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A  HISTORY 

OF 

VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 
MICHIGAN 

A  Narrative  Account  of  its   Historical 

Progress,  its  People,  and  its 

Principal  Interests. 


BY 
CAPTAIN  O.  W.  ROWLAND 


VOLUME  I 


ILLUSTRATED 


PUBLISHERS 

THE  LEWIS  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

CHICAGO  AND  NEW  YORK 
1912 


PREFACE 


More  than  eighty  years  have  elapsed  since  the  first  settlements 
were  made  within  the  limits  of  Van  Buren  county.  None  of  those 
earliest  pioneers  are  left  to  tell  the  story,  which  at  this  late  day 
rests  in  tradition,  in  letters  that  chance  to  have  been  preserved,  in 
ancient  public  documents  that  have  been  placed  on  the  records  of 
the  county,  and  in  former  publications  that  have  been  issued.  And 
while  many  facts  set  forth  are  within  the  personal  knowledge  of 
the  author  of  this  "History  of  Van  Buren  County/7  he  has  drawn 
liberally  from  all  available  and  authentic  sources.  He  has  freely 
used  the  information  contained  in  a  history  of  the  county  pub- 
lished a  generation  ago,  has  corresponded  with  and  interviewed 
many  of  his  friends  and  older  residents  of  the  county  in  various 
localities,  and  has  endeavored  in  all  practicable  ways  to  gather 
the  most  authentic  matters  in  reference  to  the  county  of  which 
he  has  been  a  resident  for  the  past  fifty-five  years.  His  familiarity 
with  the  public  records  of  the  county  enabled  him  to  obtain  many 
facts  pertaining  especially  to  the  earliest  records  of  the  county 
that  he  might  not  otherwise  have  been  able  to  set  forth. 

The  period  which  has  been  spent  in  the  pleasant  task  involved  in 
the  preparation  of  this  work  has  been  all  too  limited,  although  even 
if  the  period  covered  by  the  author's  labors  had  been  longer,  the 
history,  doubtless,  would  still  have  been  incomplete  and  faulty. 
This  is  the  nature  of  everything  human,  especially  the  writing  of 
history.  Yet  the  author  believes  that  the  work,  as  a  whole,  is  cor- 
rect, and  knows  that  his  labors,  and  those  of  his  associates,  have 
been  conscientiously  performed. 

Many  things  have  been  omitted  that  might  have  been  recorded  if 
time  and  space  had  permitted.  As  it  is,  by  the  courtesy  of  the 
publishers,  the  compiler  has  been  permitted  to  quite  largely  exceed 
the  original  plan  of  the  work.  In  style  of  illustration,  printing 
and  binding,  also,  all  pains  have  been  taken  to  make  the  work  at- 
tractive to  its  patrons. 

To  all  those  friends  who  have  come  to  his  assistance,  the  author 
here  extends  his  grateful  acknowledgments.  Space  will  not  per- 
mit special  mention  of  each  to  be  made,  but  to  his  able  assistants, 
Hon.  Charles  J.  Monroe,  Hon.  Jason  Woodman,  Dr.  George  H. 
Cornish,  Hon.  C.  H.  Engle  and  Hon.  Thomas  J.  Cavanaugh,  he 
tenders  his  sincere  thanks  for  the  invaluable  advice  and  assistance 
they  have  rendered  in  the  preparation  of  the  work,  which  the  au- 
thor trusts  may  prove  of  interest  to  its  readers,  of  value  to  the  citi- 
zens of  the  county,  instructive  to  the  rising  generation,  helpful 
in  commemoration  of  the  early  pioneers,  and  preservative  of  histori- 
cal matters  that  ought  not  to  be  forgotten. 

Oran  W.  Rowland. 


111 


Contents 

CHAPTER  I 

ABORIGINAL  HISTORY 

First  Church  Built  by  Indians — Chief  Pokagon's  Address— 
Pokagon's  Last  Wigwam— Julia  Pokagon's  Address— Old 
Wapsey — Do  Indians  Cry,  Laugh  or  Joke? — Algonquin  Le- 
gend of  Man's  Creation— Legend  of  Paw  Paw  and  the  Paw 
Paw  Valley — Algonquin  Legends  of  South  Haven — After 
Me-me-og  (Squabs)  in  Van  Buren  County— The  "Buck 
Pony"  Ride— "Never  Carry  a  Revolver,  Boys"— Saw-Kaw's 
Love  Story — Me-me-og,  the  Wild  Pigeons 1-52 


CHAPTER  II 

FOREIGN  AND  AMERICAN  GOVERNMENT 

French  Period  (1634-1764)— English  Period  (1760-1796)  — 
Territorial  (American)  Period— Michigan  as  a  State- 
Population  of  the  State  (1810-1910)— Population  of  the 
County  (1840-1910)— Property  Valuation  of  State  and 
County  (1851-1911)    53"76 


CHAPTER  III 

CIVIL  AND  EARLY  HISTORY 

First  Michigan  County— Van  Buren  County  Created— Civil 
and  Judicial  Organization— Township  Organization— Pioneer 
Pictures— Van  Buren  County  Pioneer  Association— Edwin 

Barnum's  Poem — Oslerism  Reviewed   77-97 

v 


vi  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  IV 
ROADS  AND  RAILROADS 

Noted  Indian  Trails — First  Michigan  White  Man's  Road — 
Territorial  and  State  Roads — The  Old  Stage  Routes — 
Plank  Roads — The  Paw  Paw  River — Railroads — The  Michi- 
gan Central — Kalamazoo  and  South  Haven  Railroad — The 
Paw  Paw  Railroad — Toledo  and  South  Haven  Railroad 
(Fruit  Belt  Line) — The  Pere  Marquette  Railway 98-114 


CHAPTER  V 

EDUCATIONAL  HISTORY 

Act  of  1827  Modified — Harassed  School  Inspectors — The 
Teachers'  Qualifications — Mrs.  Allen  Rice's  Reminiscences 
— The  Old  and  the  New 115-127 


CHAPTER  VI 

THE  COUNTY  SEAT 

Lawrence  as  the  County  Seat — Paw  Paw  Displaces  Lawrence 
— Proposed  County  Buildings — Old  Court  House  Com- 
pleted— South  Haven  Bids  for  County  Seat — Popular  Vote 
for  Paw  Paw — New  County  Buildings — Court  House  Corner- 
stone Laid — Cost  of  Present  County  Buildings 129-158 


CHAPTER  VII 

BENCH  AND  BAR 

State  Supreme  and  Circuit  Courts — County  Courts — First 
Circuit  Judge — Successors  of  Judge  Ransom — Judge  Fla- 
vtus  J.  Littlejohn — Thirty-sixth  Circuit  Created — Probate 
Judges — Van  Buren  County  Bar 159-167 


CONTENTS  vii 

CHAPTER  VIII 

POLITICS  OF  THE  COUNTY 

General  Elections — The  Parties  in  the  County — County 
Officers — Members  of  the  State  Legislature— Chairmen 
of  the  Board  of  Supervisors — Other  Important  Officials 
from  Van  Buren  County — Constitutional  Conventions — 
Proposed  Constitutional  Amendments — Van  Buren  County 
and  the  Liquor  Traffic 168-182 


CHAPTER  IX 

CIVIL  WAR  INFANTRY 

Sixth  Michigan  Infantry — Twelfth  Michigan  Infantry — 
Thirteenth  Michigan  Infantry — Stone  River — Seven- 
teenth Michigan  at  South  Mountain — Nineteenth  Michi- 
gan— Twenty-Fourth  Regiment — Twenty-Fifth  Michigan 
Infantry — Twenty-Eighth  Michigan  Infantry — Spanish- 
American  War    183-231 


CHAPTER  X 

CIVIL  WAR  CAVALRY 

First  Michigan — Third  Cavalry — Justice  to  Cavalry  Regi- 
ments— Fourth  Michigan  Cavalry — Capture  of  Jefferson 
Davis — Ninth  Michigan — Capture  of  Morgan — First  and 
Last 232-273 


CHAPTER  XI 

OTHER  COMMANDS 

First  Michigan  Engineers  and  Mechanics — First  Regiment 
Michigan  Light  Artillery — Van  Buren  County  Soldiers  in 
Other  Michigan  Regiments — Birge's  Western  Sharpshooters 
— Company  C,  Seventieth  New  York  Infantry — Other  Com- 
panies or  Regiments  274-310 


vin  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  XII 

GEOLOGY  OF  COUNTY 

The    Cambrian — Obdovician — The    Silurian    Age — Devonian — 
Lower  Carboniferous — The  Pleistocene   (Last  Chapter). 
311-317 

CHAPTER  XIII 

AGRICULTURE  AND  HORTICULTURE 

Western  Van  Buren — Lake  Michigan,  a  Benefactor — Fruit 
Raising  at  South  Haven — Fruit  Belt  Widens — Cooperation 
through  Societies — "Master  L.  H.  Bailey' ? — A.  S.  Dyckman 
and  T.  T.  Lyon — Crops  of  the  County — Semi-Agricultural  In- 
dustries— Agriculture  in  Eastern  Van  Buren — "Oak  Open- 
ings" First  Cultivated — Pioneer  Farm  Implements — After 
The  Civil  War— Live  Stock— Golden  Era  (1865-90)— The 
Lean  Years  of  the  Nineties — Development  of  the  Grape  In- 
dustry      319-331 

CHAPTER  XIV 

TALES  OF  THE  OLDEN  DAY 

Decatur  War  Scare — Snow  Not  Turned  to  Oil — -Fight  with 
a  Wolf  Pack — Wolf  Bounties — Woods  Full  of  "Painters" 
— Mrs.  Rice's  Reminiscences — Narrow  Escape  of  Edwin 
Mears — Indian  Mounds  in  Lawrence  Township — Joseph 
Woodman  Locates  at  Paw  Paw  (1835) — Stories  by  Mrs. 
Nancy  (Hicks)  Bowen — "Good  Times"  of  the  Olden  Day. 
332-341 

CHAPTER  XV 

FINANCIAL  AND  OTHER  INSTITUTIONS 

First  National  Bank,  Paw  Paw — The  Paw  Paw  Savings  Bank — 
First  National  Bank,  South  Haven — The  Citizens  State 
Bank,  and  First  State  Bank,  South  Haven — Banks  of  Deca- 
tur— Hartford  Banks — West  Michigan  Savings  Bank,  Ban- 
gor— The  Peoples  Bank  of  Bloomingdale — At   Gobleville, 


CONTENTS  ix 

Covert,  Lawrence  and  Lawton — South  Haven  Loan  and  Trust 
Company — Van  Buren  County  Farmers  Mutual  Fire  Insur- 
ance Company — Telegraph  and  Telephone  Lines 342-353 


CHAPTER  XVI 

THE  PRESS 

'Paw  Paw  Free  Press'7 — "Paw  Paw  Free  Press  and  Courier7' 
— "The  True  Northerner77 — "Decatur  Republican77 — "The 
Lawton  Leader77 — "Hartford  Day  Spring77 — "The  Bangor 
Advance  7  7 — Early  Lawrence  Newspapers — '  'Lawrence 
Times  7 ' — ' '  Bloomingdale  Leader  7  7— ' '  Gobleville  News  7  7 — 
South  Haven  Newspapers 354-368 


CHAPTER  XVII 

MEDICINE  AND  SURGERY 

Medical  Scientific  Research — Preventive  Medicine — Surgery — 
The  Country  Physician  and  the  Trained  Nurse — Early  Phy- 
sicians of  Van  Buren  County — Paw  Px\w  Physicians — Ban- 
gor— Gobleville — Hartford — Covert — Lawrence — Lawton  — 
The  Profession  in  South  Haven — South  Haven  City  Hos- 
pital— Decatur — The  Veterinary  School 369-392 

CHAPTER  XVIII 

TOWNSHIP  OF  ALMENA 

General  Description — Pioneer  Settlers  and  Institutions — 
Busy  Period  (1836-42) — Settlement  in  the  Northern  Sec- 
tions— Churches — Schools,  Supervisors,  Etc 393-400 

CHAPTER  XIX 

TOWNSHIP  OF  ANTWERP 

General  Description — Railroads,  Property  and  Population — 
Early  Settlement — Settlers  of  1836-8 — Settlers  in  South- 
ern Antwerp  Township — Post  Offices,  Roads  and  Hotels — 


:  CONTENTS 

Pioneer  Mills — Township  Elections  and  Officials — Educa- 
tional Statistics — Glen  Springs  Trout  Hatchery — Village 
of  Lawton — Village  of  Mattawan — Retrospect 401-423 


CHAPTER  XX 

TOWNSHIP  OF  ARLINGTON 

First  Election — First  Settler  Arrives — Major  Heath,  First 
Supervisor — The  Dangerous  Briggs  Brothers — Other  New 
York  Men — The  Hogmire  Family — Rugged  Work  of  the 
Pioneers— M.  H.  Hogmire  on  Pioneer  Times — New  Times  Bet- 
ter than  Old   424-436 


CHAPTER  XXI 

TOWNSHIP  OF  BANGOR 

Natural  Features — Early  Settlers — Pioneer  Tax  Payers — 
Civil  and  Educational — Sketch  by  Hon.  John  S.  Cross — In 
the  Civil  War — Progress  and  Prosperity — Village  of  Ban- 
gor— Village  of  Deerfield  437-447 


CHAPTER  XXII 

TOWNSHIP  OF  BLOOMINGDALE 

First  Settlements  and  Settlers — Taxes  and  Township  Govern- 
ment— Population  and  Education — Village  of  Blooming- 
dale — Mr.  Haven's  Sketch  of  the  Village — Churches  and 
Societies — Village  of  Gobleville 448-463 

CHAPTER  XXIII 

TOWNSHIP  OF  COLUMBIA 

Physical  Features  and  Railroads — Site  of  Breedsville  Settled 
— Property  Holders  and  Taxes  (1839) — Settlers  Prior  to 
1845 — Civil  and  Political — Present  Village  of  Breedsville 
— Berlamont — Columbia — Grand  Junction 464-473 


CONTENTS  *i 

CHAPTER  XXIV 

TOWNSHIP  OF  COVERT 

The  Original  Township — Physical  Features — Earliest  Set- 
tlers— Roads  and  Schools — Statistical  and  Political — The 
Village  of  Covert 474-481 

CHAPTER  XXV 

TOWNSHIP  OF  DECATUR 

First  White  Settler  of  the  County — First  Native  White 
Child — First  Gospel  Sermon  and  Pioneer  School — A.  B. 
Copley  on  Early  Days — Various  Pioneers — Civil  and  Polit- 
ical— Statistics — Village  of  Decatur — Retrospect  ...  482-494 

CHAPTER  XXVI 

TOWNSHIP  OF  GENEVA 

Roads  and  Physical  Features — Political  and  Educational — 
Pioneers  of  the  Township — Village  of  Lacota — Village  of 
Kibbie — General  Township  Progress 495-501 

CHAPTER  XXVII 

TOWNSHIP  OF  HAMILTON 

Civic  and  Political  Matters — Physical  Features — Taxpayers 
and  Taxes  of  1839 — First  Building  and  First  Permanent 
Settler — Also  Settled  Prior  to  1844 — Illustrative  of  the 
Pioneers  and  Their  Times — Schools,  Then  and  Now — The 
Hamilton  Township  Fair  502-512 

CHAPTER  XXVIII 

TOWNSHIP  OF  HARTFORD 

First  Things  and  Events — Allen's  Paper  Town — First  Ac- 
tual    Settlers — Territorial     and     Official — "When     the 


X11  CONTENTS 

World  Goes  Wrong  With  Me" — The  Village  of  Hartford — 
Educational  and  Professional — Churches  and  Societies — 
Business  and  Industries 513-532 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

TOWNSHIP  OF  KEELER 

Lakes  and  Resorts — Civil  Organization — First  Settlers  of 
Township — Wolcott  H.  Keeler — Settlers  of  1836-44 — Tax- 
payers, Property  and  Schools — Keeler  and  Other  Towns — 
General  View 533-542 

CHAPTER  XXX 

TOWNSHIP  OF  LAWRENCE 

Streams  and  Lakes — Early  Pioneers  and  Settlements — The 
Branch  Family — Judge  Jay  R.  Monroe — First  Marriage, 
Birth  and  Death — Roads  and  Mails — Flat-Boat  Traffic — 
Paper  Town  of  Van  Buren — Civil,  Educational  and  Polit- 
ical— Looking  Backward — Village  of  Lawrence — Churches 
and  Societies — Business  and  General  Features 543-563 

CHAPTER  XXXI 

TOWNSHIP  OF  PAW  PAW 

Original  Township  of  La  Fayette — Becomes  Paw  Paw  Town- 
ship— Lakes — The  Hardy  Pioneers — "Mr.  and  Mrs."  Pe-pe- 
yah — David  Woodman  's  Pioneer  Pictures — The  Paw  Paw 
Irrevocably  Crooked — Statistical,  Political,  Horticultural 
— Village  of  Paw  Paw 564-590 

CHAPTER  XXXII 

TOWNSHIP  OF  PINE  GROVE, 

Township  Organized — Shingles  as  Legal  Tenders — Marital  and 
Legal — Kalamazoo    and    South    Haven    Railroad — General 
Progress — Gobleville — Pine  Grove — Kendall — Mentha. 
591-597 


CONTENTS  xni 

CHAPTER  XXXIII 

TOWNSHIP  OP  PORTER 

First  Settlements  and  Settlers — The  Kinney  Settlement — 
The  Adams  Family — Township  Named  and  Organized — Educa- 
tional and  Political — A  Retrospect 598-602 

CHAPTER  XXXIV 

TOWNSHIP  OF  SOUTH  HAVEN 

Early  Elections  and  Officials — Property  and  Population — 
Jay  R.  Monroe,  First  White  Settler — Clark  and  Daniel 
Pierce — A.  S.  Dyckman's  Story — Pioneer  Steam  Sawmills — 
First  Institutions  and  Pioneers — Village  (now  City)  of 
South  Haven — The  Summer  Resort  Business — Schools, 
Churches  and  Societies — Municipal  and  Business  Matters — 
Pomologtcal  Society  and  Board  of  Trade 603-619 


CHAPTER  XXXV 

TOWNSHIP  OF  WAVERLY 

Physical  Features— Township  Named — The  Myers  Family — 
First  Wedding  Between  Pioneers — Covey  Hill — John  Scott 
— Other  Early  Settlers — From  the  Official  Records — Vil- 
lage of  Glendale 620-627 


INDEX 


Abbe,  Jesse,  410 

Abbott,  Elisha,  468 

Abell,  Charles  E.,  943 

Abrams,  Albert  H.,  1154 

Abrams,  James  E.,  759 

Ackley,  D.  C,  467 

Ackley,  Levi,  468 

Ackley,  William,  567 

Adams,  Frank  A.,  470 

Adams,  Franklin  B.,  112,  412,  602 

Adams,  Homer,  432 

Adams,  Horace  H.,  600 

Adams,  Norman  H.,  468,  470 

Adams,  Oscar,  634 

Adriance,  William  H.,  625 

Agard,  John,  567 

Agriculture  and  horticulture — Lake  Michigan 
a  benefactor,  319;  fruit  raising  at  South 
Haven,  320;  fruit-belt  widens,  321;  coopera- 
tion through  societies,  322;  "  Master  L.  H. 
Bailey,"  323;  A.  S.  Dyckman  and  T.  T. 
Lyon,  324;  crops  of  the  county,  324;  semi- 
agricultural  industries,  325;  agriculture  in 
eastern  Van  Buren,  325  ;  l '  Oak  openings ' ' 
first  cultivated,  326;  pioneer  farm  imple- 
ments, 327;  after  the  Civil  war,  327;  live 
stock,  328;  golden  era  (1865-90),  328;  the 
lean  years  of  the  nineties,  329;  development 
of  the  grape  industry,  329 

Albright,  Henry  H.,  986 

Alexander,   Daniel,  484 

Alexander,  William,  483,  488 

Allen,  D.  B.,  480 

Allen,  Daniel  M.,  791 

Allen,  Daniel  W.,  1106 

Allen,  Howard  S.,  468 

Allen,  John,  515,  544,  553,  558 

Allen,  Joseph  C,  778 

Allen,  Eeuben  E.,  625 

Allerton,  Charles  B.,  729 

Almena  township — Mention,  83;  general  de- 
scription, 393;  pioneer  settlers  and  institu- 
tions, 394;  busy  period  (1836-42),  396;  set- 
tlement in  the  northern  sections,  397; 
churches,  398;   schools,  supervisors,  etc.,   399 

Alpena   (Hamilton)   township,  83,  503 

Anderson,  A.  Throop,  468 

Anderson,  Charles  E.,  521 

Anderson,  Charles  J.,  908 

Anderson,  David,  166,  468,  471 

Anderson,  Doctor  H.,  468,  471 

Anderson,  Edgar  A.,  527 

Andrews,  Josiah,  89,  94 


Anderson,  Julian  H.,  527,   829 

Anderson,  LeGrand,  485 

Anderson,  Marion  O.,  527 

Anderson,  William,  527.  602 

Andrews,  John,  526,  556,  605 

Andrews,  Josiah,  134,  239,  3S0 

Andrews,  William  H.,  61.3 

Annable,  Edward  B.,  396 

Annable,  Fernando  C.  C,  395,  400,  621 

Antwerp  township — Mention,  80,  81 ;  general 
description,  401;  railroads,  property  and 
population,  402;  early  settlement,  403;  set- 
tlers of  1836-8,  406;  settlers  in  southern 
Antwerp  township,  409;  postoffices,  roads 
and  hotels,  410;  pioneer  mills,  411;  township 
elections  and  officials,  411;  educational  sta- 
tistics, 412;  Glen  Springs  trout  hatchery, 
413;  village  of  Lawton,  413;  village  of  Mat- 
tawan,  419;  retrospect,  422 

Appleton,  Ephraim  S.,  764 

Arlington  township — Mention,  84;  first  elec- 
tion, 424;  drainage,  timber  and  products, 
425;  first  settler  arrives,  426;  Major  Heath, 
first  supervisor,  426;  the  dangerous  Briggs 
brothers,  428;  other  New  York  men,  429; 
the  Hogmire  family,  430;  rugged  work  of  the 
pioneers,  431 ;  official  records,  432 ;  M.  H. 
Hogmire  on  pioneer  times,  433;  new  times 
better  than  the  old,  435 

Armstrong,  E.,  625 

Arnold,  G.  W.,  983 

Ashbrook,  Charles  W.,  892 

Austin,  Charles,  683 

Austin,  Jonah,  623 

Austin,  Samuel  J.,  1005 

Avery,  Charles  B.,  178 

Avery,  Charles  R.,  710 

Avery,  Mrs.  H.  M.,  615 

Avery,  R.,  575 

Avery  Beach,  616 

Babbitt,  J.  M.,  467 

Baggerly,  Chester  P.,  S^n 

Bailey,  Ed.  M.,  715 

Bailey,  John,  844 

Bailey,  Liberty  H.,  320,  1145 

Bailey,  Prof.  Liberty  H.,  1148 

Baker,  Andrew,  1155 

Baker,  C.  I.,  391 

Baker,  Fred  II.,  535 

Baker,  John  E.,  105,  535,  560,  571 

Balch,  Luther  C,  625 

Balfour,  Herbert  F.,  989 


XVI 


INDEX 


Balfour,  Vannie,  989 

Ball,  Abraham,  570 

Ball,  Jesse,  605 

Bangor,  114 

Bangor,  Lyman  S.,  253 

Bangor  township — Mention,  85;  natural  fea- 
tures, 437;  early  settlers,  438;  pioneer  tax- 
payers, 439;  civil  and  educational,  440; 
sketch  by  Hon.  John  S.  Cross,  441 ;  in  the 
Civil  war,  443;  progress  and  prosperity,  443; 
village  of  Bangor,  444;  village  of  Deerfield, 
447 

Bangs,  Joshua,  134,  404,  412,  595 

Bangs,  Nathaniel  H.,  1133 

Bangs,  Theophilus,  405,  412 

Bank  of  Covert,  351 

Banks   (see  Financial  and  other  institutions) 

Banks,  Fred  W.,  1144 

Banks,  Jacob  F.,  1011 

Banks,  Nancy  B.,  1012 

Baptist  church,  Bloomingdale,  457 

Baptist  church,  Law  ton,  418 

Barber,  Jonas,  394,  398 

Barber,  L.  A.,  454 

Barber,  M.  A.,  365 

Bark  and  quill  work,  3 

Barker,  George  H.,  474,  849 

Barker,  Harvey,  600,  601,  602 

Barker,  Irwin  M.,  1097 

Barker,  John,  602,  1096 

Barker,  Wesley  T.,  1124 

Barner,  Silas  N.,  734 

Barnes,  Adelia   (Mrs.  Allen  Rice),  440 

Barnes,  Anson  TJ.,  556 

Barnes,  Ella,  611,  616 

Barnes,  Joseph  B.,  135,  575 

Barnes,  Uriel  T.,  335,  548 

Barney,  Aaron,  507 

Barnum,  Edwin,  89,  90,  568,  575 

Barnum,  Henry,  399,  400 

Barnum,  Humphrey  P.,  80,  335,  516,  549,  552, 
553<   556 

Barrington,  David,  594 

Barrett,  Enoch  L.,  566,  567 

Barrows,  John,  466 

Bartholomew,  George,  490,  539 

Barton,  Anne  S.,  809 

Barton,  Jesse  S.,  807 

Bartley,  Robert,  475 

Basket  making,  30 

Bass,  William  W.,  556 

Bates,  Israel  P.,  94,  731 

Baxter,  J.  H.,  351 

Beach,  Adam,  716 

Beach,  Ray  W.,  1069 

Beach,  William,  1068 

Beals,  Alpheus,  1082 

Beebe,  Eri,  488 

Beers,  Joseph  D.,  489 

Bell,  Rezin,  623,  624,  625 

Bellows,  C.  F.  R,,  360 

Bench  and  Bar — Circuit  courts,  159;  county 
courts,  161;  first  circuit  judge,  161;  succes- 
sors of  Judge  Ransom,  162 ;  Judge  Flavius 
J.  Ldttlejohn,  163;  thirty-sixth  circuit 
created,  165;  probate  judges,  165;  Van 
Bnren  county  bar,  166 


Benedict,  Amos  C,  136,  137,  556 

Benevolent  Eastern  Star  Lodge  No.  46,  Hart- 
ford, 530 

Bennett,  George,  488 

Bennett,  William,  693 

Bentley,  George  A.,  135,  503,  504 

Benton,  Burr,  1140 

Berlamont,  110,  471 

Bidwell,  H.  E.,  323 

Bierce,  James  M.,  430 

Bierce,  Norman^  336 

Bigehrw,  Calvin  J.,  431 

Bigelow,  Rufus,  431 

Bigelow,  Samuel,  431 

Bilsborrow,  Cora  W.,  784 

Bilsborrow,  Edward  F.,  783 

Bingham,  John,  411 

Bingham,  John  K.,  411 

Birge's  Western  Sharpshooters,  294 

Bishop,  Arch  W.,  461 

Bitely,  Nathan  H.,  330,  412 

Bixby,  M.  H.,  344 

Blackinton,  Albert  B.,  1129 

Blackmail,  E.  A.,  356,  360 

Blackman,  Samuel  IL,  178,  358 

Blair,  Austin,  73 

Blaisdell,  William,  1016 

Blakeman,  M.  J.,  625 

Blashfield,  Timothy  E.,  890 

Bleecker,  L.  B.,  358 

Bliss,  J.  J.,  420 

Bloomingdale,  110,  453 

Bloomingdale  creamery,  459 

Bloomingdale  township — Mention,  84;  first  set- 
tlements and  settlers,  449;  taxes  and  town- 
ship government,  451;  population  and  edu- 
cation, 452;  village  of  Bloomingdale,  453; 
Mr.  Haven's  sketch  of  the  village,  454; 
churches  and  societies,  456;  village  of  Goble- 
ville,  459 

' '  Bloomington  Leader, "  365 

Boardman,  Silas  R.,  344,  611 

Bockius,  Fannie,  420 

Bonfoey,  Horace,  394,  395 

Booth,  William  A.,  613 

Borden,  I.  8.,  412 

Bowen,  Frank,  608 

Bowen,  Henry  F.,  592 

Bowen,  Mrs.  Nancy   ( Hicks j,  338 

Boyce,  George  D.,  602 

Boyer,  Seymour  A.,  1014 

Boynton,  Cyrus,  523 

Bradley,  William  S.,  813 

Branch,  Eaton,  94,  546,  552,  553 

Branch,  Francis,  556 

Branch,  Israel,  546 

Branch,  Lemuel  J.,  445,  446 

Branch,  Luther,  546 

Branch,  Vine,  546 

Breed,  B.  L.,  352 

Breed,  Joshua  B.,  400,  662 

Breed,  Marie  C,  663 

Breed,  A.  Silas,  397,  400,  404,  467,  470,  603, 
605,  697 

Breeding,  William  P.,  352,  834 

Breedsville,  114,  470 

Bregger,  Louis  A.,  994 


INDEX 


xvii 


Bridges,  Lyman,  521 

Bridges,  William,  429 

Briggs,  Allen,  84,  424,  427 

Briggs,  Duane  P.,  428,  468 

Briggs,  Emory  O.,  343,  355,  424,  428,  432,  575 

Briggs,  Mansel  M.,  438,  439,  440,  605 

Brockway,  Hugh,  655 

Broadwell,  William,  Sr.,  350,  810 

Brookfield,  William,  484 

Brooks,  George  E.,  859 

Brooks,  Philip  M.,  495 

Broughton,  Aaron  W.,  510 

Broughton,  Emma  J.,  914 

Brown,  Amasa  M.,  468 

Brown,  Amos  S.,  467,  468 

Brown,  Charles  K.,  164 

Brown,  E.  W.,  392 

Brown,  George,  392 

Brown,  Green  H.,  400 

Brown,  Isaac,  625 

Brown,  James  A.,  530 

Brown,  J.  W.,  452 

Brown,  Levi  A.,  400 

Brown,  Luman,  467 

Brown,  Orlando,  441 

Brown,  Rufus  M.,  453 

Brown,  Walter  A.,  400 

Brush  Creek    (Lawrence),  560 

Bryant,  Asahel,  602 

Bryant,  C.  T.,  322,  323 

Buck,  George  M.,  164,  165 

Buck,  Lucius  E.,  535 

Buck,  Orrin,  412 

Buel,  B.  G.,  511 

Buffington,  H.  C,  360 

Billiard,  James  F.,  259 

Burdick,  C.  E.,  751 

Burdick,  John  Q.,  782 

Burger,  Francis  A.,  982 

Burkette,  F.  Z.,  446 

Burkette,  G.  F.,  363 

Burlington,  George,  1056 

Burrows,  O.  H.,  496 

Burton,  William  S.,  239 

Butler,  John  B.,  357 

Butler,  Oramel,  569 

Butterfield,  Chauncey  W.,  625 

Butterfield,  Frank  A.,  1112 

Buys,  Archibald,  567 

Byers,  C.  W.,  504 

Byers,  Tobias,  536 

Cadillac,  Antoine  de  la  Mothe,  55 

Caldwell,  H.,  625 

Camp,  Joel,  468 

Camp,  Thomas  S.,  544 

Campbell,  Andrew  H.,  741 

Canning,  James,  1094 

Cargo,  George  A.,  1023 

Carleton's    (Will)    "Country  Doctor,"   391 

Carney,  Malcolm  S.,  490 

Carpenter,  Frank  A.,  1048 

Carroll,  Thomas,  1007 

Carter,  E.,  Jr.,  470 

Cash,  Erastus,  815 

Cass,  Lewis,  67,  78 

Cate,  Lorenzo  D.,  469 


Catholic  church,  Decatur,  492 

Caughey,  John,  455 

Central  Hotel,  Bloomingdale,  459 

Chadwick,  Benjamin    F.,    134,    534,    535,    538, 
556 

Chadwick,  Charles,  555 

Chairman  of  the  board  of  supervisors,  176 

Chamberlain,  H.,  468 

Chandler,  Alonzo  H.,  361,  362,  526,  611 

Chapman,  Alvin,  350 

Chapman,  George  W.,  1117 

Chapman,  William  H.,  993 

Charles,  Clifton  B.,  746 

Charles,  William  S.,  1051 

Chase,  A.  B.,  350,  351 

Chase,  Edwin  A.,  625,  769 

Chesebro,  Nathaniel,  419 

Chicago  road,  99 

Christian  church,  Bloomingdale,  456 

Christian  church,  Decatur,  491 

Christian  church,  Hartford,  530 

Christian  church,  Paw  Paw,  584 

Christie,  Robert,  555,  556 

Church,  Jesse  L.,  553 

Church  of  Latter  Day  Saints,  Hartford,    530 

Churchill,  Lewis  E.,  461 

Churchill,  Reuben  E.,  133,  135 

Circuit  court  associate  judges,  171 

Circuit  court  commissioners,  173 

Civil  war — Sixth  Michigan  Infantry,  183; 
Twelfth  Michigan  Infantry,  188;  Thirteenth 
Michigan  Infantry,  197;  Stone  River,  198; 
Seventeenth  Michigan  Infantry,  215 ;  at  South 
Mountain,  216;  Nineteenth  Michigan  Infan- 
'try,  218;  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  Infantry, 
225;  Twenty-fifth  Michigan  Infantry,  226; 
Twenty-eighth  Michigan  Infantry,  227;  First 
Michigan  Cavalry,  232;  Third  Michigan 
Cavalry,  239;  justice  to  cavalry  regiments, 
241;  Fourth  Michigan  Cavalry,  256;  capture 
of  Jefferson  Davis,  259;  Ninth  Michigan 
Cavalry,  267;  capture  of  Morgan,  268;  first 
and  last,  269;  First  Michigan  Engineers  and 
Mechanics,  274;  First  Michigan  Sharp- 
shooters, 278;  First  Regiment  Michigan 
Light  Artillery,  279;  Van  Buren  county  sol- 
diers in  other  Michigan  regiments,  282; 
Birge's  Western  Sharpshooters,  294;  Com- 
pany C,  Seventieth  New  York  Infantry,  300; 
other  companies  or  regiments,  307;  troops 
and  money  from  the  county,  309 

"Citizens  Advocate,"  368 

Citizens  Bank,  Decatur,  349 

Citizens  State  Bank,  South  Haven,  345 

Clapp,  John  T.,  722 

Clapp,  Sarah  A.,  723 

Clark,  James  J.,  447 

Clark,  Joel  H.,  351,  505,  1039 

Clark,  Thomas,  397 

Clark,  William  H.,  996 

Clarson,  George,  492,  585 

Clement,  James  L.,  961 

Clements,  George  W.,  758 

Cleveland,  Edward,  385 

Cleveland,  Frank  G.,  432,  1009 

Cleveland,  Jewett,  708    . 

Clinch  township,  80,  Si,  84,  591 


XV111 


INDEX 


Deerfield,  447 

Deerfield  township,  85,  86 

DeHaven,  Levi,  432 

DeLand,  C.  V.,  278 

Dell,  William  A.,  474,  478 

DeLong,  Francis,  519 

DeLong,  Henry,  520 

DeLong,  Nathan,  520 

DeLong,  Silas,  520 

Densmore,  J.,  367 

Densmore,  Randolph,  320,  605 

Derosier,  Joseph,  394 

Des  Voignes,  L.<  Burget,  165 

Dewey,  Henry  E.,  605 

Dilley,  Marshall,  500 

Dilley,  Varnum  H.,  496,  500 

Dillman,  Adam,  978 

Dillman,  Peter  J.,  136 

Disbrow,  Lavoisier  W.,  988 

Disciple   (Christian)   church,  Bangor,  446 

Dobbyn,  Henry  L.,  1115 

Dobbyn,  James,  477 

Dodge,  Daniel  O.,  80,  82,  567,  57;» 

Dodge,  Mrs.   Daniel  O.,  582 

Dodge,  Henry  J.,  1130 

Donavan,  Bartholomew,  1001 

Donovan,  Andrew,  1015 

Doty,  Charles,  529 

Doty,  Sarah,  529 

Douglas,  Edwin  S.,  695 

Dow,  Joseph,  320 

Downing,  Asahel  S.,  396 

Downing,  Selina,  593 

Doyle,  Stephen,  521 

Drake,  Lawrence,  996 

Drummond,  Frank,  355 

Drury,  E.,  361 

Duncombe,  Albert  O.,  869 

Duncombe,  Charles,  177,  178,  53o,  o40,  8/1 

Duncombe,  Moses,  540 

Duncombe,  Stephen  W.,  540 

Dunham,  Carey,  418,  684 

Dunkley,  S.  J.,  113 

Durkee,  Elisha,  165,  57i) 

Dyckman,   Aaron    S.,    320,    324,    o92,    60:>,    608, 
610 

Dyckman,  Barney  H.,  605,  609 

Dyckman,  Evert  B.,  406,  578,  579 

Dyckman,  Evert  S.,  579,  931 

Dyckman,  William,  430 

Dyer,  Adoniram  J.,  518 

Dygert's  Sharpshooters,  288 

Eagan,   James,  1024 
Eagle  Lake,  565 
Fames,  Aaron,  320 
Earl,  Francis,  530 
Earl,  Palmer,  504,  539 
Earle,  William,  539 
Earle,  William  H.  H.,  362 
Eastman,  Jacob  S.,  897 
Easton,  Glenn  S.,  365,  686 
Easton,  Sylvester  G.,  521 
Eaton,  Charles  L.,  178,  358 
Edgerton,  Abel,  496 
Educational   (see  Schools) 
Eleventh  Michigan  Cavalry,  292 


Eleventh  Michigan  Infantry,  285 

Elliott,  Mary,  490 

Ely  Park,  527 

Engle,  Genius  H.,  I,    6,    24,    26,    29,    514,    ul9, 

523,  524,  526,  529 
Engle,  W.  A.,  383,  526 
English  period   (1760-1796),   ~)(\ 
Enlow,  Michael,  812 
Enos,  A.  I).,  468 
Ewald,  Edward  W.,  886 

Farmers  and  Merchants  Bank,  Lawrence,  351 
Farnum,  Matthias,  477 
Farrow,  Phineas,  1121 
Fausnaugh,  Adelbert,  1103 
Fen  ton,  Matthew,  538 
Ferguson,  James,  407 
Ferguson,  James  D.,  1149 
Ferguson,  James  E.,  381 
Fields,  Calvin,  504 
Fifteenth  Michigan   Infantry,   286 
Fifth  Michigan  Cavalry,  290 
Fifth  Michigan    Infantry,  283 
Financial     and    other    institutions— First     Na- 
tional Bank,    Paw  Paw,   342;   the   Paw   Paw 
Savings    Bank.    343;    First    National    Bank, 
South    Haven,     344;     Citizens    State    Bank, 
South   Haven,   345;    banks   of  Decatur,   348; 
Hartford    banks,    349;    West    Michigan    Sav- 
ings Bank,  Bangor,   350;  the  People's  Bank, 
Bloomingdale,     351;     at     Gobleville,    Covert, 
Lawrence    and    Lawton,    351;    South    Haven 
Loan    and    Trust    Company,    352;    Farmers 
Mutual  Fire  Insurance   Company,   3o2 ;    tele- 
graph and  telephone  lines,   353 
Finch,  Charles  A.,  720 
First  Baptist  church,  Hartford,  529 
First  Baptist  church,  Lawrence,  561 
First  Baptist  church,  Paw  Paw,  584 
First  Michigan  Cavalry,  232 
First  Michigan  Engineers  and  Mechanics,  1/4 
First  Michigan  Infantry,  282 
First  Michigan  Sharpshooters,  278 
First  National  Bank,  Decatur,  348 
First  National  Bank,  Paw  Paw,  342 
First  National  Bank,  South  Haven,  344 
First  Regiment  Michigan  Light   Artillery,   2/9 
First  Presbyterian  church,  Lawrence,  561 
First  state  convention,  69 
Fish,  Ellen,  497 
Fish,  Hiram,  86,  474,  477 
Fisher,  Everett  A.,  880 
Fisk,  Stephen  W.,  398,  400 
Fitch,  George  A.,  357 
Fitch,  Henry,  412 
Fitch,  Lyman  A.,  412 
Fitch,  Morgan  L.,  406,  412 
Fitzsimmons,  Michael,  863 
"Fonetic  Klips,"  367 
Foote,  S.  J.,  575 
Forbes,  Fred,  1099 
Ford,  Henry,  112 
Foster,  Dwight,  535,  771 
Foster,  George  S.,  525 
Foster,  Ida,  858 
Foster,   Josephine,   858 
Foster  Sisters,  The,  856 


INDEX 


xix 


Cobb,  Alonzo,   398 
Cobb,  Vera  P.,  365 
Cochran,  Andrew  M.,  1019 
Cochrane,  Donald  F.,  362,  703 
Cochrane,  H.  F.,  362 
Cochrane,  James  G.,  430,  466 
Colburn,  Byron  H.,  553 
Cole,  Hiram  A.,  356,  700 
Coleman,  Henry  13.,  83,  503,  504,  509 
Coleman,  Sheldon,  412,  792 
Collins,  John  H.,  504 
Columbia,  110,  472 

Columbia  township— Mention,  85;  physical  fea- 
tures and  railroads,  464;  site  of  Breedsville 
selected,  465;  property  holders  and  taxes 
467;  settlers  prior  to  1845,  468;  civil  and 
political,  468;  as  a  resort  region,  469;  pres- 
ent village  of  Breedsville,  470;  village  of 
Berlamont,  471;  village  of  Columbia,  47*; 
village  of  Grand  Junction,  472 
Com  ley,  Maria,  508 

Company  C,  70th  N.  Y.   Infantry,  300 
Compton,  John   D.,  486 
Comstock,  Albert,  445 
Comstock,  Darius  E.,  178 
Comstock,  Horace  H.,  109 
Cone,  Mehitable,  514 
Congdon,  William  L.,  1093 
Congregational  church,  Bangor,  446 
Congregational  church,  Covert,  480 
Congregational  church,  Hartford,  530 
Congregational  church,  Lawrence,  561 
Congregational  church,  Mattawan,  44)<> 
Conklin,  David,  883 
Conklin,  Luke,  517 
Conklin,  Mrs.  Martha,  521 
Conklin,  Mary  E.,  883 
Conklin,  Thomas,  517 
Connery,  George  B.,  895 
Conway,  Austin  J).,   504 
Conway,  S.  Tallmadge,  89,  94,  355    358 
Cook,  John  E.,  1105^ 
Cook,  Sarah,  490 
Cook,  Sullivan,  363 
Cooley,  Franklin,  957 
Cooper,  John,  409 
Copley,  Alexander  B.,  86,  389,  484 
Copley,  E.  B.,  349 
c°pley,  G.  N.,  483 
Corey,  Anthony,  405 
Corey,  Sanford,  602 
Corey,  Warren  S.,  601,  602 
Cornish,  George  W.,  369,  1101 
Cornish,  John  H.,  602,  1098 
Cornish,  Thomas  J.,  1044 
Corwin,  Jacob,  29 
Coterie  Club,  586 
County  buildings    (new),  141-158 
County  clerks,  172 
County  commissioners,  171 

174 


County  commissioners  of  schools, 

County  judges,  171 

County  seat-Lawrence  as  the  seat  of  justice, 
*»,  raw  Paw  displaces  Lawrence,  130; 
Proposed  county  buildings,  132;  old  court- 
count™™?1^1'  134;  South  Haven  bids  f°r 
county  seat,  136;  popular  vote  for  Paw  Paw 


138;    new   county   buildings,   141;    courthouse 

County  surveyors,  174 
County  treasurers,  173 
Courthouse    (see   County   buildings) 
Courts   (see  Bench  and  Bar) 
Covert,  113,  479 
Covert  Resort  Association,  478 
Covert    township— Mention,    186;    the    original 
township,  4,4;   physical  features,  475;   farli- 
est    settlers,    475;    roads    and    schools,    477; 
statistical   and  political,   478;   the  village  of 
Covert,  479  & 

Covey  Hill,  623 

Covington    township— Mention,    80     81     8°     8? 
Cox,  Elisha  C,  84  '     ", 

Cox,  Isaac  J.,  535 
Cox,  Joseph,  625 
Cox,  O.  E.,  432 
Coy,  Daniel,  737 
Crandall,  J.  C,  523 
Crandall,  Wallace  W.,  954 
Crane,  Alonzo,  569 
Crane,  Loyal,  569-575 
Crane,  Jane,  569 
Crane,  James,  342,  569 
Craw,  Joseph  W.,  443 
Cronin,  M.  C.,  381 
Cronkhite,  Jo,hn,  420 
Crops  of  the  countv,  324 
Cross,  Alfonso,  1030 
Cross,  Calvin.  442,  444,  526 

Cr603   °harleS  U"  438'  439'  440?  **2>  444'  496> 

Cross,  Samuel  P.,  442 

Crouse,  Conrad,  472 

(1ulver,  Samuel,  766 

Currier,  Jacob,  397 

Curry,  David,  485 

Ourtenius,  Frederick  W.,  184 

Cushman,  Charles  M.,  470 

Cutter,  Frank  F.,  681 


Haines,  G.  W.,  457 
Daniels,  Lyman  I.,  576,  578 
Danks,  Richard  B.,  549 
Danneffel,  Adolph,  535,  877 
Danneffel,  George  J.,  535 
Danneffel,  Henry  H.,  999 
Darling,  James  H.,  400 
Darling,  Loren,  575 
Davey,  George,  992 
David,  James  I.,  267 
Davis,  George  W.,  725 
Davis,  Jefferson    (capture  ofh  259 
Dayton,  Edwin  J.,  1139 
Decatur,  109 

"  Decatur  Republican,"  359 
Decatur  township— Mention,  80,  81  82-  first 
white  settler  of  the  county,  482;  first  native 
white  child,  483;  first  Gospel  sermon  and 
pioneer  school,  483;  A.  B.  Copley  on  early 
days,  484;  various  pioneers,  485;  civil,  and 
political,  486;  statistics,  488;  village  of  De- 
catur, 489;  retrospect,  494 
Decker,  Milton  L.,  343,  496,  713 


INDEX 


xx 

Foster,  Truman,  504,  557 

Fountain,  Stephen,  544 

Fourteenth  Michigan  Infantry,  285 

Fourth  Michigan  Cavalry,  256 

Fowler,  Orville,  885 

Free,  John  W.,  94,  112,  343,  575 

Free  Will  Baptist  church,  Gobleville,  4b_. 

Free  Will  Baptist  church,  Waverly,  398 

Freeman,  John  D.,  555 

Freese,  George  S.,  487 

French,  Milford  T.,  605 

French,  Warren  F.,  400 

French  period   (1634-1764),  53 

Fruit  Belt  line,  402 

Fuller,  Frank  H.,  432 

Fuller,  Ora  F.,  828 

Fuller,  Sidney,  432 

Funk,  Charles,  836 

Gage,  Walter  O.,  521 
Gantt,  James  N.,  356 
Gantt,  Samuel  N.,  354 
Gault,  John,  625 
Gay,  William  I.,  825 
Gaynor.  Andrew,  468 

Geneva     township— Mention,     85;      descriptive, 
495;  roads  and  physical  features,  496;  polit- 
ical   and   educational,    496;    pioneers    of   the 
township,  498;  statistical  and  physical^  500; 
village   of   Lacota,    500;    village   of    Kibbie, 
501:   general  township  progress,  501 
Geology—The   Cambrian  age,   311;    Ordovician 
age,    312;   the   Silurian,    313;    the   Devonian, 
314;    Lower   Carboniferous,    315;    the   Pleis- 
tocene  (last  chapter;,  315 
George,  Charles  G.,  535 
George,  Edward,  847 
Gerow,  Isaac,  655 
Gibbs,  Dexter,  551,  554 
Gibbs,  Elizabeth,  551 
Gibney,  Henry  E.,  882 
Giffen,  John  R.,  381 
Gilbert,  Henry  C,  218 
Gillett,  Charles,  363,  443 
Gleason,  Bert,  1064 
Gleason,  William  H.,  6/5 
Glendale,  626 
Glendale  creamery,  626 
Glen  Springs  Trout  Hatchery,  415 
Glidden,  Asa  C,  412 
Glidden,  E.  M.,  575 
Glidden,  O.  D.,  575 
Goble,  Edna,  382 
Goble,  Hiram  E.,  459,  461 
Gobleville,  110,  459,  596 
Gobleville  creamery,  463 
"Gobleville  News,"  366 
Godfrey,  Stafford,  133,  135 
Goodenough,  Fanny,  529 
Gorton,  Frank  E.,  1132 
Goss,  Henry,  447 
Goss,  John  P.,  968 
Goss,  M.  O.,  969 
Gould,  Gilbert,  864 
Grand  Junction,  110,  114 
Grant,  George,  474 
Grant,  Boland  B.,  832 


Grape  industry,  329 

Graves,  Benjamin  F.,  163 

Gray,  Emily,  594 

Gray,  James,  545,  552,  553,  557 

Gray,  James  M.,  468,  470 

Gray,  Wells,  406 

Green,  Sanford  M.,  162 

Gregory,  Albert  E.,  535 

Gregory,  Don  F.,  958 

Gremps,  Peter,  161,  575,  576,  578,   o81,   582 

Grover,  Nathaniel,  611 

Gunton,  Samuel,  80,  550 

Gunsaul,  Jacob,  475 

Hadsell,  O.  D.,  356,  361,  362 
Hagar,  Solomon  B.,  504 
Hale  &  Company,  345 
Hale,  George,  475,  977 
Hale,  George  N.,  345,  974 
Hall,  Alvin,  395 
Hall,  Benoni,  575 
Hall,  Charles  G.,  689 
Hall,  Clair  G.,  749 
Hall,  David  P.,  1075 
Hall,  Elmer  W.,  412 
Hall,  Freeman,  395 
Hall,  Gideon,  496 
Hall,  Isaac,  601 
Hall,  J.  M.,  366 
Hall,  Syrena  B.,  705 
Hall,  Walter  A.,  1102 
Hall,  Wesley  M.,  781 
Hall,  Willis  V.,  642 
Halleck  mill,  610 
Hamilton,  Alexander,  1062 
Hamilton,  A.  &  Sons,  1062 
Hamilton,  Horace  E.,  1064 
Hamilton,  William  L.,  1064  # 

Hamilton  township— Mention,  83;  civic  and 
political  matters,  502;  physical  features, 
504;  taxpayers  and  taxes  of  1839,  505;  first 
building  and  first  permanent  settlers,  505; 
also  settled  prior  to  1844,  507;  illustrative 
of  the  pioneers  and  their  times,  508;  schools 
then  and  now,  510;  the  Hamilton  township 
fair,  511 

Hammond,  Catharine,  517 

Hammond,  Henry,  514 

Hammond,  James  H.,  1070 

Hammond,  John,  514 

Hammond,  Mary  G.,  1071 

Hannahs,  George,  611,  613 

Hannahs,  Marvin,  472,  499,  552 

Hard,  James  T.,  426 

Harper,  Harvey,  801 

Harris,  Alvinsy,  429,  432 

Harris,  Floyd,  1111 

Harris,  Jefferson  D.,  432 

Harris,  Leonard  M.,  1111 

Harris,  Percy  F.,  1049 

Harrison,  Aaron,  793 

Harrison,  George  M.,  343,  688 

Harrison,  Thaddeus  E.,  358 

Harrison,  William  Henry,  66,  67 

Hart,  Roswell,  521,  523 

Hartford,  112,  113,  114,  523 

"Hartford  Day  Spring,"  361 


INDEX 


xxi 


Hartford  township — Mention,  83;  named  and 
organized,  513;  first  things  and  events,  514; 
Alien 's  paper  town,  515;  first  actual  settlers, 
517;  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  519;  terri- 
torial and  official,  520;  "When  the  World 
Goes  Wrong  with  Me,"  522;  the  village  of 
Hartford,  523;  educational  and  professional, 
525;  churches  and  societies,  ~r28;  business 
and  industries,  531 

Harvey,  Edward  H.,  742 

Harvey,  E.  P.,  441 

Harvey,  H.  D.,  796 

Harvey,  Henry  W.,  744 

Harvey,  Marshall  J.,  1108 

Harwick,  Allen,  736 

Harwick,  Frank,  736 

Harwick,  Harman,  412 

Harwick,  Peter,  412 

Haskin,  Albert  S.,  94,  548,  549,  679 

Hathaway,  George,  1100 

Hathaway,  William  B.,  605,  611 

Haven,  Augustus,  451,  454 

Haven,  Davis,  454 

Haven,  Edward  A.,  900 

Havens,  Charles  W.,  1116 

Hawes,  Josiah  L.,  164 

Hawley,  G.  W.,  462 

Hawkins,  Nathan,  1086 

Hawkins,  Wrilliam  R.,  581 

Haydon,  Arthur  W.,  349,  507,  51],  668 

Haydon,  Philotus,  134,  504,  507 

Hayne,  John  D.,  1087 

Haynes,  Alonzo  M.,  613 

Haynes,  John  R.,  80,   335,   544,   545,  553,  5o6 

Hazard,  Enos  E.,  677 

He'agy,  George,  535 

Heath,  Arvin,  432 

Heath,  Charles  E.,  427 

Heath,  Major,  424,  432 

Heath,  Morrison,  429 

Heckert,  Benjamin  F.,  73,  166,  179 

Hempstead,  C.  J.,  345 

Henderson,  Port  H.,  788 

Hendryx,  Josiah,  511 

Herron,  Ashbel,  449 

Herron,  John  W.,  945 

Herzog,  Adolf,  1109 

Hicks,  Evart  B.  D.,  608 

High,  Leon,  1066 

High,  Mary  R.,  1067 

High,  William  A.,  490 

Hill,  E.  Parker,  349,  488,  490 

Hill,  James,  534,  537 

Hill,  Justus,  537 

Hill,  L.  Dana,  349 

Hill,  Lyman  G.,  535 

Hilliard,  Weare,  523 

Hilton,  George  V.,  387 

Hilton,  Orrin  N.,  165 

Hinckley,  Asa  G.,  569 

Hinckley,  Isaac,  612 

Hinckley,  Jonathan,  135,  404,  465,  569 

Hinckley,  Marvin,  488 

Hinckley,  Peter,  406 

Hinckley,  Rodney,  567,  612 

Hinckley,  Roy,  753 

Hipp,  Benton  W.,  400 


Hipp,  E.  M.,  350,  443 

Hoag,  Charles  N.,  495 

Hoag,  Mrs.  Harriet,  497 

Hoag,  Mrs.  Orrin  S.,  497 

"Hog  Creek"   (Roseville),  516 

Hogmire,  Conrad,  431 

Hogmire,  Daniel,  430 

Hogmire,  Henry,  431 

Hogmire,  John,  431 

Hogmire,  Mitchell  H.,  432,  433,  1016 

Hollister,   Chauncey,  488,  602 

Hollon,  Joseph  A.,  343 

Holmes,  Reason,  410,  411 

Hood,  Charles,  659 

Hood,  George,  723 

Hopkins,  Josiah,  809 

Horticulture  (see  Agriculture  and  Horticulture) 

Hoskins,   Myron,  466-7 

Hosmer,  C.  F.,  749 

Houghton,  Hiram  T.,  449 

Houseknecht,  Jacob  D.,  1104 

Hover,  Josephus  S.,  1026 

Howard,  Barnard  M.,  465 

Howard,  Harvey  H.,  898 

Howard,  Jonathan,  455,  467,  468 

Howard,  Nancy,  466 

Howard,  Turner  W.,  831 

Hoyt  J.,  529 

Hoyt,  Wilbur  P.,  768 

Hudson,  Frank  G.,  659 

Hudson,  G.  J.,  575 

Hudson,  J.  B.,  400 

Hudson,  Thomas,  450 

Hull,    Moses,    359 

Hull,  William,  63-66 

Humphrey,  Horace,  467,  468 

Humphrey,  Luther,  561 

Hungerford,  Benjamin,  538 

Hungerford,  Volney  R.,  773 

Hunt,  Adeline  P.,  725 

Hunt,  Benjamin  F.,  605 

Hunt,  Charles  F.,  344 

Hunt,  Garrie  W.,  724 

Hunt,  Isaiah  F.,  432 

Hunt,  John,  405,  412 

Hunt,  John  A.,  975 

Hurlbut,  William  H.,  440,  442,  574,  605,  608 

Hutchins,  Elias,  1000 

Hutchins,  George  G.,  833 

Hutchins,  George  W.,  937 

Ihling,  John,   111,   112,  412 

Indian  mounds  in  Lawrrence  township,  337 

Indian  trails,  98 

Indians — First  church  built  by,  in  Van  Buren 
county,  4;  Chief  Pokagon 's  address,  5;  Poka- 
gon's  last  wigwam,  12;  Julia  Pokagon 's  ad- 
dress, 12;  "Old  Wapsey,"  14;  Do  Indians 
cry,  laugh  or  joke?,  20;  Algonquin  legend  of 
man's  creation,  by  Pokagon,  21;  legend  of 
Paw  Paw  and  the  Paw  Paw  valley,  by  Poka- 
gon, 24;  Algonquin  legends  of  South  Haven, 
by  Pokagon,  26;  after  me-me-og  (squabs,)  in 
Van  Buren  county,  by  C.  H.  Engle,  29;  In- 
dian basket-making,  30;  the  "buck  pony'' 
ride,  33 ;  i '  never  carry  a  revolver,  boys, ' y  37 ; 
Saw-kaw's  love  story,  38;  me-me-og,  the  wild 
pigeon,  by  Pokagon,  45 


XX11 


INDEX 


Indiana  territory  formed,  62 

Ingalls,  J.,  349 

Irwin,   Thomas  B.,   556 

Isabella  Club,  417 

Ives,  Joseph,  429 

Jennings,  James  G.,  365 
Jennings,  Ralph  E.,  965 
Jewell,  James,  1002 
Johns,  Thomas  J.,  521 
Johnson,  Andrew,  360 
Johnson,  James  H.,  166,  605 
Johnson,  Lewis,  507 
Johnson,   L.  S.,   362 
Johnson,  Smith,  83,  520 
Johnstone,  W.  A.,  457 
Jones,  A..B.,  330 
Jones,  M.  Adelia,  719 
Jones,  Sylvester  H.,  719 
Jordan,   James  F.,   356 

Kalamazoo  &  South  Haven  .Railroad,  109,  595 

Karmsen,  Oscar,  795 

Kaw-kee,  Joe,  33-37 

Keeler,  541 

Keeler,  E.  H.,  502,  534 

Keeler,  Wolcott  H.,  80,  83,  161,  536-7 

Keeler  township — Descriptive,  533;  lakes  and 
resorts,  534;  civil  organization,  534;  first  set- 
tlers of  township,  535;  Wolcott  H.  Keeler, 
537;  settlers  of  1836-44,  537;  tax  payers, 
property  and  schools,  540;  Keeler  and  other 
towns,  541;  general  view,  542 

Keith,  Henry  S.,  535 

Kelley,  Patrick  H.,  177 

Kelley,  James,  1128 

Kemp,  Thomas,  514 

Kendall,  597 

Kendall,  Lucius  B.,  453,  454 

Kennedy,  Almus,  997 

Kennedy,  John  C.,  400,  706 

Kern,  Julius  M.,  1060 

Kern,  Menasseh,  602 

Ketcham,  E.  B.,  320 

Ketchum,  James,  397 

Ketchum,  OlivefP.,  702 

Kibbie,  110,  501 

Kietzer,  Charles,  1113 

Killefer,  Henry,  453-4 

Killefer,  William,  575,  717 

King,  Edward  H.,  1143 

Kingsley,  Henry  M.,  951 

Kinney,  Elijah,  598 

Kinney,  Luther,  602 

Kinney,  Stephen,  487 

Kinney,    Uri,    602 

Kitzmiller,  W.  K.,  456 

Klett,  John  M.,  692 

Klock,  Ernest  G.,  365 

Knapp,  Royal  R.,  685 

Knowles,  Elijah,  466,  467,  468 

Knowles,  William  H.,  468 

Krogel,  Fred,  1029 

Krohne,  Sophie,  698 

Krull,  Frederick,  395 

Labadie,  Anthony,  568 
Labadie,  Joseph,  672 


Lacota,  110,  500 

Laduke,  Nelson,  1024 

La  Fayette  township,  79,  80,  81,  82,  86,  564,  565 

Lake  Cora,  565 

Lake  Mills  (Gobleville),  461 

Lake  of  the  Woods,  488,  504 

Lake  Park,  566 

Lamb,  Frank,  861 

Lampson,  Truman  A.,  475 

Landphere,  K  A.,  355 

Lane,  W.  K.,  361 

l^angdon,  George,  709 

Langdon,  Phoebe  F.,  709 

Langelau,  Herman,  1138 

Lannin,  J.,  323 

Lanphear,  Oel  E.,  902 

Lawrence,  111,  Il3,  129,  130,  135,  558-63 

Lawrence,  Robert  R.,  712 

1  i  Lawrence   Times, ' }   365 

Lawrence  township — Mention,  80,   81,   82,   337; 
streams   and  lakes,    543;    early   pioneers  and 
settlements,    544;    the    Branch    family,    546; 
Judge  Jay   R.    Monroe,  547;    first   marriage, 
birth  and  death,  551;  the  food  problem,  552; 
roads   and  mails,   552;   flat-boat  traffic,  554; 
paper  town  of  Van  Buren,  555;  civil,  educa- 
tional and  political,   556;   looking  backward, 
558;  village  of  Lawrence,  558;  churches  and 
societies,  561 ;  business  and  general  features, 
563 
Lawton,  109,   111,   113,  401,  413 
Lawton,  Charles  D.,  120,  177,  412,  415,  754 
Lawton,  George  W.,  112,  165,  361,  415 
Lawton,  Nathan,  413,  416 
"Lawton  Leader,"  361 

Lawton  Lodge,  No.  216,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  417 
Lawton  Lodge  No.  83,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  417 
Lee,  Bert,  1081 
Lee,  Hiram,  489 
Lee,  James,  570 
Lee,  James  A.,  535 
Lee,  Uriel  C,  570 
Lee,  William  H.,  570 
Leedy,  William,  1125 
Le  Fevre  N.,  487 
Lemont  (Glendale),  626 
Lewis,  Abram,  432 
Lewis,  C.  E.,  361 
Lewis,  Cyrus  H.,  475 
Lewis,  Marshall,  538 
Lincoln,  F.  T.,  367 
Linderman,  I.  S.,  323 
Linton,  Charles,  455,  894 
Littlejohn,  Flavius  J.,  163 
Live  stock,   328 

Lobdell,  Howard,  136,  137^  521 
.Local  option  in  the  county,  180 
Lockard,  E.  D.,  470 
Lockman,  DeWitt  C,  592 
Longcor,  Wesley  N.,  1058 
Longstreet,  Andrew,  411,  412,  413,  415 
Longstreet,  Samuel,  406 
Longwell,  James  M.,  959 
Longwell,  Phoebe  A.,  960 
Loomis,  Russell  F.,  970 
Lord,  Frederick,  165 
LotErop,  Edwin  H.,  109 
Luce.  Charles  W.,  468 


INDEX 


xxm 


Lurkins,   Harry    J'.,    058 
Lyle,  Jason  J.,  057 
Lyle,  John,  328,  568 
Lyle,  Lemuel,  1123 
Lyle,  Levi  N.,  850 
Lyle,   William,  328 
Lyle,  William  G.,  1046 
Lyon,  T.  T.,  324 
Lytle,  Charles,  1088 
Lytle,  David,  739 
Lytle,  E.  IL,  484 
Lytle,  John,  1067 

Me  Adams,  Edward,  1092 
Me  Adams,  Leslie,  1092 
Mc Alpine,  John,  521,  535 
MeAlpine,  John  G.,  837 
McCon,  Frank,  830 
McDonald    (Deerfield),  447 
McKee,  Darwin,  1090 
McKeyes,  Frank,  351 
McKeyes,  Juan,  351,  467,  787 
McKinley,   Napoleon  B.,  412 
McKinney,  John,  177,  355,  487,  602 
McKinney,  Lewis,  445 
McLain,  James  C,  1050 
McLain  John  C,  602 
McNeil,  Henry,  415 
McNeil,  Harry  L.,  641 

McNight,  Jane   (Mrs.  Dr.  A.  S.  Haskin),  548 
McNight,  Mary  Nancy,  548 
McNitt,  Alpheus  A.,  816 
McNitt,  Leslie  A.,  818 
McWilliams,  Archibald  P.,  521 
Madill,  R.  J.,  347 
Maguire,  Phillip,  1095 
Malbone,  John   8.,  605,   920 
Mallory,  Merlin   M.,  449 
Manley,  C.  B.,  113.1 
Manley,   Hervey,   467 
Maple  lake,  565 
Marble,  Elisha,  624 
Markillie,  John  J.,  768 
Markillie,  William,  397 
Marshall,  John,  602,  1054 
Marshall,  Nelson  S.,  549 
Martin   Edwin,   112 
Martin,  Francis,  1022 
Martin,  Harry  A.,   690 
Martin,   Mrs.   A.  C,  358 
Martindale,  Samuel,  445 
Marvin,  A.  E.,  361 
Marvin,  J.  P.,  561 
Mason   (Lawrence),  544,  560 
Mason,  Stevens  T.,  70-72 
Mason,  Williamson,  133,  579,  580 
Mather,  Eusebius,  468 
Mather   House,   555 
Mattawan,  109,  111,  113,  401,  419 
Matthews,  G.  W.,  355 
Maxwell,  James  E..  504 
Maxwell,  John  C,  765 
May,  Charles  J.,  938 
Maynard,  Charles,  359 
Mead,  Hannah,  582 
Wears,  Edwin,  337 

Medicine    and    Surgery — Medical    scientific    re- 
search,   370;    preventive   medicine,    371;    sur- 


gery, 375;  the  country  physician  and  the 
trained  nurse,  376;  early  physicians  of  Van 
Buren  county,  377;  Paw  Paw  physicians, 
379;  Bangor,' 381;  Gobleville,  381;  Hartford, 
382;  Covert,  383;  Lawrence,  384;  Lawton, 
386 ;  the  profession  in  South  Haven,  387 ; 
South  Haven  City  Hospital,  388  Decatur, 
390;  the  Veterinary  school,  392 

Me-me-og   (wild  pigeons),  45-52 

Mentha,   110,   597 

Meuig,  Ferdinand,   734 

Menig,  Mary  S.,  735 

Merrifield,  Edwin  ,).,  455 

Merriman,  George   VV.,  846 

Merriman,  Harry  J.,  847 

Merriman,  Marcus,  503 

Merry,  Elizabeth,  399 

Merwin,  Jesse,  453 

Methodist  church,  Almena  township,  399 

Methodist  church,  Bangor,  443 

Methodist  church,  Bloomingdale,  456 

Methodist  church,    Decatur,  491 

Methodist  church,  Gobleville,  462 

Methodist  church,  Hartford,  529 

Methodist   church,   Keeler,  541 

Methodist  church,   Lacota,  500 

Methodist  church,   Lawrence,  562 

Methodist   church,   Lawton,  418 

Methodist    church,    Mattawan,   422 

Meyer,  Herman,  794 

'Michigan   Central    Iron   Company,   416 

Michigan  Central  Railroad,  107-109 

Michigan    Fruit  Exchange,  418 

Michigan   Provost  Guard.  289 

Michigan  territory  formed.  63 

Middletown    (Rosevillo),  515 

Miller,    II.   B.,    354 

Miller,  Samuel  O.,  411 

Miller,  William  IT.,  774 

"Millerism,"   332 

Mills.  Alfred  J.,  164,  165,   178 

Miner,  Caroline,  497 

Mintv,  Robert  H.  G.,  240,  256 

Mitchell,  Alonzo  S.,  412,  1083 

Mitchell,  Gilbert,  496 

Mitchell,  Jacob,  915 

Mitchell,  J.  W.,  412 

Molby,  Charles  B.,  774 

Monroe  Bank,  350 

Monroe,  Charles  E.,  1028 

Monroe,  Charles  J.,  94,  177,  323,  325,  344,  350, 
352,  605,  611,   802 

Monroe,  George  C,  351,  822 

Monroe,  Hattie  E.,   1029 

Monroe,   Isaac,   556 

Monroe,  Jay  R.,  80,  89,  93,  161,  344,  352,  442, 
496,   547,'  606 

Monroe,  L.   S.,   352 

Monroe,  Miles,   1026 

Monroe,   Moses,  599 

Monroe,  S.  E.,  432,  441,  607 

Monroe   Realty  Company,   352 

Moon,  E.  B.,'387 

Moon,  Peter,  405 

Moon.   Philip,  405 

Moore,  David  F.,  605 

Moore,  Henry,  948 

Moore,  Volney  A.,  551 


XXIV 


INDEX 


Morehouse,  Edward  A.,   740 

Morehouse,  Stephen  B.,  320,  605,  611 

Morgan,  John    (capture  of),  268 

Morrill,   Charles  M.,   399,   400,   592 

Morris,  Dolphin,  326,  482,  483,  485,  488,  536 

Morris,   Elias,  484 

Morris,    Lewis    Creighton,    483 

Morris,   Samuel,  485 

Morrison,  A.  H.,  114 

Morrow,  Henry  A.,  225 

Moses,  Charles  A.,  990 

Moulton,  Arba  N.,  360,  387,  490 

Munger,  George,  259 

Munn,   Benjamin   S.,   912 

Murch,  William,  622,  625 

Murdock,   Benjamin  A.,  94,  650 

Murdock,  Benjamin  F.,  570 

Murdock,    Mary   V.,   651 

Murphy,  Norman  D.,  381 

Murray,    Mary   E.,   594 

Mutchler,  George,  760 

Myers,  Mallory  H.,  449,  621,  625 

Myers,  Merlin  M.,  621 

Myers,  Keuben  J.,  449,  621,  624,  625 

Myers,  Kuth  Ann,  621 

Myers,    Sarah,   622 

Myers,  William  H.  H.,  449,  621,  626  . 

Myhan,  George  H.,  665 

Nash,  Augustus   W.,   165 

Nash,  Eufus  C,  358,  359 

Xesbitt,  James,  507,  536 

Nesbitt,    John,    599 

Xesbitt,  Mary,  508 

Xesbitt,  Minnie,  776 

Xesbitt,  Robert,  504,  506,  508,  509,  510 

Xesbitt,  Sophia  L.,  775 

Xewbre,  F.  IX,  748 

Xewcomb,   Mary,   398 

Xewcomb,   Orlando   H.,  450 

Xewcomb,  Willard,  83,  394,  395 

Xewspapers    (see  Press) 

Nichols,  John  V.,  887 

Nichols,   John  J.,   1004 

Nicholas,   Wesley  E.,  1008 

Xik-a-nong   (South  Haven),  28 

Niles,  F.   L.,  529 

Ninth   Michigan   Cavalry,  267 

Ninth    Michigan   Infantry,    284 

Northrup,   Caleb,  138,  439,  442 

Northrup,   Emmett,    1079 

Northrup,   Mehitable,  440 

Northrup,  Perrin  M.,  439,  440 

Northrup,  Willard  S.,  445 

Norton,  Hiram  E.,  799 

Noud,   John   R,   922 

Nower,  Charles  L.,  824 

Xoye,  J.  F.,  134 

Noyes,  Kirk  W.,  605 

Nutting,  Bansom,  488 

Nyman,  Joseph,  444 

Nyman,  Joseph  H.,  442 

Nyman,  R.  C,  862 

"Oak   openings,"   326 
Ocobock,   Mrs.  Emma,  531 
Ocoboefc,  George  W.,  888 
O'Dell,  Allen,   952 


O'Dell,  Barnabas,  356,  357,  785 

Olds,  Estella  M.,  528 

Olds,  Ferdino,  513,  517 

Olds,  Hezekiah,  517 

Olds,  L.  T.,  490 

Olds,   Orson,   517 

Olds,  Volney  W.,  528,  889 

Olney,  Burrell  A.,  514 

Olney,  Burrill  A.,  517,  521 

Olney,  Horace  M.,  343,  349,  527,  528 

Olney   National  Bank,  349 

Oppenheim,  Jacob,  349,  886 

Ordinance  of  1887,  59-61 

Orton,  Edwin  P.,  1078 

Orton,  Samuel  J.,   956 

Osborn,  Erastus,   762 

Osborn,  Lester  E.,  874 

Oslerism,  94 

Overton,  Miller,  981 

Overton,  S.  E.,  1127 

Packard,  Alfred  IT.,  Jr.,  479 

Packard,  William  O.,  474 

"Painters,"  334 

Page,  Thomas  P.,  468 

Palmer,  Chauncey  B.,  400 

Palmer,  Ephraim,  558 

Palmer,  Ezra  A.,  383 

Palmer,  Frank  W.,  445 

Palmer,   Lewis,    1042 

Palmer,  Milton  F.,  382,  526 

Palmer,   Russell,   395 

Parker,  Thomas  E.,  1043 

Parks,  E.   F.,  343,   355 

Parmeter,  J.  F.,  420 

Parsons,  L.   E.,   345,  346 

Paw  Paw,  24,  113,  130,  136,  138,  158,  576-590 

"Paw  Paw  Courier,"  356 

' i  Paw  Paw  Democrat, ' '  354 

"Paw  Paw  Free  Press,"   354 

"Pawr  Paw  Free  Press  and  Courier,"  355 

Pawr  Paw  Fruit  Growers  Union,  587 

Paw  Paw  Lodge  No.  18,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  585 

Paw  Paw  Railroad,  111 

Pawr  Paw  river  as  a  carrier,  105,  554 

Paw  Paw  Savings  Bank,   343 

Paw  Paw  township — Mention,  62,  86;  original 
township  of  La  Fayette,  564;  becomes  Paw 
Paw  township,  565;  lakes,  565;  the  hardy 
pioneers,  566;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pe-Pe-Yah,  571; 
David  Woodman's  pioneer  pictures,  571;  the 
Paw  Paw  irrevocably  crooked,  574;  statisti- 
cal, political  and  horticultural,  575;  village 
of  Paw  Paw,  576 

Pease,  Anson  I).,  699 

Pease,   Enoch   M.,   500 

Peck,  J.,  467 

Peoples  Bank,  Bloomingdale,   351 

Pe-Pe-Yah,  "Mr.  and  Mrs.,"  571 

Pere  Marquette  Railway,  113 

Perkins,  Roy  D.,  365,  455 

Peters,  John,  477 

Phelps,   Alexander  H.,   549 

Phelps,  Horatio  N.,  555 

Phelps,  Theodore  E.,  134,  535 

Phillips,  Benjamin,  411 

Phillips,   Charles  C,  362,  363 

Phillips,  David  M.,   366 


INDEX 


XXV 


Phillips,   Eugene,   1134 
Phillips,  M.  F.,  5<fc 
Phillips,  Norman,   323 
Phillips,  Solomon,  408,  411 
Phillips,  Waldo  E.,  504 
Pierce,  Almon  J.,  444,  500 
Pierce,   Clark,   498,  607 
Pierce,  Daniel,  498,  607 
Pierce,  H.  M.,  443 
Pierce,  Eansom  T.,  991 
Pine  Grove,   110,   597 

Pine  Grove  township — Mention,  85;  organized, 
592;  shingles  as  legal  tender,  592;  marital 
and  legal,  594;  Kalamazoo  &  South  Haven 
Railroad,  595;  general  progress,  595;  Goble- 
ville,  596;  Pine  Grove,  597;  Kendall,  597; 
Mentha,   597  ' 

Pioneer  farm  implements,  327 
Place,  Clarence  E.,  605 
Plank  roads,   103 
Pokagon,  Julia,  8,  11,  12-14 
Pokagon,  Simon   (chief,),  3,  5,  6,  8,   10,  11     p> 
21K  24,   26,   99  >>>>>->      •,     -, 

Politics     of      the      county— General      elections 
(1837-1910),  168;   the  parties  in  the  county, 
169;    presidential    vote   in    the    county,    170; 
county    officers,    171;    members    of   the    state 
legislature,     175;     other    important     officials 
rrom  Van  Buren  county,  177;   constitutional 
conventions,      178;      proposed     constitutional 
amendments,  179;  Van  Buren  countv  and  the 
hquor  traffic,  180 
Pomeroy,  George  B.,  605 
Pontiac,  56-58 
Poole,  Olive,  514,  521 
Poole,  Watson,  55u 
Poor,  Charles  N.,  510 
Poor,  Melvin  H.,  674 
Poor,  Simon  B.,  673 
Poorman,  Byron  M.,  1073 
Population  of  county  (1840-1910)    74 
Porter,  George  G.,  68 

Porter  township— Mention  82,  84;  first  set- 
tlers, 598;  the  Kinney  settlement,  598;  the 
Adams  family,  600;  township  named  and  or- 
ganized, 600;  educational  and  political,  601- 
a  retrospect,   602  ' 

Potter,  Allen,   110 
Potter,  John  B.,  556 
Pratt,  Warren,  610 
Presbyterian  church,  Decatur,  492 
£resbyterian  church,  Paw  Paw,  585 
J^ress  of  Van  Buren  county— "  Paw  Paw  Free 
Press, »    354;    "Paw    Paw    Free T  Prels    and 
Courier  »    355;     "The    True    North^ er"" 
f^>,         Decatur     Republican,"      359;      the 
Lawton    Leader,"    361;     "Hartford    Day 
Spring  361;  the  „Bang'or  Ad  „  s^ 

TSp.^^Ce,cSW8pa.perB'  364'   "La™nce 
"  Cn%     -n65 ;  v  BIoomingdale  Leader, "  365 ; 

n^SsS™'''     Wi      «outh  'Haven 

PrlCh.ard.'  ?oIone^  258,  259,  260 
Probate  judges,  171 

Prohibition  in  the  county,  180 

prosecuting  attorneys,  173 

^ospect  lake,  544 

^ugsley,  C  Ray,   649 


Pugsley,  Henry  M.,  569 
Pugsley,  John  K.,  568,  575 
Pugsley,  Milton  H.,  352,  653 
Pugsley,  Nathaniel  M.,  569 
Pugsley 's  Lake,  565 

Quackenbush,  Elizabeth,  408 
"Queen  of  the  Woods,"  6 
Qui  mi,    Francis,    188 

Radtke,  Charles,  800 

Hailroadah-.Michigau  Central,  107;  Kalamazoo 
&  South  Haven  109;  the  Paw  Paw  Railroad, 
111,  loledo  &  South  Haven  Railroad  (Fruit 
way,  n3e)'  '    thC   P0re    M«q"ette    Rail- 

Randall,   V.   F.,  468 

Ranney,  John  A.,  395,  400 

Ranney,   William,    395 

Ransom,  Epaphroditus,   109,  161    16'> 

Ransom,  Thomas  IT.,  455    904 

Reams,   Fred    W.,    797       ' 

"Red    Man's  Greeting/'   3 

Register  of   deeds,   172 

Reid,  James  L.,  320 

Remington,  J.  M.,  453,  454 

Renfer,  Alfred,   1003 

Rennie,   James   IT.,   652 

Reynolds,  Benjamin,  84,  505,  601 

Reynolds,   George,   544,  545,  558 

Reynolds,    Jane,   551 

Reynolds,  John,  358,  544,  545,  556,  558 

Reynolds,   Sarah,   551 

Reynolds,  Theodore  L.,  364 

Rhoads,  James  O.,  967 

Rhodes,  II.   W.,  13*5 

Robinson,   Daniel   G.,  450 

Ridlon,  John  M.,  638 

Rice,  Allen,  336 

Rich',  Davi.f  EP:  ^deUa)'  12'   8M'  383'  ™ 

Richards,   Chandler,   16'y,  556 

Risley,  C.  S.,  446 

Rix,  George  H.,  412 

Roads-^-Indian  trails,  98;  first  Michigan  white 
man's  road,  99;  territorial  and  state  roads, 
yy,    old  stage  routes,   101;   plank  roads    lo4 

Robertson,  Burrifl  A.,  1159  '       S 

Robbins,  John,  1021 

Robinson,   Almiron,   838 

Robinson,   Claude  D.,   876 
Robinson,  Daniel  G.,  454 
Robinson,  John  A.,  1085 
Rockwell,    Charles,    556 
Rogers,  Joseph,  348 
Rogers,   Laura,  497 
Rogers,  Robert,  56 
Rogers,  Samuel,  472 
Rood,  Frank  E.,  1037 
Root,  Edson  V.,  445 
Root,  Herbert  L.,  925 
Rose,   Gilbert   L.,  390 
Rosevelt,  John  V.,  535 
Roseville,  516 
Ross,  Thomas  L.,  575 
Ross,  Volney,  344 
Rowe,  George  U.,  667 
Rowe,  Nelson,  384,  556,  666 


XXVI 


INDEX 


Rowe,  Kufus,   384 

Rowe,  Sylvanus,  385 

Rowland,  Marion  O.,  177,  358,  300 

Rowland,  Oran  W.,  94,  343,  358,  360,  1.156 

Ruggles,  Joseph,  514,  521 

Runyan,  Arthur  C,  926 

Russell,  L.  S.,  363 

Russell,  M.  F.,  363,  852 

Ryan,  .John,  521 

Saekett,  Stanley,   949 
Sage,  Richard  11,  826 
St.   Clair,   Arthur,   61 

St.  Mary's  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Concep- 
tion, Paw  Paw,  585 
Sanford,  Lyman,  487 
Savage,  Levi,  409 
Saw-kaw's  love  story,  38-45 
Sawtelle,  Elemucl,  468 
Sayres,  Rufus,  517 
Schermerhorn,   William,    1035 
Schmidt,   O.   C,   366 

School  statistics,   125,  126 

Schoolcraft,  George  W.,  963 

Schoolcraft,  William,  941 

Schools — Act  of  1827  modified,  117;  harassed 
school  inspectors,  118;  the  teachers'  qualifi- 
cations, 120;  Mrs,  Allen  Rice's  reminis- 
cences, 122;  the  old  and  the  newT,  125 

