd, 
D.  E.  McMartin.  William  H.  Crisby,  Nicholas  Pell  and  Frank  Bolender. 

Some  of  those  who  have  long  been  connected  by  active  membership 
with  this  society  are;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  O.  J.  Woodard,  who  joined  in  1871  and 
are  still  active  and  efficient  members ;  the  family  of  Dr.  C.  Thcrmpson. 
children  and  grandchildren,  were  active  workers  in  the  church  from  its 
organization  down  to  1905,  when  a  change  of  residence  changed  their  church 
relationship;  Mrs,  Alzina  Batchelor  was  also  an  earnest  worker  from  1839 
to  the  time  of  her  death  in  1904;  John  1.  McMartin  was  an  active  and 
influential  member  for  fifty-three  years  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  1903 ; 
his  son,  D.  B.  McMartin,  wife  and  five  children  are  all  active  members  at 
the  present  time ;  James  Hawkes  and  family  were  prominent  members  from 
i86g  to  1892:  Garrett  Van  Vranken  and  family  also  from  1870  to  1881 ; 
Mrs.  C.  McKinney  from  1871  to  1897;  Mrs.  May  Wright  Sewall  from 
1872  to  1873  '•  Mrs.  S.  A.  Blakely  joined  in  1876  an<l  is  still  a  member ;  Mrs, 
Mary  V.  Forbes,  1877  to  1893 ;  Mrs.  Elmira  Machemer,  1881  to  present 
time;  Mrs.  Lizzie  Gilkey,  1881  to  1897;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  A.  Harwood  from 
1884  to  their  deaths  in  1890  and  1904;  George  H.  Anderson  and  wife  united 
in  1886;  he  died  in  1894,  and  she  is  still  a  member;  Mr.  Anderson  until  his 
death  was  an  active  worker  in  the  church ;  N.  P.  Kellogg  was  also  an  active 
member  from  1886  to  1905.  In  addition  to  those  already  mentioned  as  in 
active  service  at  the  present  time  we  may  name  Mr.  and  Mrs.  F.  A.  Har- 
wood.   The  fonner  is  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath- school  and  trustee,  and 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  589 

both  are  earnest  workers  in  church,  Sunday-school  and  young  people's 
societies.  Mrs.  J.  M.  Travis  has  long  been  one  of  our  best  workers  in  all 
departments  and  is  now  teacher  of  the  oldest  class  in  the  Sunday-school. 
W,  H.  Crosby  is  a  devout  and  faithful  worker.  He  has  been  treasurer  of 
the  church  for  many  years  and  the  first  flaw  in  his  work  is  yet  to  be  found. 
For  several  years  he  filled  the  position  of  janitor  with  equal  fidelity.  Dr. 
B.  A.  Shepard  and  wife  are  active  and  earnest  in  church,  Sunday-school  and 
Endeavor  Society  work,  as  is  also  his  brother,  A.  L  Shepard,  and  his  wife. 
Elder  N.  Pell  and  family  have  long  been  prominent  in  the  church  and  are 
especially  interested  in  the  musical  department.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  D.  Abbey 
are  among  the  staunch  supporters  from  the  country  and  to  them  the  church 
is  deeply  indebted  for  many  favors,  both  social  and  financial.  Elder  Frank 
Bolender,  recently  from  the  country,  and  his  family  are  likewise  able  and 
active  supporters.  D.  E.  McMartin  and  family  are  all  actively  engaged  in 
the  various  departments  of  church  work.  In  addition  to  his  work  as  an  elder 
Mr.  McMartin  is  also  a  trustee  and  for  several  years  has  acted  as  clerk  of 
the  session. 

United  Presbyterian. 

This  church  was  formed  by  the  union  in  1858  of  the  Associate 
Reformed  Presbyterians  and  the  Associate  Presbyterians.  A  minister  of 
the  former  body  preached  in  eastern  Allegan  county  in  1838.  After  Thomas 
Monteith  came  to  Martin  township  in  1841  the  church  became  active  and 
the  first  meetings  were  held  in  his  house  or  barn.  The  church  was  organ- 
ized at  his  house  February  5,  1842,  the  charter  members  being:  Thomas 
Monteith,  Jane  A.  Monteith.  Isaac  and  Jane  Maston,  William  and  Elizabeth 
Walker,  William  Russell,  Margery  Monteith,  Lovinus  Monteith,  Jennett 
Monteith,  William  Hay.  Mary  Hay'.  William  T.  Monteith.  Waiter  Monteith. 
Elizabeth  Monteith  and  Daniel  D.  McMartin,  The  society  built  a  house  of 
worship  one  mile  south  of  Martin's  Corners  in  1846,  the  building  afterward 
being  turned  into  a  schoolhouse. 

On  March  8.  1852,  a  society  of  the  Associate  Presbyterian  chtirch  was 
organized  in  Martin  township,  the  original  members  being:  Robert  and 
Jennett  Patterson.  Orrin  A.  and  Jennett  Porter,  John,  James,  N.  Davidson 
and  Marie  Redpath,  Lovinus  and  Jennett  Monteith  and  Charles  and  Robert 
Davidson.  A  church  was  constructed  in  1855  and  afterward  used  as  a 
carriage  shop. 

In  1858  the  two  churches  were  united  as  the  United  Presbyterian 
church,  the  united  membership  being  seventy-nine.  The  church  at  Martin 
was  erected  in  1871  at  a  cost  of  six  thousand  dollars.  The  first  regular 
pastor  was  T.  J.  Wilson,  installed  in  1864. 

Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

The  diocese  of  Michigan  was  organized  in  the  fall  of  1832  and  in  1835 
there  were  but  six  presbyteries  in  the  territory.  Samuel  A.  McCoskry  was 
consecrated  the  first  bishop  in  July.  1836.  He  made  a  wagon  journey  of 
over  five  hundred  miles  through  the  southwestern  part  of  his  diocese,  hold- 
ing meetings  in  schoolhouses  and  otherwise  strengthening  his  church  in  the 
state.    On  this  journey  he  is  said  to  have  visited  Allegan,  and  no  doubt  if 


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590  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

he  preached  here  it  was  the  first  Episcopal  service  held  in  the  enmity.     The 
Diocese  of  Western  Michigan  was  formed  in  1874, 

Allegan. 

In  1842  Rev.  W.  K.  Leyster  held  Episcopal  services  at  Allegan,  but  no 
more  were  held  for  ten  years.  A  series  of  services  on  week-day  evenings 
were  held  in  1858  by  L.  N.  Freeman,  and  in  October,  1859,  J.  Rice  Taylor 
was  located  in  the  village  as  the  first  regular  rector,  services  being  held  for 
a  time  at  the  court  house.  The  Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd  was  organ- 
ized and  admitted  into  union  with  the  diocese  in  i860.  A  church  building 
was  begun  in  1867  and  finished  March  21,  1869,  being  located  on  the  block 
west  of  the  public  square. 

Rev.  Henderson  Judd  was  rector  from  1868  for  six  years,  being  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Walter  Scott,  May  8,  1875.  Succeeding  pastors  have  been : 
Rev.  D.  D.  Chapin,  who  came  in  September,  1881 ;  Rev.  W.  P.  Law  took 
charge  November  6.  1887,  and  Rev.  William  Lucas,  the  present  rector,  took 
charge  Mav,  1895.  The  first  vestry  consisted  of  Messrs.  A.  P.  Bush,  Alan- 
.son  Lilly,  E.  B.  Bassett,  George  Fennock,  W.  B.  Williams,  F.  B.  Stock- 
bridge  and  a  Mr.  Walter. 

The  first  members  of  the  church  were  as  follows :  Miss  Cornelia  Stock- 
bridge,  Mrs.  Anna  Bassett,  Charlotte  Wilkes,  Mariette  Williams,  Mrs.  Pen- 
nock  and  others  besides  those  mentioned  in  the  above  list. 

An  Episcopal  society  was  organized  at  Plainwell  in  1871,  and  in  1874 
a  house  of  worship  was  erected,  this  being  a  mission  to  the  Allegan  chiirch. 

Saugatuck. 

All  Saints'  church  was  organized  in  September,  1868.  J.  R.  Taylor 
was  rector  until  1878,  being  succeeded  by  E.  W.  Flower. 

The  schooihouse  was  used  as  a  place  of  worship  until  1873,  when  the 
building  on  Grand  and  Hoffman  streets  was  erected.  Services  are  held  only 
during  the  summer  while  a  number  of  summer  visitors  are  in  the  village. 

The  first  members  of  the  society  were:  O.  R.  Johnson  and  wife.  F.  B. 
Sfockbridge  and  wife,  R.  B.  Newnham  and  wife,  H.  H.  Stimpson  and  wife, 
J.  F.  Geer,  A.  B.  Taylor,  William  Dunning  and  wife,  Mrs.  Breuckman,  Mrs. 
Merrill,  Thomas  Donald  and  wife,  Moses  Nash  and  wife.  Pierce  Abbey,  S. 
G.  Moreland  and  wife,  David  White  and  wife  and  Isaac  Wilson  and  wife. 

GERM.'Msr  M.  E.  Church. 

A  mission  of  this  church  was  established  in  Allegan  county  in  1856,  the 
first  societies  organized  being  in  Salem  and  Monterey  townships.  Rev.  V. 
Jahrens  and  A.  Kremling  were  made  pastors  of  the  newly  organized  church 
at  Allegan  in  1864,  the  charter  members  of  the  society  being:  Daniel 
Ellinget  and  wife,  Frederick  Ruute  and  wife  and  Maria  Ellinger.  Their 
church  building,  located  on  Trowbridge  street,  in  the  block  west  of  the 
square,  was  dedicated  December  i,  1865.  The  resident  minister  also  had 
charge  of  the  societies  of  Salem,  Monterey  and  Hopkins.  Successors  of  the 
first  minister  have  been :    H.  Krill,  1865 ;  C.  G.  Hertz ;  A.  Maier,  1875 ;  C. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  591 

Militzer,  1877 ;  John  C.  Gonuiiel,  1880 :  W.  Miiller,  1882  :  H.  Krill  and  Rev. 
Henke,  1884;  George  Mitter,  1892;  J.  J.  Link,  1896;  H.  Bank,  1902,  and  H. 
Ruekheimer,  1904.  Daniel  Ellinger,  the  only  charter  member  still  living, 
was  the  first  local  preacher,  and  has  often  supplied  the  pulpit  in  absence  of 
regular  ministers.  The  membership  is  now  very  small.  The  minister's  resi- 
dence is  at  Hopkins. 

Monterey. 

The  missionary  owrk  of  this  church  began  in  Monterey  in  1858  and 
later  a  class  was  organized.    In  1869  a  church  building  was  erected. 

St.  John's  f^uTiiiiRAN  Ciiukcii  (German). 

Allegan* 

In  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century  a  flood-tide  of  immigration 
brought  many  Lutherans  to  this  country.  Some  were  lured  from  their 
native  country  by  the  hopes  of  gaining  wealth  and  honor  in  the  new  world ; 
others  left  the  fatherland  because  they  disapproved  of  the  plan  of  King 
Frederick  III  to  merge  the  Lutheran  and  the  Reformed  into  a  "united 
church."  Most  of  these  Lutheran  immigrants  settled  in  the  eastern  states, 
but  many  made  their  way  into  Michigan,  Illinois,  Missouri,  etc.  While, 
most  of  those  coming  to  Michigan  settled  in  the  "Thumb"  country  and  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  state,  a  few  sought  new  abodes  in  Allegan  county, 
thus  becoming  some  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  this  county.  But  none  of 
these  remained  Lutheran.  No  Lutheran  pastor  was  in  the  vicinity  who 
could  supply  them  with  services  and  ministrations  of  their  church.  For 
some  time  they  had  no  services  whatever.  They  were  strangers  in  a  strange 
land,  their  speech  alien.  Hence,  when  German  Methodist  missionaries  pene- 
trated this  country  and  preached  it  is  perfectly  natural  that  these  devout 
people  were  glad  to  go  and  hear  a  sermon  in  their  native  tongue  and  were 
easily  persuaded  to  join  the  Methodist  denomination. 

Somewhat  later,  in  the  year  1854,  a  few  more  Lutheran  immigrants 
from  the  fatherland  settled  in  Allegan  village.  Their  names  were  Maske, 
Knorr,  Harnofski  and  Kunter.  These  were  not  persuaded  to  leave  their 
church  as  their  fellow-countrymen  had  been.  This  was  probably  due  to  the 
fact  that  they  were  not  compelled  to  wait  so  long  before  they  could  enjoy 
a  Lutheran  service  in  their  new  home.  A  few  j'ears  later  Lutheran  mis- 
sionaries, the  Revs.  Schmidt  and  Eberhardt,  often  called  the  patriarchs  of 
the  Lutheran  church  in  Michigan,  came  into  this  part  of  the  state  and 
preached  wherever  they  found  a  Lutheran  family.  These  people  entreated 
them  to  come  again,  which  they  promised  to  do.  From  this  time  on  Alle- 
gan Lutherans  were  supplied  with  word  and  sacraments.  The  services,  of 
course,  were  not  very  frequent,  as  the  missionaries  had  a  large  field,  viz.,  the 
whole  state  in  which  to  work,  and  most  of  their  journeys  were  made  afoot. 
During  the  intervals  a  layman  would  hold  services  occasionally. 

In  the  year  1869  the  first  Lutheran  church  of  Allegan  county  was 
organized  in  this  village.  Knorr.  Harnofski,  S.  Ellinger,  Schweigert,  Maske, 

'This  Bketeh  contributed  by  Eev.  Frey. 


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592  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Eckert  and  Schwichtenberg  were  some  of  its  members.  They  called  Rev. 
Ilaumaii  their  first  pastor,  who  also  did  mission  work  in  Hopkins  and 
Salem.  The  services  were  held  in  the  houses  of  members.  Later  the 
privilege  was  granted  them  to  worship  in  the  court  house.  By  1874  the 
congregation  had  grown  to  such  an  extent  as  to  warrant  the  erection  of  a 
church.  A  site  was  secured  on  the  corner  of  Davis  and  Russell  streets 
and  a  church  built,  which  is  still  serving  as  a  house  of  worship.  The  con- 
gregation has  had  nine  ministers  since  it  was  organized :  Revs.  Bauman, 
Metzger,  Frankenstein,  Schoenberg,  Tesmer,  Wuerthner,  Binhammer,  Oezt- 
mann  and  Frey,  who  is  its  present  pastor.  Four  of  its  charter  members  are 
still  living:  Messrs.  Eckert,  Schumann,  Maske  and  Schwichtenberg.  The 
growth  of  the  congregation  has  not  been  very  rapid  but  healthy,  neverthe- 
less. At  present  it  numbers  about  seventy  communicants.  Seventy  of  its 
former  members  have,  as  we  hope,  joined  the  church  triumphant  in  heaven ; 
one  hundred  and  thirty-four  children  have  been  baptized  in  the  congrega- 
tion, and  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  have  been  confirmed.  The  church  is 
in  a  prosperous  condition. 

Rev.  Frey  has  charge  of  a  small  society  in  Otsego,  which  is  soon  to  be 
organized  into  a  regular  church. 

Sa!cm. 

The  German  Lutherans  of  this  township  began  holding  services  about 
i860.    They  erected  a  church  on  section  nine  in  1S72. 

Swedish  Lutheran  Church. 

IValson,  Section  Thirty-one. 

In  1877  Mr.  C.  Anderson,  a  native  of  Jonkoping,  Sweden,  crossed  the 
Atlantic  and  came  to  Allegan  county,  where  a  year  and  a  half  later  he 
bought  land  in  section  32  of  Watson  township,  later  purchasing  in 
section  31.  He  was  the  first  Swedish  settler  here  who  bought  land. 
Having  many  friends  in  Indiana  and  Illinois,  he  induced  them  to  come  to 
his  timber-covered  acres  and  assist  in  clearing  off  the  woods.  Some  of 
these  bought  land  and  became  permanent  additions  to  the  little  Swedish 
colony.  The  process  of  influence  through  personal  letters,  acting  like  an 
endless  chain,  brought  many  more  families  to  this  locality. 

By  1878  some  eight  families  had  found  permanent  homes  here,  and  on 
August  27th  of  that  year  these  people,  bound  by  close  ties  to  the  religion 
of  their  native  land,  formed  a  church  society,  the  first  church  of  tiie  denomi- 
nation in  the  country  and  the  only  one  at  the  present  time. 

United  Brethren. 

Cheshire. 

A  working  membership  of  this  denomination  has  been  maintained  in 
Casco  township  for  a  number  of  years,  and  they  have  built  two  churches  in 
the  township.     A  society  with  a  membership  of  twenty-two  was  formed  in 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  593 

the  boys'  schoolhotise  in  1865,  among  the  prominent  early  members  being; 
Austin  Hamner,  John  Patterson,  Elisha  Fields,  James  Barden,  Henry  Ridley 
and  Samuel  Hadaway. 

Another  class  was  formed  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  township  in  1865, 
hut  ten  years  later  was  dissolved. 

Dorr. 

A  society  was  organized  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  township  during 
the  seventies. 

Sa!cvi. 

A  society  was  organized  in  Salem  in  1856.  From  the  old  log  school- 
house  on  section  9  the  church  was  able  to  transfer  its  meetings  to  its  own 
house  of  worship  in  1869,  the  building  being  erected  on  section  8.  Some 
of  the  first  members  were :  Robert  Pettengal  and  wife,  John  Newell  and 
wife,  Ira  Smith  and  wife  and  James  Bumip  and  wife.  Elder  Buck  was 
their  preacher  in  1860-61.  The  list  of  ministers  is  not  complete.  A  few 
years  later  the  church  had  a  big  increase  of  membership  under  Rev.  Fergu- 
son while  the  house  of  worship  was  still  under  construction.  During  W.  N. 
Breidenstein's  ministry  Salem,  Dorr  and  Monterey  were  set  apart  from  the 
Gaines  circuit  and  obtained  a  resident  pastor,  a  parsonage  being  built  half  a 
mile  south  of  the  church.  S.  Irwin  and  S.  G.  Lake  followed,  and  about  1882 
the  church  building  was  sold  for  a  schoolhouse  and  the  present  building 
erected.  The  trustees  at  the  time  were :  I.  J.  Bear,  J.  Newell,  A.  Twining, 
A.  Heasley  and  William  Fleetwood,  the  last  named  having  kindly  furnished 
this  information.  The  successive  ministers  since  then  have  been:  C.  B. 
Whitaker,  H.  S.  Shafer,  Rev.  Mead,  H.  T.  Baniaby  and  H.  H.  Halsey. 
At  this  time  there  was  a  division  in  the  church,  and  the  settlement  of  title  to 
the  property  was  made  a  test  case  and  decided  in  the  supreme  court  of  the 
state,  control  of  the  property  being  finally  vested  with  the  old  church.  Since 
then  the  ministers  have  been :  A.  Batdorff,  L.  J.  BatdorfT,  N.  V.  Miller,  S. 
G.  Hall.  R.  S.  Bowman,  H.  H.  Halsey,  A.  Bostwick  and  O.  Leash. 

Shventii  Day  Adventist  Church. 

This  church  has  four  active  societies  in  the  county,  the  Allegan, 
Monterey  and  Otsego  churches  numbering  each  from  eighty  to  one  hundred 
members  until  the  last  few  years,  when  for  various  reasons  the  numerical 
strength  of  the  churches  has  declined,  principally  through  death  of  older 
niembers  and  the  younger  meinbers  taking  up  active  missionary  work  in 
other  fields.  The  same  may  he  said  to  be  true  of  the  Douglas  church, 
although  that  has  never  been  as  strong  a  congregation  as  the  others.  Elder 
E.  Brackett,  who  furnished  the  data  for  the  church,  has  been  identified  with 
the  denomination  in  Allegan  county  for  the  past  thirty-three  years. 

This  denomination  was  organized  at  Allegan,  December  7,  1861,  and 
its  house  of  worship  on  Cutler  street  was  dedicated  in  1864.  Horatio  S, 
Lay  was  chosen  elder  in  i86r.  Henry  H.  Pierce  was  next  resident  elder, 
and  others  who  liave  held  that  office  in  this  church  have  been :  James  M. 
Baker,  W.  H.  Littlejohn  and  Ezra  Brackett.    Regular  services  are  held  the 


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594  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

seventh  day  of  the  week  at  10:30  a.  m.  Mr.  James  M.  Baker  and  wife, 
Mrs.  Adelaide  Root  and  several  others  have  been  connected  with  the 
church  for  thirty-iive  years  or  more, 

Monterey. 

A  society  of  Adventists  was  formed  in  Monterey  before  that  at  Allegan, 
the  first  meetings  being  held  in  1855  and  a  church  was  organized  in  the  fol- 
lowing year.  A  small  church  was  erected  in  1858,  and  in  1862  a  new  and 
larger  one  was  put  up,  which  is  still  in  use.  It  is  located  on  section  33, 
about  five  and  one-half  miles  north  of  Allegan,  on  the  Monterey  road. 
Elder  Joseph  Bates  was  the  elder  of  this  church  for  many  years.  Charles 
Jones  was  next  resident  elder,  which  office  he  held  for  more  than  thirty 
years.  Ezra  Brackett  was  then  chosen  elder  and  remained  in  that  capacity 
till  his  removal  to  Allegan.    The  present  elder  is  Henry  A.  Oleson. 

Otsego. 

A  society  was  organized  December  28,  1861,  and  a  brick  church  build- 
ing erected  on  Farmer  street  in  the  village  in  1867.  George  Leighton  was 
chosen  elder  and  remained  till  his  death.  The  present  elder  is  E.  A.  Mer- 
riam.  Freeman  Leighton  was  elder  for  a  number  of  years.  M.  S.  Burnham 
was  another  elder,  as  well  as  Seymour  HilliarcJ.  Otsego  is  the  headquarters 
of  the  West  Michigan  Adventist  conference. 

Doughs. 

A  church  of  sixteen  members  was  organized  at  the  house  of  David 
McCullom  in  1874.  In  1879  a  building  was  purchased  in  the  village  and 
remodeled  for  church  purposes  and  is  still  used.  Elder  of  this  church  was 
Captain  Robert  Reed  until  shortly  before  his  death  in  1905,  and  at  present 
his  son,  Roy  Reed,  is  the  elder. 

Dutch  Reformed  Church. 

The  Hollanders  of  Fillmore  township  have  established  several  churches 
of  the  Reformed  faith.  The  church  was  the  central  and  original  institution 
of  the  village  of  Graafschap,  the  society  buying  the  land  and  laying  out  the 
village.  This  was  in  1848,  the  year  of  the  organization  of  the  church,  and 
the  meetings,  which  previous  to  this  time  were  held  in  different  homes, 
were  transferred  to  a  log  church.  Among  the  leading  members  at  the 
organization  may  he  mentioned  Jans  Rutgers,  Stephen  Lucas,  Lambert  Tin- 
holt,  Henry  Salmink,  Johannes  Van  Anro;^  and  Mathias  Naaye.  The  first 
minister  was  H.  G.  Klyn,  who  was  succeeded  two  years  later  by  Martin 
Ypma,  during  whose  term  the  parsonage  was  converted  into  a  church,  the 
log  house  being  abandoned. 

In  1856  the  majority  of  the  membership  organized  as  the  "True 
Reformed  Church  of  America,"  retaining  the  church  property.  A  new 
house  of  worship  was  built  in  1861  and  the  society  became  very  prosperous 
and  large.  This  is  now  known  as  the  Christian  Reformed  church,  and 
there  are  several  congregations  in  north  Allegan  county. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY  595 

That  portion  of  the  membership  which  maintained  its  allegiance  to  the 
regular  Refomied  church  continued  on  the  old  basis  and  in  1859  constructed 
a  new  church  building.  Dominie  Pieters  (1861-65)  ^^^  *he  first  regular 
pastor  chosen  after  the  division.  Some  of  his  successors  have  been ;  Dirk 
Broek,  1865-70;  E.  C.  Oggel,  1870-72;  William  Van  Derkley,  1873-75; 
Adrian  Zwemer,  1876-86;  C.  C.  John,  i888-go;  F.  J.  Zwemer,  1892-96;  J. 
Van  der  Meulen,  1896-1900;  C.  Kuiper,  1901-06,  and  J.  E.  Kuizenga,  1906. 
In  1906  there  were  sixty  famihes  in  membership,  and  one  hundred  and 
seventy  non-communicants.  A  new  parsonage  has  been  built  at  a  cost  of 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and  a  new  church  was  completed  in  1905. 

Some  members  of  the  Holland  congregation  living  in  northeastern 
Fillmore  organized  in  1867  a  separate  church  and  constructed  a  house  of 
worship  in  section  2.  Among  the  organizers  were:  G.  Dalman,  William 
Oonk,  Garret  Wildering,  Jacob  Fork,  Peter  Knaber  and  Frank  Lucas.  The 
first  pastor  was  R.  C.  Kuiper. 

A  branch  of  the  Graafschap  True,  or  Christian  Refromed  church  was 
organized  on  the  south  side  of  Fillmore  in  1868  by  members  living  in  that 
vicinity.  A  church  was  built  on  section  28  in  the  same  year,  but 
destroyed  by  forest  fire  in  1871,  being  rebuilt  the  following  year.  Some  of 
the  early  leaders  in  this  church  were :  Dirk  Lenters,  John  Leiblink,  John 
Lohrman,  H.  Bruhn  and  E.  Bruiiii.    The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  John  Staat. 

East  Saugatuck. 

The  East  Saug'atuck,  or  Fynaart  Reformed  Church  was  organized  by  a 
council  held  in  a  log  schoolhouse  on  the  town  line  between  Manlius  and 
Fillmore,  December  23,  1868.  The  church  edifice  was  erected  shortly 
afterward  on  the  south  line  of  section  33  in  Fillmore.  There  were 
twenty-two  charter  members,  among  whom  Edward  Sprick,  A.  Boesel,  H. 
S.  Berksman  and  H.  Dalman  were  the  first  officials.  Pastors  have  been : 
J.  F.  Zwemer,  1873-80  (in  1880  congregation  united  with  Saugatuck) ; 
Groeneveld,  1881-82;  reorganized  in  1885  with  G.  Dangremond  pastor, 
1885-89;  Strabbhng,  1889-93.     Church  disbanded  in  1894. 

Ovcriscl. 

The  church's  activity  in  Overisel  is  contemporaneous  with  the  Dutch 
colonization  of  the  township.  Rev.  S.  Bolks  was  the  first  pastor,  1851-53, 
The  house  of  worship,  built  of  logs,  was  completed  in  1849.  A  more  com- 
modious building  was  erected  later,  the  membership  at  the  close  of  the 
seventies  having  reached  nearly  five  hundred.  Pastors  have  been :  Nykerk, 
1858-91;  Lepeltak,  1877-91;  A.  Vanderberg,  1891-1906.  The  church  now 
has  four  hundred  and  thirty-eight  communicants  and  three  hundred  and 
eighty -four  non- communicants. 

The  East  Overisel  church,  formed  in  1872,  now  has  one  hundred  and 
one  communicants  and  ninety-six  non-communicants.  The  pastorate  was 
vacant  from  1872  to  1896,  Wolvius  was  pastor  1896-98;  Pofpen,  1898  to 
1902,  Klooster,  1903;  the  charge  is  now  vacant. 

The  Allegan  county  Reformed  churches  mentioned  in  the  last  minutes 
of  the  synod  are  those  at  East  Overisel,  Graafschap,  Hamilton,  Overisel  and 
Saugatuck. 


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596  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

HamHton. 

A  Dutch  Reformed  church  was  established  in  this  township  as  a  branch 
of  tlie  Overisel  congregation  and  a  building  and  parsonage  were  erected 
costing  three  thousand  dollars.  The  Hamilton  church,  also  known  as  Rab- 
bit River  or  Zabriskie  Memorial,  has  now  seventy-two  families  in  member- 
ship and  one  hundred  and  eighty-six  persons  non- communicant.  Rev. 
Strabbling  has  been  pastor  since  1904. 

Scmgatiick. 

A  church  of  this  denomination  was  organized  at  Morrison's  Hall,  June 
21,  1868.  A  church  building  was  erected  the  same  year,  being  enlarged  in 
1874.  The  first  members  were:  A.  C.  Zwemer  and  wife,  H.  Van  Spyker 
and  wife,  G.  Jonkhoff  and  wife,  M.  De  Eoe  and  wife,  I.  Zwemer  and  wife, 
L  G.  Neimeizer  and  wife,  J.  J.  Koke,  J.  Neis,  M.  Van  Leuwen,  Arent 
Zwaavink,  Mrs.  Kallewoord  and  Mrs,  Sluiter. 

The  pastors  were:  D.  Brock,  1870-75;  Nies,  1876-79;  Groeiieveld, 
1881-82.    The  church  is  now  disbanded. 

Church  of  Christ. 

IV ay  land. 

This  society  was  organized  Apri!  2,  1877,  with  seventeen  charter  mem- 
bers. Soon  after  that  time  Elder  E.  Sias  held  a  series  of  meetings  and  as  a 
result  of  his  labors  over  one  hundred  people  were  added  by  conversion  or 
otherwise.  Death  has  claimed  some,  while  others  have  moved  to  different 
localities,  consequently  there  are  but  seventy-five  active  members  at  present. 
The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  D.  N.  Severance. 

A  fine  church  building,  costing  two  thousand  dollars,  was  dedicated 
March  7.  1879.  It  will  seat  about  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  persons. 
During  the  summer  of  1902,  under  the  supervision  of  Rev.  Camp,  a  beauti- 
ful parsonage,  valued  at  eighteen  hundred  dollars,  was  erected,  which  is  a 
great  credit  to  the  society. 

United  Brethkex  in  Christ. 

A  class  was  formed  at  the  Pier  Cove  sciioolhouse  in  1861  with  twenty- 
four  members,  Lorenzo  Weed  being  first  class  leader.  In  1875  a  church 
building  was  erected.  Among  the  leading  members  about  that  time  were 
Arthur  Howland,  Elisha  Weed,  Robert  Linn,  Edwin  and  John  Goodwin. 

In  the  fall  of  1867  the  first  Swedish  settlers  arrived  at  Abronia,  namely, 
Charles  Anderson  and  family.  Five  years  later  (1872)  arrived  Nels  John- 
son and  family,  and  in  1873  John  Peterson,  Swan  Peterson,  Alexander 
Johnson,  John  Johnson,  Samuel  Egg,  Andrew  Egg,  etc.  John  Strand  and 
family  arrived  1875  and  Gust  Sandahl  and  family  1876.  They  all  settled 
in  the  woods  With  big  trees  and  had  a  great  toil  before  the  ground  could  be 
made  to  good  fahns.  The  Mission  Friends  had  services  in  the  beginning  of 
the  time  when  the  settlement  started,  but  in  the  fall  of  1877  Rev.  G. 
Lundahl,  from  La  Porte,  Indiana,  held  the  first  Lutheran  service  at  the 
residence  of  Swan  Peterson,  when  the  first  infant  baptism  was  administered 
to  a  daughter  of  Mr;  S.  Peterson  and  was  named  Matilda  Catharine.  (She 
is  now  married  to  Rev.  J.  A.  Eckstrom,  of  Worcester,  Mass.)     At  the  same 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLt:(;AX  COUNTY  597 

time  the  first  marriage  was  solemnized  to  Mr.  Samuel  Egg  and  Miss  Tilda 
Strand.  On  August  4th  preliminary  steps  were  taken  for  a  church  organiza- 
tion. Rev.  N.  A.  Youngberg,  from  Sparta,  Michigan,  was  called  to  assist  in 
this  undertaking,  and  a  Lutheran  congregation  was  organized  August  28, 
1878.  Eight  families  became  the  first  members,  namely,  John  Strand  and 
family,  S.  Peterson  and  family,  Samuel  Egg  and  family,  Charles  Anderson 
and  family,  Nels  Johnson  and  family.  Gust  Sandahl  and  family,  Alexander 
Johnson  and  family,  August  Strand  and  family,  and  the  following  unmar- 
ried: J.  Peterson,  A.  Nelson,  A.  Egg,  J.  Johnson,  M.  Hanson,  C.  Holmes, 
C.  Egg,  E.  Forsman  and  J.  Hanson.  Deacons:  Samuel  Egg,  Andrew 
Strand  and  Charles  Anderson.  Trustees :  John  Peterson,  Charles  Holmes 
and  John  Johnson.  Those  having  charge  of  the  congregation  for  a  longer 
or  shorter  period  are  the  following  pastors :  G.  Lundahl,  N.  A.  Youngberg, 
M.  P.  Oden,  O.  Chillien,  P.  A.  Carlson,  A  P.  Lindstrom,  J.  Forsberg,  A. 
Hull,  H.  P.  Quist.  J.  N.  Alexis,  J.  A.  Norlin,  V.  Tengvald,  S.  E.  Rydberg, 
«tc.  Those  that  served  the  longest  period  are  Rev.  G.  A.  Ostergren, 
1887-93,  and  Kev.  C.  A.  Carlstad,  1894-1902.  On  March  3.  1879,  Charles 
Anderson  offered  to  donate  to  the  church  a  piece  of  land  for  a  cemetery. 
The  offer  was  thankfully  accepted.  The  fourteen-month-old  Malvina 
Christine,  daughter  of  Mr.  Charles  Anderson  and  his  wife.  Hilda,  was  the 
first  one  buried  in  the  cemetery  during  the  summer  of  the  same  year  (1879). 
She  was  run  over  and  killed  by  a  train  at  the  crossing  near  the  residence. 
On  January  15,  1881,  it  was  resolved  to  start  a  subscription  for  building  a 
church.  On  January  14,  1883,  a  building  committee  was  appointed,  namely, 
Charles  Anderson.  Gust  Sandahl  and  John  Peterson.  The  church  was  built 
the  same  year  (1883),  Oscar  Prist  acting  as  superintendent  of  the  work. 
Rev.  A.  P.  Lindstrom,  John  Peterson  and  D.  Magnison  made  plans  for 
the  building  as  architects.  The  church  lot  was  bought  of  John  Strand  for 
twenty-five  dollars  and  the  church  cost  about  one  thousand  dollars,  for 
which  money  was  solicited  from  members  and  friends  of  the  congregation. 
During  this  year  a  student,  Mr.  Nymanson,  did  faithful  work  both  as  a 
preacher  and  a  parochial  school  teacher,  which  was  highly  appreciated  by 
the  congregation.  The  first  service  in  the  church  after  being  finished  was 
on  January  i.  1884.  and  was  conducted  by  the  deacon,  C.  Anderson.  On 
January  26,  1880,  it  was  resolved  to  organize  a  Sunday-school.  E.  Forsman 
was  elected  superintendent  and  C.  Anderson  trealSurer.  The  present  teach- 
ers (1907)  are  Mr.  Olof  Larson,  Mrs.  Nels  Nelson,  Miss  Jennie  Peterson 
and  Miss  Matilda  Svanty.  In  the  year  1895  a  reed  organ  was  purchased 
for  seventy-five  dollars.  Malvina  Anderson  was  the  first  organist.  The 
present  organist  is  Mrs.  Augusta  Carlson.  In  1899  the  young  people  of  the 
congregation  solicited  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  dollars  and  bought  a 
bell. 

The  Young  People's  Society  was  organized  by  Rev.  J.  N.  Alexis,  the 
membership  being  twenty-nine.  The  communicants  of  the  church  number 
seventy-six  and  the  present  officers  are:  Deacons,  August  Carlson,  John 
Svanty  and  Nels  Nelson ;  tnistees,  John  Nyberg,  Gust.  Sandahl  and  John 
Svanty,  At  present  the  congregation  is  in  charge  of  the  clergymen.  J.  T. 
O.  Olander,  of  Muskegon;  J.  N.  Alexis,  of  Whitehall,  and  C.  A.  Eckstrom, 
of  Grand  Rapids. 


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CHAPTER  XIX. 

MILITARY  RECORDS. 

OnacEKS  i"KOM  Allegan  County  in  the  Civil  War. 

Babbitt,  John  E.— Allegan.  Second  Lt.,  8th  Cav.,  Nov.  i,  1862.  First 
Lt.,  March  2,  1863.  Capt.,  Aug.  31,  1S63.  Taken  prisoner  during  Stone- 
man's  raid,  Aug.  2,  1864.  Exchanged  - — — — ■.  Honorably  discharged  for 
disability  Dec.  27,  1864. 

Baldwin,  John  H. — Ganges.  Entered  service  Oct.  i,  1861.  Sergt. 
Company  B,  13th  Inf.  Wounded  in  action  Sept.  20,  1863.  Second  Lt., 
Aug.  26,  1864.  First  Lt.,  May  12,  1865.  Mustered  out  July  25,  1865,  and 
honorably  discharged. 

Bartlett,  Orrin  M. — Gun  Plain.  Entered  service  July  21,  1863.  Sergt. 
Company  M,  ist  Cav.  Second  Lt.,  March  7,  1865.  Killed  in  action  at  Five 
■  Forks,  Va.,  April  i,  1865. 

Bassett,  Chauncey  J. — Allegan.  Capt.,  6th  Inf.,  Aug.  19,  1861.  Major 
of  a  Louisiana  regiment,  Oct,  20,  1862. 

Buck,  Nathan  V. — Allegan.  Entered  service  Aug.  28,  1861.  Sergt. 
Company  A,  3d  Cav.  Second  Lt.,  Sept.  13,  1864.  First  Lt,  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Resigned  June  12,  1865,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Butler,  James  G. — Allegan.  Entered  service  Sept.  2,  1861.  Com. 
Sergt.,  3d  Cav.    Second  Lt.,  May  25,  1862.     First  Lt.  and  Q.  M.,  Sept.  15, 

1862.  Capt,  Sept.  7,  1864.  Maj.,  July  4,  1865.  Mustered  out  Feb.  12, 
1866,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Case,  Alanson  B. — Otsego.  Entered  service  Oct.  17,  1861,  as  Sergt. 
Maj.,  13th  Inf.     Second  Lt.,  May  31,  1862.     First  Lt  and  Adjt.,  Jan.  20, 

1863.  Mustered  out  Jan.  16,  1865,  and  honorably  discharged. 
Campion,  William  H. — Allegan.     Entered  service  March  8,   1864,  as 

Q.  M.  Sergt.,  3d  Cav.  Second  Lt.,  Oct.  17,  1864.  First  Lt,  Nov.  17,  1864. 
Mustered  out  Feb.  12,  1866,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Darron,  William  T.— Allegan.  First  Lt,  19th  Inf.,  July  28,  1862. 
Resigned  Feb.  6,  1863,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Davis,  Perry  J. — Allegan.    Entered  service  Aug.  6,  1862.    Sergt  Com- 

I)any  L,  4th  Cav.. .    First  Lt.  and  Q.  M.,  Aug.  25,  1864.    Bvt  Capt, 

U.  S.  Vols.,  May  10,  1865,  "for  meritorious  service  in  the  capture  of  Jeff. 
Davis."     Mustered  out  July  i,  1865,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Dean,  Thomas — Allegan.  Entered  service  Sept  i,  1861,  as  Sergt., 
Company  A,  3d  Cav.  Second  Lt.,  Oct.  i,  1862.  First  Lt.,  Feb.  16,  1^3. 
Capt.,  Oct.  26,  1864.     Resigned  Oct    17,  1865,  and  honorably  discharged. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLE(7AN  COUNTY  599 

Duel,  John  W. — Allegan.  Entered  service  Aug.  9,  1862.  Sergt.,  Com- 
pany B,  19th  Inf., .    First  Lt.,  May  8,  1865.    Mustered  out  June  10, 

1865,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Dutcher,  George  N. — Saugatuck.  FirSt  Lt,  5th  Cav.,  Aug.  14,  1862. 
Capt.,  June  13,  1863.  Wounded  in  action  at  Littletown.  Pa.,  June  30,  1863. 
Wounded  in  action  at  Brandy  Station,  Va.,  Oct.  13,  1863.  Honorably  dis- 
charged for  disability  Nov.  2,  1863. 

Diiryea,  William — Lee.  Second  Lt.,  28th  Inf.,  Aug.  15,  1864.  Resigned 
July  6,  1865,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Eaton,  Willard  G.— Otsego.  First  Lt,  13th  Inf.,  Oct.  3,  1861.  Capt, 
Oct.  20,  1862.  Maj.,  May  26,  1863.  Col.,  Feb.  23,  1865.  Killed  in  action 
at  Bentonville,  N,  C,  March  19,  1865. 

Eaton,  Osmer — Otsego.  Second  Lt.,  rst  Engs.  and  Mechs.,  Jan.  i, 
1864.    Mustered  out  Oct.  26,  1864,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Fisk,  Charles  W. — Allegan.  Entered  service  July  31,  1862,  as  Sergt, 
Company  L,  4th  Cav,  Second  Lt,  Dec.  6,  1863.  First  Lt,  Aug.  i,  1864, 
Mustered  out  July  5,  1865,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Force,  George  B. — Plainwell.  Capt.,  13th  Inf.,  Oct  3,  1861,  Resigned 
May  31,  1862,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Fry,  Jacob  G. — Ganges.  Second  Lt.,  r3th  Inf.,  Oct.  3,  1861,  First  Lt., 
May  31,  1862.  Capt.,  Feb.  2,  1863.  Resigned  for  disability  Jan.  31,  1863, 
and  honorably  discharged. 

Gardner,  George   N. — Saugatuck.     Entered  service    Tv'ov.     14.    1862. 

Sergt.,  Company  I,  5th  Cav., ■.    Second  Lt,  April  14,  1865.   Mustered 

out  June  22,  1865,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Haney,  Jeremiah  B. — Leighton.  First  Lt.,  28th  Inf.,  Aug,  15,  1864. 
Resigned  May  8,  1865,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Haire.  Oscar — Otsego.  Entered  service  Aug,  20,  1861,  as  Sergt.,  Com- 
pany B,  6th  Inf.  First  Lt.,  Oct,  21,  1862.  Resigned  July  19,  1864,  and 
lionorably  discharged. 

Hubbard,  Samuel  M.— Otsego.  Second  Lt.,  19th  Inf.,  July  28.  1862. 
First  Lt,  May  i,  1863.  Capt,  June  24.  1863.  Wounded  in  action  May  28, 
1864.     Honorably  discharged  Nov,  30,  1864. 

Kenyon,  Dewitt  C, — Ganges.  Entered  service  Oct.  8,  1861,  as  Sergt., 
Company  B,  13th  Inf.  First  Lt,  Jan.  31,  1863.  Capt.,  March  19,  1864. 
Mustered  out  July  25,  1865,  and  honorably  discliarged. 

Kirby.  John— Allegan.     Entered  service  Dec.  10,  1861.     Com.  Sergt., 

13th  Inf.^ .     Second  Lt.,  April  25,  1865.     First  Lt.,  July  5,  1865. 

Mustered  ont  as  Second  Lt.,  July  25,  1865,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Lily,  Augustus — Allegan.  Entered  service  Aug.  6.  1862.  Sergt,  Com- 
pany E,  19th  Inf,  Second  Lt,  May  i,  1863.  First  Lt.,  May  15,  1864. 
Honorably  discharged  as  Second  Lt.,  April  9,  1865. 

Lamoreaux.  Isaac — ^Manlius,    First  Lt,,  4tli  Cav.,  Aug.  13,  1862.  Resigned 
March  18,  1863,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Loiisbury,  George  W.— Saugatuck.  Entered  service  Aug.  12,  1862,  as 
Sergt.,  Company  I,  5th  Cav.    Second  Lt.,  Sept.  r,  1863.    First  Lt.,  July  15, 

1864.  Capt,  Nov.  10,  1864.    Bvt  Maj.  U.  S.  Vols.,  March  13,  1865,  "for 
gallant  and  meritorious  service  during  the  war."     Mustered  out  Jime  22, 

1865,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Leonard,  Milton — Grand  Rapids.     Entered  service  June  10,  1861,  as 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


Second  Lt.,  Feb.  5,  1863.     First  Lt,,  Nov.  i, 
Killed  in  action  at  the  Wilderness,  Va.,  May 


,  1863.  Sergt.,  Com- 
Not  mustered  as  an 


Aug.    II,    1862,    as 
1864.     Mustered    out 


,  28,  1862,  as  Sergt., 


Corpl.,  Company  F.  3d  Inf. 
1863.  Capt.,  April  i,  1864: 
6,  1864. 

Mabbs,  Robert — Allegan.  Eitered  service  Aug.  i 

pany  B,  19th  Inf., .     Second  Lt.,  June  15,  1865. 

officer.    Honorably  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Murpliy,  Saniuel  F. — Allegan.     Entered 
Sergt,  Company  L,  4th  Cav.     Second  Lt.,  Dec, 
July  I,  1865,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Mavel,  Homer — Saugatuck.    Entered  servic 
Company  F,  8th  Cav.    Second  Lt.,  Sept.  12,  1864.    First  Lt.  and  Adjt.,  Nov. 
14,  1864.     Mustered  out  Sept.  22,  1865,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Mansfield,  Kilburn  W. — Otsego.  Entered  service  Oct.  24,  1861.  Sergt., 
Company  I,  13th  Inf.,  — — — ,    Second  Lt.,  July  4,  1862.    First  Lt.,  Feb.  28, 

1863.  Capt.,  March  19,  1864.    Mustered  out  July  25,  1865,  and  honorably 
discharged. 

Mix,  Frank  W. — Allegan.  Entered  service  Sept.  i,  1861,  as  Sergt., 
Company  A,  3d  Cav.  Second  Lt,  March  26,  1862.  First  Lt.,  May  25, 
1862.  Capt..  4th  Cav.,  Aug.  13,  1862.  Maj.,  Feb.  18,  1863.  Wounded  in 
action  near  Lovejoy  Station,  Ga,,  Aug.  20,  1864.  Resigned  Nov.  24,  1864, 
and  honorably  discharged. 

Mix,  Elisha — Manhus.  Capt.,  8th  Cav.,  Nov.  i,  1862.  Maj.,  March 
2,  1863.  Lt.  Col,,  April  16,  1864.  Not  mustered  as  Lt.  Col.  Taken  pris- 
oner during  Stoneman's  raid,  Aug.  2,  1864.  Exchanged  Sept.  27,  1864. 
Col.,  Sept.  — — — .  Mustered  out  Sept.  22,  1865,  and  honorablv  discharged. 
Bvt.  Brig.  Gen.,  U.  S.  Vols.,  March  13,  1865,  for  long,  faithful  and 
meritorious  service. 

Manvel,  Homer — Saugatuck;  Entered  service  Nov.  22,  1862,  as  Sergt., 
Company  F,  8th  Cav.  Second  Lt.,  Sept.  12,  1864.  First  Lt.  and  Adjt., 
Nov,  14,  1864.    Mustered  out  Sept.  22,  1865,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Moyers,  Gilbert — Allegan.  Capt,  3d  Cav.,  Sept.  7,  1861.  Maj.,  Feb. 
27,  1862.  Lt  Col.,  Aug.  13,  1862.  Resigned  Dec.  2,  1864,  and  honorably 
discharged. 

Nelson,  George — Otsego.  Entered  service  Oct.  21,  1861,  as  Sergt 
Company  I,  13th  Inf.  Second  Lt,  June  13,  1863.  Wounded  in  action  at 
Chickamauga,  Ga.,  Sept.  19,  1863.  Honorably  discharged  for  disability. 
June  I,  1864. 

Norton,  Elliott  M.- — Wayland.    Entered  service  Nov.  21,  1862.     Sergt. 
Ma],.  6th  Cav.,  — _.    Second  Lt,  July  i,  1864.    First  Lt  and  Adjt,  J; 
4,  1865.    Wounded  by  Indians,  Sept  4,  1865.    Transferred  to  ist  Cav.,  N( 
17,  1865.    Mustered  out  March  10,  18155,  ^"^  honorably  discharged. 

Pritchard,  Benjamin  D.— Allegan.  Capt.,  4th  Cav.,  Aug.  13.  1862, 
Wounded  in  action  at  Chickamauga,  Ga.,  Sept.  18,  1863.    Lt.  Col.,  Nov.  26, 

1864.  Bvt.   Brig.  Gen,,  U.  S.  Vols,,  March   10,   1865,  "for  faithful  and 
meritorious  service  in  the  capture  of  Jeff.  Davis."     Mustered  out  July  i 

1865.  and  honorably  discharged. 

Parker,  Thomas  J.^Allegan.     Second  Lt,  4th  Cav.,  Aug.   13,   1862, 

First  Lt,  Feb.  18,  1863,    Resigned  Dec.  21,  1864.  and  honorably  discharged. 

Pope,  Horace  H.— Allegan.     First  Lt,  3d  Cav.,  Sept  7,  1861.     Capt,, 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  601 

June  II,  1862.  Taken  prisoner  at  Corinth,  Miss.,  Oct.  3,  1862.  Exchanged, 
.    Resigned  Nov.  7,  1864,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Rowe.  George  M. — ^Saugatuck.  Second  Lt.,  13th  Inf.,  Julv  13,  1862. 
First  Lt.,  Feb.  13,  1863.  Capt..  March  9.  1864.  Maj..  July  5,  1865.  Mus- 
tered out  as  Capt.,  July  25,  1865,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Simpson,  John  H.— Aliegan.  Entered  service  July  26,  1862,  as  Sergt. 
Company  L,  4th  Cav.     Second  Lt.,  March  31.   1863.     First  Lt.,  Aug.  23, 

1863.  Capt,  Dec.  10,  1864,  Mustered  out  July  i,  1865,  and  honorably 
discharged. 

Stoughton,  Henry  C. — Otsego.  Capt.  13th  Inf.,  Oct.  3,  1861.  Resigned 
Oct.  20,  1862,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Stephens,  John  H.— Aliegan.  Entered  service  Oct.  26.  1861.  Sergt. 
Conipy.  L  13th  Inf.  - — — .  Second  Lt..  Feb.  13.  1865.  First  Lt..  July  5, 
1865.    Mustered  out  as  Second  Lt.,  July  18,  1865.  and  honorably  discharged. 

Smith,  Joel  H.— Dowagiac.  Capt..  19th  Inf.,  JiUy  28,  1862.  Resigned 
July  II,  1864,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Spoor,  John  W.- — Allegan.     Second  Lt,  ist  Eng's  and  Mech's,  Jan.  r, 

1864.  First  Lt..  Nov.  3,  18154.  Mustered  out  Sept.  2a,  1865,  and  honorably 
discharged. 

Stark,  Henry.— Otsego.  First  Lt.,  6th  Inf.,  Aug.  19,  1861.  Capt., 
Oct.  21,  1862.     Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  1865,  and  honorably  discharge'd. 

Stone,  George  R. — Allegan,  Second  Lt.,  4th  Cav.,  March  i,  1863. 
First  Lt  and  Q.  M.,  March  18,  1863.  Capt.,  Aug.  25.  1864.  Mustered  out 
July  I,  1865,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Tenney,  Charles  W. — Allegan.  Entered  service  Sept  14,  1861.  as 
Saddler  Sergt.,  3d  Cav.  Second  Lt.,  Jan.  2,  1865.  First  Lt..  Nov.  8.  1865. 
Mustered  out  as  Second  Lt.  Feb.  12,  1865,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Trask,  Howell  H.— Plainwell.  Entered  service  Oct  10,  1861,  as  Sergt. 
Compy.  B.,  13th  Inf.  Second  Lt.,  Jan,  20.  1863.  Wounded  in  action  at 
Chickamauga,  Ga.,  Sept.  19,  1863.     Wounded  at  Savannah,  Ga.,  Dec.  12, 

1864.  First  Lt,  Apr.  26,  1865.  Resigned  as  Second  Lt.,  May  28,  1865, 
and  honorably  discharged. 

Thomas,  Samuel  S.— Allegan.  Entered  service  Feb.  20.  1864,  as  Pvt. 
Compy.  K.,  8th  Cav.     Capt.,  28th  Inf.,  Aug.  15,  1864.     Resigned  May  15, 

1865,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Van  Arsdale,  Peter.^ — Saugatuck.  Second  Lt.,  13th  Inf.,  Oct.  3,  186! 
First  Lt,  July  13,  1862.  Capt.,  Feb.  23,  1863.  Mustered  out  Jan.  16.  i86i, 
Maj.,  April  25.  1865.  Lt.  Col.,  May  12,  1865.  Mustered  out  July  25,  1865, 
and  honorably  discharged. 

Wallin,  Alfred  C— Chicago,  111.  Second  Lt,  6th  Inf.,  Aug.  19,  1861. 
First  Lt.,  Jan.  31.  1862.    Resigned  June  30,  1862,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Wetmore,  Albert  G. — Allegan.  Entered  service  Oct.  24,  1861,  as  Sergt, 
Compy.  C,  13th  Inf.  Second  Lt.,  May  26,  1864.  First  Lt,  July  5.  1865, 
Mustered  out  as  Second  Lt.,  July  25,  1865.  and  honorably  discharged. 

White,  William  H. — Otsego.    Entered  service  Aug.  20,  1861.     Sergt., 

Conipy.  G,  6th  Inf.  .     First  Lt.,  July  i,  1862.     Died  of  disease  at 

Carrolton,  La.,  Oct.  19.  1862. 

White,    David. — Allegan.      Entered    service    Sept.    4,    i86r.      Sergt. 

Compy.  A,  3d  Cav.  .     Second  Lt.,  Dec,  7,  1864.     Mustered  out  Feb. 

12,  1866,  and  honorably  discharged. 


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(!02 


HISTORY  OF  iVLLEGAN  COUNTY 


Wilson,  I saac.^ Allegan.  Second  Lt.,  3d  Cav.,  Sept,  7,  1861.  First 
Lt.,  Feb.  27,  1863.    Capt.,  Oct.  1,  1863.    Honorably  discharged  June  6,  1865. 

Williams,  William  B. — Allegan.  Capt,  5th  Cav.,  Ang.  14,  1862.  Re- 
signed June  II,  1863,  and  honorably  discharged. 

Allegan  County  Soldiers  in  the  Civil  War, 


Adaitis,  Eihvard  P.,  19th  Wis.  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Agan,  Joseph,  3tl  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Agan,  Samuel,  ISth  Inf.,  Co.  I, 
Ailea,  John,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Alden,  Peter  J.,  6th  Cav.,  Co.  H. 
Alger,  Jamea,  3d  Car.,  Co.  A. 
Allegan   Matthew  J    30th  Int    Co   C 
Allen   Charles  H     3d  Cav    Co    B 
Allen   William  A     10th  Cav     Co    B 
Allen   BmerBon   I9th  Inf    Co   B 
Allen    William  O     13th  Inf    Co   B 
Anderson   David  E     19th  Inf     Co   B 
Anderson   WiUiam   19th  Iu(     Co   B 
Anway   Eiias   13th  Inf    Co   B 
Anway    Sylvester    lith  Inf     Co    P 
Andrcwa    Samnel   3d  Cav     Co   A 
Andrews   Mortimer   5th  Cav     Go   I 
Andrews   Austin  \    5th  Cav    Co   I 
Andrews    Sol    J     8th  Cav     Co    F 
AnniB    Hiratn    Sth   Cav     Co    M 
4nms    Joseph    11th  Inf     Co    6 
Amidon    Edson   13th  Inf    Co   B 
Ames   Cyrus  E     13th  Inf    Co   I 
Ashcroft   Wm   B    6th  Inf    Co   A 
Ash   Allen   4th  Cav    Co   L 
Atkins   '^mnel    5th  Cav     C«    I 
Austin   Daiil  M    Sth  Cav    Co   B 
Austin   W    D     Sth  Ca^      Co    E 
Austin   Jas     6th  Int    Co   G 
Austin   Nathaniel  C     14th  Inf    Co   B 
Austin   Judson  L     19th  Inf    Co   B 
Austin    Pascal  L     19th  Inf     Co    B 
Avery   John    Sth  Oav    Co   P 
Aierill   Charles  R    30th  Inf    Co    A 
Avenll    Ednard    30th  Inf     (  o     \ 
Ajers   David  F    30th  Inf     Co    D 
Ayers    Theodore  M     30th  Inf     Co   D 
Baldwin    Martin    5th  Cav     Co    I 
Barker   Eeuben  D    3d  Cav     Co   A 
Barlow,  Ezra  D  ,  Jd  Cav    <  o   M 
Barker,  J.  F,,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Barney,  David,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  M. 
Bartlett,  Orrin  M.,  ofE.  Ist  Cav,,  Co,  I. 
Babbitt,  Cyrus  E.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Babbitt,  William  A.,  13fh  Inf.,  Co.  G, 
Baird,  George  L.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Ball,  Calvin,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Ball,  Daniel,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Beach,  Horace  S.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Beach,  Henry  L.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Baldwin  Samuel  S.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Bailey,  George  W.,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  F. 
BaOey,  Clark  C,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Bailey,  Wm.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 


Baker,  Carlos,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Baker,  Milo,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Baldwin,  John  H.,  off.  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Banks,  Spencer  H.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Barnes,  William  H.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Bartlett,  John,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Barton,  Nichols,  9th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Barton,  Edgar,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Barton,  Clark  B.,  lath  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Bassett,  Chauncey  J.,  ofE.  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Bassett,  Charles,  6tli  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Bathrick,  Linus,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Ballinger,  Talbot,  11th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Bassett,  James,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Babbitt,   John   E.,   off.   Sth   Cav.,   Cos.    F 

Batehelor,  Irving,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Baohelder,  James  J.,  19th  Inf.,  Co,  B. 
Ballinger,  William,  3d  Cav.,  Co,  E. 
Ballard,  Leander,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  L 
Baker,  Eli  B.,  10th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Bard,  Charles,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Barry,  Charles,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Barrington,  David,  13tii  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Barker,  Milo  H.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Barker,  Pitch  E.,  Ist  Light  Art.,  Batt.  C. 
Barton,  Charles,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Bates,  Andrew  E.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Baxter,  Thomas,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Bailey,  William,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Bailey,  Jacob  I.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L, 
BaDey,  Clark,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  B, 
Baird,  Ansel  T.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Baird,  Edward,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Baker,  William  H.,  4th  Cav,,  Co.  L. 
Banks,  George  W.,  4th  Cav.,  Co,  E. 
Bates,  Bradley  M.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Bates,  Charles  W.,  44th  III.  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Bennett,  James  W.,  9th  Inf.,  Co-  B. 
Bennett,  Lewis  M.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Bement,  Clement  C,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  K. 
Bentley,  John,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  h. 
Belaen,  Newton,  24tli  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Bennett,  Sidney  M.,  15th  Inr.,  Co.  P. 
Bennett,  Caleb,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  L 
Bentley,  James  T.,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  P. 
Beard,  Isaiah,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Beardsiey,  Frank  A.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  K. 
Beebe,  John  P.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Beev,   Nelson,   3d   Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Belcher,  Charles  W.,  lat  Cav.,  Co.  L 
Bell,  Lewis,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Bell.  Harvey,  19th  Inf.,   Co.  B. 
Bellinger,  David,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


Beck,  David,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Beverly,  Horace  C,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Bee,  Andrew,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Bipler,  Madison,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Birkhead,  Jamea  H.,  1st  Cav.,  Co.  E. 
BidweU,  W.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Bidwell,  Miles,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  Ii. 
Bignall,  William,  3d  Cav,,  Co.  A. 
Bigsby,  Julius  E.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Billings,  Charles,  3d  Cav.,  C-o.  A. 
Billings,  Walter,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Billings,  Randall,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Billings,  James,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Billings,  Peter  H.,   13th   Inf.,   Co.   I. 
Billings,  James  W.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Binn,  Benjamin  F.,  13th  Inf..  Co.  T. 
Bisbee,  Almon  D.,  21st  Ini.,  Co.  C. 
Bishop,  Lee  J.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Bissell,  Edward,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Bissell,  Oscar,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Bisby,  Hiram,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Black,  Aretns  E.,  Ist  Cav.,  Co.  E. 
Black,  John  S.,  i3th  Inf.,  Co.   G. 
Blaisdell,   Edgar,  3d  Cav.,   Co.  A. 
Blaisdell,  Lewis,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Blakeslee,  Henry  L.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Blossom,  Chauncey  13th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Blossom,  John,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Bless,  Frederick,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Blytheman,  James,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  T. 
Boas,  Jacob  R.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Booker,  Jas,  H.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Born,  John,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Botren,  Todoms,   19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Bovee,  Philip,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Bowlin,  Charles  K.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Bowman,  George,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Boyle,  Richard,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  D, 
Boyles,  Almon  J.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  E. 
Bragg,  Albert,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt.  A. 
Bradley,  Alphesus,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Braman,  Henry  C,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Bratt,  William  A.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Breen,  Edward,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Briggs,   Harvey,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  F,   ajid  5th 

Inf. 
Briggs,  James,  13th  Inf,  Co.  B. 
Briggs,  Noah,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Briggs,   William,   13th   Inf.,   Co.   B. 
Brown,  Jefferson,  6th  Inf.,  Co,  C. 
Brown,  Martin  S.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Brockman,  Erritt,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Ernsh,  Ben.  B.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Brewer,  Jonathan,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Brewer,  Albert,  2d  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Brewer,  Leander,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Brewster,  Clark  B.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Brigga.  Benjamin  F.,  3d  CaT.,  Co.  A. 
Bristol,  Charles  D.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Brinkman,  John  H.,   19th  Inf.,  Co.  B, 
Brinkhart,  J.  E.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Bronson,  George  D.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 


Brown,  David  O.,  19th  Inf.,  Go.  B. 
Brown,  Henry  W.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Brown,  Benjamin,  10th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Brown,   George,   1st  Cav.,   Co.   B. 
Brown,  Jefferson,  1st  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Brown,  William,  Ist  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Brown,  Elijah,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Brown,  Lorenzo,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Brown,  Samuel,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Brown,  John  W,,  16th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Browoell,  Cortlaad,  lath  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Brundage,  Sidney,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Brundage,  Albert,  30th  Inf,,  Co.  H. 
Bmndge,  Edgar  F.,  11th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Brundage,  Isaac,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Brundage,  William  C,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  1. 
Bryant,  Henry,  28th  Inf.,  Co.  I, 
Buck,  Nathan  V.,  ofE.  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 

Buck,-  David  S.,  2d  ,  Co.   I. 

Buchanan,  Samuel,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Buehan,  Robert,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  M. 
Bugbee,  John  C,  2d  Cav.,  Co.  L 
Burnham,  James,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  H. 
BuTlingame,  Franklin,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Bnrrell,  Charles  L.,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  D, 
Burrell,  Myron,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  D- 
Eurlinghame,  BoaweU,  13th  Int.,  us,  i. 
Burns,   William,   13th   Inf.,   Co.   B. 
Burr,  Morris,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Burham,  Alonzo  C,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Biiskirk,  Daniel,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Bushnell,  Hiram,   17th  Inf.,   Co.  I. 
Butler,    James   G.,    off.    3d    Cav.,   Co.    A, 

Co.  B  and  Co.  F.  ,     „      t^ 

Butterfleld,  Charies,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  D, 
Butler,  John  H.,  15th  Inf.,  Co.  F. 

Buchanan,  Oriss,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Buchanan,  George  H.,  8th  Car.,  Co.  F, 
Burt,  Thomas,  15th  I"f->  ^o.  C. 

Burleson,  Daniel,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt.  i. 

Burlingame,  E.  J.,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 

Buyce,   James,   8th   Cav.,   Co.   F. 

Cackler,  Otis  A.,  Ist  Cav.,  Co.  I. 

Cady,  George,  28th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 

Cady,  L,  Y.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Cady,  Lewis  C,  Hth  Inf.,  Co.  B, 

Call,  Elisha  W.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 

Calkins,  John,  3d  Inf,  Co.  F. 

Calkins,  Abram  R.,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 

Campion,  William  H.,  3d  Inf.,   Co.   i. 

Carr,  Ashel  S.,  14th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 

Carr   Clayton  M.,  6th  Inf.,  Co,  B. 

Carey,  Thomas,   6th  Inf.,  Co.  G, 

Carruthers,  Samuel,  13th  Inf,,  Co.  K. 

Carruthers,  James,  2d  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Carmody,  Henry,  IStb  Inf.,  Co.  A. 

Carmen,  Oliver  P.,  17th  Inf,,  <^.  1. 

Carroll,   Thos.,   30th   Inf.,   Co.   H. 

Carman,  Warren  K.,  3d  Cav.,  Co,  A, 

Case,  Edwin  F..  13th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 

Case    Alanson  B.,  off.  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Case,  John,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A, 


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604 


HISTORY  OF  ALLE(;\N   LOL\TY 


('ase,  Guilford,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B 
Cass,  Ealph,  3d  Cav.,  Co,  A. 
Castor,  Theo.,  3U  Inf.,  Co.  C,  and  5th  Inf 
Carter,  Benj.  B.,  Ist  Light  Art.,  Batt.  C. 
Carter,  Charles,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L 
Canouse,  George,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Campbell,  FreJerick,  19th  Inf.,  Co    B 
Campbell,  Harmon,  16th  Inf.,  Co.  P. ' 
Camhout,  Leonard,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  I.  ' 
t^arpenter,  John  A.,  18th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Carpenter,  Amasa  B.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Chase,  Elliott,  5tb  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Chen^,  William,  A.,  3d  Cav.,  Co   A 
Childs,  Addison,  30tb  Inf.,  Co.  A 
Chilson,  Gideon,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  P 
Church,  Franklin  J.,  Ist  Cav.,  Co.  K. 
Chamberlain,  Edwin,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Cnanibers,  James,  lat  Mieh.  (colored)  Inf., 

Champion,  John  B.,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Chandler,  Aionzo  H.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G,  and 

4th  Cav. 
Chapman,  Jacob  M.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  L 
Chapin,  Benjamin,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Ciase,  William  B.,  13th  Inf.,  Co    B 
Cheney,  Henry,  13th   Inf.,   Co.  B. 
Cisnel,  James,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  P. 
Clark,  James,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt.  C 
Ciark,  Volney,  Ist  Light  Art.,  Batt.   C. 
Clark,  Enos,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt.  C 
Clark,  Samuel,  5th   Cav.,  Co    I 
Claffy,  John,  13th  Inf.,  Go.  B. 
Clark,  Ralph  B.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Clark,  George  L.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B 
Colborne,  George  W.,  ISUi  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Cooley,     Harmon     H.,     1st     Light     Art., 

Cooley,  Lnman,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt.  C. 
Collins,  John  G.,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  P. 
Collins,  Benoni,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt.  C 
ColKns,  Warren,   Ist  Light   Art.,  Batt.   C 
Corbett,  Anstin,   16th  Inf.,  Co.  B 
Cosier,  Dennis,  1st  Inf.,  Co.  K. 
Corey,  Aquilla,   Ist  Mich,   (colored)  Inf., 

Conrad,  Jamei  M..  44th  HI.  Inf.,  Co.  H 
Coleman,  WiDiam  M.,  17th  Inf.,  Co   D 
Coleman,  Samuel,  Bth  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Coleman,  William,  8th  Inf.,  Co.  D 
Conlan,  .Tames,  14th  Inf.,  Co.  B 
Cooppr,  Thomas,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I 
Cole.  William  F.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Conrad,  Clark.  2d  Inf.,  Co,  I. 
Cook,   George,   13th    Inf.,   Co.   C. 
Cook,  Horace,  9fh  Inf.,  Co.  B 
Colton,  Patrick,  9th  Inf.,  Co.  B 
Cook..  Alfred,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  I 
Corey,  William,  9th  Inf.,  Co.  B 
Cornelius,   David,  13th   Inf.,   Co    G 
Cobb,  Lncius  T.,  3d  Cav..  Co.  A 
Cockrane,  Andrew,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A 
Conrad,  Edwin,  10th  Cav.,  Co.  F 


(.olhns    George    3th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Cod3,  George,  ad  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Colon    William,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Collins,  Daniel   3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Coon,  Philip  J ,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Coif,  Benjamin  K  ,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Collins,  James,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I, 
Comstoek,  Hiram,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  G. 
Cook,  Hendn.k,   5th  Cav.,  Co.  I, 
Cook,  John,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Cornwell,  Joshua,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Collie/,  Daniel  C ,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Coif,  Gabriel,  5th   Cav.,  Co.   I, 
Cook,  Martin,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  — . 
Cook.   Timothy  S,   8th  Cav.,   Co.   F. 
Corwin,  Jacob,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Crawford,  Edward  B.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Crane,  Elijah,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Crane,  Martin,  2d  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Crane,  Alfonso,  2d  Inf.,  Co.  K. 
Crapey,  Theodore,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Crary,  John  S.,  Ist  Light  Art.,  Batt.  C. 
Crew,  Edward,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Crosby,  Lawrence  L.,  SHi  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Cronk,  William  H.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Crow,  John,  13th  Inf.,   Co.   B. 
Cnmmins,  Elijah,  4t]i  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Cumminge,  John,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Cummings,  George  W,,  28th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Curtis,  Henry  C,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Curtis,  George,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Curtis,  John,  13th  Inf.,  Go.  B. 
Curtis,  Walter,  30th  Inf.,  Go.  B. 
Curry,  William,  30th  Inf.,  Go.  E. 
Cummings,  David,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Cushman,  Warren,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Cushman,  Darius  J.,  1st  Cav.,  Co.  G. 
Cushman,  George  H.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  P. 
Culver,  Harvey  D.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Culver,  Alson  A.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Culver,  Mortimer,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  E. 
Curtis,  John  a.,  Ist  Light  Art.,  Batt.  C. 
Curtis,  Benjamin  M.,  18th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Davis,  Orson  J.,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  F. 
Davidson,  David  V.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Davidson,  Herbert  H.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Daama,  James,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Dailey,  Prederick,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Dailey,  George  W.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Dale,  James  K.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Dalrymple,  Benjamin  a,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I, 
Dannenborg,  Jan,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Day,  Charles  E.,  11th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Darling,  Martin  J.,  9th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Darling,  Richard  L.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Darrow,  WilUam  T.,  off.  leth  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Darrow,  Marshall,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Davis,  Perry  J.,  off.  4th  Cav.,  Cki.  — . 
Davis,  Levi,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Davis,  Nelson  J.,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Davis,  Nathaniel,  8th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Davis,  Orson  W.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B, 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


606 


Davey,  Charles,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 

Day,  Herbert,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Day,  Freeman  H.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Dean,  John,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  K. 

Dean,  Augustus,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  L, 

Dean,  Thomas,  off.  3d  Cay.,  Co.  A. 

Degoit,  William,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 

Delaney,  Samuel  B.,  7th  Cay.,  Co.  H. 

De  Boslyn,  Henry,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  F. 

Deval,  Charles,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  F. 

Deval,  Spencer,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  P. 

Deleven,  Jenner,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 

Delabarre,  George,   13th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 

Dennis,  Richartl,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 

Devenwater,  Cornelius,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 

Dexter,  Carlos  E.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 

Dexter,  Enoch  S.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 

Degraff,  Nelson,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 

DibbJe,  Herman  F.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 

Dison,  Hugh  W.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Dole,  James,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Dormer,  William  W.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Dorrance,  John.,  1st  Inf.,  Co.  K. 
Douglass,  Joseph,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Dosey,  George,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  F. 
Drake,  WUliajn,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  F. 

Dniry,  George,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Drury,  William,  5th  Cav.,  Co.   I. 
Durand,  Henry,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Durand,  William,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  F. 
Durand,  Luzerne,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Dusenbory,  WiUiam,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Dustin,  Albert  M.,  I3th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Duel,  John  W.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Donning,  Amos,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Duncan,  Hichard  W.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Dugan,  Jeremiah,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B, 
Duriee,  Monroe,  11th  Cav.,  Co.  H. 
Duryea.   William,   Off.   28th   Inf.,   Co.  K. 
Dunn,  George  E.,  10th  Cav.,   Co.  .E, 
Dunn,  William,  H.,  off.  10th  Cav.,  Co.  E. 
Dunham,  Orson  D.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Dunning,  Horace,  1st  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Dunning,  Harlan  P.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  — . 
Dunton,  Abel,  1st  Light  Art.,  Eatt.  C. 
Dye,  S^monr,  3d  Cay.,  Co,  A. 
I^er,  Eobert,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
I^er,  KuBsell,  5th  Car.,  Co.  T. 
Dyer,  Seth,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Dyer,  James,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Dyer,   Bussell,   13th  Inf.,   Co.   A. 
Dygert,  Timothy,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Eagle,  Gilbert,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Earl,  Henry,  3d  Cav.,  Co,  M. 
Earl,  George  W.,  5th  Cav.,  Go.  I. 
Eaton,  Willard,  Off.  13th  Inf.,  Co,  I. 
Eaton,  Daniel,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Eaton,  Miles  B.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I, 
Eaton,  Orliter,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  1. 
Edgerton,  Henry  C,  4th  Car.,  Co.  L. 
EdsoD,  Philo  L.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
EdsoD,  Philander,  I3lh  Inf.,  Co.  A. 