Scott,  Charles,  419 

Scott,  James,  622 

Scott,  John,   623 

Scott,   Leslie,  1034 

Scott,   Thomas,  486 

Scott,  William  R.,   891 

Scott  Club,  South  Haven,  617 

Searls,  Charles  C,  661 

Sebring,  Horace,  415 

Sebring,  J.   E.,  350,  745 

Second  Michigan  Cavalry,  290 

Secord,  W.  W.,  363,  365 

Selkirk,  Matthew  V.,  935 

Selleck,  Charles,  575 

Sellick,  F.  W.,  343 

Sellick,  George  F.,  355 

Sellick,  William  J.,  343 

Sellick,  W.  R.,  343 

Semi-agricultural  industries,  325 

Seventeenth  Michigan  Infantry,  215 

Shaefer,  Charles  S.,  412 

Shanahan,  Joseph  K.,  1076 

Shattuck,  Shepard  H.,  475,  798 

Shattuck,  William  J.,  475 

Shaw,  Orrin  S.,  474 

Sheffer,  C.  M.,  320 

Sheffer,  S.  G.,  320 

Sheldon,  Charles  P.,  521,  1101 

Sheldon,   L.  B.,   575 

Sheldon,  Oliver  H.  P.,  412 

Sheldon,  Thomas  C,  613 

Shepard,  Henry,  867 

Shepard,   L.    E.,    575 

Shepard,  William  W.,  523,  525 

Sheriffs,  171 

Sherman,  Alonzo,  342,  727 

Sherman,  John  D.,  733 

Sherman,  Joseph   H.,   729 

Sherrod,  Burtes  M.,  445 


Sherrod,    G.    B.,    575 

►Snerrod,  Hiram,  761 

Sherwood,  George,  490 

Sherwood,  Samuel,  489 

Shine,    George,    854 

Showerman,  David,  397 

Showerman,  J.  B.,  343 

Shuver,  John   H.,  1027 

Sibley,   Solomon,  78 

Sikes,  Orendo  M.,  535,  538 

Sikes,  Zenas,  538 

Simmons,  Jeremiah  H.,   80,   165,  575 

Simmons,  Leander,   933 

Simon,  Ellis,  351 

Sirrine,  William  R.,  625 

Sisson,   Orrin,   602 

Sister    Lakes    resort,    534 

Sixteenth    Michigan   Infantry,    287 

Sixth  Michigan  Infantry,   T~83 

Skinner,  Edward,  884 

Smith,  Augusta,  497 

Smith,  C.  F.,   365 

Smith,   David   H.,   625 

Smith,    Edmund,    343,    581 

Smith,   George   P.,   625 

Smith,  Harsen  D.,  165 

Smith,  Hattie  B.,  367 

Smith,   Henry,   511 

Smith,   Hiram  A.,   879 

Smith,  H.  B.,  432 

Smith,    Ira  A.,   367 

Smith,  James,   523 

Smith,  John,  438,  439 

Smith,    R.    A.,    311 

Smith,  Sherman  D.,  455 

Smith,  W.   E.,    359 

Smith,  Wilbur  G.,  367 

Smolk,  John,  412 

South  Haven,  28,  110,  136-138 

South    Haven    and    Casco   Pomological    Soeietv, 
322 

South  Haven  Board  of  Trade,  619 

South  Haven   City  Hospital,  388 

"South    Haven    Daily  'Gazette,"    366,    367 

"South  Haven  Daily  Tribune,"  367 

South  Haven  fruit  raising,  320 

South  Haven  Gazette  Company,   368 

South  Haven  Loan  and  Trust  Company,  352 

South  Haven  Pomological  Society,  322,  619 

"South  Haven  Record,"  367 

"South  Haven  Sentinel,"  366 

i '  South  Haven  Tribune-Messenger, ' f   367 

South  Haven  township — Mention,  80,  81,  84, 
85;  early  elections  and  officials,  603;  prop- 
erty and  population,  605;  Jay  R.  Monroe, 
first  white  settler,  606;  Clark  and  Daniel 
Pierce,  607;  A.  S.  Dyckman 's  story,  608; 
?>ioneer  steam  sawmills,  609;  first  institu- 
tions and  pioneers,  610;  village  (now  city) 
of  South  Haven,  613;  the  summer  resort 
business,  615;  schools,  churches  and  societies, 
616";  municipal  and  business  matters,  618; 
Pomological  Society  and  Board  of  Trade,  619 
South  Mountain  (battle J,  216 
Southard,   John,    438,    439 

Southern  Michigan  Fruit  Association,  417,  418 
Southwell,  Enoch,  556 
Spanish- American   war,    310 


INDEX 


XXVll 


Spaulding,    Henry,   521,    1119 

Spayde,   Emerson  D.,  452 

Spencer,  Frank  L.,  694 

Sprague,   William,   483 

Squier,  David  A.,  488 

Squier,  Emory  H.,  488,  1091 

Srackangast,   Ezra,  1032 

Stage   routes,    101 

Stainton,  William  II.,  412 

Starbuck,  William,  1013 

Starkweather,  Nathaniel  B.,  80 

State    representatives,    lT5 

State  roads,  100,   101 

State  senators,   175 

Stearns,  Sidney,  509 

Stearns,   Zebina,   507,    509 

Stephens,  Frank  E.,  726 

Stevens,  F.   E.,   343 

Stevens,  F.  H.,  575 

Stevens,    French    &   Company,   342 

Stevens,  Harrison,  592 

Stevens,  James,  429 

Stevens,   "William   H.,   400 

Stewart,   Gardner   L.,   455 

Stewart,   Nellie,    366 

Stewart,   W.   E.,  366 

Stimson,  Horace,  82,  546,  553,  ooij 

Stoddard,  John   IL,  ry50 

Stone,  William,  592 

Stone  River    (battle),   198 

Stoughton,  Antoinette,  525 

Stratton,   Truman,  523 

Stratton,  Wiilard,  523 

Streator,  Prenett  T.,  625 

Stuart,   Charles   E.,   109,   197 

Sturgis,   Joseph,    609 

Summers,  William,  980 

Summy,    Eri,    468 

Surdam,  Nathaniel  L.,  407 

Sutton,  Luther,  362,  515,  546 

Sutton,   Orrin,   546,  556 

Sweet,   Charles  P.,   358,  359 

Sweet,   William,    1019 

Swift,   H.   D.,  485 

Taft,  Geraldine,  478 

Tanner,  E.  A.,  529 

Tarbell,  Henry  Y.,   820 

Tarbell,   John'    348 

Taylor,   Charles  A.,  439 

Taylor,   Daniel,    84,   439 

Taylor,   Ephraim,   549 

Taylor,   F.   W.,   367 

Taylor,   Howland    C,    521 

Taylor,   N.   S.,  350 

Taylor,  "William   N.,   407,  426 

Tedrow,   Frank  J.,   1117 

Teed,  Jeremiah,  488 

Teed,   Philip  N.,  400 

Telephone  lines,   353" 

Tenth  Michigan  Cavalry,  291 

renth  Michigan  Infantry,   284 

1  emtorial  road,   99,   553 

Tliayer,   Haviland,   450 

Third  Michigan  Cavalry,  239,  242 

ihird   Michigan   Infantry,   283 

thirteenth  Michigan   Cavalry,   293 

Ihirteenth  Michigan  Infantry,  197 


Thirtieth  Michigan    Infantry,   288 

Thomas,    Jesse,    521 

Thomas,   Nathan,    751 

Thomas,  William,   521 

Thompson,    Albert,    605 

Thompson,   Edwin  A.,   358 

Thompson,   Jasper   II.,   521 

Thorn,   John   S.,   521 

Three   Mile  lake,  565 

Thresher,    W.    E.,    364 

Tittle,    George,   485 

Tobev,   Samuel,   366 

Todd,  A.   M.,   597 

Toledo  &  South  Haven  Railroad,  111 

Tolles,   Goodwin  S.,   496,  1109 

Tolles,  James  T.,   136,  496 

Tolles,  William   R.,   496 

Tomlinson,  Joel,  403 

Torrey,   A.    W.,   454 

Torrey,   Arthur,    1133 

Townsend,  Charles,  81 

Townsend,   Loren  D.,  470 

Trafford,  William  F.,  474 

T raver,  William  M.,  670 

Traver  canning  factory,  531 

Travis,  J.   B.,   366 

Traxler    canning    factory,    531 

Trim,  Charles   E.,   455 

Tripp,  John  H.,  939 

Tripp,   Robert   H.,   985 

Trowbridge,  S.  M.,  496 

"True    Northerner,"    356 

Truesdell,  Merritt  J.,  1041 

Truex,    John    M.,    1033 

Tubbs,  Nathan,  So,  495,  496 

Turner,  George,  1059 

Turner,  Samuel,  400 

Tuttle,  William,  Jr.,  535 

Twelfth   Michigan   Infantry,   188 

Twell,  Joseph,  361 

Twenty-fourth   Michigan   Infantry,  225 

Twenty-fifth  Michigan   Infantry,* 226 

Twenty-eighth  Michigan  Infantry,  227 

Tyner,   Thomas  C,  556 

Universalist  church,  Decatur,  491 
Upton,  John  B.,  556 

Valleau,  Peter  T.,  624 

Valleau,  Theodore  W7.,  624,  908 

Valuation   of  county  property    (1851-1911),   75 

Van  Antwerp,  Daniel,  407,  412 

Van  Antwerp,  Daniel  C,  841 

Van  Antwerp,  Mrs.  Harriet   (Cook),  600 

Van  Blaricon,  Frank,  664 

Van  Buren    (paper  town),  555 

Van  Buren  county— Population  of  (1840-1910) , 
74;  property  valuation  (1851-1911),  75 

Van  Buren  County  Farmers '  Mutual  Fire  In- 
surance Company,  352 

Van  Buren  County  Pioneer  Association,  89 

"Van  Buren  County  Press, M  355 

"Van  Buren  County  Republican, "  360 

Van  Fleet,  William  Norris,  551 

Van  Fossen,  Isaac  W.,  355,  356,  645 

Van   Hise,  Joseph,  486,  487 

Van  Hise,  Stephen  O.,  490 

Van  Hise,  William  O.,  488 


XXV111 


INDEX 


Van  Horn,  James,  911 
Van  Nise,  William  K.,  488 
Van  Ostrand,  Spencer,  839 
Van  Ostrom,  John,  529 
Van  Ostrom,   Maggie,   529 
Van  Kiper,  Charles  A.,  602 
Vaughan,  Orley  M.,  1077 
Veterinary  practitioners,  392 
Vickers,  Robert  E.,  452 
Vining,  G.  M.,  364 
Vining,  Lewis  H.,  1031 

Waber,  George  T.,  929 
Waber,  Thomas,  923 
Wagner,  Amos  B.,  504 
Wagner,  Joseph  S.,  610 
Wagner,  L.  R.,  811 
Waite,  Caroline  M.,   739 
Waite,  Henry,  738 
Waite,  Kufus  M.,  400 
Wakefield,  Mason,  508 
Wakeman,  Frank  N.,  359,  631 
Wakeman,  Seth  L.,  1010 
Waldo,  Campbell,  395 
Waldron,  Elver  E.,  602,  1089 
Walker,  Lewis  P.,  678 
Wallace,  George  A.,  1040 
Wallace,  William,  1006 
Walter,  James  A.,  110 
Wapsey,  14-19,  40 
Ward,  Thomas  O.,  358 
Warner,  Bangs  F.,  643 
Warner,  Elam  L.,  94 
Warner,  Elijah,  602 
Warner,  Frank  E.,  496 
Warner,  Glenn  E.,  634 

Warner,  Jerome  C,  575,  632 

Warner,  Junia,  Jr.,  80,  394,  395,  398,  584 

Warner,  Levi  H.,  379 

Warren,  Grace  F.,  680 

Warren,  Nellie  M.,  819 

Warren,  Robert  L.,  360,  364 

Waterford  road,  552 

Waterman,  J.,  467 

Waters,  Harlan  P.,  412,  779 

Watkins,  Andrew  J.,  1002 

Watson,  Jerome  B.,  496 

Watson,  Leonard,  467 

Watson,  M.  P.,  445 

Watson,  Ralph  F.,  496 

Waverly  Grange  No.  37,  P.  of  H.,  399 

Waverly  township— Mention,  83;  physical  fea- 
tures, 620;  the  township  named,  621;  the 
Myers  family,  621;  first  wedding  between 
pioneers,  622;  Covey  Hill,  623;  John  Scott, 
623;  other  early  settlers,  624;  from  the  of- 
ficial records,  625;  village  of  Glendale,  626 

Weber,  Henry  F.,  980 

Weeks,  James  M.,  504 

Weidenfeller,  Charles  A.,  455 
Welch,  J.  L.,  351 
Welch,  O.  T.,  488 
Weldin,  George,  1142 
Weldin,  Joel  M.,  1047 


Welker,  Jeremiah,  1080 

Wells,  Hiram  K.,  432 

Wenban,  W.  W.,  496 

Weso,  33-37 

Westgate,  Orlo,  605 

"West  Michigan  Advance,"  363 

West  Michigan  Savings  Bank,  Bangor,  350 

Whipple,  Charles  W.,  162 

Wicksall,  Guy  J.,  73,  179 

Wickwire,  J.  H.,  361 

Wiggins,  Milan  D.,  351,  1151 

Wigglesworth,  C.  H.,  323 

Wilcox,  John  B.,  1036 

Wild  pigeons,  45-52 

Wildey,  Albert  R.,  327,  328,  570,  574 

Wildey,  Edwin  A.,  177,  178,  327,  359,  575 

Wildey,  W.  C,  327,  575 

Willard,  Isaac  W.,  73,  105,  109,  178,  574,  576, 

578,  580 
Williams,  Charles  W.,  917 
Williams,  Henry  S.,  358 
Williams,  John,  323,  612 
Williams,  Nathan,  397 
Williams,  Norris  A.,  987 
Williams,  Oscar  J.,  412 
Williams,  Orsimus,  602 
Williams,  Philip,  410,  411 
Williams,  William  R.,  551 
Williamson,  Mrs.  Prudence,  540 
Willis,  Lewis  E.,  984 
Wilmot,  Marlin  L.,  906 
Wilson,  Eugene  A.,  177 
Wilson,  S.  H.,  367 
Wilson,  Samuel  P.,  605 
Wise,  Abram  S.,  504 
Withington,  William  H.,  215 
Wolcott,  James,  523 
Wolf  stories,  333 
Wolfs,  C.  A.,  343 
Wood,  Walter  A.,  1094 
Woodman,  David,  327,  571,  575 
Woodman,  David,  Jr.,  571,  572 
Woodman,  Edson,  327,  328 
Woodman,  Jason,  325,  574 
Woodman,  Jonathan  J.,  94,  177,  404,  412 
Woodman,  Joseph,  337,  403,  404,  571,  5/8 
Woodman,  Lucius  C,  239,  380 
Woodman,  Olivia  J.,  404 
Woodruff,  George,  163 
Woodward,  Marquis,  432 
Wooster,  A.  M.,  360 
World's  Fair   (Chicago),  3,  6 
Worthington,  Henry,  541 
Wygent,  John,  477 

Yates,  James  A.,  445 
Yeckley,  George  G.  B.,  504 
Young,  Benoni,  476 
Young,  Charles  W.,  575 
Young,  David,  472 
Young,  George  F.,  946 
Young,  Merle  H.,  576,  707 

Zook,  William  E.,  1012 


The  above  are  supposed  to  have  been  made  by  the  mound  builders  who  had 
sway  in  Vran  Buren  county  long  before  the  Algonquin  race  had  taken  posses- 
sion of  Michigan,  from  the  fact  that  many  of  these  implements  are  found  buried 
with  their  dead  in  the  mounds  scattered  throughout  the  county.  The  cuts 
which  have  no  notches  at  the  base  were  used  for  various  purposes  as  we  use 
our  knives.  All  notched  at  the  base  were  used  for  arrow  points.  They  were  held 
in  place  in  a  split  in  one  end  of  the  arrow,  securely  held  by  the  sinews  of  ani- 
mals. Although  our  present  Indians  knew  nothing  about  how  they  were  manu- 
factured, still  when  found  they  were  successfully  used  by  them. 

The  above  illustrations  were  furnished   by   E.    B.   Starks,   an    old   settler  of 
Van  Buren  county— and  considered  good  authority  iu  aboriginal  matters. 


The  above  cuts,  excepting  those  notched  at  the  base,  were  used  as  we  use 
axes  or  pick  axes.  They  were  securely  fastened  to  the  helves  made  of  a 
crotched  stick  of  proper  size,  securely  held  in  place  by  animal  thongs.  The 
specimens  from  which  the  illustration  was  made  were  found  in  Van  Buren 
county,  and  furnished  by  Conklin  &  Smith. 


HISTORY  OF 

VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


CHAPTER  I 

ABORIGINAL  HISTORY 

First  Church  Built  by  Indians — Chief  Pokagon's  Address — 
Pokagon's  Last  Wigwam — Julia  Pokagon's  Address — Old 
Wapsey — Do  Indians  Cry,  Laugh  or  Joke? — Algonquin  Le- 
gend of  Man's  Creation — Legend  of  Paw  Paw  and  the  Paw 
Paw  Valley — Algonquin  Legends  of  South  Haven — After 
Me-me-og  (Squabs)  in  Van  Buren  County — The  "Buck 
Pony"  Ride — "Never  Carry  a  Revolver,  Boys' ' — Saw-Kaw's 
Love  Story — Me-me-og,  the  Wild  Pigeons. 

By  C.  H.  Engle,  Associate  Editor. 

"Is  not  the  Redman's  wigwam  home 
As  dear  to  him  as  costly  dome? 
Is  not  his  loved  ones  smile  as  bright 
As  the  dear  ones  of  the  man  that's  white? 
Freedom — this   self-same   freedom  you  adore — 

Bade  him   defend  his  violated  shore. 

*  *  * 

1 l  The  past  can  never  be  undone. 

The  new  day  brings  the  rising  sun 
To  light  the  way  of  duty  now 

To   children  with  the   dusky  brow. ' ' 

While  we  leave  on  record  the  history  of  our  own  people,  let  us 
not  forget  the  Red  Man  who  once  owned  this  beautiful  land  and 
welcomed  our  pioneers  when  they  first  came  to  this  county,  and 
when  in  need  sheltered  and  shared  with  them  "man-do-min  and 
suc-see"  (corn  and  deer). 

It  is  a  lamentable  fact  that  those  who  know  least  of  the  Indian 
race  cry  out  against  them  most  bitterly,  as  being  vindictive,  treach- 
erous and  cruel;  while  those  who  have  lived  among  them  and  as- 
sociated with  them  for  years,  frankly  acknowledge  that  as  a  race 
they  are  no  worse  than  we  are.    Of  course  when  their  lands  were 

1 


2        HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY 

invaded  they  fought  like  demons  for  home  and  native  land:  and 
so  we  might  say  of  every  race.     General  Sherman,  when  he  led 
the  boys  in  blue  to  the  Sea,  during  the  late  rebellion,  witnessed 
so  much  wantonness  and  cruelty  that  he   cried  from  his  heart, 
"War  is  Hell!"  and  truthfully  he  might  have  added  "alike  with 
savage  and  with  sage."    As  far  as  we  can  learn  from  history  Pere 
Marquette  was  the  first  white  man  who  visited  Southwest  Michi- 
gan about  two  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago.    A  few  years  after  he 
was  followed  by  La  Salle  who  built  a  fort  at  the  mouth  of  St. 
Joseph  river,  Michigan,  on  the  highlands  west  of  the  junction  of 
Paw  Paw  and  St.  Joseph  rivers,  the  main  object  of  which  seems 
to  have  been  to  monopolize  the  trade  in  buffalo  hides.     The  na- 
tives of  Michigan  were  firm  in  the  belief  that  the  country  many 
years  before  their  time  was  inhabited  by  a  race  much  further  ad- 
vanced in  the  arts  and  sciences  than  were  they.     Their  legends 
show  it  and  the  domestic  implements  and  weapons  of  warfare  which 
they  found  scattered  broadcast  over  the  land  clearly  proved  it. 
Again,  it  was  generally  talked  of  and  known  among  the  Indians 
of  Michigan,  as  near  as  they  could  estimate  time,  that  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  years  ago  one  of  their  chiefs,  We-me-gen-de-bay, 
while  hunting  in  the  wilderness  discovered  a  great  copper  kettle 
which  was   partly  underground.     The   roots   of   large   trees   had 
grown  over  it,  and  when  taken  up  it  appeared  as  if  it  had  never 
been  used,  but  seemed  to  be  just  as  it  came  from  the  maker,  as 
there  was  yet  a  round  bright  spot  in  the  center  of  the  bottom  of 
it.     This  kettle  was  large  enough  to  cook  a  whole  deer  or  bear  in. 
For  a  long  time  the  Indians  kept  it  as  a  sacred  relic.     They  did 
not  keep  it  near  where  they  lived,  but  securely  hidden  in  a  place 
most  unfrequented  by  human  beings.    They  did  not  use  it  for  any- 
thing except  great  feasts.     Their  idea  was  that  it  was  made  by 
some   deity  who  presided  over  the   country  where  it  was  found 
and  that  a  copper  mine  must  be  near  that  place.     It  had  no  iron 
rim  around  it,  nor  bail  for  hanging  while  in  use,  but  the  edge  of% 
the  upper  part  was  much  thicker  than  the  rest  and  was  turned 
out  square  about  three  fourths  of  an  inch,  as  if  made  to  rest  on 
some  support  while  in  use.     When  the  Indians  began  to  be  civil- 
ized they  used  it  in  common  to  boil  down  maple  sap  to  sugar,  in- 
stead of  cooking  bear  for  feast. 

I  first  read  an  account  of  this  magical  kettle  in  the  writings  of 
the  late  Chief  Blackbird,  an  educated  Ottawa  Indian.  I  have 
talked  with  him  frequently  since  regarding  this  strange  find. 
He  told  me  that  while  a  young  man  he  worked  in  a  government 
blacksmith  shop,  that  it  was  brought  to  him  to  have  a  bail  put  in 
it,  and  that  he  fixed  it  up  according  to  order.  When  I  talked  with 
him  he  was  nearly  one  hundred  years  old  and  confirmed  in  full 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


Bark  and  Quill  Work 

Having  presented  our  readers  with  photo-cuts  of  implements  made  by  a  pre- 
historic race  of  this  country,  we  now  present  them  photo-cuts  of  the  present- 
day  work  of  our  Michigan  Indians,  showing  their  artistic  creations  in  bark  and 
porcupine  quill  work,  etc. 

About  the  time  of  the  opening  of  the  World's  Fair  in  Chicago,  in  1S93,  our 
late  Chief  Pokagon  published  a  booklet  on  the  manifold  bark  of  the  white 
birch  tree,  entitled  "The  Red  Man's  Greeting;"  afterwards  it  was  called  bv 
the  public  "The  Red  Man's  Rebuke;  "  also  "The  Red  Man's  Book  of  Lamenta- 
tion." In  order  that  future  generations  of  our  county  may  understand  the 
Indian  love  and  appreciation  of  the  white  birch  tree,  I  deem  it  best  to  here 
publish  the  preface  of  the  bark  book  in  full. 

Preface  of  "The  Red  Man's  Greeting" 
My  object  in  publishing  "The  Red  Man's  Greeting"  on  the  manifold  bark 
of  the  white  birch  tree  is  out  of  loyalty  to  my  own  people  and  gratitude  to 
the  Great  Spirit,  who,  in  his  wisdom,  provided  for  our  use,  for  untold  genera- 
tions, this  most  remarkable  tree  with  manifold  bark,  used  by  us  instead  of 
paper  and  being  of  greater  value  to  us,  as  it  could  not  be  injured  by  sun  or 
water.  Out  of  the  bark  of  this  wonderful  tree  were  made  hats,  caps  and  dishes 
for  domestic  use,  while  our  maidens  tied  with  it  the  knot  that  sealed  the  mar- 
riage vow.  Wigwams  were  made  of  it,  as  well  as  the  largest  canoes  that  out- 
rode the  most  violent  storms  on  lake  and  sea.  It  was  also  used  for  light  and 
fuel  at  our  war  dances  and  spirit  councils.  Originally  the  shores  of  our  north- 
ern lakes  and  streams  were  fringed  with  it  and  evergreen;  and  the  white, 
charmingly  contrasted  with  the  green  mirrored  from  the  waters,  was  indeed 
beautiful;  but,  like  the  Red  Man,  this  tree  is  vanishing  from  our  forests. 

' '  Alas  for  us !  our  day  is  o  'er, 

Our  fires  are  out  from  shore  to  shore; 

No  more  for  us  the  wild  deer  bounds; 

The  plough  is  on  our  hunting  grounds; 

The  pale  man's  axe  rings  through  our  woods. 

The  pale  man's  sails  skim  o'er  our  floods, 

Our  pleasant  springs  are  dry. 

Our  children — look  by  power  oppressed! 

Beyond  the  mountains  of  the  "West, 

Our  children  go  to  die!  " 


4        HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

the  above  account  of  the  kettle.  He  further  added:  "From  this 
evidence  of  working  in  metals  and  from  many  other  relics  of 
former  occupants,  it  is  evident  that  this  country  has  been  in- 
habited for  many  ages  by  a  people  further  advanced  in  the  arts  and 
sciences  that  are  we." 

Our  own  people  who  have  investigated  as  far  as  possible  the 
prehistoric  race  that  occupied  this  country  long  before  the  Al- 
gonquins,  are  of  the  opinion  that  they  were  the  mound  builders 
who  have  left  so  many  earth  works  of  various  <•  sizes  scattered 
throughout  this  continent,  traces  of  which  still  may  be  seen  in 
nearly  every  township  of  Van  Buren  county;  and  that  the  flint 
arrow  points,  knives,  spears,  stone  axes,  etc.,  which  are  so  pro- 
fusely scattered  throughout  the  county  are  the  handiwork  of  those 
people.  Whence  they  came  or  where  they  went  no  one  knows,  but 
some  conjecture  that  for  ages  they  slowly  migrated  southward 
and  finally  established  the  ancient  kingdom  of  Mexico.  Cortes,  the 
Spanish  conqueror  who  invaded  Mexico  in  1519,  declared  that  the 
natives  were  just  about  as  far  advanced  in  the  arts  and  sciences  as 
were  the  Spaniards,  except  in  the  implements  of  warfare  and  the 
manufacture  of  gunpowder,  of  which  they  had  no  knowledge 
whatever. 

First  Church  Built  by  Indians 

The  Pottawattamies  claim  to  have  erected  the  first  church  in 
Van  Buren  county.  It  was  built  of  logs  on  the  south  side  of  Rush 
lake,  township  of  Hartford,  in  1840.  In  1856  they  built  a  frame 
church,  forty  feet  by  sixty,  just  east  of  the  log  church.  Both  were 
Catholic  churches.  The  frame  church  is  still  standing.  I  well 
remember  when  it  was  built  from  this  fact :  They  came  to  me  to 
get  a  job  of  cutting  down  about  ten  acres  of  timber  that  they 
might  obtain  money  with  which  to  buy  shingles.  They  agreed  to 
commence  the  job  on  the  following  day.  I  told  them  I  would  be 
over  in  the  afternoon  to  see  what  kind  of  a  job  they  were  doing. 
I  was  rather  late  and  did  not  get  there  until  nearly  sundown. 
When  I  was  within  eighty  rods  of  the  job  I  was  surprised  to  hear 
what  I  thought  must  be  a  war-whooping  pow  wow.  I  hardly  could 
decide  whether  to  go  ahead  or  retreat.  While  I  paused  I  heard 
the  falling  of  the  great  trees  as  if  a  cyclone  was  abroad  in  the 
timber.  Advancing  in  haste  I  saw  the  timber  crashing  down  the 
whole  width  of  the  ten-acre  job.  Again  I  paused,  for  the  crashing 
of  the  falling  timber,  intermixed  with  the  pow  wow  war-whoops, 
created  such  confusion  of  sounds, 

"As  if  all  the  fiends  from  Heaven  that  fell 
Had  pealed  the  banner  cry  of  Hell." 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY        5 

As  I  met  the  tribe  starting  home,  they  informed  me  that  the  whole 
tribe  had  turned  out  and  commenced  cutting  the  timber  part  way 
down  on  the  east  side  of  the  job  and  when  they  reached  the  west 
side  they  had  formed  in  line  across  the  entire  front  and  felled 
the  timber  eastward  and  that  one  tree  had  pushed  down  the  next 
and  all  had  fallen,  saving  them  much  chopping.     But  what  a  job ! 

It  is  generally  believed  by  the  best  men  and  women  who  have 
made  a  careful  study  of  the  issues  between  the  two  races  that  if 
the  Indians  had  been  treated  under  the  golden  rule,  "Do  to  others 
as  you  would  that  they  should  do  to  you,"  they  would  have  been 
the  best  kind  of  Christians.  They  never  worshiped  idols  from  the 
fact  than  they  believed  in  one  Great  Spirit,  known  by  them  as 
"Ki-tchi  Man-i-to,"  and  one  Great  Spirit  called  "Mau-tchi  Man- 
i-to."  The  first  they  believe  to  be  all  wisdom  and  goodness,  who 
created  all  things  and  governs  all.  The  other  was  bad  and  did 
all  the  evil  he  could.  Hence  it  was  that  they  loved  and  adored  the 
first  missionaries  who  taught  them  that  the  Great  Spirit  had  re- 
vealed His  will  to  man  through  Christ,  His  only  Son.  But  when 
bad  designing  white  men  went  among  them  to  steal  and  rob,  they 
naturally  thought  that  all  our  race,  of  course,  were  Christians, 
and  in  their  innocence  looked  upon  their  acts  as  the  offspring  of 
their  religion;  hence  concluded  that  the  white  man's  God  was  not 
"Ki-tchi  Man-i-to"  who  loved  and  cared  for  them  and  their  chil- 
dren. 

In  considering  the  natural  character  of  the  red  man  from  what 
we  read  about  him  in  our  books,  we  must  bear  in  mind  that  his  his- 
tory has  been  written  by  white  men — by  a  race  that  invaded  his 
country  for  conquest  and  settlement — and  that  it  is  a  hard  matter 
for  the  historian  to  write  a  correct  history  of  a  race  that  his  own 
people  are  trying  to  subdue. 

In  order  that  future  generations  of  this  county  may  have  un- 
prejudiced views  of  the  natives  who  were  the  former  occupants 
of  this  beautiful  land  which  they  inherit,  I  will  introduce  them 
to  the  writings  of  x  the  late  Chief  Pokagon,  an  educated  Indian 
who  spent  over  seventy  years  in  this  county.  I  will  first  present 
his  address  given  under  the  auspices  of  Oricono  Tribe  No.  184, 
I.  0.  R.  M.,  at  Liberty,  Indiana,  on  January  7,  1898.  Read  it 
carefully  and  note  his  opinion  regarding  the  issue  between  the 
two  races. 

Chief  Pokagon  's  Address 

For  many  years  I  have  had  a  warm  heart  for  the  pale-faced  ' '  Redmen, ' '  but 
never  expected  to  be  invited  to  address  them.  I  would  not  have  you  think 
that  I  flatter  myself  that  I  have  been  invited  here  on  account  of  my  intelli- 
gence or  reputation,  as  I  most  keenly  realize  you  have  looked  forward  to  my 
coming  here  with  a  sort  of  novel  pride  that  you  might  point  me  out  to  your 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


Chief  Pokagon 


A  correct  likeness  of  Chief  Pokagon  in  his  tribal  attire  as  he  appeared  at 
the  World's  Fair  on  Chicago  Day,  October  9,  1893,  as  painted  by  M.  O.  Whit- 
ney. Being  an  invited  guest  of  the  city  on  that  day,  the  old  veteran  rang  the 
new  liberty  bell  for  the  first  time,  and  was  honored  by  addressing  the  vast 
throng  in  behalf  of  his  race. 

The  old  chief  gained,  while  a  guest  of  the  World's  Fair,  a  national  reputa- 
tion for  native  ability.  He  wrote  in  his  lifetime  several  articles  for  leading 
magazines,  which  were  highly  eulogized  by  the  press,  both  in  this  country  and 
abroad.  He  is  the  only  Indian  who  ever  wrote  his  own  courtship  and  married 
life,  which  is  most  touchingly  told  in  his  <  <  Queen  of  the  Woods. ' '  His  words 
came  from  his  heart  and  apparently  never  fail  to  reach  the  heart  of  the  reader. 
It  is  the  only  book  written  by  an  Indian  that  was  ever  dramatized.  This  won- 
derful book  has  been  so  well  received  that  the  third  edition  is  now  being  closed 
out.  Van  Buren  county  has  just  reasons  to  be  proud  of  having  produced  the 
most  remarkable  Indian  writer  in  America.  " Queen  of  the  Woods"  was  in 
the  press  at  the  time  of  the  old  chief's  death  in  1899. 

Published  and  for  sale  by  C.  H.  Engle,  Hartford,  Van  Buren  county. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY        7 

children  and  say:  "Behold  a  living  specimen  of  the  race  with  whom  we 
once  neighbored— a  race  we  sometimes  loved;  and  yet  that  love  was  mingled 
with  distrust  and  f ear. "  No  greater  compliment  could  have  been  bestowed 
upon  our  vanishing  race  than  by  naming  one  of  the  grandest  orders  after 
them.  And  that  compliment  was  made  perpetual  in  giving  each  officer  of 
the  Red  Men's  order  Indian  names  pure  and  simple,  as  well  as  by  giving 
each  lodge  some  appropriate   Indian  name. 

My  heart  is  always  made  glad  when  I  read  of  the  Daughters  of  Pocahontas 
kindling  their  council  fires.  I  have  often  thought  if  they  dressed  as  be- 
comingly as  our  maids  and  matrons  did  in  their  native  style,  I  would  be  glad 
indeed  to  see  them  confer  the  Pocahontas  degree  work.  The  name  Poca- 
hontas and  my  own  name  were  derived  from  the  same  Algonquin  word, 
"Poka,"  meaning  a   << shield,' '   or  " protector. ' ' 

And  again  we  are  highly  complimented  by  the  order  of  Red  Men  in  dating 
their  official  business  from  the  time  of  the  discovery  of  America.  I  suppose 
the  reason  for  fixing  that  date  was  because  our  forefathers  had  held  for  un- 
told ages  before  that  time,  the  American  continent  a  profound  secret  from 
the  white  man.  Again,  the  Red  Men's  order  highly  compliments  our  race 
by  dividing  time  into  suns  and  moons,  as  our  forefathers  did.  All  of  which 
goes  to  show  that  they  understood  the  fact  we  lived  close  to  the  great  heart 
of  Nature  and  that  we  believed  in  one  Great  Spirit  who  created  all  things 
and  governed  all.  Hence  that  noble  motto,  born  with  our  race,  "Freedom, 
Friendship  and  Charity!"  Yes,  freedom,  friendship,  charity!  Those 
heaven-born  principles  shall  never,  never  die!  It  was  by  those  principles  our 
fathers  cared  for  the  orphan  and  unfortunate,  without  books,  without  laws, 
without  judges;  for  the  Great  Spirit  had  written  his  love  and  law  in  their 
hearts  and  they  obeyed.  Tradition,  as  sacred  to  us  as  Holy  Writ,  has  taught 
us  that  our  forefathers  came  here  from  the  Atlantic  coast.  When  they  first 
entered  these  woodland  plains  they  said  in  their  hearts  "surely  we  are  on 
the  border-land  of  the  happy  hunting  grounds  beyond."  Here  they  found 
game  in  great  abundance.  The  elk,  the  buffalo  and  the  deer  stood  unalarmed 
before  the  hunter's  bended  bow.  Fish  swarmed  in  the  lakes  and  streams  close 
to  shore.  Pigeons,  ducks  and  geese  moved  in  great  clouds  through  the  air, 
flying  so  low  they  fanned  us  with  their  wings,  and  our  boys  whose  bows 
were  scarcely  a  terror  to  the  crows  would  often  with  their  arrows  bring  them 
down.     Here  we  enjoyed  ourselves  in  the  lap  of  luxury. 

But  our  camp  fires  have  all  gone  out!  Our  council  fires  blaze  no  more! 
Our  wigwams  and  they  who  built  them,  with  their  children,  have  forever  dis- 
appeared from  this  beautiful  land,  and  Pokagon  alone  of  all  the  chiefs  is 
permitted  to  behold  it  once  again!  But  what  a  change!  Where  our  cabins 
and  wigwams  once  stood,  now  stand  churches,  school  houses,  cottages  and 
castles.  And  where  we  walked  in  single  file  along  our  winding  trails,  now 
locomotives  scream,  and  as  they  rush  along  their  iron  trails  like  monstrous 
beasts  of  prey,  dragging  after  them  long  rows  of  palaces  with  travelers 
therein  outstripping  the  flight  of  eagles  in  their  course!  As  I  behold  the 
mighty  change  all  over  this  broad  land,  I  feel  about  my  heart  as  I  did  in 
childhood  when  I  saw  for  the  first  time  the  rainbow  spanning  the  departing 
storm ! 

T  do  not  speak  of  the  past  complainingly.  I  have  always  taught  my  people 
not  to  sigh  for  years  long  gone  by,  nor  pass  again  over  the  bloody  trails 
our  fathers  trod.  I  have  stood  all  my  life  as  a  peacemaker  between  the 
white  people  and  my  own  people. 

Without  gun  or  bow,  I  have  stood  between  the  two  contending  armies, 
receiving  a  thousand  wounds  from  your  people  and  my  own. 


8        HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

I  have  continued  to  pray  the  great  Father  at  Washington  to  deal  justly 
with  my  people.  When  they  were  robbed  of  their  homes  and  lands,  and  felt 
mortally  offended,  I  said  to  them:  "Wait  and  pray  for  justice;  the  war 
path  will  lead  you  but  to  the  grave !  ' ' 

At  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  my  father  became  chief  of  the 
Pokagon  tribe.  At  that  time  the  heroic  Tecumseh  with  his  great  eloquence 
stirred  up  the  Algonquin  tribes  to  unite  as  one  and  strike  for  liberty.  My 
father  most  emphatically  declared  in  all  their  war  councils  that  they  might 
as  well  attempt  to  stay  a  cyclone  in  its  course  as  to  beat  back  the  onmarch- 
ing  hordes  of  civilization  toward  the  setting  sun.  But  in  their  loyal  zeal 
they  could  not  comprehend  their  own  weakness  and  strength  of  the  dominant 
race,  but,  being  pressed  onward  by  as  noble  motives  as  ever  glowed  in  mortal 
hearts,  they  fought  most  desperately  for  home  and  native  land. 

Historians  have  recorded  of  us  that  we  are  vindictive  and  cruel,  because 
we  fought  like  tigers  when  our  homes  were  invaded  and  we  were  being  pushed 
toward  the  setting  sun.  When  white  men  pillaged  and  burned  our  villages  and 
slaughtered  our  families,  they  called  it  honorable  warfare;  but  when  we 
retaliated  they  called  it  butchery  and  murder!  When  the  white  man's  re- 
nowned statesman,  Patrick  Henry,  proclaimed  in  the  ears  of  the  English 
colonies  "Give  me  liberty,  or  give  me  death,"  he  was  applauded  by  his  peo- 
ple; and  that  applause  still  rolls  on,  undying,  to  freedom's  farthest  shore. 
When  William  Tell  pierced  the  apple  on  the  head  of  his  son,  Gesler  noticed 
a  second  arrow  drop  from  his  vest.  In  tones  of  thunder  he  demanded,  "Slave! 
why  didst  thou  conceal  that  arrow?"  As  quick  as  lightning  came  the  bold 
response,  "To  shoot  the  tyrant,  if  I  had  harmed  my  son."  And  all  the 
civilized  world  since  then,  through  the  centuries  of  time,  have  continued  to 
applaud  that  sentiment.  But  let  Pokagon  ask,  in  all  that  is  sacred  and  dear 
to  mankind,  why  should  the  red  man  be  measured  by  one  standard  and  the 
white  man  by  another?  The  only  answer  I  can  give  is  that  "mine  and  thine" 
the  seed  of  all  misery,  predominates  in  the  hearts  of  men  when  they  become 
civilized  and  wealthy. 

In  conclusion,  permit  Pokagon  to  say:  I  rejoice  with  the  joy  of  child- 
hood that  you  have  granted  a  son  of  the  forest  a  right  to  address  you;  and 
the  prayer  of  my  heart,  as  long  as  I  live,  shall  ever  be  that  the  Great  Spirit 
will  bless  you  and  your  children,  and  that  generations  yet  unborn  may  learn 
to  know  that  we  are  all  brothers  of  the  same  fold  under  one  Shepherd  and 
that  the  Great  Spirit  is  the   father  of  all. 

Chief  Pokagon  seemed  to  glory  in  the  fact  that  Van  Buren  was 
the  banner  temperance  county  in  the  state  of  Michigan.  In  view 
of  that  fact,  in  justice  to  his  temperance  proclivities,  I  wish  to 
leave  on  record  an  extract  from  his  last  speech  delivered  at  Ply- 
mouth, Indiana,  near  Twin  Lakes,  from  which  his  people  were 
banished  in  1838.  Since  then  the  state  of  Indiana  has  erected  a 
splendid  monument  in  memory  of  the  unjust  banishment  of  his 
people  from  that  commonwealth.  His  granddaughter,  Julia  Pok- 
agon, a  graduate  of  Lawrence  Indian  school,  Kansas,  delivered 
the  unveiling  address.  I  was  present  on  that  occasion.  Her 
speech  was  wonderfully  eloquent,  insomuch  the  great  crowd  was 
moved  to  tears.  That  night  I  said  to  her  "  Julia,  during  your 
talk,  I  saw  not  a  dry  eye."    She  simply  said  "I  wept  too." 


HISTOEY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY        9 

The  old  chief,  in  his  speech  referred  to,  in  conclusion  said :  "My 
dear  friends ;  listen !  Is  there  a  father  or  mother  among  you  who 
have  laid  in  the  grave  all  your  children  but  the  youngest  of  the 
flock,  cut  down  by  that  fatal  disease  consumption,  just  as  they 
were  about  to  step  upon  the  stage  of  manhood  or  womanhood? 
And  have  you  looked  upon  that  one  spared  you  with  bright  hopes 
and  prayers  that  he  might  live  to  support  and  comfort  you  in  old 
age;  and  has  that  hope  been  cut  short  as  the  dreaded  monster, 
consumption,  has  fallen  like  lead  upon  your  heart  ?  If  so  you  can 
form  some  faint  shadowy  idea  of  my  feelings  at  the  thought  of  that 
accursed  'fire  water'  ever  falling  like  death  upon  my  heart,  mor- 
tally wounding  my  highest  hopes  which,  like  a  soaring  eagle  by  a 
poisoned  arrow  pierced,  fluttering  falls ! 

"By  adoption  I  am  a  citizen  of  these  United  States,  therefore  I 
beg  of  you,  my  white  countrymen,  who  now  occupy  and  enjoy 
this  loved  land  of  my  infancy,  draw  near  me  in  your  hearts  as  a 
mother  to  her  sorrowing  child,  and  tell  Pokagon  frankly,  'Do  you 
know  of  any  good  reason  why  that  loathsome  monster,  born  of  your 
race,  which  is  coiling  about  the  vitals  of  your  children  and  ours, 
should  not  be  utterly  destroyed?'  You  send  missionaries  across 
the  great  deep  to  save  Hindu  children  from  being  drowned  in  the 
Ganges,  or  crushed  under  the  wheels  of  the  idol  Juggernaut,  and 
yet  in  your  own  Christian  land,  thousands  yearly  are  being 
drowned  in  the  American  Ganges  of  Firewater,  while  the  great 
Juggernaut  of  King  Alcohol  is  ever  rolling  on  night  and  day, 
crushing  its  victims  without  mercy.  Hark !  Do  you  not  hear  the 
agonizing  wails  on  every  side  ?  Fathers  and  sons  are  falling  into 
drunkards'  graves.  Mothers  and  daughters  are  weeping  over 
them.  Wives  are  lamenting  as  they  bend  over  the  bruised  heads 
of  their  husbands  as  they  return  from  their  midnight  brawls. 
Maidens  weep  in  shame  as  they  wipe  the  death  damp  from  the 
brows  of  their  drunken  lovers,  and  briars  of  the  deepest  disap- 
pointment encumber  the  bridal  chamber.  Brave  men  and  women 
who  have  fought  long  and  well  to  redeem  and  save  the  fallen 
shrink  before  the  power  of  the  saloon  and  its  votaries,  and  the 
pious  are  almost  beginning  to  doubt  the  favor  of  God.  But  a 
few  more  words  and  I  must  close. 

"My  dear  white  friends,  listen!  This  place  is  the  cradle  of  my 
infancy.  As  Pokagon  thinks  of  it  and  considers  it,  there  comes 
creeping  through  his  old  and  feeble  frame  an  electric  inspiration 
not  born  of  earth  but  of  Heaven.  The  Great  Spirit  whispering 
m  my  soul  tells  me  to  say  to  you  who  now  own  and  occupy  this, 
my  native  land:  'All  of  you  from  the  least  to  the  greatest  join 
hands  with  Pokagon. '  Let  us  kindle  here  a  great  temperance  fire 
and  commence  at  once  with  sledge  and  anvil  of  total  abstinence 


10       HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


Chief  Simon  Pokagon 

The  photograph  of  the  above  portrait  was  taken  at  the  request  of  the  gover- 
nor of  Michigan  on  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the  city  of  Hol- 
land, Michigan.  The  guests  of  honor  were  The  Holland  Society,  of  Chicago, 
and  many  important  residents  of  Michigan.  The  orators  of  the  day  were  Gov- 
ernor Pingree,  Hon.  Alden  Smith,  and  Chief  Pokagon.  The  rosette  which  ap- 
pears in  the  picture  was  the  badge  of  the  day,  and  was  pinned  on  by  the  gover- 
nor. 

to  forge  the  greatest  chain  on  earth.  Shrink  not  from  the  task. 
Then  others  about  you,  seeing  your  good  works,  will  join  hands 
with  you  by  the  millions  and  help  you  complete  one  mighty  chain 
which  will  reach  from  sea  to  sea  and  from  the  gulf  to  the  great 
lakes.  Then  shall  appear  that  angel  spoken  of  in  your  Holy  Writ 
who  carries  the  key  of  the  bottomless  pit,  descending  out  of  Heaven 
crying  with  a  loud  voice,  saying:  'Well  done  ye  workers  for  God 
and  humanity ;'  and  grasping  in  his  hands  the  mighty  chain  you 
have  forged,  he  will  lay  hold  of  the  dragon,  that  cruel  serpent, 
which  is  King  Alcohol,  the  devil,  and  bind  him  and  cast  him  into 
the  bottomless  pit,  and  shut  him  up,  and  set  a  seal  over  his  mouth 
that  he  shall  deceive  the  sons  of  men  no  longer.  Then  shall  ap- 
pear the  worshippers  of  the  beast,  and  those  who  fought  against 
him,  and  they  shall  shake  hands  with  each  other,  and  rejoice  to- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


11 


Pokagon 's  Wigwam 

This  is  a  photo  of  the  late  Chief  Pokagon 's  wigwam,  which  stood  for  several 
.years  after  his  death  on  the  lawn  of  C.  H.  Engle  at  Hartford.  Last  summer 
(1911)  it  was  purchased  by  the  State  Normal  School  at  Ypsilanti,  and  now 
stands  in  front  of  the  science  building  protected  from  relic  vandals  by  an  iron 
tubular  fence.  The  granddaughter  of  the  old  chief,  Julia  Pokagon,  appears 
in  the  door  of  the  wigwam,  which  is  made  of  two  thicknesses  of  the  manifold 
white  birch  bark.  It  is  a  pyramidal  decagon,  sixteen  feet  base  and  twenty-four 
feet  high. 


gother:  and  their  voices  shall  be  like  the  mingling  of  many  waters 
as  they  roll  on  undying  to  freedom's  farthest  shores.  And  their 
joyous  song  shall  be  'Glory  to  God  in  the  highest.  Who  hath  re- 
deemed and  saved  us,  and  on  earth  peace  and  good  will  to  all 
men ! ' 

11  And  now  farewell!  Remember  the  words  I  have  spoken  in 
weakness  are  words  of  soberness  and  truth,  and  by  reason  of  old 
age,  envy,  malice,  hatred  and  revenge  have  long  since  faded  from 
my  heart.  Hence  Pokagon 's  words  should  be  received  as  the  con- 
fessions of  a  dying  man;  for  already  with  one  hand  I  have  pulled 
the  latch  string  of  time  and  one  foot  is  passing  over  the  threshold 
of  the  open  door  of  the  wigwam  of  life  into  the  happy  hunting 


12       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

grounds  beyond.  Soon  Pokagon  will  stand  in  the  presence  of  the 
Great  Spirit,  where  I  shall  plead  with  Him  as  I  have  pleaded  on 
earth,  that  he  will  lead  all  by  the  hand  who  have  so  bravely  fought 
that  old  Dragon,  Mautchi  Manito  (the  Devil),  the  destroyer  of 
your  children  and  ours  and  lead  them  on  to  glorious  victory ! ' " 

Chief  Pokagon  's  Last  AVigwam 

On  the  preceding  page  is  a  picture  of  Chief  Pokagon 's  last  Wig- 
wam. It  stood  for  several  years  on  the  lawn  of  C.  H.  Engle,  op- 
posite the  Hartford  public  park.  It  is  a  pyramidic  decagon  in 
shape,  made  of  the  manifold  bark  of  the  white  birch  tree,  being 
sixteen  feet  at  the  base  and  twenty-four  feet  high.  During  the 
past  summer  it  was  procured  by  the  advanced  class  of  the  study 
of  nature  at  Ypsilanti,  and  now  stands  on  the  campus  in  front  of 
the  science  building  in  the  grounds  of  the  State  Normal  School  of 
Michigan.  It  is  protected  from  relic  fiends  by  a  high  tubular  fence. 
When  dedicated,  C.  II.  Engle,  of  Van  Buren  County,  after  giving  a 
brief  history  of  the  chief  and  his  wigwam,  introduced  to  the  vast 
audience  the  granddaughter  of  the  late  chief,  Julia  Pokagon,  who 
gave  the  'dedicatory  address,  a  portion  of  which  is  given  below. 

Julia  Pokagon  's  Address 

I  am  glad  that  I  am  here;  indeed  glad  that  you  have  granted  to  a  child 
of  the  forest  an  opportunity  to  address  the  teachers  and  students  of  the 
greatest  institution  of  Michigan;  am  glad  this  college  has  honored  my  race 
by  placing  on  these  grounds  the  wigwam  of  my  fathers.  There  is  nothing 
more  sacred  to  our  people  than  "wigwam."  It  is  as  dear  to  our  hearts  as 
"home"  to  the  white  race.  It  brings  to  us  all  the  kindred  ties  of  father, 
mother,  sister,  brother,  son  and  daughter.  We  too  can  sing  with  overflowing 
hearts  "Wigwam,  Sweet  Wigwam:  there  is  no  place  like  Wigwam!"  About 
one  year  since  I  was  honored,  by  making  the  unveiling  address  of  an  Indian 
statue  erected  in  memory  of  the  unjust  banishment  of  my  people  from  the 
state  of  Indiana  in  1838.  As  I  there  stood  in  the  presence  of  a  great  multi- 
tude gathered  to  atone  as  far  as  possible  for  the  wrongs  their  fathers  had 
dealt  out  to  our  people  through  the  influence  of  bad  men,  my  heart  mourned; 
for  well  I  knew  that  the  broad  stretch  of  land  about  me,  with  its  beautiful 
lakes  and  streams,  just  seventy  years  before  was  wrenched  without  cause  from 
my  ancestors.  As  I  stepped  down  from  the  platform  to  unveil  the  Indian 
statue,  I  realized  it  stood  on  the  very  spot  where  my  people  had  built  a 
church  in  the  wilderness  after  their  conversion  to  Christianity,  and  that  the 
last  time  they  met  there  for  worship  it  was  surrounded  by  an  army  of  white 
soldiers,  who  barred  the  windows  and  door  and  demanded  that  the  worshipers 
surrender  as  prisoners  of  war.  They  were  then  marched  out  between  lines 
of  soldiers  into  the  smoke  of  their  burning  wigwams  and  the  church,  where 
they  had  taught  their  lisping  children  to  repeat  "Our  FATHER,  who  art  in 
HEAVEN,  hallowed  be  Thy  name"  was  burned  to  the  ground  before  their 
eyes.  As  I  thought  of  that  great  wrong  my  heart  was  sad  and  I  wept.  Thank 
Heaven,   not   so   here   on   this   occasion;    for   my   heart   is   joyous   as   I 


con- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY       13 

template  the  fact  that  the  Pokagon  band  at  that  time  fled  into  this  state  to 
escape  banishment.  They  were  here  received  with  open  arms.  Michigan  at 
that  time,  as  a  state,  was  less  than  one  year  old.  Indiana  had  passed  her 
twenty-first  birthday.  She  demanded  of  infant  Michigan  that  we  should  be 
given  up  and  exiled  with  the  rest  of  the  Pottawattamie  tribe.  All  praise  to  in- 
fant Michigan!     She  boldly  said  to  her  sister  state  "Stand  back!     You  shall 


Julia  Pokagon 

not  molest  a  single  child  of  the  forest  within  all  our  borders!"  and  a  few 
years  thereafter  every  Indian  in  Michigan  was  granted  the  right  of  citizen- 
ship, so  we  now  can  sing  with  you 

"Michigan,    Michigan,   our   Michigan! 

Long  may  she  wave  the  flag 

O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave. " 
I  must  frankly  confess  I  am  sorely  vexed  regarding  certain  publications 
read  m  the  home  and  schools  of  our  state,  the  authors  of  which  depict  our  race 
as  vindictive  and  cruel,  illustrating  their  works  with  war  dances  and  bleeding 
scalps,  and  yet  some  of  these  authors  never  saw  an  Indian  in  their  life;  but 
the  sole  purpose  of  their  mischievous  publications  has  been  to  make  money, 
irrespective  of  the  result  of  creating  a  prejudice  against  our  race.  Again, 
many  parents  use  their  tongue  instead  of  the  whip  to  frighten  their  children 
mto   obedience   by    telling    them,    "Look    out    or    the    Inguns   will   git   you  » 


14       HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

thereby  creating  a  prejudice  against  us  in  the  minds  of  their  children  that 
cannot  be  eradicated. 

\gain  I  thank  you  for  this  opportunity  to  address  you,  and  please  do  not 
forget  that  1,  a  child  of  the  forest,  will  ever  pray  that  all  you  teachers  who 
go  forth  from  this  school  may  be  imbued  with  such  noble  principles  that  you 
cannot  fail  to  impress  upon  the  young  that  we  are  all  brothers  and  sisters  and 
that  the  Great  Spirit  is  God  of  all. 

Old  Wapsey 

Having  given  Chief  Pokagon's  address  in  full  before  the  Order 
of  Red  Men  and  his  last,  speech  in  part  at  Plymouth,  Indiana,  as 
well  as  his  granddaughter's  address  at  the  dedication  of  her  grand- 
father's wigwam  at  Ypsilanti,  Michigan,  I  will  now  introduce  you 
to  old  Wapsey,  an  unlettered  Indian  who  was  known  in  Van  Buren 
county  among  the  Pottawattamies  as  a  mighty  bear  hunter.  It 
was  said  of  him  that  he  killed  more  bears  than  any  ten  of  his  tribe 
and  that  he  always  drove  them  near  to  his  wigwam  to  kill  them. 
He  was  a  better  shot  with  his  bow  and  arrow  at  a  distance  of  two 
hundred  feet  than  any  of  his  white  neighbors  with  their  rifles.  In 
order  that  my  readers  may  better  understand  the  peculiar  char-, 
acter  of  this  Nimrod  among  his  people  I  will  give  an  account  of 
my  visit  to  his  wigwam  fifty-five  years  ago. 

What  though  his  form  was  bent  with  age. 
What  though  he  never  read  a  single  page, 
His  heart  was  full   of  native  lore. 
He  shared  with  me  his  muskrat  dish 
With  Ingen  soup  and  fine  dogfish — 
All  he  had; — a  King  could  do  no  more. 

When  I  first  became  acquainted  with  the  Pottawattamie  Pokagon 
tribe  of  Van  Buren  county  in  1856,  I  was  frequently  told  that  old 
Wapsey  was  the  most  successful  hunter  among  them,  and  that  he 
killed  more  large  game  with  his  bow  and  arrows  than  any  ten  of 
their  tribe  could  with  the  best  white  man's  gun.  Among  other 
things  the  Indians  told  me  he  never  left  a  bear's  track  night  or 
day  until  he  got  his  hide;  and  further,  that  he  always  drove  the 
bears  near  to  bis  wigwam  to  kill  them.  Hence  it  was  frequently 
said  "Wapsey  drives  bears  home  to  kill  them."  Mr.  Northrup,  a 
white  man  who  lived  near  these  Indians  several  years  before  I 
knew  them,  told  me  of  a  remarkable  bear  chase  in  which  he  took 
a  hand  with  old  Wapsey.  He  said:  Early  one  morning  late  m 
December,  old  Wapsey  routed  me  out  of  bed  telling  me  he  had 
treed  a  big  bear  up  a  large  white-wood  tree  which  stood  just  below 
my  clearing.  He  said  "Now  Norup,  me  want  to  git  um  your  gun  to 
shoot  'im  ma-kwa  (a  bear).     Me  shoot  um,  my  arrows  in  top  of 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


15 


Old  "Wapsey"  (Sees  All) 


Pottawattamie  Indian  who  participated  in  the  massacre  of  Fort  Dearborn 
m  1812.  This  photograph  was  taken  in  January,  1897,  when  he  was  110  years 
old. 


16       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

tree  and  they  no  come  back. ' '  I  told  him  to  go  back  and  watch  the 
bear  and  just  as  soon  as  I  could  dress  myself  I  would  come  down 
with  the  gun.  Arriving  at  the  tree  I  said  "Wapsey,  I  have  al- 
ways wanted  to  kill  a  bear.  Let  me  shoot  him.  You  can  have  his 
meat  and  hide  the  same  as  if  you  had  shot  him  yourself. "  Wap- 
sey  said  "You  shoot  um,  in  odo  (heart) — shoot  um  dead,  or  meby 
um  get  away — meby  kill  us."  I  shot,  grazing  his  head,  he  came 
tumbling  to  the  ground  and  started  off  on  the  run.  In  passing 
Wapsey,  he  straddled  the  bear  as  a  farmer  would  a  hog  in  butch- 
ering time,  sticking  him  in  the  neck  until  he  fell  for  loss  of  blood. 
While  he  lay  dying  Wapsey  said  "Dare  Norup:  me  tells  you  to 
shoot  um  dead,  but  you  no  do  it."  We  found  three  arrows  in  the 
bear.  One  was  shot  clear  through  his  side  protruding  three  or 
four  inches. 

After  hearing  so  much  about  this  wonderful  hunter  and  stirred 
up  by  Northrup's  account  of  his  straddling  and  killing  the  bear, 
I  determined  I  would  go  and  spend  one  night  at  least  with  the 
remarkable  Redskin  Nimrod  of  America.  Learning  that  he  lived 
north  of  Paw  Paw  lake,  about  ten  miles  west,  with  an  Indian  boy 
as  guide,  late  in  November  I  started  through  the  unbroken  wil- 
derness. Arriving  at  the  lake,  the  boy  pointed  out  to  me  his 
wigwam  just  across  a  little  bay.  There  he  left  me,  remarking 
"me  be  afraid  to  go  fader  for  Wapsey  meby  take  us  for  ma-kwa 
ond-gans  (bear  and  cub)  and  kill  us  both." 

About  sunset  I  stood  before  the  wigwam  of  the  mighty  hunter. 
It  was  rudely  built  of  elm  bark  with  a  smoke-hole  at  the  top.  I 
saw  at  a  glance  that  the  old  man  used  a  bear  skin  for  a  door.  As 
I  carefully  approached  I  said  "Hello!  Hello!  Hello!"  The  third 
time  the  bear  skin  was  pushed  aside,  and  before  me  stood  a  short 
thick  set  Indian.  On  his  head  was  a  coon  skin  cap,  with  the  ani- 
mal 's  ringed  tail  in  the  place  of  feathers.  He  had  on  a  fur  blouse 
of  musk  rats'  hide,  and  buck  skin  pants,  with  moccassins  of  bear- 
skin with  the  hair  outside.  In  his  left  hand  he  held  a  bow  as  long 
as  he  was  tall,  with  some  arrows  in  his  quiver  that  no  doubt  had 
pierced  many  a  bear.  I  asked,  in  my  heart,  "Is  it  possible  they 
will  pierce  me?"  He  eyed  me  apparently  with  much  distrust,  as 
silent  as  the  grave. 

I  said  "Bo-sho  Ni-con?"     (How  do  you  do,  my  friend?) 

He  slowly  responded  "Bo-sho?"  omitting  ni-con,  as  if  he 
doubted  my  friendship. 

I  then  said  "Your  chief,  Pokagon,  has  told  me  much  about  you 
being  the  greatest  hunter  in  his  tribe.  I  am  C.  H.  Engle,  of  Hart- 
ford.   I  have  come  to  stay  all  night  with  you." 

He  then  walked  up  to  me,  and  we  shook  hands.    He  asked  if  1 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY       17 

knew  certain  Indians  who  lived  in  Hartford  in  certain  places  that 
he  described  very  particularly.     I  said  I  did. 

He  asked  "What  be  them  called ?" 

"Well,"  I  said  "Jo  Kaw-kee,  John  Mix,  Bert-rand,  Little  and  Big 
Weso." 

He  again  grasped  my  hand  saying  "You  know  um.  Come  in 
wigwam. ' ' 

I  was  pleased,  for  well  I  knew  I  had  won  his  confidence  and  I 
have  never  known  an  Indian  to  betray  a  true  friend.  He  seated 
me  on  a  large  bearskin  in  front  of  the  fire  in  the  center  of  the 
wigwam. 

I  asked  him  if  he  could  speak  white  man's  talk? 

He  replied  "Me  can  little." 

I  then  said  "Wap-sey,  I  have  come  to  stay  all  night  with  you. 
Will  you  let  me?" 

He  replied  "Guess  meby  me  will."  He  then  asked  "Can  you 
sleep  um  in  wigwam?"  I  replied  I  was  something  of  an  Indian 
myself  and  had  slept  in  all  kinds  of  places.  "Meby  you  be  hun 
gry,"  he  said.  I  frankly  said  "I  am."  "Me  lib  alone,"  he  said, 
"and  me  fear  you  no  like  um  my  stuff  and  cooking."  I  replied 
"I  can  eat  anything,  except  musk  rats,  that  goes  on  four  legs." 
He  said  '  *  Me  will  feed  you.  Me  am  cooking  to  eat  um  now. ' '  He 
then  went  to  a  wooden  trough  that  would  hold  perhaps  eight  gal- 
lons, stirred  up  the  contents  with  a  wooden  paddle,  took  out 
a  piece  of  meat,  tasted  it,  shook  his  head.  He  then  took  a  red-hot 
stone  out  of  the  fire  about  the  size  of  his  head  and  plunged  it  into 
the  trough.  It  sizzled  and  soon  filled  the  wigwam  full  of  steam. 
He  waited  a  few  minutes  and  asked  "Do  um  smell  good?"  I 
answered  "Fine."  In  a  short  time  he  said  "Sit  um  down  here 
and  eat  um."  I  reclined  on  one  side  of  the  trough  and  he  on  the 
other,  and  handing  me  a  wooden  spoon  saying  "eat  um,  good 
cooked. ? '  I  dipped  into  the  rude  dish  drawing  out  the  hind  leg  of 
some  small  animal.  I  said  "I  like  squirrel."  "Me  be  glad  of  dat," 
he  said,  "me  do  too."    I  ate  several  fore  legs  and  hind  legs. 

I  thought  it  the  finest  squirrel  I  had  ever  eaten,  and  such  nice 
soup  I  never  expected  to  eat  again. 

Wapsey,  seeing  how  I  enjoyed  the  soup,  handed  me  a  gourd- 
shell,  saying  "Drink  um  like  water."  I  did  as  he  said,  drinking 
down  the  soup  like  coffee  until  I  was  pleasantly  satisfied.  Supper 
over  Wapsey  asked  "What  meby  you  bin  eatin?"  "Squirrels,  of 
course,"  I  said.  He  straightened  back  and  laughed  so  heartily 
that  I  could  see  all  his  double  grinding  teeth.  "What  you  laugh  so 
about?"  I  asked.  He  answered  "No,  no,  no  um  squirrel — mush 
rat!  mush  rat!"  handing  me  two  green  musk  rats'  tails.  I  was 
astonished!     I  never  before  nor  since  felt  so  completely  sold.     I 

Vol.  I— i 


18  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

walked  out  of  the  wigwam,  for  I  began  to  feel  sea  sick.  Coining 
back  into  the  wigwam  Wapsee  said  "Me  be  sorry  yon  feel  urn  so 
bad."  Putting  on  a  bold  front  I  said  "I  am  feeling  good,"  and 
added  "I  came  here  to  learn  from  your  own  lips  if  in  chasing  bear 
you  can  drive  them  home  to  kill  them.    Come  tell  me  all  about  it." 

"Well, "  said  the  old  man,  "at  sun-up  tomorrow,  me  be  goin'  to 
hunt  um  bear.  Me  ready  now.  Here  see  urn  dis  mokak  (bark 
box)."  He  put  his  hand  into  it  and  took  out  three  or  four  pounds 
of  jerked  venison  and  a  lot  of  popped  corn.  "Now/'  said  he, 
"when  me  find  um  bear  track  me  f oiler  im  till  dark,  den  me  lay 
um  down  and  sleep  um  till  day,  sun-up.  When  me  get  hugry  me 
eat  um  deer  and  corn.  Meby  foller  his  track  two  day ;  then  ma-kwa 
start  um  back  towards  im  wigwam.  When  im  get  where  me  first 
find  um  track,  me  run  bery  fast  after  im.  Me  tire  im  out.  He 
git  bad  tired.  He  find  um  big  tree  and  climb  um,  and  say  'come 
old  Wapsey  or  come  Mau-tchi  Man-i-to  (the  Devil).  Me  can  go 
no  furder. '  And  Wapsey  kill  im  close  to  wigwam."  Remaining 
silent  for  a  few  moments  with  that  stoical  look  peculiar  to  his  race, 
he  said  "Yes,  good  many  Ingun  tink  Manito  help  Wapsey  drive 
ma-kwa  near  wigwam  to  kill  um.  Me  tell  um  to  foller  um  day 
and  night  as  Wapsey  do  and  dey  will  kill  um  ma-kwa  as  Wapsey 
do." 

He  then  stepped  outside  of  the  wigwam,  took  a  stick,  marked 
out  on  the  ground  a  small  circle,  making  a  number  of  them  starting 
from  the  same  point,  increasing  their  size  until  the  last  one  was 
very  large.  He  then  said  "The  small  circle  wa-boos  (the  rabbit) 
take  when  chased.  Next  sized  circle  es-si-kan  (the  raccoon)  take, 
next  sized  circle  him  de  wa-gosh  (the  fox)  take.  Next  larger,  him 
de  ma-in-gam  (the  wolf)  um  take  and  next  larger  um  suc-see  (the 
deer)  take.  Next  larger  him  ma-kwa  (the  bear)  take.  And  dis 
longest  line  him  mons  (the  moose)  take.  Foller  track,  im  will 
go  and  go;  you  tink  im  neber  will  come  back.  Stick  to  im  night 
and  day,  three  times,  and  im  will  start  back  toward  wigwam  where 
im  track  am  first  found." 

"Is  it  possible,"  I  said,  "that  all  animals  will  come  round  in 
that  way  when  they  are  chased?    Why  do  they  do  so?"  I  asked. 

He  replied  "All  me  can  tell  is  dat  the  Great  Spirit  made  um 
so.  Should  dey  keep  goin'  farder  and  farder  away  from  wigwam, 
when  killed  poor  Ingun  wTould  die  before  he  got  um  pulled  home." 

I  asked  no  more  questions,  accepting  his  version  of  what  the 
Great  Spirit  had  done  for  the  Indians. 

We  slept  that  night  between  two  green  bear  skins  next  to  the 
hair.  When  I  got  up  in  the  morning  I  found  the  old  man  cooking 
fish.  He  was  just  hauling  them  out  of  the  ashes.  I  noticed  he 
scaled  them  after  they  were  cooked.     I  said  "Where  did  you  get 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY        19 

your  fish?"  "Me  went  to  de  lake  before  sun-up,"  he  said,  "and 
killed  um."  I  ate  them  with  a  fair  relish,  as  they  were  very  soft 
and  juicy.  After  eating  I  asked  what  kind  of  fish  they  were.  He 
replied  very  stoically  "O-nim  gi-go  (dog  fish)." 

The  last  time  I  saw  old  Wapsey  was  in  July,  1893.  Chief  Poka- 
gon  had  just  come  from  Chicago,  where  he  had  been  a  guest  of  the 
city  at  the  World's  Fair,  and  requested  me  to  go  with  him  to  see 
Uncle  Wapsey,  as  he  called  him,  as  he  had  been  requested  to  bring 
him  to  the  fair,  from  the  fact,  it  had  been  learned,  that  he  was 
the  only  surviving  Indian  who  took  part  in  the  massacre  of  Fort 
Dearborn  in  1812.  The  Chief  told  me  the  old  man  was  one  hun- 
dred and  ten  years  old.  Arriving  at  his  wigwam,  we  found  the 
old  man  smoking  a  big  cigar  he  had  made  out  of  home-grown  to- 
bacco. It  was  a  foot  long  and  he  offered  us  each  another.  He 
seemed  pleased  to  see  the  chief  and  he  asked  him  "If  he  had  killed 
any  ma-kwa  lately?"  He  said  "No  kill  um  any  more.  Wapsey 
gitting  bery  old." 

The  chief  began  to  talk  to  him  in  his  native  tongue.  He  told 
him  he  was  the  only  Indian  now  living  who  took  part  in  the  Fort 
Dearborn  massacre  and  that  he  had  been  sent  to  bring  him  to  the 
World's  Fair  at  Chicago.  Then  he  asked  "You  took  part  in  that 
massacre  did  you  not?" 

He  replied  "Me  did." 

"How  old  were  you  at  that  time?"  inquired  the  chief. 

The  old  man  began  to  count  his  fingers  out  loud,  in  his  native 
tongue,  taking  hold  of  each  finger  as  he  counted  it — "Be-gig,  Nig, 
Nis-wi,  Ni-win,  Na-nan,  Nin-get-wTas-wi,  Nin-gwas-wi,  Nish-was-wi, 
Jang-as-wi,  Mi-das- wi"  up  to  ten.  He  then  raised  his  hand  up 
three  times,  repeating  "Mi-das-wi  (ten)  :"  then  said  "Nis-si-mi- 
da-na  Bi-bon  (thirty  years)." 

The  chief  then  said  "You  must  then  bo  certainly  one  hundred 
and  ten  years  old  !    Will  you  go  to  Chicago  with  us?" 

He  replied  "Me  fear  to.    They  want  to  kill  Wapsey." 

Up  to  this  time  the  old  man  had  been  walking  about  telling  how 
well  he  felt.  But  now  he  sat  down  and  humped  up  saying  "Nind 
a-ki-we-si  Nind-a-kos  (I  am  old,  I  am  sick).  Nind  be-si-ka  (I  can 
hardly  crawl  about ) . " 

The  chief  then  said  "Come  go  with  us,  won't  you?" 

He  shook  his  head  firmly,  saying  "Kawr-es-so  mika  (No.  I  will 
not  go.)  Win-a-wa  nish-i-we  Wapsey  (They  will  kill  Wapsey). 
Nin-da-i-we  tchi  Smo-ka-man  an-am-a-ka-mig  (and  send  him  to  the 
white  man's  hell)." 

I  never  saw  the  old  man  again.  He  passed  away  soon  after- 
ward, to  the  happy  hunting  ground  of  his  race. 


20  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Do  Indians  Cry,  Laugh  or  Joke? 

I  am  often  asked,  Do  Indians  ever  joke,  cry  or  laugh  ?  They  cer- 
tainly do  just  as  much  among  themselves  as  we  do.  Get  well  ac- 
quainted with  them  and  that  stoical  characteristic  for  which  they 
are  noted  disappears  almost  entirely.  I  have  known  Indians  in 
the  prime  of  life  with  whom  I  have  hunted  but  a  few  days  to  shed 
tears  as  they  bid  me  "An-a-mi-ka  (good-bye)."  Many  times  I 
have  been  present  when  friends  meet  each  other,  taking  hold  of 
each  other's  right  hands  and  grasping  with  their  left  hands  each 
others  elbows,  warmly  shaking  each  other's  arms,  laughing  and 
shedding  tears  at  the  same  time. 

As  regards  joking,  they  are  the  greatest  jokers  of  any  race  I 
have  ever  met  and  many  times  their  jokes  are  very  effective.  Mr. 
Brown,  a  white  man  in  this  place,  one  morning  found  his  axe  gone. 
Prom  where  it  was  taken  he  found  moccasin  tracks.  He  followed 
them  into  the  woods  where  he  found  an  Indian  cutting  down  a 
bee  tree.  He  openly  charged  him  with  stealing  his  axe,  saying  to 
him  "I  have  been  told  that  Indians  did  not  steal,  but  certainly 
this  is  my  axe  and  you  stole  it. ' '  The  Indian  looked  him  square  in 
the  face  saying  "Yes,  me  steal  im.  No  steal  im  before  white  men 
come,  but  now  Ave  am  gitting  cibilized!" 

One  of  our  bishops  stayed  all  night  with  an  Indian  chief  in 
Minnesota,  and  as  he  was  about  leaving  in  the  morning  to  visit  a 
distant  charge  with  the  old  chief  he  asked,  "Do  you  think  my 
valise  will  be  safe  left  here  until  our  return  V 

"Ob  cose  it  will,"  he  responded,  "Not  a  white  man  lives  within 
forty  miles  of  here." 

While  I  was  acting  as  magistrate  in  the  early  days,  an  Indian 
claimed  that  a  white  neighbor  had  stolen  his  geese.  He  was  ar- 
rested and  brought  into  court.  On  the  day  of  trial  he  brought  a 
goose  with  him  for  evidence.  He  swore  he  had  found  the  geese  as 
goslings  when  hunting,  and  raised  them;  that  they  were  the  only 
domesticated  wild  geese  in  the  country.  He  proved  clearly  that 
he  had  lost  part  of  his  flock,  and  that  they  were  found  shut  up  in 
an  old  smoke  house  where  the  defendant  lived.  The  defendant's 
attorney  from  Bangor  had  him  repeat  several  times  how  and  where 
he  got  them  and  that  there  were  none  others  like  them  in  the 
country.  The  attorney  finally  faced  down  poor  "Lo, "  telling  him 
he  had  sworn  falsely  and  stating  to  him  with  great  pomposity,  ' '  Sir, 
I  have  a  pair  of  geese  marked  exactly  as  the  goose  you  brought  to 
this  court !  What  have  you  to  say  for  yourself  for  the  oath  you 
have  taken  ? ' ' 

The  Redskin  looked  at  the  lawyer  as  if  surprised  beyond  measure 
and  turning  to  the  court  said,  "Me  tink,  him  big  law  man,  tellum 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY  21 

truth.  Me  hab  two  more  of  dem  goose  stole  afore  (lis  man  steal 
urn." 

It  is  unnecessary  to  state  the  uproar  in  the  court  room.  The  jury, 
after  due  deliberation,  brought  in  a  verdict  of  " guilty.' '  An  old 
man  in  the  court  room  piped  out  "Who  is  guilty,  the  defendant  or 
his  lawyer ?" 

The  three  following  Indian  legends  entitled  "Legend  of  Man's 
Creation/'  "Legend  of  Paw  Paw  and  the  Paw  Paw  Valley"  and 
"Legend  of  South  Haven"  were  published  by  the  late  Pokagon  in 
booklets  made  of  the  manifold  bark  of  the  white  birch  tree.  Only  a 
few  copies  are  now7  known  to  be  in  existence  and  they  will  be  valu- 
able relics  in  the  fututre.  This  is  the  first  time  any  of  them  were 
ever  printed  on  paper.  They  came  into  my  possession  as  adminis- 
trator of  the  old  chief's  estate.  I  am  indeed  glad  that  I  have  the 
opportunity  of  publishing  them  for  the  perusal  of  the  people  of 
Van  Buren  county,  believing  they  will  be  highly  appreciated,  com- 
ing as  they  do  from  an  Indian  citizen  of  our  county  who  was  highly 
educated. 

Algonquin  Lp;gend  of  Man  's  Creation 

By  Pokagon* 

Within  the  inmost  recess  of  the  native  soul 
There  is  a  secret  place,  which  God  doth  hold ; 
And  though  the  storms  of  life  do  war  around, 
Yet  still  within,  his  image  fixed,  is  found. 

There  is  an  old  Pottawattamie  tradition  among  our  people,  dimly 
seen  through  the  mists  of  time,  that  Ki-ji  Man-i-to  (the  Great 
Spirit)  after  he  had  created  No-mash  (the  fish  of  the  waters),  bo- 
nes-sig  (the  fowls  of  the  air)  and  mo-nawr-to-auk  (the  beasts  of  the 
land),  his  works  still  failed  to  satisfy  the  grand  conceptions  of  his 
soul.  Hence  he  called  a  great  council  of  Man-i-to-og  (the  spirits) 
that  ruled  over  land  and  sea,  his  agents,  and  revealed  unto  them 
how  it  was  the  great  desire  of  his  heart  to  create  a  new  being  that 
should  stand  erect  upon  his  hind  legs,  and  possess  the  combined 
intelligence  of  all  the  living  creatures  he  had  made.  Most  of  these 
spirits  whom  he  had  delegated  to  hold  dominion  over  the  earth,  when 
they  met  in  the  grand  council,  encouraged  his  divine  plans,  but  the 
head  leading  spiritual  chiefs,  when  they  considered  the  great  power 
the  proposed  being  might  wield,  /quietly  sneaked  away  from  the 
council  and  held  a  private  pow-wow  of  their  own  to  frustrate,  if 

*Used  by  permission  of  C.  H.  Engle,  administrator  of  the  estate  of  the  late 
Chief  Pokagon. 


22         HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

possible,  How-waw-tock  (the  Almighty).  The  loyal  Man-i-to-og  who 
remained  at  the  grand  council  stood  aghast  as  Ki-ji  Man-i-to  re- 
vealed unto  them  his  divine  plan,  that  awaited  the  new  creature  he 
had  conceived  in  his  heart  to  create. 

The  divine  council  was  prolonged  by  debate,  from  the  set  of  sun 
until  morning  dawn.  Ke-sus  (the  sun)  arose  in  greater  brilliancy 
than  ever  before.  The  spirits  anxiously  began  to  inquire  of  His  Ma- 
jesty, how  many  suns  and  moons  would  pass  before  he  could  ac- 
complish His  wonderful  work  ?  While  yet  the  inquiry  hung  on  * '  ki- 
o-don-o  (their  lips,)  He  said  unto  them  "Follow  me."  He  led 
them  into  a  great  wilderness  to  Sa-gi-i-gan,  a  most  beautiful  inland 
lake,  and  as  he  stood  upon  the  shores  thereof  in  presence  of  them 
all.  His  eyes  flashed  "  Waw-saw-mo-win  (lightning)."  The  lake 
began  to  boil;  hissing  streams  rose  high  in  the  air;  the  earth 
trembled.  He  then  spake  in  tones  of  thunder:  "Come  forth  ye 
lords  of  Au-kee  (the  world!)"  The  ground  opened  and  from  out 
the  red  clay  that  held  the  lake  came  forth  Au-ne-ne  wa-ga-e  i-kwe 
(man  and  woman)  like  flying  fish  from  out  the  waters.  In  pres- 
ence of  the  new-born  pair,  all  was  still  as  death.  A  dark  cloud 
hung  over  the  lake.  Again  it  began  to  boil.  Again  Ki-ji  Man-i-to 
said:  "Come  forth,  ye  servants  of  Au-nish-naw-be ! "  Forth  leaped 
at  once  from  out  waters  "Ni-ji  Wa-be  gon  O-nim-og  (a  pair  of 
snow  white  dogs")  and  lay  down  where  stood  the  new  made  pair, 
kissing  their  feet  and  hands.  The  bride  and  groom  then  each 
other  fondly  kissed,  as  hand  in  hand  they  stood  in  naked  innocence 
in  the  full  bloom  of  youth,  perfect  in  make  and  mold  of  body  and 
of  limb.  "Ki-gi-nos  maw-kaw  mis-taw-kaw  (their  long  black  hair)  " 
almost  reached  the  ground  which  gently  waving,  in  "nip-nong  oden 
(the  morning  breeze,)"  in  contrast  with  their  rich  color,  grace, 
and  forms  erect,  they  outrivaled  in  beauty  all  other  creatures  he 
had  made.  They  gazed  all  about  in  wonder  and  surprise ;  surveyed 
all  living  creatures  that  moved  in  sight ;  gazed  upon  the  trees,  the 
grass,  the  flowers,  the  lake,  the  sunshine  and  the  shade.  Again 
each  other  fondly  kissed,  as  their  eyes  looked  love  to  eyes,  with  no 
other  language  their  feelings  to  express.  At  length  I-kwe,  the 
maiden  fair,  slyly  let  go  Os-ki-naw  the  young  man's  hand,  and 
stole  away  into  the  dark  shades  and  hid  herself  that  she  might 
watch  and  test  his  love,  and  learn  thereby  if  it  was  akin  to  hers. 
With  unbounded  joy  she  watched  him  as  vainly  he  sought  to  find 
her.  At  length  the  snow-white  dogs  following  her  trail,  joyfully 
howled  out  "Here  she  is."  Now  when  "Mau-tchi  Manito  (the  dis 
loyal  spiritual  chiefs)  "  first  learned  that  Ki-ji  Manito  had  finished 
his  crowning  works,  as  he  had  proposed  to  do,  they  sought  diligently 
for  the  new  made  pair  until  they  found  them.  As  they  surveyed 
the  beauty  of  their  forms  standing  erect  and  their  surpassing  love- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY        23 

liness  of  body  and  of  limb,  their  wonder  and  admiration  was  un- 
bounded. But  when  they  saw  the  soul  of  the  Divine  reflected  in 
their  faces,  like  the  noonday  sun,  their  hearts  were  stung  through 
and  through  by  "mutchi  a-mog  (the  cruel  wasps)  "  of  envy  and 
jealousy,  they  were  mortally  offended.  Hence  they  resolved  in 
"nin-o-daw  (their  hearts)  "  that  instead  of  trying  to  live  in  peace 
with  them,  as  they  had  done  with  the  first  creation,  they  would 
do  all  they  could  to  make  them  discontented,  unhappy  and  miser- 
able. 

As  time  rolled  on,  "  O-nig-go-maw  (our  first  parents)  "  and  gen- 
erations after  them  began  to  realize  there  wrere  bad  and  good  spirits 
that  held  dominion  over  mountains,  lakes,  streams  and  plains,  and 
that  they  were  in  a  measure  controlled  by  them.  They  also  began 
to  learn  that  "  au-nish-naw-be "  possessed  the  nature  and  intel- 
ligence of  all  the  combined  animal  creation,  and  that  he  was  en- 
dowed with  a  spiritual  nature,  given  by  the  creator  of  all  things 
on  earth  and  in  heaven.  Hence,  when  they  were  unfortunate  in 
securing  game,  or  unsuccessful  in  battle,  it  was  all  attributed  to 
bad  spirits  that  held  dominion  over  the  country  wherein  they 
dwelt. 

But  when  successful  in  the  chase  or  battle  it  was  attributed  to 
good  spirits  that  had  control  over  the  country  in  which  they  lived. 
In  order  to  appease  the  bad  spirits,  they  often  made  offerings  of 
fruit  and  grain ;  but  they  sacrificed  animals  to  Man-i-to  Wew-quin 
(the  God  of  Heaven)  who  alone  they  recognized  as  the  great  crea- 
tor and  ruler  of  all  things  in  heaven  and  on  earth.  Our  fathers 
and  mothers  in  their  primeval  state,  did  not  name  their  children 
as  do  the  civilized  races  simply  that  they  might  be  known  and 
designated  by  them.  When  a  child  was  born  whatever  animal  or 
bird  they  imagined  it  most  resembled  they  called  it  by  that  name 
and,  strange  as  it  may  appear  to  the  white  race,  in  after  genera- 
tions those  bearing  the  name  claimed  to  have  descended  from  the 
animal  bearing  their  name.  It  might  be  maw-qua,  wa-gos  or  mi- 
gi-si  (the  bear,  fox,  or  eagle).  And  so  it  was  in  after  generations, 
each  tribe  or  clan  adopted  as  their  totem  the  animal  whose  name 
the  patriarch  of  the  tribe  was  called  when  a  child.  Sometimes, 
when  in  war,  the  animal  was  taken  with  them  alive,  but  generally 
it  was  painted  on  a  tanned  hide,  and  used  as  white  men  use  their 
flags.  It  was  an  emblem  of  royalty,  as  well  as  a  symbol  of  loyalty, 
and  when  engaged  in  battle  a  warrior  would  rather  die  than  sur- 
render his  totem.  It  matters  not  how  foolish  our  legends  may  ap- 
pear to  those  races  who  call  themselves  civilized,  they  were  as 
sacred  to  us  as  holv  writ  to  them. 