Edwarda,  Jas.  W.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Edwards,  Charles  O.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Edwards,  Frederick,  3d  Cav.,  Go.  A. 
Egan,  Sherman,  4tb  Cav.,  Co.  E. 
Eggleaton,  Lewis,  6th  Inf,,  Co.  G. 
Eggleston,  James,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Eggleaton,  William,  28th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Eldred,  Horace,  1st  Light  Art.,  Bait.  C. 
Eldridge,  D.,  7th  Cav.,  Co.  D. 
Elickson,  EHck,  2d  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Ellis,  Hiram  E.,  28th  Inf.,  Co.  — .,  and  5th 

Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Ellis,  Luther  E.,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Ely,  Joseph  W.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B, 
Emmons,  Abail,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Emmons,  William,  13th  Inf.,  Co,  A. 
Emmons,  Albert,  0th  Inf.,  Co,  C. 
Emery,  Horatio,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Emmons,  Abner,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Emmons,  Charles,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Engies,  George  H.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F, 
Ensign,  Marshall  H.,  30th  Inf.,  Co,  H. 
Esterbrook,  A.  H.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
E&tabrook,     Asa.,     Off.     Ist    Light     Art., 

Batt,  C. 
Everets,  Seneea  L.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Everts,  John  C,  4th  Cay.,  Co.  L. 
Evcrhardt,  William,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Evans,  Elijah,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt.  C, 
Parnsworth,  Sylvester,  8th  Cav,,  Co.  C. 
Fargo,  David,  30th  Inf.,'  Co,  H. 
Fausler,  Moses  H,,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Fales,  Versal  P.,  6th  Cav.,  Co.  K. 
Fairbanks,  James  L.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Fay,  Joseph  W..  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Fairbanks,  Stephen,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Failing,  Charles  M.,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  F. 
Penn,  Albert,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Fessenden,  William,  2d  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Felton,  John,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  K. 
Fenner,  Joseph  Q..  17th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Fenny,  Edwin  O.,  9th  Inf.,  Co.  K. 
Fields,  William  E..  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Fisher,   Beuben,   21st  Inf.,   Co.   C. 
Fisher,   Isaae,   13th    Inf.,   Co.    H. 
Pinch,  Myron  C,   13th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Pisk,  Samuel,  Sth  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Pisher,  Herman  P.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Fisher,  William,  3d  Cav.,  Co.   A. 
Pi  elds,  Leander  J.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Pinley,  E.  S.,  4th  Cav.,  Cu.  L. 
PiJkina,  Francia  M.,   30th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Finch,  Stephen  M.,  3d  Cav,,  Co.  K. 
Fisk,  Alvah  C,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Pisk,   Chares   W„   Off.    4th   Cav.,   Cos.   D 

Pleteroft,  Theo.,   3d   Cav.,   Co.   A. 
Flowers,  James  M.,  4th  Cav,  Co.  L. 
Plynn,  John,  1st  Light  Art.,  14th  Batt. 
Forbes,  Wm.  E.,  1st  Light  Art,  14th  Batt. 
Follett,  Richard  A.,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  P. 
Force,  George  B.,  Off.  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 


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606 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAK  COUNTY 


Foster,  Isaac,  8th  Cav.,  Co,  F. 

Fort,  Frank,  1st  Light  Art,,  Batt.  C. 

Foot,  Andrew  F.,  4tb  Cav.,  Co.  C. 

Foot,  Austin,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Fountain,  Lewis   H.,  28th  Inf.,  Co.   I. 

Fox,  Clark  D.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Fox,  Leander,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 

Fos,   David,   3d   Cav.,   Co.   M. 

Fox,  Lafayette,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 

Fraak,  David,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 

Prank,  Henry,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 

Frank,  Samuel,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 

Frank,  John,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  I.  and  Ist  Light 
Art.,  Batt.  C. 

Prayer,  Angus,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt.  C. 

Francisco,  Charles,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Frank,  Geo.  W.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 

Frew,  James,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  Q. 

Prew,  Dayid  C,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 

Prew,  William,   6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 

Freese,  William  W.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  F. 

French,  Albert,  19th   Inf.,   Co.  B. 

French,  William  H.,  21at  Inf.,  Co.  E,  and 
28tii  Inf. 

French,  James,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt.  0. 

Fry,  Benj.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 

Fry,  Jacob,   13th  Inf.,   Co.   B. 

Fry,  Alexander,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 

Puller,   Terry  C,   6th   Inf.,   Co.   G. 

Puller,  Frederick  B.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Fuller,  Leander,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 

Puller,  James,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  B. 

Oarlock,  Charles,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Gardner,  George  N.,  Off.  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Gardner,  Albro,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  M. 
Gardner,  Alfred  M.,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Garrison,  Jas.  E.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Garrison,  John,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A, 
Garrison,  Abram  E.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Qarver,  Martin  C,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Garvelink,  Herman,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Garvin,  Cornelius,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Gay,  Sylvester,  3d  Inf.,  Go.  I, 
Germond,  Edward,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Germond,  Henry,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
German,  Justus,  6th  Cav.,  Co.  K. 
Gibson,  William,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  K. 
Gilbert,  Nahum,  Off.  1st  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Gillespie,  Henry,  13th  Inf,,   Co.  A. 
Gilligan,  Michael,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  P. 
Gilniore,    William,     lat    Mich,     (colored) 

Inf.,  Co.   G. 
Gleason,  0.  L.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
GJeaaon,  Charles,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  P. 
fiieason,  Rohraim,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  H. 
Gleason,  Obadiah,  1st  Sharpshooter,  Co.  D. 
Goodman,  William,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Goodrich,  Lewis  C,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L 
Goodell,  Hiram  N.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Goble,  Edward  B.,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Goodsell,  Wallace,  I3th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Goodspeed,  Cyrus  B.,  30th  Inf.,  Co,  A. 


Goodspeed,  George  H.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Goodspeed,  James,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 

Gould,  William,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Gould,  Eobert  H.,  16th  Inf.,  Co.  K. 

Goff,  Leander  S.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Goring,  Jennings,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 

Gorman,  William,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 

Goshen,  Perry,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Gray,  Charles  D.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  K. 

Graves,  Kneeland,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 

Gray  Joseph,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 

Gray,  Freeland,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

GrifBn,  Edwin,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Green,  Moses,  14th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Green,  William  D.,  9th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 

Green,  Jerome,  10th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Grant,  Frederick  B.,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  E. 

Green,  TimoUiy  C,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  G. 

Green,  Frederick,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 

Greenman,  Columbus,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  E. 

Griswold,  James  E.,  16th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 

Groueher,  Vernon,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 

Guest,  Geo.  M.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 

Guest,  Henry,  6th  Inf.,  Co.   G. 

GunsauJ,  Jacob,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Gurney,  Charles  H.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 

Gnyot,  Martin  J.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 

Harlthouse,  John,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Haight,  GUbert,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  A. 

Haire,  Oscar,  Off.  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 

Haire,  Adolphus,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  H. 

Haight,  Horace  P.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 

Hamilton,  Origen,  Ist  Cav.,  Co.  H. 

Haney,  Jeremiah  B.,  Off.  28th  Inf.,  Co.  K. 

Hamilton,  John,  28th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 

Hall,  Calvin,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Hamilton,  George,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Hammond,  David,  I3th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Hand,  Allen  C,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Harris,  Geo.  H.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Harrington,  John,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Harrington,  Seward,  2d  Cay.,  Co.  I. 
Harriman,  Ira  S.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  K. 
Harrison,  Bobert,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  0. 
Harter,  Martin,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Hartwell,  Charles,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  D. 
Hathaway,  Bimey,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Haumer,  Edward,  6th  Inf.,  Go.  G. 
Hart,  HanibaJ,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  L 
Hawks,  Morgan  B.,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Hazen,  Pembroke,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Hazen,  Jacob,  13tli  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Haney,  Henry  F.,  6th  Cav.,  Co.  K. 
Hagar,  Phineas  A.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Haines,  David  H.,  4th  Cav,,  Co.  L. 
Hapgood,  Frank,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Hall,  David  H.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Halton,  Otis  L.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Hamlin,  Albert,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Hamilton,  Origen,  6th  Cav.,  Co.  K. 
Harvey,  'TOlliam  H.,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  K. 
Haight,  Timothy  T.,  Sth  Cav,,  Co.  I, 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


607 


Haines,  Nornisui  P.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Haines,  Joliit  C,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  jf. 
Hare,  Deios  W.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  E. 
Harris,    William    J.,    lat   Mich,    (colored) 

Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Hawley,  William,  1st  Sharpshooter,  Co.  C. 
Harper,  Charlea  H.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  E. 
Hayden,  Alexander,  16th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Hayner,  Thomas,  10th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Haywood,  John,  15th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Hawkins,  Charles,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Heath,  Ezra  H.,  16th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Heath,  Martin  V.,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt.  C. 
Henunett,  John,  Ist  Light  Art.,  Batt.  C. 
Herbert,  William,  11th  Cav.,  Co.  C. 
Henry,  William  P.,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Helmer,  Gaylord,  15th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Helmer,  Bobert  W.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Hendrick,  Daniel,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Heydenberg,  William,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  L. 
Hiclis,  George  H.,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Hicks,  Marion,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Hiekoek,  Francis  L.,  4fi  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Hill,  Lucien  F.,  30tb  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Hill,  John,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Hicks,  Charles  O,,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  B. 
Hicks,  John  H.,  let  Light  Art.,  Batt.  A. 
Hinds,  8eth,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Hirner,  Louis,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Hirspool,  John  C,  30tli  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Higgins,  Frank  J.,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt.  C. 
Hoak,  Henry,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Holdaworth,  James,  4th  Cav,,  Co.  L. 
Hollister,  Cyrus  E.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Hoof,  John,  16th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Howe,  Herbert,  Ist  Light  Art.,  Batt.  C. 
Hoyt,  Minot,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Hoyt,  Isaac  N.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Hughes,  Abner  C,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
HucheB,  Edwin  B.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
HeSron,  Myron,  3ath  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Hefner,  John,  3cl  Inf.,  Co.  F.  and  Sth  Inf. 
Herringer,  Jacob,  3d  Cav.,  Co,  A. 
Henderson,  Lyman   M.,  30th   Inf.,   Co.  B. 
Henry,  John  C,  9th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Hershaw,  Joseph  W.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Hiberdinc,  James,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Hill,  Lonson,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Hill,  Loren,  Sth  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Hildebrank,  Jacob,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Hinds,  Henry,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Hiion,  Henry,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  K. 
HodgettB,  George,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Hopper,  John  E.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Hopkins,  Z.  W.,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Hogeboom,  Charles  H.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Hoagland,  Thomas,  1st  Cav.,  Co.  H. 
Hofmaster,  Jos.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Hofmeister,  Abtam,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Hofmeister,  Isaac,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Hofmeister,  John,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Hogle,  John,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 


Hogle,  Charles,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Holt,  Henry,  13tJi  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Horn,  Miles,  Off.  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G.,  and  8th 

Cav.,  Cos.  E.  and  F. 
Holmes,  Charles  W.,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  H. 
Hoskins,  Charles  W.,  28th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Houston,  Barzillia,  1st  Cav.,  Co.  M. 
Howard,  John  H,,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Howard,  Elijah,  IBtt  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Howard,  S.  P.,  10th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Howe,  Enoch,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Howe,  Edward,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Howe,  Augustus  P.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Howe,  Washington,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Howe,  Wesley  E.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Howe,  William,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  P. 
Hubbard,  Samuel,  Off.  19tb  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Hubbard,  Thos.  A.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Hudson,  Hiram  B.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Hudden,  Freeman,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Huddiestone,  James,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B, 
Hulenberg,  M.  D.,  14th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Hunter,  William  P.,  30th  Inf..  Co.  K, 
Hurd,  Francis,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Hunter,  Samuel,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Hiird,  Aler.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Huntly,  Lewis,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Iddles,  Thomas,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Inghain,  Burroughs,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt. 

C. 
Inman,  John,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Inman,  Elisha,  6th  Cav.,  Co.  K. 
Jackson,  Amos  J.,  Sth  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
James,  Morris  A.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B, 
James,  Irving,  7th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Jeffs,  Thomas,  Ist  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Johnson,  Hugh,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Johnson,  Warren,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Jones,  Chandler  B.,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt.  C. 
Jones,  George,  10th  Cav.,  Co.  E. 
Jones,  William,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  B. 
Jones,  Martin,  3d  Inf.,  Co..F.,  and  5th  Inf. 
Jones,  Amasa,  13th  Inf.,  Go.  A. 
Jones,  Chauneey,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Jones,  James  C,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Jones,  John  P.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Jones,  Martin  M.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Jones,  Russell  H.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Jones,  Charles  H.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Jones,  James,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  M. 
Joslyn,  William,  I3th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Joslyn,  George  N.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Kendall,  Samuel  W.,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  H. 
Kendall,  Nelson  J.,  7th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
KenniBon,  John  J.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Kenney,  Alonzo,  11th  Cav.,  Co.  H. 
Kennison,  J.  B.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Kent,  Morris,  3d  Cav.,  Co,  A. 
Kent,  Richard  C,  9th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Kenyon,  John  E.,  9th  Inf.,  Co.  K. 
Kerns,  William,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Kenyon,  Gordon  N.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 


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HISTORY  Ol-   ALLE<;AN  COUNTY 


Kenyon,  Bewitt  C,  Off.  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Keyaer,  John,  4tli  Gav,,  Co.  L. 

Keyser,  Jacob,  4th  Cay.,  Co.  L. 

Kiilam,  Jacob,  28t]i  Inf.,  Co.  E. 

Kinney,  George  E.,  8th  Cay.,  Co.  F. 

Kinney,  WUIiam  H.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 

Kinner,  Leonard  T.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 

Kinney,  John  A.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 

Kirby,  John,  Off.  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 

Kidder,  William,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  Q. 

Kitson,  George,  15th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 

Kirkland,  George  H.,  9th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 

Kirshner,  William  H.,  7th  Cay.,  Co.  I. 

Kitchen,  George,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Kitchen,  James,  5th  Cay.,  Co.  I. 

Kibbey,  Walton,  4th  Cay.,  Co.  L. 

Kibhie,  Jerome,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Kincaid,  Thos.  R.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Kingsbury,  0.  P.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
King,  Charles  W.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 

Kinney,  Isaac  M.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

King,  John  B.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  K. 

Kipp,  Joseph,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Kitchen,  Judson,  14th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Knapp,  Stephen,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Knight,  John,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Knowlton,  John,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Knight,  Charles  L.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Knapp,  George  W.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Kleeman,  Theo.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Kluffman,  Egbert,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Kramer,  John,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Kramer,  Martin,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Kuper,  Joel  E.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Lahman,  Peter,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Lane,  Edward,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Ijamoreaux,  Qiiincy  C.,  8th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Lamoreaux,  Lyman,  28tli  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Lamoreaux,  Isaac,  Off.  4tli  Car.,  Co.  L. 
Lane,  Morgan  D.,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Larkins,  Theodore,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Laws,  Isaac,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A, 
Laytrence,  George  W.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Laraoyne,  Benjamin,  F.,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  F. 
Latoutette,  Wells  T.,  6th  Cav.,  Co.  K. 
Larkin,  Smith,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Laurie,  William,  3d  Cay.,  Co.  A. 
Laurence,  Lorenzo,  9th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Leavitt,  George  H.,  14th  Inf.,  Co.  F. 
Leighton,  Leander  W.,  8th  Inf. 
Leggett,  James  C,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Lindsley,  Edward,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Leslie,  Henry,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Lindsley,  James  G.,  2Sth  In^.,  Co.  H. 
Lindsley,  Joseph,  2d  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Lindsley,  Edgar,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Lindsley,  John  W.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Leoply,  John  W.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  M. 
Leoply,  William  F.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  M. 
Leonard,  Elias,  10th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Lee,  Daniel,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
LeDuc.  Cyrille,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 


Leonard,  Alfred,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Leonard,  Frederick,   17th   Inf.,  Co.  I  and 
21st  Inf.,  Co.  C. 

Lewis,  James  H.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 

Lewis,  George  K,,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt.  K. 

Lillie,  Albert  H.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 

Lily,  Augustus,  OfE.  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Lily,  David  V.,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Lisco,  William  A.,  28th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 

Livingstone,  Neil,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Lightheart,  Myron,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  M. 

Lockker,  Cornelius,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Loomis,  Bertrand,  3d  Cay.,  Co.  A. 

Lusk,  Jasper,  ISUi  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

LutE,  James,  11th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Lugenaland,  Jacob,  16th  Jnf.,  Co.  A. 

Lyman,  Clark,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 

Loverage,  Seth,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 

Lowe,  David,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 

Lollies,  Garrett,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 

Londray,  James  E.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 

Lonsburj,  Philo  M.,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 

Lonsbnry,  Herbert  W.,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 

Lonsbiiry,  George  W.,  Off.  5th  Cav.,  Co.  L 
McCormiek,  William  H.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 

McDonald,  Harvey,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
McDowell,  John,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
McCarthy,  Isaac  A.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
MeCreery,  John,  16th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
MeEwen,  John,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  F. 
Mclntee,  James,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
McGinley,  Thomas  C,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  L, 
McHenry,  George  R.,  7th  Cav.,  Co.  H. 
McKerney,  Bernard,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
McLeod,  Donald,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
MeLeod,  WDliam  C,  19tii  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
McLoughrey,  John,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
McMillan,  William,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
McQueeny,  Thomas,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
McWilliams,  WiUiam,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  L 
McBride,  Solomon,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
McBride,  John,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
McCall,  Israel,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
MeCreery,  .lohn,  14th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Mc(Jarthy,  Charles  E.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
McClelland,  Jabez,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
McCormiek,  Thomas,  19tb  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
MeClure,  John  A.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
McDonald,  John,  2d  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
MeGaw,  Andrew,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
McKee,  William,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
McBae,  Elliot,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
McQueen,  John,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  L 
Maloy,  Luke,  6th  Inf.,  C«.  G. 
Mann,  H.  W.,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Mann,  William,  4th  Cav.,  Go.  L. 
Mann,  Perly,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Manchester,  William,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Mansfield,  Alpheus,  Ist  Light   Art.,   Batt. 

G. 
Mankiis,  Homer,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


Ma     fi         K  1       n  \\        ft    13th  Inf.,  Co. 

Manning   t  eorge  G    3 1  C     .,  Co.  H. 
"Marbell   Daniel  W    ath  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Margason    Edward   10th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Marble   Henry   bth  Inf    Co,  G. 
Marsh   Charles  C     4th  Ca   ,  Co.  L. 
Martin   Robert  W    Ist  Cav ,  Co.  B. 
Alart  n  C  eorge  A    19tli  Inf ,  Co.  B. 
Mart  n  Jan  es   19th  Inf    Co.  B. 
Mason    Charles    30th  Inf     Co.  K. 
Mars!  all   W  11  an    6th  Int    Co.  G, 
"Mart  n   W  Iham   13th  Inf     Co.  B. 
WasterBon   Joseph   13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Maies  Alonzo  2d  Cav    to  I. 
Mapes   Lew  s   24th  Inf    Co.  K. 
Mason   Heaek  ah   30th  Inf    Co.  D. 
Maison   George   5th  fav    Co.  I. 
Masson   Orlani    C     5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Mathews   Ljn  an   30th  Inf    Co.  D. 
Maybee   Morgan   3d  Lav    Co.  A. 
Mabl  s   Eobert    JtHh  Inf     Co.  B. 
Mad  son    John   6th  Cav     Co.  H. 
Maine    Tohn  J    6th  I  f    Co.  G. 
Manvet    Ho  ner    OfE    8  1    Cav.,  Go.  F  and 

Co   H 
Mateen    N  cholas    14th  Inf ,  Co.  D. 
Ma  ers   Jol  n  M   C     "Sth  Inf. 
Ma     Frank   13th  Inf    Co  B. 
Meade   W  H  am  H    nth  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
M  Her   B  ley   30th  Inf    Go   A. 
M  Her   George  A     13tl   Inf ,  Co.  B. 
M  Her   Josepl    l^tl   Inf    to.  B. 
Mller   Adan   13th  Inf    to.  B. 
M  Her   W  Iham  B    13th  Inf.,  Go.  B. 
M  lis  Sam  el  G    30  1   Inf    Co.  A. 
M"    arl   leonard   6th  Inf     Co.  G. 
1  W  11  am   13tl   Inf    Co.  I. 

a     0    iBt    ar    Co.  F. 
In    ph  13th  Inf    Co.  E. 
n,  3d  Cav     Co.  A. 
Mix,  I'rank  W.,  OfE.  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Meeker,  Henrj  C,  28th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Meldrum,  Robert,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Mellott,  Johnson,  1st  Cav.,  Co.  M. 
Merchant,  Henry,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Merchant,  William,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Merchant,  Francis,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Martin,  Christopher,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Martin,  William  E.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Miller,  Alonzo,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Miller,  Albert,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Meriker,  Marshall,  8Ui  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Milk,  Thomas  J.,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Miller,  Gottlieb,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Miller,  Franklin,  .5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Miner,  Jacob  E.,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Mix,  EliBha,  Off.  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Mockina,  Jerome,  34th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Mockleneute,  John,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Montieth,  Henry  L.,  1st  Cav.,  Co.  E. 
Montieth,  William  J.,  1st  Cav.,  Co.  I. 


Musher,  Merritt  C,  Cth  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Moses,  Charles  E.,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Monroe,  Jerry,  14th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Moon,  Nelson  O.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Mooney,  Jacob,  ISth  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Moore,  John,  28th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Moiilten,  Bela  G.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Moore,  George  W.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Moiser,  Samuel,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Morris,  Joseph  B.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Morse,  Isaac,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Morse,  Charles  W.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Morris,  Abram,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt.  C. 
Moyers,  Gilbert,  Off.  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Morley,  Alvin  B.,  13th  Inf.,  Go.  A. 
Moore,  Geo.  W.,  6th  Inf. 
Morris,  Eldridge,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Morris,  Wirt  J.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Montague,  Lawrence,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Mimger,  Sylvester,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Miirma,  Ebenezer  G.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Mnrraj,  Francia,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Murphy,  Feter  J.,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Myers,  A.  J.,  19th  Inf.,  Go.  K. 
Myers,  George  B.,  2d  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Myers,  Andrew  J.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  L 
Myers,  Curtis,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Myers,  George  A.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Mudge,  Ambrose,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  F. 
Mnlthope,  Lester,  10th  Cav.,  Go.  L. 
Munn,  George  E.,  Sth  Cav.,  Go.  I. 
Munger,  John,  M  Cav.,  Co.  H. 
Miinger,  Martin,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Munro,  Jerry,  16th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Murray,  Cnrtis,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Murphy,  John  E.,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Murphy,  Samuel  F.,  Off.  4tb  Cav.,  Co,  L. 
Myers,  E,  L.  G.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Navane,  Gregory,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Naregang,  Joseph,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Nelson,  Robert,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  K, 
Nelson,  Eobert,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Nelson,  John  B.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Neweomb,  George  H.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Newton,  George,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Neivton,  Henry,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Newton,  Francis  C,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Nero,  John,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Nenhof,  WilliBm,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Nieband,  Garrett  N:,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Nichols,  Edward,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt.  C. 
Niehols,  George,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Nichols,  Ashley  R.,  28th  Inf..  Co.  E. 
Nichols,  George  F.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Niekerson,  Edwin,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  K  and  Sth 

Inf. 
Niles,  Hezekiah  B.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Norris,  Eobert  H.,  6th  Inf.,  Co,  G. 
Noble,  Henry,  19th  Inf.,  Go.  B. 
Nnggle,  George,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Norman,  Edward,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  F. 
Norton,   Carlt6n,   19th   Inf.,   Co.  B. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY 


Norton,  EJliott  M.,  OfE.  6th  Cav,,  Co.  K. 
Norton,  Francis  H.,  10th  Inf.,  Co.  K. 
Notier,  Mathew,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Oekford,  Euloff,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

O'Brien,  James,  16th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 

Odell,  Stephen,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 

Oliver,  Henry  B.,  13tb  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Oliver,  WOliam,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 

Orr,  Matthew,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  P. 

Qrr,  James,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 

Ortfln,  James  V.,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  I, 

Oeburn,  Lemuel  W.,  13th  Inf.,  Co,  B. 

Daman,  William,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  6. 

OBtcander,  Solomon,  Ist  light  Art.,  Batt 
C. 

Palmer,  William  A.,  10th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 

Palmer,  Philander,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 

Palmer,  Sylvanus,  13th  Int.,  Co.  I. 

Palmer,  Hennan  H.,  28th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 

Palmer,  Benjamin  C,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 

Pardee,  Edward  W.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 

Parkhurst,  David  D.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 

Parker,  Thomaa  J.,  OfE.  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 

Parker,  Benjamin  F.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 

Parsons,  Johnson,  10th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 

Parsons,  John,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 

Parrisb,  William  H.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  P. 

Passenger,  Peter,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 

Patten,  George  E.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 

Paul,  James  B.,  28th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 

Parker,  James  W.,  24tli  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
PaDgburn,  John,  3d  Cav.,  Go.  A. 

Paney,  Joseph  L.,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  I, 
Payne,  Joseph  L.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  E. 
Pardee,  George  M.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Parkhurst,  Martin  B.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Parrish,  John  P.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Parker,  Samuel,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Parrish,  William  H.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Parker,  William,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Parker,  Thomas  L.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Parker,  Stephen  D.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Parkhurst,  Charles,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Parsons,  Charles,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Patterson,  Bobert,  8th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Patterson,  John  B.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B, 
Payne,  Bobert,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Patterson,  Bobert  A.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B, 
Peabody,  N.  S.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Peek,  Charles  P.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Penfoid,  Edward,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B, 
Penfold,  Henry,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Penfield,  Jesse  S.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L, 
Pelham,  Luther  S.,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  F. 
Perry,  Leonard,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Pettit,  Charles,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Pierce,  James,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Pierce,  Alvah  L.  28th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Pierce,  G«orge,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Pieraons,  John,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Pike,  Oateen  G.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 

Pike,  Silas  B.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  M. 


Pike,  Austin  G.,  15th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Piper,  William  A.,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Piper,  Giles,  A.,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Piper,  Samuel,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  P. 
Phelan,  Edwaid,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Pleigden,  Chriatain,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Plumraer,  Charles  B.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Pratt,  Eliaha  E.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  E. 
Pratt,  WUliam,  8th  Cav.,  Co,  B. 
Piatt,  George  W.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B, 
Piatt,  Eliaha,  19th  Inf.,  Co,  B. 
Piatt,  Comatoek  H.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Prentiss,  Sidney  E.,  Tth  Cav,,  Co.  H. 
Price,  Horatio  N.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Priest,  John,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A, 
Prindle,  Ephraim,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Pritchard,  Benjamin  D.,  Off.  4th  Cav.,  C 

L. 
Pryor,  William,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Powers,  Charles,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Powers,  Stephen,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  P. 
Putnam,  Beuben  A.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Porter,  Levi,  Ist  Sharpshooter,  Co.  C. 
Polk,  Daniel,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Poland,  Eliaha,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  B, 
Porter,  Eliphalet,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  C, 
Porter,  Edaon  M.,  13th  Inf.,  Co,  B, 
Porter,  Frederick,  28th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Potts,  Oliver,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Popplewell,  Prank  S.,  a4th  Inf.,  Co,  I. 
Potter,  Samuel,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Pound,  Washington,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Powell,  M.  A,,  5th  Cav.,  Go.  L 
Pope,  Horace  H.,  OfE.  3d  Gav.,  Co.  A. 
Pratt,  Curtia  Z.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Pratt,  Milton,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Pratt,  Silas,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Pratt,  Stephen,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Prentiss,  Alonzo,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Prentiss,  Charles  H.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B, 
Puleipher,  William,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Pullen,  William  W,,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Pullman,  George,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Pullman,  Harvey,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Pullman,  Pascall  A.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  R 
Pullman,  Walter,  13lh  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Purdy,  John  W.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  L 
Purdy,  Erastus,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Purdy,  Biehard,  16th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Reed,  Friend,  Ist  Gav.,  Co.  L. 
Eeed,  Martin  V.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Beed,  Lyman,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Reed,  Miles,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Reed,  Samuel,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  M. 
Beed,  Edward,  4th  Cav,,  Co.  L. 
Richie,  Joseph,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Ridgely,  Jacob  W.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  F. 
Beeves,  James,  15th  Inf.,  Co.  P. 
Mnehart,  Jacob,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Rhodes,  James  B.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  B. 
Rhodes,  William  H.,  8th  Gav.,  Co.  B. 
Bobb,  Caspar,  5th  Gav.,  Co.  I. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


611 


Bobbins,  George,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Koe,  George  W.,  15tb  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Eoe,  James,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Rogers,  Edward,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  F. 
Randall,  Sylvester  D.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Eandall,  Sjlvanus  H.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Randall,  WiDiam  H.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  B, 
Raplee,  Samuel,  9th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Rauf,  Peter,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Seed,  Jefferson,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
B«ed,  MelTin,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Beeves,  Jas,,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Bejnolds,  George  E.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Boach,  George  B.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Hoosa,  MUford,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
R«se,  Vernon  A.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Rflse,  James,  11th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Rollins,  John,  6th  Inf.,  Co,  Q. 
Rose,  Mason,  F.,  9th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Rosenbnrg,  Orlando  D.,  ath  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Ross,  Irwin,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Ross,  William,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Ross,  William  H.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Ross,  Leander,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Ross,  Ebeneaer  E.,  13th  Inf.,  Co,  E. 
Rouse,  Sidney,  6th  Inf„  Co.  G. 
Bouse,  Alonzo,  13a  Inf,,  Co.  I. 
Boot,  AmoB  C,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Boot,   Leroy,   13th   Inf.,   Co.   B   and   30th 

Inf.,  Co.  D, 
Boss,  Penter,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Rosa,  Andrew  J.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Robs,  Freeman,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Ross,  Baphael,  5th  Cav,,  Co.  I, 
Rosaman,  Wilson,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt,  H. 
Bowe,  William  G.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Roive,  George  U.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Bowe,  Stephen,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Buber,  Chailes,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Buland,  Amos,  Ist  Cav.,  Co,  B. 
Bull,  William,  Sd  Cav.,  Co.  A, 
Burasey,  WiDiam  H.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Runnels,  Chillon,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Rust,  Gordon  B.,  8th  Cav.,  Co,  A. 
Russell,  Albert  N.,  15th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Rutan,  John,  1st  Cav,,  Co,  A. 
Russell.  Everett.  24th  Inf.,  Co,  I. 
Russ,  Nelson,  Ist  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Russell,  Frank  P.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Russell,  George  W.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Rutgers,  John,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Butgere,  Burtis,  13th  Inf.,  Co,  C, 
Byan,  Orlando,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  H,- 
Rynick,  Albert,  5th  Cav,,  Co.  I, 
Sage,  John  H,,  3d  Cav.,  Co,  A, 
Saston,  Hiram,  9th  Inf.,  Co,  H, 
Seaman,  David  H,,  Sth  Cav.,  Co,  I, 
Soott,  Sandford,  30th  Inf.,  Co,  L. 
Semyn,  Peter,  4th  Cav.,  Co,  C. 
Seigner,  Charles  J.,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  H, 
Sampson,  Stephen,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Sanford,  Bewitt  C,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  I. 


Safford,  Edward  F.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L, 
Saunders,  Henry  H.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A, 
Schaeffer,  Valetin,  3d  Inf,,  Co,  C. 
Schlaver   Thomas    1st  Cav    Co    L 
Schne  der   Peter    15th  Inf     Co    F 
Sphoener   Andrew   19th  Inf     Co   B 
Sche  It   John  P    3d  Inf    Co   C 
Schermerhorn   Jas,  W     9  h  Inf     Co    H, 
Sehwe  Itert    Ja  ob    13th  Inf     Co    A 
'Schermerhorn    Norton    13th  Inf     Co    I, 
Schne  der    Thomas    3d  Inf    Co   C 
8  hofiell   Elwarl  K     17th  Inf     Co    D, 
Scl  r  ehengast    Samuel    t)th   Inf        o.   G. 
Shnck    El     9th  Inf    Co    I 
Schuler   Jos    A     31  Inf     Co    C 
Sermger   James    13th  Inf    Co   B 
Ser    en    John      4th  Inf    To    I 
Se  erenee    Prel  k    13th  Inf     To    G 
Sebright   Ferlnanl   4th  Ca      Co   L 
Seelev  Isaac       4th  Cav    ("o  L 
Fe  er  28th  Inf      o   E 
Joseph    Sth  Cav     Co    K 
8   en  e    laid    1st  M  eh     (colored)    Inf., 

C      I 
Simpson,  John   H.,   Off.   4th   Cav.,   Co.   F 

and  Co.  L. 
Shellman,  Thomas  J.,  13th  Inf  ,  Co.  E, 
Sharp,  Joseph,  24th  Inf,,  Co.  I. 
Slioemafcer,  Solomon,  Ist  Light.  Art,,  Batt, 

G. 
Shepherd,  StiUman,  2d  Cav.,  Co.  I, 
Shepherd,  William  M.,  30th  Inf.,  Co,  A. 
Shepard,  George,  .'ith  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Shippie,  James,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  K. 
Shoemaker,  William,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  M. 
Sherman,  Harold,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  P. 
Shattuck,  James,  13th  Inf.,  Co,  H. 
Shaver.  Samuel,  5fh  Cav,,  Co,  T, 
Shaugfanessy,  Michael,  30th  Inf,,  Co.  A, 
Shaw,  Perry,  13th  Inf.,  Co,  I. 
Shaw,  Leiand  H,,  4th  Cav,,  Co,  L, 
Shea.  John,  30th  Inf,,  Co.  A, 
Shuport,  George,  Sth  Cav,,  Co,  I. 
Shter.  Alfred  W.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  E, 
Silliman,  E.  M.  T.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Simmons,  William,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Simons,  Ahertus,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Simpkins,  John,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Sijnmons,  David,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Simpson,  Enoch,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Simpkins,  John  L ,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Sinclair,  Joseph.  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Shriver,  Hiram,  Sth  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Shepard,  Samuel,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Sherman,  William  H.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B, 
Slagel,  Joseph,  Sth  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
aiade,  Orrville,  17th  Inf.,  Co,  D. 
Blade,  Daniel  G.,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  P. 
Slotums,  Edward.  3d  Cav.,  Co,   A, 
Slotman,  O,  H..  I3th  Inf..  Co,  I. 
Slotman.  John  H.,  13th  Inf,,  Co,  I, 
Sloan,  William,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  D, 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


612 

Smith,  Joel  H,,  Off.  19th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 

Smitii,  David  C,  1st  Cav.,  Co.  L. 

SmiHi,  Charles   F.,   4th   Car.,   Co.   L   and 
10th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 

Smith,  Henry,  4th  Oav.,  Co.  L. 

Smifli,  James  H.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 

Smith,  Elihu,  lat  Light  Art.,  Batt.  C. 

Smith,  William  H,,  11th  Inf.,  Co.  6. 
■     Smith,  M.  V.  B.,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Smith,  Allen,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Smith,  Ward  P.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Smith,  John  B.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 

Smith,  James,  ISth  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Snell,  Sylvanus,  15th  Inf.,  Co.  F. 

Snow,  Nahum,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Southwell,  John,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Southworth,  Charles,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Spaulding,  Saranel  P.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 

Spaulding,  Eli  P.,  14th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 

Sprague,  Asahel,  9th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 

Sprague,  Alexander,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 

Spragiie,  Darius,  llth  Inf.,  Co.  G. 