24       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BURBN  COUNTY 

Legend  of  Paw  Paw,  and  the  Paw  Paw  Valley 
By  Chief  Pokagon* 

His  was  this  broad  and  grand  domain. 
The  hills  and  vales,  the  sweep  of  plain, 
The  hunting  grounds,  the  rivers  wide — 
They  all  belonged,  before  he  died, 
To  Abel,   my  brother. 

•'Me-wi-ja,  Me-wi-ja  (Long,  long  time  ago)  "  a  great  inland  lake 
covered  all  the  lands  where  Paw  Paw  village  now  stands,  except 
the  higher  undulating  lands  extending  as  far  as  the  village  of  Law- 
ton,  and  westward  near  to  the  village  of  Decatur.  At  that  time  the 
Paw  Paw  valley  was  occupied  by  a  race  of  Indians  who  manu- 
factured flint  arrow  points  and  all  those  utensils  made  of  flint 
found  so  profusely  scattered  throughout  the  valley.  That  pre- 
historic race  is  designated  by  the  whites  as  the  ' '  Mound  Build- 
ers.' '  They  must  have  occupied  this  country  at  least  "Mi-das-wak 
Bi-bon  (a  thousand  years  ago)."  Paw  Paw  river  was  called  "Si- 
bi-gan  (River  of  Lakes.)  "  In  fact,  it  appears  from  various  leg- 
ends that  this  once  noted  river,  was  a  succession  of  small  and 
great  lakes,  from  source  to  mouth. 

On  the  highlands  just  south  of  Paw  Paw  village,  covering  Pros- 
pect hill  and  beyond,  was  "Ki-tchi  O-de-na  (Big  village  of  the 
valley). "  This  lake  was  called  "Nib-i-wa  (Lake  of  Plenty)" 
and  supposed  to  be  on  the  border-land  of  the  spiritual  kingdom, 
"wa-kwi  (the  happy  hunting  grounds)."  Deer,  moose,  elk  and 
buffalo  roamed  in  multitudes  around  all  its  shores.  Swans,  geese 
and  ducks  moved  like  clouds  over  its  surface,  while  myriads  of  all 
kinds  of  fish  swarmed  in  its  waters  close  to  shore.  It  might  well 
have  been  called  the  great  commercial  city  of  the  Lower  Peninsula 
of  Michigan.  Here,  from  the  north  and  west,  came  the  different 
tribes  to  exchange  ' ' sis-i-ba-kwat  (maple  sugar),"  smoked  fish, 
dried  meats  and  all  kinds  of  flint  utensils  then  in  use.  The  tribes 
also  came  from  the  east  and  from  the  south  to  exchange  "Man- 
do-min  and  Naw-ni-maw  (corn  and  tobacco)"  for  flint  work,  and 
Sis-i-ba-quat,  of  which  large  quantities  were  always  kept  in  store, 
as  sugar  was  generally  used  by  many  tribes  in  place  of  salt. 

While  O-de-na  was  in  all  its  glory,  receiving  tribute  from  the 
surrounding  tribes,  it's  commercial  importance  was  suddenly  cut 
short.  One  night  about  midnight,  in  the  full  of  the  moon,  its  in- 
habitants were  aroused  by  a  deep  roaring  sound  as  though  a  cy- 

*Used  by  permission  of  C.  H.  Engle,  administrator  of  the  estate  of  the  late 
Chief  Pokagon. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY       25 

clone  or  earthquake  was  being-  born.  The  alarming  sound  ap- 
peared to  be  located  at  the  west  end  of  the  lake  near  its  outlet. 
A  large  number  of  the  inhabitants,  followed  by  crying  children  and 
whining  dogs,  started  cautiously  in  the  direction  of  the  alarming 
sound.  To  add  new  fears  to  their  imagination,  all  the  waterfowls 
appeared  to  rise  as  one  and  circle  to  and  fro  about  the  lake  in  the 
utmost  confusion,  apparently  screaming  the  cry  of  "ni-saw!  ( mur- 
der!). " 

At  length  the  outlet  of  the  lake  was  reached,  and  to  their  amaze- 
ment they  saw  at  a  glance  that  the  shore,  which  for  ages  had 
bound  the  lake  at  its  outlet,  had  given  way,  and  great  forest  trees 
were  plunging  into  the  abyss,  with  commingled  rocks  and  masses 
of  earth.  Ever  now  and  then  a  canoe  with  its  occupant  would 
plunge  into  the  vortex  to  certain  death.  In  dismay  they  returned 
to  their  village,  there  to  await  the  consequences.  When  morning 
came  they  beheld,  not  "Nib-i-wa,"  their  beautiful  lake,  but  (where 
it  lay  the  night  before  in  all  its  sunset  glory)  a  slimy  mass  of  mud, 
alive  with  struggling,  dying  fish,  while  overhead  the  fowls  of  the 
air  were  still  flying,  uttering  their  notes  of  deepest  sorrow.  Their 
navy  of  canoes  that  were  left  unanchored  the  night  before  were 
swept  away,  and  those  that  were  tied  to  the  shore  were  on  dry  land 
far  from  the  water's  edge.  As  the  people  stood  on  the  line  that 
marked  the  ancient  shore,  looked  far  out  into  the  basin  of  the 
lake,  and  only  saw  in  place  of  it  a  winding  stream  that,  like  some 
great  serpent,  was  slowly  moving  on  half  concealed  by  mud  and 
dying  fish,  they  were  so  wrought  upon  by  the  change  that  they 
wept. 

Be-mi-ba-tod-og,  their  fastest  runners,  were  sent  by  the  chief  to 
go  down  the  valley  as  far  as  Lake  Michigan  and  report  as  soon  as 
possible  what  effect  the  deluge  of  water  from  their  lake  had  on 
those  lakes  farther  down  the  stream.  On  the  third  day  they  re- 
turned saying  "All  the  lakes  in  the  valley  below  have  been  swept 
into  lake  Michigan.  The  Miami  (the  St.  Joseph)  river  is  dammed 
up  at  its  o-don  (mouth)  and  flowing  inland  forming  a  great  lake. 
The  big  lake,  three  hours'  travel  from  here,  that  no  one  could  paddle 
round  betwixt  sun  and  sun,  is  gone,  and  the  river  flows  through 
where  it  was ;  and  nearly  all  the  people  wrho  lived  there  are  gone  too. 

We  suffered  much  from  decaying  fish  which  without  number 
were  steaming  in  the  sunshine;  the  stench  was  so  bad  that  all 
animals  except  "ehi-kog  (the  skunk)  "  fled  away;  and  all  the  fowls 
of  the  air  except  "ka-ga-gi  and  an-dek  (the  buzzard  and  the 
crow)"  had  disappeared.  Mountains  of  stone  and  gravel  and 
trees  appeared  on  every  hand;  nothing  remains  of  our  loved  "wa- 
cli-na  (valley)  "  but  mud  and  desolation. 

This  report  so  worked  on  the  minds  of  the  natives  that  they  were 


26        HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

led  to  believe  that  evil  spirits  that  were  envious  of  their  prosper- 
ity were  the  cause  of  the  great  catastrophe.  And  so  it  was,  that  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  valleys  of  Michigan  became  depopulated,  and 
so  remained  for  hundreds  of  years,  all  on  account  of  their  perverted 
spirituality. 

Pokagon  fully  realizes  that  some  who  read  the  above  Legend 
will  say  of  our  race,  "How  spiritually  weak  they  are."  That  is 
true,  and  it  can  be  as  truthfully  said  of  the  whole  human  family. 
Many  times  since  I  have  been  educated  in  the  white  man's  books, 
I  have  been  astonished  to  witness  well  informed  men  of  the  domi- 
nant race  show,  without  blushing,  an  old  dried  rabbit's  foot,  or 
an  old  horse  chestnut,  or  withered  potato,  and  say,  as  if  proud  of 
it,  "This  is  my  mascot;  it  brings  good  luck."  How  or  why  it  is 
that  a  Christian  people  can  put  their  trust  in  such  ridiculous 
things,  ignoring  their  God,  contrary  to  all  the  precepts  of  their 
religion,  Pokagon  cannot  say.  The  only  excuse  he  can  give  is  that 
spiritual  superstition  is  akin,  alike,  with  savage  and  with  sage. 

I  once  camped  out  with  a  white  preacher  several  days,  hunting 
deer.  He  called  me  a  red  heathen  because  I  refused  to  shoot  at 
a  white  deer,  which  our  people  regarded  sacred,  and  yet  he  would 
sit  around  the  wigwam  fire  and  shiver  all  day  on  Friday,  claiming 
it  was  an  unlucky  day  and  he  might  get  killed  if  he  went  out. 

Algonquin  Legends  of  South  Havkn 

By  Chief  Pokagon* 

No  more  for  us  the  wild  deer  bounds; 
The  plough  is  on  our  hunting  grounds. 

Our  traditional  account  of  South  Haven  given  us  by  ki-os-ag 
(our  forefathers)  was  held  as  sacred  by  them  as  Holy  Writ  by 
the  white  man.  Long,  long  bi-bong  (years)  ago  Ki-ji  Man-i-to  (the 
Great  Spirit)  who  held  dominion  over  Mi-shi-gan  (Lake  Michigan) 
and  the  surrounding  country,  selected  Haw-waw-naw  a  place  at  the 
o-don  (mouth)  of  Maw-kaw-te  (Black  river)  as  his  seat  of  govern- 
ment. His  royal  throne  (Ki-tchi-wik)  was  located  on  the  highest 
point  of  that  neck  of  land  lying  between  Maw-kaw-te  river  and 
Lake  Michigan.  This  high  point  of  land  was  called  Tsb-pem-ing, 
meaning  a  high  place. 

Here  it  was  that  Ki-ji  Man-i-to  worked  out  the  grand  concep- 
tions of  his  soul.     With  giant  strides  he  scattered  broadcast  along 

*Used  by  permission  of  C.  H.  Engle,  administrator  of  the  estate  of  the  late 
Chief  Pokagon. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY        27 

the  shore,  a  day's  journey  northward,  a  multitude  of  beautiful 
stones  of  various  colors,  shape  and  size,  that  in  sunshine  outshone 
tchi-be-kan-a  (the  galaxy  on  high).  No  such  charming  stones 
elsewhere  could  be  found  around  all  the  shores  of  the  Great  Lake. 
He  also  planted  in  saw-kawT  (the  forest)  the  most  beautiful  wood- 
land flowers  that  ever  bloomed  on  earth  and  filled  all  the  trees  with 
birds  that  sang  the  sweetest  songs  that  ever  fell  on  mortal  ears. 
He  also  made  a  great  rnit-ig-wa  (bow)  at  least  ten  arrow  flights  in 
length  and  laid  it  along  the  beach.  He  then  painted  it  from  end 
to  end  with  beautiful  lines,  of  various  hues,  that  outshone  the 
countless  stones  he  had  scattered  along  the  shore.  While  thus  at 
work  a  cyclone  from  the  setting  sun  swept  across  the  great  lake. 
Waw-saw  mo-win  (lightning)  flashed  across  Waw-kwi  (the  heav- 
ens) An-a-mi  ka  (thunder)  in  concert  with  ti-gow-og  (the  roaring 
waves)  rolled  their  awful  burden  on  the  land.  The  earth  shook. 
Hail  and  rain  beat  against  Him.  But  he  stood  in  his  majesty, 
smiling  in  the  teeth  of  the  storm.  At  length  the  gloom  clouds 
rolled  away  and  the  setting  sun  lighted  up  the  passing  storm.  He 
then  picked  up  the  giant  bow  he  had  made,  bending  it  across  mi- 
ka-tik  (his  knee).  Then  with  his  breath  he  blew  a  blast  that  swept 
it  eastward  between,  the  sun  and  clouds.  As  there  as  it  stood  each 
end  resting  upon  the  trees,  it  painted  them  all  aglow,  which,  in 
contrast  with  their  robes  of  green,  added  still  more  glory  to  the 
scene. 

As  he  gazed  upon  its  beauty  and  grandeur,  arching  the  depart- 
ing storm,  He  shouted  in  triumph  above  the  roaring  waves,  saying 
in  tones  of  thunder  "Kaw-ka-naw  in-in-i  nash-ke  nin-wab-sa  aw- 
ni-quod  (All  men  behold  my  bow  in  the  cloud) .  See  it  has  no  mit-ig 
; ' Bim-ins-kwan  ke-ma  pin-da-wan  (bow,  arrow,  string  or  quiver).  It 
is  the  bow  of  peace.  Tell  it  to  your  children's  children  that  Ki-ji 
Man-i-to  made  and  placed  it  there,  that  generations  yet  unborn, 
when  they  behold  it,  might  tell  their  children  that  Ki-ji  Man-i-to 
placed  it  there,  without  arrow,  string  or  quiver,  that  they  might 
know  he  loved  peace  and  hated  war."  The  tradition  above  given 
was  handed  down  to  us  by  a  tribe  of  Au-nish-naw-be-og  (Indians) 
that  lived  in  Michigan  before  my  people,  the  Pottawattamies.  They 
were  called  Mash-ko-de  (Prairie  tribe),  on  account  of  their  clear- 
ing up  large  tracts  of  woodland  and  living  somewhat  as  farmers. 
They  were  said  to  be  very  peaceful,  seldom  going  on  the  war-path. 
The  Ottawas,  who  have  always  been  very  friendly  with  our  peo- 
ple tell  us  they  drove  them  out  of  this  country  and  nearly  exter- 
minated them  about  four  hundred  years  ago.  We  had  great  rever- 
ence for  their  traditions,  as  we  occupied  the  land  of  their  principal 
odena  (village)  about  Black  river.    We  named  it  Nik-onong,  which 


28       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

was  derived  from  two  Algonquin  words  "nik"  (sunset)  and 
o-nigis   ( beautiful ) . 

It  was  a  lovely,  as  well  as  an  important  place,  Ki-tchi  Mi-kan, 
the  great  trail,  over  which  for  ages  all  the  northern  and  western 
tribes  went  around  Lake  Michigan  to  and  from  the  great  prairies 
of  the  west  passed  near  this  place.  Traces  of  that  great  highway 
may  still  be  seen  along  the  grand  sweep  of  country  near  the  great 
lake  between  the  Black  and  Kalamazoo  rivers.  In  the  dense  for- 
est north,  south  and  east  of  us  wrere  great  numbers  of  deer,  elk 
and  bears ;  while  ducks,  geese  and  swans  clouded  our  waters,  which 
were  swarming  with  fish. 

One  half  a  mile  walk  north  of  our  village  was  a  sacred  camping 
ground  where  we  celebrated  "Tchi-be-kan  A-ke-win  (our  yearly 
six  days'  feast  for  the  dead).  During  this  feast  bonfires  were 
built  along  the  shore,  casting  a  lurid  light  far  out  into  the  lake  and 
painting  the  crested  waves  all  aflame.  Children,  young  men  and 
maidens,  fathers  and  mothers,  went  about  the  camp,  feasting  and 
saluting  one  another,  throwing  food  into  the  fire,  and  as  it  was 
being  consumed,  would  sing,  "Nebaw-baw  tchi  baw  win  (We  are 
going  about  as  spirits  feeding  the  dead)."  This  feast  kept  alive 
the  memory  of  the  dead,  as  do  the  stones,  that  rise  above  the  white 
man's  tomb. 

Nik-a-nong,  in  its  day,  was  quite  a  manufacturing  town.  Large 
quantities  of  white  birch  bark  were  brought  there  by  canoe  loads 
and,  as  it  never  decays,  was  buried  in  the  earth  for  use  or  trade 
when  called  for.  Out  of  this  wonderful  manifold  bark  our  fathers 
made  canoes,  hats,  caps,  wigwams  and  dishes  for  domestic  use,  and 
our  maidens  tied  with  it  the  knot  that  sealed  the  marriage  vow. 
Sis-si-ba-kwat  (maple  sugar)  was  also  made  and  kept  in  large 
quantities  near  this  place  and  sold  to  southern  and  western  tribes 
for  wampun  or  in  exchange  for  pi-jis-ki-we-win  (buffalo  robes). 
South  Haven  of  the  white  man,  with  all  its  shipping,  docks  and 
cottage-crowned  shores,  does  not  compare  with  Nik-o-nong  of  the 
red  man,  with  its  deep  wrildwoods,  and  wigwamed  shores.  As 
tradition  informs  us,  here  our  fathers  lived  for  many  generations 
in  the  lap  of  ease  and  plenty;  but  after  the  advent  of  the  white 
man  Nature  frowned  upon  us;  our  forests  were  cut  down;  the 
game  became  scarce  and  kept  beyond  the  arrow's  reach;  ke-go  (the 
fish)  hid  themselves  in  deep  waters;  the  woodland  birds  no  more 
cheered  us  with  their  songs;  the  wild  flowers  bloomed  no  more. 
All,  all  has  changed,  except  the  sun,  moon  and  stars ;  and  they  have 
not,  because  their  God,  and  Ki-tchi  Man-ito  (our  God),  hung  them 
beyond  the  white  man's  reach.  Pokagon  does  not  wish  to  com- 
plain; still,  in  nin-o-de  (his  heart)  there  lingers  a  love  for  Nik- 
o-nong,  the  o-de-na  of  his  fathers.     And  now  in  old  age,  as  with 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  29 

feeble  steps  and  slow  he  is  passing  through  the  open  door  of  his 
wigwam  into  Waw-kwin  (the  world  beyond)  he  must  sing  in  his 
mother  tongue,  his  last  song  on  earth:  "Nik-o-nong,  nik-o-nong 
nin-im-en-dam  mi-notch-sa  bi-naw  ki-kaw-ka-kaw-ka-naw  kike- 
tchi-twan-in  nin-sa-gia.  Nik-o-nong,  nik-o-nong,  nik-o-nong  (I  yet 
shall  behold  Thee  in  all  Thy  glory)." 

After  Me-me-og  (Squabs)  in  Van  Buren  County 

By  0.  II.  Engle 

In  the  spring  of  1858  in  company  with  Jacob  Corwin,  late  of 
Keeler  township,  this  county,  an  old  hunter,  seventy-five  years  of 
age,  I  went  on  a  wild  pigeon  chase  towards  Lake  Michigan.  At 
that  time  there  was  a  vast  body  of  these  birds  nesting  for  miles 
along  the  lake  south  of  South  Haven,  extending  easterly  along  the 
north  part  of  the  county  to  and  beyond  Saddle  lake,  covering  many 
square  miles  where  every  tree  was  spotted  with  their  nests.  Many 
times,  while  going  out  to  feed,  they  moved  in  such  clouds  that  they 
would  obscure  the  sun.  One  hearing  them,  not  knowing  the  cause, 
would  imagine  a  whirwind  was  abroad  in  the  land. 

After  netting  over  one  thousand  dozen  of  these  birds  near  Hart- 
ford, we  noticed  that  they  were  changing  their  flight,  and  the 
main  body  was  moving  northward.  From  our  knowledge  of  these 
strange  birds,  we  were  convinced  that  their  young  were  nearly 
ready  to  leave  their  nests. 

Learning  that  a  large  band  of  Indians  were  encamped  on  the 
edge  of  their  nesting  grounds,  we  procured  an  old  shingle-wreaver 
with  an  ox  team  and  double  wagon  to  take  us  to  the  nesting 
grounds.  We  started  in  a  northwest  direction,  cutting  our  way 
through  underbrush  as  we  advanced  into  the  unexplored  forest. 

On  our  way  we  passed  an  Indian  shooting  arrows  into  the  top 
of  a  high  tree.  I  said  to  him :  *  *  What  are  you  shooting  at  ? ' '  "  No- 
fin,"  he  replied.  I  shook  my  head  with  a  doubtful  look.  He  then 
motioned  for  me  to  come  to  him.  I  did  so.  He  told  me  in  broken 
English,  as  well  as  he  could,  howr  he  had  lost  an  arrow  shooting  at 
a  me-me  and  as  he  watched  to  see  where  it  fell,  he  lost  his  arrow, 
and  was  shooting  to  find  it.  His  scheme  was  this — to  stand  as 
near  as  possible  in  the  same  place  from  which  he  shot  the  bird  and 
shoot  other  arrows  in  the  same  direction  with  like  force,  carefully 
noting  where  they  fell  with  the  hope  that  they  would  show  where 
the  missing  arrow  might  be  expected  to  be  found.  After  shooting 
the  third  arrow  he  motioned  me  to  follow  him  and  I  did  so.  Point- 
ing out  to  me  three  arrows  he  exclaimed  "There  im  am."  And 
sure  enough  there  in  plain  sight  lay  the  lost  arrow.     It  was  made 


30 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


Indian  Basket  Making 


hi  winter  time  our  present  girls  and  women  of  the  Indian  race  are  most  in- 
dustriously engaged  in  manufacturing  splint  baskets  of  mixed  colors  in  all  im- 
aginable designs,  varying  in  size  from  ladies'  thimbles  to  hampers  holding  two 
bushels  or  more.  They  are  quick  to  originate  designs  Their  finest  work  is  made 
of  white  birch  bark,  sweet  grass  and  porcupine  quills.  You  can  scarcely  name 
an  article  in  domestic  use  among  the  white  people  which  they  do  not  pattern 
after;  tablets,  napkin  rings,  wrateh  cases,  and  even  miniature  houses  and 
churches — all  fall  from  their  nimble  fingers  with  equal  skill.  The  porcupine 
quills  are  stained  in  all  the  colors  of  the  rainbow.  These  they  work  into  the 
bark  of  which  the  articles  are  made,  representing  leaves  and  flowers  in  all  their 
natural  colors.  Some  western  tribes  decorate  with  colored  beads,  but  our  In- 
dian women  will  use  only  such  material  as  they  can  get  from  Nature's  store, 
which  speaks  volumes  for  their  ingenuity  and  originality.  They  use  sweet  grass 
on  account  of  its  fragrance,  which  it  retains  for  many  years.  Their  work  is 
much  sought  for  by  summer  tourists,  for  which  good  prices  are  paid.  No  true 
lover  of  the  beautiful  can  look  through  a  well  arranged  collection  of  their 
goods  without  feeling  they  must  have  been  washed  in  the  rainbow  and  dipped  in 
the  sun. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY       31 

of  hickory,  with  a  triangular,  bluntish  head  for  killing  small  game 
so  as  not  to  tear  the  skin.  I  bought  it  of  him  and  still  keep  it  as 
a  relic  of  native  shrewdness. 

On  nearing  the  camping  grounds  we  met  an  Indian  boy  who 
certainly  must  have  been  Yankeeized.  He  was  almost  naked, 
wearing  only  a  breech  clout,  showing  clearly  that  he  was  a  full 
blooded  Indian,  and  yet  he  could  speak  broken  English  quite  well 
for  one  of  his  years.  He  ran  along  the  side  of  the  wagon  crying 
out  "Stop,  stop!  Me  want  to  talk  wid  you."  "Whoa,"  said  the 
ox  driver  and  the  cattle  stopped.  The  little  redskin  climbed  into 
the  wagon  and  grabbed  me  by  the  hand  saying  "You  am  my  fader; 
muder  want  to  talk  wid  you  bad."  "What  do  you  mean"  I  said, 
"you  little  red  skin?"  Still  holding  my  hand  he  said,  "Do  come 
and  see  muder."  Uncle  Corwin  and  the  shingle-weaver  both  said 
"Go,  Engle;  the  boy  knows  what  he  is  talking  about." 

A  few  feet  away,  in  the  door  of  a  wigwam,  stood  one  of  the 
dirtiest,  greasiest  looking  squaws  I  had  yet  seen.  I  held  back  but 
the  little  rascal  still  held  fast,  repeating  "Do  come  fader;  muder 
want  to  see  you  bad."  Suddenly  it  occurred  to  me  that  he  had 
learned  a  Yankee  trick  to  extort  money.  So  I  quickly  handed  him 
out  a  quarter,  and  he  jumped  out  of  the  wagon  handing  it  to  the 
squaw  who  stood  by  the  wigwam.  I  was  astonished,  as  well  as 
chagrined. 

I  have  lived  with  several  of  the  Algonquin  tribes;  hunted,  fished 
and  dealt  with  them  for  over  fifty  years;  and  yet  I  have  never 
known  one  of  them,  to  resort  to  trickery,  to  extort  money,  except 
that  little  rascal;  and  where  he  came  from,  where  he  went,  or  how 
he  fared,  I  never  knew  and  I  never  cared. 

We  soon  reached  the  camping  ground  which  was  located  on  the 
south  side  of  the  nesting  grounds,  on  either  side  of  a  small  stream. 
I  inquired  if  Kek-kek,  their  interpreter,  was  there?  All  shook 
their  heads,  saying  "me  no  see  im."  I  afterward  learned  that  he 
had  been  arrested  a  few  days  before  and  they  feared  we  might  be 
after  him  again.  Finally  they  came  up  around  the  wagon,  ex- 
amined the  boxes  and  barrels  filled  with  ice,  and  asked  "Meby  wat 
you  want?"  We  explained  to  them  that  we  wanted  to  buy  a  wagon 
load  of  me-me-og  (squabs).  An  Indian  then  asked,  "Do  you  want 
to  see  im  Kek-kek?"  I  nodded  "yes,"  and  again  asked  if  he  was 
there?  They  then  pointed  out  to  me  a  tall  Indian,  a  middle  aged 
man,  saying  "There  im  be."  He  had  a  sort  of  stoical  grin  on  his 
face.  I  said  "Come  here."  He  walked  slowly  up  to  the  wragon, 
as  if  he  doubted  whether  he  should  come  or  not.  He  could  speak 
fair  English  and  we  made  arrangements  with  him  that  we  would 
pay  then  one  shilling  per  dozen  for  all  the  squabs  they  would  get 
us,  dead  or  alive.    Kek-kek,  now  being  convinced  that  no  harm  was 


32       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

meant  for  him,  took  much  pride  in  giving  us  an  insight  into  their 
domestic  affairs.  He  took  us  all  about  the  camp,  pointing  out  to 
us  long  racks  of  poles  and  bark  on  which  were  spread  hundreds 
of  dozens  of  squabs,  being  smoked  and  dried  over  a  slow  fire. 

As  we  expressed  our  surprise  over  such  great  quantities  of  birds, 
he  said  "Look  um  dis  way,"  and  pointed  out  to  us  many  mokets 
(bark  boxes)  that  would  hold  a  bushel  or  more,  each  packed  full  of 
these  young  birds  cured  for  future  use.  I  asked  him  if  they  would 
keep.    ' i  Dem  vill  neber  rot, ' '  he  replied. 

"Are  they  good  eating?"  I  asked.  He  nodded  his  head  saying 
"Num!  Num!  Num!"  and  handed  me  a  mummy  squab,  saying 
"Eat  um.    It  be  gooder  than  white  man's  doves." 

I  did  so  with  a  relish,  for  I  was  hungry.  "How  you  like  im?" 
he  asked.  "It  is  all  right,"  I  replied.  He  then  pointed  out  to  me 
some  mokets  that  he  said  were  filled  with  "me-me  bi-mi-da  (squab 
butter;)  "gooder,"  he  said,  "than  cow  butter."  He  then  handed 
me  a  piece  of  corn  bread  and  wooden  knife,  saying,  "Eat  um  it 
wid  de  squab  butter."  I  did  so  finding  it  quite  pleasant  to  the 
taste.  I  finally  said  "Say,  Kek-Kek,  we  are  waiting  here  for  your 
people  to  bring  us  in  a  wagon  load  of  squabs. ' '  He  then  went  and 
held  a  long  pow-wow  with  the  tribe;  then  came  and  told  us,  "De 
Inguns  no  no  um  shilling  dozen.  Da  say  give  one  cent,  one  pigeon, 
two  cent,  two  pigeon,  three  cent,  three  pigeon;  then  um  vill  go." 
"Well,"  I  said,  "we  will  pay  then  one  cent  for  each  squab.  Kek- 
kek  then  gave  a  sort  of  war  whoop  and  in  less  than  five  minutes 
the  camp  was  all  astir.  The  men  formed  in  single  file  moving 
northward,  followed  by  the  women  on  pony  back,  with  their  pa- 
pooses strapped  to  their  backs,  while  the  children  and  dogs  fol- 
lowed behind  and  we,  with  our  stag  team,  brought  up  the  rear. 
About  one  mile  distant  they  halted  among  thick  hemlock  trees,  not 
far  from  where  the  Packard  mills  were  afterward  built  in  the 
township  of  Covert.  Here  they  started  in  all  directions,  the  squaws 
sitting  their  papooses  up  against  the  trees  leaving  them  in  our 
charge.  Uncle  Corwin  said  he  was  "mighty  glad  there  was  no 
hogs  running  in  the  woods. ' ' 

The  squabs  at  this  time  were  as  large  as  the  parent  birds,  though 
still  in  their  nests.  In  less  than  two  hours,  the  band  began  to  re- 
turn, each  one  with  a  back  load  of  me-me-og.  It  was  a  hot  day  and 
there  was  no  water  in  that  locality.  They  were  thirsty,  and 
began  to  climb  into  the  wagon,  helping  themselves  to  ice.  We  pro- 
tested, telling  them  we  could  not  buy  their  birds  without  ice  to 
pack  them  in.  One  old  Indian  said,  "We  can  lib  with  no  muny, 
but  die  come  wid  no  vater. ' '  They  continued  to  take  our  ice  until 
every  pound  was  gone.  We  then  counted  their  birds  and  paid  for 
them.     There  were  two  hundred  and  ten  dozen  and  they  filled  the 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  38 

wagon  box  chock  full.  The  old  shingle  weaver  declared  it  would 
kill  his  team  to  draw  them  home.  On  our  way  back  we  came  to  a 
stream  where  we  poured  water  onto  the  load  until  the  birds  were 
cooled  off.  We  sent  them  to  Boston  and  New  York  where  they 
were  sold  for  $1.50  per  dozen. 

The  "Buck  Pony"  Ride 

In  order  that  the  reader  may  more  fully  understand  the  joy, 
love  and  fear  of  the  red  man  I  place  the  following  experience  on 
record. 

T,he   rude   Indian   with   untutored   mind. 

To  all  our  pride  and  glory  blind, 

Could  we  his  inward  feelings  gain 

We'd  find  affection,  in  white  and  red  the  same. 

In  the  autumn  of  1856  an  Indian  known  as  Little  Weso  came  to 
see  me  on  pony  back  saying  "The  chief  has  sent  me  to  get  you  meby 
to  go  wid  me  to  go  on  pony  back,  Saddle  Lake  to  find  um  Joe  Kaw- 
kee."  "Is  he  lost,"  I  inquired?  With  a  tremulous  voice  he  re- 
plied "Bad,  very  bad!  Some  white  man  say  him  be  killed  by  a 
white  hunter  cause  im  kill  um  so  many  deer  and  make  him  mad." 
"Say  Inglam,  will  take  your  pony  and  go  wid  me?  Poor  Joe,  him 
good  man,  kill  um  lots  of  deer." 

I  got  out  my  pony,  a  tall  lank  lean  horse,  and  we  started  to  find 
Joe.  My  horse  was  a  fast  walker  and  I  laughed  at  Weso,  telling 
him  his  pony  was  lazy  and  could  not  keep  up.  He  said  "Say  Ing- 
lam, dis  pony  am  very  smart.  Him  can  outrun  your  big  pony." 
I  said  "we  will  try  it,"  and  started  my  big  pony  on  the  run.  As 
he  galloped  off  at  full  speed  and  I  was  beginning  to  think  I  would 
get  out  of  sight  of  the  Indian,  I  heard  him  give  a  loud  war  cry  for 
me  to  clear  the  way.  I  urged  my  horse  on  with  whip  and  heels, 
but  all  in  vain.  Poor  Lo  passed  me  like  the  wind  and  was  soon  out 
of  sight  among  the  trees.  I  felt  dumfounded  and  stopped  my 
horse  in  amazement.  Soon  I  saw  the  redskin  galloping  back  to- 
wards me.  As  he  came  up  he  said,  "Inglam,  what  tink  now  of  my 
pony?"    "He  can  keep  up  all  right  enough,"  I  said. 

As  we  rode  on  deeper  into  the  north  woods,  Weso  asked  if  I  was 
hungry  ?  I  told  him  I  was,  for  in  my  haste  to  start  I  had  forgotten 
to  eat  dinner.  He  asked  "Do  you  like  um  jerk  venson?"  I  re- 
plied that  I  had  never  seen  any.  He  took  from  an  old  bark  sack 
about  his  shoulders  something  that  looked  like  a  dark  clay  ball, 
gnawed  at  it  a  few  times  himself  and  then  handed  it  to  me  saying 
"Take  im;  eat  im;  it  am  jerk  venson;  very  good."  I  grabbed  it 
with  half  closed  eyes  so  as  not  to  spleen  against  it,  but  as  I  dimly 

ToL  1—3 


84       HISTORY  OF   VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

saw  teeth  prints  all  around  it,  1  closed  my  eyes,  gnawed  at  it 
several  times  and  handed  it  back  to  the  Indian,  telling  him  he  had 
saved  me  from  starving.  It  had  a  kind  of  sweetish  smoky  taste 
and  tasted  fairly  well  to  a  hungry  man.  1  thought  if  it  had  been 
salted  it  would  have  been  very  palatable.  We  rode  on  in  silence, 
with  the  redskin  ahead,  until  darkness  began  to  close  about  us, 
when  all  at  once  the  monotony  was  broken,  as  the  Indian  cried  out 
"Me  see  urn  light.  Me  tink  it  am  Kaw-kee 's  wigwam.  Me  know  it 
am,  for  me  see  Saddle  lake,  dat  way  and  de  small  lake  de  uder  way, 
and  me  know  Kaw-kee  's  wigwam  am  tween  um. ' '  We  dismounted, 
walked  to  the  wigwram  and,  in  true  Indian  style,  peeked  in  to  see 
if  anyone  was  there. 

The  redskin  said,  "Me  see  um  Joe's  wife,  but  no  Joe."  We  then 
rapped  at  the  door.  A  tall  white  woman  opened  it  and  Weso 
asked,  ' 4  Am  Joe  alive. "  "  Why  yes,  he  is  gone  to  the  spring  for  a 
pail  of  water."  Weso  then  told  her:  "We  heard  him  am  killed, 
and  Inglam,  with  me,  hab  come  good  ways  from  Hartford  to  know 
if  so."  I  now  began  to  realize  that  she  was  his  wife,  for  she  was 
wonderfully  excited  and  threw  up  her  arms  exclaiming  "De  Lord 
will  punish  um  for  lying  about  Joe!  De  Lord  will  punish  um! 
Yes  He  will.  This  be  the  fourth  time  they  have  had  poor  Joe 
killed ! ' '  Kaw-kee  came  in  as  the  last  words  were  spoken,  but  his 
wife  was  so  excited  that  she  continued  to  do  all  the  talking,  telling 
Joe  all  about  our  mission  there,  until  Kaw-kee  said :  ' '  Shut  up ! 
Sit  down,  you  old  squaw ! ' '  She  did  so  and  cried  like  a  child.  I 
concluded  she  felt  mortally  offended  to  think  she  had  made  such 
a  big  fool  of  herself  in  marrying  an  Indian. 

The  two  Indians  talked  for  an  hour  in  their  native  tongue,  of 
which  I  could  understand  but  little.  I  understood  he  had  killed 
fifty  deer,  three  bears,  and  one  wolf  in  four  weeks  and  that  the 
white  hunters  had  stolen  five  of  the  deer,  and  were  mad  because  he 
had  killed  so  much  game,  I  know  I  thought  they  could  hardly  be 
blamed  for  their  feelings  of  bitterness. 

About  ten  o'clock,  Kaw-kee  told  his  wife  she  had  pouted  long 
enough  and  to  get  up  and  get  supper.  She  sprang  to  her  feet 
like  a  jumping-jack,  soon  having  a  deer  liver  and  tongue  stew, 
with  corn  soup  on  the  table  and  announced :  l  i  Your  supper  is 
ready. ' '  I  was  indeed  glad  to  hear  that,  as  I  had  eaten  nothing  in 
twelve  hours  but  a  little  jerked  venison.  We  three  men  sat  down 
on  a  log  before  a  slab  table  while  the  hostess  waited  on  us  as  best 
she  could  under  the  circumstances.  We  had  but  two  plates  and 
two  knives  and  forks  to  accommodate  three,  but  the  good  wife  cut 
the  meat  up  for  us  in  fine  shape  so  we  could  handle  it  to  the  best 
advantage.  The  two  Indians  ate  off  of  one  plate,  that  I  might  enjoy 
the  other  all  to  myself.    I  must  admit  that  I  never  before  or  since 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUKEN  COUNTY  35 

enjoyed  a  better  supper.  In  fact,  I  congratulated  Kaw-kee  on  be- 
ing so  lucky  in  procuring  a  wife,  but  she  kindly  kicked  it  over  by 
saying,  "And  you  old  Ingun  don't  know  enough  to  know  it!" 

We  slept  that  night  on  hemlock  boughs  between  green  deer  skins. 
[  slept  soundly  all  night.  At  breakfast  we  finished  what  was  left 
of  the  evening  meal.  Kaw-kee,  after  our  meal,  said  "Me  want  you 
come  out  dis  way."  Following  him  a  short  distance,  he  said  "See 
urn  big  buck.  Him  am  yours,  to  take  home  wid  you."  We  both 
told  him  wre  did  not  think  it  possible  to  take  him  on  pony  back. 

Kaw-kee  looked  sad  and  finally  said,  "Me  feel  um  bad  if  you  no 
take  im.  You  be  good  to  come  way  up  here  in  de  storm  to  find  um 
Kaw-kee  dead,  and  find  me  live  Ingun."  "How  can  we  take  im?" 
asked  Weso. 

"Me  will  load  im  on  pony  back  as  tight  as  an  arrow  point  to 
um  arrow."  So  saying  he  stepped  to  a  small  basswood  tree  and 
stripped  off  some  long  pieces  of  the  inner  bark.  Then  he  re- 
quested Weso  to  bring  his  pony  forward,  telling  him  to  take  hold 
of  the  buck's  hind  legs  and  he  at  the  same  time  grasped  the  fore 
legs,  throwing  the  big  buck  astride  of  the  pony,  when  he  fastened 
him  so  securely  one  might  think  they  were  born  together.  The 
deer's  big  horns  reached  just  above  the  pony's  head,  while  their 
noses  reached  out  about  the  same  distance.  Both  pony  and  deer 
had  short  tails  which  extended  behind  nearly  the  same  distance. 
The  two  Indians  laughed  aloud  as  they  surveyed  the  double  mon- 
strosity and  so  did  I. 

Weso  proposed  to  lead  his  pony  home,  but  I  persuaded  him  to 
straddle  the  buck  and  he  did  so.     That  put  on  the  capsheaf  and  so 


The  Start  from  Saddle  Lake 


36  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

pleased  Kaw-kee,  that  he  yelled  out  to  Polly  Ann,  his  wife,  to  come 
out  and  see  the  sight.  She  did  so,  exclaiming  ' '  Holy  Moses  and  all 
the  saints!"  It  had  a  good  influence  over  Polly  Ann  for  that 
sober  face  of  hers,  which  had  not  smiled  since  the  night  before  when 
she  was  ordered  to  shut  up  her  mouth,  now  grinned  from  ear  to 
ear  until  she  laughed  so  loud  that  Kaw-kee  told  her  to  quiet  down 
or  she  would  scare  all  the  game  out  of  the  woods,  and  all  the  fish 
out  of  Saddle  Lake ! 

I  went  and  brought  my  horse  out  from  the  underbrush  so  as  to 
start  home,  but  when  he  caught  sight  of  the  monstrosity,  he  broke 
into  a  run  and  beat  the  record  for  all  past  time.  I  finally  got  him 
stopped  and  turned  him  round  to  be  sure  the  pony,  passenger  and 
baggage  were  coming  behind.  As  I  glimpsed  the  oncoming  train, 
my  horse  snorted  like  an  engine,  wheeled  and  ran  again  as  if  to 
escape  death.  After  much  coaxing  I  got  him  quieted  down  so  as 
to  get  within  speaking  distance  of  Weso.  Kaw-kee  was  coming 
along  with  him  carrying  a  long  strip  of  bass-wood  bark.  He  yelled 
to  me  to  hold  on  and  after  much  careful  maneuvering  he  got 
within  fifty  feet,  telling  me  that  Weso  had  given  up  a  riding  buck 
back  and  wanted  to  know  if  my  pony  would  carry  double  ?  I  re- 
plied ' '  I  thought  so. ' '  He  then  ran  back  to  Weso,  helped  him  dis- 
mount, tied  a  long  strip  of  bark  to  the  pony's  halter,  came  forward 
with  Weso,  and  after  carefully  petting  my  horse,  assisted  Weso  to 
mount  behind  me  on  the  blanket.  Then  handing  him  the  end  of 
the  long  bark  halter,  he  said  "Now  start,  and  go  bery  slow,  and 
yous  will  be  home  wid  deer  meby  by  sunset. ' ' 

We  obeyed  instructions,  reaching  Bangor  a  little  after  noon 
where  we  found  a  sort  of  wagon  road.  About  a  mile  south  of  this 
place  we  met  an  old  man  and  woman,  driving  a  rack-a-bone  horse. 
The  horse  no  sooner  saw  us  than  he  gave  a  snort,  ran  into  the 
woods  and  tipped  over  the  wagon,  spilling  out  the  passengers  with 
a  load  of  pumpkins.  Leaving  my  horse  in  care  of  Weso,  I  ran  to 
assist  the  unfortunate  couple.  No  one  was  seriously  hurt,  but  my, 
how  mad!  The  old  man  said  "You  will  pay  dear  for  this.  I  will 
put  you  in  state  prison!"  I  said  "Uncle,  you  should  not  drive 
such  a  skittish  young  horse."  "Young  horse"  said  he,  "I  have 
driven  him  twenty-five  years.  I  brought  him  with  me  from  York 
State.  I  never  saw  him  scart  before.  That  rig,  or  whatever  it  is, 
is  enough  to  scare  any  animal  or  man!"  His  wife  who  had  re- 
mained quiet  until  now,  piped  out  in  a  sharp  nasal  tone,  "Pa  says 
that  thing  would  scare  any  animal  or  man.  I  say  it  is  enough  to 
scare  the  Divil  himself!"  I  finally,  with  their  help,  got  things  to- 
gether in  good  shape,  reloaded  the  pumpkins  and  they  started  off 
quite  good  naturedly. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY       37 

We  reached  home  about  sunset,  as  predicted,  with  our  big  buck. 
For  forty  years  after,  I  never  met  Weso  without  a  broad  grin,  say- 
ing "Well,  Inglam,  how  you  like  um  now,  buck  pony  ride?" 

"Never  Carry  a  Revolver,  Boys" 

Often  when  our  fears  are  greatest 

There  are  no   dangers  near  us 
And  sometimes  when  we  feel  the  safest 

A   sword  may  hang  above  us 
Suspended  by  a  single  hair! 

In  the  fall  of  1856,  while  buying  fur  among  the  Indians  in  Ban- 
gor township,  I  was  obliged  to  stay  all  night  with  an  Indian  family. 
It  was  in  a  log  house  with  one  room  below  and  an  upper  room  above 
that  might  be  called  a  garret.  In  this  room  I  lodged.  The  only 
access  to  it  was  by  a  ladder  through  a  small  opening  in  the  ceiling 
large  enough  to  let  a  medium-sized  man  pass  through.  Climbing 
into  this  room  I  found  there  was  a  sort  of  bed  and  an  open  place 
in  one  end  of  the  chamber. 

The  old  Indian  said  to  me  before  retiring,  "Yous  vil  have  to  lay 
down  widout  candle,  for  poor  Ingun  haint  got  im." 

I  have  always  made  it  a  rule  in  life  to  conform  to  circumstances 
as  cheerfully  as  possible ;  and  so  I  did  in  this  case.  I  found  in  the 
place  of  a  bed-stead  a  few  poles  laid  across  some  small  logs.  On 
these  were  piled  a  quantity  of  hemlock  brush,  over  wThich  was 
spread  several  wolf  robes,  with  a  large  bear  skin  in  place  of  sheets 
and  quilts.  Into  this  strange  nest  I  crawled,  wondering  what  red- 
skin had  last  rested  there.  Soon  I  was  fast  asleep,  enjoying  my 
slumbers  just  as  well  as  though  I  were  in  the  best  kind  of  a  white 
man's  bed. 

At  midnight  I  awoke,  feeling  fully  convinced  that  some  one  was 
climbing  the  ladder  into  my  room.  I  watched  and  listened.  My 
heart  beat  like  a  snare  drum.  Instead  of  one  person,  I  wras  con- 
vinced there  were  two.  Then,  to  still  add  a  new  feature,  I  could 
see  something  was  being  hauled  up  the  ladder  into  the  chamber 
and,  as  I  listened  more  intently,  I  heard  a  sort  of  whining  noise, 
and  dimly  saw  by  the  light  of  the  moon  two  big  Indians  pull  up  a 
great  dog  into  the  room.  That  almost  paralyzed  me.  The  dog 
snuffed  and  wThined  as  though  he  expected  to  be  pounced  upon  by 
a  catamount. 

The  two  men  walked  very  slowTly  towards  me  and  the  slab  floor 
squeaked  out  at  every  step  the  cry  of  murder !  Oh  how  I  did  wish 
I  had  my  revolver  with  me,  which  I  had  left  at  home.  I  placed  my 
back  firmly  against  the  wall  and  drew  the  old  bear  skin  close  about 
me,    preparing    for   my   last   struggle    on    earth.      The    intruders 


38       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

reached  the  bed  and  there  stood  still,  as  it*  to  pause  before  taking 
my  life.     Their  eyes  glared  like  cats'  eyes  in  the  night  time. 

Suddenly  it  occurred  to  me  that  it  might  be  barely  possible  that 
I  was  in  their  nest.  Trembling  I  said  "Nin  ni-baw  o-maw?  (Do 
you  sleep  here?)  "  Slowly  a  voice  replied  "E-n-c-h,  E-n-c-h  (Y-e-s, 
Y-e-s)."  I  now  asked  "Can  you  talk  white  man's  talk?"  An  an- 
swer came:  "Me  am  a  white  boy."  A  great  burden  was  lifted.  I 
unrolled  the  bear  skin  from  my  body  and  spread  it  out  to  its  full 
bigness,  saying  "get  into  bed."  Both  laid  down  with  their  clothes 
all  on,  as  I  had  done  the  night  before. 

And  we,  brave  foemen,  with  the  dog,  lay  side  by  side, 
Peacefully   like   four  brothers   tried, 
But  slept  not  until  the  morning  beams, 
Purpled  the  woodlands  and  the  streams. 

I  learned  during  the  night  that  they  were  boys  about  fourteen 
years  old ;  that  the  white  boy  had  been  brought  up  among  the  In- 
dians; that  the  day  previous  the  Indian  boy  went  to  stay  with  him 
all  night  so  they  might  go  out  on  a  coon  hunt  in  the  evening, 
that  the  dog  had  treed  a  coon  a  short  distance  from  wrhere  I  was 
staying,  so  they  concluded  to  come  and  stay  there ;  and  the  reason 
why  the  parents  did  not  let  me  or  the  boys  know  the  situation  was 
because  the  boys  avoided  waking  up  the  old  folks. 

They  said  when  they  pulled  the  old  coon  dog  into  the  room  he 
gave  a  sort  of  whining  sniff,  which  convinced  them  something  was 
wrong  in  the  room  and  that  they  dimly  saw  the  bear  skin  moving 
about  and  feared  the  old  old  bear  himself  had  come  back  and  was 
crawling  into  his  hide  again!  They  further  said  "We  be  scared 
most  to  def !"  I  was  mighty  glad  they  did  not  know  how  I  felt  at 
that  time,  as  I  rolled  the  bear's  hide  about  me. 

Since  then  I  have  often  wondered  what  the  result  would  have 
been  if  I  had  had  my  revolver  with  me.  It  is  possible  I  might 
have  been  tried  for  murdering  the  whole  household  and  have  to 
show  I  did  it  in  self-defence,  in  order  to  save  myself  from  a  life 
sentence,  or  on  the  other  hand  I  might  have  been  scalped  or  killed. 

On  my  return  home  I  disposed  of  my  revolver,  and  have  never 
owned  or  carried  one  since,  and  am  fully  convinced  that  in  a  coun- 
try like  ours  one  is  much  safer  without  a  revolver  than  with  one  ; 
hence  my  advice  to  boys  ever  since  then  has  been  "Never  carry  a 
revolver. ' ' 

Saw-kaw's  Love  Story 

From  Saw-kaw  's  own  story :  * '  The  course  of  true  love  never  does 
run  smooth"  even  in  the  natives  heart;  under  the  most  favorable 
circumstances,  its  joys  are  marred  with  many  doubts  and  fears. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  89 

Se-gitan  Saw-kaw  I-kwe   (Listen  to  the  child  of  the  forest). 

My  grandfather,  during  my  early  girlhood,  took  great  pride  in 
teaching  me  and  a  boy  chum  of  mine  how  to  bend  the  bow  and  di- 
rect the  arrow  in  its  course.  Almost  daily  this  little  boy  and  1 
would  contest  in  archery  for  a  prize  to  be  awarded  by  grandfather. 
It  was  generally  conceded  I  was  the  best  shot.  White  boys  of  the 
neighborhood  often  joined  in  our  sports,  contesting  with  powder 
and  ball  for  the  prize  at  a  distance  of  one  hundred  feet  or  less. 
An  old  white  man  was  sure  to  be  present  on  such  occasions  to  act 
as  umpire. 

Our  arrows  seldom  failed  to  win  the  prize.  I  can  now  see  the  old 
man  limping  along  to  see  who  had  centered  the  mark  and  hear 
him  say  ' '  Wall,  wall, — I  do  declare  !  The  little  redskins  have  won. ' ' 
Or  "Wall,  wall,  I  do  declare!  The  little  redskins  have  lost  this 
time. ' '  In  order  that  we  might  know  our  arrows  apart,  Kaw-kee  's 
were  painted  red  and  mine  white.  The  old  man  gave  each  prize  as 
it  was  won — a  turkey,  goose  or  pheasant  was  generally  provided 
by  some  white  man. 

All  these  endearing  sports  were  suddenly  cut  short  as,  at  four- 
teen years  of  age,  it  had  been  decided  that  I  should  be  sent  to 
the  Indian  school  at  Lawrence,  Kansas.  I  felt  almost  mortally  of- 
fended, I  feared  to  meet  strangers  in  a  strange  land. 

I  continued  to  sob  and  cry  until  my  parents  feared  my  heart 
would  break.  Grandfather  was  consulted.  He  said  "Nin  Saw- 
kaw  (my  dear  child)  weep  no  more.  It  is  best  that  you  should  go. 
I  have  visited  the  school  many  times.  You  will  like  the  children 
there  and  find  the  teachers  good  and  kind."  In  vain  I  plead  not 
to  be  sent  away.  Finally  I  opened  to  him  the  full  burden  of  my 
soul.  I  told  him  how  much  I  loved  my  people  and  our  woodland 
home ;  how  ardently  I  loved  my  bow  and  arrows  which  he  gave  and 
all  my  sports.  "Is  that  all?"  he  asked.  I  replied:  "Oh!  Do  for- 
give my  childish  heart,  and  do  tell  me  how  I  can  leave  my  dear 
Kaw-kee  and  see  him  no  more.  I  love  him  far  beyond  my  power 
to  tell;  you  have  the  secret  of  my  heart.  Do  be  good  and  let  me 
stay  here." 

Nodding  his  head,  he  finally  said  "Is  it  possible  that  one  so 
young  can  love  so  great?"  With  astonishment  he  looked  me  square 
in  the  face  and  asked  "Does  he  love  you?"  "He  has  never  told 
me  so ' '  said  I.  "  Have  you  ever  told  Kaw-kee  that  you  loved  him  ? ' ' 
he  asked.  '  *  I  never  have. "  "  Why  not  ? "  he  asked.  I  made  reply : 
"Because  deep  down  in  my  heart  I  felt  his  feelings  were  akin  to 
mine."  Thoughtfully  he  bowed  his  head.  Then  looking  up,  the 
dear  old  man  seemed  filled  with  pity  and  finally  said,  as  he  kissed 
me,  "My  dear  child,  I  well  remember  the  days  of  my  youth.  T 
know  full  well  how  wicked  it  is  to  trifle  with  the  cords  of  heaven- 


40       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

born  love.  The  best  I  can  promise  is  that  after  you  have  spent  two 
years  at  school  I  will  send  for  you  to  come  home,  and  we  will  all  go 
into  the  north  woods  for  several  months  and  there  dress  and  hunt 
as  our  fathers  did  before  the  white  men  came.  "Can  Kaw-kee  go 
too?"  I  asked.  "Yes,"  he  replied,  "he  can  go  too.  Think  of  it, 
Saw-kaw;  that  will  give  you  both  a  chance  to  hunt  and  test  your 
skill  in  shooting  game  with  bows  and  arrows!" 

A  soothing  feeling  of  reconciliation  came  over  me  as  the  rain- 
bow over  the  departing  storm.  I  had  full  faith  in  grandfather's 
promise.  Cheerfully  I  went  forth  to  a  strange  land,  and  there 
pored  over  the  white  man's  books,  cheered  on  day  by  day  with 
the  bright  promise  from  the  lips  of  one  who  failed  not  to  do  as  he 
agreed. 

Two  long  years  had  nearly  passed.  I  began  to  wonder  if  it 
could  be  possible  for  grandfather  to  forget  his  promise.  One 
morning  my  teacher  handed  me  a  letter.  I  looked  it  over;  it  was 
post-marked  Hartford,  Michigan.  I  felt  sure  it  must  be  from  grand- 
father. As  soon  as  school  was  out  for  noon  I  ran  to  my  room. 
Quickly  I  opened  the  letter.  Saw-kaw  was  indeed  proud  that  she 
could  read  it  for  herself.  In  it  I  heard  dear  grandfather  say- 
"My  dear  Saw-kaw: — Find  enclosed  twenty  dollars  to  bring  you 
home.  I  have  found  good  hunting  grounds  and,  as  I  promised,  on 
your  return  we  will  go  there,  hunt  and  fish,  dress  and  live  as  our 
fathers  did  before  the  white  man  came."  Again  and  again  I  read 
the  letter,  but,  alas !    Kaw-kee,  no  Kaw-kee,  was  there. 

Saw-kaw  slept  not  that  night.  The  night  following  I  dreamed 
of  going  home.  All  seemed  overjoyed  to  meet  me,  but  no  one 
lisped  the  name  of  Kaw-kee.  I  felt  him  in  my  heart.  Just  then 
I  heard  him  say  "Bo-sho  nic-con  Saw-kaw."  I  answered  back 
"Bo-sho  nic-con  Kaw-kee,"  and  tried  to  grasp  his  hand,  when  lo ! 
his  form  was  changed  into  an  angry  wolf.  Upright  he  stood,  so 
close  that  I  could  smell  his  sickening  breath.  I  awoke  while  yet 
his  growls  and  snarls  rang  in  my  ears.  So  real  it  seemed,  I  could 
not  believe  it  all  a  dream. 

Three  days  later  I  reached  our  wigwam.  None  of  our  people  at 
first  knew  me,  but  when  I  greeted  them  "Bo-sho  nic-con?"  (how 
do  you  do,  my  friends?)  "  an  old  time  pow-wow  ensued,  all  trying 
to  embrace  and  greet  me  first  in  broken  English. 

During  the  evening,  old  Wapsee,  a  noted  bear  hunter  who  had 
the  reputation  of  driving  bears  to  his  wigwam  to  kill  them,  called 
to  see  me.  This  old  man  thought  he  could  speak  better  English 
than  the  young  Indians  who  had  been  to  the  white  man's  school. 
Grasping  my  hand  he  said :  ' '  Saw-kaw,  me  am  eber  so  glad  to  see 
you.  Me  tink  you  tink  meby,  you  can  speak  all  de  white  man's 
words.  Me  no  like  urn  white  talk  much ;  dem  say  ebry  ting  wrong. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY        41 

Ingun  call  ebry  ting  right.  You  know  um  all  him  talk  about,  De 
young  Inguns  come  from  school  and  can't  tell  nofin.  If  dem  be 
sick  or  well  and  try  to  tell  um,  de  old  folks  can't  guess  um  what 
dey  mean. "  Owing  to  his  deafness  he  could  not  understand  a 
word  I  said:  When  leaving  he  said,  "You  know  um  Kaw-kee. 
Him  talk  much  bout  you  him  do ;  me  tink  him  lub  you  bery  much. " 
However  embarassing  his  parting  words,  I  drank  them  in ;  for  I 
was  starving  !  starving  in  my  soul !    * 

Grandfather  came  at  last.  We  kissed  each  other  with  joy  and 
gladness.  Frankly  he  assured  me  I  had  greatly  improved  both  in 
appearance  and  conversation.  With  a  tremulous  voice  he  said 
"Saw-kaw,  how  I  have  missed  you!"  Then  he  added  "I  still  hold 
the  promise  made  you  sacred.  All  things  are  now  ready.  To- 
morrow we  start  for  the  hunting  grounds.  I  am  anxious  to  have 
you  try  your  skill  among  the  deer  with  the  bow  and  arrows 
which  I  gave.  I  said :  ' k  Say  grandfather,  what  has  become  of 
Kaw-kee?"  He  simply  made  reply:  "After  you  left  he  went 
away  to  live  with  the  Ottawas  over  two  hundred  miles  north  of 
here." 

Early  the  next  morning  our  family  with  their  ponies  well 
loaded  took  their  line  of  march  along  an  ancient  trail  through 
dense  forests  of  hemlock  and  pine,  where  the  day,  through  lofty 
archways  of  overhanging  boughs,  could  scarcely  find  its  way. 
Now  and  then  our  arrows  brought  down  me-me-og  and  as-sana-go 
(pigeons  and  squirrels)  from  the  trees,  and  frequently  the  dogs 
brought  to  us  maw-boos  (the  rabbit).  At  nightfall  we  reached 
Mat-a-won,  a  point  where  two  streams  meet,  pouring  their  waters 
into  one  and  forming  the  Great  Se-be.  As  we  surveyed  the  ro- 
mantic scene  before  us  and  listened  to  the  voice  of  a  mighty  cata- 
ract just  below,  my  grandfather  said  with  great  feeling  in  his 
soul  "It  was  on  the  shores  of  this  stream  I  first  met  my  dear 
Lonida,  the  wife  of  my  youth  that  long  since  passed  to  the  happy 
hunting  grounds  beyond."  I  said  not  a  word  but  thought  in  my 
heart  "I  wish  I  knew  if  Kaw-kee  has  gone  there  too."  Here  we 
unloaded  our  ponies  and  prepared  lodgings  for  the  night.  Fire 
was  built  and  soup  made  out  of  the  game  we  had  secured  on  our 
way,  mixed  with  man-do-wTin  (dried  corn)  and  salt,  which  we 
ate  with  a  relish  that  can  only  be  enjoyed  after  a  long  march 
through  evergreen  forests. 

At  break  of  da}^  our  little  camp  was  all  astir.  Grandfather 
superintended  laying  out  the  grounds  and  building  the  wigwam, 
which  was  made  of  bark  and  poles  with  a  smoke  hole  at  the  top, 
according  to  our  ancient  custom.  No  prince  or  king  could  have 
felt  prouder  of  his  castle  than  we  did  of  our  wigwam.  The  day 
following    grandfather    called    the    family    together    telling    them 


42  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUKEN  COUNTY 

that  before  commencing  a  general  hunt,  according  to  ancient  cus- 
tom, we  must  enjoy  a  regular  corn  dance  which  he  said  eight 
could  do  in  fine  style.  "Further,"  he  said,  "I  have  a  little  sur- 
prise for  you."  Judge  if  you  can  of  our  surprise  as  he  opened  a 
large  mo-cot  (birch  bark  box)  and  handed  each  of  us  a  clean 
new    Indian   buckskin  suit  of  clothes  that  fitted   each   perfectly. 

When  all  were  dressed,  grandfather  started  off  with  a  swaying 
motion  to  lead  the  dance.  I*  laughed  saying,  "Hold  on  grand- 
father, you  said  it  required  eight  to  give  the  corn  dance.  There 
are  but  seven  of  us."  "Well,"  said  he,  "Saw-kaw,  as  you  have 
no  partner,  go  stand  in  the  door  of  the  wigwam  and  enjoy  see- 
ing the  rest  of  us  dance." 

I  did  as  he  requested  and  ran  into  the  wigwam.  As  I  entered, 
to  my  great  surprise,  before  me  stood  a  tall  Indian  dressed  like 
a  chief  in  a  new  buckskin  suit,  with  fur  cap  trimmed  with  eagle 
feathers.  Trembling,  I  gazed  at  him  in  fear  and  astonishment; 
still  as  a  statue  and  as  dumb.  Finally  he  broke  the  silence  and  in 
soothing  tones  said,  "Saw-kaw,  don't  you  know  me?"  I  finally 
replied,  "Oh!  Kaw-kee,  is  that  you?"  and  rushed  weeping  into 
his  arms. 

After  recovering  from  my  great  excitement,  he  explained  to  me 
how  grandfather  originated  the  whole  scheme,  so  as  to  give  me  a 
joyful  surprise,  and  that  the  whole  family  were  on  the  joke  except- 
ing myself;  and  I  was  "innocence  abroad."  As  we  walked  out 
to  join  the  dance,  the  little  party  gave  cheer  on  cheer  until  the 
echoes  made  the  welkin  ring.  Within  my  heart  T  felt  "One  hour 
like  this  is  worth  more  than  I  have  learned  in  two  years  at  school." 

The  following  day  grandfather  arranged  the  distribution  of 
his  forces.  At  that  time  of  the  year  a  still  hunt  was  necessary 
and  only  father  was  allowed  to  use  the  white  man's  gun.  The 
rest  of  us — that  is,  Kaw-kee,  grandfather  and  I, — our  bows  and 
arrows.  Mother,  two  sisters  and  my  little  brother,  not  loving  the 
chase,  wTere  to  fish  and  keep  things  about  the  wigwam  in  order. 
Grandfather  took  his  point  farthest  down  the  stream,  while  Kaw-kee 
and  I  watched  the  trail  above  him,  a  few  rods  apart.  All  reported 
seeing  deer  the  first  day,  but  no  shots  were  made.  x\  week  passed ; 
many  dear  had  been  seen,  but  none  killed  and  I  was  deeply  dis- 
appointed and  called  to  mind  grandfather's  saying  of  years  be- 
fore— that  since  the  advent  of  the  white  man,  "all  game  is  wild 
and  keeps  beyond  the  arrow's  reach,  and  the  fish  hide  themselves 
in  deep  water." 

That  night  grandfather  gave  orders:  That  all  must  be  on  their 
runways  at  peep  of  day  the  next  morning.  He  then  told  the  fol- 
lowing story  which  he  said  was  of  white  man's  origin:  "A  re- 
nowned statesman  passed  over  a  bridge  at  sunrise.    On  it  sat  a  man 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  43 

fishing.  At  sunset  he  reerossed  the  same  bridge,  finding  the  man 
still  fishing.  He  said  he  had  fished  there  all  day.  'Well/  in- 
quired the  statesman  'have  you  caught  any  fish?'  'Oh  no/  he 
replied,  'but  I  have  had  one  glorious  nibble.'  Now  that  man  had 
the  pluck.     Go  and  do  likewise." 

Morning  dawn  found  us  all  at  our  stations.  Just  as  the  sun 
had  tinged  with  red  the  highland  trees,  I  was  startled  by  the 
report  of  a  rifle,  which,  in  the  morning  stillness,  was  repeated 
back  from  shore  to  shore  until  it  died  away  the  merest  whisper. 
My  heart  fluttered  like  a  caged  bird  struggling  to  get  free.  I 
well  knew  it  was  my  father's  gun,  and  if  he  had  missed  a  deer  it 
might  pass  me  any  moment.  Listening  and  peering  through  the 
underbrush  that  fringed  the  stream,  I  faintly  heard  a  crackling 
sound.  On  towards  me  came  a  monstrous  buck  with  antlers  broad 
and  white  as  snow.  He  stopped  so  close,  that  I  could  see  him  wink 
and  hear  him  breathe.  Summing  up  all  the  powers  within  me,  in 
two  heart  beats  of  time  I  sent  two  successive  arrows  deep  into  his 
right  side.  He  made  one  monstrous  leap,  falling  in  mid  stream. 
"Kaw-kee!  Father,  Father!"  I  cried.  "Come  quick!"  Soon  both 
came  on  the  run,  with  grandfather  in  the  rear,  fearing  some  great 
disaster  had  befallen  me.  But  when  I  pointed  out  the  monarch 
of  the  woods  struggling  in  the  water,  their  fears  were  turned  to 
joy.  Kaw-kee  jumped  headlong  into  the  stream  and  hauled  the 
noble  deer  upon  the  shore. 

It  was  found  that  a  ball  had  pierced  one  ear.  "My  rifle  ball 
did  that,"  my  father  said.  From  his  neck  an  arrow  dangled.  "I 
shot  that  arrow,"  Kaw-kee  explained.  See  it  is  painted  red." 
Transfixed  in  his  right  side  were  two  arrows  painted  white. 
"Now  who  killed  the  deer?"  grandfather  asked.  "Saw-kaw  killed 
the  deer!"  Kaw-kee  and  father  both  exclaimed.  "Her  white  ar- 
rows cannot  lie."  Tt  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  say  that  the  great- 
est ambition  of  my  life  was  now  a  reality. 

We  remained  in  camp  several  weeks  longer  and  each  killed  sev- 
eral deer.  Besides  Kaw-kee  killed  a  wolf,  and  grandfather  (bless 
the  dear  old  man!)   killed  a  bear  and  caught  two  cubs. 

During  our  stay  a  French  trader  came  down  the  stream  and 
landed  at  our  shore.  He  appeared  pleased  to  meet  grandfather, 
addressing  him  as  "chief."  "Who  is  that?"  I  asked.  Father 
made  reply  "Ish-cot-a-wa-bo  (whiskey)."  His  real  name  is 
L/apaz.  He  smiled  on  me  in  such  a  bold  manner  that  I  avoided 
having  any  conversation  with  him.  He  remained  with  us  sev- 
eral days.  One  morning  he  started  to  go  with  me  to  my  runway. 
I  slighted  him,  and  Kaw-kee  went  with  me.  He  was  mad  and 
called  Kaw-kee  "the  smallest  end  of  the  red  trash."  The  next 
day  he  grew  much  more  bolder  in  his  attention  to  me,  which  I 


44       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

avoided  at  every  point.  Stung  by  "a-mo  (the  wasp  of  jealousy)  " 
he  opened  his  heart  to  father,  telling  him  how  much  he  admired 
my  skill,  how  dearly  he  loved  me;  then  boldly  asked,  "Can  I 
marry  Saw-kaw?"  Father  said,  "Saw-kaw  is  under  her  grand- 
father's control.     Lay  your  case  before  him." 

Now  grandfather  well  knew  Lapaz.  The  year  before  he  told 
some  of  his  people  that  the  needle  maker  was  dead  and  thereby 
induced  them  to  pay  him  one  dollar  per  needle.  On  his  next 
trip  among  them  he  sold  them  for  five  cents  each.  An  old  squaw 
told  Lapaz,  "Me  gib  you  when  here  before  one  dollar  for  one 
needle  'cause  you  say  'needle  maker  am  dead.'  "  "He  did  die," 
said  the  trader,  "but  another  man  learned  how  to  make  them." 
From  this  and  other  tricks  grandfather  hated  him  as  *  *  Satan  hates 
holy  water."  So  he  concluded  to  get  rid  of  the  nuisance  forever. 
He  told  Lapaz  that  Saw-kaw  was  engaged  to  young  Kaw-kee; 
that  the  two  had  been  bosom  companions  since  childhood,  but 
that  in-as-much  as  he  had  keen  sympathy  for  an  ardent  lover, 
he  found  it  in  his  heart  to  give  him  a  chance  to  secure  the  darling 
of  his  heart.  Encouraged  by  this  promise,  Lapaz  was  very  happy. 
He  told  Lapaz:  "Tomorrow  we  will  arrange  for  a  contest  between 
Kaw-kee  and  you  for  the  hand  of  Saw-kaw.  I  will  suspend  a  live 
duck  by  one  leg  to  a  limb,  by  a  string  at  the  distance  of  one  hun- 
dred feet  and  you  may  have  the  first  chance  with  your  rifle ;  then 
Kaw-kee  with  his  bow  and  arrow.  The  one  that  cuts  the  string 
and  lets  fall  the  duck,  shall  claim  the  girl."  "That's  fair,"  said 
Lapaz  ;  i  Saw-kaw  is  mine  ! "  "  Hold  on, ' '  grandfather  said,  ' '  you 
are  too  hasty.  Now  listen !  In  case  the  loser  wishes  another  chance 
he  can  have  it  by  taking  a  square-hold  wrestle  with  his  opponent. 
If  he  wins  in  the  second  contest,  Saw-kaw  shall  be  his  wife. "  "  All 
right,"  said  Lapaz. 

Morning  came  and  the  family  met  on  the  river's  bank  to  wit- 
ness the  contest.  All  understood  the  come-out  but  Lapaz.  A  duck 
hung  dangling  in  the  air  from  the  branch  of  a  tree.  Lapaz  took 
aim  and  fired.  No  duck  fell.  Kaw-kee  then  drew  his  bow  and 
let  the  arrow  fly.  Down  came  the  duck!  Lapaz  seemed  con- 
founded, but  without  a  word,  rushed  at  Kaw-kee  clinching  him 
for  a  square-hold  wrestle,  big  with  hope  to  win  the  prize.  Now 
came  the  tug-of-war.  Kaw-kee  stepped  backward  near  the  river 
bank  and  there  on  his  shoulders  he  backward  fell,  followed  by  La- 
paz, muttering  between  his  teeth  "I've  got  you  now."  Quick  as 
thought  Kaw-kee  planted  both  his  feet  between  the  hips  of  his  rival, 
then  with  a  mighty  spring  with  both  legs  hurled  his  adversary 
headlong  into  the  stream  at  least  ten  feet  belowr.  Poor  Lapaz,  like 
a  drowning  rat,  crawled  into  his  boat,  looking  as  though  he  hated 
everybody  and  himself  as  he  floated  down  the  stream  and  disap- 
peared. Where  he  went  and  how  he  fared  nobody  knew  and  no- 
body cared. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY        45 

A  few  days  after  this,  while  we  were  making  preparations  to 
break  camp,  grandfather  called  the  family  together.  He  spoke  of 
the  glorious  time  we  had  enjoyed,  living  as  our  fathers  lived.  He 
referred  to  the  true  love  which  had  existed  so  long  between  Kaw-kee 
and  myself  without  being  interfered  with.  He  further  said,  ''It  is 
a  fact  that  among  our  people  in  their  native  state,  they  regarded 
true  love  so  sacred  that  they  never  tried  to  plague  their  children 
about  it.  Hence,  in  after  years,  they  were  consulted  by  them  in 
all  such  affairs."  "But,"  said  he,  "with  the  white  man  it  is  not 
so.  Their  little  children  are  so  much  laughed  at  about  the  oppo- 
site sex,  that  in  after  years  they  hide  their  true  feelings  as  if  it- 
were  a  great  sin  to  fall  in  love.  I  am  indeed  glad  that  none  of 
you  have  tried  to  plague  Saw-kaw  and  Kaw-kee,  thereby  living  up 
to  the  customs  of  our  fathers."  He  then  said,  pointing  at  Kaw- 
kee  and  myself,  "I  propose  that  now,  and  here,  we  close  our  out- 
ing with  a  marriage  between  Kaw-kee  and  Saw-kaw,  according 
to  native  custom."  After  consulting  each  other  we  both  stood  up 
at  the  same  time  and  there,  under  the  evergreen  archways  above 
us,  we  promised  grandfather,  in  the  presence  of  the  family,  that 
as  we  had  loved  each  other  in  the  past,  so  we  would  in  the  fu- 
ture. He  then  said,  "Face  each  other;  clasp  your  hands  together." 
And  we  did  so.  As  there  we  stood,  face  to  face,  he  said:  "As  your 
hands  are  joined  together,  so  may  your  hearts  be,  in  true  love, 
that  faileth  not.  Now  in  the  presence  of  Ki-tchi  Man-i-to  (the 
Great  Spirit)  I  declare  you  'In-aw-kaw  ne-naw  (husband  and 
wife).'  "  The  family  then,  in  subdued  tones,  repeated,  "Maw- 
ge-ong,  Maw-ge-ong!  (Amen!  Amen!)"  The  streams  below  and 
trees  above  murmured  ' '  Maw-ge-ong !  Maw-ge-ong ! ' '  Then  we  two 
were  known  as  one,  and  so  have  lived. 

Me-me-og,   The  Wild  Pigeon 

In  springtime  when  the  rosy  hand  of  morning  light 

Unfolds  the  curtain  of  an  April  night. 

And  golden  clouds  float  in  the  liquid  blue. 

As  guardian  spirits,  weeping  crystal  dew, 

The  frightened  woodsman,  in  wonder   list  'ning  stands ! 

Thinks  a  whirlwind  is  abroad  in  the  land! 

Darkness  increases,  his  eyes  grow  dim. 

And   as  he  seeks  shelter  from  the  impendirg  wind, 

Suddenly  his  fears  are  turned  to  joy,  for  he  sees 

Sweeping  through  and  high  above  the  forest  trees 

Millions  of  pigeons,  on  their  north-bound  way, 

Almost  shutting  out  the  morning  light  of  day! 

In  closing  the  aboriginal  sketch  of  Van  Buren  county,  I  deem 
it  appropriate  to  present  an  article  written  by  the  late  Chief  Poka- 
gon  entitled  " Me-me-og' '  (the  migratory  or  wild  pigeon  of  North 


46  HISTORY  OF  VAN  JHJREN  COUNTY 

America).  It  was  published  by  the  Chautauqua  Magazine  of  New 
York  which  paid  nearly  one  hundred  dollars  for  the  contribution. 
It  is  acknowledged  by  our  best  ornithologists  to  be  the  most  ex- 
haustive article  ever  published  regarding  those  wonderful  birds, 
which,  for  unknown  centuries  had  one  of  their  main  breeding 
grounds  in  Van  Buren  County,  generally  every  other  year,  dur- 
ing April  and  May. 

Audubon,  the  great  American  ornithologist,  declared  their  num- 
bers were  absolutely  countless  both  at  their  roosts  and  breeding 
places.  In  his  exhaustive  work  on  ornithology  he  states  that  in 
1813,  near  Henderson,  Kentucky,  he  made  a  careful  computation 
of  a  body  of  birds  that  passed  northward  in  spring,  estimating 
that  it  contained  not  less  than  one  billion  one  hundred  and  fifty 
millions  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  thousand  pigeons  and,  as 
each  pigeon  would  consume  at  least  half  a  pint  of  mast  per  day, 
it  would  require  to  feed  such  a  flock  eight  millions  seven  hundred 
and  twelve  thousand  bushels  per  day.     Think  of  it! 

Residents  of  this  county  under  forty  3^ears  of  age  will  probably 
read  the  old  chief's  account  of  them  with  many  doubts,  but  those 
past  that  age  will  verify  its  truth.  Notwithstanding  the  count- 
less millions  of  these  birds  thirty-five  years  ago,  there  has  been  a 
standing  offer  for  years  of  five  hundred  dollars  for  a  single  pair  of 
them ;  yet  no  one  has  been  able  to  produce  them. 

Many  theories  have  been  advanced  regarding  their  total  dis- 
appearance. One  is  that  they  undertook  to  cross  one  of  the  Great 
Lakes  in  a  body,  were  overtaken  by  a  tornado  and  drowned.  Others 
claim  they  must  have  been  wiped  out  by  some  contagious  disease. 
While  it  seems  to  be  well  authenticated  by  some  old  sailors,  that 
they  witnessed,  about  the  time  of  their  disappearance,  great  bodies 
of  these  birds  moving  south  across  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  in  such 
great  clouds  that  they  shut  out  the  light  of  day  for  several  hours, 
and  that  in  their  opinion,  unless  they  were  drowned  in  the 
gulf,  they  are  located  somewhere  in  South  America.  Prom  all  I 
have  been  able  to  learn,  for  ages,  they  generally  wintered  in  Ar- 
kansas, where  mast  was  wonderfully  plenty,  and  that  in  spring 
time  they  moved  northward,  nesting  in  Tennessee  and  Kentucky 
in  February,  in  Indiana  in  March  and  Pennsylvania  and  Michi- 
gan in  April  and  May.  Their  great  wintering  places  in  the  south 
being  broken  up  and  the  timber  in  the  north  that  supplied  them 
with  such  great  quantities  of  mast,  being  cut  down,  so  demoral- 
ized them  that  they  could  no  longer  exist  in  such  vast  bodies.  Thus 
they  scattered,  and,  like  bees  that  abandon  their  hive,  most  of  them 
could  not  survive  an  unsocial  condition  and  finally  died. 

When  our  western  plains  in  the  spring  and  fall  were  covered 
with   vast  herds  of  buffalo  moving  north  or  south,   migrating  to 


HISTORY  OF   VAN  BUREN  COUNTY        47 

their  summer  or  winter  feeding  grounds,  they  were  followed  by 
immense  tiocks  of  wolves  and  other  animals  that  fed  on  the  calves 
and  the  old  animals  that  were  left  in  their  rear,  but  with  the 
pigeons  it  was  not  so.  No  birds  of  prey  were  swift  enough  to  fol- 
low them  in  their  flights.  They  were  only  preyed  upon  by  such 
birds  as  lived  where  they  located.  They  were  followed  and 
preyed  upon  by  cruel  man,  who  had  knowledge  of  their  breeding 
places,  as  described  by  the  old  chief  in  his  article. 

Some  years  since  while  ploughing,  close  in  front  of  me  a  hawk 
swooped  down  and  carried  off  in  his  talons  a  robin.  It  awakened 
in  me  an  intricate  train  of  thought.  I  began  to  inquire  ' '  How  can 
an  all-wise  creator  excuse  himself  for  creating  one  creature  to  live 
upon  another? "  While  my  feelings  were  wrought  upon  by  this 
thought,  I  heard  in  a  thicket  close  by  a  touching  sound  like  the 
crying  of  a  strangling  babe.  Quickly  I  ran  to  see  what  it  was. 
To  my  surprise  1  found  a  large  black  snake  coiled  about  a  rabbit 
that  was  begging  for  its  life.  Quick  as  thought,  with  my  knife  I 
severed  the  coils  of  the  snake  and  released  its  victim  so  quickly 
that  it  escaped  without  a  "thank  you."  I  then  sat  down  on  a 
log  to  consider  and  analyze  my  acts.  Result :  I  had  saved  the  in- 
nocent rabbit  through  sympathy  and  had  butchered  the  snake 
through  revenge !  I  finally  concluded  not  to  meddle  further  with 
great  Nature's  laws,  but  to  accept  the  Darwinian  theory  of  the 
survival  of  the  fittest,  which,  physically  speaking,  is  true. 


Male  and  Female  Pigeons 
The  female  on  the  right  shows  the  size  of  the  dove 

[From    photo    furnished    by    Prof    W.    B.    Burrows,    Michigan    Agricultural 
College.] 


48        HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

The  migratory  or  wild  pigeons  of  North  America,  were  known  to  our  race 
as  ' '  me-me-og. 7 '  Why  the  European  race  did  not  accept  that  name,  was,  no 
doubt,  because  the  bird  so  much  resembled  the  domesticated  pigeon;  as  they 
called  us,  wTild  men. 

This  remarkable  bird  differs  from  the  dove  or  domesticated  pigeon,  which 
was  imported  into  this  country,  in  the  grace  of  its  long  neck,  its  slender  bill 
and  legs,  and  its  narrow  wings.  Its  length  is  seventeen  inches.  Its  tail  is 
eight  inches  long,  having  twelve  feathers,  white  on  the  under  side.  The  two 
center  feathers  are  longest,  while  five  arranged  on  either  side  diminish  gradu- 
ally each  one-half  inch  in  length,  giving  to  the  tail  when  spread  an  almost 
conical  appearance.  Its  back  and  upper  part  of  its  wings  and  head  are  a 
darkish  blue,  with  a  silky,  velvety  appearance.  Its  neck  is  resplendent  in 
gold  and  green,  with  royal  purple  intermixed.  Its  breast  is  reddish  brown, 
fading  towards  the  belly  into  white.  Its  tail  is  tipped  with  white,  inter- 
mixed with  bluish  black.  The  female  is  one  inch  shorter  than  the  male,  and 
her  color  less  vivid.  Its  length  of  wings  when  spread  is  twenty-eight  inches. 
It  was  proverbial  with  our  fathers,  that  if  the  Great  Spirit,  in  his  wisdom, 
could  have  created  a  more  elegant  bird  in  plumage,  form  and  movements,  he 
never  did. 

When  a  young  man  I  have  stood  for  hours  admiring  the  movements  of 
these  birds.  I  have  seen  them  fly  from  horizon  to  horizon,  from  morning  until 
night,  in  unbroken  columns,  like  an  army  of  trained  soldiers  pushing  to  the 
front,  while  detached  bodies  of  the  birds  appeared  in  different  parts  of  the 
heavens,  pressing  forward  in  haste  like  raw  recruits  preparing  for  battle. 
At  other  times  I  have  seen  them  move  for  hours  in  one  wide  unbroken  line 
across  the  sky,  like  some  great  river,  ever  varying  in  course  and  as  some 
mighty  stream,  sweeping  on  at  sixty  miles  an  hour,  reached  some  deep  valley, 
it  would  pour  its  living  mass  headlong  down  hundreds  of  feet,  sounding  as 
though  a  cyclone  was  abroad  in  the  land.  I  have  stood  by  the  grandest  cata- 
racts of  America  and  witnessed  their  descending  torrents  in  wronder  and  as- 
tonishment, yet  never  have  I  been  so  moved  and  awakened  in  admiration  as 
when  I  have  seen  these  living  columns  drop  from  their  course  like  meteors 
from  heaven.  While  feeding  they  always  have  guards  on  duty,  to  give  alarm 
of  danger.  It  is  made  by  the  watch  bird  as  it  takes  its  flight,  beating  its 
wings  together  in  quick  succession,  sounding  like  the  rolling  beat  of  a  snare 
drum.  Quick  as  thought  each  bird  repeats  the  alarm,  as  the  flock  struggles 
to  rise,  leading  a  stranger  to  think  a  young  cyclone  is  being  born. 