Springer,  Stephen,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 

Springer,  Solomon,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Spoor,  John  W.,  Off.  30th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 

Sperry,  Selden,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 

Squier,  Harvey  H.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Sqnires,  Seely,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 

Squires,  Jonathan  D.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 

Stark,  Henry,  Off.  eth  Inf.,  Co.  G. 

Starkweather,  George  H.,  6th  Inf.,  Go.  G, 

Sutton,  Han-ey,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 

Sutter,  Christian,  9th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Stannard,  William  L.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A, 
Stanton,  Solomon,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Staunton,  Solomon,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  E. 
Starring,  Henry,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Starring,  Edmnnd,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Staring,  John,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Starr,  William,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Starring,  Simon,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Starring,  Peter,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Starring,  Henry,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Strayer,  Michael,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Stratton,  Charles,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Staley,  Joseph,  7th  Cav.,  Co.  K. 
Stacey,  Peter,  10th  Cav.,  Cn.  L. 
Steffles,  Anton,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Stephens,  John,  10th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Stearns,  William  G.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Stearns,  Abel,  13fh  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Stauber,  Silas  F.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Stanton,  James,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  H. 
Stephens,  Benjamin,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Stephens,  S.  B.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Stewart,  .Tas.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  6. 
Sterling,  J.  M.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Stewart,  Joseph,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Stevenson,  David,  llth  Inf.,  Go.  B. 
Stillaon,  Samuel  E.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
SHUson,  Alvin  H.,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Stilson,  Thomas  J.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 


Stowe,  Edivard,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Stoughton,  Henry  C,  Off.  13th  Inf.,  Co.  1. 
St.  Clair,  Joseph,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt.  G. 
Stone,  George  E.,  Off.  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A  and 

4th  Cav.,  Cos.  A  and  L. 
Stone,  Stephen  D.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Sl«ne,  John,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Stone,  Gilbert,  4th  Cav.,  Go.  L. 
Sullivan,  Florence,  1st  Cav.,  Co.  E. 
Sullivan,  Myron,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Sullivan,  James,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt.  G. 
Swaney,  Osbom,  6th  Inf.,  Go.  G. 
Sweet,  WilZard,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  L 
Sweetland,  Orvis,  eth  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Sweezy,  John,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  0. 
Symonda,  Rodolphns,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G, 
Sjmonds,  James  C,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Symonds,  Charles,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  6. 
Sjnea,  Henry  D.,  1st  Light  Art,  Batt.  C. 
Tanner,  James  H.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Tanner,  Nathan  A.,  2d  Inf.,  Co.  I, 
Taylor,  David  P.,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Taylor,  Charles  H.,  10th  Cav,,  Co.  E. 
Teal,    Byron,    6th   Inf.,   Co.    G.,   and    8th 

Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Terry,  Gardner  A.,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Tenny,  Charles  W,,  Off.  3d  Cav.,  Co.  K. 
Thayer,  William  C,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt- 

Thomas,  John,  16th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Thomas,  Samnel  8.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  K. 
Thomas,  Beuben,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Thompson,  Edgar  A.,  30fh  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Thompson,  Marcus  C,  .5th  Cav.,  Co.  I, 
Thompson,  George  W.,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Thompson,  William  H.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Thornton,  William  C,  1st  Light  Art.,  Batt.. 

Thomas,  Samuel  a.  Off.  28th  Inf.,  Co.  E 
Thayer,  Oremua,  13th  Inf.,  Go.  B. 
Thayer,  Orletns  C,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B 
Tidd,  John  F.,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  I 
Tiefenthal,  Charles,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Ticknor,  William  E.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Torroy,  William,  9th  Inf.,  Co.  K. 
Trask,  Hovrell  H.,  13th  Inf.,  Go.  B. 
Trutch,  Joseph  A.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Toby,  Samuel  D.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  — 
Tolburt,  Albert,  Ist  Mieh.   (colored)   Inf., 

Co.  F. 
Tomilson,  Henry,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Tompldna,  Charles  E.,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Tubah,  Charles  F.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Tudehope,  William,  8th  Cav.,  Go   K 
Tuttle,  Tth,  4tli  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Tniax,  John,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
True,   Salem,   13th   Inf.,   Co.   C,   and   4th 

Cav,,  Co.  L. 
Tyler,  Charles,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Tyler,  George,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Tyler,  Earl  B..  lat  Light  Art.,  Batt.  C 
Tyler,  Charles  W.,  15th  Inf.,  Go.  D. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COU'KTY 


613 


Underwood,  Calvin,  13tli  Inf.,  Go.  A. 
Underwood,  John,  13tli  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Upaon,  William  A.,  lath  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Valmj,  Philip,  lat  Light  Art.,  Batt.  C. 
Vahen,  Charles  L.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Voaburg,  Harmon,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  H. 
Van  LcDt,  John  W.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Van  Camp,  Jesse,  30th  Inf.,  Go,  C. 
Van  Camp,  Jesse,  Jr.,  30th  Inf.,  Co,  C. 
Van  Gamp,  L.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Van'  Aradale,  Peter,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Van  Arsdale,  George  B.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A, 
Vanderhoop,  Burd,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Van  Tassell,  Mathais,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Van  Vrain,  Caleb,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Van  Valkenburg,  Lambert,  11th  Inf.,  Co. 

G. 
Van  Patten,  Aaron,  28th  Inf.,  Co.  E, 
Wait,  Allen  N.,  28th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Walker,  Eliaha  J.  H.,  8th  Cav.,  Go.  F. 
Walker,  Absalom,  3d  Cav.,  Go.  M.,  and  lat 

Art.,  Batt.  C. 
Ward,  Hollis,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Warren,  Ebenezec,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Warner,  Henry,  5th  Gav.,  Co.  I. 
Waaker,  Doctor  M.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Waaker,  Daniel,  30th  Inf.,  Go.  B, 
Walch,  Patrick,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Wallin,  Alfred  C,  Off.  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Wallace,  William  H.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Walch,  Chester  D.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  B, 
Walter,  Jeremiah,  28th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Wallen,  Charles  C,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  B. 
Wallen,  Edwin  C,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  B. 
Waaaon,  James,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  F. 
Waterman,  Jeptha,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Waterman,  Randall  C,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Wataon,  William,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Wataon,  Homer,  5th  Cav.,  Go.  I. 
Ward,  John  W,,  13th  Inf.,  Go.  I. 
Ward,  Benjamin,  17th  Inf.,  Co,  D. 
Wagner,  Peter,  3d  Inf.,  Go.  C. 
Ward,  Emmett,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Warne,  Daniel,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Warner,  Enos,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Warner,  George  P.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Warren,  Edward,  3d  Gav.,  Co,  A. 
Webster,  Edward  T.,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Weaver,  John  M.,  8th  Cav.,  Go.  P. 
Weed,  Theodore,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G, 
Wedge,  Sylvester,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Weigand,  John,  9th  Inf.,  Co.  K. 
Weeks,  William  G.,  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Welch,  Thomas,  8th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Wellman,  Nathaniel,  8th  Cav.,  Go.  P. 
West,  William,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Weat,  George  P.,  2d  Inf.,  Go.  I. 
Weatfall,  Oliver,  30tli  Inf.,  Go.  A. 
Wetmore,  Albert  G.,  Off.  13th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Whittle,  George,  10th  Cav.,  Go.  L. 
Whitney,  Etiian,  10th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Wheeler,  Cyrus  B.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 


Wlieeloek,  Edward  C,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  P. 
Whitlock,  Orville  J.,  8th  Cav.,  Go.  L 
Wliitney,  George,  8th  Cav.,  Go.  E. 
Whitney,  Edwin  E.,  6th  Cav.,  Co.  B. 
White,  WUliam,  5th  Gav.,  Co.  I.,  and  24th 

Inf.,  Co.  A. 
White,  David,  3d  Cav.,  Co,  A. 
Whipple,  I-rank,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Wiiite,  Darwin  E.,  1st  Cav.,  Co.  G. 
White,  Martin,  17th  Inf.,  Co.  D, 
Whitlock,  Orville,  13th  inf..  Go.  H. 
White,  Charles  H.,  14th  Inf.,  Co.  P. 
White,  William,  13tli  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
White,  William  H^  Off.  6th  Inf.,  Co,  G. 
WUliams,  Milton  B.,  13th  Inf.,  Co,  A. 
Wilson,  Henrj,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Wilson,  Harvey,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Wilson,  Charles,  8th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Wilson,  Eldridge,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Wilson,  Levi,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
WUlia,  Daniel,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Wilson,  John,  4th   Cav.,  Co.   L.,  and  8th 

Cav.,  Co.  P. 
Wileos,  Warren  W.,  13th  Inf.,  Go.  0. 
Wilcox,  Henry  W.,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Wilson,  Harvey,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Wiison,  Charles  T.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Wilson,  Nathan,  13th  Inf.,  Go.  C. 
Wilson,  Norman,  19th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Wilson,   Isaac,  Off.   3d  Cav.,   Co.   A.   and 

Co.  K. 
Wiltse,  Henry  A.,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Wilson,  Albert,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Wilcox,  Alonzo,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Wilcox,  Elijah,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Williams,  Charles,  30th  Inf.,  Co,  H. 
Williams,  Francis  P.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  K, 
Williams,  Robert,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  K. 
Williams,  Wilts  H.,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L, 
Wing,  Aaron,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Winger,  Samnel,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  C. 
Winn,  Seth  H.,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Winn,  Balph,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 
Winters,  Hiram,  8th  Cav.,  Go.  E. 
Wise,  George  W.,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 
Wiseman,  Frederic,  3d  Cav.,  Co,  A. 
Witherell,  WilHam,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  D. 
Willerton,  John  J.,  8th  Gav.,  Co,  P. 
Will,  John,  Tth  Gav,,  Co.  M. 
Williams,  William  K,.  Off.  5th  Cav.,  Co.  I. 
Williams,  Richard,  8th  Cav.,  Co.  H. 
Willis,  Lafayette,  44th  HI.,  Inf.,  Co.  H. 
Wood,  Bollin,  24th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Wood,  Charles  W.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Wood,  James,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  E, 
Wood,  Walter,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 
Wood,  Walter,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G. 
Woodmansee,  Miles,  9th  Inf.,  Co.  B. 
Woodbeck,  David,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  E, 
WoodHtock,  Ira,  28th  Inf.,  Co.  E. 
Woodham,  Frederick,  4th  Cav.,  Co.  L. 
Woolman,  Samnel  P.,  3d  Inf.,  Co.  E. 


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614  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUKTY 

Wright,  Miles,  1st  Cav.,  Co.  C.  Toulden,  James,  6tb  Inf.,  Co.  G. 

Wyner,  Peter,  6th  Inf.,  Co.  G.  Young,  John  J.,  ISth  Inf.,  Co.  B. 

Wynne,  Brown,  6Qi  Inf.,  Co.  G.  Young,  Joahaa  C,  3d  Cav.,  Co.  A. 

Wynne,  John,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  C.  Yeamans,  Jamea  B.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  I. 

Xocum,  Itha,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  I.  Yemens,  Fernando,  8t!i  Cav.,  Co.  B. 

Yerton,  Joel,  13th  Inf.,  Co.  C.  Zauts,  Merrick,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A. 

Yale,  William  E.,  30th  Inf.,  Co.  A.  Zoneman,  Henry,  5th  Cay.,  Co.  I. 

SOLDIKKS    FROM    AU-ILGAN    CoUNTY    IN    THE    SpANISH-AmEEICAN    WaR. 

Thirty-first  Michigan  Infantry. 

Frank  Brown,  Monterey — Company  A. 

Thirty-second  Michigan  Infantry. 

Martin  L.  Beery,  Allegan — Company  B. 
Jacob  Beery,  Allegan — Company  E. 
Frank  Brown,  Burnips  Corners — Company  B. 
James  E.  Cramer,  Plainwell — Company  C. 
Frank  Lee  Thomas,  Dorr — Company  B. 

Thirty-third  Michigan  Infantry. 

Herman  Tiefentlial,  Hopkins — Company  A. 

Ray  C.  Tooker,  Hopkins — ^Company  L. 

Ferdinand  G.  Sebright,  Bnrnips  Corners — Company  L. 

Thirty- fourth  Michigan  Infantry. 

Frederick  S.  Padgham.  Allegan — First  Lt.,  Company  K. 

Cady  Lee  White,  Allegan — Second  Lt.,  Company  K. 

August  Brinkert,  Allegan — Company  K. 

Burdette  L.  Brown,  Allegan — Company  K. 

Walter  Brown,  Allegan — Company  K. 

Lester  Burton,  Hilliards — Company  K. 

Edwin  M.  Crannell,  Plainwell — Company  K. 

Charles  L.  Fitch,  Allegan — Company  K. 

George  M.  Forbes,  Plainwell — Company  K. 

Clifford  Fox,  Allegan — Company  K. 

Everett  L.  Gibson,  Allegan— -Company  K. 

Frank  E.  Granger,  Allegan — Company  K. 

James  B.  Harlan,  Otsego — Company  K. 

Lloyd  H.  Hoffmaster,  Allegan — Company  K. 

Frank  Jeffrey,  Otsego — Company  K. 

Elmer  A.  Kent,  Allegan — Company  K. 

George  Kent,  Allegan — Conipany  K. 

Charles  M.  Lee,  AUegan — Company  K. 

Wm.  H.  McLellan,  Allegan — Company  K. 

John  A.  Marshall,  Plainwell— Company  K. 

Kerby  Montague,  Allegan— Company  K. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  615 

Will.  H.  Morey,  Mill  Grove — ^Compauy  K. 

Ernest  Musser,  Hopkins — Company  K. 

Ray  L.  Noggle,  Allegan— Corporal,  Conipan\-  K. 

Ray  Pardee,  Allegan — Company  K. 

Theron  L.  Pratt,  Otsego — Company  K. 

Thirty-Hfth  Michigan  Infantry. 

Dewey  Horner,  Silver  Creek — Comi>any  C. 
LowJs  Ellinger,  Hopkins — Company  B. 

Soldiers'  Monument. 

The  soldiers'  monument  on  the  court  house  square  at  Ailegan  is  a 
tribute  paid  to  the  soldiers  of  the  Civil  war  by  the  patriotic  women  of  the 
community.  November  17,  1889,  "The  Woman's  Soldiers'  Monument  Asso- 
ciation" was  organized  in  Grand  Army  hall  at  Allegan.  The  first  ofBcers 
were :  Mrs.  Ella  Dunnings,  president ;  Jennie  Harris,  vice  president ;  Nella 
S.  Williams,  secretary:  Kate  Fenn,  treasurer;  Helen  F.  Thomas,  assistant 
secretarj'.  Afrs.  Dunning  resigned  the  chief  office,  and  Miss  Harris  was 
promoted  to  that  position,  while  her  successor  was  Mrs.  Josephine  Burton. 
The  following  names  were  appended  to  the  constitution  and  by-laws.  Mrs, 
Ella  Dimning,  Nella  S.  Williams,  Helen  Thomas,  Isate  Fenn,  M.  H.  Wing, 
P.  M.  Hart.S.  J.  Ryan,  Carrie  Bailey,  Otta  Stone.  Lottie  Sutphin,  M.  J. 
Sutphin,  Weltha  Reed.  Rose  M.  Weeks,  Frances  M.  Murphy,  Josephine 
Burton,  Belle  M.  Harvey,  Marcia  Walters,  Mrs.  Harris,  Jennie  Harris.  Amy 
Early,  Ida  Anway,  Dora  Chaffee,  Disa  Sithes,  Ettie  Colbum,  Sophia  Thew, 
Harriet  Mead,  A.  Hillahrant,  O.  Sithes.  Flora  Ellinger,  Josephine  Price, 
Jennie  Seery,  Mrs.  Main,  Frances  Born,  Mrs.  Hudson,  Mrs.  Gage,  Maleska 
Grice,  Nellie  Hav,  E.  B.  Born,  E.  Russell,  Mary  Fish,  Anna  Church,  Helen 
Tubah.  Helen  Peck,  Phoebe  Church,  Mary  Sher'wood,  Mrs.  HaO,  W.  Oliver, 
Lillie  Clark,  Jennie  Calkins.  Abbie  Calkins. 

The  purpose  of  the  organization  was  to  erect  a  suitable  soldiers'  monu- 
ment, and  with  this  as  a  goal  the  association  planned  various  means  to  raise 
the  money  needed  for  that  end.  Entertainments,  suppers,  lecture  courses 
and  other  ways  were  at  first  followed.  The  fund  increasing  very  slowly, 
the  members  began  soliciting  cash  subscriptions  for  the  purpose.  Their 
efforts  were  continued  over  a  period  of  fourteen  years  before  enough  money 
was  in  sight  to  justify  actual  contracting  for  the  monument.  With  about 
fifteen  hundred  dollars  in  the  fund,  the  corner  stone  was  laid  on  Memorial 
day  of  1903  and  the  stone  shaft  soon  after  erected.  To  erect  upon  this  a 
suitable  figure  or  statue  would  cost  an  additional  $600,  and  the  association 
petitioned  the  board  of  supervisors  for  an  appropriation  to  complete  the 
monument.  The  board  acceded  to  their  request,  and  on  Memorial  day  of 
1904  the  persistent  efforts  of  the  association  were  rewarded  by  the  dedica- 
tion of  the  completed  monument.  Judge  Padgham,  who  presided  and  deliv- 
ered the  principal  address,  presented  the  monument,  in  behalf  of  the  Wom- 
an's Association,  to  C,  J.  Bassett  Post  No.  56,  G.  A.  R.,  and  Dr.  H.  F. 
Thomas  spoke  for  the  Post  in  receiving  the  gift. 


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islature  and  the 
to  fill  the  higher 


CHAPTER  XX. 

OFFICIAL  LISTS. 

Besides  the  regular  county  representation  in  the 
local  offices,  Allegan  county  has  furnished  a  number  of  n 
state  offices  and  as  representatives  in  Congress. 

Representatives  in  Congress. 
1873-1S74     William  B.  Williams*     1893-1894     Henry  F.  Thomas. 
1875-1876     William  E.   Williams.        1895-1896     Henry  F.   Thomas. 

Secretary  of  State. 
1861-1866    James  B.  Torter. 

State  Treasurer. 
1879-1882     Benjamin  D.  Pritchard. 

University  Regent. 
1852-1857     Elisha  Ely. 

Commissioner  of  Laud  Office. 
miin  D.    Pritchard. 

Railroad  Coiiuiiissioner. 
im   B.   Williams. 
State  Senators  from  Allegan  County. 
[Note.— These  and  other  officials  elected  in  the  county  were,  unless 
otherwise  indicated,  chosen  at  the  November  election  of  the  even-mimhered 
years,  and  their  term  of  office  commenced  on  January  ist  of  the  odd-num- 
bered year  following.     The  date  given  with  each  name  indicates  the  year 
on  which  his  term  began.] 


1867-1870 


1877-1883     Will 


845  Flavins  J.  Littlejohn. 

857  Gilbert   Moyers. 

86r  Henry  C.  Briggs. 

:865  Wilson  C.  Edsell. 

867  William  B.  Williams. 


869     William    B.    Williams. 
871     Francis  B.  Stockbridge. 

Mark  D.  Wilbur. 

Henry  F.  Thomas. 


1873 
1875 


1877     Wilson  C.  Edsell. 


e  W.  B.  Foster,  deceaae<l. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


879 


Nathaniel  W.  Lewis. 
Wilson  C.  Edsell. 

883     Charles  J.  Monroe.^ 

885     Charles  J.   Monroe. 

887     Charles  J.  Monroe. 

889    James  W.  McCormick. 

891     Jan  W.  Garvelink. 

893     J^n  W.  Garvelink. 
1 — South  Hnven,  Van  Biiren, 
2 — Hartford,  Van  Buieo. 
3— Paw -Paw,  Van  BiiieB. 


"1895  G.  W.  Merriman.^ 

1897  G.  W.  Merriman. 

1899  James  W.  Humphrey, 

1901  James  W.  Humphrey. 

1903  Jason  Woodman.^ 

1905  Jason  Woodman. 

1907  Erastiis  Bates. 


Rcprcscntatk-fs  in  fhc  Lcgislalui 


1837 

Elisha   Elv. 

1877 

Crosbv  Eaton. 

1838 

John   R.  "Kellogg. 

1879 

James  VVinchell. 

■839 

David  B.  Stout. 

1879 

Crosby  Eaton. 

1842 

Flavins  J.  Littlejohn. 

1879 

Henry   E.   Blackman. 

1843 

Flavins  J.  Littlejohn. 

1881 

Crosby    Eaton. 

1845 

Peter  J.  Cook. 

1881 

Francis  Goodman. 

1847 

Lintsford  P,.  Coats. 

,883 

Jan  W.  Garvelink. 

1848 

Flavins  J.  Littlejohn. 

,883 

Francis  Goodman.   " 

1849 

Horace   H.   Comstock. 

1885 

J.  W.  McCormick. 

1850 

Friend  Ives. 

1885 

Erastns  N.  Bates. 

iSji 

Oka  Town.* 

1887 

Erastus  N.  Bates. 

'853 

John  Murphv. 

1887 

J.  W.  McCormick. 

1855 

Flavins  J.  Littlejohn. 

1889 

Gavlord  M.  Baldwin. 

■857 

Chauncev  B.  Goodrich. 

1889 

S.  'S.  Stout. 

1859 

James  M.  Baldwin. 

1891 

Royal  C.   Eaton. 

I86I 

Franklin  B.  Wallin. 

1891 

John  Kolvoord. 

1863 

Philetns  0.  Littiejohn.f 

■893 

Royal  Eaton. 

1863 

Daniel  D.  McJIartin. 

1893 

lohn  F.  Henrj.. 

1865 

William  Packard. 

1895 

L.  F.  Otis. 

1865 

WiUiam  E.  White. 

.895 

John  F.  Henrv. 

1867 

William  Packard. 

1897 

L.  F.  Otis. 

1867 

Thomas  Shepherd. 

1897 

H.  F.  Buskirk. 

1869 

Francis  B.  Stockbridge. 

1899 

B.  A.  Neyins. 

1869 

Milo  E.  Gifford. 

1899 

H.  F.  Bnskitk. 

I87I 

Richard  Ferris. 

1901 

B.  A.  Nevins. 

I87I 

Charles  W.  Watkins. 

19O! 

Theodosins  Wade. 

1873 

Henrv  F.  Thomas. 

1903 

Alonzo  W.  Fisher. 

.873 

Charfes  W.  Watkins.^ 

1993 

Theodosius  Wade. 

1873 

Jan  W.  Garvelink  (3d  dist.). 

1905 

Alonzo  W.  Fisher. 

1875 

Jaiiies  Eggleston. 

190.5 

David  Stockdale. 

1875 

William   F.   Hardin. 

1907 

Perle  Fouch. 

187s 

David  W.  Wile.v   (3d  dist.). 

1907 

David  Stockdale. 

•Until  1850  representatives  nere  elioseu  eacli  year,  and  since  then  every    two  years. 

tBeginning  witll   election  of   1862   two 

county 

and  ttie  two  names  civen  indicate 

ttie  representatives  from  the  First  and  Sec- 

ond  districts  respectively. 

SWilliam  P.  Hardin  elected  Msrch,  1874 

vice  Watkins,  resigned. 

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i  HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 

Judges  of  the  Circuit  Court. 
The  list  of  circuit  judges  will  be  found  in  the  chapter  on  courts,  which 


835     Oka  Town.f 
837     Ebcnezer  Parkhtirst. 
841     George  Y.  Warner. 
845     Elisha  Ely. 

Dewitt   C.   Chapin. 

853  EHsha  Ely. 

854  E.  B.  Bassett.g 

857     William  B.  Williams. 
"5i     William  B.  Williams. 

55     Dan  J.  Arnold. 

'Bleeteil  for  a  t«rm  of  four  yeara. 

tAppoinfed  Aug.  25,  1835,  by  territorial 

§Electetl  io  fiU  vacancy  (paused  by  deatli 


Probate   Judges* 

1869     Dan  J.  Arnold. 


1873  James  B.  Humphrey. 

1877  James  B.   Humphrey. 

1881  John  H.  Padgham. 

1885  David  Stockdale. 

1889  David  Stockdale. 

1893  David  Stockdale. 

1897  Frank  H.  Williams. 

1901  Frank  H.  Williams. 

1905  Frank  H.    Williams, 


County  Clerks. 


1835 
1837 


T841 
1843 


[Until   1839  conuty 
has  been  two  years.] 

Alexander  L.  Ely.* 

Alexander  L.  Ely. 

Elijah  G.  Bingham. 

Elijah  G.  Bingham. 

Henry  H.  Booth. 

Alexander  L.  Ely, 
1845     John  Weare. 
1847     Nathan  Manson,  Jr.f 
1847     E.  B.  Bassett. 
1849     E.  B.  Bassett. 
1851     E.  B.   Bassett, 
1S53     James  B.  Porter. 
T855     James  B.  Porter, 
1857     Henry  C.   Briggs. 
1859     Henry  C.   Briggs. 
1861     John'W.  Stone. 
1863     John  W.  Stone. 
1865     Ami  Whitnev.§ 
1867     Hannibal  Hart. 
1869    Hannibal  Hart, 

•Appointed  Aug.  25,  1835,  by  terri 
tDied,  and  E.  B.  Bassett  appointed 
j.Tohnson   Parsons  appointed,   1866, 


lerks  held  office  one  year,  ; 


-,  then  their  term 


1871 
1873 
187s 
1877 
1879 


1887 
J  889 
1891 
1893 
1895 
1897 
1899 
1901 
T903 
1905 
1907 


Amerin  E.  Calkins. 
Hiram  B.  Hudson. 
Hiram  B.  Hudson. 
Nahum  Gilbert. 
Nahum  Gilbert. 
Nahum  Gilbert, 
Nahum  Gilhert. 
Nahum    fSilbert. 
Charles  L.  Barrett. 
Chartes  L.   Barrett, 
Charles  L.  Barrett. 
Charles  L.  Barrett. 
Charles  L.  Barrett, 
Charles  L,  Barrett, 
C.  A,  Barnes. 
C.  A.  Barnes. 
C.  A.  Barnes. 
Hennan  Brower. 
Herman  Brower. 


nial  governor;  elected 

>  vacancy. 

ice   Whitney,  resigned. 


Registers  of  Deeds. 

1835  Alexander  L.   Ely.*  1837     Alexander  L.  Ely. 

1836  Joseph  Fisk.t  1839     Elijah  G.  Bingham. 
"Appointed  Aag.  '25,  1835, 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


841  Ebenezer    Parkhiirst. 

843  Ebenezer    Parkhurst. 

845  Elisha  Eiv. 

847  Elisha  Ely. 

849  Elislia  Ely. 

"_  Elisha  Ely. 

853  James  B.  Porter. 

855  James  B.  Porter. 

857  James  B.  Porter. 

859  James  B.  Porter. 

861  Jacob  B.  Bailey. 

863  Ralph  Pratt. 

865  Ralph  Pratt. 

867  Ralph  Pratt. 

869  William  C.  Weeks. 

871  William  C.  Weeks. 

873  Perry  J.  Davis. 
tEleeted  April,   1N3«. 


1875  Perrv  J.  Davis, 

1877  William  V.  Hoyt. 

1879  William  V.  Hoyt. 

1881  George  E.   Dunn. 

1883  George  E.  Dunn. 

1885  George  E.  Dunn. 

18S7  Nahum  Gilbert. 

1889  Nahum  Gilbert. 

i8gi  James  Eggleston. 

1893  James   Eggleston. 

1895  Lvman  A.   Lillv. 

1897  Lyman  A.  Lilly. 

1899  Hendrick  J.  Klomparens. 

1901  Hendrick  J.  Klomparens. 

1903  Wm.  H.   Dunn. 

1905  Wm.  H.  Dumi. 

1907  Solomon  S.  Fox. 


County  Treasurers. 


1835  Milo   Winslow,* 

1837  Milo  Winslow. 

1839  Alvah  Fuller. 

1841  Alvah  Fuller. 

1843  Lintsford  B.  CoaCr.. 

1845  Osmond  Smith. 

1847  Osmond  Smith. 

1849  Osmond  Smith, 

1851  Osmond  Smith. 

1853  Stephen  A.  Morrison, 

1855  David  D.  Davis. 

1857  Duncan  A.  McMartin. 

1859  Duncan  A.  McMartin. 

i86r  Duncan  A.  McMartin. 

1S63  Duncan  A,  McMartin, 

1865  Duncan  A.  McMartin. 

1867  Ira   Chichester. 

1869  Ira  Chichester. 

1871  Ira  Chichester. 

^Appointed  Aug.  2.),  ISS.'i, 


1873  Ira  Chichester. 

1875  Ira  Chichester. 

1877  Duncan  A,  McMartin. 

1879  Martin  Cook. 

1881  John  H.  Eppink. 

1883  John  H.  Eppink, 

1885  Hun  Lankhut. 

1887  Hun   Lankhut. 

1889  Edward  Hawley. 

1891  Edward  Hawley. 

1893  Wm.    H.    Goodman, 

1895  Wm.  H,  Goodman. 

1897  Eugene  D.  Nash. 

1899  Eugene  D,  Nash. 

1901  Frank  Andrews. 

1903  Frank  Andrews, 

1905  Joseph  C.  H;ill. 

1907  Joseph  C.  Hall. 


835  John  L.  Shearer.* 

837  John    Murphy. 

839  John  Murphy. 

S41  Joseph  Fisk. 

843  William  Still. 

845  William  Still. 

847  Benjamin  Pratt. 

.849  Benjamin  Pratt. 
*Ai>poitite<l  Aug.  25,  ISS.T. 


1851  Nelson  Chambers. 

1853  Benjamin   Pratt. 

T855  Benjamin  Pratt. 

1857  Willard  Higgins. 

1859  Jacob  Grover, 

i86t  Andrew   P.   Grover. 

1863  Andrew  P.  Grover. 

186^  William  B.  Hooker. 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


t867 

Alexander  Henderson. 

i88q 

John  Strabbing. 

1869 

Alexander  Henderson. 

1891 

John   Strabbing. 

1871 

William  L.  Ripley. 

1893 

Joseph  Stratton. 

1873 

William  Hay. 

1895 

Joseph  Stratton. 

1875 

William  Hay. 

1897 

John  Whitbeck. 

1877 

Thomas  J.  Parker. 

1899 

John  Whitbeck. 

1879 

William  Hav. 

1901 

Edward  Bensley. 

1881 

William  Hav. 

1903 

Edward  Bensley. 

1883 

Walter  Rice. 

1905 

Allen  L.  Whitbeck. 

1885 

Waiter  Rice. 

1907 

Allen  L.  Whitbeck. 

,887 

Wm,  T.  Fincli. 

Prosecuting  Attorneys.* 

1837 

George   Y.    Warner. 

1873 

Albert  H.  Finn. 

1838 

Flavins   J.    Littiejohn. 

1875 

Philip  Padgham. 

1839 

Mitchell  Hinsdell. 

1877 

Philip  Padgham. 

1841 

Flavius  J.  Littiejohn. 

1879 

Hiram  B.  Hudson. 

1842 

Flavins  J.  Littiejohn. 

1881 

Frank  S.  Donaldson. 

1843 

Flavius  J.  Littiejohn. 

1883 

Ogden   Tomilson. 

1845 

R.   B.   Goble. 

1885 

Charles   Wilkes. 

1851 

Dewitt  D.  Chapin. 

1887 

Charles  R.  Wilkes. 

■853 

Henry  C.  Stoughton. 

1889 

John  H.  Padgham. 

1855 

John  Murphy. 

1891 

Hannibal  Hart. 

1857 

George  Y.   Warner, 

1893 

Fidus  E.  Fish. 

■859 

Henrv   C.   Stoughton. 

1895 

Fidus  E.  Fish. 

1861 

Gilbert  Movers. 

1S97 

Fidus  E.  Fish. 

1863 

Silas  Stafford. 

1899 

Charles  Thew. 

1865 

John  W.  Stone. 

1901 

Charles  Thew. 

1867 

Joiin  W.  Stone. 

1903 

Orien  S.  Cross. 

.869 

John  W.  Stone. 

1905 

Orien  S.  Cross. 

1871 

Albert  H.  Finn. 

1907 

Clare  E,  Hoffman. 

•Until  1S40  pcoseputinjt  attorneys  wer 

B   appointetl  lij  the  court  for  eacli  term.  From 

1840  t 

0  1S.O0  they  ncrfi  appointed  bj  the 

govetno 

Circuit  Court  Commissioners. 

1853 

Henry  C.  Stoughton. 

1877 

Frank  S.  Donaldson. 

185s 

Flavius  J.  Littiejohn. 

1879 

Joseph  Thew. 

1857 

George  Y.  Warner. 

1879 

Edward  J.  Anderson. 

1859 

Josiah  L.  Hawes. 

i8Sr 

Joseph  Thew. 

1861 

Joseph  Thew. 

1881 

J.  Anderson. 

1863 

Dan  J.  Arnold.    ■ 

1881 

E.  J.  Anderson. 

1865 

Joseph  Thew. 

1883 

Joseph  Thew. 

1867 

Joseph  Thew. 

1885 

E.  J.  Anderson. 

1869 

Patrocius  A.  Latta- 

1885 

Joseph  Thew. 

1871 

Joseph  Thew. 

1887 

Joseph  Thew. 

1873 

Philip  Padgham. 

1887 

"E.  J.  Anderson. 

1873 

Toseph  Thew. 

1889 

Joseph  Thew. 

1875 

Joseph  Thew. 

1889 

E.  J.  Anderson. 

1875 

Warner  A.  Woodworth. 

1891 

Joseph  Thew. 

1877 

Joseph   Thew. 

1891 

E.  J.  Anderson. 

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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUKTY 


1893 

Joseph  TIicw. 

1901 

i'erle  L.  I'^ouch. 

1893 

A.  S.  Butler. 

1901 

L.  C.  Anderson. 

■895 

Joseph  Thew. 

1903 

Grant  N.  Gilbert. 

'Ws 

A.  S.  Butler. 

■903 

Perle  L.  Fouch. 

1897 

Joseph   Thew. 

1905 

Grant  N.  Gilbert. 

1897 

L  C.  Montague. 

1905 

Perle  L.  Fouch. 

IS99 

I.  C.  Montague. 

1907 

John  B.  Stockdale. 

■899 

C,  E.  Hoffman. 

1907 
Stti-veyors. 

E.  W.  Stone. 

1837 

William   Forbes. 

1873 

loseph   W.   Hicks. 

■839 

William  Forbes. 

1875 

loseph  W.  Hicks. 

1840 

John  P.  Allard. 

1877 

Joseph  W.  Hicks. 

I84I 

John  P.  Allard. 

1879 

Albro  Gardner. 

IS43 

Edward  B.  Wither. 

1S81 

-Albert  Eaton. 

1845 

Aaron  Chichester. 

1883 

Albert  Eaton. 

1847 

Herschel  E.  Seymour. 

■883 

Donald  A.  McLeod. 

1849 

Charles  E.  Watson. 

i88s 

-Albert  Eaton. 

I85I 

Charles  E.  Watson. 

1887 

Donald  McLeod. 

i8?3 

James  C.  Haile. 

1889 

Theodore  O.  Williams. 

■855 

James  C.  Haile. 

1891 

Theodore  0.  Williams. 

1857 

Ehsha  Mi-x. 

1893 

Robert  D.  Gardner. 

1859 

Ira  Chichester. 

i*).5 

Robert  D.  Gardner. 

1861 

Ira  Chichester. 

1897 

Hugh   MacDougal. 

1863 

Ira   Chichester. 

.899 

Hugh  MacDougal. 

1865 

Ira  Chichester. 

1901 

Hugh  MacDougal. 

1867 

Ira  Chichester. 

1903 

Hugh  MacDougal. 

1869 

Joseph  W.  Hicks. 

190S 

Hugh  MacDougal. 

1871 

Joseph  W.  Hicks. 

1907 

Hugh  MacDougal. 

(~,aljlc. 