I  have  visited  in  the  southern  states  many  roosting  places  of  these  birds, 
where  the  ground  under  the  great  forest  trees  for  thousands  of  acres  was 
covered  with  branches  torn  from  the  parent  trees,  some  from  eight  to  ten 
inches  in  diameter.  At  such  a  time  so  much  confusion  of  sound  is  caused 
by  the  breaking  of  limbs  and  the  continued  fluttering  and  chattering  that  a 
gun  fired  a  few  feet  distant  cannot  be  heard,  while  to  converse,  so  as  to  be 
heard,  is  almost  impossible. 

About  the  middle  of  May,  1850,  wThile  in  the  fur  trade,  I  was  camping  on 
the  headwaters  of  the  Manistee  river  in  Michigan.  One  morning  while  leav- 
ing my  wigwam  I  was  startled  by  hearing  a  gurgling,  rumbling  sound,  as 
though  an  army  of  horses  laden  with  sleigh  bells  was  advancing  through  the 
deep  forests  toward  me.  As  I  listened  more  intently,  I  concluded  that  in- 
stead of  the  tramping  of  horses  it  was  distant  thunder;  and  yet  the  morning 
was  clear,  calm  and  beautiful.  Nearer  and  nearer  came  the  strange  com- 
mingling sounds  of  sleigh  bells,  mixed  with  the  rumbling  of  an  approaching 
storm.  While  I  gazed  and  listened,  in  wonder  and  astonishment,  I  beheld 
moving  toward  me  in  an  unbroken  front  millions  of  pigeons,  the  first  I  had 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY        49 

seen  that  season.  They  passed  like  a  cloud  through  the  branches  of  the  high 
trees,  through  the  underbrush  and  over  the  ground,  apparently  overturning 
every  leaf. 

Statue-like  I  stood,  half  concealed  by  cedar  boughs.  They  fluttered  all 
about  me,  lighting  on  my  head  and  shoulders.  Gently  I  caught  two  in  my 
hands  and  carefully  concealed  them  under  my  blanket.  I  now  began  to 
realize  that  they  were  mating,  preparatory  to  nesting.  It  was  an  event  which 
I  had  long  hoped  to  witness,  so  I  sat  down  and  carefully  watched  their  move- 
ments, amid  the  greatest  tumult.  I  tried  to  understand  their  strange  lan- 
guage and  why  they  chattered  in  concert.  In  the  course  of  the  day  the  great 
on-moving  mass  passed  by  me,  but  the  trees  were  still  filled  with  them  sitting 
in  pairs  in  convenient  crotches  of  the  limbs,  now  and  then  gently  fluttering  their 
half  spread  wings  and  uttering  to  their  mates  those  strange  bell-like  wooing 
notes  which  I  had  mistaken  for  the  ringing  of  bells  in  the  distance.  On 
the  third  day  after,  this  chattering  ceased  and  all  were  busy  carrying  sticks 
with  which  they  were  building  nests  in  the  same  crotches  of  the  limbs  they 
had  occupied  in  pairs  the  day  before.  On  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day 
their  nests  were  finished  and  eggs  laid.  The  hen  birds  occupied  the  nests  in 
the  morning  while  the  male  birds  went  out  into  the  surrounding  country  to 
feed,  returning  about  10  o'clock,  taking  the  nest,  while  the  hens  went  out  to 
feed,  returning  about  3  o'clock  P.  M.  Again  changing  nests,  the  males  went 
out  the  second  time  to  feed,  returning  at  sundown.  The  same  routine  was 
pursued  each  day,  until  the  young  were  hatched  and  nearly  half  grown,  at 
which  time  all  the  parent  birds  left  the  breeding  grounds  about  daylight.  On 
the  morning  of  the  eleventh  day  after  the  eggs  w*ere  laid,  I  found  the  nest- 
ing grounds  strewn  with  egg  shells,  convincing  me  that  the  young  were 
hatched. 

In  thirteen  days  more  the  parent  birds  left  their  young  to  shift  for  them- 
selves, flying  to  the  east  about  sixty  miles,  where  they  again  nested.  The 
female  lays  but  one  egg  during  the  same  nesting.  Both  sexes  secrete  in  their 
crops  milk  or  curd,  with  which  they  feed  their  young,  until  they  are  nearly 
ready  to  fly,  when  they  stuff  them  with  mast  and  such  other  raw  material  as 
they  themselves  eat,  until  their  crops  exceed  their  bodies  in  size,  giving  to 
chem  an  appearance  of  two  birds  with  one  head.  Within  two  days  after  the 
stuffing  they  become  a  mass  of  fat  (a  squab).  At  this  period  the  parent 
birds  drive  them  from  their  nests  to  take  care  of  themselves,  while  they  fly 
off  within  a  day  or  two,  sometimes  hundreds  of  miles,  and  again  nest.  It 
has  been  well  established  that  these  birds  look  after  and  take  care  of  all 
orphan  squabs  whose  parents  have  been  killed  or  are  missing.  These  birds 
are  long  lived,  having  been  known  to  live  twenty-five  years  while  caged.  When 
food  is  abundant  they  nest  each  month  in  the  year.  Their  principal  food  is 
the  mast  of  the  forest,  except  when  curd  is  being  secreted  in  their  crops,  at 
which  time  they  denude  the  country  of  snails  and  worms  for  miles  around 
the  nesting  grounds.  Because  they  nest  in  such  immense  bodies,  they  are 
frequently  compelled  to  fly  one  hundred  miles  for  food. 

During  my  early  life  I  learned  that  these  birds  in  spring  and  fall  were 
seen  in  their  migrations  from  the  Atlantic  to  Ki-tchi-se-be  (the  Mississippi 
river).  This  knowledge,  together  with  my  personal  observation  of  their 
countless  numbers,  led  me  to  believe  they  were  almost  as  inexhaustible  as  the 
great  ocean  itself. 

Of  course,  I  had  witnessed  the  passing  away  of  the  deer,  buffalo  and  elk, 
but  I  looked  upon  them  as  local  in  their  habits,  while  these  birds  spanned  the 
continent,  frequently  nesting  beyond  the  reach  of  cruel  man.  Between  1840 
and  1880  I   visited  in  the  states  of  Tennessee,  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Michigan. 

Vol.  1—4 


50        HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Many  breeding  places  were  from  twenty  to  thirty  miles  long  and  from  three 
to  five  miles  wide,  every  tree  in  its  limits  being  spotted  with  nests.  Yet  not- 
withstanding their  countless  numbers,  great  endurance  and  long  life,  they 
have  almost  entirely  disappeared  from  our  forests.  We  strain  our  eyes  in 
spring  time  and  autumn,  in  vain,  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  these  passing  pil- 
grims. White  men  tell  us  they  have  moved  in  a  body  to  the  Rocky  mountain 
region,  where  they  are  as  plenty  as  they  were  here,  but  w7hen  Ave  ask  red  men 
about  them,  who  are  familiar  with  that  region,  they  "  we-we-bi-kwen "  (shake 
their  heads)  in  disbelief.  A  pigeon  nesting  was  always  a  great  source  of  rev- 
enue to  our  people.  Whole  tribes  would  wigwam  in  the  breeding  places.  We 
seldom  killed  the  old  birds,  but  made  great  preparations  to  secure  their  young, 
out  of  which  the  squaws  made  "bi-mi-de"  (squab  butter)  claimed  by  them 
to  be  better  than  "cow  butter." 

They  also  smoked  and  dried  them  by  thousands  for  future  use.  Yet 
under  our  practice  of  securing  them  they  continued  to  increase.  White  men 
commenced  netting  them  for  shipping  to  market  between  1830  and  1840. 
These  men  were  known  as  professional  pigeoners,  from  the  fact  that  they 
banded  themselves  together,  so  as  to  keep  in  touch  with  these  great  moving 
bodies.  In  this  wray  they  managed  to  keep  almost  continually  on  the  borders 
of  their  breeding  places.  As  they  were  always  prepared  with  trained  stool 
pigeons  and  flyers  which  they  carried  with  them,  they  were  enabled  to  call 
down  the  passing  flocks  and  secure  as  many  by  net  as  they  wished  to  pack 
in  ice  and  ship  to  market.  In  1848  there  were  shipped  over  one  hundred  tons 
of  these  birds  from  western  New  York  and  from  that  time  to  1878  the  whole- 
sale slaughter  continued  to  increase  and  in  that  year  there  must  have  been 
shipped  to  market  over  five  hundred  tons  of  these  birds.  Think  of  it!  Dur- 
ing that  time  hunters  from  all  parts  of  the  country  were  killing  them  with- 
out number;  demoralizing  them  in  their  breeding  places  without  mercy.  A 
great  cry  has  gone  up  at  the  north  because  the  robins  which  breed  in  the 
northern  states  are  killed  as  game  birds  in  the  south  and  no  law  to  protect 
them.  They,  too,  will  become  extinct  like  the  pigeons,  unless  stringent  lawrs 
are  passed  to  protect  them. 

These  traveling  experts  above  referred  to  finally  learned  that  the  pigeons, 
while  nesting,  were  frantic  for  salt,  so  they  frequently  made,  near  the  nesting 
what  they  called  salted  mud  beds,  to  which  the  pigeons  flocked  by  the  mil- 
lions. In  April,  1876,  I  was  invited  to  see  a  net  sprung  over  one  of  these 
death  pits.  It  was  near  Petoskey,  Michigan.  I  think  I  am  correct  in  saying 
that  the  birds  piled  upon  each  other  at  least  three  feet  deep.  When  the  net 
was  sprung,  it  appeared  that  nearly  all  escaped,  but  when  killed  and  counted 
there  were  over  three  hundred  dozen,  all  nesting  birds.  When  squabs  in  a 
nesting  become  fit  for  market,  these  experts  prepared  wdth  climbers  would 
get  into  some  convenient  place  in  a  tree  top  loaded  with  nests  and  with  long 
poles  punch  out  the  young,  which  would  fall  with  a  thud  like  lead,  to  the 
ground.  In  May,  1880,  I  visited  the  last  nesting  place  of  any  size  known  in 
the  United  States.  It  was  in  Benzie  County,  Michigan,  on  Plat  River.  There 
were  on  these  grounds  many  large  white  birch  trees  filled  with  nests;  these 
trees  have  manifold  bark,  which,  when  old  hangs  in  shreds  like  rags,  along 
the  trunks  and  limbs.  This  bark  will  burn  like  paper  soaked  in  oil;  here  for 
the  first  time  I  saw  with  shame  and  pity,  a  new  mode  for  robbing  these  birds ' 
nests,  which  I  looked  upon  as  being  devilish.  These  outlaws  to  all  moral 
sense  would  touch  a  lighted  match  to  the  bark  of  the  trees,  when,  with  a 
flash  more  like  an  explosion,  the  blast  would  reach  every  limb  of  the  tree 
and  while  the  affrighted  young  birds  would  leap  simultaneously  to  the  ground, 
the  parent   birds   would   rise   high   in   air  amid  flame   and   smoke.     I   noticed 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY       51 

that  some  of  the  squabs  were  so  fat  and  clumsy  they  would  burst  open  on 
striking  the  ground.  Several  thousand  were  obtained  during  the  day  by  this 
cruel  process. 

That  night  I  stayed  with  an  old  man  on  the  highlands  just  north  of  the 
nesting.  In  the  course  of  the  evening  I  explained  to  him  the  cruelty  that 
was  being  shown  to  the  young  birds  in  the  nesting.  He  listened  to  me  in 
utter  astonishment  and  said  "My  God,  is  it  possible \"  Remaining  silent  a 
few  moments  with  bowed  head,  he  looked  up  and  said  "See  here,  old  Ingun; 
you  go  out  with  me  in  the  morning  and  I  '11  show  you  a  way  to  catch  pigeons 
that  will  please  any  red  man  and  the  birds  too. ' '  Early  the  next  morning  I 
followed  him  a  few  rods  from  his  hut,  where  he  showed  me  an  open  pole 
pen  about  four  feet  high,  which  he  called  his  bait  bed.  Into  this  he  scattered 
a  bucket  of  wheat.  We  then  sat  in  ambush  so  as  to  see  through  between  the 
poles  into  the  pen.  Soon  the  pigeons  began  to  pour  into  the  pen  and  gorge 
themselves.  While  I  was  watching  and  admiring  them,  all  at  once,  to  my 
surprise  they  began  fluttering  and  falling  on  their  sides  and  backs  and  kick- 
ing and  quivering  like  a  lot  of  cats  with  paper  tied  over  their  feet.  He 
jumped  into  the  pen  saying  "Come  on,  you  red  skin!  "  I  was  right  on  hand 
by  his  side.  A  few  birds  flew  out  of  the  pen  apparently  crippled,  but  we 
caught  and  caged  about  one  hundred  live  birds.  After  my  excitement  was 
over  I  sat  down  on  one  of  the  cages  and  thought  in  my  .heart  "Certainly 
Pokagon  is  dreaming,  or  this  long  haired  white  man  is  a  witch. ,?  I  finally 
said  1 1  Look  here  old  fellow,  tell  me  how  you  did  that. ' '  He  gazed  at  me, 
holding  his  long  white  beard  in  one  hand  and  saying  with  one  eye  half  shut 
and  a  sly  wink  with  the  other  ' '  That  wheat  wTas  soaked  over  night  in  whisky. ' ' 
His  answer  fell  like  lead  upon  my  heart.  We  had  talked  temperance  together 
the  night  before  and  the  old  man  wept  as  I  told  him  how  my  people  had 
fallen  by  the  intoxicating  cup  of  the  white  man,  like  leaves  before  the  blast 
of  autumn.  In  silence  I  left  the  place,  saying  in  my  heart  "Is  it  possible? 
Is  there  some  of  the  white  race  in  league  with  Maw-tchi-manito  (the  Devil)  to 
deal  out  Ish-kot-i-wa-be    (whiskey)    to  even   the  animal  creation V 

I  have  read  recently  in  some  of  our  game  sporting  journals:  "A  war- 
whoop  has  been  sounded  against  some  of  our  western  Indians  far  killing 
game  in  the  mountain  region. f '  Now  if  these  red  men  are  guilty  of  a  moral 
wrong  which  subjects  them  to  punishment,  I  would  most  prayerfully  ask  in 
the  name  of  Him  who  suffers  not  a  sparrow  to  fall  unnoticed,  What  must 
be  the  nature  of  the  crime  and  degree  of  punishment  awaiting  our  white 
neighbors  who  have  so  wantonly  butchered  and  driven  from  our  forests  these 
wild  pigeons,  the  most  beautiful  flowers  of  the  animal  creation  of  North 
America? 

In  closing  this  article  I  wish  to  say  a  few  words  relative  to  the  knowl- 
edge of  things  about  them  that  these  birds  seem  to  possess.  In  the  spring 
of  1866,  there  were  scattered  throughout  northern  Indiana  and  southern 
Michigan  vast  numbers  of  these  birds.  On  April  10th,  in  the  morning,  they 
commenced  moving  in  small  flocks  in  diverging  lines  toward  the  northwest 
part  of  Van  Buren  county,  Michigan.  For  two  days  they  continued  to  pour 
into  that  vicinity  from  all  directions,  commencing  at  once  to  build  their  nests. 
I  talked  with  an  old  trapper  who  lived  on  the  breeding  grounds,  and  he  as- 
sured me  the  first  pigeons  he  had  seen  that  season  wrere  on  the  day  they  com- 
menced nesting  and  that  he  had  lived  there  fifteen  years  and  never  knew 
them  to  nest  there  before. 

From  the  above  instance  and  many  more  I  could  mention,  it  is  estab- 
lished in  my  mind  beyond  a  reasonable  doubt,  that  these  birds,  as  well  as  many 
other  animals,  have  communicated  to  them  by  some  means  unknown  to  us,  a 


52       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

knowledge  of  distant  places  and  of  one  another  when  separated  and  that 
they  act  on  such  knowledge  with  just  as  much  certainty  as  if  it  were  con- 
veyed to  them  by  ear  or  eye.  Hence  we  conclude  it  is  possible  that  the  Great 
Spirit,  in  his  wisdom,  has  provided  them  a  means  to  receive  electric  com- 
munications from  distant  places  and  with  one  another. 

The  buffaloes  have  gone,  the  pigeons  are  extinct  and  other  game, 
once  so  abundant,  is  rapidly  disappearing  and  the  Indians  them- 
selves are  a  disappearing  race,  rapidly  journeying  to  their  "  happy 
hunting  ground."  If  Mr.  Engle  is  right,  and  he  must  be,  for  he 
speaks  from  observation  and  many  years  of  experience  and  inti- 
mate acquaintance  with  them,  the  often-heard  saying  that  "the 
only  good  Indians  are  dead  Indians,' '  is  a  base  slander  of  a  sadly 
maligned  and  misunderstood  people.  While  there  were  bad  Indians, 
as  there  are  bad  white  men,  they  were  by  no  means  all  bad.  Among 
them,  as  among  the  Caucasian  race,  the  good,  no  doubt,  was  pre- 
dominant. 


CHAPTER  II 

FOREIGN  AND  AMERICAN  GOVERNMENT 

French  Period  (1634-1764)— English  Period  (1760-1796)  — 
Territorial  (American)  Period — Michigan  as  a  State — 
Population  of  the  State  (1810-1910) — Population  of  the 
County  (1840-1910) — Property  Valuation  of  State  and 
County  (1851-1911). 

Any  history  of  the  county  of  Van  Buren  would  be  incomplete 
without  an  historical  sketch  in  the  outline  of  the  early  history  of 
the  great  state  of  which  it  forms  so  important  a  constituent  part. 

Michigan,  the  twenty-sixth  state  of  the  Union,  became  a  full 
fledged  commonwealth  by  an  act  of  congress,  approved  January 
20,  1837. 

French  Period  (1634-1764) 

Like  many  other  historical  occurrences  not  absolutely  authentic, 
it  is  alleged  that  the  first  white  man  who  ever  set  foot  within  the 
present  boundaries  of  the  state  was  Jean  Nicolet,  who  was  in  the 
service  of  Governor  Champlain,  and  that  he  first  landed  at  the 
site  of  the  city  of  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  at  which  place  he  arrived  in 
the  summer  of  1634.  After  remaining  there  for  a  short  time  he 
descended  the  strait  and  made  a  short  stop  at  Michilimackinac, 
the  Moche-ne-mok-e-nung  of  the  Indians,  and  which  is  now  known 
as  Mackinac  or,  as  it  is  sometimes  written,  Mackinaw. 

Following  Nicolet  were  the  two  Jesuit  missionaries,  Rambault 
and  Jougues.  who  arrived  at  the  Sault  seven  years  later,  in  1641. 
They  found  a  large  assembly  of  Indians  there  who  received  them 
in  a  very  friendly  manner  and  desired  that  they  should  remain 
among  them,  but  their  stay  was  brief  and  they  soon  returned  to 
eastern  missionary  points. 

In  1660  Pere  Menard  undertook  to  form  a  mission  on  the  shores 
of  Lake  Superior  and  in  October  of  that  year  he  reached  the  head 
of  Keweenaw  bay,  where  he  spent  the  winter  among  the  Indians 
and  in  the  spring  he  resumed  his  travels.  He  was  accompanied  by 
an  Indian  guide,  but  was  either  lost  or  murdered,  as  nothing  fur- 
ther was  ever  heard  of  him. 

53 


51  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUKEN  COUNTY 

Five  years  afterward  a  mission  was  established  and  a  chapel 
erected  by  Pere  Claude  Allouez,  at  La  Pointe,  the  first  house  of 
worship  ever  built  west  of  Lake  Huron. 

The  second  mission  was  founded  at  the  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  in  1668 
by  Pere  Marquette,  whose  name  is  identified  with  Michigan  his- 
tory and  is  perpetuated  in  one  of  the  great  railways  that  have  so 
largely  aided  in  developing  the  marvelous  resources  of  the  state. 
A  year  later,  Marquette  was  joined  at  the  Sault  by  Pere  Dablon 
and  they  speedily  established  themselves  in  a  fort  constructed  of 
cedar  pickets,  enclosing  both  the  chapel  and  a  residence  for  their 
personal  occupancy,  as  well  as  a  space  for  the  growing  of  grain 
and  vegetables — probably  the  first  attempt  at  agriculture  by  white 
men  within  the  boundaries  of  the  state.  In  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  that  Marquette  assumed  charge  of  the  La  Pointe  mission  Al- 
louez went  to  Green  Bay  and  Dablon  remained  at  the  Sault. 

Since  the  time  of  the  founding  of  these  missions,  the  Sault  has 
been  inhabited  by  Europeans  and  Americans  and  is  the  oldest 
settlement  in  Michigan. 

Special  messengers  were  sent  out  among  the  tribes,  in  the 
spring  of  1671,  for  the  purpose  of  calling  a  great  council  of  the 
Indians  at  the  Sault.  Fourteen  tribes  sent  representatives  to 
this  council  to  meet  the  French  officers,  who,  with  all  due  formality 
and  ceremony,  took  possession  of  the  country.  Pere  Allouez  raised 
the  cross  and  lilies  of  France  and  delivered  an  address  on  the  oc- 
casion representing  his  King,  Louis  XIV,  as  ''the  chief  of  chiefs 
having  no  equal  in  the  world. " 

During  the  same  year  Marquette's  mission  at  La  Pointe  was 
practically  abandoned  and  himself  accompanied  a  band  of  Hurons 
to  the  straits  of  Mackinac,  wThere  he  founded  the  mission  of  St. 
Ignatius  (now  St.  Ignace).  Father  Marquette  was  buried  near 
this  mission  which  he  founded  nearly  two  hundred  and  fifty  years 
ago.  A  monument  to  his  memory  is  erected  there,  but  his  mortal 
remains  have  been  deposited  at  the  Marquette  college,  Milwaukee. 

For  the  next  nine  years,  1671  to  1680,  Pere  Druilletes  was  the 
leading  spirit  at  the  Sault,  Several  times  his  chapel  was  destroyed 
by  fire,  but  the  aged  missionary  was  full  of  energy  and  continued 
his  wrork  until  his  advancing  years  and  increasing  infirmities  com- 
pelled him  to  abandon  it.  He  returned  to  Quebec,  where  he  died 
in  1680. 

The  first  settlements  made  in  this  new  land  were  largely  under 
the  auspices  of  companies  organized  for  the  purpose  of  engag- 
ing in  the  fur  trade  and  for  years  there  was  little  development  of 
the  country.  On  the  7th  day  of  August,  1679,  the  schooner,  "  Grif- 
fin" set  sail  for  the  first  voyage  ever  made  on  any  of  the  great 
lakes  that  wash  the  shores  of  the  Peninsular  state.    This  vessel  was 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY        55 

commanded  by  Chevalier  La  Salle  (who  was  accompanied  by 
Father  Hennepin,  the  missionary)  and  manned  by  a  crew  of  fur 
traders.  They  were  entirely  ignorant  of  the  waters  over  which  they 
sailed  and  felt  their  way  with  great  caution,  finally  reaching 
the  mouth  of  the  Detroit  river  on  the  10th  of  August,  and  sailing 
northerly  passed  the  Indian  village  of  Teuchsagrondie,  now  the 
site  of  the  great  city  of  Detroit.  This  place  had  been  previously 
visited  by  the  French  missionaries  and  traders  but  no  attempt 
had  been  made  to  form  a  settlement.  They  continued  their  voyage 
through  Lake  St.  Clair  and  the  St.  Clair  river,  into  Lake  Huron, 
where  they  experienced  a  severe  storm,  but  finally  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  harbor  of  St.  Ignace. 

Soon  afterward  La  Salle,  resuming  his  voyage,  crossed  Lake 
Michigan  and  cast  anchor  in  Green  Bay,  where  the  "  Griffin"  was 
loaded  with  furs  and  sailed  for  Niagara,  under  orders  to  return 
to  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph  river  as  soon  as  possible,  but  she 
never  reached  her  destination.  A  terrible  storm  swept  over  the 
lake  almost  immediately  after  her  departure  and  it  is  altogether 
probable  that  she  found  a  watery  grave  at  the  time. 

La  Salle,  with  a  few  men,  followed  the  coast  of  Lake  Michigan 
to  the  mouth  of  the  river,  now  the  site  of  the  city  of  St.  Joseph, 
where  he  built  a  rude  fort  and  shortly  afterward  was  joined  by 
a  party  from  Mackinac  under  Tonty,  La  Salle's  trusted  agent. 
Losing  hope  of  the  return  of  the  "Griffin"  with  the  sorely  needed 
supplies,  the  near  approach  of  winter  made  further  delay  danger- 
ous and  they  began  the  ascent  of  the  St.  Joseph  river.  Near  the 
present  site  of  the  city  of  South  Bend,  Indiana,  they  made  a 
portage  and  continued  their  explorations,  going  down  the  Illinois 
river  to  the  point  where  they  built  Fort  Creve  Coeur. 

The  first  European  settlement  at  Detroit  was  founded  by  An- 
toine  de  la  Mothe  Cadillac  on  the  24th  day  of  July,  1701.  He 
brought  with  him  a  company  of  fifty  soldiers  and  fifty  traders 
and  artisans,  and  proceeded  at  once  to  the  construction  of  a  fort 
which  he  named  Fort  Ponchartrain ;  around  the  fort  wTere  soon 
erected  log  houses  thatched  with  grass  in  which  the  settlers  found 
shelter  and  a  home.  Cadillac  remained  in  charge  of  the  new  set- 
tlement until  1710.  The  colony  continued  to  exist,  but  did  not 
increase  very  much  during  the  period  of  French  control. 

In  the  meantime  the  rival  claims  of  the  French  and  English, 
in  this  valley  of  the  Ohio  and  elsewhere,  led  to  disputes  which 
eventually  culminated  in  a  war,  during  which  the  French  lost 
control  of  Forts  Niagara,  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point.  Finally 
the  fall  of  Quebec  decided  the  contest  and  all  the  vast  territory 
was  abandoned  to  English  rule  and  New  France  became  a  memory. 

The  most  prominent  feature  of  the  French  rule  of  the  territory 


56       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

was  the  neglect  to  develop  the  resources  of  the  country,  agricul- 
tural and  otherwise.  Very  little  land  was  cleared,  few  permanent 
improvements  were  made  and  the  settlements  were  of  little  import- 
ance. The  fur  trade  was  the  chief  occupation  of  the  people  and 
this  was  not  calculated  to  build  up  and  sustain  thriving  commun- 
ities. Hence,  at  the  close  of  the  French  and  Indian  war,  the  little 
trading  posts  of  Sault  Ste  Marie,  Michilimackinac  and  Detroit 
were  the  meager  results  of  a  hundred  years  of  French  coloniza- 
tion and  control  of  the  great  state  of  Michigan  that  was  destined 
soon  to  be. 

English  Period   (1760  to  1796) 

Shortly  after  the  surrender  of  the  territory  to  the  British  Major 
Robert  Rogers  took  possession  of  the  "  post  at  Detroit,  which  at 
that  time  contained  an  estimated  population  of  about  2,500  in- 
habitants. The  posts  of  Michilimackinac,  Sault  Ste.  Marie  and 
St.  Joseph  were  not  occupied  by  the  English  until  the  fall  of  1761. 

Although  the  French  had  abandoned  the  territory  and  their 
chief  military  leaders  had  returned  to  France,  the  English  were 
not  destined  long  to  remain  in  peaceful  occupation  of  their  new 
possessions.  Less  than  three  years  of  intercourse  w7ith  the  Indian 
tribes  aroused  intense  hostility  against  the  new  occupants  of  the 
country.  Many  of  the  French  inhabitants  remained  and,  as  they 
had  little  love  for  the  English,  they  made  common  cause  with  the 
red  men,  and  with  them  hoped  for  a  speedy  downfall  of  British 
domination. 

A  conspiracy  was  formed  for  the  purpose  of  attempting  the 
overthrow  of  English  rule.  An  able  leader  was  found  in  the  per- 
son of  Pontiac,  an  Ottawra  chief.  He  was  well  fitted  for  the  dar- 
ing enterprise;  an  eloquent  orator,  a  brave  and  crafty  warrior 
wTho  had  won  first  place  among  the  Indians  of  his  day,  and,  what 
was  more  than  all  the  rest,  he  was  a  real  military  genius,  thought- 
ful and  far  seeing  and  able  both  to  originate  and  manage  compli- 
cated plans.  In  this  latter  respect,  he  was  probably  the  greatest 
chief  of  his  race  ever  produced.  His  plan  was  to  simultaneously 
attack  all  the  English  posts  west  of  the  Alleghany  mountains  and 
to  accomplish  the  massacre  of  all  the  garrisons  at  a  single  stroke, 
hoping  thus  to  rid  the  country  of  a  people  whom  they  hated  and 
whom  they  regarded  as  intruders  in  the  valleys  of  the  west  which 
had,  from  time  immemorial,  been  the  possession  of  the  Indians 
themselves.  There  were  at  this  time  twelve  posts  scattered  from 
Niagara  to  Chicago,  three  of  which,  Detroit,  Michilimackinac  and 
St.  Joseph,  were  within  the  boundaries  of  the  present  state  of 
Michigan.  Pontiac  sent  his  ambassadors  throughout  the  west  and 
south  and  all  the  various  tribes,  from  the  Ottawa  to  the  lower 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY        57 

Mississippi,  were  visited,  and  all  the  Algonquins,  most  of  the  Wyan- 
dottes  and  some  of  the  southern  tribes  were  enlisted  in  the  enter- 
prise. 

A  great  council  was  held  at  a  point  on  the  River  E corse,  near 
Detroit,  on  the  27th  day  of  April,  1763,  at  which  arrangements 
were  made  for  an  attack  on  the  posts  in  May. 

The  attack  on  Detroit  was  led  by  Pontiac  in  person.  The 
crafty  chief  sought  an  interview  wTith  Major  Gladwin,  commander 
of  the  post,  on  the  7th  day  of  May  and'  was  admitted,  accompanied 
by  a  band  of  some  sixty  warriors,  who,  to  all  appearances  were  un- 
armed, their  weapons  being  carefully  concealed  beneath  their 
blankets.  The  plan  was  for  Pontiac  to  make  an  address  to  the 
commander  of  the  fort  and  the  presentation  of  a  string  of  wam- 
pum was  to  be  the  signal  for  the  beginning  of  the  massacre.  This 
plan  would,  without  doubt,  have  been  successfully  carried  out,  had 
it  not  been  revealed  to  Major  Gladwin  by  an  Ojibwa  maiden  the 
evening  previous  to  the  intended  attack,  and  he  was  prepared  for 
it.  When  the  red  men  were  admitted  to  the  fort  they  found  the 
garrison  under  arms  and  ready  to  meet  any  hostile  demonstration 
that  might  be  attempted.  Being  convinced  that  the  commander 
had  been  made  aware  of  his  plans,  Pontiac  was  at  a  loss  what 
course  to  pursue,  or  what  to  say  and  made  his  speech  very  brief. 
Major  Gladwin  told  the  Indians  that  the  English  would  be  their 
friends  as  long  as  they  merited  it,  but  that  any  hostile  act  would 
meet  with  instant  vengeance.  Two  days  later  Pontiac  sought  to 
gain  an  entrance  with  a  greater  number  of  warriors,  but  did  not 
succeed.  The  Indians  then  set  up  a  war-whoop  and  murdered  a 
number  of  the  English  who  were  outside  the  fort. 

The  garrison  were  expecting  reinforcements  and  on  the  30th  of 
May  a  sentinel  reported  that  a  fleet  of  boats  wras  approaching,  but 
the  hopes  of  the  garrison  for  assistance  and  supplies  were  not  to 
be  realized,  for  the  Indians  had  learned  of  the  approach  of  the 
fleet,  consisting  of  twenty-three  batteaux,  and  had  captured  all  the 
supplies  and  massacred  all  but  one  officer  and  thirty  men  who  es- 
caped in  a  boat  and  crossed  the  lake  to  Sandusky  bay.  The  siege 
lasted  from  May  until  late  in  October,  when  scarcity  of  food  in 
the  camp  of  the  Indians  compelled  them  to  withdraw.  In  an- 
ticipation of  a  possible  renewal  of  hostilities  on  the  part  of  the 
Indians,  the  commandant  laid  in  a  good  supply  of  provisions,  but 
the  savages  made  no  further  demonstration,  and  in  the  spring 
the  negotiations  of  Sir  William  Johnson  and  the  opportune  ar- 
rival of  General  Bradstreet  induced  them  to  refrain  from  further 
hostilities. 

Fort  St.  Joseph,  which  was  garrisoned  by  Ensign  Schlosser  and 
fourteen  men,  was  captured  on  the  25th  of  May,  1763,  by  a  band 


58        HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

of  Pottawattamies,  who  gained  admission  through  pretended 
friendship  and  massacred  all  the  little  band  except  the  commander 
and  three  men,  who  were  afterward  taken  to  Detroit  and  ex- 
changed. 

Fort  Michilimackinac,  which  was  situated  on  the  south  side  of 
the  strait  a  short  distance  southwest  of  the  present  site  of  Mack- 
inaw City,  was  garrisoned  by  a  force  of  nearly  a  hundred  soldiers 
under  the  command  of  Major  Etherington,  who  had  full  and 
ample  warning  of  the  hostile  intentions  of  the  Indians,  but,  dis- 
believing the  reports,  carelessly  and  foolishly  neglected  to  take 
any  precaution  against  possible  attack,  and  on  the  second  day  of 
June,  1763,  the  Indians  engaged  in  a  game  of  ball  just  outside  the 
gates  of  the  fort,  the  officers  and  soldiers  being  interested  specta- 
tors of  the  sport.  About  noon  the  ball  was  thrown  into  the  fort 
and  the  red  assassins  rushed  after  it  through  the  open  gate.  The 
Indians  were  furnished  with  tomahawks  by  the  squaws  who  stood 
near  the  gate  with  the  weapons  concealed  within  their  blankets. 
The  garrison  was  taken  completely  by  surprise  and  had  little  or 
no  opportunity  for  defense.  Lieutenant  Jamette  and  seventy  men 
were  killed.  Major  Etherington  and  twenty-six  men  were  taken 
prisoners  and  subsequently  released. 

After  burning  the  fort  and  appropriating  all  the  supplies  therein, 
the  savages  for  greater  security  from  deserved  retribution  en- 
camped on  Mackinac  Island. 

As  a  result  of  this  Indian  uprising,  eight  of  the  twelve  English 
posts  were  captured,  hundreds  of  Englishmen  were  slain  and  a 
reign  of  terror  prevailed  throughout  the  valleys  of  the  west.  But 
as  far  as  accomplishing  the  real  object  of  the  conspiracy,  the  re- 
moval of  the  English  from  the  interior  of  the  country,  the  scheme 
of  the  great  red  chieftain  was  a  complete  failure.  In  the  summer 
of  1764,  General  Bradstreet  arrived  at  Detroit  with  an  army  of 
three  thousand  men.  The  Indians,  realizing  that  it  was  useless  for 
them  to  contend  against  so  great  a  force,  laid  down  their  arms 
and  thus  the  war  was  ended.  From  this  time  forth,  the  settle- 
ments grew  slowly  during  the  remainder  of  the  English  occupa- 
tion. Being  so  far  removed  from  the  scenes  of  conflict,  the  few 
settlers  in  this  then  far  west  had  no  occasion  or  opportunity  to 
participate  in  the  War  of  Independence,  and  although  the  treaty 
of  peace  between  the  colonies  and  the  mother  country,  concluded 
at  Paris  in  1783,  provided  for  the  surrender  of  the  English  posts 
to  the  United  States,  it  was  not  until  July,  1796,  that  Detroit  and 
Michilimackinac  were  given  over  into  the  possession  of  the  new  re- 
public and  Michigan  for  the  first  time  became  an  American  posses- 
sion. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  59 

Territorial   (American)   Period 

Although  the  ordinance  creating  the  Northwest  territory  was 
passed  by  congress  in  1787,  the  retention  of  the  Michigan  posts  by 
the  English  until  1796  made  the  latter  date  the  practical  begin- 
ning of  the  American  territorial  period. 

The  anti-slavery  clause  contained  in  this  ordinance  was  at  first 
rejected  by  the  committee  having  it  in  charge,  but  was  subse- 
quently accepted,  although  a  majority  of  the  committee  were  from 
the  then  slave  states.  Except  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 
it  was,  at  the  date  of  its  adoption,  the  most  important  declaration 
of  fundamental  law  ever  adopted  by  a  free  people.  It  provided 
for  the  government  of  the  vast  territory  lying  between  the  Ohio 
river  and  Lake  Superior,  and  was  framed  with  such  wisdom  that 
a  modern  jurist,  Judge  Cooley  of  the  Michigan  Supreme  court, 
has  said  of  it :  "  No  charter  has  so  completely  withstood  the  tests 
of  time  and  experience.  It  was  not  a  temporary  adaptation  to  a 
particular  emergency,  but  its  principles  were  for  all  time  and 
worthy  of  acceptance  under  all  circumstances. ' ' 

The  ordinance  was  a  compact  between  the  original  states  and 
the  people  and  states  of  the  territory,  and  it  provides  that  these 
articles  shall  forever  remain  unalterable,  except  by  common  con- 
sent. This  ordinance  is  the  second  of  the  four  great  and  immortal 
documents  that  insure  to  the  American  people  their  religious  and 
political  freedom,  viz:  The  Declaration  of  Independence,  the  Or- 
dinance of  1787,  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  and  the 
Proclamation  of  Emancipation. 

Of  these  four  documents,  the  ordinance  is  less  generally  known 
among  the  people  at  large  than  either  of  the  others,  although  it 
might  as  well  be  instilled  into  the  minds  of  the  rising  generation 
as  the  Declaration  itself. 

The  important  provisions  of  the  ordinance  were  embodied  in 
the  six  following  articles: 

Art.  T.  No  person  demeaning  himself  in  a  peaceable  and  orderly  man- 
ner, shall  ever  be  molested  on  account  of  his  mode  of  worship  or  religious 
sentiments,   in  the  said  territory. 

Art.  II.  The  inhabitants  of  said  territory  shall  always  be  entitled  to  the 
benefits  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  and  of  the  trial  by  jury;  of  a  propor- 
tionate representation  of  the  people  in  the  legislature,  and  of  judicial  pro- 
ceedings according  to  the  course  of  the  common  law.  All  persons  shall  be 
bailable  unless  for  capital  offenses,  where  the  proof  shall  be  evident  or  the 
presumption  great.  All  fines  shall  be  moderate,  and  no  cruel  or  unusual 
punishments  shall  be  inflicted.  No  man  shall  be  deprived  of  liberty  or 
property,  but  by  the  judgment  of  his  peers  or  the  law  of  the  land,  and  should 
the  public  exigencies  make  it  necessary  for  the  common  preservation  to  take 
any  person's   property,   or  to   demand  his  particular  services,   full   compensa- 


60       HISTOEY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

tion  shall  be  made  for  the  same.  And  in  the  just  preservation  of  rights 
and  property,  it  is  understood  and  declared  that  no  law  ought  ever  to  be 
made,  or  have  force  in  the  said  territory,  that  shall  in  any  manner  whatever, 
interfere  with  or  affect  private  contracts  or  engagements,  bona  fide  and  with- 
out fraud  previously   formed. 

Art.  III.  Eeligion,  morality  and  knowledge  being  necessary  to  good  gov- 
ernment and  the  happiness  of  mankind,  schools  and  the  means  of  education 
shall  forever  be  encouraged.  The  utmost  good  faith  shall  always  be  observed 
towards  the  Indians;  their  lands  and  property  shall  never  be  taken  from 
them  without  their  consent  and  in  their  property,  rights  and  liberty,  they 
shall  never  be  invaded  or  disturbed,  unless  in  just  and  lawful  wars  author- 
ized by  congress;  but  laws  founded  in  justice  and  humanity,  shall,  from  time 
to  time,  be  made  for  preventing  wrongs  being  done  to  them  and  for  pre- 
serving peace  and   friendship  with  them. 

Art.  IV.  The  said  territory  and  the  states  that  may  be  formed  therein 
shall  forever  remain  a  part  of  this  confederacy  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  subject  to  the  articles  of  confederation  and  to  such  alterations 
therein  as  shall  be  constitutionally  made,  and  to  all  the  acts  and  ordinances 
of  the  United  States  in  congress  assembled,  conformable  thereto.  The  in- 
habitants and  settlers  in  the  said  territory  shall  be  subject  to  pay  a  part  of 
the  federal  debts  contracted  or  to  be  contracted,  and  a  proportional  part  of 
the  expenses  of  government,  to  be  apportioned  among  them  by  congress  ac- 
cording to  the  same  common  rule  and  measure  by  which  apportionments 
thereof  shall  be  made  on  other  states,  and  the  taxes  for  paying  their  propor- 
tion shall  be  laid  and  levied  by  the  authority  and  direction  of  the  legisla- 
tures of  the  district  or  districts,  or  new  states,  as  in  the  original  states,  within 
the  time  agreed  upon  by  the  United  States  in  congress  assembled.  The  legis- 
latures of  those  districts  or  new  states  shall  never  interfere  with  the  primary 
disposal  of  the  soil  by  the  United  States  in  congress  assembled,  nor  with  any 
regulations  congress  may  find  necessary  for  securing  the  title  in  such  soil  to 
the  bona  fide  purchasers.  No  tax  shall  be  imposed  on  lands  the  property  of 
the  United  States,  and  in  no  case  shall  non-resident  proprietors  be  taxed  higher 
than  residents.  The  navigable  waters  leading  into  the  Mississippi  and  St. 
Lawrence,  and  the  carrying  places  between  the  same,  shall  be  common  high- 
ways and  forever  free,  as  well  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  territory  as  to 
the  citizens  of  the  United  States  and  those  of  any  other  state  that  may  be 
admitted  into  the  confederacy,  without  any  tax,  impost  or  duty  therefor. 

Art.  V.  There  shall  be  formed  in  the  said  territory  not  less  than  three 
nor  more  than  five  states  and  the  boundaries  of  the  said  states,  as  soon  as 
Virginia  shall  alter  her  act  of  cession  and  consent  to  the  same,*  shall  be- 
come fixed  and  established  as  follows,  to-wit:  The  western  state  in  the  said 
territory  shall  be  bounded  by  the  Mississippi,  Ohio  and  Wabash  rivers,  a 
direct  line  drawn  from  the  Wabash  and  Post  St.  Vincent's  due  north  to  the 
territorial  line  between  the  United  States  and  Canada  and,  by  the  said  ter- 
ritorial line,  to  the  Lake  of  the  Woods  and  Mississippi.  The  middle  states 
shall  be  bounded  by  the  said  direct  line,  the  Wabash  from  Post  St.  Vincent 's 

*  In  the  Virginia  act  of  cession  of  December,  17  83,  the  cession  was  made  on  condition  that  the 
territory  so  ceded  should  be  laid  out  and  formed  into  states,  containing  suitable  extent  of  territory, 
not  less  than  one  hundred  nor  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  square.'  or  as  near  thereto  as 
circumstances  would  permit.  Five  years  later,  in  December,  1788.  Virginia  altered  her  act  of 
cession  and  consented  to  the  boundaries  of  the  new  states  as  fixed  in  the  ordinance  of   17  87. 


HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY       61 

to  the  Ohio,  by  the  Ohio,  by  a  direct  line,  drawn  due  north  from  the  mouth  of 
the  Great  Miami  to  the  said  territorial  line,  and  by  the  said  territorial  line. 
The  eastern  state  shall  be  bounded  by  the  last  mentioned  direct  line,  the  Ohio, 
Pennsylvania  and  the  said  territorial  line:  Provided,  however,  and  it  is 
further  understood  and  declared,  that  the  boundaries  of  these  three  states 
shall  be  subject,  so  far  to  be  altered  that,  if  congress  shall  hereafter  find  it 
expedient,  they  shall  have  authority  to  form  one  or  two  states  in  that  part  of 
said  territory  which  lies  north  of  an  east  and  west  line  drawn  through  the 
southerly  bend  or  extreme  of  Lake  Michigan.  And  whenever  any  of  the  said 
states  shall  have  sixty  thousand  free  inhabitants  therein,  such  state  shall  be 
admitted,  by  its  delegates,  into  the  congress  of  the  United  States,  on  an 
equal  footing  with  the  original  states  in  all  respects  whatever,  and  shall  be 
at  liberty  to  form  a  permanent  constitution  and  state  government:  Provided, 
the  constitution  and  government  so  to  be  formed  shall  be  republican  and  in 
conformity  to  the  principles  contained  in  these  articles;  and,  so  far  as  it  can 
be  consistent  with  the  general  interest  of  the  confederacy,  such  admission 
shall  be  allowed  at  an  earlier  period,  and  when  there  may  be  a  less  number  of 
free  inhabitants  in  the  state  than  sixty  thousand. 

Art.  VI.  There  shall  be  neither  slavery  nor  involuntary  servitude  in  the 
said  territory,  otherwise  than  in  the  punishment  of  crimes,  whereof  the  party 
shall  have  been  duly  convicted:  Provided,  always,  that  any  person  escaping 
into  the  same,  from  wrhom  labor  or  service  is  lawfully  claimed  in  any  one 
of  the  original  states,  such  fugitive  may  be  lawfully  reclaimed  and  conveyed  to 
the  person  claiming  his  or  her  labor  or  service  as  aforesaid. 

The  congress  that  adopted  the  foregoing  ordinance  was  the  old 
continental  congress,  which,  under  the  articles  of  confederation, 
had  carried  the  new  nation  through  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 
However,  as  soon  as  the  colonies  had  won  the  contest  with  the 
mother  country  and  had  secured  their  independence,  it  was  per- 
ceived that  the  loosely  drawrn  articles  of  confederation  were  not 
sufficient  to  hold  the  several  colonies  together  under  one  govern- 
ment, and  steps  were  taken  by  the  people  of  the  several  states 
"to  form  a  more  perfect  union,  establish  justice,  insure  domestic 
tranquility,  provide  for  the  common  defense,  promote  the  general 
welfare  and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty. "  At  the  very  time 
when  the  Ordinance  of  1787  was  adopted,  the  constitutional  con- 
vention which  would  "secure  a  more  perfect  union "  was  in  ses- 
sion. The  ordinance  and  the  constitution  each  contains  the  same 
patriotic  conditions  and  both  of  the  great  documents  were  the 
product  of  practically  the  same  wTise  Fathers,  who  laid  so  broad 
and  deep  the  foundations  of  the  new  republic  that  it  has  ever 
since  been  able  to  successfully  resist  all  assaults  from  without,  as 
wrell  as  to  survive  all  domestic  contention  and  discord. 

By  the  adoption  of  the  Ordinance  of  1787,  at  the  very  begin- 
ning of  its  political  existence,  this  vast  region  was  pledged  to  edu- 
cation, freedom  and  equal  rights  for  all. 

In  the  fall  of  1787  congress  appointed  General  Arthur  St.  Clair 
governor  of  the  Northwest  territory,  but  owing  to  the  failure  of 


62        HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

the  British  to  surrender  the  posts  in  this  section  until  1796  the 
first  pages  of  territorial  history  have  only  slight  connection  with 
Michigan  affairs. 

Indiana  territory  was  formed  by  act  of  congress  in  1800,  and 
two  years  later  the  lower  peninsula  of  the  present  state  of  Michi- 
gan was  made  a  part  of  the  new  territory  and  so  remained  until 
1805.  The  most  important  event  that  occurred  in  the  history  of 
Michigan  during  the  period  while  it  was  attached  to  Indiana  ter- 
ritory, was  an  act  of  congress  enacted  in  1804,  providing  for  the 
disposal  of  public  lands  within  the  territory,  by  which  section 
sixteen,  in  each  township,  was  reserved  for  the  use  of  schools,  and 
one  entire  township  in  each  of  the  districts  afterwards  forming 
the  states  of  Michigan,  Indiana  and  Illinois,  was  to  be  located  for 
the  benefit  of  a  seminary  of  learning.  This  act  was  the  germ  of 
the  primary  school  fund  in  the  state  of  Michigan  and  was  the 
original  source  from  which  sprang  the  great  university  of  the 
state,  which  has  become  one  of  the  world's  foremost  educational 
institutions. 

Several  different  plans  were  evolved  for  the  division  of  this 
great  Northwest  territory  into  states,  besides  the  Virginia  plan, 
in  the  original  deed  of  cession,  and  the  plan  embodied  in  the 
Ordinance  of  1787.  The  first  congressional  plan  contemplated  the 
formation  of  seventeen  individual  states,  eight  states  to  be  be- 
tween the  Mississippi  and  a  line  due  north  from  the  Falls  of  the 
Ohio,  at  Louisville,  eight  more  to  be  between  the  Ohio  Falls  line 
and  a  parallel  line  running  north  from  the  western  side  of  the 
mouth  of  the  Kanawha  river.  On  the  extreme  east  was  to  be 
the  seventeenth  state.  This  plan  did  not  meet  with  favorable  con- 
sideration. 

What  is  called  the  Jeffersonian  plan,  because  Thomas  Jeffer- 
son was  one  of  its  chief  originators,  proposed  a  division  into  ten 
states.  This  plan  is  of  interest  chiefly  for  the  names  by  which 
the  proposed  states  were  to  have  been  called.  Some  of  these  names 
were  Latin,  some  were  Greek  and  some  were  of  Indian  derivation. 
The  proposed  states  were  to  be  about  two  degrees  in  width,  north 
and  south,  and  bounded  on  the  east  and  west,  as  nearly  as  prac- 
ticable, by  the  north  and  south  lines  of  the  first  congressional 
plan,  above  noted. 

That  part  of  the  territory  north  of  the  forty-fifth  parallel,  cov- 
ering the  then  heavily  timbered  regions  of  northern  Michigan, 
Wisconsin  and  Minnesota,  was  to  be  called  Sylvania.  The  re- 
mainder of  the  present  state  of  Michigan  was  to  be  called  Cher- 
sonesus,  a  Greek  word  signifying  peninsula.  South  of  Sylvania 
and  covering  a  part  of  the  present  state  of  Wisconsin  was  to  be 
the  state  of  Michigania.     South  of  Michigania  and  extending  to 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY       m 

the  forty-first  parallel  was  to  be  the  state  of  Assenisipia,  an  In- 
dian word  signifying  Rock  river.  East  of  Assenisipia  and  extend- 
ing north  to  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  was  to  be  the  state  of  Meso- 
potamia. South  of  Assenisipia,  to  the  39th  parallel,  wTas  to  be  the 
state  of  Illinoia.  To  the  east  of  Illinoia  was  to  be  the  state  of 
Saratoga,  and  east  of  Saratoga,  bounded  by  the  Ohio  river,  the 
west  line  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  eastern  part  of  the  south  shore 
of  Lake  Erie,  was  to  be  the  state  of  Washington.  South  of  Illi- 
noia and  Saratoga  and  lying  along  the  Ohio  river,  was  to  be  a 
state  called  Polypotamia.  East  of  Polypotamia  was  to  be  the 
tenth  state  called  Pelisipi,  from  a  Cherokee  word  sometimes  given 
to  the  Ohio  river.  While  all  these  proposed  state  lines  have  dis- 
appeared and  most  of  the  proposed  names  are  recalled  only  as  mat- 
ters of  curiosity,  it  will  be  noticed  that  the  name  of  the  Father  of 
his  country  has  since  been  conferred  on  the  extreme  northwest 
state  of  the  Union  lying  on  the  border  of  that  greatest  of  oceans, 
which,  at  that  date,  no  man  had  ever  dreamed  would  one  day  be- 
come the  western  boundary  of  the  United  States  and  that  even 
that  ocean  itself  would  not  stop  the  westward  march  of  the 
American  people,  but  that  they  would  cross  to  the  islands  of  the 
sea  and  still  farther  onward,  until  the  far  west  should  have  be- 
come also  the  far  east  and  American  civilization  should  have  prac- 
tically encircled  the  earth  and  that  the  "sun  should  never  set" 
upon  the  flag  of  the  free. 

Two  of  the  other  proposed  names,  Illinoia  and  Michigania,  have 
been  preserved  with  only  slight  changes  in  orthography.  Had 
the  proposed  plan  been  adopted  Van  Buren  county  would  now  be 
located,  not  in  the  state  of  Michigan,  but  in  the  state  of  Chersone- 
sus. 

On  the  eleventh  of  January,  1805,  congress  passed  an  act  for  the 
organization  of  Michigan  territory,  which  was  to  embrace  all 
that  portion  of  Indiana  territory  lying  north  of  a  line  drawn  east 
from  the  southerly  bend  or  extreme  of  Lake  Michigan  until  it 
intersected  Lake  Erie,  and  lying  east  of  a  line  drawn  from  the 
same  southerly  bend  through  the  middle  of  Lake  Michigan  to  its 
northern  extremity  and  thence  due  north  to  the  northern  boun- 
dary of  the  United  States,  general  William  Hull  was  appointed 
governor  of  the  newly  organized  territory  and  arrived  at  Detroit 
in  the  month  of  July,  1805.  A  few  weeks  previous  to  his  arrival 
the  town  had  been  destroyed  by  fire  and  he  found  the  inhabitants 
encamped  in  the  fields  with  a  scanty  supply  of  food  and  little 
shelter.  But  they  were  an  indomitable  people,  not  discouraged 
by  their  misfortune,  and  they  immediately  began  to  rebuild  the 
town,  which  was  made  the  capital  of  the  newT  territory.  Detroit, 
which  at  the  last  census  (1910)  contained  a  population  of  465,766 


64  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

souls,  was  then  a  hamlet  of  not  to  exceed  4,000  inhabitants,  and 
at  that  time  there  appeared  to  be  little  inducement  for  immigra- 
tion into  the  new  territory,  the  great  natural  resources  of  which 
were  almost  wholly  unknown. 

About  two  years  after  Governor  Hull  had  assumed  control  of 
the  territory,  signs  of  Indian  troubles  became  manifest.  Insti- 
gated by  British  fur  traders,  a  plan  similar  to  that  of  Pontiac  was 
devised,  but  was  not  then  ready  to  be  put  into  execution,  although 
well-founded  rumors  of  ill-feeling,  discontent  and  evil  designs 
came  to  the  governor  and  the  people  from  time  to  time,  causing 
much  anxiety  and  greatly  retarding  the  settlement  of  the  territory. 
Tecumseh  and  his  brother,  commonly  called  the  Prophet,  being 
the  Indian  leaders.  Such  was  the  condition  of  territorial  affairs 
when  the  impressment  of  American  seamen  and  other  British  in- 
sults brought  on  a  second  conflict  with  Great  Britain. 

Encouraged  by  the  gathering  war  clouds,  the  Indians,  long 
before  the  beginning  of  actual  hostilities,  assembled  in  great  num- 
bers on  the  banks  of  the  Wabash  river,  but,  fortunately,  not  only 
for  Indiana,  but  for  Michigan  and  the  entire  northwest,  General 
William  Henry  Harrison,  afterward  president  of  the  United 
States,  was  the  governor  of  that  territory.  Governor  Harrison  was 
an  able,  brave  and  energetic  officer  and  took  no  chances  and  lost 
no  time  in  instituting  vigorous  measures  for  the  protection  of  the 
people  against  the  redskins.  With  an  army  of  about  nine  hun- 
dred men,  he  marched  to  the  camp  of  the  Indians  called  Prophet's 
Town.  There  he  was  met  by  a  delegation  of  chiefs  who  professed 
to  be  greatly  surprised  at  the  visit,  and  assured  the  general  that 
their  intentions  were  peaceful  and  that  they  had  no  thought  of 
fighting  and  asked  for  a  conference  on  the  morrow.  The  general 
replied  that  he  would  be  glad  to  give  them  an  opportunity  to 
show  their  peaceful  intentions  and  would  grant  them  the  de- 
sired council.  But,  being  somewhat  versed  in  the  treacherous  na- 
ture of  the  savages,  on  going  into  camp  for  the  night,  every  pre- 
caution was  taken  to  prevent  a  surprise  in  case  the  redskins  should 
attack  the  camp.  As  the  general  had  anticipated,  the  savages  had 
only  requested  a  council  for  the  purpose  of  throwing  the  command 
off  its  guard  and  gaining  an  easy  victory  by  means  of  a  night  at- 
tack. About  four  o  'clock  in  the  morning  the  Indians  assaulted  the 
camp,  but,  contrary  to  their  expectations,  they  found  the  soldiers 
fully  prepared  for  them.  The  engagement  that  followed  is  known 
in  history  as  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe  and  resulted  in  the  complete 
rout  of  the  Indians.  This  battle  played  no  small  part  in  elevating 
General  Harrison  to  the  presidency.  There  are  yet  surviving  a 
considerable  number  of  people  who  well  remember  the  refrain  of  a 
campaign  song  of  1840  which  ran  as  follows:     "Tippecanoe  and 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUKEN  COUNTY       65 

Tyler  too,"  John  Tyler  being  General  Harrison's  running  mate 
in  the  presidential  campaign  of  1840,  known  as  the  "hard-cider 
campaign/ ' 

Governor  Hull,  of  the  Michigan  territory,  was  given  command 
of  a  military  force  for  the  protection  of  the  frontier  and  the  in- 
vasion of  Canada,  should  war  ensue.  With  an  army  of  about  fifteen 
hundred  men,  he  started  from  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  after  a  tedious 
march  of  three  weeks,  reached  Detroit  on  the  sixth  day  of  July, 
1812.  War  had  been  declared  on  the  18th  day  of  June,  but  Gov- 
ernor Hull  did  not  receive  notice  of  that  fact  until  the  second  day 
of  July. 

At  that  time,  Fort  Mackinac  was  garrisoned  by  a  little  band  of 
fifty-seven  men,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Porter  Hanks. 
The  British  commandant  on  St.  Joseph 's  island  learned  of  the  dec- 
laration of  war  about  the  middle  of  July  and  immediately  started 
for  Mackinac  with  a  force  of  about  one  thousand  men,  with  which 
force  he  landed  and  took  up  a  commanding  position  above  the  fort. 
Being  at  the  mercy  of  the  foe  with  his  little  garrison,  Lieutenant 
Hanks  was. obliged  to  surrender  and,  with  his  men,  was  paroled 
and  sent  to  Detroit.  Thus,  on  the  17th  day  of  July,  1812,  the 
post  at  Mackinac  again  passed  under  English  control. 

Orders  were  given  to  General  Hull  to  cross  the  Detroit  river, 
take  possession  of  Canada  and  dislodge  the  British  at  Fort  Maiden, 
which  was  garrisoned  by  only  a  small  force  and  probably  would 
have  been  easily  captured  had  General  Hull  moved  forward  in  the 
same  vigorous  manner  as  did  General  Harrison  at  the  battle  of 
Tippecanoe.  But  Commander  Hull  was  not  a  man  of  the  same 
caliber  and  mental  vigor  as  General  Harrison,  and  "under  pre- 
text that  heavy  artillery  was  necessary  to  an  attack  on  the  fort  at 
Maiden,  the  army  lay  inactive  at  Sandwich  from  the  12th  of  July 
to  the  8th  of  August."  During  this  interval,  while  Hull  was 
"marking  time"  at  Sandwich,  General  Brock  moved  toward  Fort 
Maiden  with  a  considerable  military  force.  On  the  ninth  day  of 
August,  General  Hull  recrossed  the  river,  entered  the  fort  at 
Detroit  and  abandoned  Canada.  No  man  can  say  what  different 
history  might  have  been  written  if  Hull  had  pushed  forward  and 
taken  possession  of  Maiden,  as  he  was  ordered  to  do.  It  is  pos- 
sible, perhaps  probable,  that  in  that  event  Canada  might  have 
become  a  constituent  part  of  the  United  States,  instead  of  being, 
as  it  is,  a  foreign  country  on  our  northern  border,  identical  in  in- 
terest with  her  great  southern  neighbor  and  separated  from  this 
nation  only  by  an  imaginary  line. 

The  next  day  after  his  arrival  at  Maiden  General  Brock  moved 
up  to  Sandwich  and  summoned  General  Hull  to  surrender.  This 
summons  being  refused,  a  cannonade  was  at  once  opened  on  the 

Vol.  I—    5 


66       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY 

American  fort  and  the  fire  was  returned,  little  damage  being  done 
to  either  side. 

On  the  morning  of  the  16th  day  of  July  General  Brock  crossed 
the  river  and  repeated  his  demand  for  the  surrender  of  the  post. 
The  English  commander  had  a  force  of  about  thirteen  hundred 
men,  and  Hull  had  not  less  than  a  thousand.  Without  holding 
any  council  of  war  or  in  any  way  consulting  with  his  officers,  and 
without  waiting  to  make  any  stipulation  as  to  terms,  General  Hull 
at  once  hoisted  a  white  flag  and  sent  word  to  the  English  general 
that  he  would  surrender  the  fort.  The  American  officers  were  in- 
censed beyond  measure  at  the  cowardly  action  of  their  commander. 

Hull  was  accused  of  treason,  cowardice  and  criminal  neglect  of 
duty,  and,  although  he  was  acquitted  of  the  charge  of  treason,  he 
was  convicted  of  the  second  and  third  offenses  and,  by  a  court 
martial,  was  sentenced  to  be  shot.  This  sentence  was  not  car- 
ried into  execution,  as,  in  consideration  of  valuable  service  he  had 
rendered  the  country  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  he  was  par- 
doned by  the  president. 

Hull's  name  was  for  many  years  held  in  contempt  by  the  people 
of  the  country  and  was  regarded  a  synonym  of  cowardice  and 
poltroonery. 

Let  General  Hull  be  counted  null, 

And  let  him  not  be  named, 
Upon  the  rolls  of  valiant  souls, 

Of  him  we  are  ashamed. 

was  a  quatrain  that  was  familiar  to  every  school  boy  in  the 
early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century. 

With  the  surrender  of  Detroit,  the  territory  of  Michigan  be- 
came for  a  time  a  British  province.  General  Brock  placed 
Colonel  Proctor  in  command  of  both  the  fort  and  the  territory. 
Proctor  assumed  the  title  of  governor  and  proceeded  to  organize 
the  civil  government.  He  appointed  Judge  Woodward  as  his  sec- 
retary. Woodward  had  considerable  influence  with  Proctor  and 
was  of  great  service  to  the  people,  whose  interests  he  was  instru- 
mental in  protecting  in  a  large  degree. 

In  the  fall  and  winter  following  Hull's  surrender  of  Detroit, 
General  Harrison  organized  an  army  and  moved  northward  for 
the  recapture  of  the  frontier  posts,  sending  General  Winchester 
in  advance  to  the  Maumee  river.  A  few  days  later  General  Win- 
chester moved  forward  and  encamped  on  the  River  Raisin,  where 
on  the  22d  of  January,  1813,  he  was  attacked  by  the  British  and 
Indians  under  the  command  of  Proctor.  The  American  force  was 
taken  by  surprise  and  compelled  to  surrender.  During  the  night 
following  the  surrender,  the  savages  butchered  the  wounded  sol- 
diers and  defenseless  inhabitants  without  mercy. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY       67 

The  great  naval  victory  at  Put-in-Bay,  won  by  Commodore 
Oliver  Hazard  Perry,  on  the  10th  day  of  September,  1813,  by 
which  the  entire  naval  force  of  the  British  commander,  Commo- 
dore Barclay,  was  captured,  was  a  decisive  stroke  and  paved  the 
way  for  the  recovery  of  Michigan  territory  and  the  entire  north- 
west. This  victory  was  the  most  complete  in  naval  history  up  to 
that  date,  and  the  only  naval  battles  comparable  to  it  in  after 
years  are  the  victories  of  Admiral  Dewey  at  Manila  bay  and  the 
capture  of  the  Spanish  fleet  by  Admirals  Schley  and  Sampson  at 
Santiago,  during  the  war  with  Spain. 

The  captured  vessels  were  used  by  General  Harrison  for  the 
transportation  of  his  command  across  Lake  Erie,  preparatory  to  a 
vigorous  Canadian  campaign,  but  the  British  forces  evacuated 
Maiden  and  Detroit,  Colonel  Proctor  making  a  speedy  retreat.  He 
was  overtaken  and  defeated  at  Moravian  town,  Tecumseh,  the 
great  Indian  leader,  was  killed,  and  Proctor  fled.  On  the  29th 
of  September,  1913,  Detroit  again  passed  into  the  possession  of 
the  Americans  and  Colonel  Lewis  Cass  was  placed  in  command, 
and  on  the  9th  of  October  next  he  was  appointed  by  President 
Madison  as  governor  of  the  territory. 

An  attempt  was  made,  in  the  summer  of  1814,  to  regain  posses- 
sion of  Mackinac  island,  which  was  still  held  by  the  British.  Lieu- 
tenant Croghan  was  sent  with  a  force  to  effect  its  capture,  but  he 
delayed  his  movements  so  long  that  the  English  commander  was 
enabled  to  strengthen  his  position  and  to  increase  his  force  to  such 
an  extent  that  the  expedition  ended  in  an  ignominious  failure.  It 
was  not  until  the  close  of  the  war  that  the  island  came  once  more 
into  the  possession  of  the  Americans,  the  post  being  evacuated  in 
the  spring  of  1815  and  being  again  occupied  by  a  force  of  Ameri- 
can soldiery. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  administration  of  Governor  Cass,  there 
was  but  a  small  population  in  the  entire  territory  and  that  was 
confined  to  a  few  settlements  on  the  eastern  border.  The  entire 
interior  of  what  was  destined  to  be,  in  the  not  distant  future,  one 
of  the  great  and  most  prosperous  states  of  the  Union,  was  prac- 
tically an  unknown  wilderness,  and,  what  was  greatly  to  its  dis- 
advantage, it  was  regarded  as  being  an  almost  impenetrable 
swamp  and  of  little  value,  possessing  no  attraction  for  other  than 
trappers  and  hunters.  Some  of  the  civil  engineers  sent  out  by  the 
general  government  to  make  the  survey  of  bounty  lands  for  the 
soldiers  were  responsible,  in  a  large  degree,  for  reports  that  served 
to  injure  the  territory  and  retard  its  settlement.  Governor  Cass 
took  great  pains  to  counteract  these  reports  and  to  remove  the  er- 
roneous impressions  that  had  been  created  thereby.  He  made 
treaties  with  the  Indians,  dealt  with  them  fairly  and  honorably, 


68       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

secured  cession  of  their  lands  to  United  States,  and  by  his  un- 
tiring efforts  in  behalf  of  much  maligned  territory,  he  won  imper- 
ishable renown.  After  the  necessary  treaties  had  been  concluded, 
the  country  was  opened  for  settlement.  The  survey  of  public 
lands  was  begun  in  1816,  and  after  the  lapse  of  two  years  the  au- 
thorities began  their  sale.  Farmers  would  not  come  in  any  con- 
siderable numbers  until  there  was  an  opportunity  to  procure  lands 
to  which  they  could  obtain  a  sure  title,  and,  without  tillers  of  the 
soil,  there  could  be  little  growth  or  prosperity,  but,  with  the  set- 
tlement of  the  interior,  which  really  began  in  1818,  the  territory 
commenced  to  make  a  substantial  growth. 

The  first  steamboat  that  ever  sailed  on  the  great  lakes,  the 
"Walk-in-the- Water,"  arrived  at  Detroit  in  the  summer  of  1818, 
and  from  that  time  forth,  westward  bound  settlers  had  less  dif- 
ficulty in  coming  to  Michigan.  The  "  Walk-in-the-Water ' '  was 
wrecked  three  years  afterward,  but  the  "  Superior "  and  other 
steamers  soon  took  her  place  and  steam  navigation  contributed 
in  no  slight  degree  to  increasing  prosperity  of  the  growing  ter- 
ritory. 

Another  pressing  need  was  the  matter  of  roads.  Immigrants 
could  not  come  in  any  considerable  numbers  to  the  new  territory 
as  long  as  the  only  method  of  finding  their  way  through  the  for- 
ests was  by  trails  or  by  roads  cut  out,  but  never  worked,  and 
which  were  often  practically  impassable.  Roads  around  the  west 
end  of  Lake  Erie  to  Detroit,  and  from  the  latter  place  to  Chi- 
cago, and  other  highways  of  importance,  were  constructed  as  soon 
as  practicable  through  the  energetic  work  of  Governor  Cass  and 
his  efficient  secretary,  Woodbridge.  The  opening  of  the  Erie  canal 
in  1825  was  also  an  event  of  great  importance  to  Michigan. 
Steamers  and  sailing  craft  rapidly  increased  in  number  and  it  is 
estimated  that  at  least  three  hundred  passengers  a  week  were 
landed  in  Detroit  during  the  fall  of  that  year. 

George  G.  Porter,  of  Pennsylvania,  succeeded  Cass  as  governor 
of  the  territory  and  Stevens  T.  Mason  became  his  secretary.  As 
Governor  Porter  was  absent  for  a  considerable  portion  of  the  time, 
his  duties  were  performed  by  Secretary  Mason.  When  Porter  died 
in  1834,  no  change  was  made  and  Mason  continued  to  perform  the 
duties  of  governor  during  the  remainder  of  the  territorial  period. 
In  the  meantime,  the  population  of  the  territory  had  reached  and 
passed  the  number  (60,000)  prescribed  in  the  Ordinance  of  1787, 
and  the  people  desired  admission  into  the  Union. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  a  serious  dispute  arose  in  regard  to 
the  boundary  line  between  Michigan  and  the  state  of  Ohio,  which 
had. been  admitted  in  1802  with  an  indefinite  northern  boundary. 
The  act  of  1805,  by  which  the  territory  of  Michigan  was  organ- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY       69 

ized,  fixed  the  southern  boundary  of  the  territory  at  a  line  run- 
ning due  east  from  the  southern  bend  of  Lake  Michigan.  This  line 
included  Toledo  and  a  considerable  strip  of  land  to  which)  Ohio 
laid  claim,  and  of  which,  by  proclamation  of  Governor  Lucas  is- 
sued in  1835,  the  Ohio  authorities  assumed  control,  the  legisla- 
ture of  that  state  passing  an  act  for  its  organization  as  the  county 
of  Lucas.  This  action  was  resented  by  the  Michigan  authorities 
and  Acting  Governor  Mason  called  out  the  militia  and  proceeded 
to  Toledo  for  the  avowed  purpose  of  preventing  the  Ohio  officials 
from  taking  possession  and  exercising  control  over  the  disputed 
strip.  Although  some  shots  were  fired  it  was  a  bloodless  war,  as 
nobody  was  injured. 

Congress,  anxious  for  a  peaceable  solution  of  the  matter,  offered 
Michigan  all  that  portion  of  the  present  state  lying  north  of  the 
straits  known  as  the  Upper  Peninsula,  on  condition  that  she  should 
relinquish  all  claim  to  the  land  claimed  by  Ohio.  This  compro- 
mise was  reluctantly  accepted  by  the  Michigan  authorities,  prac- 
tically nothing  being  known  of  the  resources  of  the  territory 
which  she  received  in  exchange  for  that  which  she  abandoned  to 
the  state  of  Ohio.  Subsequent  events,  however,  proved  that  it 
was  a  most  valuable  exchange,  the  mineral  resources  of  the  Upper 
Peninsula,  especially  iron  and  copper,  which  were  then  entirely 
unknown,  having  added  many  millions  of  dollars  to  the  value  of 
the  state. 

The  first  state  convention  looking  to  the  adoption  of  a  constitu- 
tion for  the  embryo  state  was  held  at  Detroit  in  May,  1835.  The 
document  framed  by  the  convention  was  submitted  to  a  vote  of 
the  people  and  adopted  on  the  first  Monday  of  the  following  Oc- 
tober, state  officers  being  chosen  at  the  same  time.  Stevens  T. 
Mason  was  elected  governor  and  EdwTard  Mundy,  lieutenant  gov- 
ernor. Mason  is  distinguished  in  Michigan  history  by  the  title 
of  the  "boy  governor/'  he  being  but  nineteen  years  of  age  when 
he  first  assumed  gubernatorial  duties  as  acting  executive  of  the 
territory,  and  but  twenty-three  years  old  when  elected  as  the  first 
governor  of  the  new  state  that  was  soon  to  be.  He  was  born  in  the 
state  of  Virginia  in  1812  and  died  January  4,  1843,  aged  not  quite 
thirty-one  years. 

The  Michigan  legislature  met  in  November,  1835,  and  elected 
Lucius  Lyon  and  John  Norvell  as  United  States  senators.  Every- 
thing was  ready  for  her  admission,  but  the  dispute  with  the  state 
of  Ohio  as  to  the  southern  boundary  of  the  state  prevented  favor- 
able congressional  action  at  that  time,  and  it  was  not  until  Jan- 
uary 26,  1837,  that  congress  acted  favorably  on  the  question  and 
Michigan  became  the  twenty-sixth  state  of  the  Union. 


70  HISTOKY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY 

Michigan  as  a  State 

Under  the  first  constitution  of  Michigan,  the  governor  and  the 
lieutenant  governor  were  elective.  The  other  state  officers — secre- 
tary of  state,  attorney  general,  auditor  general,  superintendent  of 
public  instruction  and  the  judges  of  the  supreme  court — were  to  be 
appointed  by  the  governor  by  and  with  the  consent  of  the  senate, 
except  as  to  the  superintendent  of  public  instruction,  whose  ap- 
pointment was  to  be  ratified  by  both  houses  of  the  legislature,  in 
joint  session.  A  state  treasurer  was  also  provided  for,  who  re- 
ceived his  appointment  from  the  legislature  by  a  joint  vote  of  the 
two  houses.  The  governor  also  had  the  appointment  of  a  prosecut- 
ing attorney  for  each  county,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  senate. 
Another  peculiar  provision  of  the  constitution  of  1835,  deserving 
of  especial  notice,  was  that  in  regard  to  internal  improvements, 
which  was  as  follows :  '  *  Internal  improvements  shall  be  encouraged 
by  the  government  of  this  state  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
legislature,  as  soon  as  may  be,  to  make  provision  by  law  for 
ascertaining  the  proper  objects  of  improvement  in  relation  to 
roads,  canals  and  navigable  waters;  and  it  shall  also  be  their 
duty  to  provide  by  law  for  an  equal,  systematic,  economical  ap- 
plication of  the  funds  which  may  be  appropriated  to  these  ob- 
jects." 

Governor  Mason  was  in  full  sympathy  with  the  proposed  system 
of  internal  improvement  by  the  state,  and  as  his  recommendation 
and  with  his  approval  the  scheme  was  speedily  put  into  execution. 
Arrangement  was  made  for  the  issue  of  five  million  dollars  of 
state  bonds  and  the  governor  was  given  authority  to  negotiate  the 
loan.  Among  the  more  important  projected  improvements  were 
two  lines  of  railway,  the  Michigan  Central  and  the  Michigan 
Southern.  The  former  was  projected  to  begin  at  Detroit,  extend 
across  the  state  and  end  at  St.  Joseph  on  the  eastern  shore  of 
Lake  Michigan.  Of  this  project  we  shall  have  occasion  to  speak 
further  in  another  chapter.  The  other  line  was  projected  to  ex- 
tend from  Monroe  to  New  Buffalo.  After  an  unsuccessful  ex- 
perience of  five  years  in  the  prosecution  of  these  enterprises  and 
others  of  lesser  note,  it  became  evident  that  it  would  be  for  the  , 
best  interests  of  the  state  to  dispose  of  these  railroads,  neither  of 
which  was  completed,  to  private  corporations.  They  were  accord- 
ingly sold  in  1846  for  the  sum  of  two  and  a  half  millions  of  dol- 
lars, which  was  very  much  less  than  the  state  had  invested  in 
them,  but  which  was,  doubtless,  a  very  good  sale  for  the  interests 
of  the  people.  Under  the  management  of  the  purchasers  the  roads 
were  soon  completed,  but  some  changes  were  made  along  the  west- 
ern portion  of  their  routes. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUB-EN  COUNTY  71 

The  new  state  also  had  an  unique  and  disastrous  experience  with 
its  banking  system  which  afterward  came  to  be  known  as  and 
called  "wild-cat  banking/7  Among  the  crude  and  ill-digested 
theories  of  that  primitive  day  was  the  notion  that  banking,  like 
farming,  store-keeping  and  other  ordinary  business,  should  be  free 
to  all.  When  the  state  was  admitted  there  was  fifteen  banks  doing 
business  within  its  borders,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1837,  the  legis- 
lature passed  a  general  banking  law.  This  act  provided  that  any 
ten  or  more  freeholders  might  engage  in  the  business  of  banking 
with  a  capital  of  not  less  than  $50,000,  nor  more  than  $300,000. 
This  law  was  loosely  framed  and  without  proper  safeguards,  and 
proved  in  practice  to  be  utterly  worthless.  Among  other  things, 
it  was  provided  that  not  less  than  thirty  per  cent  of  the  entire 
capital  should  be  paid  in,  in  specie,  before  commencing  business; 
that  debts  and  bills  issued  should  be  secured  by  mortgages  on 
real  estate,  etc.  Banks  were  to  be  subject  to  examination  and 
supervision  by  commissioners,  but  all  these  statutory  provisions  for 
safety  were  successfully  evaded.  Banks  were  started  by  irre- 
sponsible parties,  mere  adventurers,  who  were  wholly  destitute  of 
either  capital  or  credit.  Whenever  the  banking  commissioners 
started  on  their  tours  of  investigation,  bags  of  coin  were  secretly 
carried  from  one  bank  to  another,  so  that  the  commissioners  were 
constantly  deceived.  It  is  said  that  nails,  with  specie  in  the  tops 
of  the  kegs  were  palmed  off  on  the  commissioners  as  full  kegs 
of  coin,  but  as  this  is  not  properly  vouched  for,  it  may  not  be 
true.  At  all  events  every  possible  ruse  was  made  use  of  to  make 
a  showing  of  the  legal  amount  of  coin,  and  by  means  of  the  speedy 
and  surreptitious  transfer  of  specie  from  bank  to  bank,  the  same 
coin  was  made  to  do  duty  over  and  over  again,  and  in  the  mean- 
time these  wild-cat  institutions  were  putting  into  circulation  a 
vast  amount  of  utterly  worthless  currency. 

The  year  1837  is  memorable  as  a  time  of  great  financial  panic 
throughout  the  entire  United  States.  In  June  of  that  year  the 
Michigan  legislature  passed  an  act  authorizing  the  suspension  of 
specie  payment  until  the  middle  of  May  of  the  following  year, 
hoping  thereby  to  relieve  in  some  degree  the  financial  stress  that 
prevailed,  not  only  in  Michigan,  but  in  the  entire  country.  But 
as  the  wild-cat  banking  law  remained  unrepealed,  banks  con- 
tinued to  be  organized  and  a  constant  stream  of  worthless  cur- 
rency continued  to  be  issued,  and  was  put  into  circulation  as 
rapidly  as  possible.  Banks  were  located  anywhere  and  every- 
where. One  was  found  doing  a  flourishing  business  in  an  old  saw 
mill,  and  it  was  humorously  asserted  that  a  hollow  stump  served 
as  a  vault.  The  bank  of  Singapore,  located  in  the  woods  where 
now    is    the    site    of    the    flourishing    village    of    Saugatuck,    in 


72       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

the  county  of  Allegan  which  adjoins  Van  Buren  county  on  the 
north,  was  a  typical  institution  of  the  kind.  The  writer  has  a 
bill  of  that  bank  in  his  possession  that  was  issued  in  1837.  By 
the  close  of  the  year  1839,  most  of  these  wild-cat  banks  had  gone 
out  of  business,  but  more  than  a  million  dollars  of  worthless  cur- 
rency, which  was  a  total  loss  to  the  people,  had  been  put  into 
circulation.  In  1844  the  banking  law  was  declared  to  be  uncon- 
stitutional, and  that  decision  closed  out  the  last  of  the  ' '  wild-cats. ' ' 

One  of  the  first  steps  of  interest  taken  by  Governor  Mason,  after 
the  admission  of  Michigan  into  the  Union,  was  the  appointment  of 
a  superintendent  of  public  instruction.  Rev.  John  D.  Pierce  was 
selected  for  this  important  office.  He  was  the  founder  of  the 
Michigan  primary  school  system,  a  system  that  is  acknowledged 
to  be  second  to  that  of  no  other  one  of  the  states  of  the  Union. 

Father  Pierce,  as  he  is  affectionately  termed,  wished  to  place  the 
primary  school  within  the  reach  of  every  child  of  school  age  in  the 
state,  and  also  to  establish  a  state  university  for  the  higher  cul- 
ture of  the  more  advanced  students.  How  well  he  succeeded  in 
his  efforts  along  these  lines  the  present  admirable  Michigan  system 
of  educating  her  children  bears  ample  testimony.  The  plan  which 
he  developed  contained  most  of  the  essential  features  of  the  pres- 
ent school  system,  and  when  it  is  remembered  that  he  was  the  first 
superintendent  of  public  instruction  in  the  United  States,  and  that 
he  had  to  formulate  the  entire  educational  plan,  we  are  better 
prepared  to  appreciate  the  wisdom  and  foresight  displayed  by  this 
founder  of  the  justly  celebrated  Michigan  school  system. 

A  majority  of  the  pioneers  who  settled  in  the  interior  of  Michi- 
gan came  from  the  New  England  states,  New  York  and  Ohio.  Some 
of  them  came  from  the  very  birthplace  of  the  town  meeting,  and 
all  of  them  took  an  active  and  earnest  interest  in  the  good  govern- 
ment of  the  state  of  their  adoption.  They  wTere  an  intelligent  and 
public  spirited  people,  prudent  and  industrious,  desirable  citizens 
in  any  community.  Their  style  of  living  was  unavoidably  plain; 
their  dwellings  were  structures  built  of  logs  from  the  forests, 
primitive,  but  comfortable;  their  clothing  cheap  and  coarse,  but 
that  mattered  not  to  the  hardy  settlers,  so  long  as  it  possessed  the 
qualities  of  wear  and  comfort.  Hard  work  was  the  order  of  the 
day  and  while  neighbors  were  few  and  far  between,  genuine  friend- 
ship ancl  hospitality  were  marked  characteristics  of  the  "path- 
finders" of  the  vast  Michigan  wilderness. 

From  1701,  when  Cadillac  first  occupied  Fort  Pontchartrain, 
until  1847,  Detroit  had  been  the  seat  of  government,  but  in  the 
latter  part  of  that  year,  the  legislature  located  the  capital  at 
Lansing,  which  was  then  an  unbroken  forest  forty  miles  distant 
from  any  railroad,  but  which  is  now  a  flourishing  city  of  upwards 


HISTOKY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY       78 

of  30,000  inhabitants.  This  action  of  the  legislature  met  with 
much  ridicule  and  opposition,  but  the  event  justified  the  location, 
which  has  proved  to  be  satisfactory  to  the  people  of  the  state.  The 
township  of  Lansing,  in  which  the  capital  city  is  situated,  was 
organized  by  an  act  of  the  legislature  of  1842,  as  follows:  "That 
all  that  part  of  the  county  of  Ingham  designated  by  the  United 
States  survey  as  township  number  four  north,  of  range  number 
two  west,  be  set  off  and  organized  into  a  separate  township,  by 
the  name  of  Lansing,  and  the  first  township  meeting  shall  be  held 
at  the  shantee  near  the  cedar  bridge  in  said  township/ ' 

After  an  experience  of  more  than  a  dozen  years  under  the  con- 
stitution of  1835,  it  became  manifest  that  some  radical  changes 
were  needed  in  the  fundamental  law  of  the  state,  and  a  convention 
was  called  to  meet  at  Lansing  in  June,  1850,  for  the  purpose  of 
preparing  and  submitting  a  new  constitution.  This  duty  was 
performed  and  the  work  of  the  convention  submitted  to  the  peo- 
ple at  the  general  election  held  on  the  5th  day  of  November,  1850.* 
Hon.  Isaac  W.  Willard,  a  man  prominent  in  the  development  of 
Van  Buren  county,  was  a  delegate  to  this  convention.  The  con- 
stitution of  1850  remained  as  the  supreme  law  of  the  state  until 
1908,  when  it  was  superseded  by  the  present  constitution  which 
was  adopted  by  a  vote  of  the  people  at  the  general  election 
of  November  in  that  year.  The  present  constitution  was  framed 
by  a  convention  that  met  at  Lansing,  October  22,  1907,  and  re- 
mained in  session  until  March  3,  1908.  At  this  convention,  Hon. 
Benjamin  F.  Heckert  and  Hon.  Guy  J.  Wicksall  were  delegates 
from  Van  Buren  county. 