T839 
1839 
1840 
1840 
1 841 
1841 


1843 
1843 
1845 
1845 
1S47 
1847 
1849 

"Until  1843, 


Daniel  A.  Pliu 
Roswell   Crane. 
Ralph  R.  Mann. 
Hull  Sherwood. 
Ebenezer  Parkhurst. 
George  Y.  Warner. 
George  Y.  Warner. 
Levi  Looniis. 
Eber  Sherwood. 
Hull  Sherwood, 
Ralph  R.  Mann. 
Reuben   M.   Bigelow. 
John  H,  Billings. 
James  C.  Haile. 
George  Y.  Warner. 
Almerin  5.  Cotton. 


1849  George  Y.  Warner. 

1851  John  H.  Billings. 

1851  Almerin  S.  Cotton. 

1853  Alexander  Henderson. 

1853  Jonathan  O.  Round. 

1855  Alexander  Henderson. 

1855  Elias  M.  Dibble. 

1857  Alexander  Gilles. 

1857  George  E.  Dunn. 

1859  Donald  C.  Henderson. 

i8s9  George  E.  Dunn. 

1861  Ralph  R.  Mann. 

1 8*1 1  Adrian   C.   Zwerner. 

1863  Thomas   Lamoreaux. 

1863  Jan  W.  Garvelink. 

1865  Charles  W.  Hawley. 
ar,  thereafter  two  .years. 


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HISTt)RY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


1865 

James  W.  McCormick. 

1889 

George  Baker. 

1867 

Allen  Haggart. 

1889 

Wm.  B.  Clark. 

1867 

Randolph  Densmore. 

1891 

L.  E.  Clark. 

1869 

George  N.  Wade. 

1891 

F.  A.  Iddles. 

1869 

George  B.  Nichols. 

1893 

Wm.  E.  Rowe. 

■87, 

George  B.  Nichols. 

1893 

L.  E.  Clark. 

I87I 

Asa  C.  Goodrich. 

1895 

G.   W.   Forrest. 

1873 

John  P.  Leland. 

■895 

L.  E.  Clark. 

■873 

George  H.  Anderson. 

1897 

Wm.  E.  Rowe. 

187s 

Remelt   Koning. 

1897 

L.  E.  Clark, 

1875 

William   A.   Smith. 

1899 

Wm.  E,  Rowe. 

1877 

Edward  B.  Wright. 

1899 

L.  E.  Clark. 

1877 

Benjamin  Thompson. 

1901 

Bert  Benker. 

1879 

Henry  H.  Stimson. 

1901 

Samuel  Lovall. 

1879 

Edward  B.  Wright. 

1903 

Samuel  B.  Lovall. 

I88I 

Stephen  S.  Stout. 

1903 

George  H.  Rigterink. 

,883 

F.  M.  Calkins. 

1905 

Samuel  B.  Lovall. 

1883 

Joseph  Thew. 

1905 

George  Rigterink. 

1885 

E,  E.  Bronson. 

1907 

S.  B.  Lovall. 

1887 
1887 

E.  H.  Ryno. 
E.  E.  Bronson. 

1907 

Wm.  Shepherd. 

Members  of  Constitutional  Conventions. 

Richard  Weare  was  a  member  of  the  constitutional  convention  of  assent 
at  Ann  Arbor,  September,  1836.  He  was  a  resident  of  Trowbridge,  and 
represented  Allegan  and  Barry  counties. 

At  the  second  convention  of  assent,  at  Ann  Arbor  in  December,  1836, 
Silas  F.  Littlejohn  and  Orsenms  Eaton  represented  Allegan  county. 

In  June,  1850,  Oka  Town  was  sent  from  Allegan  county  to  assist  in 
framing  the  present  state  constitution. 


SiirPervisor 
1837— F.  T.  Littlejohn 
1838— S.  F,  Littlejohn 
1839 — Joseph  Fisk 
1840 — Hyman  Hoxte 
1841 — William   Finn 
1842— Alex.  L.  Ely 
1843— Elisha  Ely 
1844 — James  Andrew 
1845 — William   Finn 
1846 — Noah  Briggs 
1847 — William   Finn 
1848— David  D.  Davis 
1849— David  D  Davis 
1850 — David  D  Davis 
1851 — Leonard  Bailev 
1852— Elisha  Ely 


1    Township. 
Clerk 


Alvah  Fuller 
Alvah  Fuller 
Alvah  Fuller 
Alvah  Fuller 
Alvah  Fuller 
Leonard  Bailey 
Benjamin  Pratt 
Alex.  L.  Ely 
E.  B.  Bassett 
E.  B.  Bassett 
C.  S.  Field 
Ralph  B.  Goble 
Amos  W.  Stone 
Amos  W.  Stone 
Levi  B.  Smith 
Horatio  S  Lay 


William  Finn 
Orainel  Fisk 
David  D.  Davis 
James  Andrews 
Alex.  L.  Ely 
Leonard  Bailey 
David  D.  Davis 
Daniel  Emerson 
Justus  W.  Bond 
Justus  W.  Bond 
William  Finn 
Daniel  D,  Davis 
Daniel  D.  Davis 
Daniel  D.  Davis 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


1B53— E,  13.  Bassett 
1854— E.  B,  Bassett 
1855— E.  B.  Bassett 
1S56— E.  B.  Bassett 
1857— Benjamin  Pratt 
1858— E.  P..  Bassett 
1859— E.  B.  Bassett 
i860— E.  B.  Bassett 
1861— P.  O.  Littlejohn 
1862— P.  O.  Littlejohn 
1863 — Alanson  Case 
1864 — Alanson  Case 
1865 — Alanson  Case 
1866 — Alanson  Case 
,867_Joseph  Fisk 
1868 — Alanson  Case 
r8f)(i — Alanson  Case 
1870— P.  O.  Littlejohn 
i8;ri_p.  O.  Littlejohn 
i872~P.  O.  Littlejohn 
1873— P.  O.  Littlejohn 
1874— P.  O.  Littlejohn 
1875 — Leonard  Bailey 
1876 — Leonard  Baifey 
1877— Leonard  Bailey 
1878— Leonard  Bailey 
1879 — Leonard  Bailey 


Siif^cn'isor 
r88o— Leonard  Bailey 
1881— Leonard  Bailey 
1882- — Leonard  Bailey 
1883 — Leonard  Baile}' 
1884 — Leonard  Bailev 
1885— C.  Henshaw 
1886— A.  E.  Calkins 
1887— A.  E.  Calkins 
1888— A.  E.  Calkins 
i88<>— A.  E.  Calkins 
i8qo— A.  E.  Calkins 
i8qi— A.  E.  Calkins 
1892 — A.  E.  Calkins 
1893 — Georpe  R.  Stone 
1894 — Joseph  E.  Young 
1895 — George  W.  Cady 
T896 — George  W.  Cady 
1897 — George  Oliver.  Jr. 
1898 — George  Oliver,  Jr. 
1899-— John  E.  Davis 


James  B.  Streeter 
Levi  B.  Smith 
Henrv  C.  Smith 

C.  0.'  Bush 
John  Kirby 
John  Kirby 
A,  S.  Butler 
W.  B.  Jenn 
A.  S.  Butler 
Henry  C.  Smith 
George  L,  A  skins 
H.  S.  Higginbotham 
J.  F.  Alley 

J.  F.  Allev 
y.  W.  Stone 
A.  F.  Howe 
E.  B.  Grover 
A.  E.  Calkins 
L  F.  Clapp 
S.  D.  Pond 
S.  D.  Pond 
S.  D.  Pond 
A.  E.  Calkins 
S.  P.  Stanlev 
S.  P.  Stanlev 
S.  P.  Stanley 
W.  W.  \'osbnrg 

Alleoax  Township. 

Clerk 
W.  W.  Vosburg 
W.  W.  Vosburg 
H.  L.  Peck 
W.  W.  Vosburg 
Asa  Moxlev 
W.  W.  Vosburg 
W.  W.  Vosburg 
W.  W.  Vosburg 
W.  W.  Vosburg 
W.  W.  Vosburg 

D.  J.  Eenihan 

D.  T.  Renihan 
T).  J.  Renihan 

E.  A.  Fenn 
E.  A.  Fenn 
E.  A.  Fenn 
E.  A.  Fenn 
E.  A.  Fenn 
E.  A.  Fenn 
H.  t,.  Green 


William  Finn 
Wiliiam  Finn 
John  J.  Jones 
John  J.  Jones 
J.  W.  Nichols 
John  J.  Jones 
John  J.  Jones 
Martin  Cook 
Martin  Cook 
Martin  Cook 
Martin  Cook 
A.  S.  Butler 
A.  S.  Butler 
A.  S,  Butler 
II.  C  Smith 
Silas  E.  Stone 
Silas  E.  Stone 
George  D.  Smith 
George  D.  Smith 
A.  S.  Butler 
D.  A.  McMartin 
Martin  Cook 
Martin  Cook 
Martin  Cook 
Martin  Cook 
W.  L  Pollard 
W.  J.  Pollard 


Treasurer 
A.  F.  Howe 
A.  F.  Howe 
George  Oliver 
George  Oliver 
T.  L  Bailev 
J.  J.  Bailey 
C.  Ballard 
C.  Ballard 
Thomas  Cook 
A.  A.  Larkin 
S.  P.  Hudson 
R.  D.  Thompson 
(George  R.  Smith 
George  R.  Smith 
Levi  C.  Smith 
Snel  P.  Hudson 
Charles  Bond 
Volney  Ferris 
Volney  Ferris 
Volnev  Ferris 


Hosted  by 


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624 

1900 — John  E.  Davis 
1901 — John  E.  Davis 
1902— John  E.  Davis 
1903— John  E.  Davis 
1904— Roscoe  N.  Ellis 
1905 — Roscoe  N.  Ellis 
1906— John  S.  Wilson 


Supervisor 
1855— Timothy  McDowe 
1856— Richard  Barden 
1857— William  P.  Davis 
1858— William  P.  Davis 
1859— William  P.  Davis 
i860 — Crosby   Eaton 
1861— William  P.  Davis 
1862— John  Willett 
1863— John  Willett 
1864 — A.  J.  Munger 
1865— Crosby  Eaton 
1 866— Crosby  Eaton 
1867 — Crosbv  Eaton 
1868— Crosby  Eaton 
1869 — Crosby  Eaton 
1870 — Crosby  Eaton 
1871— Crosby  Eaton 
1872— Crosby  Eaton 
1873— Crosbv  Eaton 
T  874— Crosby  Eaton 
1875— Crosby  Eaton 
1876 — Crosby  Eaton 
1877— H.  Overhiser 
1878 — H.  Overhiser 
T879— ]\T.  Bugden 
1880— Marshall  Bugden 
1881— Marshall   Bugden 
1882— Marshall  Bugden 
1883— Marshal]   Bugden 
1884 — -Charles  Johnson 
1 88.S— Marshall  Bugden 
1886-^George  W.  Griffin 
1887 — Charles  Johnson 
1888 — Charles  Johnson 
1889 — Charles   Johnson 
1S90— r^uren  F.  Otis 
1891— Lauren  F.  Otis 
1892— Lynds  A.  Spencer 
1893— Tames  E.  Bailey 
1894 — Lynds  A.  Spencer 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY 


H.  L.  Green 
H.  L.  Green 
H.  L.  Green 
H.  L.  Green 
H.  L.  Green 
H,  L.  Green 
H.  L.  Green 

Casco  Township. 
Clerk 


Linus  Piathrick- 

L.  A.  Spencer 

L.  A.  Spencer 

L.  A.  Spencer 

L.  A.  Spencer 

L.  A.  Spencer 

L.  A.  Spencer 

Reuben  Hod  son 

Reuben  Hods  on 

L.  A.  Spencer 

L.  A.  Spencer 

L.  A.  Spencer 

W.  W.  Erainard 

T.  E.  Bailev 

J.  E.  Bailey 

L.  A.  Spencer 

L.  A.  Spencer,  Dept.  1 

L.  A.  Spencer 

L.  A.  Spencer 

L.  A.  Spencer 

T.  C.  Johnston 

L.  A.  Spencer 

E.  Guy  Lyman 

E.  Guy  Lyman 

E.  Guy  Lyman 

E,  Guy  Lyman 


C.  E.  Ingram 
C.  E.  Ingram 
Roscoe  N.  Ellis 
Roscoe  N.  Ellis 
C.  H.  Allen 
C.  H.  Allen 
Fred  T.  Wilson 


TL  Overhiser 
H.  Overhiser 
H.  Overhiser 
H.  Overhiser 
TL  Overhiser 
H.  Overhiser 
H.  Overhiser 
H.  W.  Bishop 
H.  W.  Bishop 
D.  E.  Histed 
D.  E.  Histed 
George  W.  Griffin 
George  W.  Griffin 
David  E.  Histed 
David  E.  Histed 
Henry  Bishop 
Henry  Bishop 
Thomas  Iddles 
Thomas  Iddles 
Charles  S.  Mills 
Charles  S.  Mills 
George  M,  Clark 
George  M.  Clark 
Charles  E.  Prentice 
Charles  E.  Prentice 
John  K.  Piummer 


Hosted  by 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


1895— Lynds  A.  Spencer 
i8g6 — Lynds  A.  Spencer 
1897 — Oarence  E.  Fowler 
1898— Clarence  E.  Fowler 
1899 — Clarence  E.  Fowler 
1900 — Wesley  G,  Fry 
1901 — Wesley  G.  Fry 
1902 — Wesley  G.  Fry 
1903 — Wesley  G,  Fry 
1904 — Wesley  G.  Fry 
1905 — Weslev  G.  Fry 
I9<j6— Wesley  G.  Fry 


E.  Guy 
E.  Guy 
William 
William 
William 
William 
Theron 
Theron 
Tlieron 
Theron 
Theron 
Theron 


Lyman 
Lvmaii 
H.  StLckei 
H.  Stickel 
H.  Stickel 
H.  Stickel 
Johnston 
Johnston 
Johnston 
Johnston 
Johnston 
Johnston 


Supervisor 
1852— James  G.  Lindsley 
1853-^James  G.  Lindsley 
1854 — ^James  G.  Lindsley 
1855— James  G.  Lindsley 
1856 — Harvey  Mnnger 
1857— James  G.  Lindsley 
1S58— P.  H.  Oliver 
1859 — Samuel  Strong 
t86o— C.  W.  Lindslev 
1861— C.  W.  Lindsley 
1862— C.  W.  Lindslev 
1863— C.  W.  Lindslev 
1864— C.  W.  Lindsley 
1865 — John  Branson 
1866 — John  r>ransoti 
1867 — ^John  Branson 
1868— William  L.  O'Brien 
1869— William  L.  O'Brien 
1870— William  L.  O'Brien 
1871 — Stephen  S.  Stont 
1872 — Stephen  S.  Stout 
1873 — Stephen  S.  Stout 
1874 — Stephen  S.  Stout 
i875^Stephen  S.  Stout 
T876 — Stephen  S.  Stout 
1877 — Stephen  S.  Stout 
1878— William  Albright 
1879— Stephen  S.  Stout 
1880— Nathaniel  S.  Graves 
T  88 1— Nathaniel  S.  Graves 
1882 — Nathaniel  S.  Graves 
1883— S,  S.  Stout 
T884— R.  C.  Harmon 
788";— R.  C.  Harmon 
1886— R.  C.  ITarmon 


CiiESHiRii  Township. 
Clerk 

Gustavus  Heywood 
Gustavus  Heywood 
Richard  Ferris 
W.  L.  Torry 
Warren  Dowd 
Warren  Dowd 
C,  W.  Lindsley 
James  G.  Lindsley 
George  Dniry 
George  Dmry 
Orrin  J.  Buck 
Orrin  J.  Buck 
William  L.  O'Brien 
"William  L.  O'Brien 
William  L.  O'Brien 
Hiram  Flanagan 
Hiram  Flanagan 
Hiram  Flanagan 
William  L.  O'Brien 
William  L.  O'Brien 
William  L.  O'Brien 
William  L.  O'Brien 
William  L.  O'Brien 
William  L.  O'Brien 
William  L.  O'Brien 
William  L.  O'Brien 
William  L.  O'Brien 
William  L.  O'Brien 
William  L.  O'Brien 
William  L.  O'Brien 
William  L.  O'Brien 
Wiliiam  L.  O'Brien 
N.  B.  Stowe 
William  L.  O'Brien 


Chartes  E.  Prentice 
Clarence  E.  Fowler 
E.  Guy  Lyman 
E.  Guy  Lyman 
William  H.  Burger 
William  H.  Burger 
Ralph  E.  Histed 
John  R.  Ballinger 
John  R.  Ballinger 
Wilbur  A.  Keeny 
Wilbur  A.  Keeny 
Charles   Overhiser 


Treasurer 

S.  Strong 
E.  Chap  in 
V.  Austin 
V.  Austin 
W.  M.  Tanner 
W.  L.  Torry 
G.  G.  Sweet 
G.  G.  Sweet 
G.  G.  Sweet 
G.  G.  Sweet 
G.  G.  Sweet 
G,  G.  Sweet 
G.  G.  Sweet 
G.  G.  Sweet 
G.  G.  Sweet 
G.  G.  Sweet 
G.  G.  Sweet 
G.  G.  Sweet 
G.  G.  Sweet 
G.  G.  Sweet 
J.  Mocklencate 
J.  Mocklencate 
J,  Mocklencate 
J.  Mocklencate 
I.  Mocklencate 
W.  G.  Rowe 
J.  Mocklencate 
J.  M.  Howard 
J.  M.  Howard 
William  Luce 
William  Luce 
J.  M.  Howard 
J.  M.  Howard 
Andy  L.  Proiity 


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GaG 


HISTORY  Ol'    ALLEUAX  COUXTY 


1887— R.  C.  Harmon  S.  S.  Stout 

1888— R.  C.  Harmon  S.  S.  Stout 

1889— R.  C.  Harmon  William  L.  O'Brien 

1890 — Loren  F.  Clark  William  L.  O'Brien 

1891 — Loren  F.  Clark  William  L.  O'Brien 

1892— Loren  F.  Clark  William  L.  O'Brien 

1893— Loren  F.  Clark  N.  B.  Stowe 

1894— Loren  F.  Clark  H.  C.  Belcher 

1895— Loren  F.  Clark  H.  C.  Belcher 

1896— Geo.  O.  Merriam       H.  C.  Belcher 
1897 — Geo,  O.  Merriam      H.  C.  Belcher 
1898— Geo.  O.  Merriam       H.  C.  Belcher 
1899— Harley  E.  Merriam  FL  D.  Clark 
1900— Harley  E.  Merriam  H.  D.  Clark 
1901 — Harley  E.  Merriam  William  O'Brien 
1902 — Chas.  Schermerhorn  William  O'Brien 
1903— Chas.  Schermerhorn  William  O'Brien 
1904 — Chas.  Schermerhorn  Ralph  W.  Biisfield 
1905 — Chas.  Schermerhorn  Ralph  W.  Busfield 
1906 — Chas.  Schermerhorn  Ralph  W.  Busfield 

Clyde  Township, 


Supervisor 
i860 — Ralph  Parrish 
1861— Ralph  Parrish 
1862— Ralph  Parrish 
1863 — Ralph  Parrish 
1864— Ralph  Parrish 
1865— E.  A.  Fenn 
1866— J.  W.  McCormick 
1867— J.  W.  McCormick 
1868— J,  W.  McCormick 
1869— J.  W.  McCormick 
1870 — J.  W.  McCormick 
1871— J.  W.  McCormick 
1872 — J.  W.  McCormick 
i873^T-  W.  McCormick 
1874— T.  W.  McCormick 
187s— J.  W.  McCormick 
1876— J.  W.  McCormick 
1877— J.  W.  McCormick 
1878— J.  W.  McCormick 
1879— J.  W.  McCormick 


Stipermsor 
1848 — John  Parsons 
1849 — John  Parsons 
1850 — John  Parsons 
1851 — Luther  Martin 


Clerk 
G.  G.  Snialley 
William  Williams 
E.  H.  Fleath 
R.  H.  Bushnell 
David  Walter 
David  Walter 
David  Walter 
Newton  Arnold 
David  Walter 
David  Walter 
David  Walter 
David  Walter 
David  Walter 
Newton  Arnold 
David  Walter 
David  Walter 
S.  At  water 
S.  At  water 
S.  At  water 
S.  At  water 

Dorr  Township. 
Clerk 
J.  O.  Round 
J.  O.  Round 
J.  O.  Round 
W.  H.  Warner 


William  G.  Rowe 
■Joseph  St.  Germaine 
Joseph  St.  Germaine 
J.  M.  Howard 
William  H.  Stout 
William  H,  Stout 
R.  C.  O'Brien 
R.  C.  O'Brien 
William  L.  O'Brien 
William  L.  O'Brien 
Henry  L.  Baines 
Henry  L.  Baines 
Harry  Chittenden 
Harrv  Chittenden 
Frank  H.  Alberts 
Frank  H.  Alberts 
In-in  Fox 
Irvin  Fox 
William  Curtis 
William  Curtis 


Treasurer 
E.  H.  Heath 

C.  T.  Billings 

D.  Walter 
D.  Walter 
R.  Bushnel! 
W.  F.  Billings 
J.  Robertson 
M.  C.  Wilson 
S.  Atwater 

S.  Atwater 
S.  Atwater 
S.  Atwater 
H.  F.  Pullman 
H.  F.  Pullman 
H.  F.  Pullman 
FL  F.  Pullman 
W.  W.  Hutchins 
W.  W.  Hutchins 
C.  T.  Billings 
C.  T.  Billings 

Treasurer 
W.  H.  Warner 
W.  R.  Moore 
R.  C.  Sessions 
Orrin  Goods  peed 


Hosted  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


1852— Luther  Martin 
1853— D.  R.  Averill,  Jr. 
1854 — Orrin  Good  speed 
1855— D.  R.  Averill,  Jr. 
1856 — John  Frank 
1857 — John   Frank 
1858— Bradley  Gilbert 
1859 — David  McConnell 
i860— David  McConnell 
i86i--David  McConnell 
1862 — David  McConnell 
1863— C.  D.  Wood 
1864— David  McConnell 
1865— William  A.  Smith 
1866— William  A.  Smith 
1867— 

1868— Philetus  S.  Pullen 
1869— Philetus  S.  Pullen 
1870— Philetus  S,  Pullen 
1871— Philetus  S.  Pullen 
1872— Philetus  S.  Pullen 
1873— Philetus  S.  Pullen 
1874— William  A.  Smith 
1875— William  A.  Smith 
1876— William  A.  Smith 
1877— W.  J.  Sproat 
1878— W.  J.  Sproat 
1879— William  A.  Smith 
1880— David  McConnell 
:88i— Erastus  N.  Bates 
1882— Erastus  N.  Bates 
1883 — -Erastus  N.  Bates 
1884— Erastus  N.  Bates 
1885— David  McConnell 
1886— David  McConnell 
1887— William  G.  Osbom 
1888— William  G.  Oshom 
1889— William  G.  Osbom 
1890 — William  G.  Osborn 
1891 — -Frank  Sommer 
1892 — Frank  Sommer 
1893 — ^Ransom  J.  Barris 
1894 — Frank  Sommer 
1895 — -Ransom  J.  Barris 
1896— George  S.  Sterling 
1897— E.  D."  Bartz 
1898 — Frank  Sommer 
1899 — Frank  Sommer 
1900 — Frank  Sommer 
1901 — Frank  Sommer 


J.  A,  Sterling 
J.  A.  Sterling 
L.  C.  Gilbert 
C.  C.  Babbitt 
C  C.  Babbitt 
Chauncey  Stone 
P.  S.  Pullen 
Robert  Sproat 
Robert  Sproat 
Robert  Sproat 
Robert  Sproat 
Robert  Sproat 
B.  V.  Stone 
James  Jeffers 
G.  S.  Thomas 
Alfred  Emons 
Robert  Sproat 
Robert  Sproat 
J.  Sterling 
W.  J.  Sproat 
W.  J.  Sproat 
W.  J.  Sproat 
W.  J.  Sproat 
W.  J.  Sproat 
J.  A.  Beamer 
G.  S.  Thomas 
J.  A.  Beamer 
J.  A.  Beamer 
Lewis  N.  Fisher 
Elton  S.  Botsford 
Elton  S.  Botsford 
Elton  S.  Botsford 
Elton  S.  Botsford 
George  A.  Pullen 
John  A.  Beamer 
George  A.  Pullen 
George  A.  Pullen 
John  Sommer 
John  Sommer 
John  Sommer 
John  Sommer 
George  A.  Pullen 
George  A.  Pullen 
James  H.  Tanner 
John  A.  Beamer 
Sylvan  us  Felton 
George  A.  Pullen 
Elton  S.  Botsford 
Ransom  J.  Barris 
Ransom  J,  Barris 


Orrin  Good  speed 
Orrin  Good  speed 
Nahum  Snow 
David  McConnell 
David  McConnell 
David  McConnell 
David  McConnell 
P.  S.  Pullen 
P.  S.  Pullen 
P.  S.  PuHen 
P.  S.  Pullen 
P.  S.  Pullen 
P.  S.  Pullen 
Frank  Neuman 
Frank  Neuman 
John  Sommer 
John  Sommer 
John  Sommer 
W.  H,  Ewing 
H.  Campbell 
John  Sommer 
W.  H.  Ewing 
W.  H.  Ewing 
W.  H.  Ewing 
J.  Neuman 
Anton  Weber 
J.  Neuman 
P.  S,  Pullen 
P.  S.  Pullen 
Joseph  Neuman 
Joseph  Neinnan 
Joseph  Neuman,  Jr. 
Charles  W.  Stone 
Charles  W.  Stone 
William  G.  Osborn 
Charles  W.  Stone 
Charles  W,  Stone 
Elton  S.  Botsford 
Frank  Sommer 
George  A.  Puilen 
George  A.  Pullen 
Sylvanus  Felton 
Sylvanus  Felton 
E.  D.  Bartz 
E.  D.  Bartz 
Joseph  Gietzen 
Joseph  Gietzen 
Milo  F.  Gray 
Milo  F.  Gray 
Joseph  Gietzen 


Hosted  by 


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HIST(.)K.Y  OF  i\.LLE(;AK  COUNTY 


1902 — ^Frank  Soiiimer  Ransom  J.  Barris 

1903 — E,  N.  Bates  Joseph  Vielkind 

1904 — Eug.  A.  Daugherty  Joseph  Vielkind 
1905 — Eug,  A,  Daugherty  Ransom  J.  Barris 
1906— Eug.  A.  Daugherty  Ransom  J.  Barris 


Fiu-MOKE  Township. 


Supervisor 
1849 — Isaac  Fairbanks 
1850 — Isaac  Fairbanks 

1851- 

1852 — Isaac  Fairbanks 
1853 — Isaac  Fairbanks 
1854 — Isaac  Fairbanks 
1855 — Isaac  Fairbanks 
1856 — Isaac  Fairbanks 
1857 — E.  J.  Harrington 
1858— E.  J.  Harrington 
1859— J.  W.  Garvelink 
i860 — E,  J.  Harrington 
1861— J.  W.  Garvelink 
i8d2— J.  W.  Garvelink 
1863— J.  W.  Garvelink 
1864— J.  W.  Garvelink 
1865— J.  W.  Garvelink 
1866— T.  W.  Garvelink 
1867— J.  W.  Garvelink 
1868— J.  W.  Garvelink 
1869— J.  W.  Garvelink 
1870— J.  W.  Garvelink 
1871— J.  W.  Garvelink 
1872 — G.  W.  Mokema 
1873 — G.  W.  Mokema 
1874— G.  W.  Mokema 
1871;— G.  W.  Mokema 
3876— G.  W.  Mokema 
1877—/.  W.  Garvelink 
1878— J.  W.  Garvelink 
1879— G.  W.  Mokema 
1880— Germ  W.  Mockma 
1881— J.  W.  Gardner 
1882— T.  W.  Gardner 
1883— Albert  S.  Fairbanks 
1884— Albert  S.  Fairbanks 
188=;— G.  W.  Mockma 
1886— G.  W.  Mockma  - 
1887— H.  J.  Fairbanks  - 
1888— H.  J.  Fairbanks 
1889— H.  J.  Fairbanks 
1890 — H.  J.  Klomparens 


B.  Fairbanks 
A,  Schorno 

G.  Harrington 
H.  Eromvert 
11.  Bromvert 
H.  Bromvert 
H.  Bromvert 
J.  W.  Garvelink 
J.  W.  Garvelink 
I.  Fairbanks 
I.  Fairbanks 
A.  H.  Brink 
P.  Van  Anroy 
A.  H.  Brink 
H.  Kronemeyer 
I.  Fairbanks 
I.  Fairbanks 
I.  Fairbanks 
S.  Den  Nvl 
S.  Den  Nvl 
S.  Den  Nvl 
S.  Den  Nvl 
J.  H.  Eppink 
S.  Den  Nyl 
S.  Den  Nyl 
S.  Den  Nvl 
S.  Den  Nvl 
P.  Volmari 
P.  Volmari 
P.  Volmari 


G.  Garvelink 
G.  Garvelink 
G.  Wilterdink 
G.  Wilterdink 
G.  Wilterdink 
G.  Wilterdink 
G.  Wilterdink 


Joseph  Gietzen 
Anton  Weber 
Anton  Weber 
Frank  Sommer 
Frank  Sommer 


An  to  Schorno 

B.  Fairbanks 

C.  J.  Voohorst 
C.  J.  \'oohorst 
C.  J.  Voohorst 
C.  J.  A'oohorst 

C.  J.  Voohorst 
H.  Garvelink 
H.  Garvelink 
H,  Garvelink 
G.  Harrington 
H.  Garvelink 

E.  J.  Harrington 
H.  Garvelink 

D,  Lenters 
D.  Lenters 
D.  Lenters 
D.  Lenters 
D.  Lenters 

H.  J.  Klomparens 
H.  J.  Klomparens 
H.  J.  Klomparens 
H.  J.  Klomparens 
H.  J.  Klomparens 
H.  J.  Klomparens 
M.  Notier 
M.  Notier 
M.  Notier 
M.  Notier 
G.  Garvelink 
Gerrit  Garvelink 


Cornelius  Lokk 
Gerrit  Wilterdink 
Gerrit  Wilterdink 
Gerrit  Garvelink 
Gerrit  Garvelink    ■ 
A.  S.  Fairbanks 

Gerret  Slenk 


Hosted  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUiXTY 


iSgi^H.  J.  Klomparcns 
1892 — H.  J,  Kloniparens 
1893 — H.  J.  Klomparens 
1894— H.  J.  Klomparens 
1895— H.  J.  Klomparens 
i8g6— H.  J.  Klomparens 
1897 — H.  J.  Klomparens 
1898 — H.  J.  Klomparens 
1899 — Gerret  Slenk 
1900 — Gerret  Slenk 
I  go  I — Gerret  Slenk 
1902 — Gerret  Slenk 
1903 — Gerret  Slenk 
1904 — Gerret  Slenk 
1905 — Gerret  Slenk 
1906 — Gerret  Slenk 


Siipei-visor 
1847— A.  H.  Hale 
1848— A.  H.  Hale 
1849— C.  B.  Goodrich 
1850— Elisha  Weed 
185T— Elisha  Weed 
1852— S.  M.  Thompson 
i853_Elisha  Weed 
1854 — Elisha  Weed 
1855 — A.  M.  Crawford 
1856 — A.  M.  Crawford 
1857 — A.  M.  Crawford 
1858— H.   F.  Bostwick 
1859 — H.   F.   Bostwick 
i860— H.   F.   Bostwick 
1861— H.   F.  Bostwick 
1862— H.   F.  Bostwick 
1863— G.  D.  Webster 
1864— G.  D.  Webster 
i86>;— H.  F.  Bostwick 
i8(t6— H.  F.  Bostwick 
1867— H.  F.  Bostwick 
r868— H.  F.  Bostwick 
T869— G.  F.  Hushes 
J870 — R.  C.  Eaton 
1871— R.  C.  Eaton 
1872 — N.  W.  Lewis 
J873 — N.  W.  Lewis 
i874_W.  S.  Chase 
lS7<;—W.  S.  Chase 
1876— R.  C.  Eaton 
7877— W.  S.  Chase 


G,  Wilterdink 
G.  Wiltcrdink 
H,  Menken 
H.  Menken 
H.  Menken 
H.  Menken 
H.  Menken 
H.  Menken 
H.  Menken 
H.  Menken 
H.  Menken 
H.  Menken 
H.  Menken 
H.  Menken 
Henry  Strabbing- 
Henry  Strabbing 

Ganges  Township. 

Clerk 
S.  H.  Weaver 
S.  H.  Weaver 
S.  M.  Thompson 
S.  M.  Thompson 
S.  M.  Thompson 
S.  H.  Weaver 
L.  A.  Shead 
John  Weed 
S.  H.  Weaver 
S.  H.  Weaver 
Lorenzo  Wood 
C.  H.  Abbott 
S.  H.  Weaver 
S.  H.  Weaver 
S.  H.  Weaver 
S.  H.  Weaver 
O.  S.  Shaw 
O.  S.  Shaw 
J.  S.  Pavne 
J.  H.  Baldwin 
Elijah  Weaver 
L.  A.  Pattison 
W.  A.  Woodworth 
W.  A.  Woodworth 
W.  A.  Woodworth 
W.  A.  Woodworth 
T.  H.  Baldwin 
T.  H.  Baldwin 
T.  H.  Baldwin 
T.  H.  Baldwin 
B.  TT.  Powers 


Gerret  Slenk 
John  G.  Boeve 
John  G.  Boeve 
Frank  Fairbanks 
Frank  Fairbanks 
John  Helder 
John  Helder 
O.  Den  Blyker 
C).  Den  Blyker 
John  Jypping 
John  Jypping 
F.  Den  Effe 
F.  Den  Effe 
John  G.  Boeve 
John  G.  Boeve 
John  Alofs 


Treasurer 
Levi  Loom  is 
Levi  I,oomis 
F.  D.  McDowell 

F.  D.  McDowell 
A.  N.  Crawford 
A.  N.  Crawford 
A.  N.  Crawford 

G.  F.  Hughes 
G.  F.  Hughes 
G.  F.  Hughes 
Nelson  Smead 
N.  D.  Plummer 
N.  D.  Plummer 
N.  D.  Plummer 
William  Dunn 
N.  D,  Plummer 
C.  M.  Link 

C.  M.  Link 
T,  B.  Goodeve 
J.  G.  Frj- 
J.  G.  Fry 
Rufus  Andrews 
C.  B.  Goodrich 
C.  B.  Goodrich 
G.  W.  Chapin 
J.  P.  Leland 
J.  P.  Leland 
J.  B.  Goodeve 
*S.  R.  Lewis 
S.  R.  Lewis 
C.  B.  Goodrich 


Hosted  by 


Google 


630 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUNTY 


i878~R.  C.  Eaton 
1879— W.  S.  Chase 
1880— William  S.  Chase 
1S81 — Edward  Hawley 
1882 — £dward  Hawley 
1883 — Edward  Hawley 
1S84 — Edward  Hawley 
1885— Edward  Hawley 
1886— Edward  Hawley 
1887— Edward  Hawley 
1888— Edward  Hawley 
1889— William  H.  Dunn 
1890— Alva  H.  Tracy 
1891— Alva  H.  Tracv 
1892— William  H.  Dunn 
1893— William  H.  Dunn 
1894— William  H.  Dunn 
1895— William  H.  Dunn 
1896— Alonzo  W.  Fisher 
1897— AI011Z0  W.  Fisher 
1898— Alonzo  W.  Fisher 
1899— Alonzo  W.  Fisher 
1900— Alonzo  W.  Fisher 
1901 — Alonzo  W.  Fisher 
1902— Alva  H.  Tracy 
1903— Alva  H.  Tracy 
1904— Alva  H.  Tracv 
1905— Alva  H.  Tracy 
1906— Sid  T.  Conrad 


N.  W.  Lewis 
J.  H.  Baldwin 
John  H.  Baldwin 
John  H.  Baldwin 
John  H.  Baldwin 
J.  Henry  Hawley 
J.  Henry  Hawley 
J.  Henry  Hawley 
J.  Henry  Hawley 
Edward  Hutchins 
Edward  Hutchins 
Edward  Hutchins 
Edward  Hutchins 
J.  Henry  Hawley 
J.  Plenry  Hawley 
J.  Henry  Hawley 
J.  Henry  Hawley 
Leonard  A.  Seymour 
Charles  Synions 
Charles  Symons 
Leonard   A.   Seymour 
Leonard  A.  Seymour 
Leonard  A.  Seymour 
Leonard  A.  Seymour 
Leonard  A.  Seymour 
C.  Lloyd  Goodrich 
C.  Lloyd  Goodrich 
C.  Lloyd  Goodrich 
C.  Lloyd  Goodrich 


Gun  Pr.Aixs  Township. 
Supervisor  Clerk 

1836— John  Murphv  William  Forbes 

1837— Archibald  Jameson  William  Forbes 
I S38— Archibald  Jameson  William  Forbes 
1839— Archibald  Jameson  WiSliam  Forbes 
1840 — John  Robinson  G   W.  Kinnicutt 

1841— John  Robinson  G.  W.  Kinnicutt 

1842— Archibald  Jameson   A.  L  Dedrick 
1843— J.  Robinson  G.  W.  Kinnicutt 

1844 — A.  Jameson  Clark  Corev 

1845 — Freeman  Calkins       Clark  Corey 
1846 — J.  H.  Commins  Clark  Corey 

1847 — J.  Robinson  John  Hawks 

1S48 — J.  Robinson  John  Hawks 

1849— D.  D.  ]\TcMartin       John  Hawks 
1850— A.  L  Dedrick  Clark  Corey 

1851— D.  D.  McMartin  D.  A,  McMartin 
1852— William  Stili  D.  A.  McMartin 

1853— D.  A.  McMartin       John  Grav 


S.  R.  Lewis 
H.  J.  Atwater 
H.  J.  Atwater 
William  P.  Sherman 
H.  J.  Atwater 
Johnathan  R.  Eddy 
Royal  C.  Eaton 
George  T.  Clapp 
George  T.  Clapp 
.\lva  PL  Tracy 
Alva  H.  Tracy 
David  A.  Brown 
David  A.  Brown 
Alonzo  W.  Fisher 
William  H.  Plummer 
William  H.  Plummer 
Alonzo  W.  Fisher 
Alonzo  W.  Fisher 
Henry  H.  Goodrich 
Henry  H.  Goodrich 
George  B.  Mechem 
George  B.  Mechem 
William  H.   Plummer 
William  H.  Plummer 
John  S.  Waller 
John  S.  Waller 
Charles  Plummer 
Elmer  E.  Plummer 
Elmer  E.  Plummer 


Trcasm 
William  Still 


T.  G.  Crittenden 
T.  G.  Crittenden 
T.  G.  Crittenden 
Joel  Batch  el  or 
Joel  Batch  el  or 
J.  B.  Sutherland 
Calvin  C.  White 
Noah  E.  Ives 
William  Still 


Hosted  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


1854— D.  A.  McMartin 
1855 — Henry  Jackson 
1856— D.  A.  McMartin 
1857— George  C.  Mills 
1858— Archibald  Jameson 
1859— Archibald  Jameson 
i860— Archibald  Jameson 
1 86 1 — Henry  Jackson 
1862 — Archibald  Jameson 
1863 — Archibald  Jameson 
1864 — Henrv  Jackson 
,86s— MiloE.  Gifford 
1866 — Archibald  Jameson 
1867— Walter  C.  Pierson 
jg68— Walter  C.  Pierson 
1869 — Augustus  H.  Hill 
1870— George  C.  Mills 
1871— ElezerC.Knapp 
1872 — Elezer  C.  Knapp 
1873 — Elezer  C.  Knapp 
1874— Elezer  C.  Knapp 
1875 — Elezer  C.  Knapp 
1876 — Elezer  C.  Knapp 
1877— Elezer  C.  Knapp 
1878 — Elezer  C.  Knapp 
1879 — Elezer  C.  Knapp 
1880 — Elezer  C.  Knapp 
1881— Elezer  C.    Knapp 
1882 — Elezer  C.   Knapp 
1883 — Elezer  C.   Knapp 
1884 — Elezer  C.   Knapp 
1885 — Elezer  C,   Knapp 
t886— Elezer  C.  Knapp 
1887 — John  Crispe 
1888— John  Crispe 


1889 — John  Crispe 
1890 — -John  Crispe 
1891— John  Crispe 
1892— Charles  A.  Bush 
1893 — Charles  A.  Bush 
1894 — Charles  A.  Bush 
1895 — Charles  A.  Bush 
1896— Charles  A.  Bush 
T897 — Charles  A.  Bush 
189S— Albert  L.  Nichols 
1899 — Albert  L.  Nichols 
1900 — Albert  L.  Nichols 
looi — Albert  L.  Nichols 


Joel  Batchelor 
William  Bellingham 
Orson  D.  Dunham 
Orson  D.  Dunham 
B.  Bannister 
A.  C.  Roberts 
John  H.  Lasher 
George  B.  Force 
L.  Bannister 
Theron  Cummings 
John  H.  Lasher 
John  H.  Lasher 
Julius  J.  Howe 
Henry  Keeler 
Henry  Keeler 
Henry  Keeler 
Flenry  Keeler 
Henry  Keeler 
Henrv  Keeler 
Henry  Keeler 
Henry  Keeler 
Royal  Adams 
H.  W.  Chamberlain 
George  Scales 
Charles  D.  Hart 
Charles  D.  Hart 
Charles  D.  Hart 
Edwarrl  K.  Root 
Peter  Hatfield 
Peter  Hatfield 
Peter  Hatfield 
Peter  Hatfield 
Peter  Hatfield 
Harvey  W.  Chamberlin 
Harvey  W.  Chamberlin 


Harvey  W.  Chamberlin 
R.  Almendinger 
William  H.  Johnson 
William  H.  Johnson 
William  H.  Johnson 
William  H,  Johnson 
William  H.  Johnson 
William  H.  Johnson 
Frank  C.  Smith 
Frank  C.  Smith 
Frank  C.  Smith . 
William  S.  Forbes 
William  S.  Forbes 


B.  S.  Conrad 
W.  C.  Pierson 
William  Forbes 
William  Hay 
William  Hay 
William  Hav 
William  Hay 
William  Hav 
William  Hay 
John  Crispe 
John  Crispe 
John  Crispe 
John  Crispe 
Job  C.  Estes 
Job  C.  Estes 
William  E.  Forbes 
William  E.  Forbes 
Eddy  Sherman 
Eddy  Sherman 
Andrew  Shutt 
Henry  E.  Buxton 
Henrv  E.  Buxton 
William  T.  Finch 
John  M.  Sternburg 
I.  N.  Hitchcock  (died) 
Fred   Mesick   appointed 

to  fill  vacancy 
W.  E.  Dwight ' 
Charles  C.  Rogers 
James  A.  Sherwood 
James  A.  Sherwood 
Frank  P.  Heath 
Frank  P.  Heath 
John  H.  Madden 
Albert  L.  Nichols 
Albert  L.  Nichols 
Fred  F.  Patterson 
Charles  Scott 
Charles  Scott 
Frank  C.  Smith 


Hosted  by 


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(>;« 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAX  COUKTY 


1902— Albert  L.  Nichols 

1903— Albert  L.  Nichols 

1904— Albert  L.  Nichols 

1905— Albert  L.  Nichols 

1906— Albert  L.  Nichols 


SupervLwr 
1851— James  M.  Heath 
1852 — Simon  Howe 
1853— John  M.  Heath 
1854 — Ambrose  Belden 
1855— Ambrose  Belden 
1856— J.  M.  Heath 
1857— J.  M.  Heath 
1858— G.  H.  Phelps 
1859— G.  H.  Phelps 
i860— J.  Wilson 
1861— J.  Wilson 
1862— G.  C.  Smith 
1863— G.  C.  Smith 
1864— G.  C.  Smith 
1865— G.  C.  Smith 
1866— G.  P.  Heath 
1867— W.  J.  Shirlev 
1868— G.  H.  Phelps 
1869— G.  H.  Phelps 
1870—0.  R.  Brownell 
1871— C.  R.  Brownell 
1872— C.  R.  Brownell 
1873— J.  Sadler 
1874—7.  Sadler 
^^75—].  F.  Gilchrist 
1876— J.  F.  Gilchrist 
1877— C.  R.  Brownell 
1878-C,  R.  Brownell 
1879-^C.  R.  Brownell 
1880— C  R.  Brownell 
1881— J.  W.  Taylor 
1882— J.  W.  Tavlor 
i883~J-  W.  Taylor 
1884— T-  W.  Taylor 
1885— J.  W.  Taylor 
1886— C.  R.  Brownell 
1887— J.  W.  Tavlor 
r888— J.  W.  Taylor 
1S89-J.  W.  Tavlor 
1890— J.  W.  Taylor 
1891— H.  A.  Sears 
1892— H.  A.  Sears 


Albert  J.   Smith 
Albert  J.  Smith 
Albert  J.   Smith 
John  Blair 
John  Blair 

Heath  Township. 
Clerk 

John  M.  Heath 

D.  Rhodabaug^h 

J.  E.  Babbitt 

D.  Rhodabaugh 

D.   Rhodabaugh 

J.  A.  Whistler 

J.  A.  Whistler 

J.  A.  Whistler 

W.  B.  Smalley 

W.  J.  Shirley 

W,  J.  Shirley 

W.  J.  Shirley 

J.  M.  Heath 

Wilson  Hnntley 

Wilson  Huntley 

Wilson  Huntley 

J.  J.  Young 

J.  J.  Young- 

J.  J.  Young 

J.  J.  Young 

H.  J.  Van  Valkenberg 

D.  S.  Hopkins 

C.  R.  Brownell 

C.  R.  Brownell 

C.  R.  Brownell 

C.  R.  Brownell 

H.  W.  Fav 

M.  W.  Pierson 

M.  W.  Pierson 

M.  W.  Pierson 

H.  A.  Sears 

H.  A.  Sears 

Siebe  Baker 

Andrew  Maples 

H.  A.  Sears 

C.  R.  Vanderpool 

H.  A.  Sears 

H.  A.  Sears 

H.  A.  Sears 

H.  A.  Sears 

Ira  G.  Thorp 

Ir:i  G.  Thorp 


Frank  C.  Smith 
Charles  E.  Spencer 
Frank  C.  Smith 
Frank  C.  Smith 
Charles  W.  Lasher 


Trea  silver 

G.  P.  Heath 

Charles  Howe 

G.  P.  Heath 

C.  B.  Butler 

C.  B.  Butler 

G.  P.  Heath 

Otis  Holton 

Otis  L.  Holton 

A.  W.  Judd 

A.  W.  Twdd 

A.  W.  Judd 

J.  Sadler 

J.  Sadler 

S.  Thaver 

A.  W.  Judd 

S.  Thayer 

S.  Thayer 

S.  Thayer 

S.  Thaver 

T-  Sadler 

j.  Sadler 

T-  Sadler 

b.  Spofford 

D.  Spofford 

D.  Spofford 

D.  Spofford 
C.  M.  Woodruff 
C.^  M.  Woodruff 
W.  Dean 
William  Dean 
O.  J,  Lemoin 
O.  J.  Lemoin 
H.  J.  Plotts 
H.  J.  Plotts 
C.  V'anderpool 
C.   Vanderpool 
A.   Kilfjore 
A.   Kilgore 
A.  Kolvoord 
A,   Kolvoord 
Joseph   O'Brien 
A.  Kolvoord 


Hosted  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


1893— J.  W.  Taylor 
1894— J.  W.  Taylor 
1895 — Herman  E rower 
1896 — Herman  Brower 
1897 — H.  Brower 
1898— H.  Brower 
1899 — H.  Brower 
1900 — ^H.  Brower 
1901 — H.  Brower 
1902— H.  Brower 
1903 — D.  W.  Ashley 
1904— D.  W.  Ashle\- 
1905— D.  W.  Ashley 
1906— D.  W.  Ashley 


Superz'isor 
1853— J.  O.  Round 
1854 — M.   Vanduzen 
185  i^— J.  O.  Ronnd 
1856— J.   O.  Round 
1857— J.    M.   Baldwin 
185S— E.  H.  Wait 
1859— Albert  Lane 
i860— W.   H.  Parnialee 
1861— Albert   Lane 
i8fi2— J.  M.  Baldwin 
1863— R.  A.  Baird 
1864— J.  M.  Baldwin 
i86s~R.  A.  Baird 
1866— R.  A.  Baird 
i867^D.  C.  Ingerson 
1868 — D.  C.  Ingerson 
1869 — D.  C.  Ingerson 
1870— S.   Baldwin 
1871— D.  C.  Ingerson 
1872— J.  O.  Round 
1873 — D.  C.  Ingerson 
187^ — Joseph   Hodge 
1875— J.  O.  Round' 
1876— S.  W.  Mankin 
1S77 — S.  M.  Eggleston 
1878 — A.  Warrington 
1879— TL  F.  White 


William  Webb 
L.  J.  Klinkers 
L.  J.  Klinkers 
L.  J.  Klinkers 
L.  J.  Klinkers 
L.  J.  Klinkers 
L.  J.  Klinkers 
L.  J.  Klinkers 
L.  I.  KHnkers 
L.  J.  KHnkers 
L.  J.  KHnkers 
L  J.  KHnkers 
Abel  Bulthuis 
Abel  Bulthuis 

Hoi'KiiVS  Tow> 


Supervisor 
1859 — ^John  Rouse 
i860 — John  Eonros 
1861 — ^Jobi]  Bonros 


J.  M.  Baldwin 
J.  M.  Baldwin 
E.  H.   Wait 
W.  H.  Parmalee 
VV.  H.  Parmalee 
Albert  Lane 
E.  Parmalee 
O.  H.  Tudd 
E.  Parmalee 
E.  S.  Lindsley 
J.  E.  Hopper 
George  Holcomb 
W.  R.  Fox 
W.  R.  Fox 
W.  R.  Fox 
W.  R.  Fox 
W.  R.  Fox 
C.  B.  Eldred 
C.  B.  Eklred 
N.  H.  Faulkner 
C.  C.  Hodge 
C.  C.  Hodge 
C.  C.  Hodge 
C   C.  Hodge 
C,  C.  Kodge 

Laketowx  Township. 
Clerk 
Gerrit  Rutgers 
Gerrit  Rutgers 
Gerrit  Rutgers 


Joseph    O'Brien 
A.  J.  Klomprarens 
A.  P.  Cook 
A.  P.  Cook 
Frank  Dal  ton 
Frank  Dal  ton 
O.  A.  Jacobs 
Frank  Dalton 
Frank  Dalton 
E.   Brower 
John  Jap  ink 
John   Japink 
l'>ank  Dalton 
Levinus  Slotman 


Treasurer 
Erastus  Congdon 
William  Wheeler 
William  Perkins 
William  Perkins 
Stephen  Carver 
Stephen  Carver 
S.  W.  Mankin 
S    W.  Mankin 
S.  W.  Mankin 
S.  A\".  Mankin 
S.  W.  .Mankin 
S,  W.  Mankin 
E.  H.  Wait 
E.  H.  Wait 
R.  A.  Baird 
R    A.  Baird 
R.  A.  Baird 
R.  A.  Baird 
R.  A.  Baird 
H.  F.  White 
H.  F.  White 
H.  F.  White 
K.  F.  White 
H.  F.  White 
H.  F.  V/hite 
H.  F.  White 
Albert  Lane 


Treasurer 
A   J.  Neerken 
John  Rutgers 
John  Rutgers 


Hosted  by 


Google 


Ul-TORY  (..>!■   ALLE(;AX  COUNTY 


r862 — A.  J.  Is'eerken 
1863 — A.  J.  Neerken 
1864— A.  J.  Neerken 
i86c — A.  J.  Neerken 
1866— A.  J.  Neerken 
1867 — A.  T.  Neerken 
1868— A.  j.  Neerken 
1869— A.  J.  Neerken 
187G— A.  J.  Neerken 
1871 — A.  J.  Neerken 
1872 — A,  J.  Neerken 
1873 — A,  J.  Neerken 
1874 — A.  J.  Neerken 
1875 — Benjamin  Neerken 
1876 — Benjamin  Neerken 
1877 — Benjamin  Neerken 
1878 — Benjamin  Neerken 
1879 — Benjamin  Neerken 
1880 — Benjamin  Neerken 
1881 — Benjamin  Neerken 
1882 — Benjamin  Neerken 
1883— Luke  Lugers 
1884— Luke  Lugers 
1885 — Luke  Lukers 
1886— Luke  Lugers 
1887-^Luke  Lugers 
1888— Luke  Lugers 
1889 — Henry    Erinkman 
1890 — Henry   Bnnknian 
l8gi — Henry    Rnnkman 
1892— Henry   Brinkman 
1893 — Henry    I'rinkman 
189;^, — Henry    Brmkman 
1895 — Henry   Bnnkman 
1896 — Henry   Bnnkman 
'.897 — Henry   Bnnkman 
J898 — Henry   Brinkman 
1899 — Henry   Brinkman 
1900 — Henry   Bnnkman 
1 90 1 — Henry   Brmkman 
1902 — L.  B.  Scliolten 
1903 — L.  B.  Scholten 
1904 — L.  B.  Scholten 
1905 — L.   B.   Scholten 
1906 — Gerrit  Heneveld 


G  err  it  Rutgers 

Gerrit  Rutgers 

Gerrit  Rutgers 

Gerrit  Rutgers 

Gerrit  Rutgers 

Gerrit  Rutgers 

Gerrit  Rutgers 

Gerrit  Rutgers 

Gerrit  Rutgers 

Gerrit  Rutgers 

Gerrit  Rutgers 

Gerrit  Rutgers 

Gerrit  Rutgers 

Gerrit  Rutgers 

Gerrit  Rutgers 

Gerrit  Rutgers 

Gerrit  Rutgers 

Geirit  Rutgers 

Gerrit  Rutgers 

Gerrit  Rutgers 
Luke  Lugers 

Irvine  Bell 


Neerken 
Neerken 
Neerken 
n  Neerken 
n  Neerken 
n  Neerken 
n  Neerken 
n  Neerken 
n  Neerken 
n  Neerken 
in  Neerken 
in  Neerken 
in  Neerken 
Neerken 
Neerken 
Neerken 
Neerken 
Neerken 
lerrit  Heneveld 
Gerrit  Heneveld 
Gerrit  Heneveld 
Gerrit  Heneveld 
L,  B.  Scholten 


Lee  Township. 
Clerk 
.  E.  H.  Heath 

i860 — Thomas  Raplee         J.  W.  Joslyn 


1859 — Thomas  Raplee 


John  Rutgers 
John  Rutgers 
John  Rutgers 
John  Rutgers 
John  Rutgers 
John  Rutgers 
John  Rutgers 
John  Rutgers 
John  Rutgers 
John  Rutgers 
John  Rutgers 
John  Rutgers 
John  Rutgers 
John  Rutgers 
John  Rutgers 
John  Rutgers 
H.  Brinkman 
H.  Brinkman 
Henry  Brinkman 
John  Rutgers 
John  Rutgers 
Henry  Brinkman 
Henry  Brinkman 
D.  A.  Klomparens 
H   J.  Klomparens 
H.  J.  Klomparens 
J.  B.  Van  Tubergen 
J.  B.  "\"an  Tubergen 
H.  J.  Klomparens 
L  T.  Slcnk 
J.  J.  Slenk 
H.  J.  Klomparens 
H.  J,  Klomparens 
John  J.  Slenk 
Hami  Bonros 
Hann  Bonros 
Bert  Brenker 
Bert  Brenker 
Gerrit  Heneveld 
Gerrit  Heneveld 
Bert  Brenker 
Bert  Brenker 
P.  H.  Boven 
Bert  Brenker 
Bert  Brenker 


H    B.  Rice 
H.  B.  Rice 


Hosted  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


1861— G.  B,  Rust 
1862— G.  B.  Rust 
1863— J.  A.  Thistle 
1864— J.  S.  Wagoner 
186-;— R.   Griswold 
i866~J.  R.  Griswold 
1867— J.  E.  Babbitt 
1868— A.  D.  Parker 
1869— A.  D.  Parker 
1870— A.  D.  Parker 
1871— G.  F.  Heath 
1872 — Thomas  Raplee 
1873 — Thomas  Raplee 
1874 — ^Thomas  Raplee 
1875 — Thomas  Raplee 
1876 — Thomas  Raplee 
1877— A.  D.  Parker 
1878— A.  D.  Parker 
1879— A.  D.  Parker 
1880— A.  D.  Parker 
1 88 1— A.  D.  Parker 
1882— A.  D.  Parker 
1883— A.  D.  Parker 
1884— A.  D.  Parker 
i88'?— A.  D.  Parker 
18S6— James  H.  Martin 
1887— A.  D.  Parker 
T888— A.  D.  Parker 
1880— A.  D.  Parker 
1890— A.  D.  Parker 
1891— A.  D.  Parker 
1892 — A.  D.  Parker 
189^— A.  D.  Parker 
1894— A.  D.  Parker 
1895 — Isaac  E.  Evans 
1896 — Isaac  E.  Evans 
1897 — Isaac  E.  Evans 
1898 — Isaac  E.  Evans 
1899 — Isaac  E.  Evans 
1900 — Isaac  E.  Evans 
190T — Isaac  E.  Evans 
1902 — Isaac  E.  Evans 
1903 — Isaac  E.  Evans 
1904 — Alton  S.  Deming 
1905 — Alton  S.  Deming 
1906 — Alton  S.  Deming 


Henry  Spencer 
Henry  Spencer 
Henry  Si>encer 
A.  B.  Crawford 
A.  B.  Crawford 
A.  B.  Crawford 
A.  B.  Crawford 
A.  B.  Crawford 
O.  Hodgman 
O.  Hodgman 
William  Fritz 
G.  F.  Heath 
G.  F.  Heath 
G-  W.  Baughman 
G.  W.  Baughman 
G.  W.  Baughman 
G.  W.  Baughman 
G.  W.  Baughman 
G.  W.  Batighman 
James  H.  Martin 
James  H.  Martin 
James  IT.  Martin 
James  H.  Martin 
James  H,  Martin 
James  H.  Martin 
Hiram  W.  Nostrand 
George  W.  Baughman 
George  W.  Baughman 
George  W.  Baughman 
George  W.  Baughman 
George  W.  Baughman 
George  W.  Baughman 
James  H.  Martin 
James  H.  Martin 
James  H.  Martin 
James  H.  ^lartin 
James  H.  Martin 
James  H.  Martin 
James  TI.  IMartin 
James  II.  Martin 
James  H.  Martin 
A.  D.  Young* 
G.  C.  Hanson 
J.  N.  Gilpin 
T.  N.  Gilpin 
A.  B.  McDonald 

s  H.  Martin  appointeil,  and  0 


J.  H.  Thistle 
S.  W.  Bennett 
S.  W.  Bennett 
John  Orr 
John  Orr 
John  Orr 
John  Orr 
E.  Deming 
E.  Deming 
E.  Deming 
A.  Dunn 
A.  Borden 

A.  Rodarmel 

B.  Cook 
P.  Cook 

B.  Cook 

E   Deming 
E.  Deming 
G.  F.  Heath 
George  F.  Heath 

C.  H.  Litts 
Albert  D.  Hurlbut 
Emerson  Deming 
Emerson  Deming 
Elias  T.  Snover 
Elias  T    Snover 
Emerson  Deming 
Emerson  Deming 
William  H.  Evans 
William  H.  Evans 
George  F.   Heath 
George  F.  Heath 
Isaac  E.  Evans 
Isaac  E.  Evans 
Alton  Deming 
AUon  Deming 
George  F.  Heath 
George  F.  Heath 
Seklon  E.  Phillips 
S-ildon  E.  Phillips 
Grant  C.  Harrison 
Grant  C.  Harrison 
Seldon  E.  Phillips 
Scldon  E.  Phillips 
Grant  C.  Harrison 
Grant  C.  Harrison 


Hosted  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


Supervisor 
1848— G.  W.  Lewh 
1840— G.  W.  Lewis 
1850— C.  Furber 
1851— G.  W.  Lewis 
1852— G.  W.  Lewis 
1853— M.  H.  Lester 
1854 — Francis  Inglis 
1855 — Francis  IngHs 
1856 — Francis  Tnglis 
1857— Franklin  Peck 
;  858— Franklin  Peck 
1859— F.  W.  Collins 
i860— F.  W.  Collins 
1861— J.  B.  Haney 
1862— J.  B.  Hanev 
1863— J.  E.  HaneV 
1864— V.  N.  Lester 
1865— V.  N,  Lester 
1866— F.  W.  Collins 
1867— F.  W.  Collins 
1868 — G.  B.  Manchester 
1869— G.  B.  Manchester 
1870— G.  B.  Manchester 
1871— G.  B.  Manchester 
1872— G.  E.  Manchester 
1873— A.  C.  Jones 
1874— A.  C.  Jones 
1875— A.  C.  Jones 
1876— 

1877— W.  A.  Chappell 
1878— W.  A.  Chappell 
1870— W,  A.  Chappell 


Supervisor 
839— John  Allen 
840 — R  R.  Mann 

— R.  R.  Mann 
842— J.  H.  Billings 
843— R.  R.  Mann 

— T-  H.  Billings 
84=;— R.  R.  Mann 
846— R.  R.  Mann 
847— T-  Parsons 
■848— J.  Parsons 
:849 — J.  Parsons 

—J.  Parsons 

—J.  Parsons 


Leighton  Township, 

Clark 

Treasurer 

S.  B.  Hooker 

G.  W.  Lewis 

S.  B.  Hooker 

S.  B.  Hooker 

S.  B.  Hooker 

S.  B.  Hooker 

L    M,  Lester 

John  Woodward 

C  Furber 

John  Woodward 

L.  M.  Lester 

A.  J.  Cook 

W.  S.  Hooker 

A.  J.  Cook 

W.  S.  Hooker 

A.  J.  Cook 

F.  W.  Collins 

W.  S.  Hooker 

P.  Clement 

L,  M.  Lester 

W.  S.  Hooker 

Francis  Inglis 

W.  S.  Hooker 

Francis  Inglis 

V.  N.  Lester 

Francis  Inglis 

V.  N.  Lester 

Francis  Inglis 

V.  N.  Lester 

F.  W.  Collins 

V.  N.  Lester 

F.  W.  Collins 

Sidney  Jenkins 

W.  S.  Hooker 

G.  B.  Manchester 

F.  W.  Collins 

G.  B.  Manchester 

G.  W.  Lewis 

G.  B.  Manchester 

G.  W.  Lewis 

Francis  Inglis 

G    W.  Lewis 

Francis  Inglis 

G.  W.  Lewis 

Francis  Inglis 

G.  W.  Lewis 

Francis  Tnglis 

G.  W.  Lewis 

Francis  Inglis 

G.  W,  Lewis 

Francis  Inglis 

L  A.  Rogers 

Francis  Inglis 

J.  A.  Rogers 

Andrew  Brog 

I.  A.  Rogers 

I.  J.  Cook 

J.  A.  Rogers 

I.  J.  Cook 

W.  0.  \'reeland 

I.  J.  Cook 

John  T.  Smith 

MANUt;s  Township. 

Clerti 

Treasurer 

J.  A,  Poage 

P.  Sheparcl 

I.   Vredenberg 

Samuel  Town 

G.  N.  Smith 

J.  Horton 

G.  N.  Smith 

Asa  Bowker 

G.  N.  Smith 

Asa  Bowker 

T.  H.  Billings 

James  Harris 

Randall  Curtis 

Asa  Bowker 

Randall  Curtis 

Asa  Bowker 

A.  P.  Gidley 

D.    Lamoreux 

R.   G.   Winn 

T.  H.  Billings 

R.   R.  Mann 

Walter  Billings 

R.  R,  Mann 

T.   H.  Billings 

A.  P.  Gidlev 

J.   H.   Billings 

Hosted  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUKTY 


1852 — J.  Parsons  R.  R.  Maim 

1853— J,  H.  Billings  D.    Lamoreux 

1854 — T.  Lamoreux  1.  H,   Lamoreux 

1855 — Elisha  Mix  W.  Shearman 

1856 — Elisha  Mix  W.  Shearman 

1857 — I.  H.  Lamoreux  Asa  Bowker 

1858— T.  Lamoreux  Elisha  Mix 

1859— L  H.  Lamoreux  Elisha  Mix 

i860— L  H-  Lamoreux  Eiisha  Mix 

1861     I.  H.  Lamoreux  EHsha  Mix 

1862 — L  H,  Lamoreux  A.   Coif 

1863 — I.  H.  Lamoreux  B.  S.  Ketcham 

1864 — L  H.  Lamoreux  W,  Shearman 

1865 — L  H.  Lamoreux  L  H.  Lamoreux 

1866 — L  H.  Lamoreux  G.  Myers 

1867 — L  H.  Lamoreux  G.  Myers 

1868 — L  H.  Lamoreux  G.  Myers 

1869 — L  H.  Lamoreux  G.  Myers 

1870— L  H.  Lamoreux  G.  Myers 

1871     A.   Brooks  G.  Myers 

1872 — A.  Brooks  A   A.  Burhans 

1873 — G.  F.  Greitzinger  A.  A.  Burhans 

1874 — G.  F.  Greitzinger  A.  A.  Burhans 

1875 — G.  F.  Greitzinger  A.  A.  Burhans 

1876 — G.  F.  Greitzinger  D.  L.  Reynolds 

1877— G.  F.  Greitzinger  D.  L.  Reynolds 

187S— G.  F.  Greitzinger  D.  L.  Reynolds 

1870— G.  F.  Greitzinger  P.  C,  Whitbeck 

1880— Peter  C.  Whitbeck  Charles   H.   Hanson 

1881— Peter  C,  Whitbeck  Charles   H.   Hanson 

1882— Peter  C.  Whitbeck  Charles   H.   Hanson 

1883— Peter  C.  Whitbeck  Charles   H.   Hanson 

1884— Peter  C.  Whitbeck  Charles   H.   Hanson 

1885— Peter  C.  Whitbeck  Charles   H.   I-Ianson 

1S86— Peter  C.  Whitbeck  Cvrus  H.   Smeed 

1887— Peter  C.  Whitbeck  Charles  H.  Hanson 
i88S^Harvey  J.  Kingsley  Charles  H.  Hanson 
i889^Haryey  J.  Kingsley Charles   H.   Hanson 

1890— John  Lubbers  '^'  ' 
1891- — John  Lubbers 
1892 — ^John  Lubbers 
1893 — John  I-ubbers 
1894 — John  T-ubbcrs 
1895 — John  Lubbers 
1896 — John  Lubbers 
1897 — John  Lubbers 
1898 — John  Lubbers 
1899 — John  Lubbers 
1900 — John  Lubbers 
igoi — John   Lubbers 


Charles  H.  Hanson 
Charles  H.  Hanson 
Charles  H.  Hanson 
Charles  H.  Hanson 
Charles  H.  Hanson 
Charles  H.  T- Tan  son 
Charles  H.  Hanson 
Charles  H.  Hanson 
Charles  H.  Hanson 
Charles  H.  Hanson 
Charles  H.  Hanson 
Chas.   N.   Gidley 


J.   fl.   Billings 

W.   C.  Meeker 

R.  R.  Mann 

T.  Lamoreux  .  ,^ 

T.  Lamoreux  \,^ 

E.  Lamoreux 

E.  Lamoreux 

W.  C.  Meeker 

E.  A.  Fenn 

E.  A.  Fean 

E.  Lamoreux 

E.  Lamoreux 

E.   Lamoreux 

J.  G.   Lamoreux 

J.  G.   Lamoreux 

J.  G.  Lamoreux 

J.  G.  Lamoreux 

[?.  Crawford 

B.  Crawford 

L.  Benson 

L.  Benson 

L.  Benson 

L.  Benson 

L.  Benson 

L.  Benson 

L.   Benson 

A.  Turrell 

A.  Turrell 

Daniel   L,   Reynolds 

Daniel   L.   Reynolds 

Benjamin  K.  Coif 

Benjamin  K.  Coif 

Aretus  Turrell 

Aretus  Turrell 

John   Lubbers 

John  Lubbers 

William  H.  Whitbeck 

William  H.  Whitbeck 

Allen  L.   Whitbeck 

Charles  N.  Gidley 

Charles  N.  Gidley 

Charles  G.  Abbott 

Charles  G    Abbott 

Hudson  Veeder 

Hudson  \^eeder 

Edvyard  Mills 

E.lward  Mills 

Allen  L.  Whitbeck 

Allen  L.  Wliitbeck 

George  Lei  and 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


lias 

1902— John  Lubbers  Chas.  K.  Gidley 

1903— John  Lubbers  Chas.  N.  Gidley 

1904— John  Lubbers  Chas.  N.  Gidley 

1905— John  Lubbers  Chas.  N.  Gidley 

igo6— John  Lubbers  Chas.  N.  Gidley 


Supervisor 

1840— Geo    W.  Barnes 
1841 — ^Joel   Brownson 
1842 — Joel   Brownson 
1843— D.   A.   McMartin 
1844— A.   Shellman 
184s— C.  M.  Kimball 
1S46— W.  T.  Monteith 
1847— O.  A.   Porter 
1848— W.  T.  Monteith 
1849— W.  T.  Monteith 
1850— W.   S.   Wheeler 
185 1— R.  H.  Warn 
1852— Eli  H.  Chase 
1853— W.   S.   Wheeler 
1854— W.   S.   Wheeler 
185s— W.   S.   Wheeler 
1856— W.    S.   Wheeler 
1857— W.   S.   Wheeler 
1858— L.  R.  Delano 
1859 — Orrtn  Brown 
i860 — Thomas    Shepherd 
1861— Thomas    Shepherd 
1862 — Orrin  Brown 
1863— Thomas    Shepherd 
1864— W.  F.  Harden 
186=;— W.  F.  Harden 
1866 — Orrin   Brown 
1867 — Orrin   Brown 
t868— Wm.  F.  Harden 
1869— Wm.  F.  Harden 
1870 — Thomas  Shepherd 
1871— Henry  Shultes 
1872— Wm.  F.  Harden 
1873— Wm.  F.  Harden 
1874— Wm.  F.  Harden 
1875— Wm.  F.  Harden 
1876— Wm.  F.  Harden 
1877— Wm.  F.  flarden 
1878— Wm.  F.  Harden 
1879— Wm.  F.  Harden 
1880— Wm.  F.  Harden 


Mart]  n   Township. 