At  the  time  of  the  admission  of  Michigan  into  the  Union,  the 
Democratic  party  was  in  power  and  the  first  governor  of  the  state 
was  affiliated  with  that  party.  He  was  succeeded  by  Governor 
Woodbridge,  a  Whig,  for  a  single  term,  after  which  the  Democrats 
again  came  into  control  of  the  state  and  remained  as  the  dominant 
party  until  the  organization  of  the  Eepublican  party  in  1854,  since 
which  date  that  party  has,  with  the  exception  of  two  terms,  been 
in  full  control  of  the  state  government. 

During  the  Civil  war  the  state  was  fortunate  in  having  Hon. 
Austin  Blair,  known  as  her  great  "war  governor,"  as  her  chief 
executive.  No  state  was  more  earnest  in  supporting  the  general 
government  and  in  upholding  the  hands  of  the  immortal  Lincoln, 
than  was  Michigan.  None  made  greater  sacrifice  for  the  suppres- 
sion of  the  Rebellion  and  none  sent  better  or  braver  soldiers  into 
the  field.     Altogether,  Michigan  furnished  93,700  men,  of  whom 


*  Among  other  changes,  this  constitution  made  judges  of  the  supreme  court 
and  state  officers,  heads  of  departments,  elective  instead  of  appointive. 


74 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


14,855  died  in  the  service  of  their  country.  Upwards  of  4,000 
Michigan  men  were  enlisted  in  the  more  recent  Spanish-American 
Avar. 

The  first  half  century  of  the  history  of  Michigan  witnessed 
many  wonderful  changes.  In  1837  the  interior  of  the  state  was 
almost  wholly  an  unbroken  wilderness,  inhabited  only  by  the  In- 
dian tribes  and  the  beasts  of  the  forest,  and  there  were  very  few 
signs  of  civilization  to  be  seen.  Postal  arrangements  were  of  the 
crudest  character  and  correspondence  was  an  expensive  luxury. 
The  entire  population  of  the  state  at  that  time  was  butx174,467, 
and  that  largely  alpng  the  borders  of  the  state  next  the  great 
lakes.  The  census  of  1910  places  Michigan,  in  point  of  numbers, 
as  the  eighth  state  in  the  Union,  giving  to  her  a  population  of 
2,810,173,  an  increase  of  sixteen-fold  in  seventy-three  years.  De- 
troit, the  metropolis  of  the  state,  is  now  the  ninth  American  city, 
having  by  the  last  census  a  population  of  465,766. 

The  following  table  shows  the  population  of  the  state  at  each 
decennial  year,  for  the  past  century,  and  of  the  county  of  Van 
Buren  at  each  decennial  census  since  the  admission  of  Michigan 
as  a  state. 


Michigan 

Date.  Population.  Increase. 

1810  4,762  

1820  8,896  4,134 

1830  31,639  22,743 

1840  212,267  180,628 

1850  397,654  185,387 

1860 749,113  351,497 

1870  1,184,282  435,869 

1880  1,636,937  452,655 

1890  2,093,889  456,952 

1900  2,420,982  327,093 

1910  2,810,873  389,191 

V^n  Buren  County 
Date.  Population. 

1840    1,910 

1850    5,800 

1860    : 15,224 

1870 28,829 

1880    ' 30,807 

1890    30,541 

1900 34,965 

1910 33,185 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY       75 

While  there  has  been  the  above  remarkable  increase  in  the  popu- 
lation of  the  state,  there  has  been  a  corresponding  increase  in  its 
financial  prosperity,  as  may  be  seen  by  the  following  tabulation, 
showing  the  valuation  of  the  state  and  also  of  Van  Buren  county 
for  the  past  sixty  years,  as  fixed  by  the  state  board  of  equalization. 

Date  State.  County. 

1851  $      30,976,270                    '"  $      541,663 

1853  120,362,470  1,683,561 

1856  137,663,009  2,132,374 

1861  172,055,805  2,591,490 

1866  307,965,842  4,926,238 

1871  630,000,000  11,550,000 

1876  630,000,000  11,000,000 

1881  810,000,000  14,000,000 

1886  945,459,000  14,000,000 

1891  1,130,000,000  15^000,000 

1896  1,105,100,000  14,500,000 

1901  1,578,100,000  16,000,000 

1906  1,734,100,000  17,000,000 

191.1 2,390,000,000  27,300,000 

A  glance  at  the  foregoing  tables  will  show  that  during  the  past 
sixty  years  the  state  of  Michigan  has  increased  in  wealth  seventy- 
seven  fold  and,  that  during  the  same  length  of  time,  from  1850  to 
1910,  its  population  has  been  multiplied  nearly  eight  times,  while 
Van  Buren  county  during  the  same  period  increased  in  wealth  fifty- 
two  fold,  probably  as  great  an  increase  as  would  be  shown  by  any 
other  rural  county  in  the  entire  state;  its  population  during  the 
same  time  has  increased  nearly  six-fold. 

When  we  realize  something  of  the  greatness  of  our  state  and  take 
cognizance  of  its  various  industrial  interests,  its  mines  of  iron, 
copper  and  coal,  its  beds  of  cement,  its  magnificent  orchards,  vine- 
yards and  farms,  its  unsurpassed  manufacturing  industries,  its  salt 
and  its  sugar,  its  beautiful  cities  and  villages,  its  great  transporta- 
tion facilities,  both  by  land  and  by  water,  its  fisheries  around  the 
great  lakes  that  lave  its  borders,  its  beautiful  inland  lakes  and 
streams,  its  thousands  upon  thousands  of  handsome  and  commo- 
dious dwellings,  in  country  as  well  as  in  city,  and  a  thousand  and 
one  other  attractions,  it  would  seem  that  there  is  no  other  state 
in  the  Union  that  can  excel  it,  or  that  can  bestow  upon  its  fortunate 
inhabitants  more  of  the  comforts  and  luxuries  of  life.  If  Michigan 
were  to  be  cut  off  from  all  communication  with  the  rest  of  the 
world,  her  people  would  still  be  a  prosperous  people  and  would 
lack  none  of  the  real  necessities  and*  few  of  the  luxuries  to  which 
they  have  been  accustomed.  It  was  indeed  a  happy  thought  when 
her  pioneer  statesmen  chose  for  her  motto,  that  most  appropriate 
legend  Si  Quaeris  Peninsulam  Amoenam  Circumspice. 


76 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


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The  County  of  Today 


CHAPTER  III 

CIVIL  AND  EARLY  HISTORY 

First  Michigan  County — Van  Buren  County  Created — Civil 
and  Judicial  Organization — Township  Organization — Pioneer 
Pictures — Van  Buren  County  Pioneer  Association — Edwin 
Barnum's  Poem — Oslerism  Reviewed. 

I  hear  the  tread  of  pioneers, 

Of  nations  yet  to  be, 
The  first  low  wash  of  waves  where  soon 

Shall  wave  a  human  sea. 
The  rudiments  of  empire  here 

Are  plastic  yet  and  warm, 
The  chaos  of  a  mighty  world 

Is  rounding  into  form. 

It  is  popularly  supposed  that  Van  Buren  county  once  formed  a 
part  of  the  county  of  Wayne,  but  this  supposition,  strictly  speak- 
ing, is  incorrect.  It  is  true,  however,  that  on  the  15th  day  of  July, 
1796,  General  Arthur  St.  Clair,  at  that  time  governor  of  the 
Northwest  territory,  issued  an  executive  proclamation  by  which 
he  assumed  to  organize  the  county  of  Wayne,  and  in  which  he  in- 
cluded the  northwestern  part  of  Ohio,  the  northeastern  part  of 
Indiana  and  the  whole  of  Michigan,  which  at  that  time  included 
a  part  of  the  state  of  Wisconsin,  truly  a  magnificent  extent  of  ter- 
ritory to  be  included  within  the  boundaries  of  a  single  county. 
But  at  that  time  the  county  of  Van  Buren  had  not  been  named  or 
thought  of  as  a  distinct  entity,  and  the  Indian  title  to  a  large 
portion  of  the  widely  extended  county  thus  attempted  to  be  created 
had  not  been  extinguished,  so  that  the  proclamation  of  Governor 
St.  Clair,  in-so-far  as  the  territory  which  subsequently  became  Van 
Buren  county  was  involved,  was  a  mere  nullity,  it  being  then,  as  it 
has  always  since  been,  the  policy  of  the  general  government  to  rec- 
ognize the  title  of  the  Indian  tribes  to  the  lands  occupied  by  them 
and  not  to  attempt  to  exercise  jurisdiction  therein  until  such  time 
as  their  title  should  be  extinguished  and  vested  in  the  United 
States. 

77 


78       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

First  Michigan  County 

The  first  actual  county  organization  within  the  territory  of 
Michigan  was  created  by  proclamation  of  General  Lewis  Cass, 
governor  of  the  territory,  dated  November  21st,  1815,  as  follows: 
' '  To  all  to  whom  these  presents  may  come,  greeting :  Know  ye,  that 
I  do  hereby  lay  out  that  part  of  the  territory  of  Michigan  to  which 
the  Indian  title  has  been  extinguished  into  a  county  to  be  called 
the  County  of  Wayne,  and  the  seat  of  justice  of  said  county  shall 
be  at  the  City  of  Detroit."     (Territorial  Laws,  Vol.  I.  p.  323). 

The  proclamation  of  Governor  Cass,  above  quoted,  makes  the 
new  county  cover  all  the  territory  to  which  the  "Indian  title  has 
been  extinguished, ' '  and  as  the  title  to  the  territory  included  with- 
in the  boundaries  of  Van  Buren  county  remained  in  the  Pot- 
tawattamies  until  what  is  called  the  Chicago  treaty  of  1821,  some 
six  years  after  the  proclamation  creating  the  county  of  Wayne, 
such  proclamation  did  not  affect  the  territory  now  included  within 
boundaries  of  this  county. 

This  treaty  was  signed  by  General  Cass  and  Solomon  Sibley,  as 
commissioners  of  the  United  States,  and  had  attached  to  it  the 
totemic  signatures  of  Topinabee,  Wesaw  and  fifty-three  other 
chiefs  of  the  Pottawattamies.  By  this  treaty  the  Indian  title  was 
extinguished  to  all  the  present  county  of  Van  Buren,  as  well  as 
to  certain  other  lands,  being  nearly  all  of  Berrien  county;  nine 
entire  counties  and  a  part  of  five  others,  all  in  southwest  Michi- 
gan, and  also  a  strip  of  land  ten  miles  in  width  south  of  the  state 
line  between  Michigan  and  Indiana. 

By  executive  proclamation,  dated  September  10,  1822,  made  by 
Governor  Cass,  it  was  ordered  that  "All  the  country  within  this 
territory  to  which  the  Indian  title  was  extinguished  by  the  treaty 
of  Chicago  shall  be  attached  to,  and  compose  a  part  of  the  coun- 
ty of  Monroe,' '  so  that  for  municipal  purposes  the  territory  after- 
ward organized  as  the  county  of  Van  Buren  was  first  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  Monroe  county.  (Territorial  Laws,  Vol.  I.  p. 
335-336). 

Van  Buren  County  Created 

The  first  act  of  the  legislature  of  the  territory  affecting  Van 
Buren  county  was  placed  upon  the  statute  books  in  1829  and  was  as 
follows:  "That  so  much  of  the  territory  included  within  the 
following  limits— viz.,  beginning  where  the  line  between  ranges 
twelve  and  thirteen  west  of  the  meridian  intersects  the  base  line, 
thence  west  to  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  thence  southerly  along 
the  shore  of  said  lake  to  the  intersection  of  the  line  between  town- 
ships two  and  three  south  of  the  base  line,  thence  east  on  the 
line  between  said  townships  to  the  intersection  of  the  line  between 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY       79 

ranges  sixteen  and  seventeen  west  of  the  meridian,  thence  south 
on  the  line  between  said  ranges  to  the  intersection  of  the  line 
between  townships  four  and  five  south  of  the  base  line,  thence  east 
on  the  line  between  said  townships  to  the  intersection  of  the  line 
between  ranges  twelve  and  thirteen  west  of  the  meridian,  thence 
north  on  the  line  between  said  ranges  to  the  base  line  be  and  the 
same  is  hereby  set  off  into  a  separate  county  and  the  name  thereof 
shall  be  Van  Buren/ '     (Territorial  Laws,  Vol.  II.  p.  736). 

This  act  embraced  the  territory  included  within  the  present  coun- 
ty of  Van  Bur  en. 

In  the  same  year,  the  legislature  passed  an  act  organizing  the 
county  of  Cass,  establishing  a  county  court  therein  and  provid- 
ing for  the  holding  of  two  terms  of  court  in  said  county  each  year. 
Section  four  of  the  same  act  provided  "that  the  counties  of  Ber- 
rien and  Van  Buren  and  all  the  country  lying  north  of  the  same 
to  Lake  Michigan,  shall  be  attached  to  and  form  a  part  of  the 
county  of  Cass."  (Territorial  Laws,  Vol.  II.  p.  745).  By  this 
act  Van  Buren.  still  unable  to  stand  alone,  found  her  second 
municipal  copartner. 

By  the  same  act  of  the  legislature  the  counties  of  Calhoun  and 
Jackson  came  into  existence,  thus  placing  with  others,  in  the  two 
southern  tiers  of  counties,  Van  Buren,  Cass,  Calhoun,  Jackson  and 
Monroe,  the  names  of  these  noted  Democratic  statesmen  plainly 
indicating  the  prevailing  political  sentiment  in  the  territory.  Just 
why  Michigan  was  not,  at  the  same  time,  honored  by  having  a 
county  named  Jefferson,  as  well  as  after  these  other  distiguished 
statesmen,  is  a  little  singular. 

Civil  and  Judicial  Organization 

In  1835  the  legislative  council  of  the  territory  ordained  "that 
the  county  of  Van  Buren  shall  be  a  township  by  the  name  of  La 
Fayette,  and  the  first  township  meeting  shall  be  held  at  the  school- 
house  near  Paw  Paw  mills,  in  said  township."  (Territorial  Laws, 
Vol.  III.  p.  1403). 

However,  it  was  not  until  Michigan  had  been  admitted  as  a 
state  that  the  county  was  fully  organized  and  endowed  with  the 
necessary  political  machinery  for  the  management  of  her  own 
municipal  affairs. 

In  1837  the  first  legislature  of  the  newly  admitted  state  en- 
acted a  law  providing,  among  other  things  "that  the  county  of 
Van  Buren  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  organized,  and  the  inhabit- 
ants thereof  entitled  to  all  the  rights  and  privileges  to  which  by 
law  the  inhabitants  of  the  other  counties  are  entitled. 

"All  suits,  prosecutions  and  other  matters  now  pending  before 


80       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

any  court,  or  before  any  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  county  to 
which  said  county  of  Van  Buren  is  now  attached  for  judicial 
purposes,  shall  be  prosecuted  to  final  judgment  and  execution,  and 
all  taxes  heretofore  levied  shall  be  collected  in  the  same  manner 
as  though  this  act  had  not  passed. 

"The  circuit  court  for  the  county  of  Van  Buren  shall  be  held 
for  one  year  from  the  first  day  of  November  next,  at  such  place 
as  the  supervisors  of  said  county  shall  provide  in  said  county,  on 
the  first  Monday  in  June  and  December  in  each  year,  and  after 
the  first  day  of  November,  1838,  at  the  seat  of  justice  in  said 
county. 

"There  shall  be  elected  in  said  county  of  Van  Buren,  on  the 
second  Monday  of  April  next,  all  the  several  county  officers  to 
which  by  law  the  said  county  is  entitled,  and  whose  terms  of  office 
shall  expire  at  the  time  the  same  would  have  expired,  had  they 
been  elected  on  the  first  Monday  and  the  next  succeeding  day  of 
November  last,  and  said  election  shall  in  all  respects  be  conducted 
and  held  in  the  manner  prescribed  by  law  for  holding  elections 
for  county  and  state  officers. 

"In  case  the  election  for  county  officers  shall  not  be  held  on 
the  second  Monday  of  April,  as  provided  by  the  eighth  section  of 
this  act,  the  same  may  be  held  on  the  first  Monday  of  May  next." 
(Laws  of  Michigan,  1837,  pp.  97-98.) 

In  those  early  days,  it  will  be  observed,  it  was  the  practice  to 
hold  elections  on  two  successive  days  and  should  they  not  be  so 
held  the  statute  gave  the  people  another  opportunity  to  exercise 
their  right  of  franchise.  Just  imagine,  if  such  a  thing  be  pos- 
sible, the  voters  of  the  present  day  neglecting  an  opportunity  to 
hold  an  election.    And  they  do  not  need  two  days  for  it  at  that. 

The  election  was  held  at  the  appointed  date,  to-wit,  on  the  11th 
day  of  April,  1837,  and  resulted  in  the  choice  of  the  following 
named  officers:  First  county  judge,  Wolcott  H.  Keeler,  of  Cov- 
ington; second  county  judge,  Jay  R.  Monroe,  of  South  Haven; 
county  treasurer,  Daniel  0.  Dodge,  of  Lafayette ;  judge  of  probate, 
Jeremiah  H.  Simmons,  of  Lafayette ;  sheriff  Samuel  Gunton ;  reg- 
ister of  deeds,  Jeremiah  H.  Simmons,  of  Lafayette ;  county  clerk, 
Nathaniel  B.  Starkweather;  county  surveyor,  Humphrey  P.  Bar- 
num,  of  Lafayette;  coroners,  John  R.  Haynes,  of  Lawrence,  and 
Junia  Warner,  Jr.,  of  Antwerp. 

The  highest  number  of  votes  cast  for  any  candidate  was  ninety 
and  the  least  number  was  sixty-two. 

At  that  date  the  county  consisted  of  seven  townships,  viz., 
South  Haven,  Clinch,  Lawrence,  Lafayette,  Antwerp,  Covington 
and  Decatur.     The  vote  by  townships,  as  returned  and  canvassed, 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY       81 

was  as  follows:     South  Haven,  10;  Lawrence,  13;  Lafayette,  23; 
Antwerp,  17;  Covington,  27. 

No  returns  were  received  from  the  townships  of  Decatur  and 
Clinch,  and  the  presumption  is  that  no  election  was  held  in  those 
townships. 

Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the  statute  above  quoted  the 
board  of  supervisors  of  the  newly  organized  county  convened  on 
the  27th  day  of  May,  1837,  for  the  purpose  of  designating  the 
place  where  the  circuit  court  in  and  for  said  county  should  be 
held. 

This  was  the  first  meeting  of  that  august  body,  which  is  some- 
times designated  as  the  county  legislature.  The  record  of  this 
meeting  is  very  brief  and  reads  as  follows:  "The  supervisors  of 
the  towns  of  Van  Buren  County  met  at  the  village  of  Paw  Paw, 
on  the  27th  day  of  May,  A.  D.  1837,  and  organized  by  appointing 
D.  0.  Dodge  clerk. 

"The  business  of  said  meeting  being  for  locating  the  place  for 
the  circuit  courts  of  said  county:  Whereupon,  it  is  decided  that 
the  courts  of  said  county  be  held  at  the  schoolhouse  in  the  village 
of  Paw  Paw. 

"D.  O.  Dodge,  Clerk.7 ' 

This  action  of  the  board  of  supervisors,  while  having  no  special 
reference  to  the  final  location  of  the  county  seat  of  the  county, 
may  well  be  considered  as  the  entering  wTedge  to  a  long  and  more 
or  less  bitter  and  hard  fought  contest  over  that  matter  which 
eventually  resulted  in  the  permanent  location  of  the  county  build- 
ings at  Paw  Paw,  where  they  are  likely  to  remain  indefinitely. 
This  matter  is  presented  at  length  in  its  proper  place  in  this  work. 

Township  Organization 

To  further  provide  for  the  complete  organization  of  the  coun- 
ty, the  legislature  of  1837  enacted  as  follows:  "All  that  portion 
of  the  county  of  Van  Buren  known  as  township  number  three 
south  of  range  number  thirteen  west,  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby 
set  off  and  organized  into  a  separate  township  by  the  name  of 
Antwerp ;  and  the  first  township  meeting  therein  shall  be  held  at 
the  house  of  Philip  Williams,  in  said  township.  (This  is  the  only 
town  in  the  county  that  has  undergone  neither  change  of  name 
nor  territory  since  the  organization  of  the  county.) 

"All  that  portion  of  the  county  of  Van  Buren  designated  by  the 
United  States  survey  as  townships  one  and  two  south  of  range 
thirteen  and  fourteen  west,  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  and 
organized  into  a  separate  township  by  the  name  of  Clinch,  and  the 
first  township  meeting  therein  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  Charles 


82       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Townsend,  in  said  township.  (The  township  of  Clinch  disap- 
peared from  the  map  of  Van  Buren  county  so  many  years  ago  that 
very  few  of  its  citizens  are  aware  that  there  ever  was  a  township 
by  that  name.  The  territory  embraced  within  the  boundaries  of 
this  ancient  township  now  constitutes  the  townships  of  Pine  Grove, 
Bloomingdale,  Waverly  and  Almena). 

"All  that  portion  of  the  county  of  Van  Buren,  designated  by 
the  United  States  survey  as  township  three  south  of  range  four- 
teen west,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  and  organized  into 
a  separate  township,  by  the  name  of  Lafayette ;  and  the  first  town- 
ship meeting  therein  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  D.  O.  Dodge,  in 
said  township.  (This  township,  as  above  designated,  is  now  the 
township  of  Paw  Paw.  Few  people  are  aware  that  Berrien  county 
first  had  a  township  named  Paw  Paw,  but  such  is  the  fact.)  (Laws 
of  Michigan,  1837,  p.  38.) 

"All  that  portion  of  the  county  of  Van  Buren  designated  by  the 
United  States  survey  as  townships  four  south  in  ranges  thirteen 
and  fourteen  west,  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  and  organized 
into  a  separate  township  by  the  name  of  Decatur,  and  the  first 
township  meeting,  shall  be  held  at  the  schoolhouse  near  Little 
Prairie  Ronde  in  said  township.  (The  west  half  of  the  territory  so 
organized  into  a  township  still  remains  as  the  township  of  Decatur, 
wrhile  the  east  half  of  the  same  constitutes  the  present  township  of 
Porter). 

"All  that  portion  of  the  county  of  Van  Buren  designated  in  the 
United  States  survey  as  township  one  south  in  ranges  fifteen,  six- 
teen and  seventeen  west,  and  township  two  south  in  ranges  sixteen 
and  seventeen  west,  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  and  organ- 
ized into  a  separate  township  by  the  name  of  South  Haven;  and 
the  first  township  meeting  therein  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of 
J.  R.  Monroe,  in  said  township.  (The  territory  so  organized  into 
a  single  township  now  comprises  the  townships  of  South  Haven, 
Geneva,  Columbia,  Bangor  and  Covert). 

"All  that  portion  of  the  county  of  Van  Buren,  designated  by 
the  United  States  survey  as  township  two  south  in  range  fifteen 
west,  and  township  three  south  in  ranges  fifteen  and  sixteen  west, 
be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  and  organized  into  a  separate 
township  by  the  name  of  Lawrence;  and  the  first  township  meet- 
ing therein  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  Horace  Stimpson  in  said 
township.  (The  territory  so  organized  now  comprises  the  present 
townships  of  Lawrence,  Arlington,  and  Hartford). 

"All  that  portion  of  the  county  of  Van  Buren  designated  by  the 
United  States  survey  as  township  four  south  in  ranges  fifteen  and 
sixteen  west,  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  and  organized  into 
a  separate  township  by  the  name  of  Covington ;  and  the  first  town- 


HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY       88 

ship  meeting  therein  shall  be  held  at  the  Keelerville  postoffice  in 
said  township ' '  ( Covington,  which  covered  the  present  townships  of 
Keeler  and  Hamilton,  sank  into  oblivion,  as  did  its  sister  township 
of  Clinch,  and  is  not  now  even  a  memory  save  only  to  a  few  of  the 
oldest  inhabitants  of  the  county). 

The  foregoing  quotations  are  from  the  Laws  of  Michigan  for 
1837,  pages  35,  37  and  38. 

The  legislature  of  1839  (Laws  of  Michigan,  1839,  p.  27)  enacted 
that  townships  number  three  and  four  south,  of  range  number  six- 
teen west,  should  be  set  off  and  organized  into  a  separate  township 
to  be  called  Keeler,  and  that  the  first  township  meeting  should 
be  held  at  the  house  of  W.  H.  Keeler  in  said  township.  This  new 
township  comprised  the  present  township  of  Hartford,  then  a 
part  of  Lawrence,  and  the  west  half  of  the  then  township  of  Cov- 
ington. 

At  the  same  session  of  the  legislature  (Laws  of  Michigan,  1839, 
p.  24)  an  act  was  passed  organizing  township  number  four  south, 
of  range  number  fifteen  west,  into  a  separate  towTnship  to  be  known 
as  the  township  of  Alpena,  and  providing  that  the  first  township 
meeting  should  be  held  at  the  house  of  Henry  Coleman  in  said 
township.  By  these  two  acts  the  township  of  Covington  was  en- 
tirely wiped  off  the  map  of  the  county. 

Another  lawr,  enacted  in  1840,  changed  the  name  of  the  town- 
ship of  Alpena  to  Hamilton,  and  as  such  it  still  remains.  (Laws 
of  Michigan,  1840.  p.  80.)     ' 

By  the  same  legislature  township  number  three  south,  of  range 
number  sixteen  west,  was  organized  into  a  new  township  to  be 
known  as  Hartford,  and  the  first  township  meeting  was  ordered 
to  be  held  at  the  house  of  Smith  Johnson  in  said  township.  (Laws 
of  Michigan,  1840,  p.  79.)  This  township  comprised  the  north 
half  of  the  township  of  Keeler. 

The  legislature  of  1842  (Laws  of  Michigan,  1842,  pp.  83  and  84) 
passed  an  act  organizing  three  new  townships  in  the  county  of 
Van  Buren ;  to-wit,  tow7nships  number  one  and  two  south,  of 
range  number  fourteen  west,  then  a  part  of  the  township  of  Clinch, 
were  set  off  and  organized  into  a  township  to  be  called  Waverly, 
the  first  township  meeting  to  be  held  at  the  schoolhouse  near  Ash- 
bel  Herring's,  in  said  township.  (The  name  should  have  been  Her- 
ron,  instead  of  Herring. ) 

Townships  number  one  and  two  south,  of  range  number  thir- 
teen west,  also  a  part  of  the  township  of  Clinch,  were  set  off  and 
organized  into  a  township  to  be  called  Almena,  the  first  town 
meeting  to  be  held  at  the  schoolhouse  near  Willard  Newcomb's 
in  said  township.     By  the  organization  of  these  two  towrnships, 


84       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

the  township  of  Clinch  ceased  to  exist  and  has  been  practically  for- 
gotten. 

By  the  same  act  of  the  legislature  township  number  two  south, 
of  range  number  fifteen  west,  at  that  time  a  part  of  the  township 
of  Lawrence,  wTas  set  off  and  organized  into  a  separate  township 
under  the  name  of  Arlington,  the  first  town  meeting  to  be  held  at 
the  house  of  Allen  Briggs  in  said  township. 

In  1845  (Laws  of  Michigan,  1845,  pp.  50  and  51)  the  following 
township  organizations  were  effected,  viz. :  Township  number  one 
south,  of  range  number  fourteen  west,  then  constituting  the  north 
half  of  the  township  of  Waverly,  was  set  off  and  organized  into  a 
township  to  be  known  as  and  called  the  towrnship  of  Bloomingdale, 
the  first  town  meeting  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  Elisha  C.  Cox  in 
said  township. 

Townships  number  one  south,  of  ranges  number  fifteen  and  six- 
teen west,  then  being  a  part  of  the  township  of  South  Haven,  were 
set  off  and  organized  into  a  township  under  the  name  of  Colum- 
bia, the  first  township  meeting  to  be  held  at  the  schoolhouse  in 
district  number  four  in  said  township. 

Township  number  four  south,  of  range  number  thirteen  west, 
being  the  east  half  of  the  then  township  of  Decatur,  was  set  off 
and  organized  as  the  township  of  Porter,  the  first  township  meet- 
ing to  be  held  at  the  schoolhouse  near  the  residence  of  Benjamin 
Reynolds. 

This  same  act  also  provided  that  township  number  two  south 
of  range  number  sixteen  west,  should  be  organized  into  a  town- 
ship to  be  called  South  Haven,,  the  first  town  meeting  to  be  held  at 
the  house  of  Daniel  Taylor  in  said  township.  This  embraced  what 
is  now  the  present  township  of  Bangor,  and  was  already  a  part 
of  the  township  of  South  Haven,  as  theretofore  organized,  which 
organization  was  left  intact,  except  that  the  township  of  Colum- 
bia had  been  detached  therefrom,  as  hereinbefore  noted. 

It  is  evident  that  there  must  have  been  some  mistake  in  this 
matter.  This  township  does  not  border  on  Lake  Michigan  and 
there  was  nothing  in  the  situation  that  could  possibly  have  sug- 
gested the  name  "Haven,"  south  or  in  any  other  direction,  and 
it  has  never  been  known  as  the  township  of  South  Haven,  nor  in 
any  way  treated  as  such,  except  as  it  formed  a  part  of  said  town- 
ship as  originally  organized  in  1837.  The  legislature  of  the  next 
year,  1846,  appears  to  have  been  informed  of  the  error  and  so 
passed  a  new  law,  the  third,  for  the  organization  of  the  township 
of  South  Haven.  This  statute  provided  that  fractional  townships 
number  one  and  two  south  of  range  number  seventeen  west,  frac- 
tional township  number  two  south  of  range  number  eighteen  west, 
and  township  number  two  south  of  range  number  sixteen  west, 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY       85 

should  be  organized  into  a  township  by  the  name  of  South  Haven, 
and  that  the  act  of  1845,  above  noted,  be  repealed.  This  left  the 
township  of  South  Haven  the  same  as  originally  organized  in 
1839,  except  that  township  number  two  south  of  range  number 
eighteen  west,  a  small  triangular  piece  of  land  jutting  into  the 
lake,  containing  about  one  section,  was  added,  and  that  townships 
number  one  south  of  ranges  numbers  fifteen  and  sixteen  west  had 
been  detached  and  organized  into  the  township  of  Columbia,  as 
above  noted.     (Laws  of  Michigan,  1846,  p.  126.) 

The  legislature  of  1849  enacted  that  township  number  one  south, 
of  range  number  thirteen  west,  the  north  half  of  the  then  township 
of  Almena,  should  be  set  off  and  organized  into  a  township  to  be 
called  Pine  Grove,  and  that  the  first  town  meeting  should  be 
held  at  the  house  of  Henry  F.  Bowen  in  said  township.  (Laws  of 
Michigan,  1849,  p.  105.) 

The  townships  of  Bangor,  Geneva  and  Deerfield  were  organized, 
not  by  act  of  the  legislature,  but  by  resolution  of  the  board  of 
supervisors.  On  the  11th  day  of  October,  1853,  at  the  annual 
session  of  the  board,  a  resolution  was  adopted,  reading  in  part 
as  followrs:  "Resolved,  that  township  number  two  south  of  range 
number  sixteen  west,  situate  at  present  in  and  belonging  to  the 
township  of  South  Haven,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  from 
said  township  and  organized  into  a  new  towTnship  by  the  name  of 
the  township  of  Bangor,  and  that  the  time  and  place  of  holding 
the  first  annual  meeting  in  said  township  of  Bangor  shall  be  on 
the  first  Monday  of  April  next,  1854,  at  the  schoolhouse  situated 
on  section  twelve,  in  said  township/ ' 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  board  of  supervisors  held  on  the  5th 
day  of  January,  1854,  a  similar  resolution,  in  part  as  follows  was 
adopted:  "Resolved,  that  township  number  one  south  of  range 
number  sixteen  west,  situate  at  present  in  and  belonging  to  the 
township  of  Columbia,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  from  said 
towTnship  and  organized  into  a  new  township  by  the  name  of  Geneva, 
and  that  the  time  and  place  of  holding  the  first  township  meeting 
in  said  township  of  Geneva  shall  be  on  the  first  Monday  of  April 
next,  1854,  at  the  dwelling  house  of  Nathan  Tubbs,  on  section  two 
in  said  township/ ' 

At  a  session  of  the  board  of  supervisors,  held  on  the  8th  day  of 
October,  1855,  a  resolution  reading  in  part  as  follows  was  adopted : 
"Resolved,  that  township  number  two  south  of  range  number 
seventeen  west,  situated  at  present  in  and  belonging  to  the  town- 
ship of  South  Haven,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  and  organized 
into  a  new  township  by  the  name  of  Deerfield,  and  that  the  time 
and  place  of  holding  the  first  annual  township  meeting  in  said 
township  of  Deerfield  shall  be  on  the  first  Monday  of  April  next, 


86  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

1856,  at  the  dwelling  house  of  Hiram  Fish,  on  section  number  21 
in  said  township." 

This  action  on  the  part  of  the  board  of  supervisors  of  the  county 
completed  the  organization  of  the  county  into  eighteen  townships, 
each  of  which,  with  the  exception  of  the  fractional  townships  of 
South  Haven  and  Deerfield,  (now  Covert)  was  six  miles  square  and 
contained  thirty-six  sections  of  land.  No  change  has  been  made 
in  the  boundaries  of  any  township  since  the  date  last  mentioned, 
except  that,  by  action  of  the  board  of  supervisors  at  their  October 
session,  1871,  section  number  thirty-two  and  the  west  half  of  sec- 
tion number  thirty-one  of  the  township  of  Waverly  was  set  off 
from  said  township  and  attached  to  the  township  of  Paw  Paw, 
and  the  southeast  part  of  the  township  of  Arlington,  south  of  the 
Paw  Paw  river  about  one-third  of  section  thirty-six,  has  been  set  off 
and  attached  to  the  township  of  Lawrence.  The  only  other  changes 
that  have  taken  place  have  been  changes  of  name,  the  township  of 
Lafayette  having  been  changed  to  Paw  Paw  and  the  township  of 
Deerfield  having  been  renamed  Covert.  It  is  altogether  unlikely 
that  any  other  alterations  will  be  made,  at  least  for  many  years  to 
come. 

Pioneer  Pictures 

The  following  extracts  from  an  article  written  by  Hon.  Alex- 
ander B.  Copley,  and  read  at  the  meeting  of  the  Van  Buren  Coun- 
ty Pioneer  Association  in  1894,  will  serve  to  give  some  idea  of  the 
customs,  the  difficulties  and  the  hardships  encountered  by  the  brave 
and  hardy  pioneers  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  this  prosperous 
and  beautiful  land  they  have  bequeathed  to  us.  He  says:  "At 
the  time  of  which  I  am  writing,  (the  early  thirties)  it  is  doubtful 
if  there  was  a  cabin  with  rafters  and  board  gable  in  either  Cass  or 
Van  Buren  county,  and  for  years  thereafter  one  could  distinguish 
the  eastern  settler  from  the  southern  by  the  board  gable  with 
rafters,  the  logs  squared  at  the  corners,  and  the  chimney  built  on 
the  inside  without  jams  and  supported  on  the  curved  timbers  of 
a  natural  crook. 

"The  farming  tools  of  the  pioneer  were  of  the  simplest  kind, 
hardly  differing  from  their  ancestors  of  fifty  to  a  hundred  years 
before.  An  ax,  iron  wedge,  bar  share  plow  (which  was  a  plow 
with  share  and  landslide  combined)  to  which  a  wooden  mould 
board  was  attached,  shovel  plow  (sometimes  iron  harrow  teeth,  more 
often  wooden  ones),  a  heavy  hoe,  and  a  sickle  for  cutting  grain, 
which,  after  being  cut,  was  stacked  around  a  circular  threshing 
floor  of  dirt,  upon  which  it  was  tramped  out  by  horses  and  win- 
nowed by  one  man  throwing  it  into  the  air,  while  two  men  flopped 
a  sheet  to  fan  it. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREX  COUNTY  87 

kkThe  first  fanning  mill  in  the  settlement  was  in  1831.  The 
wheat  was  in  poor  condition  for  flour,  the  smut  and  dirt  were 
mixed  with  it,  and  the  rude  mills  of  that  day  had  few  appliances 
to  clean  and  scour  the  grain  as  compared  with  the  complicated 
machinery  of  modern  days.  The  result  was  a  leaden-colored 
product  much  unlike,  in  appearance,  taste  or  smell,  the  snow-white 
roller  process  flour  of  today,  and  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  thresh- 
ing, on  account  of  stormy  weather  at  times,  bad  roads  and  the 
mills  a  long  distance  away,  the  settlers  were  often  entirely  out  of 
flour  and  borrowing  was  the  rule  and  general  practice.  Sometimes 
even  borrowing  was  unavailable,  as,  for  instance,  Dolphin  Morris 
(of  Decatur  township)  and  his  brother  were  gone  fourteen  days 
to  mill,  Lacey's  mill,  near  Niles,  although  the  distance  was  but 
thirty  miles.  Some  difficulty  at  the  mill  at  first,  then  a  severe  storm 
of  rain  and  sleet  and  snow,  compelled  them  to  abandon  their  loads 
and  wagons,  except  the  forward  wheels  of  one  wagon  upon  which 
they  placed  a  small  supply  of  flour  for  temporary  use;  and  even 
then  they  were  three  days  in  going  twenty  miles  to  reach  their 
families,  who  were  out  of  bread  and  fearing  the  worst  that  could 
have  happened  to  the  absent  husbands. 

k'The  spring  of  1832  was  particularly  unfortunate;  the  Sac  war 
for  one  thing,  when  everyone  expected  an  uprising  of  the  resi- 
dent Indians  and  nearly  all  the  settlers  were  called  out  to  resist 
the  threatened  invasion  of  Blackhawk  and  his  warriors.  Happily 
this  scare  soon  passed  away  and  the  settlers  returned  to  their 
families,  but  the  weather  was  very  unfavorable  for  crops,  the  corn 
having  been  twice  cut  dowrn  by  frosts  and  there  being  no  seed  for 
replanting.  As  a  last  resort,  Mr.  Morris  sent  a  boy  of  fifteen  with 
pack  horses  to  Defiance,  Ohio,  a  distance  of  over  a  hundred  miles, 
to  procure  seed  corn.  The  lad  was  successful  in  procuring  two 
bushels,  arriving  home  late  one  Saturday  night  and  the  next  day 
all  hands  turned  out  and  planted  it,  the  product  of  which  was  all 
the  corn  raised  in  the  neighborhood  that  year. 

"The  dress  of  the  settlers  was  of  the  most  primitive  style,  both 
as  to  fashion  and  material.  With  the  men  the  old  time  hunting 
shirt  had  given  way  to  a  garment  called  a  'wamus,'  a  loose  blouse 
with  a  narrow  binding  at  the  top  and  a  single  button  at  the  throat, 
the  skirt  reaching  to  the  hips  when  loose,  or  to  the  waist  when 
tied  by  the  corners  as  it  was  usually  worn.  The  material  wras 
Hnsey,  a  homespun  cloth  of  cotton  and  wool  woven  plain.  Pan- 
taloons were  of  jeans,  blue  or  butternut,  with  different  shades  of 
color  as  the  different  skeins  of  yarn  took  on  a  light  or  dark  hue 
in  the  dyeing.  Occasionally  buckskin  trousers  were  worn,  or 
trousers  faced  with  buckskin,  fore  and  aft,  as  a  sailor  would  say, 
where  the  protection  would  be  the  most  serviceable. 


88       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

"Feminine  fashions  were  at  a  standstill,  and  it  would  be  pre- 
sumptuous for  me  to  attempt  to  describe  them,  still  it  would  be 
an  easier  task  then  than  now,  for  as  I  look  on  this  beautiful  scene 
before  me,  who  could  describe  the  lovely  toilets  which  meet  the  eye 
on  every  side,  their  style,  color  and  material  eclipsed  only  by  the 
cha'rms  of  the  wearers?  Suffice  it  to  say  that  notwithstanding  the 
poke  bonnets  from  five  to  ten  years  old,  the  belles  and  matrons  who 
wore  them  were  worthy  of  being  the  mothers  and  grandmothers 
of  the  radiant  maidens  of  today. 

' i  The  chief  business  of  the  pioneer  was  to  live.  Speculation  and 
money-making  was  not  considered,  as  their  locations  and  first  set- 
tlements show.  An  easy  place  to  farm  was  sought  for;  hence  a 
choice  location  on  a  prairie  was  taken  without  taking  into  con- 
sideration the  distance  from  market.  Rich  lands  were  available 
near  the  St.  Joseph  river,  navigable  to  the  lake  and  thence  by 
water,  but  the  emigrant  passed  on  for  thirty  miles  to  a  prairie, 
even  if  it  took  several  days  to  get  a  barrel  of  salt.  What  was 
time  to  men  whose  wants  were  so  few?  The  forests,  the  swamps 
and  the  lakes  were  to  them  vast  storehouses  furnishing  both  amuse- 
ment and  subsistence.  Game  of  many  kinds  abounded  in  the  for- 
est, the  streams  and  lakes  teemed  with  fish,  wild  honey  from  the 
woods,  huckleberries  and  cranberries  from  the  swamps,  and  vari- 
ous other  kinds  of  wild  fruits  in  plenty,  all  served  to  make  life 
at  times  a  holiday.  Not  all  sunshine,  however.  In  1835  there  was 
a  great  frost  in  June,  almost  totally  destroying  a  promising  crop 
prospect  and  very  nearly  causing  a  famine,  only  a  few  favored 
localities  escaping  the  general  destruction.  The  roads  of  those 
early  days  were  execrable,  especially  in  the  timbered  lands.  Wa- 
gons were  generally  covered,  and  an  axe  and  log  chain  were  al- 
ways taken  on  trips  of  any  considerable  distance,  such  as  going 
to  mill  or  market,  as  the  roads  were  liable  to  be  obstructed  by 
trees  blown  down  during  heavy  rain  storms  or  high  winds. 

"As  an  example  of  the  early  roads  and  teaming  in  Van  Buren 
county,  on  the  21st  day  of  September,  1834,  John  Shaw,  a  promi- 
nent settler  of  Volinia,  with  a  wagon  and  a  team  of  three  horses 
and  a  hired  man  sent  by  my  father  with  a  wagon  and  two  yoke  of 
oxen,  started  on  a  trip  from  Little  Prairie  Ronde  to  St.  Joseph 
with  wheat.  The  first  day  they  reached  Paw  Paw;  the  second 
day  Prospect  Lake;  the  third  day  camped  in  the  woods,  and  the 
fourth  day  reached  St.  Joseph.  The  fifth  day  they  sold  their  loads, 
made  their  purchases,  started  home,  and  reached  Rulo's,  a  French 
settler  ten  miles  from  St.  Joseph ;  the  sixth  day  they  got  to  Paw 
Paw,  and  the  next  day  they  reached  home,  having  camped  out 
every  night  except  the  two  nights  at  Dodge's  tavern,  Paw  Paw, 
which  at  that  time  was  little  more  than  a  shanty,  he  having  just 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY       89 

commenced  building  his  hotel.  My  father's  account  book  says: 
36  bushels  of  wheat  at  60  cents,  $21.60;  one  barrel  of  salt,  $2.50; 
expenses,  $1.94;  cash  brought  home,  $1.82;  the  rest  in  sundries. 
This  year  (1834)  was  the  first  opening  up  of  trade  and  business 
between  the  prairie  and  Paw  Paw.  The  next  year,  the  winter  of 
1835,  I  accompanied  my  father  on  a  trip  to  St.  Joseph,  with  a 
load  of  oats  to  be  exchanged  for  salt.  The  oats  sold  for  37  y2  cents 
a  bushel  and  the  salt  cost  $2.62%  per  barrel.  We  accomplished  the 
round  trip  in  six  days.  The  only  settler  at  that  time  between 
Paw  Paw  and  St.  Joseph,  was  John  B.  Rulo,  the  Frenchman  above 
mentioned,  who  lived  in  the  township  of  Bainbridge,  Berrien 
county.  A  log  barn  had  been  built  at  Prospect  Lake  and  several 
miles  farther  west  was  a  log  house,  but  no  roof;  otherwise  no  im- 
provements whatever.  But  the  snows  of  that  winter  had  hardly 
melted  before  the  road,  so  desolate  at  that  time,  had  become  an 
artery  of  life  to  the  thronging  settlers  overrunning  Aran  Buren 
county  to  found  homes  for  themselves  and  their  posterity.' ' 

Van  Buren  County  Pioneer  Association 

The  Van  Buren  County  Pioneer  Association  was  organized  at 
the  village  of  Lawrence,  on  the  22d  day  of  February,  1872.  Pur- 
suant to  a  call,  which  had  been  previously  issued,  a  large  number 
of  the  older  settlers  of  the  county  assembled  at  Chadwick's  hall  in 
that  village,  for  the  purpose  of  effecting  some  kind  of  an  organiza- 
tion in  honor  of  the  pioneers  of  the  county  and  to  commemorate 
the  scenes  and  days  of  pioneer  life. 

General  Benjamin  F.  Chadwick  was  chosen  chairman  of  the 
meeting,  Hon.  Morgan  L.  Fitch,  assistant  chairman,  and  S.  Tall- 
madge  Conway,  secretary. 

A  committee  was  appointed  on  permanent  organization,  consisting 
of  Messrs.  Chas  M.  Morrill,  John  Smolk,  William  Markillie,  Silas 
Breed  and  Orrin  Sisson. 

Hon.  Jonathan  J.  Woodman  and  Charles  IJ.  Cross  were  ap- 
pointed to  draft  a  constitution. 

The  committee  on  permanent  organization  recommended  that 
the  officers  of  the  association  be  Judge  Jay  R.  Monroe,  president  ; 
Edwin  Barnum,  vice-president,  and  S.  Tallmadge  Conway,  secre- 
tary, which  recommendations  were  adopted.  Dr.  Josiah  Andrews 
was  elected  treasurer. 

The  committee  appointed  to  draft  a  constitution  presented  its 
report,  of  which  the  following  is  the  preamble:  "We,  the  pioneer 
residents  of  Van  Buren  County,  in  order  to  perpetuate  the  memory 
of  old  associations  and  interesting  events  of  our  pioneer  life,  do 
hereby  organize  ourselves  into  an  association  to  be  called  'The 


90       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUBEN  COUNTY 

Van  Buren  County  Pioneer  Association/  ,?  The  constitution  pro- 
vided for  annual  meetings,  for  keeping  record  of  the  age,  nativity, 
etc.,  of  each  member,  outlined  the  duties  of  the  officers,  and  pre- 
scribed that  all  persons  who  had  been  residents  of  the  county  for 
twenty  years  should  be  eligible  to  membership  in  the  association. 

The  following  executive  committee  was  appointed:  David  D. 
Wise,  Pine  Grove ;  Silas  Breed,  Almena ;  Charles  M.  Morrill,  Ant- 
werp; Sanford  Corey,  Porter;  Ashbel  Herron.  Bloomingdale ; 
Reuben  J.  Myers,  Waverly;  Nathaniel  M.  Pugsley,  Paw  Paw; 
Elisha  Goble,  Decatur;  Jonathan  N.  Howard,  Columbia;  Duane 
D.  Briggs,  Arlington;  Eaton  Branch,  Lawrence;  Calvin  Fields, 
Hamilton ;  Clark  Pierce,  Geneva ;  Charles  U.  Cross,  Bangor ;  Lewis 
Miller,  Hartford;  Roderick  Irish,  Keeler;  D.  T.  Pierce,  South 
Haven ;  Miram  Pish,  Deerfield.  Of  the  gentlemen  above  named  as 
officers  and  committeemen,  not  one  remains.  All  have  passed  into 
the  great  Beyond. 

Edwin  Barnum's  Poem 

The  second  meeting  of  the  association  was  held  in  the  Town 
Hall  in  the  village  of  Paw  Paw,  on  the  22d  day  of  February,  1873. 
At  this  meeting  the  date  of  holding  the  annual  meetings  was 
changed  to  the  second  Wednesday  in  June  of  each  year.  The 
feature  of  this  meeting  was  the  following  address  of  welcome 
written  and  read  by  Edwin  Barnum  of  Paw  Paw. 

The  old  settlers  have  a  meeting ;  we  have  it  every  year. 
Last  year  we  met  at  Lawrence;  to-day  we  have  it  here. 
We've  made  the  preparation  and  sent  abroad  the  call* 
We  give  you  all  a  welcome  here  in  this  spacious  halL 

These  old  pioneers  who  assemble  here  to-day, 

Mostly  had  their  birthplace  in  lands  now  far  away: 

Some  came  from  merry  England,  and  some  were  born  in  Cork; 

Some  had  their  birth  in  Canada  and  some  in  old  New  York. 

New  England  sent  us  Yankees  from  off  her  rocky  coast, 

And  like  the  frogs  of  Egypt,  there  came  a  mighty  host. 

New  Jersey  sent  a  few,  about  a  half  a  score — 

Virginia  doubled  that,  perhaps  a  trifle  more. 

Her  noble  hardy  sons  were  first  upon  the  ground, 

And  four  and  forty  years  ago  took  Little  Prairie  Ronde — 

Our  sister,  Indiana,  that's  just  across  the  line, 

Sent  up  a  troop  of  Hoosiers,  all  stalwart  men  and  fine. 

Ohio  furnished  Buckeyes,  their  help  we  needed  much ; 

While  Pennsylvania  sent  up  to  us  the  honest  Dutch. 

No  matter  where  your  birthplace,  no  matter  in  what  land, 
We  welcome  you  as  brothers  in  this  ' '  Old  settlers '  land. ' ' 
We  welcome  you,  our  brothers  in  labor,  toil  and  care; 
We  welcome  you,  our  sisters,  you've  nobly  done  your  share. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY       91 

The  hardships  we  have  suffered  have  served  like  iron  bands 
To  bind  us  firm  together,  to  bind  our  hearts  and  hands. 
Together,  o  'er  life 's  journey,  we  've  traveled  on  the  road 
And  shared  each  other 's  trials  and  borne  each  other  's  load ; 
We  drank  the  cup  of  sorrow  with  many  a  bitter  sigh, 
We  drank  it  all  together,  we  drank  the  fountain  dry. 

Although  your  forms  are  bending,  your  step  in  somewhat  slow, 
Your  faces  much  more  wrinkled  than  thirty  years  ago; 
Although  you  lean  on  crutches,  your  heads  are  silvered  o  'er, 
Old  pioneers,  we  love  you  as  loved  in  days  of  yore. 
We  hail  you,  noble  brother,  as  the  early  pioneer 
I  know  your  early  history,  for  I  was  with  you  here. 
1  've  met  you  in  your  cabins,  I  've  slept  upon  your  floor ; 
Your  house  had  not  a  window,  a  blanket  formed  the  door. 
It  scarcely  was  one  story,  no  help  to  raise  it  higher 
Your  wives  they  did  the  cooking  outdoors  there  by  a  fire. 
Sometimes  you  had  a  plenty  at  morning,  night  and  noon ; 
Sometimes  your  store  was  shortened  to  a  squirrel  or  a  coon. 
But  though  your  stock  was  scanty,  I  ne'er  among  you  come, 
But  that  you  raised  the  blanket — I  felt  myself  at  home. 

I  've  seen  you  in  your  sorrow,  your  hunger  and  despair, 

When  corn  meal  and  potatoes  made  up  your  humble  fare. 

You  had  a  little  clearing  around  the  cabin  door — 

It  might  have  been  an  acre,  perhaps  a  little  more. 

You  turned  away  the  brush  heaps,  the  logs  you  did  not  heed. 

But  planted  right  among  them  your  corn  and  pumpkin  seed. 

The  soil  was  rich  and  fertile,  quite  free  from  clods  and  lumps, 

And  pumpkin  vines  for  want  of  room,  crept  over  logs  and  stumps; 

And  then  for  their  protection  you  hedged  it. round  about 

With  jampiles  made  of  timber  to  keep  the  cattle  out. 

And  then  with  patient  waiting  the  spring  and  summer  rains 

Came  oft  upon  your  labor,  rewarding  all  your  pains — 

And  when  the  crop  was  ripened  and  gathered  in  the  fall, 

Of  all  the  crops  you  ever  raised,  you  praised  it  most  of  all. 

I  've  seen  the  sturdy  axmen,  with  well  directed  blow, 
Attack  the  mighty  forest  and  lay  the  monarchs  low. 
I  've  seen  the  hungry  fire  consume  your  heaps  of  logs, 
And  seen  the  ditcher 's  spade  remove  the  marshy  bogs ; 
And  here  upon  the  openings,  no  timber  in  the  way, 
I've  seen  the  patient  oxen  move  on  from  day  to  day. 
The  sod  was  quite  unyielding,  the  roots  were  tough  and  long, 
To  draw  the  heavy  "breaker,"  the  team  it  must  be  strong. 
Sometimes  eight  yoke  of  cattle  were  tethered  in  a  row, 
Their  march  across  the  breaking  was  powerful,  but  slow. 
The  steady,  watchful  driver  made  each  perform  his  toil; 
The  father  held  the  plow  that  turned  the  virgin  soil, 
For  he  had  early  learned  that  by  the  plow  to  thrive. 
Himself  must  either  hold,  or  take  the  whip  and  drive. 

Thus  by  your  patient  labor  and  well  directed  skill 
You  have  subdued  the  county  and  conquered  it  at  will; 
Have  swept  away  the  forests,  removed  the  stumps  and  stones. 


92        HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Torn  down  your  lowly  cabins  and  built  your  stately  homes; 

Have  planted  fruitful  orchards  whose  tops  now  kiss  the  breeze. 

Have  made  our  pleasant  highways  and  lined  them  well  with  trees; 

Have  drained  the  stagnant  marshes  and  bridged  the  brooks  and  rills, 

Threw  dams  across  our  rivers  and  built  thereon  our  mills. 

As  said  an  ancient  prophet,  although   'twas  said  in  prose, 

You  have  removed  the  bramble  and  planted  there  the  rose; 

Cut  down  the  noxious  thistle,  removed  the  ugly  thorn, 

And  planted  out  the  fir  tree,  your  dwellings  to  adorn. 

We  know  your  task  was  arduous  and  troubles  thick  and  fast. 

We  welcome  you  as  victors;  you  overcame  at  last. 

We  welcome  you,  our  brothers,  as  men  of  good  renown. 

We  welcome  you  from  Keeler,  our  southwest  corner  town  ; 

From  Hamilton  and  Hartford,  Bangor  and  Waverly  too, 

Columbia  and  Geneva,  we  gladly  welcome  you. 

You're  welcome  from  South  Haven,  the  town  of  boats  and  oars; 

You  're  welcome,  too,  from  Deerfield,  where  Thunder  mountain  roars- — 

From  Arlington,  from  Lawrence,  the  home  of  Judge  Monroe, 

Who  settled  in  this  county  some  forty  years  ago. 

You're  welcome  from  the  hilltop,  you're  welcome  from  the  vale — 

From  Porter  and  Almena,  Antwerp  and  Bloomingdale. 

Our  brothers  from  Decatur,  we  're  glad  to  meet  you  here ; 

The  pioneers  of  Paw  Paw  all  hail  you  with  a  cheer. 

We  meet  today  in  friendship,  as  in  the  days  of  yore. 
We  meet  today  as  neighbors  to  talk  our  conquests  o  'er. 
We  meet  today  as  veterans  who  have  subdued  the  land. 
We  meet  today  as  brothers  to  clasp  the  friendly  .hand. 
We  meet  to  live  in  memory  those  early  stirring  scenes, 
Through  which  wTe  passed  together,  becoming  Wolverines. 

Among  the  early  settlers  it  very  soon  was  found 
We  had  a  modern  Egypt   ( 'twas  Big  Prairie  Eonde) 
On  which  we  were  dependent  and  thither  had  to  go, 
Whenever  flour  wTas  minus  or  meal  was  getting  low. 
The  wheat  there  grewT  abundant,  potatoes  large  and  fine, 
And  like  the  land  of  promise,  it  yielded  corn  and  wine. 
The  father  loved  his  children — for  bread  he  heard  the  cry — 
He  yoked  old  Buck  and  Brindle  and  went  for  fresh  supply. 
The  corn  he  had  to  husk,   'twas  standing  on  the  hill, 
The  wheat  he  helped  to  thresh,  then  took  it  off  to  mill. 
The  tiresome  road  was  long,  the  mill  was  far  awray, 
And  when  the  father  would  return,  he  could  not  set  the  day. 
He  started  early  Monday,  above  him  shone  the  stars, 
Behind,  his  wife  and  children  stood  weeping  at  the  bars. 
They  saw  him  drive  away,  their  love  for  him  did  burn; 
Back  to  the  cabin  then  and  prayed  his  safe  return. 

There  in  the  lonely  forest,  with  not  a  neighbor  near, 
The  wife  and  children  waited,  each  day  seemed  like  a  year. 
The  week  would  wear  away  and  Saturday  would  come 
Before  that  absent  father  could  reach  his  lonely  home. 
Meanwhile,  the  faithful  wife  the  last  crust  would  divide, 
Then  told  her  children  dear  "the  Lord  must  now  provide." 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY        m 

Those  quizzing  little  ones,  to  their  dear  mother  said 

1 '  Has  the  Lord  an  oven  got,  and  can  the  Lord  make  bread  ? ' ' 

God  bless  these  noble  women,  our  glory  and  our  pride, 
God  bless  these  noble  women  who  labored  by  our  side! 
When  neighbors  were  far  distant  and  laborers  were  few, 
You  helped  to  build  our  cabins,  did  all  that  you  could  do. 
You  .helped  us  roll  the  log  heaps,  you  helped  us  burn  the  brush, 
You  baked  for  us  the  johnnycake,  you  cooked  for  us  the  mush. 
You  patched  our  worn-out  garments,  our  trousers  and  our  coats. 
And  some  you  patched  so  often  that  we  were  left  in  doubts — 
The  mending  was  so  frequent,  the  work  was  done  so  well, 
That  which  was  coat  and  which  was  patch,  it  puzzled  us  to  tell. 
You  guarded  well  our  cabins  and  saved  with  jealous  care 
The  scanty  little  comforts  that  we  had  gathered  there. 
You  helped  us  tend  our  gardens,  you  helped  us  plant  the  corn, 
And  from  such  worthy  mothers  our  children  all  were  born. 
And  when  the  burning  fever  was  coursing  through  our  veins, 
Or  when  the  shaking  ague  was  racking  us  with  pains, 
By  day  and  night  you  watched  us  and  stood  beside  our  beds, 
Like  watchful  angels  ever,  and  fanned  our  aching  heads. 
God  bless  these  noble  women,  Van  Buren  county's  pride, 
We  welcome  you  as  equals — you  labored  by  our  side! 

But  some  who  started  with  us,  I  see  not  here  today; 
The  road  was  long  and  weary,  they  faltered  by  the  way. 
We  stood  around  their  bedside  and  heard  th'  expiring  breath, 
And  wiped  from  off  their  foreheads  the  cold  damp  dews  of  death. 
We  did  what  e'er  we  could,  their  precious  lives  to  save, 
Then  closed  their  weary  lids  and  laid  them  in  the  grave. 

Until  the  current  year  the  association  has  never  missed  holding 
its  annual  meeting,  although  the  real  pioneers  of  the  county  have 
nearly  all  passed  over  the  "great  divide, "  gone  to  join  the  great 
majority  on  the  other  side.  A  meeting  was  advertised  to  be  held 
last  summer  at  the  usual  time,  but  other  matters  caused  it  to  be 
postponed  and  afterward  it  was  permitted  to  go  by  default. 

Judge  Monroe  continued  to  hold  the  position  of  president  of  the 
association  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  fall  of  1876.  At 
the  next  meeting  of  the  association  after  his  decease,  which  was 
held  at  the  village  of  Paw  Paw,  the  following  resolutions  in  part, 
were  adopted:  "Whereas,  since  our  last  meeting,  our  worthy 
friend  and  late  president,  has  entered  upon  that  long  journey  we 
must  also  soon  undertake ;  therefore 

* i  Resolved,  that  in  his  death  we  recognize  the  loss  of  a  good  man, 
a  worthy  member,  an  efficient  officer  of  this  association  and  a 
sturdy  old  pioneer;  that  as  we  see  our  friends  and  brothers,  full 
of  years,  falling  around  us  like  the  tall  trees  of  the  forests  they 
helped  to  subdue,  we  realize  the  fact  that  ere  long  our  reunions 
will  be  held,  not  in  the  houses  of  earth,  but  in  a  house  not  made 
with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens." 


94       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

The  committee  that  drafted  these  resolutions  was  composed  of 
the  following  named  gentlemen:  Fernando  C.  Amiable,  Samuel 
H.  Blackman,  Charles  M.  Morrill,  Eaton  Branch  and  Irving  W. 
Pierce.  The  first  four  of  the  committee  have  gone  to  find  a  home 
in  that  4i house  not  made  with  hands."  Mr.  Pierce  still  remains 
on  this  side  of  the  stream  that  divides  Time  from  Eternity. 

Eaton  Branch  succeeded  Judge  Monroe  as  president  of  the  as- 
sociation. He  continued  to  occupy  the  office  until  the  meeting  in 
June,  1885,  at  which  Charles  M.  Morrill  was  chosen  as  president. 
Mr.  Morrill  filled  the  office  for  two  years,  when  he  wras  succeeded 
by  Hon.  Jonathan  J.  Woodman,  who  held  the  office  for  the  next 
nineteen  years,  when  he  was  compelled  to  decline  further  service 
on  account  of  failing  health.  Mr.  Woodman  died  within  a  few 
weeks  afterward.  His  successor  in  the  office  of  the  presidency  of 
the  association  was  Hon.  Charles  J.  Monroe. 

The  other  officers  of  the  association  have  been  as  follows:  Vice- 
presidents — Edwin  Barnum,  Jonathan  J.  Woodman,  Alexander  B. 
Copley,  Charles  J.  Monroe,  E.  Parker  Hill,  A.  W.  Haydon,  and  0. 
W.  Rowland. 

Secretaries — S.  Tallmadge  Conway,  Josiah  Andrews,  Benjamin  A. 
Murdock,  John  W.  Free,  Elam  L.  Warner,  and  Israel  P.  Bates. 

Treasurers — Josiah  Andrews,  Franklin  M.  Manning,  Benjamin 
A.  Murdock,  William  R.  Hawkins,  and  Albert  S.  Haskin. 

The  present  officers  are  Charles  J.  Monroe,  president ;  Oran  W. 
Rowland,  vice-president;  Israel  P.  Bates,  secretary;  Albert  S. 
Haskin,  treasurer. 

The  association  has  not  only  been  a  source  of  gratification  to  its 
members,  but  it  has  also  been  of  great  utility  as  well,  by  way  of 
preserving  for  future  generations  many  interesting  facts,  scenes 
and  incidents  of  the  pioneer  days  of  the  county,  valuable  historical 
matter  that  otherwise  would  have  been  wholly  lost  and  forgotten. 

And  while  it  is  true  that  there  is  left  only  here  and  there  a  per- 
son who  is  entitled  to  be  classed  as  a  real  pioneer,  it  is  altogether 
likely  that  the  association  will  be  continued  in  remembrance  of 
those  brave  and  noble  men  and  women  whose  labors  and  sacrifices 
gave  us  this  prosperous  and  beautiful  land  which  is  the  heritage  of 
those  who  succeeded  them. 

Oslerism  Reviewed 

Besides,  these  annual  meetings,  are  a  source  of  much  pleasure 
and  profit  to  those  who  attend  them.  On  these  occasions  they  have 
listened  to  addresses  from  senators  and  representatives,  judges  and 
lawyers,  state  officers  and  laymen,  all  of  which  were  interesting 
and  more  or  less  profitable  and  instructive.     Some  of  these  ad- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY        95 

dresses  were  sedate  and  replete  with  wisdom,  while  others  were 
amusing  and  humorous. 

A  brief  skit  of  the  latter  kind  was  read  by  the  vice  president  of 
the  association  at  the  thirty-sixth  annual  meeting  held  at  Bangor 
in  1906.  This  was  just  at  the  time  when  the  public  press  was  ex- 
ploiting what  was  said  to  be  the  advice  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Osier, 
that  men  should  be  quietly  and  painlessly  passed  into  the  future 
wrorld  on  arriving  at  the  age  of  sixty  years,  and  it  was  this  that 
inspired  the  sketch,  as  follows:  "Long,  long  years  ago,  when  you 
and  I  were  young,  there  were  no  telegraphs,  no  ocean  cables,  no 
electric  railways,  no  automobiles,  no  lighting  of  our  dwellings  by 
the  simple  push  of  a  button,  no  Marconigrams  sent  through  earth 
and  air,  no  standard  oil  octopus,  no  beef  trust,  no  steel  trust,  no 
multimillionaries,  no  financial  'system,'  no  daring  Wellman  had 
conceived  the  astounding  idea  of  sailing  to  the  pole  in  a  dirigible 
airship  and,  strange  as  it  may  appear,  there  was  no  such  fashion- 
able ailment  as  appendicitis;  the  people  did  not  even  know  that 
among  them  all  there  was  such  a  thing  as  a  vermiform  appendix ! 

"In  those  days,  people  were  born  as  they  are  today,  lived  out 
their  three-score  years  and  ten,  more  or  less,  as  the  case  might  be, 
and  died  what  was  called  a  natural  death.  They  lived  in  a  simple 
manner,  ate  of  the  fat  of  the  land  and  recked  not  of  the  risk  they 
ran  in  the  consumption  of  their  daily  diet.  They  knew  naught  of 
the  lurking  poison  concealed  in  their  daily  bread,  of  the  deadly 
ptomaines  lying  in  wait  for  them  in  the  meat  they  ate,  or  of  the 
fatal  tyro-toxicon  hidden  in  the  milk  they  drank.  They  did  not 
know,  as  do  the  so-called  scientists  of  these  modern  days,  that  there 
is  not  a  single  article  of  diet  that  is  not  dangerous  to  life.  They 
only  knew  that  a  man  would  die  if  he  didn't  eat.  They  did  not 
know  that  he  would,  if  he  did.  And  yet,  they  seemed  to  have  a 
glimmering  of  modern,  scientific  teaching  along  this  line,  for  they 
had,  even  then,  a  saying  that  'what  is  one  man's  meat  is  another 
man's  poison.'  And  more  than  all  else,  they  knew  naught  of  the 
'germ  theory'  of  disease.  They  had  not  even  dreamed  of  the 
malignant  bacillus  and  were  absolutely  ignorant  of  the  deadly 
bacteria  that  abound  in  earth  and  air  and  sky,  that  permeate  the 
food  we  eat,  that  pollute  the  water  we  drink.  Bacteria  and  bacilli, 
all  lying  in  wait  to  seize  upon  our  vital  organs  and  to  bring  upon 
us  dire  disease,  suffering  and  pain  and  death !  Creatures  so  minute 
that  if  one  were  magnified  so  as  to  appear  an  inch  in  length,  an 
ordinary  man.  under  the  same  magnifying  power,  would  appear 
to  be  a  towering  giant  twenty-five  miles  in  altitude!  Creatures 
that  possess  such  marvelous  powers  of  reproduction  that,  unmol- 
ested, a  single  pair  would  soon  fill  the  whole  earth ! 

"And  then  there  are  so  many  varieties  of  these  diminutive  little 


96       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

demons— the  bacillus  of  rabies,  the  bacillus  of  yellow  fever,  which 
is  said  to  be  so  carefully  planted  beneath  the  human  epidermis  by 
that  villainous  little  songster,  Stegomya  Fasciata;  the  bacillus  of 
diphtheria ;  the  bacillus  of  small  pox,  which  has  as  yet  eluded 
capture;  the  bacillus  of  tuberculosis,  of  cancer,  of  typhoid  fever, 
and  nobody  knows  how  many  others.  The  marvel  is  not  that  the 
population  of  earth  does  not  increase  more  rapidly,  but  rather 
that  the  human  race  has  not  been  wholly  destroyed  by  the  great 
multitudes  of  these  malicious  mites  that  are  constantly  preying 
upon  it. 

"Perhaps  the  time  may  come  when  those  scientists  who  claim 
that  they  have  originated  some  of  the  lower  forms  of  life,  will, 
contrary  to  the  expressed  preference  of  Mrs.  Partington,  succeed 
in  producing  men  and  women  in  the  chemical  laboratory,  instead 
of  Nature's  laboratory,  and  in  endowing  the  newly  invented  race 
with  power  to  absolutely  resist  the  horde  of  malignant  germs  that 
now  seems  to  have  it  in  for  us  all. 

"Methinks,  however,  that  before  that  time  shall  have  arrived, 
some  great  German  savant,  born  and  bred,  probably,  in  the  Nut- 
meg State,  will  have  astonished  the  world  by  the  discovery  or  in- 
vention of  an  universal  germ  panacea.  In  my  mind 's  eye,  I  can  see 
his  initial  announcement:  'The  Greatest  Discovery  Since  the 
World  Began!  A  Boon  for  all  Mankind!  Professor  Von  Hom- 
bogg's  Great  German  Germicide,  Bacilli  Balm  and  Bacteria  Bus- 
ter! Warranted  to  destroy  all  Disease  Germs,  Bacteria  and  Bacilli 
and  to  render  the  Human  System  Absolutely  Immune  to  all 
Disease  of  Whatsoever  Kind  or  Character!  One  Bottle  only  is 
Required  to  produce  the  desired  result;  Satisfaction  Guaranteed 
or  Money  Refunded  ! ' 

"What  a  rush  there  will  be  for  Professor  Von  Hombogg's  new 
elixir  of  life,  and  what  an  immense  fortune  will  be  his !  No  future 
Rockefeller,  or  Morgan,  or  Carnegie,  will  be  in  the  same  class 
with  Von  Hombogg.  Just  think  of  it!  No  more  pain,  no  more 
sickness,  no  more  disease,  no  more  death !  Just  one  everlasting, 
unending  era  of  good  health !  This  will  beat  even  Bob  Ingersoll, 
who  said  if  he  had  the  ordering  of  things  on  this  mundane  sphere, 
he  wrould  have  made  good  health  catching,  instead  of  disease. 

"When  this  time  shall  have  arrived,  Oslerization  will  be  the 
only  remaining  method  of  shuffling  off  this  mortal  coil.  Perhaps, 
after  the  lapse  of  a  thousand  years  or  so,  life  may  become  a  bur- 
den too  grievous  to  be  borne  and  one  may  have  an  insatiable  desire 
to  depart  and  be  at  rest. 

"When  trouble  and  care  are  weighing  us  down 
And  pleasures  are  minimized — 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREX  COUNTY        97 

Oh,  then,  but  one  refuge  remains, 
We'll  gladly  be  Oslerized. 

' '  When  the  burdens  of  life  so  great  have  become 
That  death  is  a  boon  to  be  prized, 
How  cheerfully  we'll  lay  them  all  down 
And  gladly  be  Oslerized. 

4,When  life  on  this  earth  is  no  longer  desired, 
A  truth  by  us  all  recognized, 
How  good  it  will  seem  to  escape 
And  quickly  be  Oslerized ! 

'  *  But,  hold !  No  death  save  a  death  by  violence  will  be  possible. 
The  guillotine,  the  hangman's  rope,  the  electric  chair,  the  stilleto 
or  the  musket!  Which  will  you  choose?  Ah,  me!  Will  Prof. 
Yon  Hombogg  ?s  discovery  prove  a  blessing,  or  will  it  prove  a  curse  ? 
I  don 't  know — do  you  ? 

"And  so,  old  pioneers,  farewell,  adieu,  good  bye.  Soon  there 
wrill  be  none  of  you  remaining.  May  you  all  reap  a  rich  reward 
in  the  world  beyond  for  the  good  you  wrought  in  your  earthly 
lives." 


VoL     1—7 


CHAPTER  IV 
ROADS  AND  RAILROADS 

Noted  Indian  Trails — First  Michigan  White  Man's  Road — 
Territorial    and    State    Roads — The    Old    Stage    Routes — 

.  Plank  Roads — The  Paw  Paw  River — Railroads — The  Michi- 
gan Central — Kalamazoo  and  South  Haven  Railroad — The 
Paw  Paw  Railroad — Toledo  and  South  Haven  Railroad 
(Fruit  Belt  Line) — The  Pere  Marquette  Railway. 

When  the  first  settlers  came  to  Van  Buren  county  there  were, 
of  course,  no  roads  other  than  Indian  trails.  Certain  portions  of 
the  county,  however,  that  consisted  of  what  were  termed  "oak 
openings"  permitted  of  travel,  even  with  teams,  in  almost  any  di- 
rection, and  this  was  one  attractive  feature  to  the  pioneer.  Other 
parts  of  the  county  were  heavily  timbered  with  beech,  maple,  elm, 
oak,  walnut,  pine,  hemlock,  whitewood  and  other  varieties  of  tim- 
ber, so  that  the  making  of  roads  was  almost  a  Herculanean  under- 
taking. Getting  rid  of  this  timber  was  one  of  the  first  objects  of 
the  pioneer,  for  upon  these  timbered  lands  no  crops  could  be 
grown  until  the  •  timber  was  removed.  On  many  of  the  finest 
farms  in  the  county,  now  in  the  highest  state  of  cultivation,  the 
timber  would  be  worth  more  at  the  present  time,  as  it  stood  sixty 
or  seventy  years  ago,  than  the  same  farms,  with  all  their  fine 
buildings  and  modern  improvements,  are  worth  today.  Road 
building  was  one  of  the  first  matters  that  necessarily  engaged  the 
attention  of  the  pioneers.  Even  in  the  "openings"  it  was  some- 
times necessary  to  clear  a  way  through  intervening  thickets,  to 
construct  some  kind  of  bridges  for  crossing  the  streams,  or  to 
lay  causeways  across  marshes  and  low-lands,  while  in  the  heavily 
timbered  portions  of  the  county  the  task  of  constructing  even 
the  rude  roads  of  those  primitive  days  was  a  stupendous  one. 

Noted  Indian  Trails  of  the  Region 

The  first  roads  were  the  Indian  trails,  two  of  the  principal 
ones  passing  through  the  county.  One  of  them,  coming  from  Lit- 
tle  Traverse   bay,    extended   southward  and  passed  through  the 

98 


HISTOKY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY        99 

counties  of  Kent,  Allegan  and  Van  Buren  to  the  Pottawattamie 
villages  on  the  St.  Joseph  river.  Another,  starting  from  the  vicin- 
ity of  Saginaw,  passed  up  the  Saginaw  and  Shiawassee  rivers 
to  the  present  location  of  the  City  of  Ionia,  thence  southwesterly 
through  the  counties  of  Barry  and  Van  Buren  to  the  same  Potta- 
wattamie villages.  Another,  and  the  most  important  of  these 
great  Indian  highways,  which,  however,  did  not  enter  Van  Buren 
county,  started  southward  on  the  west  side  of  Lake  Michigan  and 
led  toward  the  south  from  Green  bay  and  the  rivers  of  Wisconsin, 
around  the  southern  extremity  of  the  lake,  thence  northeasterly 
through  the  headquarters  of  Chief  Pokagon  in  the  southeastern 
part  of  Berrien  county  and  on  easterly  through  the  wilderness  to 
the  Detroit  river.  It  was  over  this  trail  that  the  wfarriors  of  the 
tribes  had  passed  from  time  immemorial,  and  it  was  along  this 
primitive  highway  that  for  many  years  the  red  men  with  their 
entire  families  passed  to  Maiden  in  Canada  to  receive  from  the 
British  government  the  small  pension  paid  them  (to  men,  women 
and  children  alike)   for  services  rendered  in  the  War  of  1812. 

First  Michigan  White  Man's  Road 

It  was  over  this  route  that  the  old  "Chicago  road"  was  con- 
structed, which  was  commenced  in  1825,  under  authority  of  an 
act  of  congress,  and  was  the  first  laid-out  thoroughfare  that  tra- 
versed the  state  of  Michigan.  The  road  was  not  completed  until 
1836,  and  it  was  over  this  thoroughfare  that  many  of  the  early 
settlers  of  southwest  Michigan  passed,  finding  their  way  into  Van 
Buren  county,  as  wTell  as  elsewhere. 

A  mania  for  the  construction  of  roads  seems  to  have  possessed 
the  authorities  of  the  territory  of  Michigan  and  this  spirit  was 
equally  evident  after  it  became  a  state,  as  was  manifest  by  the 
internal  improvement  clause  embodied  in  the  constitution  of  1835 
and  by  the  acts  of  the  legislatures  immediately  following.  From 
1833  to  1840,  at  least  two  hundred  and  fifty  territorial  and  state 
roads  were  authorized  by  legislative  enactment. 

Territorial  and  State  Eoads 

The  road  that  is  known  to  the  inhabitants  of  Van  Buren  county 
and  all  along  the  line  of  the  route  as  "the  Territorial  road,"  a 
highway  passing  through  the  state  from  east  to  west,  was  sur- 
veyed in  1836  and  opened  the  following  year.  This  road  enters 
Van  Buren  county  near  the  northeast  corner  of  Antwerp  and 
passes  through  that  township  and  the  townships  of  Paw  Paw, 
Lawrence,  Hamilton  and  Keeler  into  the  township  of  Bainbridge, 
Berrien  county,  thence  through  that  county  to  the  cities  of  Ben- 


100  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

ton  Harbor  and  St.  Joseph.  It  is  still  the  Territorial  road,  al- 
though along  a  very  considerable  part  of  the  original  route  it 
has  been  taken  up  and  relaid  on  the  section  lines,  or  the  east  and 
west  division  lines  of  the  sections  through  which  it  passes. 

Other  territorial  and  state  roads  in  which  Van  Buren  county  had 
or  might  have  had  an  interest,  if  they  had  ever  been  constructed  as 
authorized,  are  as  follows:  Authorized  by  the  legislative  council 
of  1833:  "A  road  from  the  village  of  Schoolcraft,  in  Kalamazoo 
county,  on  the  most  direct  and  eligible  route,  by  Paw  Paw  Land- 
ing, to  the  mouth  of  Black  river.'7  The  statute  authorizing  these 
roads  also  appointed  commissioners  to  lay  out  and  establish  them. 
Joseph  Smith,  John  Perrine  and  Abiel  Fellows  were  so  appointed 
for  this  road.  "A  road  from  Adamsville  in  Cass  county,  by  the 
most  direct  and  eligible  route  to  the  Paw  Paw  river,  at  or  near 
the  center  of  Van  Buren  county."  Sterling  Adams,  Charles  Jones 
and  Lyman  I.  Daniels,  commissioners. 

Authorized  by  the  legislative  council  of  1834 :  ' ;  A  road  from 
Marshall,  Calhoun  county,  through  Climax  Prairie,  by  the  most 
direct  and  eligible  route  to  the  county  seat  of  Van  Buren  county. ' ' 
Michael  Spencer,  Benjamin  F.  Dwinnell  and  Nathaniel  E.  Mat- 
thews, commissioners. 

Although  Michigan  was  not  admitted  until  1837,  the  first  con- 
stitution was  adopted  in  1835  and  the  first  legislature  convened 
on  the  second  day  of  November,  1835,  and  remained  in  session 
until  the  14th  of  the  same  month.  Two  sessions  were  held  in  1836, 
the  first  from  February  1st  to  March  28th,  and  the  second  from 
July  11th  to  July  26th.  During  the  sessions  of  1836,  quite  a  num- 
ber of  state  roads  were  authorized  to  be  laid  out  and  constructed. 
Among  them  were  the  following:  "A  state  road  from  Edwards- 
burg,  in  Cass  county,  via  Cassopolis,  Volinia  and  Paw  Paw  Mills, 
to  Allegan  in  Allegan  county."  David  Crane,  Jacob  Silver  and 
John  L.  Shearer,  commissioners. 

"A  state  road  from  Paw  Paw  Mills,  in  the  village  of  Paw  Paw, 
Van  Buren  county,  leading  through  the  village  of  Otsego,  to  the 
Falls  of  Grand  river,  in  the  county  of  Kent."  John  Wittenmeyer, 
Jacob  Enos  and  Fowler  Preston,  commissioners. 

Authorized  by  the  legislature  of  1837:  "A  road  from  Berrien  in 
Berrien  county,  through  Bainbridge  to  South  Haven,  in  Van 
Buren  county."  Pitt  Brown,  John  P.  Davis  and  E.  P.  Deacon, 
commissioners. 

Authorized  by  the  legislature  of  1838:  "A  state  road  from  the 
village  of  Niles,  in  the  county  of  Berrien,  to  the  village  of  Kalama- 
zoo, in  the  county  of  Kalamazoo,  making  the  Twin  Lakes  in  sec- 
tion sixteen  of  town  five  south,  in  range  fifteen  west,  at  Henry 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  101 

Barney's,  a  point  on  said  road."  Uriel  Enos,  Richard  V.  V. 
Crane  and  Isaac  W.  Willard,  commissioners. 

Authorized  by  the  legislature  of  1841:  "A  state  road  leading 
from  Centerville,  in  the  county  of  St.  Joseph,  to  Waterford,  in 
the  county  of  Van  Buren,  through  the  villages  of  Three  Rivers, 
Little  Prairie  Ronde  and  Keelersville. ' '  W.  H.  Keeler,  J.  Moffit 
and  John  H.  Bowman,  commissioners.  (The  western  terminus 
of  this  road  was  evidently  intended  to  be  Watervliet,  in  the  county 
of  Berrien,  as  that  village  used  to  be  called  "Waterford;"  it  is 
not  and  never  was  within  the  boundaries  of  Van  Buren  county.) 

It  should  be  remembered  that  a  statute  directing  that  a  road 
should  be  laid  out  and  established — particularly  in  the  earlier 
years — did  not  necessarily  mean  that  such  road  would  be  promptly 
constructed.  In  numerous  instances  years  elapsed  after  the  pass- 
age of  an  act  authorizing  a  road  and  after  it  was  laid  out  by  the 
commissioners,  before  it  would  be  made  passable  for  vehicles,  and 
frequently  such  roads  were  never  opened.  The  collapse  of  the 
"wild  cat"  banking  business  seriously  crippled  the  state  finances 
and  materially  delayed  the  many  plans  for  contemplated  internal 
improvements. 

Tup:  Old  Stage  Routes 

For  many  years,  in  fact  until  the  railroads  of  the  county  super- 
seded them,  stages  carried  passengers  from  Lawton  to  St.  Joseph 
and  from  Decatur  to  South  Haven.  Great  Concord  coaches, 
drawn  by  four  horses  were  used  and  the  passenger  traffic  car- 
ried on  by  them  was  no  small  item.  Until  the  completion  of  the 
Michigan  Central  Railroad  to  Chicago  the  stage  lines  between  the 
above  mentioned  towns  embraced  the  most  feasible  and  the  direct 
routes  between  that  city  and  eastern  points.  In  addition  to  the 
passenger  traffic,  mail  was  also  transported  over  the  same  lines 
which  was  an  additional  source  of  revenue  to  the  proprietors  of  the 
routes.  The  completion  of  the  Toledo  and  South  Haven  Railroad, 
as  it  was  then  called,  between  the  villages  of  Lawton  and  Hartford, 
sent  the  last  stage  coach  in  the  county  to  the  scrap  heap. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  value  of  the  stage  routes  to  the  com- 
munity the  following  statute  enacted  by  the  legislature  of  1845 
is  apropos,  and  serves  to  emphasize  the  changes  that  time  has 
wrought  and  to  show  the  different  conditions  that  exist  in  this 
twentieth  century  from  those  that  obtained  even  as  late  as  the 
middle  of  the  nineteenth  century. 

"Whereas,  The  regular  stage  road  leading  from  the  village  of 
Paw  Paw,  to  the  village  of  St.  Joseph,  passes  through  a  thinly  set- 
tled district  of  country  where  the  highway  taxes  are  insufficient 
to  keep  the  road  in  good  repair;  and  whereas,  the  revenue  of  the 


102  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Central  Railroad  depends  in  a  great  measure  upon  said  stage  road 
being  kept  in  good  repair  for  the  safe  and  comfortable  transmis- 
sion of  passengers  to  and  from  the  western  termination  of  said 
railroad : 

''Therefore,  Be  it  enacted  that  all  the  non-resident  highway 
taxes  which  shall  be  assessed  upon  non-resident  lands  within  one 
and  a  half  miles  on  each  side  of  said  stage  road,  between  the  vil- 
lage of  Paw  Paw  in  the  county  of  Van  Buren  and  the  village  of 
St.  Joseph  in  the  county  of  Berrien,  be  and  the  same  are  hereby 
appropriated  to  be  expended  in  improving  said  stage  road  between 
the  village  of  Paw  Paw  and  the  village  of  St.  Joseph  aforesaid  for 
the  period  of  two  years  from  the  date  of  this  act. " 

A  similar  statute  was  passed  in  1847  appropriating  non-resident 
highway  taxes  to  apply  on  the  road  *  *  commencing  on  the  east  side 
of  section  ten,  town  three  south,  range  fifteen  west,  thence  west- 
erly through  the  village  of  Brush  Creek  (Lawrence)  in  Van  Buren 
county  and  Waterford  (Watervliet)  in  the  county  of  Berrien/7 
and  thence  westerly  to  St.  Joseph. 

In  1857,  a  similar  act  of  the  legislature  appropriated  for  three 
years  all  the  non-resident  highway  tax  within  two  miles  of  the 
center  of  the  road  leading  from  Dowagiac,  county  of  Cass,  to  the 
territorial  road  in  Van  Buren  county,  for  the  improvement  of 
such  road. 

In  1859  the  road  leading  from  Breedsville  to  South  Haven,  one 
of  the  principal  stage  roads  of  Van  Buren  county,  was  given  the 
non-resident  highway  tax  assessed  within  one  mile  on  either  side  of 
such  road. 

The  congress  of  1841  appropriated  and  set  apart  to  the  state 
half  a  million  acres  of  public  lands  for  internal  improvement  pur- 
poses, the  minimum  price  of  which  was  fixed  by  act  of  the  legis- 
lature of  1844  at  $1.25  per  acre.  In  1848  the  legislature  appro- 
priated seven  thousand  acres  of  such  lands  for  opening  and  im- 
proving the  state  road  from  Constantine,  St.  Joseph  county, 
through  Cassopolis,  Cass  county,  to  Paw  Paw,  in  Van  Buren 
county. 

But  few  of  these  old  lines  of  road  now  remain  as  originally  laid 
out.  Most  of  the  statutes  authorizing  them  provided  that  they 
should  be  laid  on  the  most  direct  and  eligible  route.  This  resulted 
in  many  crooked  and  angling  roads,  most  of  which  have  been 
changed  and  relaid  on  section,  half  section  or  quarter  section 
lines,  so  that  there  are  comparatively  few  roads  in  the  county  but 
run  parallel  with  or  at  right  angles  to  each  other ;  and  such  is  the 
general  rule  throughout  the  state.  Of  course  there  are  exceptions. 
Lakes,  of  which  there  are  many  scattered  throughout  Van  Buren 
county,  and  other  localities  as  well,  and  other  natural  obstructions 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  103 

have  prevented  some  roads  from  being  laid  on  direct  lines,  but 
such  highways  are  the  exception  and  not  the  rule. 

Plank  Roads 

The  next  transportation  idea  that  seems  to  have  struck  the  peo- 
ple of  Michigan  was  that  of  plank  roads,  and  the  craze  was  about 
as  virulent  as  that  of  territorial  and  state  roads  had  been;  but 
the  fever  did  not  last  as  long. 

The  legislature  of  1848  enacted  a  general  plank  road  law,  au- 
thorizing the  incorporation  of  plank  road  companies,  permitting 
them  under  certain  conditions  to  occupy  the  country  highways  and 
the  streets  of  villages,  prescribing  that  the  planks  used  in  the 
construction  of  such  roads  should  be  not  less  than  three  inches  in 
thickness  and  fixing  the  following  maximum  rates  of  toll:  For  a 
vehicle  or  carriage  drawn  by  two  animals,  two  cents  per  mile,  and 
one  cent  per  mile  for  every  sled  or  sleigh  so  drawn,  if  drawn  by 
more  than  two  animals ;  three-quarters  of  a  cent  per  mile  for  every 
such  additional  animal ;  for  any  kind  of  a  vehicle  drawn  by  one 
animal,  one  cent  per  mile;  for  every  score  of  sheep  one  half  a  cent 
per  mile;  for  every  score  of  neat  cattle,  two  cents  per  mile — 
there  was  no  provision  in  the  statute  fixing  toll  for  less  than  a 
score  of  domestic  animals — and  for  every  horse  and  rider  or  led- 
horse,  one  cent  per  mile.  Farmers  were  exempt  from  toll  in  pass- 
ing from  one  part  of  the  farm  to  another  while  engaged  in  the 
business  of  the  farm.  Toll  gates  might  be  erected  at  such  points 
as  the  company  chose  and  the  penalty  for  illegally  passing  any 
toll  gate  was  a  forfeiture  to  the  company  of  the  sum  of  twenty -five 
dollars.  It  will  be  noticed  that  it  cost  a  person  driving  his  own 
team  and  carriage  along  one  of  those  roads  exactly  the  same  sum 
that  he  now  has  to  pay  for  riding  in  a  palace  car  along  the  great 
railroad  lines  of  the  state.  Timber  was  plenty  in  those  days  and 
planks  were  cheap,  and  yet  the  plank  road  companies,*  with  very 
few  exceptions,  were  not  a  financial  success.  To  build  such  roads 
in  these  modern  days  when  lumber  has  become  so  scarce  and  valu- 
able would  cost  many  times  more  than  in  those  early  days. 

Van  Buren  county  had  her  full  share  of  plank  road  corpora- 
tions, but  only  comparatively  few  plank  roads. 

The  "Paw  Paw  Plank  Road  Company' '  was  chartered  by  the 
legislature  of  1848,  "with  power  to  lay  out,  establish  and  construct 
a  plank  road  from  the  village  of  Paw  Paw,  in  the  county  of  Van 
Buren,  to  some  point  on  the  Central  Railroad,  at  or  near  where 
the  Little  Prairie  Ronde  road  crosses  said  railroad/ '  The  capi- 
tal stock  of  said  company  was  fixed  at  $10,000,  in  shares  of  twenty- 
five  dollars  each.     Isaac  W.  Willard,  James  Crane  and  Nathan 


104  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Mears  were  appointed  commissioners  to  receive  subscriptions  of 
stock. 

By  the  legislature  of  1849  a  charter  was  given  to  the  "  Decatur, 
Lawrence  and  Breedsville  Plank  Road  Company, "  which  w7as  au- 
thorized 'kto  lay  out,  establish  and  construct  a  plank  road  and  all 
necessary  buildings  from  the  village  of  Decatur  to  the  village  of 
Lawrence,  thence  to  the  village  of  Breedsville,  in  Van  Buren 
county."  Aaron  W.  Broughton,  Marvin  Hannah,  William  B. 
Sherwood,  Henry  Coleman,  Jonathan  N.  Hinckley,  Milo  J.  Goss, 
Benjamin  F.  Chadwick,  Horatio  N.  Phelps,  Israel  Kellogg  and 
John  Andrews  were  appointed  commissioners  to  receive  subscrip- 
tions to  the  stock  of  the  company,  which  wras  fixed  at  the  sum  of 
$40,000,  divided  into  forty  dollar  shares. 

Seven  companies,  the  line  of  whose  proposed  roads  lay  wholly 
or  in  part  within  Van  Buren  county  were  incorporated  by  the 
legislature  of  1850,  as  follows:  The  Breedsville  and  South  Haven 
Plank  Road  Company,  with  power  to  "lay  out,  establish  and  con- 
struct a  plank  road  and  all  necessary  buildings  from  Breedsville 
to  the  mouth  of  Black  River,  Van  Buren  county,  by  the  most  elig- 
ible route."  The  capital  stock  of  this  company  was  fixed  at  the 
sum  of  $25,000  divided  into  twenty-five  dollar  shares,  and  Mar- 
vin Hannah,  Elijah  Knowles,  Joseph  B.  Sturgis,  Smith  Brown 
and  Jonathan  N.  Hinckley  were  appointed  commissioners  to  re- 
ceive stock  subscriptions. 

The  Paw  Paw  and  Lawrence  Plank  Road  Company,  with  like 
power  to  lay  out  and  construct  a  plank  road  from  the  village  of 
Paw  Paw  to  the  village  of  Lawrence  in  Van  Buren  county.  The 
capital  stock  of  this  company  was  fixed  at  the  sum  of  $25,000,  in 
shares  of  twenty-five  dollars  each.  Fitz  H.  Stevens,  John  R.  Baker 
and  Nelson  Phelps  were  appointed  commissioners. 

The  Paw  Paw  and  Schoolcraft  Plank  Road  Company,  with  au- 
thority to  lay  out  and  construct  a  plank  road  from  Paw  Paw  Sta- 
tion (now  Lawton)  on  the  Central  Railroad,  in  the  county  of  Van 
Buren,  to  the  village  of  Schoolcraft  in  the  county  of  Kalamazoo. 
Capital  stock,  $20,000,  divided  into  twenty-five  dollar  shares. 
Commissioners,  Edward  A.  Parks,  Uriah  Kenney,  Evert  B.  Dyck- 
man  and  Isaac  W.  Willard. 

The  Paw  Paw  and  Allegan  Plank  Road  Company  was  empow- 
ered to  lay  out,  establish  and  construct  a  plank  road  company 
from  the  village  of  Paw  Paw,  to  intersect  with  the  Kalamazoo  and 
Grand  River  Plank  Road  Company  at  the  most  eligible  point  in 
the  county  of  Allegan.  Capital  stock,  $25,000 ;  shares  twenty-five 
dollars  each.  Commissioners,  Isaac  W.  Willard,  James  Crane, 
John  R.  Baker,  Henry  H.  Booth,  Joseph  Fisk,  Abraham  Hoag, 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  105 

Joshua  Hill,  Charles  Parkhurst,  D.  W.  C.  Chapin,  Eber  Sher- 
wood and  A.  Rossman. 

The  Decatur  and  St.  Joseph  Plank  Road  Company  was  created 
and  empowered  to  lay  out,  establish  and  construct  a  plank  road 
from  the  village  of  Decatur,  Van  Buren  county,  to  the  village  of 
St.  Joseph,  Berrien  county.  Capital  stock  $30,000 ;  shares  twenty- 
five  dollars  each.  Commissioners,  Solomon  Wheeler,  B.  C.  Hoyt, 
Henry  Morton,  Samuel  McRoys,  Henry  Coleman  and  W.  II . 
Keeler. 

The  Lawrence  and  St.  Joseph  Plank  Road  Company  wras  char- 
tered and  authorized  to  lay  out,  establish  and  construct  a  plank 
road  from  such  point  in  the  township  of  Lawrence,  in  Van  Buren 
county,  as  the  commissioners  should  determine,  to  St.  Joseph,  in 
the  county  of  Berrien.  Capital  stock,  $50,000;  shares  twenty-five 
dollars  each. 

The  Kalamazoo  and  Breedsville  Plank  Road  Company  was  in- 
corporated and  given  powrer  and  authority  to  lay  out,  establish 
and  construct  a  plank  road  from  the  village  of  Kalamazoo,  in  the 
county  of  Kalamazoo,  to  the  village  of  Breedsville,  county  of  Van 
Buren.  Capital  stock,  $30,000 ;  shares  fifty  dollars  each.  Commis- 
sioners, D.  B.  Webster,  B.  Drake,  T.  P.  Sheldon  and  Marvin 
Hannah. 

The  term  of  all  these  corporations  was  fixed  at  sixty  years,  but 
they  were  all  dead  long  before  the  lapse  of  that  period  of  time. 

Out  of  this  multiplicity  of  roads  authorized,  the  only  plank 
roads  constructed  in  Van  Buren  county  wrere  the  road  from  Paw 
Paw  to  the  Central  Railroad,  which  was  controlled  by  Hon.  Isaac 
W.  Willard  of  Paw  Paw,  and  that  from  Paw  Paw^  to  Lawrence,  of 
which  John  R.  Baker,  also  of  Paw  Paw,  was  the  controlling 
spirit.  Both  of  these  roads  went  out  of  commission  about  the 
year  1853,  and  neither  of  them  was  the  source  of  any  gain  to 
the  stockholders.  The  remains  of  them,  however,  were  visible 
for  many  years  thereafter.  Indeed  some  of  the  planks  are  yet  in 
evidence — not  as  part  of  the  highway,  however.  Van  Buren,  the 
eastern  part  of  the  county  in  particular,  has  numerous  gravel 
beds  which  afford  excellent  road  material  and  there  are  many  miles 
of  fine  gravel  roads  in  the  county. 

The  Paw  Paw  River 

Perhaps  it  would  not  be  strictly  correct  to  call  a  river  a  road, 
but  as  a  not  very  successful  attempt  was  made  to  make  the  Paw 
Paw  river  a  highway  of  commerce  and  an  avenue  of  transporta- 
tion between  the  villages  of  Paw  Paw  and  St.  Joseph,  on  the  shore 


106  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

of  Lake  Michigan,  there  is  no  impropriety  in  mentioning  it  in 
connection  with  the  "roads  and  railroads"  of  the  county. 

Before  the  days  of  railroads,  the  subject  of  water  transporta- 
tion was  a  much  more  important  matter  than  at  the  present  day. 
The  idea  of  the  Paw  Paw  as  a  navigable  stream  was  born  at  an 
early  date,  and  was  not  abandoned  for  a  considerable  number  of 
years.  With  this  idea  in  mind,  the  territorial  government,  in 
1833,  authorized  the  construction  of  roads  connecting  the  "Forks 
of  the  Paw  Paw"  (which  was  supposed  to  be  the  head  of  the  nav- 
igable waters  of  the  stream)  with  Schoolcraft,  and  other  places  in 
Kalamazoo,  Van  Buren  and  Barry  counties.  In  1840  Isaac  W. 
Willard  built  two  large  fiat  boats  and  loaded  them  with  flour  from 
the  "Paw  Paw  Mills"  and  dispatched  them  for  the  village  of  St. 
Joseph.  It  was  a  comparatively  easy  matter  to  make  the  run  down 
the  river,  but  the  labor  of  poling  the  boats  back  to  Paw  Paw 
against  the  current  was  a  difficult  matter  and  only  accomplished 
by  a  great  expenditure  of  time  and  muscle.  These  two  boats  of 
Mr.  Willard 's  were  named  the  "Daniel  Buckley,"  Albert  R.  Wil- 
dey,  commander,  and  the  "Wave,"  commanded  by  William  H. 
Hurlbult.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  the  exalted  position  of 
"flat  boat  commander"  was,  by  any  means,  a  sinecure.  There  was, 
however,  for  a  time,  a  considerable  flat  boat  traffic  on  the  river 
from  Paw  Paw  to  Lake  Michigan,  but  it  did  not  prove  to  be  very 
profitable.  Interest  in  the  matter  was  revived  in  1848  by  the 
enactment  of  a  statute  appropriating  ten  thousand  acres  of  the  in- 
ternal improvement  lands  of  the  Lower  Peninsula  "for  the  im- 
provement of  the  navigation  of  the  Paw  Paw  river."  Nothing  of 
value  to  the  people  resulted  from  this  legislation  and  the  river  re- 
mains to  this  day  a  beautiful,  winding  stream,  passing  through 
forest,  field  and  farm,  one  of  the  crookedest  streams  in  Michigan, 
and  watering  as  fine  a  stretch  of  country  as  may  be  found  in  the 
entire  Peninsular  state. 

Railroads 

It  has  been  said  and  has  been  recorded  as  an  historical  fact  that 
the  act  of  the  legislative  council  incorporating  a  railroad  from  De- 
troit to  St.  Joseph  was  the  first  official  movement  looking  to  the 
construction  of  a  railroad  within  the  territory  of  Michigan,  but 
such  is  not  the  fact. 

The  first  railroad  corporation  in  the  territory  was  that  of  the 
Pontiac  and  Detroit  Railway  Company,  which  was  approved  July 
31,  1830,  nearly  two  years  before  the  date  of  the  act  of  incorpora- 
tion looking  to  the  construction  of  a  line  of  railroad  across  the 
state,  from  east  to  west. 


HISTOKY  OF  VAN  BUKEN  COUNTY  107 

The  legislative  council  of  1832  passed  the  act  that  created  a  rail- 
road corporation  for  the  construction  of  a  railroad  to  be  known  as 
the  Detroit  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad,  with  authority  to  "construct 
a  single  or  double  railroad  from  the  city  of  Detroit  to  the  mouth 
of  the  St.  Joseph  river,  commencing  at  Detroit,  and  passing 
through,  or  as  near  as  practicable,  to  the  village  of  Ypsilanti,  and 
the  county  seats  of  the  counties  of  Washtenaw,  Jackson  and  Kala- 
mazoo, with  power  to  transport,  take  and  carry  property  and  per- 
sons upon  the  same,  by  the  power  and  force  of  steam,  of  animals, 
or  any  mechanical  or  other  power,  or  any  combination  of  them." 

The  company  was  bound,  under  penalty  of  forfeiture  of  its  char- 
ter, to  begin  the  work  within  two  years,  and  within  six  years  to 
construct  and  put  in  operation  thirty  miles  of  the  road,  within 
fifteen  years  to  complete  one-half  the  line  and  to  have  the  entire 
road  in  operation  within  a  period  of  thirty  years. 

The  proposed  line  was  surveyed  by  Lieutenant  Berrien,  a  regu- 
lar army  officer,  and  some  work,  enough  to  retain  the  corporate 
rights  of  the  company  for  the  two  years  prescribed  in  the  act, 
was  done  on  the  eastern  end  of  the  route.  The  question  of  whether 
the  company  could  have  completed  thirty  miles  of  road  within  the 
prescribed  six  years  was  never  solved,  as  before  the  expiration  of 
that  time  new  and  important  official  action  was  taken. 

The  Michigan  Central 

One  of  the  first  things  that  engaged  the  attention  of  tfie  state, 
after  its  admission,  was  an  extended  system  of  internal  improve- 
ments. With  this  policy  Governor  Mason  was  in  full  sympathy. 
A  Board  of  Internal  Improvements  was  authorized  by  statute  and 
appointed  by  the  governor,  upon  which  large  discretionary  powers 
were  conferred,  and  a  magnificent  scheme  of  such  improvements 
was  at  once  entered  upon  by  the  state.  Among  them  three  lines 
of  railways  across  the  entire  breadth  of  the  state  were  authorized, 
to  be  known  as  and  called  the  "Northern"  the  "Central"  and  the 
" Southern" — a  magnificent  scheme,  indeed,  for  the  young  state, 
and  one  that  eventually  came  to  full  fruition,  by  the  construction 
of  the  Michigan  Central,  the  Michigan  Southern  and  the  Detroit 
and  Milwaukee  lines  of  road,  the  latter  being  now  a  part  of  the 
Grand  Trunk  system. 

Special  authority  was  conferred  upon  the  Board  of  Internal 
Improvements  to  purchase  for  the  state  the  rights  of  the  Detroit 
and  St.  Joseph  company.  The  legislature  made  an  appropriation 
of  $400,000  for  the  Central  road  and  lesser  sums  for  the  other  two. 
In  order  to  procure  the  necessary  funds  for  carrying  out  the  ex- 
tensive improvements  planned,  the  legislature  authorized  the  ne- 


108  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

gotiation  of  a  loan  of  five  millions  of  dollars.  This  provided  means 
with  which  the  commissioners  undertook  the  work  of  constructing 
the  Southern  and  Central  roads. 

The  roads  of  that  day  were  laid  with  strap  rail,  that  is,  with  a 
flat  rail  spiked  onto  wooden  stringers,  and  ''snake  heads"  were 
not  of  infrequent  occurrence.  These  so-called  snake  heads  were 
occasioned  by  the  end  of  the  iron  straps  becoming  loosened,  curl- 
ing up  and  coming  through  the  floor  of  the  coaches,  endangering 
the  lives  and  persons  of  travelers. 

An  illustration  of  the  primitive  character  of  those  early  roads 
is  afforded  by  the  following  joint  resolution  of  the  legislature  of 
1842:  ik  Resolved,  That  the  commissioner  of  internal  improvement 
be  instructed  to  cause  a  train  of  passenger  cars  to  run  over  the 
Central  railroad  on  the  first  day  of  the  week,  at  the  same  hours 
that  it  does  on  other  days." 

Another  joint  resolution,  adopted  by  the  same  legislature,  re- 
quired the  Board  of  Commissioners  of  Internal  Improvements  to 
restrain  Sunday  trains,  when,  in  their  opinion,  it  was  not  for  the 
interest  of  the  state  to  run  them. 

The  progress  made  in  the  construction  of  the  road  was  slow 
and  in  1846,  after  the  lapse  of  nine  years,  the  Central  line  had 
only  been  completed  to  Kalamazoo,  a  distance  of  144  miles.  In 
the  meantime  the  state  had  exhausted  its  funds,  and  the  people 
had  become  heartily  tired  of  having  its  railroads  built  by  its 
politicians,  some  of  whom,  without  doubt,  had  waxed  fat  while 
the  "d£ar  people"  had  to  foot  the  bills. 

By  an  act  of  the  legislature  approved  March  28,  1846,  the  Michi- 
gan Central  Railroad  Company  was  organized  and  given  authority 
to  purchase  the  road  from  the  state  for  the  sum  of  $2,000,000, 
which  was  much  less  than  it  had  cost  the  people,  but  neverthe- 
less a  good  bargain,  for  by  it  the  state  disposed  of  a  property  that 
bade  fair  to  become  a  financial  incubus  on  its  prosperity.  By  the 
terms  of  the  purchase  and  sale  of  the  road  to  the  company  it  was 
not  compelled  to  follow  the  route  originally  planned,  to  make  St. 
Joseph  its  western  terminus,  but  was  only  required  to  construct 
the  road  to  some  point  within  the  state  of  Michigan,  on  or  near 
Lake  Michigan  and  accessible  to  steamboats.  This  was  an  unfor- 
tunate provision  for  Van  Buren  county,  as  the  new  company  at 
once  changed  the  route,  making  New  Buffalo  the  western  terminus 
instead  of  St  Joseph.  By  this  action,  instead  of  passing  diagonally 
through  the  central  part  of  the  county,  the  road  merely  cut  off  a 
small  portion  from  the  southeastern  corner  thereof,  and  instead 
of  reaching  St.  Joseph,  one  of  the  best  harbors  on  the  east  shore 
of  the  lake,  it  stopped  at  New  Buffalo,  which  had  no  harbor  of  con- 
sequence and  never  can  have.    The  road  was  completed  to  Niles  in 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  109 

1848,  to  New  Buffalo  in  1849,  to  Michigan  City,  Indiana,  in  1851 
and  to  Chicago  the  next  year.  Van  Buren  county  stations  on  the 
Central  are  Mattawan,  a  small  unincorporated  village;  Lawton, 
at  first  called  Paw  Paw  Station,  four  miles  southeast  of  Paw  Paw, 
with  a  population  according  to  the  census  of  1810,  of  1,042 ;  and 
Decatur,  with  a  population  of  1,286,  according  to  the  same  census. 

Kalamazoo  and  South  Haven  Railroad 

A  line  of  railroad  from  the  village  of  Bronson,  now  the  flourish- 
ing city  of  Kalamazoo,  to  the  mouth  of  Black  river,  now  the  site 
of  the  prosperous  city  of  South  Haven,  was  one  of  the  dreams  of 
the  early  pioneers — a  dream  that  was  destined  to  complete  fulfil- 
ment in  the  course  of  time. 

On  the  28th  day  of  March,  1836,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  legis- 
lature incorporating  the  Kalamazoo  and  Lake  Michigan  Railroad 
Company  and  authorizing  it  to  construct  a  line  of  road  ' '  from  the 
mouth  of  the  South  Black  river,  in  the  county  of  Van  Buren,  to 
the  county  seat  of  Kalamazoo  county. 

The  parties  mentioned  in  the  articles  of  association  were  Epa- 
phroditus  Ransom,  Charles  E.  Stuart,  Edwin  H.  Lothrop,  Horace 
II.  Comstock  and  Isaac  W.  Willard.  The  capital  stock  of  the 
company  was  fixed  at  $400,000.  However,  before  anything  was 
done  looking  to  the  building  of  the  road,  the  panic  of  1837  came 
on,  the  banking  system  of  the  state  reached  an  inglorious  end,  and 
the  powers  of  the  company  lapsed  because  of  non-user.  Although 
there  may  have  been  more  or  less  discussion  of  the  project  there- 
after, it  was  more  than  thirty  years  before  new  life  was  infused 
into  the  scheme,  and  when  it  was  again  revived  there  was  much 
discussion  as  to  whether  the  road  should  be  built  direct  from 
Kalamazoo  to  South  Haven  or  whether  it  should  start  at  Lawton 
on  the  main  line  of  the  Central  and  run  thence  to  South  Haven. 
Railroad  meetings  were  held  in  various  localities  to  discuss  the 
project.  At  a  meeting  held  in  Paw  Paw  to  take  into  consideration 
the  matter  of  giving  aid  to  a  line  over  the  latter  route,  which  would 
have  been  entirely  within  the  county  of  Van  Buren,  one  prominent 
man  remarked  that  he  would  give  the  devil  his  head  for  a  foot- 
ball whenever  the  road  should  be  built  direct  from  Kalamazoo  to 
South  Haven.  The  prevailing  sentiment  seemed  to  be  that  the 
Van  Buren  county  route  would  be  chosen  in  any  event  and  noth- 
ing in  the  way  of  aiding  the  project  was  offered  by  the  citizens 
of  Paw  Paw  and  vicinity,  although  they  had  been  found  willing 
at  various  times  to  help  other  and  less  promising  schemes,  which 
had  all  come  to  naught.  Perhaps  that  was  the  reason  that  they 
would  offer  nothing  on  this  occasion.     They  had  been  victimized 


110  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

too  often.  This  would  seem  to  have  been  the  one  time  when  they 
missed  the  mark,  for  no  place  in  the  county  would  have  received 
greater  benefit  from  such  a  line  than  Paw  Paw. 

On  the  14th  day  of  April,  1869,  articles  of  association  were  filed 
organizing  the  Kalamazoo  and  South  Haven  Railroad  Company, 
and  the  following  named  gentlemen  were  named  as  directors: 
Allen  Potter,  Lucius  B.  Kendall,  John  Dudgeon,  David  Fisher, 
Stephen  W.  Fisk,  Charles  D.  Ruggles,  Amos  S.  Brown,  Samuel 
Hoppin,  Stephen  Garnet,  John  Scott,  Samuel  Rogers,  Daniel  G. 
Wright  and  Barney  H.  Dyckman.  Allen  Potter  was  chosen  presi- 
dent of  the  company,  but  resigned  soon  afterward  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  James  A.  Walter.  During  Mr.  Walter's  administration, 
arrangements  were  perfected  by  which  the  Michigan  Central  Com- 
pany guaranteed  the  bonds  of  the  new  company  to  the  amount 
of  $640,000,  the  people  of  Kalamazoo  aided  the  project  by  bonds 
and  subscription  and  the  townships  along  the  line  also  voted  a 
large  amount  of  aid  in  the  way  of  township  bonds.  Such  bonds 
were  held  to  be  unconstitutional  by  the  supreme  court  of  the  state, 
but  were  upheld  by  the  United  States  supreme  court,  and  where 
such  bonds  were  held  by  non-residents  who  could  bring  suit  in  the 
federal  court  they  were  collectible  and  were  eventually  paid. 

By  these  various  means  money  was  obtained  for  the  construction 
of  the  road  which  was  opened  as  far  as  Pine  Grove,  in  Van  Buren 
county,  in  the  month  of  January,  1870,  and  was  completed  to 
South  Haven  in  December  of  the  same  year.  And,  as  far  as  heard 
from,  the  devil  got  nobody's  head  for  a  football. 

The  road  has  been  of  great  benefit  to  the  county,  has  been  es- 
pecially helpful  in  developing  the  northern  tier  of  townships 
through  which  it  runs,  and  has  been  the  principal  cause  of  the 
building  up  of  a  number  of  flourishing  villages  along  the  line. 

The  road  long  since  passed  into  the  hands  and  under  the  control 
of  the  Michigan  Central  and  is  now  designated  as  the  South  Ha- 
ven division  of  that  company. 

The  Van  Buren  county  stations  along  the  line  are  Mentha,  a  lit- 
tle burg  so  named  from  the  large  peppermint  interests  that  were 
the  sole  reason  for  its  birth;  Kendall,  an  unincorporated  village; 
Pine  Grove,  likewise  unincorporated;  Gobleville,  a  village  of  537 
inhabitants  according  to  the  census  of  1910 ;  Bloomingdale,  popu- 
lation 501;  Berlamont,  Columbia,  Grand  Junction,  Lacota,  Kib- 
bie,  all  unincorporated  villages;  and  South  Haven,  with  a  popula- 
tion of  3,767  inhabitants,  the  largest  place  and  the  only  city  in 
the  county. 


HISTOEY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  111 

The  Paw  Paw  Railroad 

From  the  days  of  the  pioneers  the  people  of  Paw  Paw  had  de- 
sired and  expected  some  kind  of  railroad  connection.  It  was  a 
great  disappointment  to  them  when  the  route  of  the  Michigan 
Central  was  changed  so  as  to  run  to  New  Buffalo  instead  of  to  St. 
Joseph.  Paw  Paw  was  to  be  a  point  on  that  road,  as  originally  laid 
out,  and  had  the  route  not  been  changed  the  history  of  the  county 
would,  without  doubt,  have  been  far  different  from  what  it  is  at 
the  present  time.  Numerous  projects  had  been  presented  that 
seemed  to  promise  the  desired  railroad  connection,  but  none  of 
them  had  been  realized.  The  town  had  even  undertaken  to  build 
a  little  road  of  its  own,  connecting  with  the  line  of  the  Central, 
between  the  villages  of  Lawton  and  Mattawan,  instead  of  running 
direct  to  the  latter  village  as  it  obviously  should  have  done.  The 
real  reason  of  this  action  grew  out  of  jealousy  between  the  two 
towns.  Lawton  did  not  care  so  very  much  about  the  matter  as  she 
had  the  Central  and  could  get  along  very  well  without  a  little  road 
to  Paw  Paw.  This  project  proceeded  as  far  as  the  grading  of  a 
considerable  portion  of  route,  wrhen  for  some  reason,  probably  a 
lack  of  funds,  it  was  abandoned  and  was  afterward  derisively 
named  the  "calico  grade."  Afterward,  in  1867,  the  citizens  of 
the  vicinity  became  convinced  that  if  they  ever  had  a  railroad, 
they  must  make  one  for  themselves.  A  local  company  was  organ- 
ized and  the  Paw  Paw  Railroad  was  constructed  direct  from  Paw 
Paw  to  Lawton,  connecting  at  the  latter  place  with  the  Michigan 
Central.  The  road  was  a  short  line,  only  four  miles,  but  it  gave 
the  people  of  Paw  Pawr  an  outlet  and  its  opening  was  an  occasion 
of  great  rejoicing.  It  continued  in  operation  for  a  period  of  ten 
years  before  any  change  was  made.  One  engine  and  one  passenger 
coach  comprised  its  principal  equipment  and  the  memory  of  the 
old  "Vulcan,"  as  the  engine  was  named,  still  remains  with  many 
of  the  older  inhabitants.  The  means  for  the  building  of  this  road 
came  principally  from  Paw  Paw  township  ten  per  cent  bonds 
which  were  voted  to  the  amount  of  $50,000,  in  aid  of  the  project, 
and  which,  before  they  were  fully  canceled,  cost  the  town  double 
that  sum,  as,  under  the  decision  of  the  supreme  court,  a  tax  could 
not  be  legally  levied  for  their  payment  until  after  suit  had  been 
brought  and  judgment  rendered  in  the  federal  court. 

Toledo  and  South  Haven  Railroad  (Fruit  Belt  Line) 

This  road,  with  the  high  sounding  name,  was  at  first  only  a 
narrow  gauge  road  nine  miles  in  length  extending  from  Paw  Paw 
to  the  village  of  Lawrence  on  the  west.  The  company  that  built 
it  was  organized  in  the  winter  of  1866-7.     The  late  John  Ihling 


112  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREX  COUNTY 

was  the  moving  spirit  in  the  construction  of  this  road.  Without 
means  and  associated  with  F.  B.  Adams,  Henry  Ford  and  George 
W.  Lawton  of  Lawton,  and  John  W.  Free  and  Edwin  Martin  of 
Paw  Paw,  who  were  all  public  spirited  citizens,  comfortably  situ- 
ated, but  none  of  them  wealthy  enough  to  finance  much  of  a  rail- 
road project,  Mr.  Ihling  commenced  the  work  of  building  the  road. 
Local  subscriptions  were  solicited  and  some  considerable  amount 
secured,  the  larger  amount  from  citizens  of  Lawrence,  who  were 
anxious  to  have  some  kind  of  railroad  connection  with  the  outside 
world. 

By  the  help  thus  acquired  and  by  indomitable  energy  and 
"push,"  by  what  is  sometimes  aptly  designated  as  "cheek,"  the 
road  was  completed  to  Lawrence,  and  on  the  first  day  of  October, 
1877,  was  opened  for  traffic.  The  writer  had  the  pleasure  of  be- 
ing a  guest  of  Mr.  Ihling  on  the  first  passenger  trip  over  the  road. 

The  only  one  of  the  gentlemen  above  named  as  promoters  of  the 
road  that  is  yet  in  the  land  of  the  living  is  John  W.  Free,  now 
president  of  the  Paw  Paw  Savings  Bank. 

But  this  road  was  only  a  three  feet  gauge,  while  the  Paw  Paw 
road  was  of  standard  gauge,  which  necessitated  much  unloading 
and  reloading  of  freight  at  Paw  Paw,  and  it  was  desirable  that 
the  gauge  of  the  latter  road  should  be  narrowed  up  so  that  this 
extra  handling  of  freight  and  change  of  cars  could  be  avoided.  To 
this  plan  there  was  a  good  deal  of  opposition  and  it  was  sought 
to  be  blocked  by  injunction  of  the  court.  To  avoid  this,  a  gang 
of  men  were  assembled  one  Sunday  morning  when  legal  process 
could  not  issue  and  be  served,  and  before  the  close  of  the  day  there 
was  a  narrow  gauge  road  all  the  way  from  Lawton  to  Lawrence. 

The  road  did  not  stop  permanently  at  Lawrence,  but  within  a 
few  years  was  extended  to  Hartford,  connecting  there  with  the 
Chicago  and  West  Michigan,  now  the  main  line  of  the  Pere  Mar- 
quette, and  eventually  was  continued  on  to  South  Haven.  So  at 
last  there  was  a  line  of  railway  from  the  Michigan  Central  to 
South  Haven,  just  as  years  before  it  had  been  hoped  there  might 
be;  but  it  was  a  narrow  gauge  and  this  proved  to  be  unsatisfac- 
tory. So  it  was  determined  that  the  road  should  be  widened,  and 
again  Paw  Paw  came  to  the  aid  of  the  project  with  ten  thousand 
dollars  of  bonds  to  be  devoted  to  "public  improvements,"  which 
really  meant  the  improvement  of  this  road.  A  proceeding  to  hold 
up  the  payment  of  these  bonds  was  begun  in  the  circuit  court, 
which  sustained  their  validity.  The  case  was  appealed  to  the  su- 
preme court,  where  the  decision  of  the  lower  court  was  reversed, 
but  the  bonds  had  found  their  way  into  the  hands  of  innocent  ( ?) 
non-resident  parties,  were  beyond  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Michi- 
gan court  and  were  eventually  paid.    The  road  was  converted  into 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  113 

a  standard  gauge  and  has  since  been  doing  good  service  for  the 
people.  It  passed  from  the  control  of  the  building  company  into 
the  hands  of  the  bondholders,  and  its  ambitious  name  was 
changed  to  the  "South  Haven  and  Eastern/'  possibly  because  it 
ran  easterly  from  South  Haven.  It  was  uncertain  just  how  far 
east  it  would  eventually  get,  but  there  was  no  probability  that  it 
would  ever  reach  the  City  of  Toledo,  its  first  paper  terminus. 
Eventually  it  passed  into  the  control  of  the  Pere  Marquette  Com- 
pany and  was  run  as  a  feeder  for  that  road  at  Hartford. 

In  1905  a  company  had  been  formed,  of  which  S.  J.  Dunkley 
of  South  Haven  was  a  prime  mover,  with  the  avowed  object  of 
constructing  an  electric  interurban  railway  between  the  cities  of 
Kalamazoo  and  South  Haven.  The  company  purchased  the  right- 
of-way  for  a  large  part  of  the  route  through  Van  Buren  county, 
built  a  line  between  the  villages  of  Paw  Paw  and  Lawton  and 
operated  it  as  a  steam  road  for  one  season  (1906),  and  so  for  a  brief 
period  of  time  Paw  Paw  actually  had  two  railroads.  This  new 
road  utilized,  for  part  of  its  route,  the  old  "calico  grade. "  Mean- 
while, the  Michigan  Central  had  relayed  and  double  tracked  its 
road  between  Kalamazoo  and  Lawton,  leaving  its  old  road  bed  and 
a  considerable  portion  of  its  iron  unoccupied.  This  passed  into 
the  hands  of  the  new  company  and  they  actually  operated  the  road 
from  Paw  Paw  to  Kalamazoo.  Some  sort  of  a  deal  was  eventually 
made  by  which  the  line  first  occupied  by  the  old  Paw  Paw  road 
between  Paw  Paw  and  Lawton  passed  into  the  possession  of  this 
new  company,  and  not  needing  two  lines  between  these  points  the 
newly  laid  iron  was  taken  up  and  Paw  Paw  once  more  had  but  one 
railroad.  This  road  again  changed  its  name  and  assumed  one  as 
ambitious  as  its  first,  being  called  the  "Kalamazoo,  Lake  Shore 
and  Chicago/ '  but  it  is  popularly  known  as  "the  Fruit  Belt  Line." 
Recently  another  change  of  ownership  has  taken  place  and  the 
road  is  now  controlled  and  operated  by  the  "Michigan  United 
Railways  Company/ '  which  has  announced  its  intention  to  elec- 
trify the  line  in  the  near  future,  thus  providing  an  *interurban 
line  across  the  state  from  Detroit  to  South  Haven.  The  principal 
Van  Buren  county  stations  along  this  line  are  the  villages  of  Mat- 
tawan,  Lawton,  Paw  Paw,  Lawrence,  Hartford,  Covert  and  South 
Haven.  Lawton  has  a  population,  according  to  the  last  census  of 
1,042;  Paw  Paw,  1,643;  Lawrence,  663;  Hartford,  1,268;  Mattawan 
and  Covert  are  unincorporated. 

The  Pere  Marquette  Railway 

In  1869  a  company  was  organized  under  the  general  railroad 
law  of  the  state,  called  the  Chicago  and  Michigan  Lake  Shore  Rail- 


114  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY 

road  Company,  the  object  of  which  was  to  build  a  railroad  along 
the  lake  shore  from  New  Buffalo  northward.  A.  H.  Morrison,  of 
Berrien  county,  was  the  first  president  of  the  road.  This  was  es- 
sentially a  Berrien  county  project,  although  the  route  of  the  pro- 
posed road  passed  through  the  townships  of  Hartford,  Bangor 
and  Columbia  in  Van  Buren  county.  The  road  was  opened  for 
traffic  from  St.  Joseph  to  New  Buffalo  in  February,  1870,  and  one 
year  later  had  reached  Grand  Junction  near  the  north  line  of  Van 
Buren  county,  at  which  point  it  intersects  the  South  Haven 
division  of  the  Michigan  Central.  The  road  was  continued  to  the 
north,  reaching  Pentwater  on  the  first  day  of  January,  1872,  and 
being  subsequently  extended  to  Petoskey.  Another  part  of  the 
line  was  built  from  Holland  to  Grand  Gapids.  The  road  con- 
tinued in  possession  of  the  original  company  until  1874,  when  it 
was  surrendered  to  the  bondholders  and  its  name  changed  to  the 
Chicago  and  West  Michigan  Railroad.  A  considerable  number  of 
years  since  it  was  purchased  by  the  Pere  Marquette  and  by  that 
company  extended  from  New  Buffalo  to  Chicago.  The  road  has 
become  a  part  of  the  main  line  of  the  Pere  Marquette  system,  one 
of  the  great  railroad  systems  that  "gridiron"  the  state  of  Michi- 
gan. 

The  principal  Van  Buren  county  stations  on  this  line  are  the 
villages  of  Hartford,  Bangor,  Breedsville,  Grand  Junction.  Hart- 
ford is  a  village  of  1,268  inhabitants,  as  shown  by  the  census  of  1910, 
Bangor  has  a  population  of  1,158,  and  Breedsville  has  a  population 
of  219  souls.    Grand  Junction  is  not  incorporated. 

Of  the  eighteen  townships  in  the  county  there  are  but  three  that 
no  railroad  touches — Almena,  Keeler  and  Waverly ;  although  there 
are  three  others, — Arlington,  Hamilton  and  Porter — that  have  only 
a  small  corner  cut  off,  Porter  being  barely  touched. 

Two  of  these  roads  make  close  connection  with  steamship  lines 
to -Chicago:  the  South  Haven  branch  of  the  Central  at  South  Ha- 
ven, and  the  Fruit  Belt  Line  at  the  same  place,  and  also,  by  rea- 
son of  its  connection  with  the  Pere  Marquette  at  Hartford,  at  Ben- 
ton Harbor  and  St.  Joseph  in  the  county  of  Berrien,  thus  giving 
the  people  of  the  county  the  benefit  of  water  transportation  to 
the  great  metropolis  of  the  west  during  the  season  of  navigation. 


CHAPTER  V 

EDUCATIONAL  HISTORY 

Act  of  1827  Modified — Harassed  School  Inspectors — The 
Teachers '  Qualifications — Mrs.  Allen  Rice's  Reminiscences 
— The  Old  and  the  New. 

Schools  went  hand  in  hand  with  the  pioneers  and  their  support 
was  regulated  by  statute  at  an  early  day.  By  an  act  of  the  legis- 
lative council  of  the  territory  of  Michigan  for  the  establishment 
of  common  schools,  approved  April  12,  1827,  it  was  provided 
among  other  things:  ''That  every  township  within  this  territory 
containing  fifty  families  or  householders  shall  be  provided  with  a 
good  schoolmaster  or  schoolmasters,  of  good  morals,  to  teach  chil- 
dren to  read  and  write  and  to  instruct  them  in  the  English  or 
French  language,  as  well  as  in  arithmetic,  orthography  and  decent 
behavior,  for  such  time  as  shall  be  equivalent  to  six  months  for 
one  school  in  each  year.  And  every  township  containing  one  hun- 
dred families  or  householders  shall  be  provided  with  such  school- 
master or  teacher  for  such  time  as  shall  be  equivalent  to  twelve 
months  for  one  school  in  each  year.  And  every  township  con- 
taining one  hundred  and  fifty  families  or  householders  shall  be 
provided  with  such  schoolmaster  or  teacher  for  such  term  of  time 
as  shall  be  equivalent  to  six  months  in  each  year,  and  shall,  in  ad- 
dition thereto,  be  provided  with  a  schoolmaster  or  teacher  as  above 
described,  to  instruct  the  children  in  the  English  language  for 
such  term  of  time  as  shall  be  equivalent  to  twelve  months  for  one 
school  in  each  year.  And  every  township  containing  two  hun- 
dred families  or  householders  shall  be  provided  with  a  grammar 
schoolmaster  of  good  morals,  well  instructed  in  the  Latin,  French 
and  English  languages,  and  shall  in  addition  thereto  be  pro- 
vided with  a  schoolmaster  or  teacher,  as  above  described,  to  in- 
struct children  in  the  English  language,  for  such  term  as  shall  be 
equivalent  to  twelve  months  for  each  of  said  schools  in  each  year." 

The  statute  also  provided  penalties  for  refusal  or  neglect  to 
comply  with  its  provisions,  as  follows:  The  penalty  imposed  on 
any  township  having  fifty  and  less  than  one  hundred  families  or 
householders  was  a  forfeiture  of  fifty  dollars;  on  the  next  grade, 

115 


116 


HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUBEX  COUNTY 


High  School,  Paw  Paw 


Lawtcn  High  School 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  117 

comprising  townships  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty 
families  or  householders,  a  forfeiture  of  one  hundred  dollars; 
and  on  the  higher  grade  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  families  or  house- 
holders or  more,  a  forfeiture  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 
These  penalties  were  all  made  proportionable  for  any  neglect  for 
a  less  time  than  one  year. 

The  same  statute  provided  that  a  board  of  inspectors,  not  ex- 
ceeding five  in  number,  should  be  chosen  in  each  township,  three 
or  more  of  whom  should  be  competent  to  examine  both  the  teach- 
ers and  the  schools;  that  no  person  should  be  employed  as  a 
teacher  without  a  certificate  issued  to  him  by  the  board  of  in- 
spectors; and  "that  if  any  person  shall  presume  to  keep  such 
school,  without  a  certificate  as  aforesaid,  he  or  she  shall  forfeit 
and  pay  a  sum  not  exceeding  two  hundred  dollars  to  be  recovered 
in  any  court  having  jurisdiction  thereof,  one  moiety  thereof  to 
the  informer  and  the  other  moiety  to  the  use  of  the  poor  of  the 
township  where  such  school  may  be  kept. 

"Provision  was  likewise  made  for  the  division  of  townships  into 
school  districts,  for  the  election  of  a  board  of  trustees  in  each  dis- 
trict to  have  control  of  the  concerns  of  the  district  and  for  the  elec- 
tors of  the  township  to  vote  a  tax  for  the  support  of  schools. 

"Schools  and  the  means  of  education  shall  forever  be  encour- 
aged. "  These  words  are  found  in  the  ordinance  of  1787.  which 
provided  that  section  sixteen  in  each  township  should  be  set  apart 
as  school  land ;  and  by  act  of  the  legislative  council  approved 
July  3,  1828,  townships  were  authorized  to  choose  a  board  of  trus- 
tees to  have  charge  of  such  school  lands  and  to  lease  the  same  or 
any  part  thereof  and  to  apply  the  proceeds  toward  the  payment 
of  the  school  teachers  employed  in  their  several  townships. 

Act  of  1827  Modified 

By  an  act  of  the  legislative  council  of  the  territory,  approved 
November  5,  1829,  the  system  inaugurated  in  1827  was  modified 
in  a  considerable  degree.  This  act  provided,  among  other  things, 
that  a  board  of  "commissioners  of  common  schools"  consisting  of 
five  members  should  be  elected  in  each  township,  who  should  lay 
out  and  number  the  school  districts  of  their  several  townships  and 
perform  certain  other  prescribed  duties;  that  three  school  direc- 
tors should  be  chosen  in  each  district  whose  duty  it  should  be  to 
levy  a  tax  for  the  building  of  schoolhouses  where  such  structures 
had  not  been  previously  provided ;  to  employ  qualified  teachers 
in  their  respective  districts  for  a  term  of  three  months  at  least 
in  each  year  and  for  such  longer  time  as  the  inhabitants  in  public- 
school  meeting  should  direct,  said  schools  to  commence  on  or  be- 


118  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

fore  the  tenth  day  of  December  in  each  year;  to  make  out  a  rate 
bill  for  the  collection  of  the  wages  of  the  teacher,  to  be  levied  on 
the  inhabitants  of  the  district,  proportional  to  the  number  of  days' 
attendance  of  the  pupils  from  the  family  of  each  patron  of  the 
school.  Provision  was  also  made  for  the  same  proportional  furnish- 
ing of  fuel  for  the  school,  which  might  be  delivered  in  kind,  other- 
wise to  stand  as  a  personal  tax. 

These  early  laws  may  be  considered  as  the  beginning  of  Michi- 
gan's magnificent  common  school  system,  which  i&  universally  ac- 
knowledged to  be  second  to  none. 

Harassed  School  Inspectors 

It  may  well  be  supposed  that  in  those  pioneer  days  it  was  not 
always  easy  to  find  teachers  fully  equipped  as  the  law  required, 
and  still  less  easy  to  fill  the  position  of  school  inspectors  duly  quali- 
fied to  pass  upon  the  qualifications  of  those  persons  who  applied 
for  the  necessary  certificates.  And  this  was  not  only  true  in  those 
territorial  days,  but  it  continued  in  a  greater  or  less  degree  long 
after  Michigan  became  a  state,  indeed  as  long  as  the  township  sys- 
tem of  examination  of  teachers  continued  in  existence. 

The  following  well  authenticated  anecdote  will  illustrate  this 
matter :  It  is  said  to  have  transpired  in  the  township  of  Pine  Grove, 
where  William  Adair,  an  American  citizen  of  Irish  descent,  being 
considered  well  equipped  for  the  office,  was  elected  as  a  school  in- 
spector and  was  the  only  one  of  the  three  chosen  who  took  the  oath 
of  office,  and  he,  if  he  had  been  better  posted  as  to  his  official 
duties,  would,  without  doubt,  have  declined  the  honor. 

One  morning,  while  "Billy"  was  industriously  attending  to  his 
more  congenial  duties  in  his  saw-mill,  word  was  sent  to  him  that 
a  young  lady  had  presented  herself  at  his  residence  and  wished  to 
interview  him.  "Eh,"  said  Billy,  "What  furl"  "To  be  ex- 
amined for  a  certificate  to  teach  school,' '  was  the  reply.  "Ain't 
got  no  time  to  attind  to  it  this  mornin'.  Tell  her  to  come  agin," 
said  Billy.  "No,"  was  the  response,  "you  are  sworn  in  and  must 
examine  her  now."  After  some  hesitation,  Billy  finally  stripped 
off  his  "wamus,"  went  to  his  house,  washed  and  shaved,  combed 
out  his  bushy  locks,  donned  his  Sunday-go-to-meeting  garments  and 
a  pair  of  new  moccasins,  and  bashfully  presented  himself  before 
his  fair  visitor.  "Are  you  Mr.  Adair,  the  school  inspector?" 
asKed  the  young  lady.  "Indade,  mum,"  said  Billy,  reaching  up 
and  pulling  the  "cow  lick"  that  graced  the  top  of  his  head,  "I 
suppose  I  be,  mum."  "I  have  come  to  be  examined  for  a  cer- 
tificate to  teach  school,"  continued  the  lady.  "Surtificut,  is  ut?" 
said  Billy.     "Yes,  sir,"  she  replied.     "I  must  surtify  ye  kin?" 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  119 

enquired  Billy,  "Nade  it  be  a  paper,  a  writing '  he  continued  with 
a  groan.  4 '  I  think  it  should  be, ' '  was  the  reply.  ' '  Kin  ye  write  ? ' ' 
responded  Billy.  The  lady  informed  him  that  she  possessed  that 
necessary  qualification.  "Well  thin,"  said  Billy,  "jest  ye  write  it 
out  and  let  me  see  ye  do  it."  The  applicant  wrote  what  she 
thought  would  answer  the  purpose.  "Rade  it  if  ye  will,"  said 
Billy,  with  a  show  of  confidence  that  he  was  for  from  possessing. 
The  lady  complied  and  read  over  what  she  had  written.  "Now," 
said  Billy,  "let  me  see  ye  write  William  Adair  on  it  if  ye  plase." 
The  young  lady,  after  some  hesitation,  did  as  directed.  "Now," 
said  Billy,  "will  ye  take  thot  as  yer  surtificut  and  go  yer  way?" 
"No,"  was  the  reply,  "you  must  sign  it  or  it  will  do  me  no  good, 
they  will  dispute  it."  "They  will?"  said  Billy.  "Show  me  the 
mon  that  dare  dispute  the  word  of  a  lady  and  I  will  tach  him 
better  manners."  But  the  young  woman  persisted,  and  Billy 
finally  set  to  work  to  write  his  name.  Beginning  well  at  the  left 
side  of  the  sheet  in  order  that  he  might  have  plenty  of  room,  he 
succeeded  in  spelling  out  ' '  William  Adair, ' '  in  letters  that  nearly 
obliterated  the  calligraphy  of  the  applicant  for  the  neces- 
sary document,  but  he  would  have  preferred  that  she  had  asked 
him  to  tackle  the  largest  monarch  of  the  forest  or  thrash  a  school- 
house  full  of  doubters  as  to  the  regularity  of  his  certificate,  which 
was  the  only  one  he  ever  gave,  but  it  served  its  purpose.  Billy 
resigned  his  office  shortly  afterward. 

Another  instance  is  recalled  of  the  perspicuity  of  a  member  of 
a  board  of  school  inspectors  which  was  exhibited  as  late  as  1860. 
The  writer  was  at  that  time  a  young  man,  barely  turned  twenty- 
one,  and  his  fellow  citizens  had  done  him  the  honor  of  choosing 
him  for  an  inspector  of  schools.  The  two  other  members  of  the 
board  were  elderly  men — one  of  them  a  teacher  of  years'  standing, 
the  other  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  highly  educated.  A  class  of 
young  ladies  and  gentlemen  were  being  examined  before  the  board, 
when  this  question  was  propounded  by  the  gray  haired  school- 
master member:  "Why  is  a  nautical  mile  longer  than  a  statute 
mile?"  None  could  answer.  Indeed  the  only  correct  answer  that 
could  have  been  given  would  have  been,  "Because  it  is;"  but  the 
schoolmaster  proposed  to  enlighten  the  class  on  the  matter,  and 
proceeded  to  explain  that  the  nautical  mile  was  measured  over  the 
level  sea,  while  the  statute  mile  was  measured  over  hill  and  valley 
and  therefore  does  not  reach  as  far  as  it  would  on  a  level  and 
that  the  difference  in  their  length  was  an  allowance  made  for  the 
inequalities  of  the  earth's  surface.  Being  scarcely  more  than  a 
boy,  we  did  not  dare  to  dispute  the  absurd  proposition  of  the 
schoolmaster.  No  so,  however,  with  the  preacher,  who,  to  the 
great   confusion   of   the   would-be   savant,    promptly   replied    "It 


120  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

isn't  so.     It  isn't  so.    There  isn't  a  word  of  truth  in  such  a  propo- 
sition. ' ' 

The  following  quoted  extracts  from  a  paper  written  in  1899  by 
the  late  Charles  D.  Lawton,  one  of  the  regents  of  the  Michigan  Uni- 
versity, will  serve  to  illustrate  the  methods  of  conducting  the 
schools  of  early  pioneer  days.  "Every  old  pioneer/'  said  Mr. 
Lawton,  "and  all  who  have  passed  the  three-score  mark,  will  vividly 
recall  the  primitive  educational  facilities  of  their  early  school  days 
in  Van  Buren  county,  if  perchance,  they  were  so  fortunate  as  to 
have  their  lot  cast  so  long  ago  in  this  far  away  wilderness.  But, 
whether  here  or  elsewhere,  the  experiences  of  school  life  in  this 
northern  or  western  country,  where  the  conditions  were  the  same, 
did  not  greatly  differ.  So  long  as  memory  retains  its  grasp  upon 
any  of  the  past  events  of  life,  the  lights  and  shadows  of  school 
days  in  the  little  old  log  schoolhouse  will  remain  among  the  most 
permanent  of  one's  reminiscences.  'Memory  reveals  the  rose,  but 
secretes  the  thorn,'  and  thus  we  are  apt  to  recall  the  lights  and 
ignore  the  shadows  of  those  early  school  days,  when  in  truth,  school 
life  was  not  a  period  of  unalloyed  delight.  We  did  not,  at  that 
time,  consider  it  so  very  much  fun  to  sit  all  day  on  the  high 
benches  made  without  backs  that  extended  around  three  sides  of 
the  school  room."  So  high  in  fact  were  these  seats  that  were  sim- 
ply slabs  with  legs  under  them— tempting,  indeed,  to  the  pocket 
knives  of  the  lads — that  the  younger  pupils  could  not  "touch  bot- 
tom" so  to  speak,  but  were  compelled  to  sit  during  the  long  hours 
of  school  with  their  feet  just  aching  to  touch  the  floor.  Back  of 
these  seats,  or  in  front  of  them,  it  depended  how  one  sat,  was  a 
wide  board  for  a  desk,  with  a  shelf  underneath  to  hold  the  few 
books  that  the  pupils  were  so  fortunate  as  to  possess.  The  usual 
position  for  the  more  advanced  scholars  who  had  attained  to  the 
dignity  of  studying  the  three  R's  was  facing  these  desks  with 
their  backs  toward  the  teacher,  which  gave  the  schoolmaster  or 
ma'am  what  seemed  to  be  an  undue  advantage,  enabling  him  or 
her  to  see  without  being  seen,  save  only  by  an  occasional  furtive 
glance. 

The  Teachers'  Qualifications 

To  quote  again  from  Mr.  Lawton:  "Unfortunately  for  the  hap- 
piness of  the  pupil,  the  teacher  was  generally  chosen  for  his  mus- 
cular development,  for  his  ability  to  punish  and  from  his  willing- 
ness to  put  this  ability  into  constant  practice,  rather  than  for  his 
superior  mental  acquirements  and  ability  to  impart  instruction." 
Especially  was  this  the  case  with  the  winter  schools,  which  were 
practically  the  only  terms  attended  by  the  "big"  boys  and  girls. 
"As  a  rule,  in  the  schoolhouse  of  pioneer  days,  the  whip  and  fer- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  121 

ule  predominated  and  the  chief  ingenuity  shown  by  the  teacher 
was  in  his  methods  of  administering  punishment,  Many  an  elderly 
man  can  recall  the  torture  he  endured  by  being  compelled  to  hold 
his  finger  on  the  head  of  a  nail  in  the  floor,  or  forced  to  lie  over 
a  chair  and  grasp  the  lower  rungs  with  the  hands,  thus  placing 
himself  in  the  best  possible  position  for  application  of  rawhide  or 
birch.  Possibly,  to  vary  the  method  of  punishment  in  the  case 
of  girls,  resort  was  had  to  the  ferule  applied  to  the  hand  until 
it  was  blistered.  There  was  sometimes  a  sequel  to  these  punish- 
ments, the  scene  of  which  was  laid  in  the  home,  where,  if  the 
school  episode  became  known,  there  resulted  a  further  trouncing 
administered  by  the  paternal  hand,  so  that  it  became  an  important 
matter  for  the  pupil  to  suppress  information." 

And  sometimes  there  was  a  good  deal  of  ingenuity  displayed 
on  the  part  of  the  pupil  in  trying  to  kkget  even."  Occasionally  the 
master  wTould  sit  down  on  a  bent  pin  or  receive  a  severe  thrust 
from  a  darning  needle,  which  by  some  device  would  be  vigorously 
projected  through  a  hole  in  his  chair  causing  him  to  make  a  sud- 
den spring  from  his  seat,  much  to  the  amusement  of  those  who  were 
in  the  secret  and  to  the  great  surprise  and  mystification  of  those 
who  were  not. 

In  some  districts  the  pupils  asquired  an  unenviable  reputation 
for  "cleaning  out"  the  teacher,  the  "big  boys"  being  too  many 
for  him.  When  a  teacher  was  disposed  of  in  this  way  another  and 
more  muscular  one  was  procured  if  possible. 

An  instance  of  this  kind  is  related  as  follows:  Two  or  three 
teachers  had  been  turned  out  in  this  manner  by  the  unruly  pupils, 
and  the  officers  of  the  district  were  beginning  to  despair  of  find- 
ing anybody  who  could  "keep"  the  school  successfully.  Finally 
,  an  application  was  made  by  a  young  man  who  did  not  appear  to 
be  particularly  "husky."  The  directors  explained  the  condition 
of  things  to  him  and  suggested  that  his  appearance  did  not  seem 
to  indicate  that  he  would  be  able  to  fill  the  bill.  The  young  man 
insisted  that  he  could  manage  the  school  and  as  a  last  resort  was 
given  a  trial.  Things  moved  along  very  smoothly  for  two  or 
three  days,  when  the  ringleaders  concluded  the  time  had  arrived 
to  test  the  teacher's  mettle.  Standing  by  the  fire  near  the  mas- 
ter, one  of  the  boys  picked  up  the  poker,  and,  assuming  a  military 
attitude,  brought  it  briskly  to  his  shoulder  and  in  a  loud  voice 
commanded  "shoulder  arms."  Instantly  the  schoolmaster's  fist 
came  in  contact  with  the  point  of  the  young  man's  chin,  and,  as  he 
went  down,  the  master  commanded  "ground  arms."  This  speedy 
adaptation  to  the  situation  so  pleased  the  boys  that  they  became 
the  teacher's  firm  friends,  and  the  entire  school  term  was  com- 
pleted without,  further  trouble. 


122  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

The  lot  of  a  teacher  in  those  early  days  was  not  a  * *  bed  of  roses ' ' 
and  he  had  to  put  up  with  many  unpleasant  experiences.  He  had 
to  "board  around ;"  that  is,  board  and  lodge  with  each  of  the 
families  patronizing  the  school,  apportioning  his  stay  according  to 
the  number  of  children  that  attended  from  each  particular  family. 
Some  of  his  boarding  places  would  prove  to  be  very  pleasant  and 
agreeable,  while  others  were — well,  let  us  say  not  quite  so  satis- 
factory. Teachers  were  prone  to  overstay  their  time  in  the  pleas- 
ant homes,  where  they  were  always  welcome,  and  cut  short  their 
allotted  time  at  the  other  places,  but  these  latter  could  not  be 
wholly  ignored,  as  that  would  be  the  cause  of  immediate  trouble, 
and  if  he  delayed  too  long  he  was  sure  to  receive  a  message  sent 
by  one  of  the  little  boys  or  girls,  as  follows:  "Teacher  when  are 
you  coming  to  our  house?"  And  that  was  a  question  that  it  would 
never  do  to  ignore. 

Frequently  the  sleeping  accommodations  in  these  pioneer  homes 
were  very  limited;  the  teacher  would  have  to  sleep  with  the  chil- 
dren, and  often  the  space  was  too  limited  for  any  great  degree  of 
privacy.  The  schoolmaster  was  paid  but  a  meager  salary — the 
school  ma'am  a  good  deal  less — the  major  portion  of  which  had 
to  be  collected  by  a  "'rate  bill"  and  came  very  slowly,  the  people 
of  those  days  not  usually  having  very  much  ready  money  at  their 
command  and  some  of  the  patrons  of  the  school  furnishing  only 
children  and  promises.  Text  books  were  crude  and  scarce,  consist- 
ing principally  of  the  "English  Reader,"  "Daboll's  Arithmetick" 
(as  it  was  spelled),  "Kirkham's  Grammar"  and  a  "Webster's  Ele- 
mentary Spelling  Book,"  with  an  occasional  copy,  perhaps,  of 
"Hale's  History  of  the  United  States,"  which  was  not  studied  as 
a  history,  but  used  as  a  "reading  book."  One  set  of  these  books 
had  to  serve  for  the  entire  family,  if  indeed  they  were  fortunate* 
enough  to  possess  them  all. 

Mrs.  Allen  Rice's  Reminiscences 

The  following  sketch  written  by  Mrs.  Allen  Rice,  of  Lawrence, 
one  of  the  very,  very  few  remaining  pioneers  of  those  early  days, 
is  a  fair  illustration  of  pioneer  schools.  Mrs.  Rice,  teaching  a 
summer  school,  did  not  have  any  unruly  "big"  boys  and  girls, 
who  so  often  made  the  teacher's  life  a  burden  grievous  to  be 
borne.  She  says:  "In  my  sixteenth  summer  it  was  my  fortune  to 
teach  the  first  school  in  the  township  of  Bangor,  which  was  then 
known  as  South  Haven,  as  that  township  embraced  all  the  terri- 
tory from  the  west  line  of  Arlington  to  the  lake,  the  town  of  Ar- 
lington being  included  in  Lawrence. 

"Some  six  or  eight  families  had  settled  in  the  southeast  corner 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  123 

of  the  town  and  across  the  line  in  Lawrence,  and  they  were  anxious 
that  their  children  should  be  sent  to  school.  Accordingly,  in  the 
spring  of  1840,  they  were  organized  as  the  first  fractional  district 
of  Lawrence  and  South  Haven.  As  there  was  no  money  with  which 
to  build,  they  proceeded  in  pioneer  fashion  to  roll  up  a  log  cabin 
about  fourteen  by  eighteen  feet  in  dimension.  They  had  no  money 
with  which  to  buy  shingles  and  lumber  was  scarce,  as  it  was  a 
long  way  to  a  saw-mill,  and  so  the  cabin,  which  was  shanty  roofed, 
was  covered  with  troughs — that  is,  with  logs  hollowed  out,  one 
tier  being  placed  hollow  side  up  and  the  other  hollow  side  down, 
breaking  joints  and  thus  effectually  excluding  the  rain.  Two 
holes  were  cut  for  windows,  but  they  were  guiltless  of  either  sash 
or  glass;  a  rude  door  was  made,  and  a  table  constructed  by  nail- 
ing a  board  across  a  frame  made  of  poles.  They  did  not  have  quite 
boards  enough  to  complete  the  floor  and  so  a  space  about  two  feet 
wide  was  left  on  one  side.  Seats  were  made  by  putting  legs  into 
a  couple  of  thick  slabs ;  a  little  shelf  was  made  in  one  corner  near 
the  door,  by  driving  pins  into  the  logs ;  lastly  some  one  furnished 
an  old  chair  for  the  use  of  the  teacher. 

"When  these  preparations  were  complete,  they  looked  around 
for  a  teacher.  The  director  came  to  me  and  said:  'We  want  you 
to  teach  our  school  this  summer.  The  schoolhouse  is  all  ready  and 
we  want  school  to  begin  next  Monday. '  I  told  them  I  did  not  feel 
competent  and,  besides,  I  thought  my  mother  could  not  spare  me. 
My  objections  were  overruled,  and,  with  my  mother's  consent,  it 
was  agreed  that  I  should  begin  school  the  first  Monday  in  July 
and  teach  three  months  at  a  salary  of  one  dollar  per  week,  which 
was  the  usual  pay  of  pioneer  teachers,  although  in  some  districts, 
where  there  were  thirty  or  forty  pupils,  they  paid  $1.50  per  week. 

"The  following  Monday  found  me  at  my  task  with  nine  pupils 
ranging  from  five  to  fourteen  years  of  age,  five  of  them  being 
members  of  one  family.  The  books  used  were  'Webster's  Ele- 
mentary Spelling  Book,'  Cobb's  First  Reader,'  'Peter  Parley's 
Geography,'  'Daboll's  Arithmetic,'  and  the  'English  Reader,'  all 
of  which  are  unknown  to  the  present  generation. 

"After  I  had  begun  my  school  I  was  informed  that  I  was  ex- 
pected to  teach  six  days  every  week  and  thirteen  weeks  for  a 
three-months'  term,  so  that  the  district  could  draw  public  money. 
Of  course  I  boarded  around,  and  so  I  had  about  six  weeks  to  board 
in  one  place. 

"One  day  near  the  close  of  August  I  was  surprised  by  the  en- 
trance of  three  stalwart  men  into  my  little  school  room,  who  an- 
nounced themselves  as  the  township  school  inspectors.  I  gave  one 
of  them  my  chair  and  seated  the  others  on  the  bench  with  the 
pupils  and  proceeded  with  my  work  as  well  as  my  embarrassment 


124  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

would  allow,  and,  I  must  say,  never  were  better  behaved  pupils. 
Well,  the  time  passed  at  length,  and  I  dismissed  my  little  charges. 
Then  the  inspectors  proceeded  to  ask  questions,  and,  after  about  an 
hour  of  questioning,  I  found  myself  in  possession  of  a  document 
certifying  that  I  had  been  examined  as  to  moral  character,  learn- 
ing and  ability  to  teach  a  common  school,  etc.  The  names  at- 
tached to  this  certificate  were  Nelson  S.  Marshall,  George  Par- 
malee  and  Mansell  M.  Briggs.  These  men,  as  I  afterward  learned, 
reported  my  little  school  as  a  model  school,  at  which  I  was  not  a 
little  vain. 

"As  the  season  advanced  and  the  weather  became  rainy  and 
chilly,  I  procured  some  cotton  cloth  and  nailed  it  over  the  window 
spaces;  then  wre  built  large  fires,  using  the  dead  wood  that  lay  all 
about,  and  carried  coals  in  an  iron  kettle  into  the  school  room  to 
warm  it. 

"Teachers'  wages  had  to  be  collected  by  a  rate  bill  and  the  law 
allowed  sixty  days  for  collection,  but  I  did  not  get  my  pay  until 
New  Year's,  and  then  I  found  myself  in  possession  of  twelve  dol- 
lars and  two  pigs.  The  possession  of  the  pigs  is  a  part  of  my 
story. 

"Soon  after  I  began  my  school,  my  two  little  brothers  came  to 
see  me  and  wrent  home  with  one  of  the  little  boys  who  told  them 
that  their  father  had  a  swine  that  had  more  young  than  she  could 
care  for,  and  he  was  going  to  kill  a  couple  of  them.  My  brothers 
begged  that  they  might  not  be  killed  until  they  had  asked  their 
father  if  they  might  get  them,  and  the  next  day  they  returned  and 
got  the  pigs.  Nothing  more  was  thought  about  the  matter  until  I 
received  my  pay  for  teaching  the  school,  wrhen  I  found  myself 
charged  with  two  pigs  at  fifty  cents  each.  I  did  not  like  it  very 
much,  but  the  pigs  had  grown  to  thrifty  swine  and  my  father 
said  'let  it  go,'  but  we  had  more  than  a  dollar's  worth  of  fun  over 
my  pigs. 

"Although  this  term  of  school  did  not  leave  me  in  possession 
of  much  money,  it  was  not  an  unprofitable  season.  Books  were  not 
abundant  in  the  pioneers'  cabins,  but  I  found  a  number  of  valu- 
able ones  and  I  read  all  I  could  get  hold  of  from  'Scott's  Pirate' 
to  a  volume  of  sermons,  and  I  even  took  a  dip  into  the  'Book  of 
Mormon, '  which  I  should  have  read  through,  if  the  owner  had  not 
gone  away  taking  the  book  with  him." 

Occasionally  a  teacher  like  Mrs.  Rice,  would  be  secured  who  was 
broad  minded,  resourceful  and  really  in  love  with  the  work.  Such 
a  teacher  was  a  power  for  good  in  the  community  that  was  so 
fortunate  as  to  secure  his  services,  and  the  time  under  his  in- 
struction passed  all  too  swiftly.  In  those  days  the  teacher  was 
without  the  aids  that  are  provided  in  these  modern  days.    He  had 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  125 

no  books  different  from  those  studied  by  his  scholars,  no  maps, 
no  globes,  no  apparatus,  no  aids  of  any  sort,  but  was  thrown  en- 
tirely on  his  own  resources.  What  wonder  that  so  many  failed 
to  make  a  success  of  the  work  they  had  undertaken.  An  abundance 
of  books  of  reference,  convenient  rooms,  suitable  seats  and  desks, 
maps,  globes  and  scientific  apparatus,  together  with  an  enlight- 
ened public  sentiment  to  support  him,  make  the  profession  of  a 
present  day  teacher  altogether  different  from  those  days  in  the 
little  old  log  schoolhouse,  and  although  a  much  more  efficient  equip- 
ment is  required  at  the  present  time,  the  work  is  not  as  difficult 
as  it  was  seventy-five  or  even  fifty  years  ago. 

The  Old  and  the  New 

It  is  doubtful,  however,  if  the  scholars  or  the  parents  of  these 
modern  days  enjoy  themselves  any  better  or  are  any  happier  than 
they  were  in  those  primitive  times.  Who  that  ever  participated 
in  them  will  ever  forget  the  old  fashioned  spelling  schools,  the 
singing  schools  and  the  debating  schools — they  would  be  termed 
"lyceums"  in  modern  parlance — when,  packed  closely  in  the  box 
of  the  big  sled  half  filled  with  straw,  wrapped  in  blankets  and 
robes,  hitched  behind  old  ' '  Buck  and  Bright ' '  the  family  ox  team, 
they  traveled  miles  over  the  sparkling  snow,  with  the  mercury 
down  to  the  zero  mark  (they  knew  nothing  about  zero  in  those  days 
and  cared  less)  to  attend  a  spelling  school?  How  eagerly  they 
looked  forward  to  the  longed-for  victory  in  the  final  "spelling 
down,"  a  victory  that  was  the  source  of  as  great  degree  of  satis- 
faction to  the  victors  as  the  winning  of  the  game  is  to  a  lot  of  mod- 
ern baseball  fans !  In  nothing  are  the  wonderful  changes  that  have 
taken  place  within  the  past  seventy-five  years  more  marked  or 
more  strongly  emphasized  than  in  the  progress  made  by  the  com- 
mon schools  of  the  county. 

As  the  first  settlers  began  to  overcome  the  difficulties  incident 
to  converting  the  wilderness  into  productive  farms,  the  primitive 
structures  of  logs  and  shakes  gave  way  to  the  "little  red  school- 
house,"  and  as  the  people  increased  in  prosperity  and  financial 
ability,  these  in  turn,  wTere  superseded  by  the  present  modern 
schoolhouse,  with  all  of  its  up-to-date  equipment  and  appliances 
to  aid  both  teacher  and  pupil  in  their  labors — buildings  which,  in 
many  instances  well  deserve  the  honorable  distinction  of  being 
"temples  of  education."  At  the  present  time  there  are  149  school 
districts  in  the  county  and  the  number  of  school  children,  which  in- 
cludes all  persons  between  the  ages  of  five  and  twenty,  at  the 
school  census  of  1911  was  9,065. 

The  number  of  school  houses  is  154,  and,  with  very  few  excep- 


126  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

tions,  they  are  all  modern  buildings,  fully  equipped  with  every- 
thing needful  to  assist  the  student  in  acquiring  a  knowledge  of 
the  arts  and  sciences,  beginning  at  the  kindergarten  and  end- 
ing with  his  graduation  from  the  high  school,  with  a  diploma  en- 
titling its  owner  to  enter  into  the  Michigan  University  at  Ann 
Arbor,  an  institution  conceded  to  be  the  peer  of  any  educational 
institution  in  America,  upon  presentation  of  his  certificate  of 
graduation,  without  further  examination  or  other  condition. 

These  schoolhouses  are  so  plentifully  scattered  throughout  the 
county  that  a  person  passing  through  it  scarcely  leaves  one  out  of 
sight  before  another  comes  within  the  range  of  his  vision.  And 
some  of  these  school  buildings  are  among  the  finest  buildings  in 
the  county,  costing  thousands  of  dollars.  There  are  eleven  "high 
schools/ '  from  five  of  which  the  graduates  are  entitled  to  enter 
the  university  on  presentation  of  diploma  of  graduation. 

Almost  every  school  district  in  the  county  maintains  a  district 
library.  These  various  libraries  contain  about  24,000  volumes, 
thus  giving  pupils  easy  access  to  much  of  the  first  class  literature 
of  the  world  and  aiding  them  greatly  along  the  pathway  of  knowl- 
edge. 

The  value  of  the  school  property,  as  returned  by  the  various 
school  boards  in  reports  for  1911,  is  $343,475. 

During  the  school  year  ending  on  the  tenth  day  of  July,  1911, 
there  were  269  teachers  employed  in  the  schools  of  the  county, 
35  men  and  235  women.  There  was  paid  for  teachers'  wages  dur- 
ing the  past  school  year  the  sum  of  $111,985.25.  The  salaries 
ranged  from  $30  to  $166.66  per  month.  The  average  salary  of 
the  teachers  in  the  country  schools  was  about  $40  per  month,  the 
higher  salaries  being  paid  to  superintendents  and  principal  teach- 
ers in  the  city  and  village  schools.  The  aggregate  number  of 
months  taught  in  the  various  schools  was  2,219. 

The  ordinary  English  branches,  reading,  writing,  orthography, 
grammar,  arithmetic,  geography,  physiology,  civil  government  and 
United  States  history,  were  taught  in  all  the  country  schools,  with 
an  occasional  class  in  agriculture,  algebra  and  music.  The  cur- 
riculum of  the  high  schools  embraced  all  the  foregoing  studies  and, 
in  addition  thereto,  higher  mathematics,  languages  (ancient  and 
modern),  botany,  manual  training,  physics,  astronomy,  domestic 
science,  agriculture  and  all  other  studies  required  to  prepare  the 
student  for  a  course  in  the  university. 

Van  Buren  county  has  just  reason  to  be  proud  of  her  school 
system.  The  graduates  of  her  schools  are  filling  many  important 
positions  in  the  business  world.  They  are  doctors,  lawyers, 
merchants,  divines,  agriculturists,  horticulturists,  insurance  men, 
bankers,  public  officials,  journalists  and  other  equally  honorable 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUKEN  COUNTY  127 

and  responsible  positions,  and  few,  very  few  indeed,  have  been  the 
instances  in  which  they  did  not  "make  good."  They  are  scattered 
all  over  this  broad  land,  from  the  far  east  to  the  distant  west,  from 
the  frozen  north  to  the  sunny  south ;  perhaps  not  a  single  state  in 
the  Union  where  some  of  them  may  not  be  found,  and  in  foreign 
countries  as  well. 

The  Peninsular  state  has  certainly  obeyed  the  injunction  of  the 
famous  old  ordinance  of  1787,  that  "schools  and  the  means  of 
education  shall  forever  be  encouraged"  and  Van  Buren  county 
has  kept  fully  abreast  of  her  sister  counties  in  carrying  on  this 
grand  work  of  educating  the  generations  that  have  been  born 
within  her  jurisdiction,  or  that  have  sought  her  hospitable  bord- 
ers from  other  counties,  states  and  nations. 


128 


HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


CHAPTER  VI 

THE  COUNTY  SEAT 

Lawrence  as  the  County  Seat — Paw  Paw  Displaces  Lawrence 
— Proposed  County  Buildings — Old  Court  House  Com- 
pleted— South  Haven  Bids  for  County  Seat — Popular  Vote 
for  Paw  Paw — New  County  Buildings — Court  House  Corner- 
stone Laid — Cost  of  Present  County  Buildings. 

As  hereinbefore  intimated,  there  was  much  contention  and  con- 
troversy over  the  location  of  the  county  seat  of  Van  Buren  county. 
The  county  was  not  organized  until  the  spring  of  1837,  although 
it  had  been  set  off  and  named  nearly  eight  years  before.  As  has 
been  said:  "The  formation  of  a  county  at  that  period,  by  no 
means  necessitated  the  exercise  of  the  usual  functions  pertaining 
to  a  county,  nor  even  made  it  certain  that  there  were  any  people 
within  the  designated  boundaries.  It  merely  indicated  that,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  state  authorities,  the  territory  described  in  the  act 
would,  at  some  future  time,  make  a  good  county."  No  mistake  in 
that  regard  was  made  in  organizing  Van  Buren  county. 

Lawrence  as  the  County  Seat 

The  citizens  of  the  village  of  Lawrence,  nine  miles  west  of  the 
village  of  Paw  Paw,  claimed  strenuously  and  vigorously  that  there 
was  the  proper  place  for  the  location  of  the  seat  of  justice  of  the 
county,  a  claim  not  without  reasonable  foundation  and  not  en- 
tirely abandoned  for  a  period  of  sixty  years.  When  that  pretty 
and  pleasant  village  was  platted,  in  1846,  an  entire  block  in  the 
center  of  the  plat  was  set  apart  and  dedicated  as  a  public  square, 
upon  which  for  many  years  the  people  of  that  town  and  vicinity 
fondly  hoped  some  day  to  see  the  county  buildings  erected.  The 
town  was  centrally  located  and,  in  those  early  days,  was  the  most 
prominent  village  in  the  county  except  Paw  Paw.  It  is,  perhaps, 
not  generally  known  that  the  county  seat  was  originally  located 
at  Lawrence,  although  that  claim  has  often  been  made  and  as  often 
denied,  but  such  was  the  fact. 

In  1835,  a  year  before  the  organization  of  the  county,  the  gov- 

Vol.  I     -9 

129 


180  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY 

ernor  of  the  territory,  acting  under  the  provisions  of  a  general 
statute,  appointed  three  commissioners — Charles  Hascall,  Still- 
man  Blanchard  and  John  W.  Strong — to  locate  the  county  seat. 
These  commissioners  selected  Lawrence  as  the  proper  place  and 
stuck  the  stake  that  designated  the  site  in  the  center  of  the  block 
subsequently  designated  as  the  "public  square/' 

On  the  28th  day  of  March,  1836,  the  following  statute  was 
passed:  "Be  it  enacted,  that  the  governor  be  and  he  is  hereby 
authorized  to  issue  his  proclamation  confirming  and  establishing 
the  seat  of  justice  for  the  county  of  Van  Buren  at  the  point  fixed 
for  the  said  seat  of  justice  in  said  county  by  Charles  Hascall,  Still- 
man  Blanchard  and  John  W.  Strong,  commissioners  appointed  for 
that  purpose,  as  appears  by  their  report  on  file  in  the  office  of  the 
secretary  of  state;  provided,  that  the  proprietors  of  said  seat  of 
justice  for  said  county  shall  pay  into  the  treasury  of  this  state  the 
amount  advanced  from  the  territorial  treasury  for  said  location, 
with  interest  thereon  from  the  date  of  such  advance  and  shall 
produce  the  certificate  of  the  said  payment  to  the  governor  within 
sixty  days. ' ' 

But,  as  hereinbefore  noted,  the  legislature  authorized  the  board 
of  supervisors  of  the  county  to  designate  for  a  limited  period  the 
place  where  the  circuit  courts  should  be  held  and  at  the  first  meet- 
ing of  that  body,  held  in  1837,  the  village  of  Paw  Paw  was  so 
designated. 