Clerk 

T.  Gregg; 
D.  P.  Fenner 
].  H.  Adams 
J.  H.  Adams 
H.  Sornburv 
L.  Monteith 
C.  M.  Kimball 
W.  S.  Wheeler 
Chester  Bovie 
W.  S.  Wheeler 
Chester  Bovie 
David  Wylie 
L.  Monteith 
Silas  Stafford 
W.  T.  Monteith 
G.  G.  Tiithill 
David  Wylie 
David  Wyh'e 
David  Wylie 
G.  B.  Nichols 
G.  B.  Nichols 
William  Mathews 
William  Mathews 
William  Mathews 
William  Mathews    ■ 
William  Mathews 
V/illiam  T.  Allen 
William  Mathews 
Wm.  Mathews 
Wm.  Mathews 
Wm.  Mathews 
Wm.  Mathews 
Wm.  Mathews 
Wm.  Mathews 
A.  Patterson 
A.  Patterson 
James  R.   Wyle 
T.  H.  Shepherd 
T.  H.  Shepherd 
T.  H.  Shepherd 
Thomas   D.    Shepherd 


George  Leiand 
Charles  G.  Abbott 
Charles  G.  Abbott 
Leonard  S.  Dickinson 
Leonard  S.  Dickinson 


Treasurer 

Peter  Hanmer 
J    H.  .^dams 
J,    Hcvdenberk 
R,  Il.'Warn 
Orrin  Hart 
R.  n.  Warn 
R.  H.  Warn 
R.  H.  Warn 
R.  H.  Warn 
R.  H.  Warn 
R.  H.  Warn 
Horace   Sornbury 
E.  Wilder 
John  W.  Cook 
J.  B.  Nichlonson 
J.  B.  Nichlonson 
J.  B.  Nichlonson 
John  W.  Cook 
Jolm  W.  Cook 
H.  Sornbury 
H.  A.  Sweetland 
H.  A.  Sweetland 
H!    Sornbury 

E.  Wilder 
G.  T,  Bruen 
C.  H.  Howe 

F.  Failing 

F.  Failing 

A  Tempi  eton 
W.  H.  Southwick 
W.  H.  Southwick 
W,  H.  Southwick 
W.  H.  Southwick 
W.  H.  Southwick 

G.  F.  Patterson 
M.  A"an  Gelder 
M.  Van  Gelder 
R.  A.  Patterson 
R.  A.  Patterson 
A.  Anderson 
Arthur  Anderson 


Hosted  by 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


1881— Wm.  F.  Harden 
1882— Wm  F,  Harden 
1883— Wm.  F.  Harden 
1884 — Arthur  Anderson 
188=; — Arthur  Anderson 
1886— W.  H.  Southwick 
,887— W.  H.  Southwick 
1888— W.  H.  Southwick 
1889— W.  H.  Southwick 
1 8go— Daniel  F.  Lara  way 
1891 — Daniel  F.  Laraway 
i892^Dan!el  F.  Laraway 
1893 — Daniel  F.  Laraway 
1894— Daniel  F.  Laraway 
1895— Daniel  F.  Laraway 
1896 — Daniel  F.  Laraway 
1897— Daniel  F.  Laraway 
1898— Daniel  F.  Laraway 
1899 — Daniel  F.  Laraway 
1900— Daniel  F.  Laraway 
1901— Daniel  F.  Laraway 
1902 — Daniel  D.  Harris 
1903— Daniel  D.  Harris 
1904 — Daniel  D.  Harris 
1905 — Daniel  D.  Harris 
1906— Daniel   D.   Harris 


Alex.  C.  Monteith 
Alex.  C.  Monteith 
Alex.  C.  Monteith 
Alex.  C.  Monteith 
Artimas  Dunton 
Neil  A.  Campbell 
Neil  A.  Campbell 
George  B.   Nichols 
Frank  D.  Warren 
Colin  C.    Murray 
Colin  C.    Murray 
Colin  C-   Murray 
Colin  C.  Murray 
John  H.  Wicks 
John  H.  Wicks 
Tohn  H.  Wicks 
Wm.  C.  Russell 
Wm.  C.  Russel! 
Wm.  C.  Russell 
W™.  C.  liussell 
Wm.  C.  Russell 
Wm.  C.  Russell 
Wm.  C.  Russell 
Wm.  C,  Russell 
Wm.  C.  Russell 
Wm.  C.  Russell 


Wm.   H.   Southwick 
Wm.   H.   Southwick 
Thomas  H.  Shepherd 
Thomas  H.  Shepherd 
Wm.  H.   Southwick 
Peter  D.    Campbell 
Peter   D.    Campbell 
Neil  A,  Campbell 
Peter  D.  Campbell 
Peter  D    Campbell 
lohn  Blair,  Jr. 
iPeter  D,   Campbell 
Peter   D,   Campbell 
Neil   A,   Campbell 
Peter  D.   Campbell 
Peter  D.  Campbell 
Colin  C.  Murray 
Colin  C.  Murray 
Ernest  W.  Fenner 
Ernest  W.  Fenner 
Colin  C.  Murray 
James  A.  Middleton 
James  A.  Middleton 
Ernest  W.  Fenner 
William   Shepherd 
Lee  W.  Shepherd 


Mo. 


Supervisor 
1S47 — John  Chase 
1848 — John  Chase 
1849 — Noah  Briggs 
1850 — J.  M.  McAlpine 
1851 — Noah  Briggs 
1852— E.  D.  Granger 
18=53— F.  Dav 
i8sd— T.  M.  Granger 
1855— Eli  D.  Granger 
1856 — George  T.  Lav 
1857— William  White 
1858— J.  M.  McAlpine 
i8i^9— William  White 
i860— B.  F.  Granger 
1861— John  M.  Granger 
i8fi2— C.  D.  Clements 
1863—0.  D.  Clements 
1864— John  S.  Dav 
1865— J.  M.  McAlpine 
1866 — Mvron  Powell 


Clerk 
Noah  Briggs 
Noah  Briggs 
Charles  Tanner 
S.  H.  Shaw 
S.  H.  Shaw 
S.  H.  Wilcox 
S.  H.  Wilcox 
John  S.  Day 
Tra  Plotts 
I  J.  F.  Granger 
W.  A.  Mallory 
W.  A.  Mallory 
F.  Day 

William  White 
W.  H,  Briggs 
W.  H,  Briggs 
fames  Eggleston 
Wesley  Moored 
John  B.  Moore 
James  Eggleston 


Treasurer 
Frederick  Day 
Frederick  Day 
William   Briggs 
William  Briggs 
William  Briggs 
John  Guyot 
Hiram  Sabin 
F.  Atwell 
Silas  L  Reed 
S.  Rumery 
Frederick  Day 
Frederick  Day 
S.  H.  Wilcox 
John  Goodell 
John  Goodell 
Tohn  Goodell 
E   M.  Eraden 
E.  M.  Braden 
Charles  Gibson 
John  Goodell 


Hosted  by 


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840 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


1867— Myron  I'owell 
1868 — James  Eggleston 
1869 — James  Eggleston 
1870 — James  Eggleston 
1871 — Isaac  Maxfield 
1872 — George  Cady 
1873— William  White 
1874 — James  Eggleston 
1875 — Hiram  Bailey 
1876— William  White 
1877— L  Maxfield 
1878— B.  F.  Granger 
1879— William  White 
1880— Wm.  White 
i88r — James  Evans 
1882— James  Evans 
1883 — James  Evans 
i88a — James  Evans 
iS8c— Wm.  White 
1886— Wm.  White 
T887— B.   F.   Granger 
1888— B.   F.   Granger 
1889 — James  Evans 
1890 — B.  F.  Granger 
1891— Wm.   White 
1892 — Martin  McAlpine 
189-^ — Martin  McAlpine 
1894— B,  F.  Granger 
1895— B.  F.  Granger 
1896 — Gottlieb  Leweke 
1897 — Gottlieb  Leweke 
1898— Gottlieb  Leweke 
1899 — Gust.  Begeman 
1900 — Gust.  Begeman 
190T — Fred  Wilcox 
1902 — Fred  Wilcox 
1903. — Fred  Wilcox 
1904 — Fred  Wilcox 
1905 — Fred  Wilcox 
1906 — Fred  Wilcox 


Supervisor 
1836— Hull  Sherwood,  Jr. 
1837— Oka  Town 
1838— Hull  Sherwood 
1839 — Oka  Town 
1840— Oka  Town 
1841 — Hull  Sherwood 


E.  Eggleston 
E.  Eggleiton 
E   Eggleston 
E   Eggleston 
W.  F.  Benson 
W.  F.  Benson 
Edward  Eggleston 
Edward  Eggleston 
H.  Bailey 
Henry  Quist 
Henry  Quist 
Henry  Quist 
Henry  Quist 
Henry  Kibby 
Samuel  Wilcox 
Samuel  Hewitt 
Herman  Mallory 
Samuel  Hewitt 
Samuel  Hewitt 
Samuel  Hewitt 
Samuel  Hewitt 
Eugene  McOmber 
Samuel  Hewitt 
Eugene  McOmber 
Samuel  Hewitt 
Eugene  McOmber 
Eugene  McOmber 
Eugene  McOmber 
Samuel  Hewitt 
Samuel  Hewitt 
Albert  Town 
Samuel  Wilcox 
Samuel  Wilcox 
Samuel  Wilcox 
Samuel  Wilcox 
Samuel  Wilcox 
Samuel  Wilcox 
Samuel  Wilcox 
Samue!  Wilcox 
Eugene  McOmber 

Otsego  TowNSHir. 
Clerk 
.  L.  B.  Coats 
v..  Coats 
Eaton 
C    D.  Parkhurst 
L.  C.  Anderson 
Henry   Sheldon 


O. 


Isaac  Maxfield 
J   Hoof  master 
J.  Hoofmaster 
J.  Hoofmaster 
S.  K.  Tanner 
S.  K.  Tanner 
S,  H.  Wilcox 
S.  H.  Wilcox 
S.  H.  Wiicox 
M.  B.  McAlpin 
G.  W.  Sweezy 
S.  B.  Guvot 
W.  S.  Patterson 
John  Patterson 
Noah  Briggs 
Wm.  Patterson 
Wm.  Patterson 
Garrit  Navis 
Garrit  Navis 
Eugene  McOmber 
Eugene  McOmber 
Svlvester  Wilson 
Albert  Kibby 
.Vlhert  Kibby 
Henry  Pierce 
Henry  Pierce 
Andrew  Jones 
Andrew  Jones 
Albert   Kibby 
Albert  Kibby 
Amnion  Sprau 
Amnion  Sprau 
Ftetcher  Gibson 
Fletcher  Gibson 
Amnion  Sprau 
Ammon  Sprau 
Welty  Cams 
WeJty  Cams 
Samuel  Clawson 
Fred  Miller 


Eber  Sherwood 
Eber  S  bar  wood 
Eber  Sherwood 


Hosted  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


1842— L.  B.  Coats 
1 843^0siviond  Smith 
1844 — Henrv  Sheldon 
184;— Hull  Sherwood 
1846— Hull  Sherwood 
1847— Leland   Lane 
1848 — Oka  Town 
1849— Oka  Town 
1850— Willard  G.  Eaton 
1851— R.  F.  Kellogg 
1852— R.  F.  Kellogg 
1853 — Abram  Hoag 
1854— Abram  Hoag 
185=; — Abrain  Hoag 
i856~Abram  Hoag 
1857— Abram  Hoag 
1858— Ira  Chichester 
1859 — Ira  Chichester 
i8fio— Philip  Burlingham 
1 861 — ^Ira  Chichester 
1862 — Ira  Chichester 
1863— Ira  Chichester 
1864— Ira  Chichester 
1865 — Ira  Chichester 
1866— Ira  Chichester 
i867~M.  G.  Higgins 
1868— Edwin  M.  Allen 
1 869 — James   Franklin. 
1870— Wilson  C.  Edsell 
187T— Alva  D.  Botsford 
1872— Alva  D.  Botsford 
1873— A.  J.  Van  Wyck 
1874— Alva  D.  Botsford 
1875— Alva  D.  Botsford 
1876— Alva  D.  Botsford 
1877 — Abram  Hpag 
i878--John  F.  Hale 
1879— Alvah  D.  Botsford 
1880— Theodore  Hart 
1881— Theodore  Hart 
1882— Theodore  Hart 
188 -^ — Tames    Franklin 
1884— b.  S.  Gardner 
1885— James    Franklin 
1886— Daniel  S.  Gardner 
1887— Daniel  S.  Gardner 
1888— Daniel  S.  Gardner 
1889 — Daniel  S.  Gardner 
1890 — Daniel  S.  Gardner 
1801— Thos.   E.   French 


James  Fitch 
James  Fitch 
W.  G.  Eaton 
Daniel  M.  Hall 
R,   C.  Dennison 
.Aiiram  Hoag 
James  Fitch 

0.  Eaton 
Abram  Hoag 
Willard  Higgins 
Clark  D.  Fox 
Clark  D.  Fox 
Clark  D.  Fox 
Clark  D.  Fox 
James  Monteith 
C.  N.  White 
C'ark  D.  Fox 
Clark  D.  Fox 
Clark  D.  Fox 

1.  T.  Clapp 
James  Smith 
James  Smith 
James  Smith 
Alvah  D.  Botsford 
James  Smith 
James  Smith 
James  Smith 
James  Smith 
James  Smith 
James  Smith 
James  Smith 
Stacey  K.  Potter 
Stacey  K.  Potter 
James  Smith 
James  Smith 
James  Smith 
James  Smith 

A.  J.  Van  Wyck 
Abram  J.  ^'an  Wvck 
A.  T.   B.  Palmer  ' 
A.  T.   E.  Palmer 
A.  T.   B.   Palmer 
A.  T.   R.  Palmer 
A.  T.  B.  Palmer 
A.  T.  B.  Palmer 
C.  A.  Barnes 
C.  A.  Barnes 
C    A.  Parnes 
C.  A.  Parnes 
E.  J.  Rose 


Eber  Sherwood 
ileiirv  Sheldon 
Leland  Lane 
Leland  Lane 
Leland  Lane 
R.  C.  Dennison 
Abram  Hoag 
James  11.  Porter 
James  B.  Porter 
James  B.  Porter 
James  B.  Porter 
Willard  Higgins 
Darwin  A.  Drew 
Darwin  A,  Drew 
Darwin  A.  Drew 
Darwin  A.  Drew 
Darwin  A.  Drew 
loel   S.  Pratt 
Joel  S.   Pratt 
Turner  S.  Dav 
Turner  S.  Day 
Alfred  Reid 
\ahum  Gilbert 
Xahum  Gilbert 
Xahum  Gilbert 
Xahum  Gilbert 
Nahum  Gilbert 
Nahum  Gilbert 
Henry  M.   Pratt 
Byron  Ballon 
Abram   Hoag 
James  Franklin 
James  Franklin 
James  Franklin 
Abram    Hoag 
Albert  T.  Palmer 
Albert  T.  Palmer 
Stephen  B.  Hoag 
Stephen  B.  Hoag 
Adison  M,  Buck 
Adison  yi.  Buck 
Cornelius  Engles 
Cornelius  Engles 
Stephen  B.  Hoag 
Stephen  B.  Hoag 
Andrew  Thornton 
Andrew  Thornton 
Chas.  F.  Ruthrauff 
Andrew  Thornton 
Chas.  H.  Prentiss 


Hosted  by 


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642 

1892 — Thos. 
1893 — Thos. 
1894 — Thos. 
1895— Thos. 
1896— C.  M. 
1897— C.  M. 
1898— C.  M. 
1899— C.  M. 
1900— C.  M. 
1901— C.  M. 
1902— C.  M. 
1903— C.  M. 
1904— A.  B. 
1905— A.  B. 
it)o6— Frank 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


E.  French 
E,  French 
E.  French 
E,  French 
Edmonds 
Edmonds 
Edmonds 
Edmonds 
Edmonds 
Edmonds 
EdiTionds 
Edmonds 
Tucker 
Tucker 
Fair  fie  kl 


E.  J.  Rose 
E   J.  Rose 
H.  D.  Mills 
H.  D.  Mills 
Irving  Temple 
Irving  Temple 
Geo.  R.  Brown 
Geo.  R.  Brown 
Geo.  R.  Brown 
Geo.  R.  Brown 
Geo.  R.  Brown 
Geo.  R.  Brown 
Geo.  R.  Brown 
Geo.  R.  Brown 
Geo.  R.  Brown 

OvERTSEL  Township. 


Supervisor 
j857_C,  J.  Voorhorst 
1858— C.  J.  Voorhorst 
1859— C.  J.   Voorhorst 
i860 — C.   J.    Voorhorst 
1861— C.   J.   Voorhorst 
1862— C.  J.  Voorhorst 
1863— 0.  J.  Voorhorst 
1864 — C.  J.  Voorhorst 
1865— C.  J.   Voorhorst 
1866— C.  J.   Voorhorst 
1867 — C.  J,  Voorhorst 
1868— C.   J.   Voorhorst 
1869— C.   J.  Voorhorst 
1870 — C.    J.   Voorhorst 
1871 — C.   J.   Voorhorst 
1872 — Hendrick  Kok 
1873 — Hendrick  Kok 
1874— C.  J.  Voorhorst 
1875— C.  J.  Voorhorst 
1S76— C.  J.  Voorhorst 
1877— C.  J.  Voorhorst 
1878— Hendrick  Kok 
1879 — Hendrick  Kok 
1880— H.  Branwer 
i88t— H.  Branwer 
1882— H.  Branwer 
1883— H.  Branwer 
1884 — H.  Branwer 
i88s— Gerrit   H.    Nykerk 
1886— Gerrit   H.   Nykerk 
1887— Gerrit   H.   Nykerk 


Clerk 
Jan  Boers 
Jan  Boers 
Jan  Boers 
Jan  Boers 
Jan  Boers 
Jan  Boers 
Hendrick  Kok 
Hendrick  Kok 
Hendrick  Kok 
Hendrick  Kok 
Hendrick  Kok 
Hendricic  Kok 
Hendrick  Kok 
Hendrick  Kok 
Hendrick  Kok 
Hendricus  Kok 
Hendricus  Kok 
Hendricus  Kok 
Hendricus  Kok 
Hendricus  Kok 
Hendrick  Bronwers 
Hendrick  Bronwers 
Hendrick  Bronwers 
John  Kollen 
John  Kollen 
John  Kollen 
John  Kollen 
John  Kollen 
John  Kollen 
John  Kollen 
John  Kollen 


Chas.  H.  Prentiss 
C.  M.  Edmonds 
C.  M.  Edmonds 
G.  S.  Sherwood 
G.  S.  Sherwood 
Fred  Tubbs 
Fred  Tubbs 
W.  W.  Hains 
W.  W.  Hains 
C.  F.  Stuck 
C.  F.  Stuck 
Geo,  Gilbert 
Geo.  Gilbert 
W.  H.  Wolcott 
W.  FL  Wolcott 


Treasurer 
H.  Bronwers 
G.  H.  Wolterink 
G.  H.  Wolterink 
G.  H.  Wolterink 
G.  H.  Wolterink 
G.  H.   Wolterink 
G.  H.  Wolterink 
G.  H.   Wolterink 
G.  H.  Wolterink 
G.  H.   Wolterink 
G,   H,   Wolterink 
H,    Bronwers 
H.    Bronwers 
H.    Bronwers 
H.    Bronwers 
H.   Bronwers 
H.   Bronwers 
H     Bronwers 
H.   Bronwers 
Jan  Scholten 
Jan  Scholten 
Jan  Scholten 
G.  H.   Nykerk 
Gerrit   H.    Nykerk 
E.  Van  Damm 
Gerrit  H.  Nykerk 
Gerrit  H.  Nykerk 
Lefert  Slat  man 
Lefert  Slat  man 
H.  J.  Mechmershuizea 
H.  J.  Mechmershuizen 


Hosted  by 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


643 


1888— Gerrit   H.    Nykerk 
1889— Gerrit  H.   Nykerk 
1890— Gerrit   H.   Nykerk 
1891— Gerrit   H.   Nykerk 
1892 — G.  li.  Koopman 
1893 — G.  H.  Koopman 
1894 — Mannes  Velclhuis 
1895 — Mannes  Veldhuis 
1896 — Mannes  Veldhuis 
1897 — Mannes  Veldhuis 
1898 — G.  H.  Koopman 
18159 — G.  H.  Koopman 
1900 — G.  H.  Koopman 
1901 — John  J.  Hulst 
1902 — John  J.  Hulst 
1903 — John  J.  Hulst 
1904 — John  J.  Hulst 
1905 — John  J.  Hulst 
1906 — John  J.  Hulst 


John   Kollen 
John   Kollen 
John   Kollen 
John  Kollen 
John   Kollen 
John  Kollen 
Benjamin   Voorhorst 
Benjamin   Voorhorst 
Benjamin   Voorhorst 
Benjamin   Voorhorst 
Benjamin   Voorhorst 
Benjamin   Voorhorst 
Benjamin   Voorhorst 
Benjamin   Voorhorst 
Benjamin   Voorhorst 
Benjamin   Voorhorst 
Benjamin   Voorhorst 
Benjamin   Voorhorst 
Benjamin   Voorhorst 


Gerrit  J.  Maatman 
Gerrit  J.  Maatman 
Egbert  Maatman 
Egbert  Maatman 
Hendrik   Poelakker,   Jr. 
Hendrik   Poelakker,   Jr. 
John   Schipper 
John   Schipper 
B.  J.  Klinnstreker 
B.  J.  Klinnstreker 
John  J.  Hulst 
John  J.  Hulst 
Johannes  H oilman 
Johannes  Hoffman 
John  Nvhuis 
John  N\hui'! 
H,   D.   Poelakker 
H.  D.   Poelakker 
Herman  W    Hulsman 


Salem   Township. 


Sitpervisor 
1856— L,    P.    Brown 
1857— L.   P.   Brown 
1858— I-.    P.    Brown 
1859 — John  N,  York 
i860 — L    Mannes 
1861— John  N-  York 
i86z— Peter  Castor 
1863— Francis  Goodman 
1864 — Francis  Goodman 
186=; — Peter  Castor 
1866— Peter   Castor 
1867— John  Hendges 
1868— John  Hendges 
1869— Peter  Castor 
1870 — Peter  Castor 
1 87 1 — A.  A.  Goodman 
1872 — Peter  Castor 
1873— Francis   Goodman 
1874— No  record 
1875; — Francis  Goodman 
1876 — Francis   Goodman 
1877-— Francis   Goodman 
1 878 —  Francis   Goodman 
1879 — Theodore  Castor 
1880 — Francis   Goodman 
1881 — Francis    Goodman 


Clerk 
Henry  Bear 
Isaiah  Mannes 
Henry    Bear 
Is:.iah  Mannes 
Albert  D.  Rust 
Michael  Hintdn 
Michael  Hinton 
Michael  Hinton 
Henry  Bear 
The  do  re  Castor 
John  Hendges 
Edward  Lutts 
Wesley  Moored 
C.  H.  Long 
C.  H.  Long 
Jesse  H.  Bond 
C.  H.  Long 
John  P.  Martiny 
No  record 
John  Sprau 
John  Sprau 
No  record 
John  P.  Martiny 
John  P.  Martiny 
Peter  Marteney 
John  W.  Sprau 


Treasurer 
James  Burnip 
James  Burnip 

James  Burnip 
Peter  Castor 
William  Linden 
William  Linden 
William  Linden 
Peter  Castor 
Joseph  Slagol 
W.  H.  Gorden 
Thomas  Hinton 
Peter  Castor 
John  Hendges 
John  Hendges 
Thomas  Hinton 
Jesse  H.  Bond 
No  record 
No  record 
Thedore   Castor 
Elijah  Gorden 
No  record 
Elijah  Gorden 
Elijah  Gorden 
William   Heck 
Elijah   Gorden 


Hosted  by 


Google 


644 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


1882 — Francis  Goodman 
1883— John  W.  Sprau 
1884— Peter  Castor 
1885— Peter  Castor 
1886— John  W.  Sprau 
1887— Elijah  Gorden 
1888— EHjah  Gorden 
iS8g — Elijah  Gorden 
1890— Elijah  Gorden 
1 89 1 — Elijah  Gorden 
1892 — Elijah  Gorden 
1893— A,  A.  Goodman 
1894 — Jacob  Fleser,   Sr. 
1895— Joseph  M.  Gorden 
1896 — ^Jacob  Fleser,   Sr. 
1897 — ^Jacob   Fleser,   Sr. 
1898 — Jacob   Fleser,   Sr. 
1899 — ^Jacob  Fleser,   Sr. 
1900 — Jacob  Fleser,   Sr. 
1901 — Jacob  Fleser,   Sr. 
1902 — Sherman  Moored 
1903 — Sherman   Moored 
1904 — Sherman  Moored 
1905 — Sherman   Moored 
1906 — Sherman   Moored 


Snpcrz'isor 

1847 — S.  A.    Morrison 

1848 — S.  A.    Morrison 

1849 — S.  A.    Morrison 

1850 — S.  A.   Morrison 

1S51— S.  A.   Morrison 

1852 — S.  A,   Morrison 

1853— E,  M.  Dibble 

1854— E.  M.  Dibble 

1855 — S.  A.   Morrison 

1856— S.  A.   Morrison 

1857 — S.  A.    Morrison 

1858— S.  A.   Morrison 

1859— S.  A.   Morrison 

i860— S.  A.   Morrison 

1861— F.  B.  Walhn 

1862— T.  S.  Coates 

1863— T.  S.  Coates 

1864 — T.  S.  Coates 

i86t;— R.  F.   Schanck 

1S66— T.  S.  Coates 

1867 — R.  Dunning 

1868— S.  A.   Alorrison 


John  W.  Sprau 
Joseph  M.  Gorden 
John  W.  Sprau 
J.  W.  Book  waiter 
Joseph  M.  Gorden 
Joseph  M.  Gorden 
Joseph  M.  Gorden 
Joseph  M.  Gorden 
Joseph  M.  Gorden 
Joseph  M.  Gorden 
Joseph  M.  Gorden 
Adam  Newell 
Adam  Newell 
Adam  Newell 
Adam  Newell 
Adam  Newel! 
John  W.  Sprau 
John  W.  Sprau 
John  W.  Sprau 
John  W.  Sprau 
Adam  Newell 
Joseph  M.  Gorden 
Casper    Ebmeyer 
Casper    Ebmeyer 
Casper   Ebmeyer 


Sauc 


Clerk 
H.   R.   Seymour 
H.  R.   Seymour 
Lorenzo  Weed 
Lorenzo  Weed 
Lorenzo  Weed 
Lorenzo  Weed 
A.  W.  Coates 
A.  W.  Coates 
A.  W.  Coates 
A.  W.  Coates 
A    W.  Coates 
A.  W.  Coates 
A.  W.  Coates 
A.  W.  Coates 
H.  R.  Ellis 
H.  R.  Ellis 
T.  E.  Dutcher 
T,  B.  Dutcher 
S.  Johnson 
H.   Manvel 
T.  H.  Porter 
S.  D.  Nichols 


Elijah   Gorden 
Peter  Castor 
Elijah  Gorden 
Elijah  Gorden 
Joseph  Slagel 
Wm.  H.  Goodman 
Peter   Castor 
Peter   Castor 
John  Shaffer 
John  Shaffer 
Silas   Loew 
Silas  Loew 
Henry  Goodman 
Henry   Goodman 
David  J.  Goodman 
David  J.  Goodman 
Silas  Loew 
Silas  Loew 
Adam  Newell 
Adam  Newell 
Silas  Loew 
Silas  Loew 
Mathias  Kreiser 
Mathias  Kreiser 
-Adam  Newell 


Lvman  Fish 
M.   Ft.  Spencer 
M.  P>.  Spencer 
M.  IS.  Spencer 
M    B.  Spencer 
S.  D.  Nichols 
T.  C.  Haile 
f.  C.  Haile 
T.  C.  Haile 
t.  C.  Haile 
j.  C,  Haile 
J.  C   Plaile 
Warren  ("ook 
Warren  Cook 
S.  A.   Morrison 
S.   A.    Morrison 
S.  A.   Morrison 
,S.  A.  Morrison 
T.  1',.  Dutcher 
F.  B.  Wallin 
Daniel  Gcrber 
J,  G.  Williams 


Hosted  by 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


1869 — S.   A.   Morrison 
1870 — T.   B.   Dutcher 
1871 — S.  A.   Morrison 
1872 — S.    A.    Morrison 
1873 — Thomas  Gray 
1874— Thomas  Gray 
1875 — Thomas  Gray 
1S76— Thomas  Gray 
1877— Thomas  Gray 
1878— Thomas  Gray 
1879— Thomas  Gray 
1880— Thomas  Gray 
1881— Thomas  Gray 
1882— Thomas  Gray 
1883 — Thomas  Gray 
1884 — John  Nies 
1885 — John  Nies 
1886 — Thomas   Gray 
1887— R.   B.    Newnham 
1888— John   Nies 
1889— John   Nies 
1890 — John  Nies 
1 89 1 — Daniel   Falconer 
1892 — Daniel   Falconer 
1893 — Dver  C.   Putnam 
1894— D!  M.  Gerber 
1895— D.  M.  Gerber 
1896— D.  M.  Gerber 
1807— D.  M.  Gerber 
1898— D.  ^L  Gerber 
1899— D.   M.  Gerber 
7900 — Fred    Wade 
T90! — Fred  Wade 
1902 — D.  M.  Gerber 
1903^0.  M.  Gerber 
T904 — D.  M.  Gerber 
T905— Wm.    White 
1906 — \Vm.    White 


Supervisor 
842 — John  Weare 
843 — Richard  Weare 
844 — John  Billings,  Jr. 
845 — Sidney  Smith 
846— Sidney  Smith 
8^17— Jacob  Grover 
:848— Richard  Weare 
:849— John  Billings 
850 — Leander  Prouty 


S.  D.  Nichols 
D.  C,  Putnam 
S.  D.  Nichols 
S.  D.  Nichols 
R,  B.  Newnham 
R   B.  Newnham 
R.   B.   Newnham 
R.    B.   Newnham 
D.  C.  Putnam 
D.  C.  Putnam 
A.  B.  Tavlor 
J.  M.  Pond 
S.  D.  Nichols 
D.  C.  Putnam 
Martin  Gray 
Martin  Cirav 
A.   B.   Taylor 
,\[artin  Grav 
Martirt  Grav 
F.  Kirbv 
Martin  Gray 
Frank  Wade 
Frank  Wade 
R.  B.  Newnham 
Fred  Wade 
Fred  Wade 
Fred  Wade 
Fred  Wade 
D,   B.  Rilev 
F.  E.  Wilev 
H.  Schultz 
S.  W.  McDonald 
S.  W.  McDonald 
W.  R.  Takken 
W.  R.  Takken 
H.  A.  McDonald 
H.  A.  McDonald 
L.  E.  Veits 

TuQW iiriik;e  Township. 
Clerk 
Sidney  Smith 
Sidney  Smith 
Sidney  Smith 
Diiniel  Foster 
P.  H.  Simmons 
Sidney  Smith 
Sidney  Smith 
Daniel  Foster 
J.  B.  Allen 


J.   G.  Williams 
J.  G.  Williams 
J.  G.  Williams 
J.  G.  Wdliams 
J.  G.  Williams 
J    G.  Williams 
W.  S.  Gill 
A.   B,  Taylor 
A.  B,  Taylor 
A.    B,   Tavlor 
R.  B.  Ames 
L.  B,  Coates 
.\.  B,  Tavlor 
A.  B.  Tavlor 
F.    S.    Pride 
F,    S-    Pride 
Frank    Kirbv 
E,  S.   Pride 

D.  M.  Gerber 
r.   E.   Wilson 
Elmer  F.  Weed 
Elmer  E.  Weed 

E.  S.  Pride 
D.  j\l.  Gorlier 
D.  ^L  Gerber 
Frank  Kirby 
Elmer  E.  Weed 
Geo.  H.  Plummer 
James  A.  Aliber 
James  A.  Aliber 
D.  A.  Heath 

W    G.  Phelps 
W.  G.  Phelps 
Fdk.  Kerr 
Fdk.  Kerr 
T,  L    Henrv 
T,  L.  Henrv 
Fdk.  Kerr 


Treasurer 
John   Billings.   Jr. 
G.  Y.  Warner 
Walter  H.  Rood 
L.  S.  Prouty 
L.  S.  Prouty 
No  record 
H.   E.   P>lackman 
W.  Granger 
W.  Granger 


Hosted  by 


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646 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


1851— H.  E.  Blackman 
1852— H.  E.  Blackman 
1853 — Daniel  Foster 
1854 — Alex.  Henderson 
1855 — Alex.  Henderson 
1856 — Alex.  Henderson 
1857 — John  Billings 
1858— Alex.  Henderson 
1859 — Alex.  Henderson 
i860 — John  W.  Grover 
1861— John  W.  Grover 
1862— H.  E.  Blackman 
1863— E.  G.  Minckler 
1864— E.  G.  Minckler 
1865 -E.  G.  Minckler 
1866— John  W.  Grover 
1867— E.  G.  Minckler 
1868— E.  G.  Minckler 
1869— E.  G.  Minckler 
1870— E.   G.   Minckler 
T871— E.   G.   Minckler 
1S72— A.    B.    Mallory 
1873— Geo.    W.   Grigsby 
1874— Gilbert   Phelps 
1875— E.   G.    Minckler 
1876— H.   E.   Blackman 
1877— E,   G.    Minckler 
1878— E.   G.    Minckler 
1879— John   B,   Allen 


G.  Rockwell 
R.  Weare 
L.   S.  Proutv 
J.   B.  Allen  ' 
Moses  Morris 
John  B.  Allen 
W    Bronson 
A.   B.  Mallory 
A.   B.  Mallory 
A.   B.  Mallorv 
A.   B.  Mallory 
A.   B.  Mallory 
A.   B.  Mallory 
A.   B.  Mallory 
J.  R.  Clifford 
Horace  Peck 
George  Grigsby 
George  Grigsby 
A.  B.  Mallory 
A.  B.  Mallory 
George  W.  Grigsby 
George  W.   Grigsby 
A,   B.   Mallory 
Barnev  Payne 
A.  B.'Mallorv 
A.  B.  Mallory 
A.  B.  Mallory 
S.  C.  Foster 
S.  C.  Foster 


Vallev  Township. 
(Pine    Plains    nntil    189S. 
Supervisor  Clerk 

1850— Timothy  S.  Coats    Eli  Hathaway 
1851— Timothy  S.  Coats     G.  H.  Hill 
T852— Timothy  S.  Coats 
1853— Timothy  S.  Coats 
1854— David  Palmer 


■1855— Peter  Knnkel 
i8=;6— Zeba  Fisher 
1857— Giles  H.  Hill 
1858— J.  L,  Hawes 
1859— Chas.  Middaugh 
i860 — Chas.    Middaugh 
1861— Chas.    Middaugh 
1862— Chas.    Middaugh 
,863— Chas.    Middaugh 
1864— Peter  Kunkel 
1865— Peter  Kunkel 
1866— Peter  Kunkel 


G.  FT.  Hill 
G.  JI.  Hill 
G.  H.  Hill 
G.  H.  Hill 
Peter  Kunkel 
T.  P.  Paris 
T.  P.  Paris 
j.  P.  Paris 
Peter  Kunkel 
Peter  Kunkel 
P.  G.  Paris 
S.  A.  Paris 
S.  A.  Paris 
H.  B.  McAlister 
S.  A.  Paris 


I.  G-  Austin 
S.   Smith 
J.  Blackman 
Sidney  Smith 
Wm.  Granger 
Wm.  Upson 
John  W.  Russell 
John  W.  Russell 
A.  B.   Mallory 
Wm.  Upson 
Wm.  Upson 
Wm.  Upson 
A.   B.  Mallory 
Wm.   Upson 
Wm,   Upson 
Stephen  Odell 
Wm.  Upson 
Wm.  Upson 
Wm.  Upson 
William   Upson 
John  W.  Russell 
John  W.  Russell 
John  W.  Russell 
John  W.  Russell 
John  W.  Russell 
Cieorge  W.  Grigsby 
Edward  Buck 
Edward   Buck 
A,  V>.  Mallory 


) 

Treasurer 

Charles  T.   Billings 
Charles  T.  Billings 
Charles  T.   Billings 
Charles  T.  Billings 
Charles  T.  Billings 
Charles  T.  Billings 
Charles  T.  Billings 
Charles  T.  Billings 
P-  G.  Paris 
P   G.  Paris 
P    G.  Paris 
John  Bovlan 
P,  G.  Paris 
P   G.  Paris 
P   G.  Paris 
P   G,  Paris 


Hosted  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


1S67— B.  F.  Graves 
186S— John  Cilclirist 
1869— W.  B.  Davis 
1870— G.  H.  Hill 
1871— G.  H.  Hill 
1872— G.  H.  Hill 
1873— G.  H.  Hill 
-874— G.  H.  Hill 
1875— Wm.  J,  Shirley 
T876— Wm.  J.  Shirley 
1877— Wm.  J.  Shirley 
1878— Wm.   J.   Shirley 
T879— J,  J.  Littlejohn 
1880— J.  J.  Littlejohn 
1881— J.  J.  Littlejohn 
1S82— J.  J.  Littlejohn 
1883— J.  J.  Littlejohn 
1884— George  Peet 
1S85 — J.  J.  Littlejohn 
1886— J.  J.  Littlejohn 
1887—7.  J.  Littlejohn 
1888— J.  J.  Littlejohn 
1889— John  Young 
1890— Wm.  H.  Ely 
T891— Wm.  H.  Elv 
1892— Wm.  H.  Eiy 
1803— Wm.  H.  Ely 
1894— Wm.    J.    Siiirley 
189s— W.  H.  Ely 
1896— W.  H.  Ely 
1897 — Ira  Wilcox 
1898— W.  H.  Ely 
T899 — Mortimer  Cnlver 
1900 — Mortimer  Culver 
if)or — Ira  G,  Thorp 
1902 — Ira   G.  Thorp 
1903— A.  L.  Case 
1904— A.  L.  Case 
1W5 — Wm.  H.  Ely 
^906— Wm.  H.  Ely 


Siipcn'isor 
1842— A.    D.    Dunning 
1843— Wm.  S.  Miner 
184^ — A.  D.  Dunning 
184.S— B.  P.  Chase 
1846 — Samuel   Edgarton 
'847 — J.  B.  Alexander 
(848— W.   S.   Miner 


S.  A.  Pafis 
S.  A.  Palis 
G.  II.  Hill 
S    A.  Paris 
J    J.  Young 
J,  W.  Shirlev 
J.  W.  Sltirlev 
J.  W.  Shirlev 
W.   H.   Elv 
W.  H.  Ely 
J.  J.  Littlejohn 
J.  J.  Littlejohn 
George  Thorp 
George  Thorp 
George  Thorp 
George  Thorp 
C.  L.  Barrett 
C.  L.  Barrett 
W.  J.  Messinger 
C.  L.  Barrett 
W.  H.  Shirlev 
W.  H.  Ely 
W.  H.  Elv 
H    C.  Beverly 
H.  C.  Beverly 
Frank  Bowman 
Frank  Fox 
Frank  Fox 
Frank  Fox 
George  Thorp 
A.  L.  Case 
A.  L.  Case 
Ehvin  F.  Spears 
C,  A.   Harrison 
A,  L.  Case 
A.  L.  Case 
C.  L.  Barrett 
C.  L.  Barrett 
C.  L.  Barrett 
C.  L.  Barrett 

Wat.ion  Township. 

Clerk 
Eli  P.  Watson 
A.  D.  Dunning 
Daniel  Leggett 
Eli  P.  Watson 
Daniel  Leggett 
C.  A.  Miner 
A.  D.  Dunning 


P.  G.  Paris 
P.  G.  Paris 
1\  G.  Paris 
1'   G.  Paris 
P.  G.  Paris 
(icorge   Peet 
(k-orgc   Peet 
I  k-orge  I'eet 
(George  Peet 
(ieurgc  Peet 
George  Peet 
(George   Peet 
J.  R.  La  Force 
J.  R.  La  Force 
J.   R.   La  Force 
J.   R.  La  Force 
George  Peet 
Ira  Wilcox 
Ira  WiUox 
George  Peet 
Wm.  Peet 
Ahner  Efitahrook 
Abner  Estabrook 
Jrulson   Peet 
John  J.  Young 
M.  Culver 
M.  Culver 
A,  N.  Gardner 
A.  N.  Gardner 
.Abraham  L.   Case 
Ardie  Peet 
C.  A.  Harrison 
C.   A.   Harrison 
E.   J.   Piatt 
Wm.   Fraser 
.\rdie  Peet 
Xrdte  Peet 
E.  T.  Sharp 
E.  J.  Sharp 
Lewis  H.  Hough 


Trea-ntrer 
Eli  Watson 
C    N.  Miner 
Luther  Howe 
W.  S.  Miner 
Jesse  D.  Stone 
K.  C.  Osbom 
A.  W.  Beals 


Hosted  by 


Google 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


1849— Llovcl   Austin 
1850— Wells  Field 
1S51 — Lloyd  Austin 
1852— Wells  Field 
1853— Wells  Field 
1S54— Llovd   Austin 
1855— Wells  Field 
1856— Wm.   W.   Kent 
1S57— Will.   W.  Kent 
1858— Wm.  W.   Kent  ' 
1859— S.  Van  Duzen 
i86a— Wm.   W,   Kent 
1861— L.  D.  Nichols 
1862— C.  L.  Horning 
1863— C.  L.   Horning 
1864 — Herman  Johnson 
J865— S.    \'an   Duzen 
r866— C.   D.   Clements 
■867— John  H.  Wicks 
1868— S.   Van   Duzen 
1869— S.   Van   Duzen 
igyc^C.   D.   Clements 
1871 — Benjamin  Pratt 
1872— C.   D.   Clements 
1873— C.   D.   Clements 
1874— C.   D.   Clements 
1875— C.   D.   Clements 
1876— C.   D.   Clements 
1877— C.   D.   Clements 
1878— C.   D.   Clements 
1879— Robert   Konkle 
1880— Robert   Konkle 
'  i88r— Dennis  Delano 
18S2— Dennis  Delano 
1S83— S.   P.   Albertson 
;884— Fordyce  D.  Reed 
1885— Fordyce  D.  Reed 
i886 — Isaac  Page 
1S87 — Isaac  Page 
1 888 — Isaac  Page 
1889— John  W.  Blair 
1890— Robert  Konkle 
1891— Robert  Konkle 
1892— Stephen   Case 
1893— Anthony    Weber 
1894— Frank  Andrews 
1895 — Frank  Andrews 
1896— Frank   Andrews 
r897— J.  T.  Wynne 
r898— J,  T    Wynne 


Eli  P.  Watson 
W.  B.  Andrus 
C.  E.  Watson 
A.  D.  Dunning 
A.  D.  Dunning 
Nelson  Fisk 
Samuel  Fisk 
C,  L.  Horning 
C.  L.  Horning 
C.  L.  Horning 
C.  L.  Horning 
C,  L.  Horning 
Daniel  Leggett 
Daniel  Leggett 
John  L.  Hughes 
John  L.  Hughes 
L.  D.  Nichols 
H.  D.  Edgarton 
H.  D.  Edgarton 
James  C.  Leggett 
James  C.  Leggett 
James  C.  Leggett 
Henry  J.  Leggett 
Weslev  F.  Tefft 
Wesley  F.  Tefft 
Wesley  F.  Tefft 
Wesley  F.  Tefft 
Wesley  F.  Tefft 
Wesley  F.  Tefft 
G.  A.  Miner 
Weslev  S.  Tefft 
Wesley  S.  Tefft 
Samuel  Fisk 
Gilbert  A.  Dunning 
Gilbert  A.  Dunning 
Wesley  S.  Tefft 
James  L.  Felton 
James  L.  Felton 
Wesley  S.  Tefft 
Weslev  S  Tefft 
Wesley  S.  Tefft 
Wesley  S.  Tefft 
William  MacDougall 
Frank  Andrews 
Frank  Andrews 
William  MacDougall 
William  MacDougall 
William  MacDougall 
J.  Monroe  Kent 
J,  Monroe  Kent 


Randall  Brooks 
John  S.  Gorton 
W.  C.  Rowe 
N    K.  Lonsbury 
J.  D.  Stone 
No  record. 
Alfred  Stone 
James  W.  Kent 
L.  D.  Nichols 
L.  D.  Nichols 
L   D.  Nichols 
L.  D.  Nichols 
M.  B.  Nichols 
George  Kent 
L.  D.   Nichols 
C.  A.  Miner 
C.  A.  Miner 
John  F.  Beebe 
John  G.  Kent 
John  G.  Kent 
John  G.  Kent 
James  W.  Kent 
James  W.  Kent 
George  Kent 
Samuel  Fisk 
Samuel  Fisk 
John  J.  Jones 
John  G.  Kent 
John  Cj.  Kent 
J    E.  Lonsbury 
F.  C  xM^Clelland 
Edgar  L.  Moon 
John  G.   Kent 
Frank  L.  Kent 
Frank  L.  Kent 
F.  C.  McClelland 
Frank  L.  Kent 
Frank  L.  Kent 
John  W.  Blair 
John  W.  Blair 
Granville  A.  Miner 
Patrick  McLaughlin 
Patrick  McLaughlin 
F.  C.  McClelland 
F.  C.  McClelland 
Granville  A.  Miner 
John  Frost 
John  Frost 
Martin  C.  Miner 
Martin  C.  Miner 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


I8c,<^-J.  T.  Wynne 

William  MacDougall 

William  Earley 

1900— J.  T.  Wynne 

William  MacDougall 

William  Earley 

1901— F.   C.   McClelland 

C.  E.  Shepard 

Martin  C.  Miner 

iyo2 — J,  Monroe  Kent 

C.  E.  Shepard 

Martin  C.  Miner 

1903— J.  Monroe  Kent 

C.  E.  Shepard 

James  Roblyer 

1904— J.  Monroe  Kent 

George  W.  Town  send 

James  Roblyer 

^905— J-  Monroe  Kent 

Frank  A.  Taylor 

James  A.  Braceliii 

1906 — J.  Monroe  Kent 

Frank  A.  Taylor 
Wayi-and  Tow.vbhh'. 

James  A.  Bracelin 

S!il>crzisor 

Clerk 

Treasurer 

1844— George  W.  Barncf 

i   Luther  Martin 

0.  IL  Rounds 

1845— Joel  Brownson 

S.  B.  Hooker 

William  H.  H.  Gregg 

1846— Stephen  S.  GerniondS.  B.  Hooker 

Abel  Angel 

1847 — Nelson  Chambers 

Lnther  Martin 

Abel  Angel 

1848— Joel  Brownson 

Nelson  Chambers 

William  H.  H.  Grtgg 

1849— Abel  Angel 

Stephen  S.  Gemiond 

H.  Gardner 

1850— Abel  Angel 

S.  S.  Germond 

H.  Gardner 

1851— Abel  Angel 

S.  S.  Germond 

H.  Gardner 

iS^2— Abel  Ange! 

A.  Mosher 

H.  Gardner 

T853-Abel  Angel 

A.  Mosher 

H.  Gardner 

TS54— Abel  Angel 

A.  Mosher 

H.  Gardner 

1855— Abel  Angel 

George  Haywood 

H   Gardner 

1856— Abel  Angel 

G.  B.  Manchester 

H.  Gardner 

1S57— Abel  Angel 

George  Havwood 

H.  Gardner 

1858— Abel  Angel 

Ralph  Pratt 

H.  Gardner 

iS=;q— Abel  Angel 

Ralph  Pratt 

H.  Gardner 

t86o— Abel  Angel 

T.  J.  Linton 

H.  Gardner 

1S61— Ralph  Pratt 

David  M.  Swctt 

H.  Gardner 

1862— Abe!  Angel 

W.  R.  Harrison 

H.  Gardner 

1S63— Abel  Angel 

Edwin  E.  Hovt 

H.  Gardner 

1864— Abel  Angel 

William  H.  White 

H.  Gardner 

iSfic;— Abel  Angel 

E.  G.  Seaver 

H.  Gardner 

i86f^Abel  Angel 

E.  G.  Seaver 

H.  Gardner 

1S67— Abel  Ange! 

G.  C.  Crt)odwin 

H.  Gardner 

.868— Abel  Ange! 

H.  C.  Garrett 

H.  Gardner 

T869— Abel  Angel 

Hiram  S.  Warren 

H.  Gardner 

1870— Abel  Angel 

William  R,  Harrison 

N.  Chambers 

1871— Abel  Angel 

Lee  Denel 

Frank  Heniker 

1S72— Abel  Angel 

C.  H.  Adams 

Frank  Heniker 

T873— Orrin  W.  Nash 

William  V.  Hoyt 

William  L.  Heazlit 

1874— Abel  Angel 

William  V.  Hoyt 

William  L.  Heazlit 

!R75— Abel  Angel 

William  V.  Hoyt 

William  L.  Heazlit 

1S76— David  Stockdale 

William  V.  Hovt 

Lee  Denel 

,877— David  Stockdale 

L.  D.  Chappie 

Lee  Dene! 

-878_Dav!d  Stockdale 

L,  D.  Chappie 

William  Stackdale 

,879— David  Stockdale 

L.  D.  Chappie 

Charles  H.  Adams 

T88o~David  Stockdale 

L.  D.  Chappie 

Charles  H.  Adams 

18S1— David  Stockdale 

L   D.  Chappie 

R.  M.  Congdon 

1882— David  Stockdale 

L  D.  Chappie 

R.  M.  Congdon 

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G50 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


Fred.  D.  Quinlan  L.  M.  Doxey 

Fred.  D.  Quinlan  L.  M.  Doxey 

C.  E.  Davison  L.  M.  Doxey 

C.  E.  Davison  L.  M.  Doxey 

L.  D.  Chappie  L.  M.  Doxey 

L.  D.  Chappie  John  C.  Yeakey 

George  A.  Mosher  William  L.  Heazlit 

George  A.  Mosher  William  L.  Heazlit 

L.  D.  Chappie  S.  S.  Fox 

L   D.  Chappie  WiUiam  L.  Heazlit 

George  A.  Mosher  WiUiam  L.  Heazlit 

George  A.  Mosher  Arthur  Denel 

George  A.  Mosher  Arthur  Denel 

George  A.  Mosher  L.  D.  Chappie 

George  A.  Mosher  John  C.  Yeakey 

George  A.  Mosher  Frank  Chamberlain 

George  A.  Mosher  Frank  Chamberlain 

Georg-e  A.  Mosher  h'rank  Chamberlain 

_  ,    , ,    ,  F,  Chamberlain 

George  A.  Mosher  ^y.  L.  Heazlit 

IQ02 — S.  S.  Fox  George  A.  Mosher  Frank  Chamberlain 

1^3 — Frank  Chamberlain  John  B.  Stockdale  Harry  R.  Rickett 

1904— Frank  Chamberlain  Guert  V.  Fales  Harry  R.  Rickett 

1005 — Frank  Chamberlain  George  A.  Mosher  Charles  J.  Ross 

rriofi — Frank  Chamberlain  Walter  B.  Sherwood  Charles  J.  Ross 


i883— David  Stockdale 
1884— David  Stockdale 
1S85— R.  M.  Congdon 
1886— R.  M.  Congdon 
1887— R.  M:  Congdon 
1888— R.  M.  Congdon 
18S9— R.  M.  Congdon 
1890 — R.  M.  Congdon 
1891 — R.  M.  Congdon 
1892 — S.  S.  Fox 
1893 — S.  S.  Fox 
1S94 — S.  S.  Fox 
1S95— S.  S.  Fox 
1896 — S,  S.  Fox 
1897— S,  S.  Fox 
1898— S.  S.  Fox 
1899 — S.  S.  Fox 
1900 — S.  S.  Fox 

1901 — S.  S.  Fox 


President 

1858— Henrv  H.  Booth 
1859— Thomas  C.  Jenner 
i860 — Alanson  Case 
,861— C.  W.  Calkins 
[862 — Ira  Chaffee 
T863— Charles  R.  Wilkes 
1864— E.  B.  Bassett 
1865— C  W.  Calkins 
1866 — Joseph  Fisk 
1867 — Ira  Chaffee 
i5<68— Ira  Chaffee 
1869— W.  B.  Jenner 
1870— F.  J.  Littlejohn 
1871— F.  J.  Littlejohn 
T872— John  W.  Stone 
1873— F.  J.  Littlejohn 
1874— F.  J.  Littlejohn 
187  s — Horace  B.  Peck 
T876— W.  C.  Weeks 
jp.yy — John  M.  Mendel 
1878— b.  C.  Henderson 
1S79 — Henry  F.  Thomas 


Allegan  Village. 
Clerk   or  Recorder 
E.  E.  Bassett 
E.  B.  Bassett 
E.  B.  Bassett 
E.  B.  Bassett 
E.  B.  Bassett 
D.  Jf.  Arnold 
Silas  E.  Stone 
D.  J.  Arnold 
D.  J.  Arnold 
James  F.  Stack 
Frank  T.  Higgins 
T.  F.  Allev 
A.  E.  Calkins 
G.  D.  Smith 
M.  T.  Ryan 
M.  T.  Rvan 
S.  P.  Stanlev 
S.  P.  Stanlev 
S.  P.  Stanlev 
J.  M.  Killian 
S.  P.  Stanley 
Frank  D.  Stuck 


J-Tomcr  G.  Case 
jVmos  P.  Bush 
Amos  P.  Biish 
Amos  P.  Bush 
.  Amos  r.  Bt!sh 
A.  S.  Butler 

H.  C.  Smith 
T.  D.  Bush 
H,  C.  Smith 
George  Geppert 
George  D,  Smith 
George  D.  Smith 
George  Geppert 
George  Geppert 
Irving  F.  Clapp 
Irvine  F.  Clapp 
Silas  E.  Stone 
Silas  E.  Stone 
W.  B.  Tenner 
H.  B.  Peck 
W.  T.  Clark 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


6S1 


iS8o — Andrew  Oliver,  Sr. 
j88i— Andrew  Oliver,  Sr. 
JS82 — A.  E.  Calkins 
1883— E.  A.  Fenn 
1884— P.  O.  Littlejohn 
1S85— Elam  A.  Feiin 
iS86— John  M.  Mendel 
1887 — John  H.  Eppink 
1888— J.  W.  Chaddock 
I S89— Hamilton  Hart 
1890 — Phihp  Padgliam 
1891— W.  J.  Pollard 
1892—0.  G.  Vahue 
1893 — Charles  H.  Adams 
1894 — David  Stockdale 
189s — Albert  Lipper 
1896 — Horace  H.  Pope 
1897— La  Fayette  Stuch 
1898— Henry  F.  Thomas 
1899 — Henry   F.  Thomas 
igoo — John  H.  Krumbein 
1901 — John  H.  Krumbein 
1902 — Gustav  Stern 
1903 — M.    B.    McAlpine 
1904 — George  Oliver 
IQ05 — Thomas  Cook 
IQ06— Frank  H.  Williams 


Prcsidcnl 
1870 — C.  A.  Ensign 
1871— D.  W.  Wiley 
1872— D.  W,  Wiley 
if?73— Reuben  Smith 
ifi74— Thomas  Gray 
1S75 — Thomas  Gray 
1S76— D.  McLean 
1877 — D.  McLean 
1878— W.  S.  Gill 
iS70— J.  S.  Pavne 
1880— D.  W.  Wiley 
1881— James  Boyles 
rSSa— James  Bovles 
i'^83— Charles  W.  Moore 
i88i— T.  B.  Dntcher 
iSSi:— T.  B.  Dntcher 
1886— T.  B.  Dntcher 
1887— T.  B.  Dntcher 
1888 — James  Boyles 
1889 — Jonas  S.  Crouse 


Joseph  M.  Killian 
Joseph  M.  Killian 
Joseph  M.  Killian 
Joseph  M.  Killian 
Joseph  M.  Killian 
Joseph  M.  Killian 
Joseph  M.  Killian 
Joseph  M.  Killian 
John  F.  Dryden 
John  F.  Dryden 
John  F.  Dryden 
Charles  E.  Bassett 
John  F.  Dryden 
Edward  J.  Wagner 
Edward  J.  Wagner 
Edward  J.  Wagner 
Edward  J.  Wagner 
George  R.  Smith 
George  R.  Smith 
George  R.  Smith 
William  H.  Dorgan 
Charles  F.  Davison 
Charles  F.  Davison 
Charles  F.  Davison 
Frank  A.  Ewer 
Frank  A.  Ewer 
Andrew  F,  Schumann 

Douglas  \"illage 
Clerk 
D.  C.  Putnam 
John  Kirby 
John  Kirby 
John  Kirby 
John  Kirby 
John  Kirby 
D.  C.  Putnam 
Tohn  Kirby 
Tohn  Kirby- 
N.  C.  Firman 
N,  C.  Firman 
WiUard  S.  Gill 
Willard  S.  Gill 
Martin   Gray 
Martin   Gray 
Martin  Gray 
Martin    Gray 
Martin    Gray 
Martin    Gray 
Martin  Gray 


Edwin  R.  Morgan 
Perry  J.  Davis 
H.  B.  Peck 
Charles  R.  Wilks 
C.  R.  Wilks 
Leon  Chichester 
Clarence  G.  Messenger 
Clarence  G.  Messenger 
Clarence  G.  Messenger 
Clarence  G.  Messenger 
Fred  L  Chichester 
Charles  Fairfield 
Charles  Fairfield 
Herman  H.  Cook 
Herman  H.  Cook 
James  H.  Smith 
Edwin  C.  Bacon 
Volney  Ferris 
Irving  A.  Brown 
I^eonard  F.  Solendine 
Frank  A.  Ewer 
Frank  A.  Ewer 
Herbert  E.  Elliott 
Herbert  E.  Elliott 
Hale  P.  Bartlett 
Hale  P.  Bartlett 
William   Berrv 


C.  McDonald 
L.  A.  Upson 
Joseph  Gerber 
Thomas  Gray 

D.  W.  Wiley 
Thomas  Gray 
D.  McLean 
D.  McLean 
D,  McLean 
D.  McLean 
Jonas  S.  Crouse 
Jonas  S.  Crouse 
Jonas  S.  Crouse 
John  W.  Dickey 
Frank  Kirby 
Frank    Kirby 
I^ewis  A.  Upson 
Frank  Kirbv 
Frank  Kirb'v 

D.  B.  Riley 


Hosted  by 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


1890— William  Kerr 

C.    M.   Winslow 

J.  E- 

Durham 

1891— Wilbei   Crose 

James  B.  Firman 

j.  £. 

Durham 

1892— H.  A.  McDonald 

James  B.  Firman 

George  H.  Plummer 

1893— H.  A.  Stroud 

C.  M.  Winslow 

(;eorge  H.  Plummer 

1894— Frank  Wade 

C.  M.  Winslow 

Elmei 

■  E.  Weed 

1895— J.  S.  Crouse 

L.  W.  McDonald 

J.  E. 

Devine 

1896— Elmer  E.  Weed 

D.  B.  Riley 

J.  E. 

Durham 

1897— Elmer  E.  Weed 

D.  B.  Riley 

George  Menold 

1^98— Elmer  E.  Weed 

D.  B.  Riley 

F.  A. 

Knickerbocker 

T899 — Geo.  H.  Plummer 

L.  W.  McDonald 

F.  A. 

Knickerbocker 

T900— D.  M.  Gerber 

L.  W.  McDonald 

George  H.  Plummer 

1901 — D.  M.  Gerber 

L.  W.  McDonald 

Frank 

:   Kerr 

1902— H.  A    Stroud 

J.  E.  Devine 

F.  A. 

Knickerbocker 

1903—/.  E.  Durham 

I.  E.  Devine 

F.  A. 

Knickerbocker 

1904 — Frank  Wade 

Wilham  G.  Tisdale 

Frank  Kerr 

1905 — Frank  Wade 

William  G.  Tisdale 

Frank 

:  Kerr 

loo^^H.  A.  McDonald 

William  G.  Tisdale 
OisEGO  Village. 

L.  W 

.  McDonald 

Prcsidcnl 

Clerk 

Treasurer 

186c;— Willard  Higgins 

F.  Chadsey 

E.  M. 

Allen 

l%6_William  H.  Ingram  James  Smith 

1867 — Abram  Hoag 

James  Smith 

E.  M. 

Allen 

1S68— Willard  Higgins 

James  Smith 

Willard  Higgins 

J869— Willard  Higgins 

James  Smith 

Willard  Higgins 

1S70 — Willard  Higgins 

J.   M.   Ballow 

S.  K. 

Potter 

i87i^T.  B.  Hinkson 

J.   M.    Ballow 

Alford  Whitcomb 

T872— T.  B.  Hinkson 

Huron  Hall 

Alford  Whitcomb 

1873— R.  R.  Rich 

R.  R.  Rich 

M,  D, 

,  Prindle 

1874— Lenora  Foster 

J.  M.  Ballow 

Tohn  . 

B.  Millard 

1S75— H.  Hall 

J.  M.  Ballow 

A.  T. 

B.  Palmer 

1876 — Herman  L.  Isham 

fames  Smith 

A.  T. 

B.  Palmer 

,877— Daniel  M.  Hall 

James  Smith 

A.  T. 

B.  Palmer 

1878— Daniel  M.  Hall 

James  Smith 

A.  T. 

B.  Palmer 

1879— Stephen  B.  Hoag 

G.  B.  Norton 

A.  T. 

B.  Palmer 

1880— A.  J.  \'an  Wyck 

A.  T.  B.  Palmer, 
assistant  clerk 
C.  A.  Barnes 

T.  W. 

.  Sherwood 

iS8t— W.  J.  Rice 

C.  A.  Barnes 

IS-  A, 

Xevins 

1882— P.  G.  Hoag 

C,  A.  Barnes 

IS.  A. 

Nevins 

*i883— Stephen  B.  Hoag 

1892— F.  H.  Milham 

C.  P.  Hiibley 

C,  H. 

Prentice 

1893— C.  M.  Edmonds 

M.  0.  Brockway 

A.  A. 

Thaver 

.1894— F.  H.  Milham 

M.  0.  Brockway 

A.  A. 

ThaVer 

1895— G.  E.  Bardeen 

M.  0.  Brockway 

C.  A. 

Barnes 

1896— G.  E.  Bardeen 

M.  0.  Brockway 

C.  A. 

Barnes 

1897 — John  Lenton 

M.  0.  Brockwav 

G.  C. 

Nevins 

1898— G.  E.  Bardeen 

E.  J.  Rose 

G.  C. 

Xevins 

T899— G,  E.  Bardeen 

E.  J.  Rose 

G.  H. 

Easton 

*Kecorils   missing  for  yi 

■ars   1HS4  to  ISi>],  inclnHiv 

Hosted  by 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


]9O0 — C.  E.  Stuck 
ifjoi— G.  E.  Bartleen 
1902 — G.  E.  Bardeen 
1903 — A.  Kohlenstein 
1904 — C.  F.  Struty 
ifi05— T.  E.  Clark 
1906— T.  E.  Clark 


1.S69 — ^Joseph  W.  Hicks 
187a — Jonas  Rouse 
i87i_Henrv  H,  Mills 
1^(72— A.  H.  Hill 
ig73_joseph  W.  Hicks 
T874— Joseph  W.  Hicks 
1875— Joseph  W.  Hicks 
1876 — Morrison  Bailey 
1S77 — Daniel  Earl 
1878 — Morrison  Bailey 
1879 — Daniel  Earl 
iSSo — Ogden  Tomlinson 
1S81 — O.  Tomlinson 
T882 — Daniel  Earle 
1S83— O.  J.  Woodard 
■,-884—0.  J.  Woodard 
1885— Joseph  W.  Hicks 
i?«6— Joseph  W.  Hicks 
1S87— Joseph  W.  Hicks 
1888— Joseph  W.  Hicks 
]88g— F.  M.  Stonus 
[S90 — F.  M.  Stonus 
1891— F.  M.  Stonus 
1892— P\  M.  Stonus 
.1893 — F.  M.  Stonus 
T894— F.  M.  Stonus 
1895— F.  M.  Stonus 
1^96— L.   E.  Irland 
1897— L.  E.  Irlaiid 
1898— F.  M.  Stonus 
1899— F.  M.  Stonus 
ujoo — F.  M.  Stonus 
1901 — F.  M.  Stonus 
1902 — F.  A.   Harwood 
J903 — F.   A.   Harwood 
1904— F.    A.    Harwood 
'905 — A.  L.  Nichols 
(906 — F.  A.  Harwood 


E.  J.  Rose 
J.  S.  Brock 
Grant  Gilbert 
William   Futlerton 
William  Fullerton 
G.  H.  Easton 
G.  H.  Easton 


1'lai.v 


Clcrk 


H.  W.  Church 
John  PL  Madden 
Oziel  H.  Rounds,  Jr. 
Clarence  ^L  Giles 
John  S.  Havens 
John  S.  Havens 
John  S.  Havens 
G.  W.  Merriam 
George  Scales 
George  Scales 
Charles  D.  Hart 
Charles  D.  Hart 
Charles  D.  Hart 
Peter  Hatfield 
Peter   Hatfield 
Peter  Hatfield 
Peter  Hatfield 
Peter  Hatfield 
Peter  Hatfield 
Fred  F.  Patterson 
Fred  F.  Patterson 
Fred  F.  Patterson 
Fred  F.  Patterson 
Fred  F.  Patterson 
Fred  F.  Patterson 
Fred  F.  Patterson 
Fred  F.  Patterson 
Fred  F.  Patterson 
Fred  F.  Patterson 
Fred  F.  Patterson 
Fred  F.  Patterson 
Fred  F.  Patterson 
Fred  F.  Patterson 
Fred  F.  Patterson 
Fred  F.  Patterson 
Fred  F.  Patterson 
Fred  F.  Patterson 
Fred  F.  Patterson 


G.  W.  Campbell 
(.;.  W.  Campbell 
C.  E.  Pipp 
Frank  McCall 
W.  A.  Mansfield 
W-  A.  Mansfield 
C.  T.  Taylor 


Treasurer 
A.  H.  Hill 
William  Hay 
O.  J.  Woodard 
O.  J.  Woodard 
(.;.  (.;.  Soule 
G.  G.  Soule 
G.  G.  Soule 
<;.  G.  Soule 
G.  G.  Soule 
G.  W.  Merriam 
H.  W.  Chamberlin 
William  Crispe 
LL  W.  Chamberlin 

h'.  W.'^Chamberlin 
H.  W.  Chamberlin 
F.  M.  Stonus 
O,  11.  Granger 
O.  ti.  Granger 
O.  ]>.  Granger 
J.  H.  Hitchcock 
J.  A.  Sherwood 
J.  A.  Sherwood 
J.  A.  Sherwood 
Tames  N.  Hil! 
T.  S.  ^^adden 
}.  S.  Madden 
C.  W.  ^tachemer 
C.  W.  Machemer 
C.  E.  Spencer 
C.  E.  Spencer 
C.  W.  Machemer 
C.  W.  Machemer 
C.  E.  Spencer 
E.  J.  Chart 

E.  J.  Chart 
Fred  R.  Chart 

F.  C.  Smith 


Hosted  by 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


President 
i868~H.  B.  Moore 
1869— H.  B.  Moore 
1870 — John  C.  Bacon 
T871 — S.  A.  Morrison 
1872 — R.  Densmore 
1873 — Isaac  Wilson 
1874 — Isaac  Wilson 
1875— D.  L.  Barber 
1876— D.  L.  Barber 
1877— L,  B.  Coates 
1878— H.  B.  Moore 
1879— A.  B,  Taylor 
if-So— A.  B.  Taylor 
1881— J.  G.  Williams 
1882— W.  B.  Griffin 
i«83— D.  L.  Barber 
1884— D.  A.  Winslow 
,88s— D,  A.  Winslow 
iS:86— J.  F.  Henrv 
i«87_j.  F.  Henrv 
,888— J.  F,  Henrv 
1889— J.  F.  Henrv 
1.S90— J.  F.  Henry 
1801— J.  F.  Henrv 
1K92— J.  F.  Henry 
1893— J.  M.  Pond 
1804— F.  Wade 
1895— F.  Wade 
T896— F.  Wade 
r897_S.  C.  Reed 
7898—5.  C  Reed 
T899— F.  Wade 
1900 — J,  H.  Pear 
1901 — J.  H.  Pear 
1902 — John  KoTiing 
'903 — J-  H.  Pear 
J904 — J.  H.  Pear 
iqos — H.  M.  Bird 
1906— H.  M.  Bird 


President 
1868— Edward  M.  Fitch 
1869— Edward  M.  Fitch 
1870— James  F.  Halbert 
1871 — William    Seaver 
1872— William    Seaver 


Saugatuck  Village. 

Clerk 
Hiram  R.  Ellis 
Hiram  R.  Ellis 
Hiram  R.  Ellis 
Henry  Bird,  Jr. 
Henry  Bird,  Jr. 
R.  B.  Newnham 
R.  B.  Newnham 
R.  B.  Newnham 
R.  B.  Newnham 
R.  B.  Newnham 
R.  B.  Newnham 
R.  B,  Newnham 
R.  B.  Newnham 
J.  M.  Pond 

D.  A.  Winslow 
R.  B.  Newnham 
R.  B.  Newnham 
R.  B.  Newnham 
R.  B.  Newnharn 
R.  B.  Newnham 
R.  B.  Newnham 
R.  B.  Newnham 
R.  B.  Newnham 
R.  B.  Newnham 

R.  B.  Newnham         '' 
R.  B.  Newnham 
R.  B.  Newnham 
Charles  Phew 
L.  E.  Veits 
L.  E.  Veits 
L.  E.  Veits 
L.  E.  Veits 

E.  S.  Pride 
H.  M.  Bird 
E.  S.  Pride 
Aug.  Pfaff 
Aug,  Pfaff 
Aug.  Pfaff 
Aug.  Pfaff 

W.\YLAi>fn  Village. 

Clerk 
H.  C.  Garrett 
H.  C.  Garrett 
J.  B.  Smith 
David  Stockdale 
E.  M.  Fitch 


Treasurer 
Diodet  Rogers 

L.  O,  Tanner 
J.  B.  Bacon 
John  Nies 
A.  B.  Taylor 
A.  B.  Tavlor 
A.  B.  Taylor 
A.  B.  Taylor 
C.  Whitney 
C.  Whitney 
C.  Whitney 
C.  Whitney 

C.  Whitney 

S.  A.  Morrison 
S.  A.  Morrison 
S.  A.  Morrison 
S.  A.  Morrison 
S.  A.  Morrison 
S.  A.  Morrison 
S.  A.  Morrison 
S.  A.  Morrison 
N.  L.  Rowe 
N.  L,  Rowe 
N.  L.  Rowe 
A.  B.  Taylor 

D.  L.  Barber 
A.  B.  Taylor 
A.  B.  Taylor 
J.  A.  Aliber 
D.  A.  Heath 
D.  A.  Heath 
D.  A.  Heath 
D.  A.  Heath 
D.  A.  Heath 
W.  R.  Takkin 
C,  E.  Bird 

C.  E.  Bird 

W.  G.  Edgecomb 


Norton  Briggs 
Norton  Briggs 
Norton  Briggs 
Norton  Briggs 
Norton  Briees 


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HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY 


1873— Minot  Hoyt 
1S74 — Joliii  Graham 
1875— William  E.  White 
i?76— William  Seaver 
1877 — William  Seaver 
1878— William  Seaver 
1879— David  Stockdale 
1S80— David  Stockdale 
i88t— David  Stockdale 

1882 — William  Seaver 
1883— William  V.  Hovt 
1884— William  V.  Hoyt 
iS8s— Ensign   W.   Pickett 
1S86— J.  W.   Humphry 
1887 — James  H.  Avery 
:888— Edward  S.  Fitch 
1889 — John  Chappie 
1890— John  Chappie 
T891 — John  Chappie 
T892 — Ensign  W.  Pickett 
T893— Eli  F.  Clark 
1894 — Edward  S.  Fitch 
1895 — Edward  S.  Fitch 
1896— Eli  F.  Clark 
1897 — David  Stockdale 
i^-gS— David  Stockdale 
1899 — John  C.  Yeakey 
I  goo — William    Stockdale 
1901 — William    Stockdale 
1002 — David  Stockdale 
!903— Frank  Coville 
1904— William    Stockdale 
1905— L.   F.   Wallbrecht 
1906 — William    Stockdale 


W.  V.  Hovt 
W.  V.  Hoyt 
W.  V.  Hoyt 
W.  V.  Hoyt 
John  Chapide 
John  Chappie 
John  Chappie 
John  Chappie 
John  Chappie 
O.  E.  White 
David  Stockdale 
Peter  Ross 
Peter  Ross 
John  Chappie 
John  Chappie 
John  Chappie 
Georg-e  A.  Mosher 
George  A.  Mosher 
George  A.  Mosher 
William  V.  Hoyt 
William  V.  Hovt 
William  V.  Hoyt 
George  A.  Mosher 
George  A.  Mosher 
L.  D.  Chappie 
George  A.  Mosher 
Olis  E.  Harwood 
George  A.  Mosher 
George  A.  Mosher 
Frank  C.  Elliott 
D.  Jay  Chappie 
D.  Jay  Chappie 
D.  Jay  Chappie 
D.  Jay  Chappie 
Walter  B.  Sherwood 


Norton  Briggs 
Norton  Briggs 
Eli  F.  Clark 
Frank  Henika 
Frank  Henika 
T.  B.  Garrett 

B.  D.  Smith 
Bradley   Smhh 
Bradley   Smith 

Bradley  Smith 
Bradley  Smith 
John  Chappie 
John  Graham 
William  L.  Heazlit 
William  I,.  Heazlit 
William  L.  Heazlit 
William  L.  Heazlit 
William  L.  Heazlit 
William  L.  Heazlit 
William  L.  Heazlit 
William  L.  Heazlit 
William  L.  Heazlit 
Leander  D.  Chappie 
Frank  E.  Pickett 
William  L.  Heazlit 
William  L.  Heazlitt 
Ensign  W.  Pickett 
William  L.  Heazlit 
William  L.  Heazlit 
A  la  II  son  Tanner 
Samuel  J.  Newton 
Samuel  J.  Newton 

C.  G.  Deven water 
C.  G.  Devenwater 


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