The  legislature  of  1838  again  directed  that  "all  circuit  courts  to 
be  held  in  and  for  the  county  of  Van  Buren,  previous  to  the  first 
day  of  January,  1840,  shall  be  held  at  such  place  within  said 
county  as  the  board  of  supervisors  shall  direct.' '  (Laws  of  Michi- 
gan, 1838,  p.  99.) 

Acting  under  authority  of  this  statute,  the  board  of  supervisors, 
at  their  annual  meeting  in  October,  1838,  adopted  the  following 
resolution:  "The  supervisors  of  the  county  of  Van  Buren  direct 
that  the  circuit  court  for  said  county  shall  be  held  at  the  school- 
house  in  the  village  of  Paw  Paw. ' ' 

It  is  a  fair  presumption,  perhaps,  that  Paw  Paw  was  selected  by 
the  board  because  the  accommodations  were  better  there  than  at 
Lawrence,  although  they  were  meager  enough  in  either  place. 

Paw  Paw  Displaces  Lawrence 

Previous  to  this  action,  however,  at  a  special  meeting  held  on 
the  twenty-third  day  of  June,  1838,  the  board  of  supervisors  had 
directed  "That  the  sheriff  be  authorized  to  build  a  suitable  build- 
ing to  serve  as  a  jail  for  said  county,  the  expense  of  said  building 
not  to  exceed  four  hundred  dollars.     That  the  said  jail  shall  be 


HISTOKY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  131 

built  on  the  ground  appropriated  for  that  purpose  by  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  village  of  Paw  Paw  in  said  county.'7 

That  the  legally  established  county  seat  was  understood  as  be- 
ing at  the  village  of  Lawrence  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  in 
1840,  the  legislature  passed  the  following  act  entitled  "An  act  to 
provide  for  the  vacation  of  the  present  seat  of  justice  of  Van 
Buren  county,  and  to  locate  the  same  in  the  village  of  Paw  Paw, 
in  said  county. 

"Section  1 — Be  it  enacted  by  the  senate  and  house  of  represent- 
atives of  the  state  of  Michigan  that  the  county  seat  of  Van  Buren 
county  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  vacated  and  removed  to  the 
village  of  Paw  Paw  in  said  county,  upon  such  land  as  shall  be 
deeded  to  the  county  for  that  purpose :  Provided,  that  the  quan- 
tity of  land  shall  not  be  less  than  one  acre,  to  be  located  under 
the  direction  of  a  majority  of  the  county  commissioners,  or  board 
of  supervisors,  as  the  case  may  be,  who  are  hereby  required  to 
make  such  location  and  fix  the  site  for  such  county  seat  in  said 
village,  within  one  year  from  the  passage  of  this  law,  and  to  take 
a  deed  of  the  land  aforesaid  to  them  and  their  successors  in  office 
for  the  use  and  purpose  of  the  county  of  Van  Buren,  and  shall 
have  the  deed  recorded  in  the  register's  office  in  that  county;  And 
provided  further,  that  the  title  to  said  land  so  conveyed  shall  be 
good,  absolute  and  indefeasible  and  the  premises  free  from  all 
legal  incumbrances. 

"Section  2 — All  writs  which  have  been  or  may  be  issued  out  of 
the  circuit  court  of  said  county  since  the  last  term  thereof,  whether 
the  same  were  made  returnable  at  the  village  of  Paw  Paw  or  at 
the  present  county  seat,  shall  be  returned  to,  and  heard  and  tried 
at  the  village  of  Paw  PawT  aforesaid,  at  the  time  they  were  made 
returnable/'     (Laws  of  Michigan,  1840,  pp.  36-37.  ) 

By  this  act  of  the  legislature,  Paw  Paw  became  the  legal,  as 
it  had  previously  been  the  actual  seat  of  justice  for  the  county. 
No  session  of  the  circuit  court  was  ever  held  elsewhere  and  no 
county  buildings  wore  ever  erected  at  any  other  place. 

But  it  did  not  follow,  by  any  manner  of  means,  that  the  ques- 
tion was  settled  beyond  all  controversy  by  the  enactment  of  the 
foregoing  statute.  The  citizens  of  Lawrence  were  not  disposed 
to  abandon  the  fight,  They  believed  that  they  had  been  unjustly 
deprived  of  that  which  rightfully  belonged  to  them,  and  the  ques- 
tion of  the  removal  of  the  county  seat  from  the  village  of  Paw  Paw 
became  a  vital  one,  and  many  unsuccessful  efforts  were  made  to 
have  such  removal  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  people.  In  order  to 
secure  such  submission,  the  law  required  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the 
board  of  supervisors  in  favor  of  such  proposition,  and  although 
this  was  frequently  attempted  every  such  effort  met  with  failure 


132  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

until  the  lapse  of  sixty  years  after  its  location  at  Paw  Paw.  It 
is  a  matter  of  much  uncertainty  as  to  what  would  have  been  the 
result  if  the  question  of  the  removal  of  the  county  seat  from  Paw 
Paw  to  Lawrence  had  been  submitted  to  a  vote.  Only  a  majority 
vote  would  have  been  necessary  to  decide  the  matter,  and  there 
were  times  very  probably,  when  a  majority  in  favor  of  such  removal 
might  have  been  obtained,  but  the  electors  of  the  county  never 
had  an  opportunity  to  express  their  choice  as  between  those  two 
villages. 

Proposed  County  Buildings 

Immediate  steps  were  taken  after  the  above  noted  action  of  the 
legislature,  looking  to  the  erection  of  county  buildings  at  the  newly 
established  county  seat.  At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  county 
commissioners  held  at  the  office  of  the  county  clerk  on  the  first 
day  of  April,  1840,  the  following  resolutions  were  adopted,  to- wit  : 
"Resolved,  that  the  site  for  the  seat  of  justice  for  the  county  of 
Van  Buren  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  located  and  fixed  on  that 
portion  of  block  number  eleven  known  and  described  as  lots  num- 
ber one,  two,  three,  four,  five,  six,  seven  and  eight,  in  the  village 
of  Paw  Paw,  being  the  same  land  appropriated  for  that  purpose 
by  the  proprietors  of  said  village,  the  aforesaid  location  being 
made  agreeable  and  in  conformity  with  the  act  of  the  legislature 
of  the  State  of  Michigan,  approved  March  6,  1840. 

"Resolved,  that  the  clerk  of  said  county  be  and  he  is  hereby 
required  to  procure  a  quit  claim  deed  from  the  proprietors  of  said 
village  for  the  land  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  resolution  and 
cause  the  same  to  be  recorded  in  the  register's  office  of  this  coun- 
ty." 

However,  the  county  buildings  were  not  erected  on  the  site  so 
designated,  although  the  present  court  house  and  jail  now  occupy 
the  same. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners  held 
on  the  30th  day  of  January,  1841,  the  following  action  was  taken : 
"It  appearing  that  the  title  for  the  county  seat,  as  located  and 
fixed  by  the  board  of  commissioners  on  the  first  day  of  April,  1840, 
not  having  been  perfected,  therefore  it  is 

"Resolved,  that  the  act  or  resolution  of  the  commissioners  lo- 
cating and  fixing  the  site  for  the  seat  of  justice  in  the  county  of 
Van  Buren  on  block  number  eleven  in  the  village  of  Paw  Paw  is 
hereby  annulled  and  vacated. 

"Then,  resolved  and  determined  that  the  site  lor  the  seat  of 
justice  for  said  county  of  Van  Buren  (title  having  been  given)  be 
and  the  same  is  hereby  located  and  fixed  on  block  number  forty 
in  the  village  of  Paw  Paw,  in  this  county.' ' 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  133 

But  neither  were  the  proposed  county  buildings  ever  erected  on 
this  site  which  for  many  years  has  been  occupied  by  the  Free  Will 
Baptist  church  of  Paw  Paw  and  private  residences. 

On  March  6,  1841,  the  board  of  county  commissioners  passed 
the  following  resolution:  " Resolved,  that  the  sum  of  four  thou- 
sand dollars  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  appropriated  for  the  pur- 
pose of  building  a  court  house  in  and  for  the  county  of  Van  Buren. 

"The  board  directed  W.  Mason  to  draft  or  cause  to  be  drafted 
a  plan  for  a  court  house.'' 

This  action  of  the  county  commissioners  seems  to  have  accom- 
plished nothing,  except  to  make  an  appropriation  of  funds, 
and  at  a  meeting  held  April  3,  1842,  the  same  body,  having  ap- 
parently come  to  the  conclusion  that  four  thousand  dollars  for  a 
court  house  was  a  piece  of  unwarranted  extravagance,  adopted 
another  resolution  in  reference  to  the  matter,  as  follows :  ' '  Re- 
solved by  the  board  of  commissioners  to  contract  for  the  building 
a  court  house,  provided  that  some  responsible  person  or  persons 
contract  to  furnish  materials,  build  and  furnish  a  good  and  sub- 
stantial house  for  a  sum  not  to  exceed  three  thousand  dollars. 

"The  board  directed  R.  E.  Churchill  to  make  a  draft,  etc." 

Four  days  later  the  board  gave  notice  that  the  "county  board 
will  continue  to  receive  proposals  for  building  a  court  house  until 
twelve  o'clock  noon,  on  the  8th  inst." 

On  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  the  following  entries  appear  on 
the  official  record,  to-wit :  "On  examination  of  the  several  pro- 
posals for  building  the  court  house,  it  was  ascertained  that  Reuben 
E.  Churchill  and  Stafford  Godfrey  had  proposed  to  furnish  mate- 
rials, build  and  finish  the  woodwork  of  said  house  for  the  lowest 
sum — that  is,  for  the  sum  of  $2,410,  and  that  Henry  W.  Rhodes  had 
proposed  to  furnish  materials  and  do  the  mason  work  for  the  low- 
est sum — that  is,  for  $494. 

"Whereupon,  Reuben  E.  Churchill  and  Stafford  Godfrey  en- 
tered into  a  stipulation  or  agreement,  with  a  penal  sum  of  five 
thousand  dollars  with  approved  security,  to  build  said  court  house 
and  complete  the  same  (agreeably  to  draft  and  specifications  lodged 
in  the  county  clerk's  office)  in  eighteen  months  from  this  date; 
for  which  an  order  on  the  treasury  was  given  to  said  Churchill  and 
Godfrey  for  two  thousand  four  hundred  and  ten  dollars  to  be  paid 
out  of  the  money  appropriated  by  the  county  board  of  commis- 
sioners at  their  meeting  at  the  clerk's  office,  March  1,  1841,  for 
the  building  of  a  court  house." 

Also  Henry  W.  Rhodes  gave  a  bond,  with  approved  surety,  to 
furnish  materials  and  finish  the  mason  work  of  said  house  in 
eighteen  months  from  date,  for  which  an  order  on  the  treasury  was 
given  for  four  hundred  and  ninety-four  dollars,  to  be  paid  out  of 


134  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

the  money  appropriated  for  building  a  court  house,  March  1,  1841, 
by  the  county  board  of  commissioners. 

"The  county  board  then  procured  a  warranty  deed  of  I.  W. 
Willard  to  the  county  of  Van  Buren  for  lots  5,  6,  7,  and  8,  in 
block  No.  12,  in  the  village  of  Paw  Paw,  on  which  to  build  said 
court  house,  and  in  consideration  thereof  quit  claimed  to  said  Wil- 
lard, block  40,  the  present  site;  also  gave  an  order  on  the  county 
treasury  for  $331  to  J.  F.  Noye  to  clear  the  above  lots  from  in- 
cumbrance, and  received  the  security  of  Willard,  Gremps  &  Com- 
pany for  the  repayment  of  the  same  to  the  treasury.  (It  was  on 
this  site  that  the  court  house  and  jail  were  built.) 

"The  county  board  then  appointed  Josiah  Andrews  to  oversee 
(on  the  part  of  the  county)  the  building  of  said  court  house.' ' 

After  allowing  a  few  miscellaneous  claims,  the  board  of  county 
commissioners  adjourned  "never  to  meet  again,"  having  been 
legislated  out  of  existence  by  an  act  passed  by  the  legislature  of 
1842,  which  took  effect  on  the  second  Monday  of  April  of  that 
year,  the  duties  theretofore  devolving  on  such  board  being  con- 
ferred upon  the  board  of  supervisors. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  board  of  supervisors  under  the  new 
regime  was  held  at  the  office  of  the  county  clerk  in  the  village  of 
Paw  Paw,  on  the  fourth  day  of  July,  1842,  as  required  by  the  new 
statute,  and  was  organized  by  choosing  Gen.  Benj.  F.  Chadwick 
as  chairman.  The  only  action  taken  at  that  meeting  relative  to 
the  building  of  the  court  house  was  as  follows:  "Resolved,  that 
this  board  call  upon  the  county  treasurer  for  a  statement  of  the 
financial  concerns  of  the  county,  information  respecting  the  erec- 
tion of  the  court  house,  the  amount  of  funds  paid  out,  and  all  other 
information  relative  to  the  office  and  that  the  treasurer  report  to 
this  board  at  their  next  meeting." 

The  next  entry  on  the  records  relative  to  the  new  building  ap- 
pears at  the  meeting  of  the  board  of  supervisors  on  the  13th  day 
of  October,  1842,  at  which  time  Theodore  E.  Phelps,  Philotus  Hay- 
don  and  Joshua  Bangs  were  appointed  as  a  committee  "to  paint 
the  court  house,  the  same  to  be  painted  when  the  outside  is  finished, 
ready  to  receive  the  paint,  also  for  the  building  a  fence  or  yard 
around  the  court  house  when  the  said  committee  in  their  opinion 
deem  it  necessary." 

Old  Court  House  Completed 

The  contractors,  evidently,  did  not  get  their  job  completed  in 
the  stipulated  eighteen  months,  as  on  the  14th  day  of  August,  1844, 
considerably  more  than  two  years  after  the  date  of  their  contract, 
we  find  the  following  entries  on  the  proceedings  of  the  board  for 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BITREN  COUNTY  135 

that  year:  "Resolved,  that  we  will  appoint  a  committee  to  ex- 
amine the  work  which  Messrs.  Churchill  &  Godfrey  have  done  on 
the  court  house  and  report  to  the  board  relative  to  the  materials 
and  workmanship  of  the  same,  and  that  T.  E.  Phelps  and  George  A. 
Bentley  be  appointed  said  committee. 

"The  committee  appointed  to  examine  the  court  house  reported 
the  workmanship  and  materials  on  the  house  was  according  to 
contract,  as  far  as  it  had  progressed,  which  report  was  received  by 
the  board. 

"Resolved,  that  there  shall  be  a  gallery  built  in  the  south  end 
of  the  court  house  and  that  Mr.  Godfrey  and  Mr.  Mason  be  re- 
quested to  draft  a  plan  for  the  same/' 

On  the  7th  day  of  January,  1845,  almost  three  years  after  the 
contract  for  building  the  court  house  was  entered  into  another 
committee  consisting  of  Messrs.  Humphrey  P.  Barnum,  Jonathan 
N.  Hinckley  and  George  A.  Bentley  were  appointed  to  examine  the 
building. 

After  receiving  the  report  of  this  committee,  the  board  adopted 
the  following  resolution:  "Resolved,  that  the  report  of  the  com- 
mittee on  examination  of  the  finishing  of  the  court  house  be  re- 
ceived, which  is  as  follows,  viz:  That  the  finishing  of  the  joiner 
work  of  the  court  house  be  accepted  from  the  hands  of  Stafford 
Godfrey  and  Reuben  E.  Churchill  as  finish  el  agreeable  to  their 
contract  and  the  committee  be  discharged." 

With  the  exception  of  some  of  the  inside  work  and  the  building 
of  the  gallery,  the  house  at  this  time  appears  to  have  been  finished. 
The  board,  however,  apparently  had  some  difficulty  in  getting  the 
plastering  all  completed.  Several  times  attention  was  called  to 
the  matter  at  different  sessions  of  the  board.  Finally,  on  the  7th 
day  of  March,  1845,  the  official  record  shows  that  the  following 
action  was  taken:  "On  motion,  Resolved,  that  Joseph  B.  Barnes 
be  appointed  a  committee  to  see  H.  W.  Rhodes  and  inform  him 
that  he  must  have  the  remainder  of  the  court  house  finished — that 
is,  the  plastering— by  the  first  of  May  next  or  suffer  damage  for 
the  same.,, 

It  is  impossible  to  ascertain  from  the  records  when  the  first  term 
of  court  was  held  in  the  new  court  house,  but  it  is  probable  that 
it  was  at  the  June  term,  1845. 

This  court  house  served  the  county  for  fifty-five  years  before 
any  action  was  taken  looking  to  new  county  buildings.  There  had 
been  kept  up,  however,  a  constant  agitation  for  the  removal  of 
the  county  seat  from  Paw  Paw  to  some  other  place,  Lawrence  be- 
ing the  point  generally  under  consideration,  although  some  of  the 
other  villages  of  the  county  that  had  outstripped  that  place  in 
growth   began   to   have   aspirations   to   become   the   favored   site. 


136  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Meantime  the  population  of  the  county  had  increased  from  less 
than  2,000  in  1845  to  more  than  33,000  in  1900,  the  county  build- 
ings which  had  served  for  more  than  half  a  century  had  become 
old  and  entirely  inadequate  for  the  needs  of  the  people,  and  the 
board  of  supervisors  realized,  as  did  the  citizens  of  the  county  in 
general,  that  new  and  more  commodious  accommodations  for  the 
transaction  of  the  public  business  had  become  an  absolute  neces- 
sity and  that  action  looking  to  a  new  and  modern  court  house  and 
jail  could  not  longer  be  delayed. 

South  Haven  Bids  for  County  Seat 

In  the  meantime  the  village  of  South  Haven  had  become  the 
largest  town  in  the  county  and  was  about  ready  to  don  city  garb, 
and  her  people  thought  that  her  importance  as  a  thriving  manu- 
facturing town  and  as  a  lake  port,  entitled  her  to  be  considered  as 
in  the  running  for  the  proposed  new  location  of  the  county  seat  of 
justice. 

At  the  session  of  the  board  of  supervisors  held  in  January,  1900, 
Supervisor  Peter  J.  Dillman,  of  Bangor,  offered  the  following 
resolution:  ''Whereas,  the  county  buildings  of  Van  Buren  Coun- 
ty are  in  condition  requiring  the  building  of  new  ones,  therefore, 

"Resolved,  by  the  board  of  supervisors  of  this  county,  that  the 
county  seat  of  Van  Buren  County  be  removed  to  some  other  place 
in  Van  Buren  County." 

This  resolution  was  first  laid  on  the  table  by  a  vote  of  ten  to 
eight,  but,  on  reconsideration,  was  adopted  by  a  vote  sixteen  to 
two,  the  only  supervisors  voting  in  the  negative  being  D.  A.  Squier 
of  Decatur  and  Dwight  Foster  of  Keeler,  and  thus  for  the  first 
time,  after  many  trials,  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  board  was  secured 
favorable  to  a  submission  of  the  question  to  a  vote  of  the  electors 
of  the  county. 

Following  this  action  of  the  board,  Supervisor  J.  T.  Tolles  of 
Geneva,  offered  the  following  resolution:  "Whereas,  this  board 
has  passed  a  resolution  providing  that  the  county  seat  of  Van  Buren 
County  be  moved  from  its  present  location,  therefore: 

"Be  it  resolved,  that  the  county  seat  of  Van  Buren  County  be 
removed  from  its  present  location  to  the  village  of  South  Haven, 
and  this  board  does  hereby  designate  the  village  of  South  Haven  as 
the  place  to  which  it  shall  be  removed.' ' 

Supervisor  Amos  Benedict  of  Lawrence  moved  to  amend  the 
resolution  by  substituting  Lawrence  in  the  place  of  South  Haven. 

Supervisor  Howard  Lobdell  of  Hartford  moved  to  amend  the 
proposed  amendment  by  substituting  Hartford  in  the  place  of 
Lawrence. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  137 

Mr.  Lobdell's  amendment  was  lost  by  a  tie  vote,  nine  to  nine; 
Mr.  Benedict's  motion  shared  the  same  fate  by  the  same  vote,  and 
in  that  vote  vanished  the  hope  that  Lawrence  had  cherished  for 
sixty  years,  that  some  day  she  might  become  the  county  seat  of 
Van  Buren  county. 

The  board  then  proceeded  to  vote  on  the  resolution  of  Supervisor 
Tolles  providing  that  the  county  seat  be  removed  to  South  Haven, 
which  was  adopted  by  a  vote  of  twelve  to  six,  exactly  the  required 
two-thirds. 

The  vote  by  townships  was  as  follows :  Yeas — Supervisors  Brown 
of  Almena,  Mitchell  of  Antwerp,  Dillman  of  Bangor,  Smith  of 
Bloomingdale,  Gaynor  of  Columbia,  Lampson  of  Covert,  Tolles  of 
Geneva,  Wildey  of  Paw  Paw,  Waber  of  Pine  Grove,  Cornish  of 
Porter,  French  of  South  Haven  and  Chase  of  Waverly. 

Nays— Supervisors  Monroe  of  Arlington,  Squier  of  Decatur, 
Byers  of  Hamilton,  Foster  of  Keeler,  Benedict  of  Lawrence,  and 
Lobdell  of  Hartford. 

It  required  the  vote  of  the  supervisor  from  Paw  Paw  to  make 
the  necessary  two-thirds.  His  vote,  like  that  of  several  others, 
was  not  cast  in  favor  of  the  proposition,  because  he  favored  a  re- 
moval from  Paw  Paw,  but  because  he  realized  that  the  time  had 
come  when  new  buildings  must  be  erected  and  when  the  people 
themselves  must  finally  settle  by  their  votes,  beyond  all  further 
agitation,  where  the  county  seat  should  be  located. 

Immediately  following  this  action  of  the  board,  Supervisor  Wil- 
dey offered  a  resolution  providing  "That  there  be  submitted  to 
the  qualified  electors  of  said  county  at  the  annual  spring  election 
to  be  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  April,  A.  D.,  1901,  the  proposi- 
tion to  borrow  on  the  faith  and  credit  of  the  county  and  to  issue 
its  evidence  of  indebtedness  therefor  the  sum  of  sixty  thousand 
dollars,  the  proceeds  to  be  used  solely  for  the  purpose  of  erecting 
a  suitable  building  to  be  used  as  a  court  house,  and  a  suitable 
building  or  buildings  to  be  used  and  occupied  as  a  county  jail, 
and  a  suitable  building  or  buildings  to  be  used  and  occupied  as  a 
sheriff's  residence  in  said  county  of  Van  Buren.' ' 

This  resolution  was  adopted  by  a  vote  of  fourteen  to  four. 

Immediately  the  "county  seat  war"  was  on  in  earnest.  Meet- 
ings were  held  in  different  localities,  either  favoring  or  opposing 
one  or  both  of  the  propositions  submitted ;  but  the  battle  was  fought 
largely  through  the  columns  of  the  public  press.  The  two  Paw 
Paw  papers  led  the  opponents  of  removal,  while  the  South  Haven 
papers  took  charge  of  the  other  side  of  the  contest,  and  from  then 
until  the  vote  was  taken  there  was  no  cessation  of  the  battle.  A 
majority  of  the  newspapers  of  the  county  opposed  the  plan  to  re- 
move the  county  buildings  to  South  Haven,  some  of  them  because 


138  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY 

they  wanted  no  change  and  others,  perhaps,  because  they  hoped 
if  the  proposition  was  defeated  that  "county  seat  lightning" 
might  possibly  strike  their  own  town.  During  the  three  months 
that  elapsed  before  the  vote  was  taken,  the  county  seat  question 
was  the  principal  topic  of  discussion  and  conversation  throughout 
the  county  and  also  occupied  the  most  prominent  position  in  the 
columns  of  its  newspapers. 

It  was  not  expected  when  the  proposition  was  submitted  that 
any  locality  would  be  called  upon  to  offer  any  pecuniary  consid- 
eration to  secure  the  location  of  the  new  court  house,  but  South 
Haven  was  determined  to  win  out  if  there  was  any  possible  chance, 
and  Paw  Paw  was  equally  determined  to  retain  what  had  been 
hers  for  more  than  sixty  years,  so  neither  of  the  contestants  left 
anything  undone  that  would  tend  to  settle  the  fight  in  its  own 
favor,  and,  as  it  chanced,  the  legislature  of  the  state  was  in  ses- 
sion, and  so  South  Haven  procured  the  passage  of  an  act  author- 
izing that  township  to  issue  bonds  to  an  amount  not  exceeding 
fifty  thousand  dollars,  "which  shall  be  expended  for  the  purchase 
of  a  site  for  and  to  aid  in  the  construction  of  a  court  house  and 
jail  for  the  county  of  Van  Buren,  to  be  located  in  said  township 
of  South  Haven,  *  *  *  provided  that  a  majority  of  the  elec- 
tors of  said  township  *  *  *  shall  vote  in  favor  of  the  said 
loan  in  the  manner  specified  in  this  act." 

Paw  Paw  realized  that  this  move  on  the  part  of  the  enterprising 
lakeside  village  would  be  a  body  blow  unless  its  effect  could  be 
counteracted,  and  so  immediately  secured  the  passage  of  a  pre- 
cisely similar  act,  except  that  Paw  Paw  was  mentioned  therein  in 
place  of  South  Haven. 

South  Haven  called  a  special  election  to  be  held  on  the  25th  day 
of  March,  at  which  the  question  of  issuing  township  bonds  should 
be  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  people,  and  Paw  Paw  followed  suit 
by  calling  an  election  for  the  same  purpose  to  be  held  two  days 
later. 

The  result  of  the  South  Haven  election  was  765  votes  in  favor 
of  bonding  and  44  against  the  proposition. 

Paw  Paw  voted  587  for  the  bonds  and  56  against. 

Popular  Vote  for  Paw  Paw 

Immediately  after  this  the  battle  waged  hotter  than  ever.  Each 
party  accused  the  other  of  bluffing  and  of  not  intending  to  issue 
the  bonds  so  voted.  As  the  date  of  the  election  drew  near  (April 
1st)  the  excitement  increased  and  practically  nothing  else  was 
heard  but  " county  seat."  The  result  was  an  overwhelming  de- 
feat  for   the   $60,000   county   bonding  proposition,   the   majority 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUBEN  COUNTY  139 

against  it  being  2,797.  The  proposition  to  remove  the  county 
seat  from  Paw  Paw  was  also  defeated  by  a  majority  of  356  in  a 
vote  of  8,520,  the  largest  vote  ever  polled  in  the  county,  either 
before  or  since.  It  is  not  likely  that  anybody 's  vote  was  challenged 
on  that  day.     The  vote  in  detail  was  as  follows : 

Township.  Yes.  No. 

Almena 7  259 

Antwerp 174  415 

Arlington   186  147 

Bangor    554  90 

Bloorningdale    262  193 

Columbia 345  41 

Covert  359  30 

Decatur    106  400 

Geneva    407  21 

Hartford    102  485 

Hamilton    20  183 

Keeler   65  176 

Lawrence  71  361 

Porter    17  230 

Pine   Grove    147  263 

Paw   Paw    13  841 

South    Haven    1213  26 

Waverly    33  277 

Total  vote    4082  4438 

As  soon  as  possible  after  the  result  of  the  vote  was  known  Paw 
Paw  issued  and  negotiated  $50,000  of  bonds,  and  when  the  board 
of  supervisors  met  on  the  18th  day  of  April  to  canvass  the  vote, 
the  money  was  in  the  hands  of  the  treasurer  and  was  by  him  ten- 
dered to  the  board  to  aid  in  the  construction  of  new  county  build- 
ings at  Paw  Paw.  The  bonds  having  sold  for  a  premium  of  $356.- 
44,  the  town  had  more  than  fulfilled  its  financial  pledge. 

After  the  canvass  of  the  vote  had  been  completed,  Supervisor 
Chase  of  Waverly  offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was 
adopted  by  a  vote  of  12  to  6:  "Whereas,  the  treasurer  of  Van 
Buren  County  has  in  his  hands  the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  three 
hundred  and  sixty-six  and  44-100  dollars  donated  by  the  township 
of  Paw  Paw  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  a  site  and  to  aid  in  the 
construction  of  a  court  house,  jail  and  sheriff's  residence  in  the 
village  of  Paw  Paw  in  said  county,  and 

''Whereas,  said  buildings  are  necessary  and  essential  and  should 
be  built  by  said  county  with  all  convenient  speed ;  now  therefore 
be  it, 


140  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

''Resolved  by  the  board  of  supervisors  of  Van  Buren  County 
at  a  session  thereof  held  at  the  court  house,  on  Thursday,  the  18th 
day  of  April,  A.  D.  1901,  that  a  site  for  such  building  be  pur- 
chased and  that  a  new,  modern  and  commodious  court  house,  jail 
and  sheriff's  residence  be  constructed  and  erected  in  said  village 
of  Paw  Paw ;  that  to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  this  resolution  said 
sum  of  money  so  offered  and  donated  by  the  township  of  Paw  Paw 
be  accepted  and  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  county  of  Van  Buren 
in  a  separate  fund  to  be  known  and  designated  as  the  'Court  House 
construction  fund.'  " 

A  building  committee  was  appointed  with  power  to  interview 
architects,  and  receive  bids,  plans  and  specifications  for  the  pro- 
posed buildings. 

A  resolution  was  presented  and  adopted  providing  that  the 
board  should  not,  in  any  case,  use  more  that  seventy-five  thousand 
dollars,  including  the  sum  donated  by  the  township  of  Paw  Paw. 
This  resolution  was  never  rescinded,  but  a  much  larger  sum  was 
expended. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  board  was  held  June  3d  and  4th,  1901, 
at  which  several  bids  were  received  for  the  construction  of  the 
new  county  buildings,  the  lowest  being  that  of  George  Rickman 
&  Sons  of  Kalamazoo,  for  the  sum  of  $54,500  for  the  court  house 
and  $22,700  for  the  jail  and  sheriff's  residence,  and  the  county 
clerk  and  building  committee  were  authorized  and  instructed  to 
enter  into  a  contract  with  that  firm  for  the  construction  of  the 
proposed  buildings  according  to  the  plans  and  specifications  that 
had  been  placed  on  file  in  the  office  of  the  county  clerk. 

A  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  board,  reading  in  part  as  fol- 
lows: '*  Whereas,  the  building  now  occupied  and  used  as  a  court 
house  in  and  for  Van  Buren  County,  is  no  longer  suitable  for 
such  purpose ;  now  therefore  : 

"Be  it  resolved  by  the  board  of  supervisors  of  the  county  of 
Van  Buren,  that  it  is  necessary  to  raise  the  sum  of  thirty-five  thou- 
sand dollars  in  addition  to  the  sum  above  mentioned  (the  money 
received  from  Paw  Paw)  and  that  the  same  be  raised  by  a  loan: 

"Be  it  further  resolved,  that  there  be  submitted  to  the  quali- 
fied electors  of  said  county  at  a  special  election  to  be  held  on  the 
15th  day  of  July,  1901,  the  proposition  to  borrow  on  the  faith  and 
credit  of  said  county  the  sum  of  thirty-five  thousand  dollars,  the 
proceeds  to  be  used  solely  for  the  erection  of  a  suitable  building 
to  be  used  as  a  court  house  and  a  suitable  building  or  buildings  to 
be  used  and  occupied  as  a  county  jail  and  sheriff's  residence  in 
said  countv  of  Van  Buren." 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUBEN  COUNTY  141 

New  County  Buildings 

The  board  voted  to  purchase  the  block  immediately  south  of  the 
block  on  which  the  county  buildings  then  stood  as  a  site  for  the 
new  court  house  and  jail.  This  block  was  at  the  time  almost  en- 
tirely occupied  by  residences  and  is  the  same  block  upon  which  the 
old  buildings  were  first  ordered  to  be  located  some  sixty  years  be- 
fore.    This  site  cost  the  county  about  $10,000. 

The  board  again  met  on  the  24th  day  of  June,  1901 ,  at  which 
action  was  taken  looking  to  the  condemnation  of  certain  private 
property  on  the  newly  designated  site  for  the  conveyance  of  which 
the  committee  and  the  owners  had  failed  to  come  to  an  agreement. 

Again,  on  the  29th  day  of  July  the  board  met  for  the  purpose 
of  canvassing  the  vote  of  the  special  election  on  the  county  bond- 
ing question  and  ascertained  that  the  proposition  to  issue  $35,000 
of  county  bonds  had  carried  by  the  following  vote:  Yes,  1,355; 
No,  1,097.  The  result  of  this  vote  placed  a  little  more  than  $85,000 
in  the  building  fund. 

Court  House  Corner-Stone  Laid 

The  corner-stone  of  the  new  court  house  was  laid  with  appro- 
priate ceremonies  on  the  second  day  of  September.  1901,  and  was 
attended  by  a  large  concourse  of  people  from  all  parts  of  the 
county.  No  event  in  the  history  of  the  county  is  more  worthy  to 
be  preserved  in  its  annals  than  the  laying  of  that  corner-stone. 
The  following  is  a  full  and  complete  report  of  the  ceremonies  of 
the  day  as  contained  in  the  report  of  the  building  committee  made 
to  the  board  of  supervisors  one  week  thereafter : 

li  Gentlemen — 'Your  building  committee  beg  leave  to  submit  the  following 
report : 

In  accordance  with  the  resolution  submitted  by  Supervisor  French  and 
passed  by  the  board  of  supervisors  on  June  25th  A.  D.  1901,  your  chairman 
appointed  the  following  executive  committee  to  make  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments for  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the  new  court  house: 

Executive  Committee.— R.  W.  Broughton,  E.  F.  Parks,  B.  F.  Heckert,  T. 
J.   Cavanaugh,  M.  O.  Rowland. 

Soon  after  the  appointment  of  said  committee  we  conferred  with  the  con- 
tractors, Messrs.  George  Rickman  Sons  &  Co.,  to  ascertain  the  date  upon  which 
the  building  would  be  ready  fcr  the  corner  stone  ceremony. 

Being  assured  that  labor  day,  Sept.  2,  would  be  a  convenient  time  and  the 
earliest  date  they  could  safely  name,  said  date  was  accepted  and  agreed 
upon  as  the  day  for  said  ceremony. 

The  executive  committee  appointed  the  following  sub-committees  and  began 
active  preparations  for  the  proper  observance  and  celebration  of  said  day. 

Reception  Committee — W.  J.  Thomas,  L.  H.  Titus,  Daniel  Spicer,  1.  B. 
Conner,  B.  F.  Warner,  W.  J.  Sellick,  J.  H.  Johnson,  G.  W.  Longwell,  O.  W. 
Rowland,  H.  A.  Cole,  C.  Wr.  Young,  C.  R.  Avery,  John  Marshall,  J.  M.  Long- 
well,  F.  B.  Ocobock,  J.  C.  Warner,  Wm.  Butler,  A.  C.  Martin. 


142  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Business  Committee — Geo.  M.  Harrison,  E.  B.  Longwell,  E.  F.  Parks. 

Committee  on  Archives — F.  N.  Wakeman,  J.  W.  Free,  J.  C.  Maxwell,  C.  S. 
Maynard,  H.  L.  McNeil,  W.  F.  Hoyt,  L.  W.  Curtiss,  C.  E.  Thompson. 

Decoration  Committee — David  Anderson,  M.  D.  Buskirk,  W.  E.  Sellick,  H. 
C.  Waters,  W.  L.  Miller,  Elmer  Downing. 

Arrangement  Committee — Wm.  Killefer,  E.  A.  S.hoesmith,  A.  H.  Dodge. 

Transportation  Committee — I.  Jay  Cumings,  J.  D.  Holmes,  H.  W.  Shower- 
man,  D.  H.  Patterson,  W.  H.  Longwell. 

Entertainment  Committee — W.  C.  Y.  Ferguson,  J.  A.  O'Leary,  E.  S.  Briggs. 

Music  Committee — J.  F.  Taylor,  W.  J.  Barnard,  E.  A.  Aseltine. 

The  Grand  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  of  the  State  of  Michigan 
were  invited  to  lay  the  corner  stone  of  the  building  which  invitation  was  ac- 
cepted by  Mr.  Frank  O.  Gilbert,  grand  master. 

Hon.  Frank  T.  Lodge  of  Detroit  was  engaged  to  deliver  the  address  for 
the  occasion. 

The  Peninsula  Commandery  Knights  Templar  of  Kalamazoo,  all  organized 
societies  of  the  county  and  citizens  in  general  were  invited  to  be  present  and 
assist  in  the  exercises  of  the  day,  which  invitation  was  accepted. 

On  Monday,  September  2,  A.  D.  1901,  at  half  past  one  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, the  various  societies  that  took  part  in  the  parade  assembled  at  the  school 
house  park  and  there  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  Peninsular  Commandery 
Knights  Templar,  of  Kalamazoo. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  said  commandery  the  parade  started  at  once  and 
proceeded  over  the  course  previously  arranged  and  from  thence  directly  to  the 
court  house  grounds  where  a  vast  crowd  was  assembled  and  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  F.  &  A.  M.  of  Michigan,  proceeded  to  lay  the  corner  stone  with  the  follow- 
ing ceremonies: 

The  Grand  Marshal  commanded  silence  as  follows: 

"In  the  name  of  the  Most  Worshipful  Grand  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons  of  the  state  of  Michigan  I  do  now  command  all  persons  .here  as- 
sembled to  keep  silence  and  to  observe  due  order  and  decorum  during  the 
ceremonies.  This  proclamation  I  make  that  each  and  every  person  may  govern 
himself  accordingly. f ' 

Mr.  T.  J.  Cavanaugh  invited  the  Grand  Master  in  these  appropriate  words 
to  lay  the  corner  stone: 

' '  Most  Worshipful  Grand  Master — The  people  of  this  county  have  under- 
taken to  erect  on  the  place  where  we  now  stand  an  edifice  to  be  devoted  to  the 
uses  of  the  county.  We  .hope  it  may  long  serve  the  purposes  for  which  it  is 
being  constructed;  that  strength  and  beauty  may  adorn  all  its  parts,  and  wis- 
dom continually  go  forth  from  within  its  walls  to  enlighten  the  community. 
On  behalf  of  those  engaged  in  its  erection  I  now  most  respectfully  request- 
that  you  lay  the  corner  stone  thereof  according  to  the  forms  and  ceremonies  of 
your  ancient  and  honorable  f raternity. ' ' 

Grand  Master: — "From  time  immemorial  it  has  been  the  custom  of  Free 
Masons  to  join  their  operative  brethren  upon  occasions  such  as  this,  and  to 
lay  with  fitting  ceremonies  the  corner  stones  of  important  public  buildings. 

"In  accordance  with  that  custom  we  accept  your  invitation  so  graciously 
given.  We  have  assembled  our  Grand  Lodge  in  special  communication  for  that 
purpose  and  will  now  proceed  to  lay  this  foundation  stone  according  to  an- 
cient Masonic  usage. 

"One  of  the  first  lessons  which  Free  Masonry  teaches  is  that  in  all  our 
work,  great  or  small,  begun  or  finished,  we  should  first  seek  the  aid  of  Al- 
mighty God.    It  is  therefore  our  first  duty  upon  this  present  occasion  to  ask  the 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  143 

aid  of  the  Supreme  Architect  of  the  Universe  upon  the  undertakings  in  which 
we  are  now  about  to  engage  and  request  that  everyone  present  will  unite  with 
our  grand  chaplain  in  an  address  to  the  Throne  of  Grace. ' ' 

Grand  Chaplain: — "Let  us  Pray.  Almighty  God  who  hath  given  us 
grace  at  this  time,  with  one  accord,  to  make  our  common  supplication  unto 
Thee,  we  most  heartily  beseech  Thee  to  behold  with  favor  and  bless  this  as- 
semblage. Pour  down  thy  mercies  like  the  dew  that  falls  upon  the  mountains 
upon  thy  servants  engaged  in  the  solemn  ceremonies  of  this  day.  Help  us  wisely 
and  well  to  do  the  work  assigned  to  us,  and  may  this  corner  stone,  be  safely 
deposited  in  its  allotted  place.     Well  and  fittingly  may  it  be  laid. 

"May  there  be  erected  upon  it  a  structure  worthy  of  the  purpose  it  is  de- 
signed to  fill  and  may  this  building  so  auspiciously  begun  progress  to  its  com- 
pletion under  Thy  gracious  care.  As  to-day  with  exultant  hearts  we  lay  its 
corner  stone,  so  with  ever  heightening  joy  may  we  witness  its  progress  until 
safely  and  happily  the  top-most  stone  shall  be  laid  and  those  who  work  and 
those  who  behold  shall  rejoice  together  in  its  completion.  Bless,  we  pray  Thee, 
all  the  workmen  who  shall  be  engaged  in  its  erection  ;  keep  them  from  all  forms 
of  accident  and  of  harm  and  grant  them  in  health  and  prosperity  to  live.  Ful- 
fill the  desire  of  all  Thy  servants  as  may  be  most  expedient  for  them,  granting 
unto  all  of  us  in  this  work,  knowledge  of  the  truth,  and  in  the  world  to  come 
everlasting  life.     Amen." 

Response  by  brethren: — "So  mote  it  be." 

The  Grand  Marshal  introduced  the  chairman  of  the  building  committee  as 
follows : 

i '  Most  Worshipful  Grand  Master,  I  now  present  W.  C.  Wildey ;  chairman  of 
the  building  committee  to  whose  hands  has  been  intrusted  the  work  of  erecting 
this  building. " 

The  chairman  of  the  building  committee  then  addressed  the  Grand  Master 
as  follows: 

"Most  Worshipful  Sir: — The  Committee  charged  with  preparing  the  foun- 
dation stone  for  this  building  have  completed  that  part  of  their  labors  and  it- 
is  now  ready  to  be  made  the  chief  foundation  stone  of  this  building. ' ' 

Grand  Master: — "It  has  ever  been  the  custom  to  deposit  within  the  cavity 
in  corner  stones,  certain  memorials  of  the  period  at  which  the  building  was 
erected,  so  that  in  the  lapse  of  ages,  if  the  fury  of  the  elements  or  the  slow 
but  certain  ravages  of  time  should  lay  bare  its  foundation,  an  enduring  record 
may  be  found  by  succeeding  generations  to  bear  testimony  to  the  industry, 
energy  and  culture  of  our  time. 

"Have  you  prepared  any  articles  to  be  deposited  in  this  stone!  If  no, 
please  present  them  and  a  copy  thereof. ' ' 

W.  C.  Wiley: — "Most  Worshipful  Sir:  They  are  safely  sealed  within 
this  box  and  here  is  a  list  of  them." 

Grand  Master: — "Right  Worshipful  Grand  Secretary,  you  will  read  the 
list. ' ' 

Grand  Secretary: — "Most  Worshipful  Grand  Master,  with  your  permission 
I  will  cause  the  list  to  be  published  without  reading  as  it  is  somewhat  lengthy 
and  the  hour  is  late." 

Grand  Master: — "Right  Worshipful  Grand  Treasurer,  assisted  by  the  Grand 
Deacons  you  will  deposit  this  box  in  the  stone  and  may  Almighty  God  in  His 
wisdom  grant  that  ages  and  ages  shall  pass  away  ere  it  shall  again  be  seen  by 
men. ' } 

Grand  Treasurer: — "Most  Wrorshipful  Grand  Master,  your  orders  have  been 
duly  executed." 


144  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

The  box  which  was  at  this  time  placed  in  the  corner  stone,  was  a  small 
copper  box,  six  by  six  by  ten  inches,  securely  sealed  and  containing  the  fol- 
lowing articles  to-wit: 

1  Holy  Bible. 

2  United  States  flag. 

3  True  Northerner,  date  Aug.  30,  196l. 

4  Free  Press  &  Courier,  date  Aug.  22,  1901. 

5  Morning  Sentinel,  date  Aug.  29,  1901. 

6  South  Haven  Sentinel,  date  July  22,  1899. 

7  South  Haven  Messenger,  date  Aug.  23,  1901. 

8  Weekly  Tribune,  date  Aug.  23,  1901. 

9  Daily  Tribune,  date  Aug.  30,  1901. 

10  Bangor  Advance,  date  Aug.  30,  1901. 

11  Van  Buren  Co.  Visitor,  date  Aug.  30,  1901. 

12  Hartford  Day  Spring,  date  Aug.  28,  1901. 

13  People's  Alliance,  date  Aug.  29,  1901. 

14  Lawrence  Times,  date  Aug.  30,  1901. 

15  Decatur  Republican,  date  Aug.  29,  1901. 

16  Bloomingdale  Leader,  date  Aug.  23,  1901. 

17  Lawton  Leader,  date  Aug.  30,  1901. 

18  Gobleville  News,  date  Aug.  23,  1901. 

19  List  of  officers  Grand  Lodge  F.  &  A.  M.  of  Michigan. 

20  Autograph    letters    from    President    McKinley's    private    secretary,    Vice 

President  Theodore  Roosevelt,  Governor  Aaron  T.  Bliss,  Senator  James 
McMillan,  Senator  Julius  C.  Burrows  and  Congressman  Edward  L. 
Hamilton. 

21  Proceedings  of  first  board  of  supervisors  in  Van  Buren  county,  May  27th, 

1837. 

22  Proceedings  of  first  term  of  circuit  court  in  Van  Buren  county  June  6th, 

1837. 

23  List  of  first  county  officers  in  Van  Buren  county,  April,  1837. 

24  Copy  of  first  marriage  recorded  in  Van  Buren  county,  George  L.  Reynolds 

to  Rebecca  Luke,  by  D.  O.  Dodge,  justice  of  the  peace,  July  24,  1836. 

25  Portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Gremps  who  came  to  Paw  Paw  in  1833. 

Mr.  Gremps  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Paw  Paw,  its  first  merchant  and 
first  post-master. 

26  Sketch  of  county  buildings,  old  and  new. 

27  Official  canvass  of  vote  for  November  election,  1900. 

28  Election  returns  by  townships  for  November,  election,  1900. 

29  Proceedings  of  board  of  supervisors,  October,  1900  and  January,  1901. 

30  List  of  jurors  for  September  term  of  court,  1901. 

31  Standing  committee  of  board  of  Supervisors  for  year  1901. 

32  Picture  of  old  court  house  and  county  buildings. 

33  Circuit  court  calendar,  September  term,  1901. 

34  List  of  state  officers,   senators,   representatives  in  congress,  and  members 

of  Michigan  state  legislature  for  1901-2. 

35  List  of  county  officers  for  state  of  Michigan  for  years  1901-2. 

36  List  of  township  officers  in  Van  Buren  county,  1901. 

37  List  of  village  officers  in  Van  Buren  county,  1901. 

38  List  of  qualified  teachers  in  Van  Buren  county,  1901. 

39  Autographs  of  Van  Buren  county  officials,  deputies,  clerks,  etc.,  1901. 

40  Autographs  of  village  officers  of  Paw  Paw,  1901. 

41  List  of  officers  Decatur  Hive  No.  540,  L.  O.  T.  M. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  145 

List  of  officers  Lawton  Hive  No.  427,  L.   O.  T.  M. 
List    >f  officers  Paw  Paw  Hive  418,  L.  O.  T.  M. 

42  List  of  officers  Decatur  lodge  No.  112,  K.  of  P. 
List  of  officers  Vienna  lodge  No.  48,  K.  of  P. 

List  of  officers  Maple  Grove  lodge  No.  198,  K.  of  P. 

43  List  cf  officers  Edwin  Colwell  Post  No.  23,  G.  A.  R. 
List    >f  officers  A  Lincoln  Post  No.  19,  G.  A.  R. 
List  of  officers  Brodhead  Post  No.  31,  G.  A.  R. 

List  of  officers  L.  C.  Woodman  Post  No.  196,  G.  A.  R. 

44  List  of  officers  Lacota  lodge  No.  33,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
List  of  officers  Paw  Paw  lodge  No.  18,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

List  of  officers  Paw  Paw  Encampment  No.  30,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
List  of  officers  Fidelity  Rebekah  lodge  No.  70,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
List  of  officers  Hartford  Rebekah  lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
List  of  officers  Lawton  lodge  No.  83,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

45  List  of  officers  Lawton  Chapter  No.  246,  O.  E.  S. 

List  of  officers  Bloomingdale  Chapter  No.  185,  O.  E.  S. 
List  of  officers  Acacia  Chapter  No.  211,  O.  E.  S. 
List  of  officers  Paw  Paw  Chapter,  O.  E.  S. 

46  List  of  officers  L.  C.  Woodman,  W.  R.  C. 
List  of  officers  Hartford,  W.  R.   C. 

List  of  officers  Ellsworth  No.  46,  W.  R.  C. 

47  List  of  officers  Hartford   Division  Court  No.   29,  Patricians. 
List  of  officers  Paw  Paw  Court  No.  33,  Patricians. 

List  of  officers  Lawrence  Division  Court  No.  131,  Patricians. 

48  List  of  officers  Van  Buren  county,  W.  C.  T.  U. 

49  List  of  officers  Bangor  Grange  No.  60,  P.  of  H. 

List  of  officers  Van  Buren  county  Pomona  Grange  No.  18,  P.  of  H. 

50  Rising  Sun  Lodge  No.  119,  F.  &  A.  M. 
Paw  Paw  Lodge  No.  25,  F.  &  A.  M. 
Paw  Paw  Chapter  No.  34,  R.  A.  M. 
Lawrence  Chapter,  R.  A.  M. 

51  So.  Haven  Lodge,  A.  O.  U.  W. 

Paw  Paw  lodge  No.  37,  A.  O.  U.  W. 

52  Lawrence  Camp  No.  3219,  M.  W.  A. 
Paw  Paw  Camp  No.  3103,  M.  W.  A. 

53  So.  Haven  tent,  K.  O.  T.  M. 

Paw  Paw  tent  No  108,  K.  O.  T.  M. 
Lawton  tent  No.  307,  K.  O.  T.  M. 

54  Glendale  camp,  R.  N.  A. 
Maple  camp  No.  36,  R.  N.  A. 

^■)  last  of  officers  and  number  of  members  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  church 
of  Van  Buren  County. 

List  of  officers  and  number  of  members  of  M.  E.  Church  of  Paw  Paw. 

List  of  officers  and  number  of  members  of  M.  E.  Church  of  Mattawan. 

List  of  officers  and  number  of  members  of  M.  E.  Sunday  school  of  Mat- 
tawan. 

56  List  of  members  of  Lawton  school  board. 
Annual  of  Lawrence  public  schools,  1901-2. 
Teachers  of  Covert  public  schools,  1901-2. 
Announcement  of  Paw  Paw  public  schools,  1901-2. 
List  of  teachers  of  Hamilton  township. 

57  Historical  notes  of  Lawrence  township. 

vol.  r   -io 


146  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

58  Program  of  Up-to-date  Farmers  club. 

59  Program  of  Farmers  Association. 

60  Roster  Lafayette  Light  Guard. 

61  Corner  stone  poster  program. 

62  Officers  of  Van  Buren  County  Pioneer  Association. 

63  Copy  of  Patrician  August,  1901. 

64  List  of  Corner  stone  celebration  committees. 

65  Copy  of  Michigan  Manual  for  year  1901. 

66  Copy  proceedings  Michigan  Grand  lodge  I.  O.  O.  F.  for  1900. 

67  Copy  McClure's   Magazine  for  Sept.,   1901. 

68  Copy  Cosmopolitan  for  Sept..  1901. 

69  List  of  Coins  as  follows: 
Copper  cent  date  1847. 
Ancient  copper  penny. 
Three-cent  piece  date  1852. 
One-cent  piece  date  1899. 
Five-cent  piece  date  1901. 
Ten-cent  piece  date  1900. 
Twenty-five  cent  piece  date  1898. 

70  List  of  postage  stamps  as  follows: 

1  cent,  2  cent,  3  cent,  4  cent,  5  cent,  6  cent,  8  cent,  10  cent  and  15  cent. 
Pan-American  Postage  stamps:   1  cent,  2  cent,  5  cent. 
IT.  S.  Revenue  stamps,  1  cent,  2  cent,  5  cent. 

71  Names   of   architect,   contractors,    and   mechanics   employed   on   new  court 

house. 

72  List  of  articles  deposited  in  corner  stone. 

The  craftsmen,  under  direction  of  the  Grand  Marshal  brought  forth  the 
cement,  a  portion  of  which  was  spread  upon  the  stone  by  the  Grand  Master  and 
the  l l  Public  grand  honors ' '  Avere  given  by  the  grand  officers. 

Grand  Master: — "Almighty  and  Eternal  God,  maker  of  all  things,  grant 
that  whatsoever  shall  be  builded  upon  this  stone  shall  be  builded  to  Thy  honor 
and  the  glory  of  Thy  name  to  which  be  praise  forever  more.     Amen. ' ' 

Grand  Master: — "Worshipful  Grand  Architect,  present  your  working 
tools. ' ' 

"Grand  Marshal,  you  wTill  present  these  working  tools  to  the  proper 
officers. ' ' 

This  being  done  the  Grand  Master  addressed  the  grand  officers  as  follows: 

Grand  Master: — "Deputy  Grand  Master,  what  is  the  proper  implement  of 
your  office?" 

Deputy  Grand  Master: — "The  square.7' 

Grand  Master: — "What  are  its  moral  and  Masonic  uses?" 

Deputy  Grand  Master: — "To  square  our  actions  by  the  square  of  virtue 
and  prove  our  work." 

Grand  Master: — "Apply  the  square  to  that  foundation  stone  and  make 
report. ' ' 

The  deputy  grand  master  received  the  square  from  the  grand  master,  tried 
the  stone  and  reported: 

' i  Most  Worshipful  Grand  Master,  I  find  the  stone  to  be  square.  The  crafts- 
men have  performed  their  duty. 

Grand  Master: — "Senior  Grand  Warden  what  is  the  proper  implement  of 
your  office?" 

Senior  Grand  Warden:— "The  level." 

Grand  Master: — "What  are  its  moral  and  Masonic  uses?" 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  147 

Senior  Grand  Warden: — "Morally  it  teaches  equality  and  we  use  it  to  lay 
horizontals. ' ' 

Grand  Master: — -"Apply  the  level  to  this  foundation  stone  and  make  report." 

Senior  Grand  Warden,  received  the  level  from  the  Grand  Master,  tried  top 
of  stone  and  reported: 

"Most  Worshipful  Grand  Master,  I  find  this  stone  to  be  level.  The 
craftsmen  have  performed  their  duty. ' ' 

Grand  Master: — "Junior  Grand  Warden,  what  is  the  proper  implement  of 
your  office?" 

Junior  Grand  Warden: — "The  plumb." 

Grand  Master: — "What  are  its  moral  and  Masonic  uses?" 

Junior  Grand  Warden: — "Morally  it  teaches  rectitude  of  conduct.  We  use 
it  to  lay  perpendiculars. ' ' 

Grand  Master: — "Apply  the  plumb  to  the  several  edges  of  this  foundation 
stone  and  make  report." 

Junior  Grand  Warden  received  the  plumb  from  the  Grand  Master,  tried 
sides  of  stone  and  reported. 

' '  I  find  the  stone  to  be  plumb.    The  craftsmen  have  performed  their  duty. y ' 

Grand  Master: — "This  stone  has  been  tested  by  the  proper  implements  of 
Masonry.  I  find  that  the  craftsmen  have  faithfully  and  skillfully  performed 
their  duty,  and  I  do  declare  the  stone  to  be  well  formed  square,  level  and 
plumb;  and  correctly  laid  according  to  the  rules  of  our  ancient  order.  Let  the 
elements  of  consecration  be  now  presented." 

The  Grand  Marshal  presented  the  vessel  of  corn  to  the  Deputy  Grand  Mas- 
ter, the  wine  to  the  Senior  Grand  Warden  and  the  oil  to  the  Junior  Grand 
Warden,  each  of  whom  advanced  separately  to  the  stone  consecrating  it  as  fol- 
lows:— 

Deputy  Grand  Master: — '"I  scatter  this  corn  as  an  emblem  of  plenty.  May 
the  blessings  of  bounteous  Heaven  be  showered  upon  this  and  all  like  patriotic 
and  benevolent  undertakings  and  inspire  the  hearts  of  the  people  with  virtue, 
wisdom  and  gratitude.     Amen." 

Senior  Grand  Warden: — "I  pour  this  wine  as  an  emblem  of  joy  and  glad- 
ness, may  the  Great  Ruler  of  the  Universe  bless  and  prosper  our  national, 
state  and  city  governments,  preserve  the  union  of  the  states  and  may  it  be  a 
bond  of  friendship  and  brotherly  love  that  shall  endure  through  all  time. 
Amen." 

Junior  Grand  Warden: — "I  pour  this  oil  as  an  emblem  of  peace.  May  its 
blessings  abide  with  us  continually  and  may  the  Grand  Master  of  Heaven  and 
Earth  shelter  and  protect  the  widow  and  orphan,  shield  and  defend  them  from 
the  trials  and  vicissitudes  of  the  world  and  so  bestow  His  mercy  upon  the 
bereaved,  the  afflicted  and  the  sorrowing  that  they  may  know  sorrow  and 
trouble  no  more.     Amen." 

Grand  Master: — "May  the  All  Bounteous  Author  of  Nature  benevolently 
bless  the  inhabitants  of  this  place  with  the  necessaries,  comforts  and  con- 
veniences of  life,  assist  in  the  erection  and  completion  of  this  building,  pro- 
tect the  workmen  against  every  accident;  long  preserve  the  structure  from 
decay,  and  grant  to  all  of  us  a  bountiful  supply  of  the  corn  of  nourishment, 
the  wine  of  refreshment  and  the  oil  of  joy." 

Response  of  the  Brethren : — ' '  So  Mote  it  Be. ' ' 

The  Grand  Master  being  in  his  place  the  Grand  Marshal  presented  the 
architect  as  follows: 

' l  Most  Worshipful  Grand  Master,  I  now  present  to  you  the  architect  of  this 


148  HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

building.  He  is  ready  with  craftsmen  for  the  work  and  asks  the  tools  for  his 
task. ' ' 

The  Grand  Master  then  gave  him  the  square,  level,  plumb,  and  plan  of  the 
building  saying: 

i '  Having  as  Grand  Master  of  Masons,  laid  the  corner  stone  of  this  struc- 
ture, I  with  pleasure  return  to  you,  your  working  tools  and  confide  to  your 
hands  the  plan  of  this  building.  Labor  on,  my  brother,  in  this  task  and  be 
blest  in  your  work.  May  there  be  wisdom  in  the  plans,  strength  in  the 
execution  and  beauty  in  the  adornment  and  wiien  completed,  may  there  be  wis- 
dom within  its  walls  to  enlighten,  strength  to  encourage  and  support  its  rulers 
and  the  beauty  of  holiness  to  adorn  their  work. ' ' 

Grand  Master: — ''Men  and  Brethren  here  assembled.  Be  it  known  unto 
you  that  we  be  lawful  Masons  true  and  faithful  to  the  laws  of  our  country 
and  engaged  by  solemn  obligations  to  erect  magnificent  buildings  to  be  ser- 
viceable to  all  men  and  to  love  God,  the  Great  Creator  of  the  Universe.  We 
have  among  us  certain  secrets  which  cannot  be  divulged,  but  which  are  lawful 
and  honorable  and  not  repugnant  to  the  laws  of  God  or  man.  They  were  in- 
trusted in  peace  and  harmony  to  our  ancient  brethren  and  having  been  faith- 
fully transmitted  by  them  it  is  now  our  duty  to  convey  them  unimpared  to  the 
latest  posterity.  Unless  our  craft  was  good  and  our  calling  honorable,  we 
should  not  have  lasted  for  so  many  centuries,  nor  should  we  have  been  honored 
by  the  patronage  of  so  many  illustrious  men  in  all  ages  who  are  ever  ready 
to  protect  our  interests  and  defend  us  against  any  adversary. 

We  are  assembled  to-day  to  lay  the  corner  stone  of  a  building,  which  we 
pray  God,  may  deserve  to  prosper  by  becoming  a  place  of  concourse  for  good 
men  and  promoting  peace  and  brotherly  love  throughout  the  world  until  time 
shall  be  no  more.     Amen. ' ' 

* '  Worshipful  Grand  Marshal,  make  your  proclamation. ' ' 

Grand  Marshal: — "In  the  name  of  the  Most  Worshipful  Grand  Lodge  of 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  I  proclaim  that  this 
corner  stone  has  this  day  been  found  to  be  square,  level  and  plumb  and  has 
been  laid  in  ample  and  ancient  form  by  most  worshipful  Frank  O.  Gilbert, 
Grand  Master  of  Masons  according  to  the  ancient  custom  of  the  ancient  craft. ' ' 

Hon.  B.  F.  Heckert  presented  to  the  Grand  Master  on  behalf  of  Paw  Paw 
Chapter,  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  a  handsome  silver  trowel  bearing  the  fol- 
lowing inscription: 

1 1  Presented  to  Frank  O.  Gilbert,  Grand  Master  F.  &  A.  M.  at  the  laying  of 
the  corner  stone  September  2d,  A.  D.  1901,  from  Paw  Paw  Chapter,  Order 
of  the  Eastern  Star. ' J 

Mr.  Heckert  in  making  the  presentation  spoke  as  follows: 

* '  Most  Worshipful  Grand  Master,  the  pleasing  duty  of  speaking  for  the 
Paw  Paw  Chapter  of  the  Order  of  Eastern  Star,  on  this  occasion  has  been  as- 
signed to  me. 

1  i  The  time  has  come  in  the  history  of  our  ancient  and  honorable  institu- 
tion, when  the  sisters  of  this  order  occupy  no  unimportant  position.  While 
they  are  not  admitted  to  seats  of  our  council  chamber  and  are  not  invested 
with  the  unwritten  work  of  the  order,  yet  they  are  recognized  by  the  several 
grand  bodies  of  masons  throughout  our  country  as  valuable  auxiliaries. 

' '  Their  intelligence,  sympathy  and  affection  are  fully  enlisted  in  behalf  of 
our  fraternity  and  their  earnest  efforts  have  contributed  no  small  part  to  the 
growth  and  present  prosperous  condition  of  the  subordinate  lodges  throughout 
the  masonic  jurisdiction,  over  which  you  have  the  honor  to  preside. 

* '  They  appreciate  in  a  large  degree  the  objects  and  aims  of  our  order,  and 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  149 

are  proud  of  the  distinction  conform]  upon  thorn  in  being  grafted  as  scions 
onto  the  trunk  of  the  ancient  tree  of  Masonry,  whose  spreading  branches  have 
extended  and  grown  until  they  overhang  the  civilized  world. 

"As  a  slight  token  of  this  appreciation  and  to  signify  in  a  small  degree  the 
honor  they  feel  by  your  presence  here  to-day  they  have  delegated  me  to  pre- 
sent to  you  this  silver  trowel,  with  the  hope  that  from  your  commanding  posi- 
tion in  the  order,  you  will  use  it  in  spreading  liberally  the  cement  of  brotherly 
love.  When  you  depart  from  this  place  you  will  bear  with  you  not  only  the 
best  wishes  of  the  chapter  of  this  order  but  of  the  whole  community  for  the 
memorable  services  you  have  rendered  here  to-day,  and  the  honor  which  you 
have  conferred  upon  the  people  and  this  entire  county.  Accept  this  as  a  token 
of  our  appreciation  of  your  presence  here  to-day  and  the  valuable  services  you 
have  rendered  us. ' ' 

The  Grand   Master   replied   as   follows: 

"My  Dear  Brother,  I  realize  the  honor  conferred  upon  myself  and  my 
brother  grand  officers  in  being  invited  to  participate  in  the  ceremonies  of  lay- 
ing the  corner  stone  of  this  court  house  and  we  deem  it  still  more  of  an 
honor  because  it  is  in  the  home  of  our  honored  and  respected  Senior  Grand 
Warden  where  we  have  all  wanted  to  come. 

"I  accept  this  little  token  from  the  sisters  of  the  Eastern  Star,  and,  by  th/J 
way,  I  might  say  T  am  a  member  of  the  Eastern  Star — and  will  treasure  it  as 
long  as  anything  that  I  have  in  my  possession  in  a  masonic  line  and  I  would 
simply  delegate  you,  my  brother,  to  pay  my  honest  respects  to  the  sisters  of 
this  chapter  on   my  behalf,  if  you  will  be  so  kind." 

The  Grand  Marshal  introduced  the  Hon.  Frank  T.  Lodge  of  Detroit,  as 
orator  of  the  day,  who  in  an  eloquent  manner  delivered  a  masterly  address  as 
follows  : 

Mr.  Chairman,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  : — The  interesting  ceremonies  of  this 
occasion  have  been  important  only  as  types  and  symbols.  From  a  material 
standpoint,  the  stone  we  .have  just  laid  is  no  different  from  any  other  of  the 
many  stones  which  will  become  a  part  of  this  beautiful  building.  To  the  mate- 
rialist's  eye,  it  will  not  be  even  so  important  as  the  keystone  in  the  entrance 
which  binds  the  whole  arch  into  one  beautiful,  stable  curve,  upon  which  may 
be  safely  laid  the  great  weight  of  the  stately  walls.  But,  to  the  finer,  keener 
eye  of  the  mind,  this  granite  block  is  the  chief  stone  of  the  building.  It  shapes 
and  determines  the  character  of  the  whole  fabric,  and  the  imposing  structure 
will  take  its  entire  tone  and  significance  from  this,  its  "chief  corner  stone." 

It  is,  then  most  appropriate,  when  the  time  has  come  for  this  important 
part  of  the  chief  public  building  of  this  great  county  to  be  placed  in  its 
permanent  position,  that  its  laying  should  be  marked  with  public  ceremonials, 
that  the  citizens  of  this  community  should  witness  those  ceremonies,  that  the 
finer,  spiritual  things  for  which  this  corner  stone  stands  should  be  publicly 
mentioned,  that  souvenirs  indicative  of  the  character  of  this  age  and  historical 
memorials  of  this  occasion  should  be  deposited  in  this  secure  hiding  place,  to 
be  transmitted  to  future  generations,  and  that  the  lessons  of  this  occasion 
should  be  recounted  for  our  entertainment  and  instruction.  For  these  reasons 
those  who  have  charge  of  ceremonies  have  endeavored  to  secure  the  attendance 
of  as  large  a  number  of  the  citizens  of  this  county  as  possible;  and  it  is  a 
fortunate  coincidence  that  they  invited  to  lay  the  corner  stone  of  this  temple, 
wherein  justice  is  to  be  impartially  administered  to  rich  and  poor  alike,  the 
great  Fraternity  of  equality,  which  is  the  oldest  institution  of  organized 
labor  in  the  world,  that  those  representing  the  first  class  of  laborers,  the 
tillers  of  the  soil,  should  be  present  in  such  large  numbers,  and  that  these  cere- 


150  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

monies  should  be  celebrated  on  the  day  which  has  been  set  apart  by  law  as  a 
legal  holiday,  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  great  hosts  of  labor  in  this  com- 
monwealth. 

The  building  whose  corner  stone  we  lay  to  day  will  be  one  of  the  choicest 
products  of  the  skill  of  the  operative  workman.  The  public  spirit  of  this 
flourishing  county  will  demand  of  the  builders  their  choicest  handiwork.  Here 
will  be  found  the  cunning  tracery  of  the  artist.  The  finest  stones  of  the 
quarry,  the  polished  woods  of  the  forest,  the  choice  products  of  the  loom,  will 
be  wrought  by  skillful  hands,  into  its  fabric,  that  it  may  be  worthy  of  the 
wealth  and  munificence  of  the  community  which  it  represents.  It  is  fitting, 
then  that  its  chief  corner  stone  should  be  laid  with  appropriate  ceremonies 
by  the  great  Fraternity,  which  was  framed,  reared  and  dedicated  by  its 
founders  to  the  great  work  of  building. 

The  first  Masons  were  operative  workmen — builders,  manual  users  of  the 
Plumb,  Square  and  Level.  In  the  dim,  traditional  past,  the  world's  greatest 
and  most  imposing  architectural  piles  were  built  by  our  ancient  brethren. 
One  of  our  first  known  Grand  Masters,  Sir  Christopher  Wren,  was  the  father 
of  English  architecture,  and  in  the  stone  cutter's  sheds  around  the  splendid 
monument  to  his  memory — St.  Paul's  Cathedral  in  London — the  operative 
workmen  formed  the  first  of  the  modern  Masonic  lodges. 

Since  then  the  progress  of  our  art  has  developed  as  from  operative  unto 
speculative  Masons.  From  toiling  workmen,  handling  the  actual  tools  of  the 
Mason's  craft,  we  have  become  laborers  in  a  spiritual  field,  using  the  work- 
men 's  tools  as  symbols  of  moral  truths.  The  buildings  we  now  erect  are  human 
characters;  the  temples  we  now  build  are  the  temples  of  the  soul.  The  plans 
we  draw,  the  specifications  we  construct,  are  to  be  good  men  and  true,  in  the 
State  to  be  quiet  and  peaceful  subjects,  true  to  our  government  and  just  to 
our  country;  not  countenancing  disloyalty  nor  rebellion,  but  patiently  submit- 
ting to  legal  authority,  and  conforming  with  cheerfulness  to  the  government  of 
the  country  in  which  we  live.  Our  tenets  are  obedience  to  God,  fairness  and 
loyalty  to  our  brothers,  and  just  care  for  our  bodies  and  souls.  It  is  these 
things  that  make  good  citizens,  and  wherever  men  have  banded  themselves  to- 
gether for  the  accomplishment  of  these  lofty  aims,  the  moral  tone  of  that  com- 
munity has  received  sensible  uplift. 

The  modern  representatives  of  this  ancient  association  of  laborers  across 
the  great  gulf  which  separates  the  venerable  past  from  the  youthful,  vigorous 
present,  join  hands  in  fraternal  greeting  with  the  hosts  of  operative  laborers 
on  this,  labor's  festal  day,  and  ask  that  together  we  con  the  lessons  of  this 
occasion. 

What  do  these  ceremonies  mean?  for  what  does  this  corner  stone  stand? 
What  will  be  the  future  of  the  building  which  we  have  launched  to-day? 

To  no  one  else  is  the  even  handed,  impartial,  unbiased,  inexpensive  and 
equitable  administration  of  the  law  so  important  as  to  the  workingman,  the 
members  of  the  great  middle  classes.  His  sole  capital  and  stock  in  trade  is 
his  hands  and  his  brains.  He  has  absolutely  no  time  to  cultivate  friendship 
among  judges,  jurymen  and  other  court  officers.  His  duties  are  onerous  and 
exacting;  they  keep  him  at  work  in  the  factory,  the  foundry  and  the  workshop 
during  business  hours;  the  nature  of  his  occupation  is  such  as  to  engross  his 
entire  attention  and  prevent  him  from  learning  the  arts  by  which  the  ver- 
dicts of  juries  are  manipulated  and  the  opinions  of  judges  biased.  When  the 
misfortunes  of  life  force  him  into  court,  his  cases  are  relatively  insignificant 
in  amount  compared  with  the  vastly  larger  sum  over  which  the  business  men 
and  the  capitalist  litigate.    But  to  him  these  small  amounts  are  even  more  im- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  151 

portant  than  the  larger  sums  of  the  capitalist,  for  they  represent  all  that  he 
has  in  the  world.  His  cases  are  about  exemptions  of  household  goods  from 
execution,  the  protection  from  garnishment  of  his  small  weekly  earnings,  the 
loss"  of  which  means  starvation  to  himself  and  family;  or  the  settlement  of  a 
dispute  between  himself  and  his  landlord  as  to  the  tenure  upon  which  he  holds 
the  house  he  calls  his  home.  And  the  saying  is  a  true  one,  that  the  working- 
man  's  lawsuit  is  located  very  close  to  the  fibers  of  his  heart. 

His  scanty  earnings  will  not  permit  him  to  employ  the  skillful  and  high- 
priced  leaders  of  the  bar  to  defend  his  interests  in  court;  and  unless  the  judge 
upon  the  bench  is  clear-sighted,  broadminded  and  impartial,  unless  the  jurymen 
in  the  box  are  absolutely  honest,  fearless  and  unbiased,  the  justice  which  the 
workingman  invokes  when  he  goes  into  court,  is  but  a  mockery,  the  bitter 
Dead  Sea  fruit,  the  unsubstantial  apples  of  Sodom  which  turn  to  ashes  in  his 
grasp.  No  one,  then,  is  more  deeply  interested  in  making  and  keeping  the 
administration  of  justice  absolutely  honest  and  impartial  than  is  the  working- 
man,  the  poor  man,  the  farmer,  the  member  of  the  great  middle  classes.  Now, 
the  theory  of  the  law  is  absolutely  perfect,  and  that  theory  deserves  the  high- 
est encomiums  which  the  greatest  thinkers  and  scholars  of  every  age  have  paid 
it.  Some  of  the  choicest  gems  of  ancient  classic  literature  are  the  beautiful 
diction  in  which  the  sages  of  the  past  have  eulogized  the  perfection  of  munici- 
pal law. 

But  we  live  in  a  practical  age.  We  care  nothing  for  fine  spun,  elegant 
theories,  unless  the  practical  reality  corresponds  with  them,  and  we  ask  our- 
selves, "Does  to-day's  practical  administration  of  the  law  deserve  the  high 
praise  which  has  been  paid  it  in  the  past?"  And  to  this  question  every  prac- 
ticing lawyer,  no  matter  how  optimistic,  must  answer  with  an  unqualified 
negative.  In  every  court  room  in  this  land,  it  frequently  happens  that  men 
either  forget  their  solemn  oath  to  testify  to  the  truth,  the  whole  truth  and 
nothing  but  the  truth  or  else  intentionally  violate  that  oath.  How  many  wit- 
nesses lose  sight  of  every  one  of  the  three  parts  of  the  oath,  and  wilfully  re- 
fuse to  tell  either  the  truth,  the  whole  truth  or  nothing  but  the  truth.  How 
many  even  conscientious  witnesses,  on  cross  examination,  bear  in  mind  only  the 
first  injunction  of  the  oath,  to  tell  the  truth,  but  do  not  tell  the  whole  truth, 
unless  a  skillful  cross-examiner,  armed  with  a  perfect  knowledge  of  every  de- 
tail of  the  transaction,  forces  the  whole  truth  from  their  unwilling  lips.  How 
many  witnesses,  while  telling  the  truth,  evade  the  last  part  of  the  oath,  to  tell 
nothing  but  the  truth,  and  so  shade  and  color  the  truth  to  suit  the  purpose  of 
their  side  of  the  case  as  to  totally  distort  and  pervert  their  entire  testimony. 

There  was  a  time  when  judges  of  the  courts  delighted  to  call  to  their  aid 
expert  witnesses  to  help  them  in  the  great  task  of  establishing  the  exact 
truth  in  matters  which  were  in  controversy  before  them,  but  to-day  the  courts 
of  last  resort  have  taken  judicial  notice  of  the  fact  that  the  expert  witness  is 
too  often  nothing  more  nor  less  than  the  paid  attorney  for  the  side  on  which 
he  is  called;  that  he  too  often  expresses  not  facts  and  opinions,  but  argu- 
ments under  oath,  suppressing  those  facts  and  opinions  that  are  unfavorable 
and  exaggerating  those  that  are  favorable  to  his  side;  that  his  entire  testimony 
is  too  often  not  a  lucid  exposition  and  explanation  of  complicated,  scientific 
facts,  but  a  cunning,  sophistical  perversion  of  the  truth  regarding  those  facts. 
Then,  again,  the  defects  of  our  present  jury  system  have  become  a  crying 
evil,  which  is  deplored  by  every  class  of  citizens.  Theoretically,  the  jury  sys- 
tem is  well  nigh  perfect.  Tt  recognizes  that  judges  on  the  bench,  whose  sole 
occupation  it  is  to  hear  cases,  and  who  are  withdrawn  from  the  every  day 
walk  of  life,  are  very  apt  to  fall  into  a  rut,  to  have  incomplete  knowledge  of 


152  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

practical  affairs,  to  have  warped  and  distorted  ideas  where  the  practical  man 
of  affairs  would  have  more  just  views.  For  this  reason  the  jury  system  takes 
men  for  short  periods  from  different  walks  of  life,  and  asks  them  to  bring 
to  the  decision  of  the  matters  in  controversy  before  them  their  practical  knowl- 
edge of  similar  affairs.  These  jurymen  bring  to  the  discharge  of  their  duty 
the  ardor  and  freshness  of  men  who  are  dealing  with  new  experiences,  and  are 
then  dismissed  before  the  monotony  of  constant  reiteration  has  palled  upon  them 
and  dulled  their  keen  perception  of  the  little  things  which  go  so  far  toward 
indicating  the  truth  or  falsity  of  testimony.  It  requires  that  they  must  be 
kept  free  from  any  acquaintance  with  the  parties,  their  attorneys,  or  the 
facts  in  dispute,  which  would  in  any  way  bias  their  verdict,  and  theoretically, 
no  better  system  could  be  devised  for  administering  justice  impartially,  in 
the  decision  of  questions  of  fact,  than  the  jury  system. 

Yet,  today,  this  splendid  system  theoretically,  as  it  is  practically  carried 
out,  is  a  shame  and  a  scoff  to  those  who  know  it  best.  Ignorant  men  are 
frequently,  more  frequently  in  large  cities  than  in  an  intelligent  community 
like  this — -but  nevertheless  drawn  upon  our  juries,  who  while  they  may  have 
political  influence  with  their  ignorant  fellows  which  makes  the  placing  of 
them  upon  the  jury  panel  a  shrewd  political  move,  yet  they  are  unable  to 
fairly  understand  either  the  testimony  of  the  witnesses,  or  the  arguments  of  the 
lawyers,  much  less  making  a  righteous  decision  of  the  case. 

Again,  too  many  jurors  are  easily  susceptible  to  artful  appeals  to  passion 
or  prejudice,  and  many  a  shrewd  lawyer  has  won  his  case  by  throwing  aside 
argument,  losing  sight  of  facts,  disregarding  reason,  and  simply  inflaming  the 
passions  and  prejudices  of  the  jurors,  while  the  jurors  forgetting  that  they 
were  impartially  to  decide  the  cases  submitted  to  them  upon  the  law  and  the 
evidence,  have  rendered  grossly  unjust  verdicts. 

Again,  in  our  large  cities,  many  a  juror  has  added  to  the  faults  of  ignor- 
ance and  prejudice  the  absolute  crime  of  dishonesty.  In  some  of  our  larger 
cities,  it  soon  becomes  known  to  the  lawyers  who  have  many  cases  at  the  bar 
that  certain  jurors  are  for  sale,  and  that  their  verdicts  may  be  secured  for  a 
consideration.  Certain  classes  of  corporations  which  have  much  business  in 
the  courts  have,  naturally  enough,  made  it  their  business  to  learn  the  charac- 
teristics of  every  man  who  has  been  drawn  as  a  juryman,  and  those  who  are 
interested  notice  that  the  cases  against  those  corporations  which  are  tried  at 
the  first  of  the  term  are  decided  partly  for  and  partly  against  those  corpora- 
tions, as  one  would  naturally  expect  in  such  cases,  while  it  has  become  pro- 
verbial that  towards  the  last  of  each  term,  after  the  agents  of  these  parties 
have  had  opportunities  to  become  acquainted  with  the  jurymen,  these  same 
corporations  win  every  case  that  is  submitted  to  certain  jurors  and  soon  after 
the  term  of  court  ends  certain  of  the  members  of  these  same  juries  receive 
lucrative  situations  from  those  same  corporations. 

I  may  go  one  step  further  and  say  that,  in  a  few  cases,  judges  are  elected 
to  the  bench  who  forget  that  their  duty  is  to  stand  out  fearlessly  against  pub- 
lic opinion  when  the  public  opinion  is  at  variance  with  the  principles  of  law 
and  equity,  and  whose  decisions  of  certain  cases  are  biased  by  the  effect  which 
those   decisions  wTill  have  upon  their  political  future.* 

Then,  too,  charges  of  corruption  in  legislative  halls  are  now-a-days  so  com- 
mon as  to  cause  no  special  comment.  And  in  certain  communities  it  is  as 
much  as  a  high-minded  honest  and  honorable  man's  reputation  is  worth  to 
become  interested  in  politics  and  become  a  member  of  a  city  council  or  a  state 
legislature.  No  one  who  is  familiar  with  legislative  assemblies  can  truthfully 
deny  that  the  legislature  is  subjected  to  a  fierce  fire  of  temptation   and  cor- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  153 

ruption,  which  requires  heroic  virtue  successfully  to  withstand,  and  many  a 
law  is  upon  our  statute  books  and  must  be  administered  in  our  courts  whose 
enactment  has  been  purchased  by  a  special  class  influence  using  the  arts  of  the 
lobbyist  and   the   corruptionist    in  legislative   halls. 

Now,  all  of  these  evils  mean  trouble  for  the  future  unless  they  are  suc- 
cessfully remedied.  That  man  was  never  yet  cheated,  who  knew  he  was  cheated, 
and  yet  was  perfectly  satisfied.  That  man  was  never  yet  defeated  in  a  law- 
suit, who  felt  pleased  and  complacent  when  he  was  absolutely  certain  that, 
his  defeat  was  due  to  a  dishonest  jury  or  a  weak,  incompetent  or  dishonest 
judge.  The  instinct  for  fair  play  has  been  planted  by  the  God  of  Justice  deep 
in  the  heart  of  every  man.  no  matter  how  mean  his  station  or  humble  his  rank, 
and  when  the  instinct  is  thwarted,  when  the  body  of  our  citizenship  are  fully 
aware  that  there  is  dishonesty  in  courts  and  legislative  halls,  the  punishment 
will  be  swift  and  it  will  be  effective.  It  takes  the  people  a  long  time  to 
become  thoroughly  aroused,  but  when  once  the  common  sense  of  the  whole 
community  is  aroused,  something  must  give  away.  Public  opinion  is  slow  in 
action,  but  swift  in  execution.  It  breathed  upon  the  crime  of  slavery,  and 
slavery  vanished  like  a  foul  mist  before  the  King  of  Day.  It  suffered  long 
under  the  misrule  of  Boss  Tweed  and  his  cohorts  in  New  York;  but.  one  day, 
it  arose  in  its  might  and  the  King  of  the  Metropolis  dies  disgraced,  in  fetters 
in  a  felon  's  cell. 

Now,  my  friends,  I  am  not  here  on  this  great  day  of  rejoicing  to  drape 
your  horizon  in  black;  to  give  you  pessimistic  viewTs  of  things,  but  we  are  here 
to  take  note  of  the  future,  to  see  how  that  future  may  be  brightened,  to  make 
our  generation  better  than  any  generation  ever  was  before,  and  we  can  only  do 
this  by  discovering  where  are  our  weak  points  and  how  they  may  be  strength- 
ened; and-  on  this  occasion,  when  we  are  laying  the  corner  stone  of  a  new 
Temple  of  Justice,  it  seems  to  me  the  best  and  most  important  lesson  is  to  see 
in    what  respect  our  judicial   system   may  be  strengthened  and  improved. 

Now,  if  you  have  thoughtfully  considered  each  one  of  the  evils  I  have  re- 
counted to  you,  you  will  have  noticed  the  trouble  has  been,  not  with  the  system, 
but  with  the  persons  by  whom  that  system  must  be  worked  out.  Our  sys- 
tem of  giving  evidence  in  court,  the  oath  which  is  administered  to  the  witness, 
and  the  punishment  prescribed  for  perjury,  arc  all  the  best  than  can  be  de- 
vised. The  trouble  is  with  the  persons  who  take  the  oath  and  who  violate  it, 
with  the  dishonest  litigants  and  lawyers  who  suborn  those  witnesses  to  swear 
falsely,  with  the  weak  and  incompetent  prosecuting  attorneys  and  judges  who 
fail  to  punish  perjurers  when  their  perjury  is  palpably  apparent. 

The  jury  system  is  perfect  in  theory;  the  trouble  is  with  the  jury  com- 
missioners and  other  like  officers  who  put  ignorant  and  dishonest  men  upon  the 
panels;  with  the  judges  who  allow  these  ignorant  or  dishonest  men  to  sit  as 
jurors;  with  the  jurors  who  are  swayed  by  passion  and  prejudice,  or  who  take 
bribes  as  the  price  of  their  verdicts;  with  the  dishonest  litigants  who  offer  those 
bribes,  either  directly  or  indirectly;  with  the  prosecuting  attorneys  and  judges, 
to  whom  these  indications  of  bribery  are  so  manifest,  and  yet  who  weakly  re- 
fuse to  set  in  motion  the  grand  jury,  or  other  means  provided  by  law  for 
punishing  dishonesty. 

Our  system  of  electing  legislators,  and  passing  laws  is  perhaps  as  good  as 
can  be  devised;  the  trouble  is  with  the  dishonest  legislators,  and  those  who  cor- 
rupt them,  and  with  the  weak  and  incompetent  judges  and  prosecuting  attor- 
neys who  fail  to  investigate  cases  where  bribery  is  suspected.  The  fault  is 
not  wdth  the  system,  but  with  the  persons  who  abuse  the  system;  and  the  les- 
son to  you  and  me,  my  friends,  on  this  momentous  occasion,  is  not,  how  shall 


154  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

we  reform  the  systems,  but  how  shall  we  reform  the  persons,  to  whom  we  en- 
trust the  carrying  out  of  these  systems? 

This  can  only  be  done  by  the  aggressive,  persistent  action  of  every  honest 
man  and  every  honest  woman.  So  long  as  the  dollar  is  deified  and  no  questions 
are  asked  as  to  how  that  dollar  has  been  acquired,  so  long  as  success  is  wor- 
shipped and  men's  eyes  are  tightly  closed  to  the  means  by  which  that  success 
has  been  attained,  just  so  long  will  unscrupulous  men  continue  to  do  the  wicked 
things  which  we  deplore.  There  is  no  force,  save  that  of  Diety  Himself,  which 
is  so  potent  as  that  of  enlightened  determined  public  opinion.  Thrones  have 
crumbled  before  it;  statutes  and  constitutions  derive  their  binding  force  from 
its  powerful  sanction.  It  will  cleanse  public  places  when,  without  it,  press 
and  pulpit  may  plead  in  vain  for  the  cleansing.  To  it,  wrhen  thoroughly  in- 
spired with  earnest  purpose,  the  greatest  autocrat  must  bend  the  suppliant 
knee.  From  it,  when  inflamed  with  righteous  wrath,  the  most  strongly  in- 
trenched political  scoundrel  will  flee  in  trembling  haste. 

Suppose  the  glib  perjurer  should  be  arrested  on  a  bench  warrant  for  his 
perjury  as  soon  as  he  leaves  the  witness  stand,  and  should  be  brought  to  speedy 
trial  for  his  false  swearing.  Do  you  think  he  or  those  who  knew  of  his  case 
wTould  repeat  the  offense?  Suppose  the  suborner  of  perjury  should  be  brought 
to  swift  and  sure  punishment.  Would  not  the  subornation  of  perjury  soon  be- 
come a  very  unpopular  method  of  winning  lawsuits?  Suppose  the  weak  judge 
and  the  spineless  prosecuting  attorney  realized  that  their  constituents  were 
watching  their  failure  to  prosecute,  and  that  those  constituents  despised  them 
for  it,  and  would  show  their  disapproval  in  no  uncertain  tones  at  the  next  elec- 
tion. Would  not  the  official  be  speedily  rendered  more  ardent?  Suppose  that 
the  members  of  legislative  bodies  should  feel  that  every  suspicious  vote  would 
be  examined  by  a  watchful  constituency,  that  any  suspicion  of  bribery  would 
be  promptly  examined  by  the  proper  authorities  and  that  criminal  prosecutions 
would  be  instituted  should  there  be  a  fair  prospect  of  conviction.  Suppose  they 
were  given  to  understand  that  their  official  record  was  as  fragile  as  a  woman's 
reputation,  and  that  the  slightest  breath  of  suspicion  would  blast  it  forever. 
Would  there  not  be  a  speedy  stiffening  up  of  official  backbone  and  a  sudden 
and  tremendous  awakening  of  official  consciences? 

I  tell  you,  my  friends,  the  men  and  women  of  every  community  have  its 
official  honesty  and  ability  in  their  own  keeping.  If  every  man,  by  his  voice 
and  by  his  vote,  should  sternly  rebuke  official  wrongdoing  wherever  he  sees  it, 
and,  besides,  should  vigilantly  scrutinize  the  official  action  of  the  public  servants 
to  see  whether  it  meets  his  conscientious  approval;  if  every  woman,  instead  of 
blindly  worshipping  the  possessors  of  wealth,  should  closely  scrutinize  the 
methods  by  which  that  wrealth  has  been  acquired,  if  she  should  refuse  to  honor 
with  her  friendship  any  person,  rich  or  poor,  the  history  of  whose  life  is  not 
clean  and  the  pedigree  of  whose  dollars  is  not  stainless,  the  future  of  our  offices 
and  officeholders,  the  honor  of  our  government  and  the  purity  of  our  judicial 
ermine  would  be  safe. 

This,  then,  is  the  lesson  of  this  day.  The  kind  of  official  action  which  will 
emanate  from  the  walls  of  this  new  building  will  depend  upon  the  character 
of  the  citizenship  of  this  county.  The  stream  never  rises  higher  than  its 
source  and  public  servants  are  seldom  more  virtuous  than  their  masters. 

We  lay  here  to-day  something  besides  a  mere  material  block  of  senseless 
stone.  We  also  commence  to  erect  an  unseen  but  none  the  less  substantial  tem- 
ple of  human  character,  which  is  more  stable  than  the  strongest  ramparts  the 
cunning  workmanship  of  man  can  build.  In  the  unseen  structure  every  man 
and  woman  of  this  county  must  fill  his  own  place.    We  lay  its  invisible  corner 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  155 

stone  on  the  broad  foundation  of  respect  of  law.  We  bind  it  fast  to  the  bed- 
rock of  liberty  with  the  binding  cement  of  love  for  our  fellows  and  justice 
in  our  dealings  with  them.  We  dedicate  it  to  the  great  God  above,  whose  gov- 
ernment  is  mercy  and  peace,  wisdom,  justice  and  righteousness. 

The  watchful  care  of  this  community  will  attend  the  erection  of  the  ma- 
terial building.  The  welfare  of  the  unseen  structure  rests  upon  the  heart  and 
conscience  of  every  man  and  woman  in  this  county.  If  they  have  lighted  the 
altar-fires  of  consecration  to  the  duties  of  citizenship,  the  future  of  the  county 
is  safe. 

' '  Build   to-day,    then,   strong   and   sure 
With  a  firm  and  ample  base, 
And,  ascending  and  secure, 

Shall  to-morrow  find  its  place. " 

When  completed,  may  this  building  be  a  veritable  Temple  of  Justice.  Here 
may  the  important  business  of  the  county  be  carefully  and  honestly  transacted. 
May  no  spot  soil  the  ermine  of  the  judges  nor  stain  mar  the  verdict  of  the 
juries  within  these  walls;  but  may  evenhanded  justice  be  promptly  and  fear- 
lessly administered.  May  wrongdoing  here  meet  swift  and  condign  punish- 
ment, and  honesty  and  virtue  receive  their  just  reward.  Here  may  wisdom  here 
find  her  welcome  home  and  the  revolving  years  see  naught  by  the  purest  good 
issue  from  these  walls. 

The  ceremonies  attending  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of.  Van*  Buren 
county  court  house  were  now  at  an  end  and  the  vast  multitude  of  Van  Buren 
county's  citizens  dispersed. 

This  report  is  respectfully  submitted  and  signed  by  the  building  committee. 

W  C  Wildey, 
E  A  Chase, 

P    J    DlLLMAN, 

Geo  T  Waber, 
Chas  W  Byers, 
Building  Committee. 

Cost  of  Present  County  Buildings 

The  new  court  house  was  first  occupied  in  February,  1903,  the 
first  case  tried  in  the  circuit  court  after  such  occupancy  being  an 
action  for  damages  begun  by  William  Culver  against  the  South 
Haven  &  Eastern  Railroad  Company  for  damages  on  account  of 
the  loss  of  both  legs  by  being  drawn  beneath  the  wheels  of  a  freight 
car,  and  which  became  a  cause  celebre  in  the  state,  resulting,  after 
every  legal  recourse  was  exhausted  by  the  railroad  company  and 
its  surety,  in  a  judgment  in  favor  of  the  plaintiff  for  the  sum  of 
$25,000,  which  was  eventually  paid. 

At  a  session  of  the  board  of  supervisors  held  on  the  9th  day  of 
February,  1903,  the  contractors  submitted  the  following  itemized 
bill  which  was  allowed  and  ordered  paid: 

Contract  price  for  court  house $54,500.00 

Contract  price  for  jail 22,700.00 


156 


HISTORY  OF  VAX  HITREX  COUNTY 


Cor nt y  Jail  and  Sheriff's  Residence,  Paw  Paw 


County  Hotse,  Hartford 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  157 

Finishing  entire  basement  of  court  house  complete  and 
placing  tile  roofing  on  court  house  and  jail  instead  of 

slate    $3,000.00 

Changing   cornice  and   other  gal  v.   iron   work   on   court- 
house and  jail  to  16  oz.  copper 3,175.00 

Wiring  basement  duct  and  attic  C.  II 200.00 

4479  lbs.  galv.  iron  pipe  ventilating  attic  court  house  and 

jail  at  20c  put  up 895.80 

Cove  base  for  marble  wainscoting 175.00 

Extra  foundation  in  jail  22  perch,  excavating  included 

at   $3.00    66.00 

Carving    bust    25.00 

Lowering  coal  and  boiler  room 900.00 

Changing  iron  door  from  register  of  deeds  office  to  new 

court  house    11.50 

Carving  gables 250.00 

One  dry  well  and  connections  from  cistern  at  jail 33.00 

Oiling  floor    37.50 

Building  cistern,  dry  well  and  connecting  same  C.  H. .  .  195.00 
Building  wall  and  finishing  same,  public  toilet  closet  base- 
ment court  house   87.00 

Putting  in  cement  steps  jail  to  duct 11.50 

Building  stone  porch,  jail 235.00 

Marble   thresholds    100.00 

Extra  work  on  mantels 50.00 

Extra  copper  globe  ventilator  on  west  side  court  house.  .  35.00 

Enlarging  one  on  east  side 20.00 

Building  new  stack  complete 971.50 

Cutting  strips  in  floor  account  gas  pipe 37.50 

Copper  ventilator  in  jail,  complete 273.00 

Taking  down  and  rebuilding  boiler  room  smoke  stack.  .  220.00 

Lettering  corner  stone    35.00 

Speaking  tube  from  clerk's  office  to  judge's  desk 15.00 

Lumber  for  judge  probate's  platform  desk 4.40 

Five  steel  shutters  put  up  complete,  basement 125.00 

Changing   food  opening  in   jail 20.00 

Changing  juvenile  female  hospital  cell  and  cutting  addi- 
tional slots  in   wall 50.00 

Drilling  holes  for  clock  dial 20.00 

Extra  for  gilding  iron  stairways  and  railings  and  railing 

around  well   hole 43.50 

One  cess  pool  for  sewer  connection 25.00 

Piping  and  heating  basement  court  house,  plumbing  and 

urinals,  bronzing  radiators,  painting  pipes,  etc 688.12 

Building  duct  from  court  house  to  jail 1,400.00 

Total .$90,630.32 


158  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY 

This  sum  included  only  the  cost  of  the  unfurnished  buildings. 
The  furniture  cost  $5,000,  the  architect  was  paid  $600  and  the 
site  cost  about  $10,000,  in  addition  to  which  was  the  expense  of 
electric  lighting,  water  works,  sewers,  grading  of  the  court  house 
yard,  putting  down  cement  walks  and  other  miscellaneous  and  un- 
avoidable items  which  made  the  total  cost  of  the  new  buildings 
and  their  surroundings  about  $120,000. 

For  many  years  Van  Buren  had  been  pointed  out  as  having 
about  the  poorest  public  buildings  of  any  county  in  Michigan,  but 
she  then  became  possessed  of  one  of  the  finest  and  most  up-to-date 
court  houses  and  jails  in  the  state,  and  which  are  excelled  only 
by  the  public  buildings  of  some  of  the  larger  cities.  And  not  a 
hint  of  graft  or  tinge  of  dishonesty  attached  to  anybody  or  any- 
thing from  the  time  the  plan  was  originated  until  all  was  com- 
plete, which  is  more  than  can  be  said  of  the  construction  of  many 
public  buildings. 

And  the  county  seat  war  in  Van  Buren  county  is  forever  ended 
and  while  some  were  disappointed,  which  was  inevitable,  all  are 
proud  of  the  new  buildings  and  the  prestige  which  they  give  the 
county  as  being  one  of  the  front-rank  counties  of  the  Peninsula 
state. 

The  old  court  house,  removed  from  the  proud  position  it  once 
occupied,  stands  on  the  main  street  of  the  village  reduced  to  the 
humble  status  of  a  feed  and  seed  store.  It  is  likely  to  last  many 
more  years,  a  testimonial  to  the  substantial  manner  in  which  the 
buildings  of  a  former  generation  were  constructed.  The  old  jail, 
removed  to  another  street,  has  been  converted  into  a  dwelling  and 
boarding  house.  What  harrowing  tales  it  could  relate,  if  it  were 
endowed  with  a  voice  to  utter  them ! 


CHAPTER  VII 

BENCH  AND  BAR 

State   Supreme   and    Circuit    Courts — County    Courts — First 
Circuit   Judge — Successors   of   Judge   Ransom — Judge   Fla- 

vius  j.  llttlejohn thirty-sixth  circuit  created probate 

Judges — Van  Buren  County  Bar. 

The  first  constitution  of  Michigan  vested  the  judicial  authority 
in  a  supreme  court  and  such  other  courts  as  the  legislature  might 
from  time  to  time  establish. 

The  judges  of  the  supreme  court  were  nominated  and  appointed 
by  the  governor,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  senate. 
This  court  consisted  of  one  chief  justice  and  three  associate  jus- 
tices. Their  term  of  office  was  seven  years.  The  terms  of  this  court 
were  held  at  different  places,  as  follows:  Twice  a  year  at  Detroit, 
twice  at  Ann  Arbor,  once  at  Kalamazoo  and  once  at  Pontiac. 
When  in  session  at  Kalamazoo  the  supreme  court  exercised  ap- 
pellate jurisdiction  in  all  cases  originating  in  the  counties  of 
Branch,  St.  Joseph,  Cass,  Berrien,  Van  Buren,  Kalamazoo,  Cal- 
houn and  Allegan. 

Circuit  Courts 

This  constitution  also  provided  for  a  separate  court  of  chancery, 
the  powTers  and  authority  of  which  were  vested  in  the  chancellor. 
There  were  three  chancery  circuits  in  the  state,  Van  Buren  being 
in  the  third  circuit,  together  with  the  counties  of  Branch,  Cass, 
St.  Joseph,  Berrien,  Kalamazoo,  Kent,  Ionia  and  Allegan.  The 
sittings  of  this  court  for  the  third  circuit  were  held  twice  each 
year,  at  Kalamazoo. 

The  state  was  further  divided  into  four  judicial  circuits  for  the 
purpose  of  holding  the  circuit  courts.  The  statute  provided  that 
each  of  the  justices  of  the  supreme  court,  twice  in  each  year,  should 
hold  a  term  of  circuit  court  in  each  of  the  counties  designated  in 
his  appointment,  with  this  peculiar  exception,  that  in  certain 
counties  (Van  Buren  among  the  number),  a  second  term  need 
not  be  held  "  unless  the  sheriff  and  county  clerk  of  any  or  either 
of  said  counties  shall,  at  or  before  the  time  fixed  by  law  for  the 

159 


160  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

drawing  of  jurors,  determine  that  it  is  necessary. ' '  While  holding 
the  circuit  courts,  the  supreme  justices  were  by  statute  designated 
circuit  judges. 

In  1848  the  legislature  increased  the  number  of  judges  of  the 
supreme  court  to  five  and  directed  them  to  divide  the  state  into 
five  circuits,  and  again,  in  1851,  the  number  of  circuits  was  by 
legislative  act  increased  to  eight  in  number,  Van  Buren  being  in 
the  fifth  circuit  with  Calhoun,  Kalamazoo,  Eaton  and  Allegan. 

In  1867  a  partial  reorganization  of  the  judicial  circuits  of  the 
state  took  place,  the  number  being  increased  to  fourteen  and  the 
counties  of  Allegan,  Van  Buren  and  Kalamazoo  being  placed  to- 
gether in  a  circuit  numbered  as  the  ninth.  This  arrangement  con- 
tinued until  1873,  when  a  new  arrangement  of  circuits  was  made, 
Allegan  county  being  placed  in  another  circuit  (the  twentieth), 
leaving  Kalamazoo  and  Van  Buren  as  the  ninth.  In-so-far  as  Van 
Buren  county  is  concerned  that  arrangement  continued  until  1899, 
when  it  was  joined  with  Cass  county,  the  two  composing  the  thirty- 
sixth  circuit.  The  number  of  circuits  in  the  state  has  been  in- 
creased from  time  to  time  as  the  population  increased  until  at  the 
present  time  there  are  thirty-nine  circuits  in  the  state. 

The  constitution  of  1850  made  the  circuit  judges  elective  and 
provided  that  for  a  term  of  six  years,  and  thereafter  until  the 
legislature  should  otherwise  provide,  the  judges  of  the  circuit 
courts  should  constitute  the  supreme  court  of  the  state.  In  1857 
the  legislature  enacted  a  statute  creating  a  supreme  court,  to  con- 
sist of  one  chief  justice  and  three  associate  justices,  entirely  sep- 
arate and  distinct  from  the  circuit  court,  the  office  of  justice  of 
such  court  being  made  elective.  This  system  still  continues,  ex- 
cept that  the  number  of  justices  has  been  increased  to  eight,  the 
one  whose  term  of  office  soonest  expires  always  filling  the  position 
of  chief  justice. 

The  circuit  courts,  as  at  first  constituted  consisted  of  the  pre- 
siding supreme  court  justice  and  two  associate  judges  by  the 
voters  of  each  county,  but  who  were  more  ornamental  than  useful, 
for  the  decisions  of  the  presiding  judge  were  invariably  coincided 
in  by  his  associates  on  the  bench. 

The  revised  statutes  of  1846  contain  the  following  provisions : 
' '  The  several  circuit  courts  of  this  state  shall  be  courts  of  chancery 
within  and  for  their  respective  counties,  the  powers  of  which  shall 
be  exercised  by  the  circuit  judges  thereof." 

'4The  court  of  chancery  as  now  established  by  law  is  hereby 
abolished." 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  161 

County  Courts 

Prior  to  the  adoption  of  the  constitution  of  1850,  there  was  also 
a  county  court  in  each  county,  which  was  a  court  of  record  with 
limited  jurisdiction,  being  an  intermediate  court  between  the  jus- 
tice courts  and  the  circuit  courts,  but  that  constitution  provided 
that  "The  judicial  power  is  vested  in  one  supreme  court,  in  cir- 
cuit courts,  in  probate  courts  and  justices  of  the  peace.  Municipal 
courts  of  civil  and  criminal  jurisdiction  may  be  established  by  the 
legislature  in  cities/ '  and  such  has  continued  to  be  the  judicial 
system  of  the  state.  The  date  when  the  constitutional  provisions 
concerning  the  changes  made  in  the  judicial  system  should  go  into 
effect  was  fixed  in  the  schedule  of  the  then  new  constitution  as  Jan- 
uary 1,  1852. 

The  bar  of  Van  Buren  county  has  always  been  composed  of 
men  who  were  an  honor  to  their  profession  and  seldom,  indeed, 
has  there  been  any  just  cause  for  criticism,  either  as  to  ability, 
probity,  or  faithfulness  to  the  ethics  of  the  profession. 

The  men  who  have  sat  upon  the  judicial  bench  of  the  county  have 
been  men  who  were  learned  in  the  law  and  who  have  been  an  honor 
to  themselves  and  a  credit  to  their  constituents. 

First  Circuit  Judge 

The  first  judge  to  hold  a  circuit  court  in  Van  Buren  county  was 
Hon.  Epaphroditus  Ransom,  who  wras  subsequently  governor  of 
Michigan,  having  been  elected  to  that  office  at  the  general  election 
in  1848.  The  first  entry  made  upon  the  journal  of  the  court  was 
made  on  the  6th  day  of  June,  1837,  and  reads  as  follows : 

"  State  of  Michigan,  Van  Buren  County,  ss. :  Be  it  remembered  that  at  a 
session  of  the  circuit  court  of  the  state  of  Michigan,  within  and  for  the 
county  of  Van  Buren,  begun  and  held  pursuant  to  law  at  the  court  in  La  Fay- 
ette in  said  county  on  the  first  Monday  (being  the  sixth  day)  of  June,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty-seven;  present  Hon. 
Epaphroditus  Ransom,  Cir.  Judge,  Wolcott  H.  K'eeler  and  Jay  R.  Monroe,  Esqrs, 
associate  judges. 

' '  The  grand  jury  being  called,  the  following  persons  appeared  and  answered 
to  their  names,  to-wit :  Peter  Gremps,  Jeremiah  H.  Simmons,  Joseph  Woodman, 
Rodney  Hinckley,  Joshua  Bangs,  Edwin  Barnum,  John  Reynolds,  John  D.  Free- 
man, George  S.  Reynolds,  Dexter  Gibbs,  Joseph  Luce,  Asa  G.  Hinckley  and 
Enoch  L.  Barrett. 

"Peter  Gremps  was  appointed  by  the  court  as  foreman  of  this  grand  jury 
and  authorized  to  issue  subpoenas  for  and  to  administer  oaths  to  witnesses.  The 
grand  jurors  having  been  sworn  and  having  received  the  charge  of  the  court, 
retired  to  consider  the  business  before  them. 

1 1  The  grand  jury  having  been  a  short  time  absent,  came  into  court  and  in- 
formed the  court  that  they  had  no  business  before  them  and  knew  of  none  for 

Tol.    I— 11 


162  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

their  consideration;  whereupon  they  were  discharged  from  further  attendance 
at  this  term  of  court. 

' '  Eule — Ordered  by  the  court  that  in  all  cases  now  pending  in  this  court 
and  not  at  issue,  declaration  shall  be  filed  within  forty  days  from  the  present 
term  and  pleas  within  forty  days  from  the  time  limited  for  filing  declaration, 
and  all  causes  appealed  from  the  judgment  of  justices  of  the  peace  shall  be 
deemed  at  issue  at  the  first  term  after  the  appeal  so  taken,  unless  otherwise 
ordered  by  the  court  in  particular   cases. 

il  There  appearing  to  be  no  further  business,  the  court  then  and  there  ad- 
journed without  day. 

"Read,  corrected  and  signed  in  open  court  this  sixth  day  of  June,  1837. 

"Epaphro.  Ransom, 
"Presiding  Judge. " 

Judge  Ransom's  signature  being  rather  unusually  long,  it  was 
his  custom  to  abbreviate  his  Christian  name  to  "Epaphro. " 

The  files  and  records  of  the  court,  prior  to  1844,  are  so  imperfect 
and  incomplete  that  it  is  impossible  to  ascertain  the  titles  of  the 
first  suits  that  were  begun,  either  lawT,  criminal  or  chancery. 

The  first  civil  case  tried  in  the  circuit  court  was  at  the  Decem- 
ber term,  1837,  and  was  an  appeal  from  the  justice's  court  (Robert 
Nesbitt,  plaintiff,  and  George  S.  Reynolds,  defendant),  in  which 
the  jury  rendered  a  judgment  of  sixteen  dollars  and  forty-two 
cents  with  costs,  to  be  taxed  in  favor  of  the  plaintiff. 

The  first  criminal  case  tried  was  that  of  the  People  vs.  Nathan 
Mears,  at  the  same  term  of  court,  the  respondent  being  charged 
with  assault  and  battery.  The  jury  in  this  case  returned  a  verdict 
of  "not  guilty." 

Judge  Ransom  continued  to  preside  over  the  circuit  court  of 
the  county  for  the  first  ten  years  of  its  existence,  his  last  term  be- 
ing held  in  April,  1847. 

Successors  of  Judge  Ransom 

The  next  term  of  the  circuit  court  for  the  county  was  held  in 
March,  1848,  and  was  presided  over  by  Hon.  Sanford  M.  Green,  as- 
sociate justice  of  the  supreme  court  of  the  state.  Judge  Green  is 
best  remembered  by  the  legal  profession  as  the  author  of  "Green's 
Practice,"  a  work  that  was  of  great  value  in  its  day  to  both  bench 
and  bar,  and  which  has  recently  been  revised  and  brought  down 
to  date. 

Three  terms  of  the  court  were  held  during  the  years  1849  and 
1850,  at  which  Judge  Charles  W.  Whipple,  circuit  judge  and  as- 
sociate justice  of  the  supreme  court  presided.  Judge  Whipple  was 
the  first  speaker  of  the  house  of  representatives  of  the  state  after 
it  was  admitted  into  the  Union.  Very  little  legal  business  was 
transacted,  either  by  Judge  Green  or  Judge  Whipple. 

In-so-far  as  the  journal  shows,  there  was  no  session  of  the  circuit 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  163 

court  during  the  year  1851,  the  next  entry  after  the  close  of  Judge 
Whipple's  record,  October  3,  1850,  being  on  the  second  day  of 
March,  1852,  when  Judge  Abner  Pratt,  another  associate  justice 
of  the  supreme  court,  began  his  administration  as  judge  in  the 
Van  Buren  circuit  and  continued  to  officiate  in  that  capacity  for  the 
succeeding  five  years. 

Judge  Pratt  was  succeeded  on  the  circuit  bench  of  the  county 
by  Judge  Benjamin  F.  Graves,  who  was  elected  to  office  of  circuit 
judge  by  the  electors  of  the  fifth  judicial  circuit,  to  which  Van 
Buren  was  at  that  date  attached.  Judge  Graves'  bold  signature, 
characteristic  of  the  man,  adorned  the  records  of  the  court  for  the 
next  nine  years,  he  being  re-elected  in  the  spring  of  1863  for 
another  six  years  but  resigned  before  the  expiration  of  his  term 
of  office.  Judge  Graves  was  a  man  of  much  more  than  ordinary 
ability  and  the  people  of  the  state,  recognizing  that  fact,  promoted 
him  to  the  supreme  bench  in  the  spring  of  1867,  where  he  became 
known  to  fame  and  to  the  legal  profession  throughout  the  entire 
country  as  one  of  the  "big  four"  of  the  Michigan  supreme  court, 
which  was  composed  of  Justices  Graves,  Cooley,  Christiancy  and 
Campbell.  Judge  Graves  was  succeeded  on  the  circuit  bench  by 
Judge  George  Woodruff,  who  was  elected  at  a  special  election  held 
July  14,  1866,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of 
Judge  Graves. 

The  county  of  Allegan  had  been  in  the  fifth  circuit  with  Van 
Buren  and  other  counties,  but  the  reorganization  of  the  circuits 
of  the  state  in  1851  placed  that  county  in  the  ninth  circuit,  while 
Van  Buren  remained  in  the  fifth.  In  1867  the  ninth  circuit  was 
made  to  consist  of  the  counties  of  Allegan,  Kalamazoo  and  Van 
Buren. 

Judge  Flavius  J.  Littlejohn 

By  this  legislative  action  Van  Buren  ceased  to  be  a  part  of  the 
circuit  presided  over  by  Judge  Woodruff  and  came  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  Judge  Flavius  J.  Littlejohn  of  Allegan  county. 
Judge  Littlejohn  was  the  presiding  judge  of  the  Van  Buren  cir- 
cuit court  until  1869.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school,  the 
very  personification  of  dignity  when  on  the  bench,  genial  and 
companionable  when  off  duty. 

It  was  the  good  fortune  of  the  writer  to  serve  under  this  fine 
old  gentleman,  learned  lawyer  and  upright  judge  during  a  por- 
tion of  his  term  of  office  as  clerk  of  the  court,  and  he  can  see  him 
even  now  as  he  ascended  the  bench  and  took  his  seat  on  the  wool- 
sack at  the  opening  of  the  court  in  the  morning  and  hear  him  say, 
with  all  due  solemnity,  as  soon  as  proclamation  of  the  opening  of 
court  had  been  made  "Mr.  Clerk,  read  the  journal.' '    Being  at 


164  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

that  time  a  young  man  entirely  without  knowledge  or  experience 
in  court  proceedings  or  other  legal  affairs,  it  was  with  great  dif- 
fidence that  the  duties  of  clerk  of  the  court  were  assumed  by  him, 
and  he  feels  that  right  here  he  should  acknowledge  the  great  kind- 
ness and  courtesy  with  which  "His  Honor' '  bore  with  his  inex- 
perience, instructed  him  in  the  modus  operandi  of  conducting  the 
proceedings  of  a  court  of  justice  and  initiated  him  into  the  mys- 
teries of  the  law,  laying  for  him  the  foundations  of  a  profession 
which  he  has  followed  with  more  or  less  assiduity  for  over  forty 
years.  No  more  upright,  honorable  man  than  Judge  Flavius  J. 
Littlejohn  ever  graced  the  judicial  bench  of  Michigan. 

Judge  Littlejohn  was  succeeded  by  Judge  Charles  R.  Brown, 
who  was  elected  at  the  April  election  in  1869  and  who  presided 
over  the  Van  Buren  circuit  until  the  summer  of  1874,  when  he  re- 
signed the  office  and  was  succeeded  by  Judge  Darius  E.  Comstock, 
who  was  appointed  by  Governor  John  J.  Bagley  to  fill  the  unex- 
pired term  of  Judge  Brown.  There  was  another  vacancy  in  this 
office  before  the  expiration  of  the  term  caused  by  the  death  of 
Judge  Comstock  who  died  on  the  third  day  of  February,  1875, 
but  a  few  months  after  his  appointment.  Judge  Comstock  was 
the  first  Van  Buren  county  man  to  occupy  the  circuit  bench.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Judge  Josiah  L.  Hawes,  who  was  elected  at  the 
April  election  of  1875. 

Two  years  prior  to  this  election,  Allegan  had  been  taken  from 
the  ninth  judicial  circuit  and  placed  with  Ottawa  county,  form- 
ing a  new  circuit  and  leaving  the  ninth  composed  of  Kalamazoo 
and  Van  Buren.  Both  these  counties  were  strongly  Republican, 
but  owing  to  a  difficulty  between  the  two  counties  as  to  which 
should  furnish  the  Republican  candidates,  two  Republicans  were 
nominated — Judge  Geo.  W.  Lawton  of  Van  Buren,  and  Hon. 
Dwight  May  of  Kalamazoo.  This  so  divided  the  Republican 
strength  that  Hon.  Josiah  L.  Hawes  of  Kalamazoo,  the  Demo- 
cratic candidate,  won  an  easy  victory.  However,  the  people  lost 
nothing  by  this,  as  Judge  Hawes  was  a  competent,  able  and  up- 
right judge.  He  served  his  full  term  of  six  years  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Hon.  Alfred  J.  Mills  of  Paw  Paw,  the  second  Van 
Buren  county  man  to  be  honored  by  a  seat  on  the  judicial  bench 
of  the  circuit  court, 

Judge  Mills  was  elected  in  the  spring  of  1881  by  the  closest 
vote  ever  cast  in  the  circuit  and  it  was  not  until  the  official  count 
from  every  voting  precinct  had  been  received  that  the  result  was 
known.  The  manner  in  which  he  discharged  the  duties  of  his 
important  office  fully  justified  the  choice  of  the  voters,  as  he  was 
one  of  the  most  efficient  judges  that  ever  served  the  county. 

Hon.  George  M.  Buck,  of  Kalamazoo,  was  elected  in  the  spring 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  165 

of  1887  as  the  successor  of  Judge  Mills.  The  people  of  the  cir- 
cuit showed  their  appreciation  of  the  manner  in  which  he  ad- 
ministered his  office,  reelecting  him  to  a  second  six-year  term  in 
the  spring  of  1893. 

Thirty-Sixth  Circuit  Created 

Judge  Buck  served  the  people  of  Van  Buren  county  for  a  little 
more  than  five  years  of  his  second  term,  when  a  new  judicial  cir- 
cuit was  formed  by  detaching  the  county  from  the  ninth  circuit 
and  uniting  it  with  Cass  county,  thus  forming  a  new  circuit,  the 
thirty-sixth,  which  is  still  unchanged.  There  being  no  judge 
resident  within  the  boundaries  of  either  county  of  the  new  cir- 
cuit, Hon.  Hazen  S.  Pingree,  then  governor  of  Michigan,  appointed 
Hon.  Harsen  D.  Smith  of  Cassopolis,  to  the  judgeship  until  such 
time  as  the  position  should  be  filled  by  election. 

At  the  first  election  held  in  the  new  circuit  on  the  first  Monday 
of  April,  1899,  the  rival  candidates  for  the  office  were  Hon.  Ben- 
jamin F.  Heckert  of  Van  Buren  county  and  Hon.  John  R.  Carr 
of  Cass,  the  former  being  a  Republican  and  the  latter  a  member 
of  the  Democratic  party.  Judge  Carr  was  chosen,  served  for  the  full 
term  of  six  years  and  was  a  prominent  candidate  for  another  term, 
his  opponent  being  Hon.  L.  Burget  Des  Yoignes,  of  Cass  county, 
who  was  elected  to  the  office  at  the  April  election  of  1905  and  is 
now  serving  the  last  year  of  the  term.  That  the  people  are  well 
satisfied  with  his  administration  of  justice  is  evinced  by  the  fact 
that  at  the  April  election  of  1911  he  was  chosen  for  a  second 
term  by  a  nearly  unanimous  vote,  his  only  opponent  being  the 
candidate  of  the  Socialists. 

No  county  in  the  state,  perhaps,  has  been  represented  on  the  ju- 
dicial bench  by  a  more  able,  upright  and  learned  judiciary  than 
has  our  own  Van  Buren.  Those  who  still  survive  are  Judges  Mills, 
Buck,  Carr  and  Des  Voignes. 

Probate  Judges 

The  several  probate  judges  of  Van  Buren  county  have  been  as 
follows : 
Jeremiah    Simmons,  two  terms,  1837  to  1844. 
Frederick   Lord,        one  term,     1844   "   1848. 
Elisha  Durkee,  two  terms,  1848    "  1856.  * 

Augustus  W.  Nash,  two  terms,  1856  "  1864. 
Chandler  Richards,  one  term,  1864  "  1868. 
George  "W.  Lawton,  two  terms,  1868  "  1876. 
Alfred  J.  Mills,  one  term,  1876  "  1880. 
Orrin   N.    Hilton,     two  terms,  1880    "  1888. 


166 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


Benj.  F.  Heckert,     two  terms,  1888    "  1896. 

James  H.  Johnson,  two  terms,  1896    "   1904. 

David  Anderson,       two  terms,  1904    "  . 

Judge  Anderson  is  still  serving  on  his  second  term  which  will 
expire  on  the  31st  day  of  December,  1912.  Judges  Mills,  Hilton, 
Johnson  and  Anderson,  are  the  only  ones  living. 


Van  Buren  County  Bar 

The  bar  of  the  county,  for  the  first  twenty  years  after  the  ad- 
mission of  the  state  and  prior  to  1860,  consisted  of  the  following 
named  gentlemen,  as  nearly  as  can  now  be  ascertained  from  the 
records  of  the  court,  which,  for  those  earlier  years,  is  somewhat  in- 
complete: John  R.  Baker,  A.  W.  Broughton,  S.  H.  Blackman,  Na- 
than H.  Bitely,  Hiram  Cole,  Elisha  Durkee,  S.  N.  Gantt,  J.  W. 
Huston,  Frederick  Lord,  Joseph  Miller,  Chandler  Richards,  T.  H. 
Stephenson,  J.  B.  Upton,  William  N.  Pardee.  None  of  these  gen- 
tlemen is  now  living. 

Since  1860,  the  following  named  attorneys  have  been  members 
of  the  bar  of  the  county.  Those  marked  by  a  star  are  still  mem- 
bers and  those  marked  (d)  are  deceased. 


E.  R,  Annable  (d) 
David  Anderson* 
Horace  H.  Adams* 
Isaac  E.  Barnum  (d) 
W.  Scott  Beebe 
Win.  C.  Buchanan 
Geo.  E.  Breck  (d) 
John  I.  Breck 

Wm.  J.  Barnard* 
AV.  G.  Bessey 
Earl  L.  Burhans* 

C.  W.  Benton* 

D.  E.  Comstock  (d) 
Edgar  A.  Crane  (d) 
Calvin  Cross  (d) 
Jerome  Coleman  (d) 

F.  C.  Cogshall* 
J.  E.  Chandler* 
Hiram  T.  Cook* 

A.  H.  Chandler* 
Wm.  N.  Cook  (d) 
T.  J.  Cavanaugh* 
R.  M.  Chase 

B.  H.  Cockett 


B.  F.  Chase* 
Thos.  Dorgan 
Andrew  Donovan 
David  Dillon 
Cenius  H.  Engle* 
G.  M.  Eggleston 
Newton  Foster  (d) 
Oscar  Field  (d) 
Chas.  L.  Fitch 
A.  Lynn  Free* 
D.  F.  Glidden 
Oliver  A.  Goss  (d) 
Ashbel  H.  Herron  (d) 
T.  E.  Hendrick  (d) 
Orrin  N.  Hilton 
Samuel  Holmes  (d) 
Chas.  A.  Harrison 
Harry  M.  Huff  (d) 
Benj.  F.  Heckert  (d) 
Austin  Herrick 
W.  W.   Holmes* 
Jas.  H.  Johnson* 
Albert  Jackson 
John  Knowles 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


167 


Geo.  W.  Lawton  (d) 
Geo.  L.  Linder 
O.  C.  Lathrop 
H.  M.  Lillie 
Suaby  Lawton 
L.  J.  Lewis* 
Eugene  W.  Lawton 
Melancthon  Millard 
Wra.  H.  Mason* 
Arthur  L.  Moulton* 
W.  S.  MeKinney 
Geo.  W.  Merriman* 
Harry  L.  McNeil* 
Chas.  J.  Monroe* 
S.  B.  Monroe* 
Alfred  J.  Mills 
J.  G.  Parkhurst  (d) 
L.  Myrl  Phelps* 
Oran  W.  Rowland* 


Chas.  Shier 
John  J.  Sherman 
J.  C.  Spencer  (d) 
F.  W.  Smith 
Arthur  Stevens 
Jos.  L.  Sturr* 
Win.  H.  Tucker  (d) 
Lincoln  H.  Titus 
Lester  A.  Tabor  (d) 
W.  P.  Traphagen 
Albert  H.  Tuttle* 
W.  E.  Thresher 
A.  P.  Thomas  (d) 
C.  M.  Van  Riper* 
Guy  J.  Wicksall  (d) 
J.  J.  Wilder 
Thos.  0.  Ward  (d) 
F.  E.  Withey 
Glenn  E.  Warner* 


The  foregoing  list  presents  an  array  of  legal  talent  that  would 
compare  favorably  with  any  county  in  the  state. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

POLITICS  OF  THE  COUNTY 

General  Elections — The  Parties  in  the  County — County 
Officers — Members  of  the  State  Legislature — Chairmen 
of  the  Board  of  Supervisors — Other  Important  Officials 
from  Van  Buren  County — Constitutional  Conventions — 
Proposed  Constitutional  Amendments — Van  Buren  County 
and  the  Liquor  Traffic. 

In  the  earlier  years  of  the  history  of  Van  Buren  county,  and 
prior  to  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in  1854,  under 
the  historic  oaks  in  the  city  of  Jackson,  Michigan,  the  political 
parties,  Democratic  and  Whig,  were  rather  evenly  divided,  the 
Democrats  being  slightly  in  the  lead  and  gaining  on  their  oppo- 
nents as  the  population  of  the  county  increased.  Since  that  event 
the  county  has  invariably  cast  its  vote  in  favor  of  the  Republican 
candidates.  So  strongly  intrenched  has  been  that  party  that,  with 
only  two  exceptions,  no  county  official  has  been  chosen  from  any 
other  organization,  and  it  long  ago  passed  into  an  axiom  that  a 
nomination  on  the  Republican  ticket  in  Van  Buren  county  was 
equivalent  to  an  election. 

General  Elections 

It  will,  perhaps,  be  a  matter  of  interest  to  note  the  total  vote 
cast  at  each  general  election,  a  fair  indication  of  the  growth  of 
the  county. 

1837  90  1847 868 

1838  256  1848 979 

1839  320  1849 897 

1840 433  1850 954 

1841  402  1851 716 

1842 438  1852 1476 

1843 454  1854  1542 

1844 669  1856 2776 

1845  569  1858  2744 

1846 814  1860 3478 

168 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY       169 

1862 3151  1886  7170 

1864 3640  1888 8247 

1866  3880  1890 6245 

1868  5930  1892 7045 

1870 4501  1894 5859 

1872 5654  1896  8724 

1874 4832  1898 7067 

1876 7155  1900 8443 

1878  6253  1902 6241 

1880 7287  1904 7246 

1882 6627  1906  4519 

1884 7609  1908 7228 

1910 4626 

The  Parties  in  the  County 

Prior  to  the  adoption  of  the  constitution  of  1850,  there  was  an 
annual  general  election  held  in  November;  subsequently  the  elec- 
tions were  biennial.  The  principal  partisan  political  contests  in 
the  county  since  1854  have  been  between  the  Republicans  and  the 
Democrats,  with  the  former  constantly  in  the  ascendency,  but  it 
has  not  always  been  a  majority  party.  At  two  general  elections, 
1878  and  1890,  the  candidates  of  the  Republicans  had  only  a  plur- 
ality of  the  votes  cast,  not  a  majority.  This  was  occasioned  by  the 
great  political  upheaval  over  the  whole  country  over  the  currency 
question,  greenbackism  and  free  silver.  In  1876  and  1878  the 
Greenback  party  was  at  its  zenith  and  in  the  latter  year  actually 
became  the  second  party  in  the  county  in  point  of  numbers,  polling 
double  the  number  of  votes  that  were  cast  for  the  Democratic  can- 
didates. 

In  1890  the  Republican  party  again  cast  only  a  minority  of  the 
entire  vote,  its  candidates  being  elected,  but  only  by  a  plurality.  A 
new  organization,  under  the  name  of  the  Industrial  party,  appeared 
on  the  scene  of  action  and  polled  nearly  a  thousand  votes  in  the 
county. 

The  Prohibition  party  made  its  appearance  as  a  political  factor 
in  1882,  polling  about  a  hundred  votes.  In  1890  this  party  cast 
542  votes,  since  which  date  its  vote  has  been  gradually  decreasing 
until  at  the  last  general  election,  in  1910,  it  was  less  than  one  hun- 
dred. 

The  Democratic  People 's  Union  Silver  party  as  a  successor  of  the 
Greenback  party,  became  an  important  factor  in  the  politics  of  the 
county,  and  in  1896  polled  3,976  presidential  votes,  reducing  the 
regular  Democratic  vote  to  less  than  100,  and  practically  supplant- 


170  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

ing  that  party  for  the  time  being,  but  the  course  of  events  has  again 
narrowed  the  contest  to  a  fight  between  the  former  political  foes, 
Republicans  and  Democrats,  although  there  have  been  a  number  of 
other  political  organizations  seeking  the  support  and  the  votes  of 
the  people.  Besides  the  parties  already  mentioned  there  are  now, 
or  have  heretofore  been,  the  Socialist  party,  Peoples'  party,  Na- 
tional party,  Social  Democrat  party,  Independent  party  and  the  So- 
cial Labor  party,  but  none  of  these  has,  as  yet,  attained  sufficient 
prominence  to  exercise  any  appreciable  influence  on  the  political 
situation  in  Van  Buren  county. 

Presidential  Vote  in  the  County 

1840— Harrison,  Whig,  182;  Van  Buren,  Democrat,  251. 

1844— Clay,  Whig,  275;  Polk,  Democrat,  350. 

1848— Taylor,  Whig,  353 ;  Cass,  Democrat,  508. 

1852— Scott,  Whig,  683;  Pierce,  Democrat,  771. 

1856 — Fremont,  Republican,  1710;  Buchanan,  Democrat,  1031. 

1860 — Lincoln,  Republican,  2175;  Douglas,  Democrat,  1274;  Bell 
Const.  Union,  26. 

1864 — Lincoln,  Republican,  1985;  McClellan,  Democrat,  1400  (a). 

1868— Grant,  Republican,  3662;  Seymour,  Democrat,  2256  (b). 

1872 — Grant,  Republican,  3549;  Greeley,  Liberal  Democrat, 
1805;  O'Connor,  straight  Democrat,  162. 

1876 — Hayes,  Republican,  4046 ;  Tilden,  Democrat,  2599 ;  Cooper, 
G.  B.,  509;  Smith,  Prohibition,  2. 

1880 — Garfield,  Republican,  4131;  Hancock,  Democrat,  2004; 
Weaver,  Greenback,  1062;  Dow,  Prohibition,  10. 

1884— Blaine,  Republican,  4219 ;  Cleveland,  Democrat,  2933 ;  But- 
ler, Greenback,  845 ;  St.  John,  Prohibition,  361. 

1888 — Harrison,  Republican,  4783;  Cleveland,  Democrat,  2986; 
Streeter,  Union  Labor,  13;  Fisk,  Prohibition,  458. 

1892— Harrison,  Republican,  3788;  Cleveland,  Democrat,  2182; 
Weaver,  People's,  635;  Bidwell,  Prohibition,  403. 

1896 — McKinley,  Republican,  4510;  Bryan,  Silver  Democrat, 
3982 ;  Palmer,  Gold  Democrat,  93 ;  Bentley,  National,  24 ;  Levering, 
Prohibition,  73. 

1900— McKinley,  Republican,  4892;  Bryan,  Democrat,  3235; 
Debs,  Social  Democrat,  21;  Wooley,  Prohibition,  151;  Maloney, 
Social  Labor,  30;  Barker,  People's,  2. 

(a)  Exclusive  of  Soldiers'  vote  in  the  field. 

(b)  The  rote  of  Van  Buren  county  for  this  year,  1868,  was  not  included 
in  the  official  canvass  of  the  state  for  the  reason  that  it  was  not  returned  to 
the  state  canvassing  board  within  the  time  required  by  law. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  171 

1904 — Roosevelt,  Republican,  5254;  Parker,  Democrat,  1634; 
Debs,  Socialist,  71;  Swallow,  Prohibition,  217;  Watson,  People's 
Party,  45 ;  Corrigan,  Social  Labor,  9. 

1908— Taft,  Republican,  4531;  Bryan,  Democrat,  2313;  Debs, 
Socialist,  124 ;  Chafin,  Prohibition,  193 ;  Gilhaus,  Social  Labor,  13 ; 
Hisgen,  Independent,  36. 

County  Officers 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  principal  county  officials  chosen  by 
the  electors  of  the  county  since  its  organization. 

Associate  judges  of  the  Circuit  Court:  1837,  Wolcott  H.  Keeler 
and  Jay  R.  Monroe ;  1840,  Evert  B.  Dyckman  and  John  R.  Haynes ; 
1842,  Henry  Coleman;  1844,  Wolcott  H.  Keeler  and  Daniel  Van 
Antwerp. 

County  Judges :  1846,  Aaron  W.  Broughton,  first  judge,  John  R. 
Haynes,  second  judge;  1847,  Frederick  Lord,  second  judge;  1850, 
Jason  A.  Sheldon,  first  judge,  and  Lyman  G.  Hill,  second  judge. 

County  Commissioners — Under  the  territorial  laws  of  Michigan 
a  board  of  three  county  commissioners  was  appointed  by  the  gover- 
nor of  the  territory  whose  duty  it  was  to  have  charge  of  the  finan- 
cial concerns  of  their  respective  counties.  This  system  was  con- 
tinued after  the  admission  of  Michigan  as  a  state  until  the  duties 
of  such  board  were  conferred  upon  the  board  of  supervisors  and 
the  office  of  county  commissioner  was  abolished  by  statute.  After 
the  state  was  admitted  this  office  became  elective  instead  of  ap- 
pointive, and  the  following  named  persons  were  chosen  as  commis- 
sioners by  the  electors  of  the  county:  1838,  Wolcott  H.  Keeler, 
Peter  Gremps  and  Morgan  L.  Fitch;  1839,  Jay  R.  Monroe;  1840, 
Andrew  Longstreet;  1841,  Lyman  G.  Hill. 

Probate  judges :  1837,  Jeremiah  H.  Simmons ;  1840,  Jeremiah  H. 
Simmons ;  1844,  Frederick  Lord ;  1848,  Elisha  Durkee ;  1852.  Elisha 
Durkee;  1856,  Augustus  W.  Nash;  1860,  Augustus  W.  Nash;  1864, 
Chandler  Richards;  1868,  George  W.  Lawton;  1872,  George  W. 
Lawton;  1876,  Alfred  J.  Mills;  1880,  Orrin  N.  Hilton;  1884,  Orrin 
N.  Hilton;  1888,  Benjamin  F.  Heckert;  1892,  Benjamin  F.  Heck- 
ert;  1896,  James  H.  Johnson;  1900,  James  H.  Johnson;  1904  and 
1908,  David  Anderson.  Of  the  before  named  probate  judges 
Messrs.  Mills,  Hilton,  Johnson  and  Anderson  are  living. 

Sheriffs:  1837,  Samuel  Gunton,  resigned;  1837,  Andrew  Long- 
street  (to  fill  vacancy)  ;  1838,  Andrew  Longstreet;  1840,  John  Mc- 
Kinney;  1842,  William  Hill;  1844,  John  Smolk,  Jr.;  1846,  William 
Hill;  1848,  Henry  C.  Clapp;  1850,  William  Hill;  1852,  Henry  C. 
Clapp;  1854,  William  Hill;  1856,  Noble  D.  Richardson;  1858,  John 
H.  Stoddard;  1860,  Calvin  Durkee;  1862,  Calvin  Durkee;  1864, 
Noble  D.  Richardson;  1866,  Edwin  R.  Farmer;  1868,  William  R. 


172  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Sirrine ;  1870,  William  R.  Sirrine ;  1872,  John  E.  Showerman ;  1874, 
John  E.  Showerman;  1876,  Nathan  Thomas;  1878,  Nathan  Thomas; 
1880,  Aaron  Van  Auken ;  1882,  Aaron  Van  Auken ;  1884,  John  G. 
Todd ;  1886,  John  G.  Todd ;  1888,  Hulett  P.  McFarlin ;  1890,  Na- 
than Thomas ;  1892,  Nathan  Thomas ;  1894,  Charles  A.  Lamberson ; 
1896,  Charles  A.  Lamberson;  1898,  Wesley  J.  Thomas;  1900,  Wes- 
ley J.  Thomas;  1902,  John  H.  Britton;  1904,  John  H.  Britton; 
1906,  Charles  C.  Chappell;  1908,  Charles  C.  Chappell,  and  1910, 
Byron  L.  Sowle,  the  present  incumbent.  Of  the  before  named  gen- 
tlemen Messrs.  Sirrine,  Nathan  Thomas,  Van  Auken,  Todd,  Lam- 
berson, Wesley  J.  Thomas,  Britton,  Chappell  and  Sowle  are  living. 

County  clerks:  1837,  Nathan  B.  Starkweather;  1838,  Edward 
Shultz;  1840,  Jeremiah  H.  Simmons;  1842,  Joseph  Gilman;  1844, 
James  B.  Crane ;  1846,  Lyman  Fitch ;  1848,  S.  Tallmadge  Conway ; 
1850,  S.  Tallmadge  Conway;  1852,  Franklin  M.  Manning;  1854, 
Stillman  F.  Breed;  1856,  Stillman  F.  Breed;  1858,  S.  Tallmadge 
Conway;  1860,  Martin  Ruggles;  1862,  Martin  Ruggles,  resigned; 
1864,  Ashbel  H.  Herron,  to  fill  vacancy;  1864,  Ashbel  H.  Herron; 
1866,  Ashbel  H.  Herron;  1868,  Oran  W.  Rowland;  1870,  Oran  W. 
Rowland;  1872,  Samuel  Holmes;  1874,  Samuel  Holmes;  1876, 
Henry  S.  Williams;  1878,  Henry  S.  Williams;  1880,  Charles  E. 
Heath;  1882,  Charles  E.  Heath;  1884,  George  W.  Myers;  1886, 
George  W.  Myers;  1888,  A.  Throop  Anderson;  1890,  A.  Throop  An- 
derson; 1892,  Harley  E.  Squier;  1894,  Harley  E.  Squier;  1896,  Jo- 
seph S.  Buck;  1898,  Joseph  S.  Buck;  1900,  Frank  N.  Wakeman; 
1902,  Frank  N.  Wakeman;  1904,  William  C.  Mosier;  1906,  William 
C.  Mosier;  1908,  William  C.  Mosier;  1910,  Harry  A.  Cross,  the  pres- 
ent incumbent.  Of  the  aforesaid  county  clerks,  Messrs.  Rowland, 
Myers,  Anderson,  Squier,  Buck,  Wakeman,  Mosier  and  Cross,  at  this 
date  are  living. 

Registers  of  deeds :  1837,  Jeremiah  H.  Simmons ;  1838,  Jeremiah 
H.  Simmons;  1840,  Fitz  H.  Stevens;  1842,  Fitz  H.  Stevens;  1844, 
Emory  O.  Briggs ;  1846,  Elisha  C.  Cox ;  1847,  John  Smolk,  Jr.,  va- 
cancy ;  1848,  Joseph  Cox,  Jr. ;  1850,  William  H.  Hurlbut ;  1852,  Eu- 
sebius  Mather ;  1854,  Edwin  A.  Thompson ;  1856,  Samuel  H.  Black- 
man  ;  1858,  Thomas  B.  Irwin ;  1860,  Thomas  B.  Irwin ;  1862,  Steph- 
en W.  Duncombe ;  1864,  Stephen  W.  Duncombe ;  1866,  E.  Parker 
Hill;  1868,  Don  C.  Rogers;  1870,  Milan  U.  Richardson;  1872,  Kirk 
W.  Noyes;  1874,  Kirk  W.  Noyes;  1876,  Samuel  Ellis;  1878,  Samuel 
Ellis;  1880,  Samuel  Ellis;  1882,  Samuel  P.  Wilson;  1884,  Samuel  P. 
Wilson ;  1886,  Joel  D.  Monroe ;  1888,  Joel  D.  Monroe ;  1890,  Thomas 
C.  Tyner;  1892,  Thomas  C.  Tyner;  1894,  Thomas  M.  Harvey;  1896, 
Thomas  M.  Harvey ;  1898,  John  F.  Taylor ;  1900,  John  F.  Taylor ; 
1902,  Milton  L.  Decker;  1904,  Milton  L.  Decker;  1906,  John  Mutch- 
ler;  1908,  John  Mutchler;  1910,  Henry  E.  Shaefer,  the  present  in- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  173 

cumbent.  Of  the  above  named  gentlemen  Messrs.  Noyes,  Tyner, 
Decker,  Mutchler  and  Shaefer  are  in  the  land  of  the  living. 

County  treasurers :  1837,  Daniel  0.  Dodge ;  1838,  Joshua  Bangs ; 
1840,  Frederick  Lord ;  1842,  John  McKinney ;  1844,  John  McKin- 
ney;  1846,  Theodore  E.  Phelps;  1848,  Emory  0.  Briggs;  1850,  Em- 
ory 0.  Briggs;  1852,  Emory  0.  Briggs;  1854,  Alexander  H.  Phelps; 
1856,  John  M.  Ridlon ;  1858,  John  M.  Ridlon ;  1860,  Aaron  S.  Dyck- 
man ;  1862,  Aaron  S.  Dyckman ;  1864,  Samuel  H.  Blackman ;  1866, 
Edwin  Barnum ;  1868,  Edwin  Barnum ;  1870,  Edwin  Barnum ;  1872, 
Stephen  W.  Duncombe;  1874,  Stephen  W.  Duncombe;  1876,  Han- 
nibal M.  Marshall,  resigned;  1878,  Stephen  W.  Duncombe;  1880, 
Samuel  H.  Blackman;  1882,  John  C.  McLain;  1884,  John  C.  Mc- 
Lain;  1886,  Charles  H.  Butler;  1888,  Charles  H.  Butler;  1890,  Hi- 
ram K.  Wells;  1892,  Hiram  K.  Wells;  1894,  Gilbert  Mitchell;  1896, 
Gilbert  Mitchell ;  1898,  John  Marshall ;  1900,  John  Marshall ;  1902, 
Daniel  M.  Allen ;  1904,  Daniel  M.  Allen ;  1906,  Frank  H.  Fuller ; 
1908,  Frank  H.  Fuller;  1910,  Warner  M.  Stoughton,  the  present 
incumbent.  Of  the  above  named  gentlemen  the  following  are  yet 
living:  Ridlon  (aged  93  years),  H.  M.  Marshall,  McLain,  John  Mar- 
shall, Allen,  Fuller  and  Stoughton. 

Prosecuting  attorneys :  *1850,  Frederick  Lord ;  1852,  William  N. 
Pardee;  1854,  Frederick  Lord;  1856,  Nathan  H.  Bitely;  1858, 
Chandler  Richards;  1860,  Chandler  Richards;  1862,  Hiram  Cole; 
1864,  Hiram  Cole;  1866,  John  B.  Upton;  1868,  John  B.  Upton; 
1870,  John  B.  Upton;  1872,  Darius  E.  Comstock;  1874,  Benjamin  F. 
Heckert ;  1876,  Benjamin  F.  Heckert ;  1878,  Benjamin  F.  Heckert ; 
1880,  Oran  W.  Rowland;  1882,  Alonzo  H.  Chandler;  1884,  Alonzo 
H.  Chandler;  1886,  Alonzo  H.  Chandler;  1888,  John  I.  Breck;  1890, 
Oliver  A.  Goss  (died  in  office)  ;  1891,  Edward  R.  Annable  (ap- 
pointed to  fill  vacancy)  ;  1892,  Lincoln  H.  Titus;  1894,  Lincoln  H. 
Titus;  1896,  James  E.  Chandler;  1898,  James  E.  Chandler;  1900, 
David  Anderson ;  1902,  David  Anderson ;  1904,  Russell  M.  Chase ; 
1906,  Russell  M.  Chase;  1908,  Glenn  E.  Warner;  1910,  Glenn  E. 
Warner,  the  present  incumbent.  Eight  of  the  above  named  gentle- 
men are  living — Messrs.  Rowland,  A.  H.  Chandler,  Breck,  Titus,  J. 
E.  Chandler,  Anderson,  Chase  and  Warner. 

Circuit  Court  Commissioners:  1852,  John  R.  Baker;  1854,  Nathan 
H.  Bitely;  1856,  Nathan  H.  Bitely;  1858,  Samuel  H.  Blackman; 
1860,  Hiram  Cole;  1862,  John  B.  Upton;  1864,  Joseph  W.  Huston; 
1866,  George  W.  Lawton ;  1868,  Ashbel  H.  Herron ;  1870,  William 
H.  Tucker  and  John  Knowles ;  1872,  Benjamin  F.  Heckert  and  John 
J.  Sherman ;  1874,  Oran  W.  Rowland  and  John  J.  Sherman ;  1876, 

*This  office  did  not  become  elective  until  the  adoption  of  the  constitution 
of  1850. 


174  HISTOEY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Albert  Jackson  and  James  Manry ;  1878,  John  Knowles  and  John  J. 
Sherman;  1880,  James  H.  Johnson  and  John  J.  Sherman;  1882, 
James  H.  Johnson  and  John  J.  Sherman ;  1884,  Arthur  L.  Moulton 
and  Samuel  Holmes ;  1886,  John  I.  Breck  and  Samuel  Holmes ;  1888, 
Oran  W.  Rowland  and  John  I.  Beck;  1890,  James  E.  Chandler  and 
Lincoln  H.  Titus;  1892,  James  E.  Chandler  and  Stephen  B.  Mon- 
roe ;  1894,  Oran  W.  Rowland  and  Stephen  B.  Monroe ;  1896,  Guy  J. 
Wicksall  and  Oran  W.  Rowland ;  1898,  David  Anderson  and  Guy  J. 
Wicksall ;  1900,  Oran  W.  Rowland  and  Russell  M.  Chase ;  1902,  Fred 
C.  Cogshall  and  Oran  W.  Rowland;  1904,  Fred  C.  Cogshall  and 
Oran  W.  Rowland ;  1906,  Fred  C.  Cogshall  and  Oran  W.  Rowland ; 
1908,  L.  Myrl  Phelps  and  Oran  W.  Rowland ;  1910,  L.  Myrl  Phelps 
and  Oran  W.  Rowland,  the  present  incumbents.  Of  the  gentlemen 
who  have  filled  this  office  Messrs.  Knowles,  Rowland,  Johnson,  Moul- 
ton, Breck,  Chandler,  Titus,  Monroe,  Anderson,  Chase,  Cogshall  and 
Phelps  are  still  living. 

The  revised  Statutes  of  1846  provided  for  the  appointment  of  a 
circuit  court  commissioner  in  each  organized  county  of  the  state, 
and  in  1852,  the  office,  by  provision  of  law,  became  elective.  Each 
circuit  court  commissioner  is  vested  with  judicial  powers,  not  ex- 
ceeding the  power  of  a  circuit  judge  at  chambers.  No  person  but 
an  attorney  of  the  supreme  court  of  the  state  is  eligible  to  this  of- 
fice. Since  1868  the  county,  by  virtue  of  the  statute,  has  been  en- 
titled to  two  circuit  court  commissioners. 

County  Surveyors:  1835,  Humphrey  P.  Barnum;  1838,  John  D. 
Compton ;  1840,  Eleazer  Keeler ;  1842,  Alonzo  Crane ;  1844,  Samuel 
H.  Blackman ;  1846,  Samuel  H.  Blackman ;  1848,  Jeremiah  H.  Sim- 
mons; 1850,  Jeremiah  H.  Simmons;  1852,  Jeremiah  H.  Simmons; 
1854,  William  H.  Harrison ;  1856,  Samuel  A.  Tripp ;  1858,  Samuel 
A.  Tripp;  1860,  Orville  S.  Abbott;  1862,  Peter  J.  Speicher;  1864, 
Charles  J.  Monroe;  1866,  Charles  D.  Lawton;  1868,  Almon  J. 
Pierce;  1870,  Almon  J.  Pierce;  1872,  Augustus  J.  Teed;  1874,  Al- 
mon J.  Pierce;  1876,  Almon  J.  Pierce;  1878,  Almon  J.  Pierce; 
1880,  Charles  D.  Lawton;  1882,  Albert  Fosdiek;  1884,  Albert  Fos- 
dick;  1886,  Albert  Fosdiek;  1888,  Albert  Fosdiek;  1892,  F.  Percy 
Lawton;  1894,  F.  Percy  Lawton;  1896,  George  Mutchler;  1898, 
George  Mutchler;  1900,  George  Mutchler;  1902,  Warren  Goss: 
1904,  Warren  Goss;  1906,  Warren  Goss;  1908  and  1910,  Whit- 
field V.  Ackley,  the  present  incumbent.  There  are  living  of  the 
aforesaid  gentlemen  Messrs.  Monroe,  Pierce,  F.  Percy  Lawton, 
Mutchler,  Goss  and  Ackley.  Fosdiek  was  murdered  and  his  slayer 
was  never  brought  to  justice. 

County  Commissioners  of  Schools:  1893,  John  A.  O'Leary; 
1895,  John  A.  O'Leary;  1897,  Wells  G.  Brown;  1899,  Wells  G. 


HISTOEY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  175 

Brown ;  1901,  Elmer  A.  Aseltine ;  1903,  Elmer  A.  Aseltine ;  1907 
and  1911,  Volney  A.  Hungerford,  the  present  incumbent. 

The  office  of  school  commissioner  was  made  elective  by  statute 
in  1893.  By  legislative  enactment  in  1895,  the  term  of  this  of- 
fice was  extended  to  four  years. 

Members  of  the  State  Legislature 

Representatives:  Henry  Coleman,  Fernando  C.  Annable,  John 
Andrews,  Philotus  Haydon,  Josiah  Andrews,  John  McKinney, 
Amos  S.  Brown,  Morgan  L.  Fitch,  Charles  P.  Sheldon,  Joseph  Gil- 
man,  Elisha  J.  House,  Fabius  Miles,  Jonathan  J.  Woodman 
(speaker),  Buell  M.  Williams,  William  H.  Hurlbut,  Samuel  H. 
Blackman,  Alexander  B.  Copley,  Emery  H.  Simpson,  William 
Thomas,  James  E.  Ferguson,  E.  Parker  Hill,  George  G.  B.  Yeek- 
ley,  Harvey  H.  Howard,  Robert  L.  Warren,  John  S.  Cross,  Jona- 
than G.  Parkhurst,  Milan  Wiggins,  Charles  S.  Eaton,  Edwin  A. 
Wildey,  Charles  C.  Phillips,  C.  Spencer  Adams,  Nathan  F.  Simp- 
son, Benjamin  F.  Heckert  (died  in  office). 

Senators:  Philotus  Hayden,  John  McKinney,  Fitz  H.  Stevens, 
Lyman  A.  Fitch,  Samuel  H.  Blackman,  Nathan  H.  Bitely,  George 
Hannahs,  David  Anderson,  Albert  Thompson,  William  0.  Packard, 
Henry  Ford,  Charles  J.  Monroe,  George  W.  Merriman,  Jason  Wood- 
man and  Milan  Wiggins,  the  present  incumbent. 

The  constitution  of  1835  provided  that  the  state  should  be  di- 
vided into  not  less  than  four  nor  more  than  eight  senatorial  dis- 
tricts. In  1838,  the  legislature  placed  Yan  Buren  county  in  the 
seventh  senatorial  district,  together  with  the  counties  of  St.  Jo- 
seph, Berrien  and  Cass,  and  assigned  two  senators  to  the  dis- 
trict,    (Laws  of  Michigan,  1838,  pp.  169-170.) 

In  1841  a  new  apportionment  was  made,  Van  Buren  being 
placed  in  the  fifth  district,  along  with  the  counties  of  St.  Joseph, 
Cass,  Berrien,  Kalamazoo,  Allegan,  Barry,  Ottawa,  Oceana,  Kent, 
Ionia  and  such  other  counties  as  wrere  attached  to  the  counties  of 
Kent,  Ionia  and  Ottawa,  and  three  senators  were  assigned  to  the 
new  district.     (Laws  of  Michigan,  1841,  p.  147.) 

The  constitution  of  1850  provided  that  the  state  should  be  di- 
vided into  thirty-two  senatorial  districts,  one  senator  to  be  chosen 
from  each  district.  The  state  was  reapportioned  in  1851,  Van 
Buren  and  Allegan  being  constituted  the  twenty-ninth  district. 
(Laws  of  Michigan,  1851,  p.  304.) 

The  county  remained  districted  with  Allegan  county  until  1871 
when  it  became  a  district  by  itself  and  so  remained  until  1881, 
when  it  was  again  districted  with  Allegan  county  where  it  has 


176  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

remained  until  the  present  time,  the  two  counties  forming  the 
eighth  senatorial  district. 

Prior  to  1847  Van  Buren  and  Cass  counties  constituted  a  single 
representative  district,  after  which,  and  until  1864,  the  county 
alone  constituted  a  district.  From  1864  to  1892,  two  representa- 
tives were  apportioned  to  the  county  and  it  was  divided  into  two 
separate  districts.  In  1892,  under  a  new  legislative  apportion- 
ment, it  again  became  a  single  district,  and  so  remains  at  the 
present  time.  Since  the  death  of  Representative  Heckert  the  of- 
fice has  remained  vacant. 

Chairmen  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors 

Prior  to  the  abolishment  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners 
by  the  legislature  of  1842  and  the  conferring  of  the  duties  of  that 
board  on  the  supervisors,  there  had  been  occasional  and  irregular 
meetings,  but  the  only  organization  of  such  body  was  by  select- 
ing one  of  their  number  to  act  as  clerk  for  the  time  being.  The 
statute  of  1842  prescribed  the  dates  at  which  the  meetings  of  the 
board  should  be  held  and  the  manner  of  organization  (which  was 
by  choosing  one  of  their  number  as  chairman  of  the  board),  and 
also  provided  that  the  county  clerk  should  be  clerk  of  the  board 
and  should  perform  his  duties  as  such  under  its  control  and  di- 
rection. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  several  chairmen  of  the  board  and 
the  townships  they  represented:  1842,  Benjamin  F.  Chadwick, 
Lawrence;  1843,  Philotus  Haydon,  Hamilton;  1844,  Isaac  S.  Bor- 
den, Antwerp;  1845,  John  R.  Pugsley,  La  Fayette;  1846,  Joshua 
Bangs,  Antwerp;  1847,  John  McKinney,  Porter;  1848,  Henry  Bar- 
num,  Almena;  1849,  Charles  M.  Morrill,  Pine  Grove;  1850,  Fer- 
nando C.  Annable,  Almena;  1851,  John  McKinney,  Porter;  1852, 
John  Andrews,  Lawrence;  1853,  John  Andrews,  Lawrence;  1854, 
John  McKinney,  Porter;  1855,  Philotus  Haydon,  Hamilton;  1856, 
L.  G.  Hill,  Keeler ;  1857,  Edwin  Barnum,  La  Fayette ;  1858,  Edwin 
Barnum,  La  Fayette;  1859,  Nelson  Rowe,  Lawrence;  1860,  Nelson 
Rowe,  Lawrence;  1861,  Nelson  Rowe,  Lawrence;  1862,  Nelson 
Rowe,  Lawrence;  1863,  Nelson  Rowe,  Lawrence;  1864,  E.  Parker 
Hill,  Decatur;  1865,  E.  Parker  Hill,  Decatur;  1866,  E.  Parker 
Hill,  Decatur;  1867,  Silas  Breed,  Almena;  1868,  Charles  Dun- 
combe,  Keeler;  1869,  John  B.  Potter,  Lawrence;  1870,  Kirk  "W. 
Noyes,  South  Haven;  1871,  Charles  Duncombe,  Keeler;  1872, 
George  G.  B.  Yeckley,  Hamilton;  1873,  George  G.  B.  Yeckley, 
Hamilton;  1874,  Orsimus  Williams,  Porter;  1875,  Prenett  T. 
Streator,  Waverly;  1876,  Ransom  Nutting,  Decatur;  1877,  Charles 
E.  Heath,  Bangor;  1878,  Ransom  Nutting,  Decatur;  1879,  Charles 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  177 

Rockwell,  Lawrence;  1880,  Amasa  M.  Brown,  Columbia;  1881, 
Samuel  P.  Wilson,  South  Haven;  1882,  Charles  W.  Young,  Paw 
Paw;  1883,  Warren  F.  French,  Almena;  1884,  Jefferson  D.  Har- 
ris, Arlington;  1885,  Jefferson  D.  Harris,  Arlington;  1886,  Wil- 
liam Killefer,  Bloomingdale ;  1887,  Peter  J.  Dillman,  Bangor; 
1888.  Gilbert  Mitchell,  Geneva;  1889,  William  K.  Van  Hise,  De- 
catur; 1890,  Thomas  C.  Tyner,  Lawrence;  1891,  H.  E.  Dewey, 
South  Haven;  1892,  Harlan  P.  Waters,  Antwerp;  1893,  Jacob 
Gunsaul,  Covert;  1894,  John  Marshall,  Porter;  1895,  John  C. 
McFellin,  Pine  Grove;  1896,  Adolph  Danneffel,  Keeler;  1897,  E. 
A.  Chase,  Waverly;  1898,  Varnum  H.  Dilley,  Geneva;  1899,  C. 
W.  Byers,  Hamilton;  1900,  David  A.  Squier,  Decatur;  1901,  Wil- 
liam C.  Wildey,  Paw  Paw;  1902,  George  T.  Waber,  Pine  Grove; 
1903,  John  H.  Cornish,  Porter;  1904,  Kirk  W.  Noyes,  South  Ha- 
ven; 1905,  John  C.  Kennedy,  Almena;  1906,  Jerome  C.  Warner, 
Paw  Paw;  1907,  Milan  D.  Wiggins,  Bloomingdale;  1908,  George 
J.  Danneffel,  Keeler ;  1909,  F.  G.  Cleveland,  Arlington ;  1910,  John 
McAlpine,  Hartford;  1910,  John  Gault,  Waverly*;  and  1911, 
Shepard  H.  Shattuck,  Covert. 

Other  Important  Officials  from  Van  Buren  County 

Presidential  electors:  1880,  Charles  Duncombe;  1900,  Charles 
J.  Monroe. 

Lieutenant  governor:  1907  to  1910,  Patrick  H.  Kelley. 

Secretary  of  state:  1855  to  1858,  John  McKinney. 

State  treasurer:  1859  to  1860,  John  McKinney. 

Commissioner  of  state  land  office:  1901  to  1904,  Edwin  A. 
Wildey. 

Superintendent  of  Public  instruction :  1905  to  1906,  Patrick  H. 
Kelley. 

Members  State  Board  of  Education:  1892  (six  years),  Eugene 
A.  Wilson;  1901,  Patrick  H.  Kelley  (a). 

Regent  of  University:  1898  to  1905,  Charles  D.  Lawton. 

President  pro  tern  state  senate:  1887,  Charles  J.  Monroe. 

Speakers  of  house  of  representatives:  1869  to  1872,  Jonathan  J. 

Woodman;  1867,  Jonathan  J.  Woodman  pro  tern. 

Commissioner  of  insurance:  1911,  Marion  O.  Rowland   (b). 

Commissioner  of  mineral  statistics:  1885  to  1891,  Charles  D. 
Lawton. 

*  Appointed,  vice  McAlpine,  who  died  before  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
office. 

(a)  Appointed  to  fill  vacancy;  elected  1902;  resigned  to  accept  office  of 
superintendent  of  public  instruction. 

(b)  Appointed  by  governor  to  fill  vacancy;  resigned  to  accept  presidency 
of  Detroit  National  Fire  Insurance  Company. 

Vol.  i— i  2 


178  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Adjutant  General :  1893  to  1895,  Charles  L.  Eaton. 
State  salt  inspector:  1905  to  1907,  Edwin  A.  Wildey. 
Circuit   judge,   Ninth   judicial   circuit:   1874,   Darius   E.   Corn- 
stock  (c)  ;  1882  to  1888,  Alfred  J.  Mills. 

Constitutional  Conventions 

The  first  constitution  of  Michigan  was  framed  by  a  convention 
that  convened  at  Detroit,  May  11,  1835,  and  adjourned  June  24, 
1835.  Van  Buren  county  was  not  represented  at  this  eonvention, 
The  proposed  constitution  was  ratified  by  a  vote  of  the  people  in 
October,  1835,  the  vote  being  6,299  yeas  and  1,350  nays. 

In  1836  congress  passed  the  first  act  for  the  admission  of  Michi- 
gan into  the  Union.  This  act  required  the  assent  of  the  state  to 
cutting  off  the  city  of  Toledo  and  adjacent  territory  from  the 
southern  boundary  of  the  state,  assigning  it  to  the  state  of  Ohio 
and  giving  what  is  now  the  Upper  Peninsula  of  Michigan  in  ex- 
change therefor,  and  required  the  assent  of  the  voters  of  Michi- 
gan before  the  act  of  admission  should  become  effective. 

A  convention  of  assent  met  at  Ann  Arbor,  September  26,  1836, 
and  after  remaining  in  session  four  days  rejected  the  proposed 
terms  of  admission.  Van  Buren  was  also  unrepresented  at  this 
convention. 

A  second  convention  of  assent  assembled  at  Ann  Arbor,  Decem- 
ber 14,  1836,  adjourning  the  next  day.  This  convention  ratified 
the  conditions  of  admission  proposed  by  the  act  of  congress  by 
what  appears  to  have  been  a  unanimous  vote.  Van  Buren 's  dele- 
gate to  this  convention  was  Hon.  Charles  B.  Avery  of  Paw  Paw. 

The  next  constitutional  convention  was  held  at  Lansing  from 
June  3  to  August  15,  1850.  This  convention  framed  a  new  con- 
stitution which  was  adopted  by  a  vote  of  the  people  in  November 
of  that  year  and  it  remained  in  force,  with  certain  amendments, 
as  the  supreme  law  of  the  state  until  1908.  Van  Buren  was  rep- 
resented in  this  convention  by  Hon.  Isaac  W.  Willard  of  Paw 
Paw. 

In  1867  another  constitutional  convention  was  held  at  Lansing 
from  May  15  to  August  22.  The  constitution  proposed  by  this 
convention  was  rejected  by  a  vote  of  the  people  at  the  spring  elec- 
tion of  1868.  Hon.  Samuel  H.  Blackman  of  Paw  Paw  and  Hon. 
Charles  Duncombe  of  Keeler,  were  delegates  to  this  convention 
from  Van  Buren  county. 

A  constitutional  commission  consisting  of  two  members  from 
each  congressional  district  of  the  state,  at  which  Van  Buren  was 
unrepresented,   assembled  at  Lansing,  August  27,   1873,  and  ad- 

(c)  Died  in  office. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  179 

journed  October  16,  1873.  This  commission  submitted  a  proposed 
constitution,  but  the  people  refused  to  ratify  it  when  it  came  be- 
fore them  at  the  general  election  held  in  November,  1874. 

On  the  27th  day  of  October,  1907,  another  constitutional  con- 
vention assembled  at  the  capital  city  and  remained  in  session  un- 
til the  3d  day  of  March,  1908.  Van  Buren  was  represented  in  this 
convention  by  Hon.  Benjamin  F.  Heckert  of  Paw  Paw,  and  Hon. 
Guy  J.  Wicksall  of  South  Haven,  both  of  whom  are  since  deceased. 
The  constitution  proposed  by  this  convention  was  ratified  at  the 
next  general  election  held  November  3,  1908,  by  a  vote  of  244,705 
to  130,783,  and  is  now  the  supreme  law  of  the  state. 

Proposed  Constitutional  Amendments 

A  proposed  amendment  granting  equal  suffrage  to  colored  per^; 
sons  was  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  people  in  November,  1850,  and 
rejected  by  the  following  vote:  For  12,840,  against  32,026,  Van 
Buren V  vote  on  this  proposition  was:  Yes,  183;  No,  583. 

An  amendment  providing  "that  in  time  of  war,  insurrection 
or  rebellion,  no  elector  shall  be  deprived  of  his  right  to  vote  by 
reason  of  his  service  in  the  army  or  navy  at  such  time,"  was  pro 
posed  and  adopted  in  November,  1866,  although  there  were  13,094 
Michigan  patriots  (?)  who  voted  against  the  proposition.  Van 
Buren  county  voted  as  follows:  Yes,  2,433;  No,  239.  The  sol- 
diers of  the  Civil  war,  in  1864,  had  cast  their  vote  in  the  field,  but 
such  was  not  included  in  the  official  canvass  of  the  vote  of  the 
state.  The  soldiers'  vote  of  the  state  for  president  cast  that  year 
was  as  follows:  For  Abraham  Lincoln,  9,402:  for  George  B.  Me- 
Clellan,  2,959. 

By  an  amendment  submitted  and  adopted  by  a  vote  of  the 
people  at  the  November  election  in  1869,  the  word  " white"  was 
stricken  from  section  one  of  article  seven  of  the  constitution  pre- 
scribing the  qualifications  of  electors,  thus  conferring  the  right 
of  suffrage  on  colored  citizens  under  the  same  rules  and  restric- 
tions as  upon  the  white  voters.  Van  Buren  county  voted  as  fol- 
lows on  this  amendment:  Yes,  1,810;  No,  1,522. 

The  question  of  woman  suffrage  was  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the 
people  at  the  November  election  of  1874.  This  proposition  was, 
in  effect,  to  substitute  the  word  "person"  for  the  words  "male 
inhabitant"  in  that  article  of  the  constitution  prescribing  the 
qualification  of  electors,  thus  conferring  on  the  qualified  female 
inhabitants  of  the  state  the  same  right  of  franchise  as  enjoyed  by 
men.  The  proposition  met  with  defeat  in  the  state  by  the  fol- 
lowing vote :  Yes,  40,077 ;  No,  124,034.  Van  Buren  county  voted : 
Yes,  1,166;  No,  2,987. 


180  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Van  Buren  County  and  the  Liquor  Traffic 

Van  Buren  county  occupies  an  unique  position  in  reference  to 
the  traffic  in  intoxicating  liquors,  having  constantly  and  consist- 
ently registered  its  vote  in  opposition  thereto  at  every  offered  op- 
portunity. The  first  time  the  voters  of  the  county  had  occasion 
to  express  themselves  on  this  question  at  the  ballot  box  was  in 
the  month  of  June,  1853,  at  a  special  election  called  for  the  pur- 
pose of  ascertaining  the  will  of  the  people  in  reference  to  a  pro- 
hibitory amendment  to  the  constitution  of  the  state,  which  was  at 
that  time  submitted  to  them  for  adoption  or  rejection.  The  total 
vote  of  the  county  at  that  election,  as  shown  by  the  old  records, 
was  1,112 :  Yes,  707 ;  No,  412 ;  an  affirmative  majority  of  295. 

This  same  question  of  a  prohibitory  amendment  to  the  constitu- 
tion was  submitted  to  a  vote  in  1868  and  again  Van  Buren  regis- 
tered an  affirmative  vote,  as  follows:  Prohibition  yes,  2,362;  pro- 
hibition no,  1,982 ;  a  prohibition  majority  of  380.  Both  of  the  fore- 
going proposed  amendments  met  with  defeat  at  the  hands  of  the 
voters  of  the  state. 

The  third  test  of  public  sentiment  on  this  question  was  had  in 
November,  1876.  A  law  prohibiting  the  manufacture  and  sale  of 
intoxicating  beverages  had  been  on  the  statute  books  of  the  state 
since  1855,  but  it  was  not  so  framed  and  had  not  been  so  enforced 
as  to  commend  itself  to  the  judgment  of  a  majority  of  the  electors 
of  the  state.  The  constitution  of  the  state  then  contained  the  fol 
lowing  clause :  ' '  The  legislature  shall  not  pass  any  act  authorizing 
grant  of  license  for  the  sale  of  ardent  spirits  or  other  intoxicating 
liquors/ ' 

The  question  of  striking  this  clause  from  the  constitution  was 
submitted  to  the  voters  of  the  state  at  the  general  election  held  in 
November,  1876,  the  result  being  that  the  prohibitory  provision 
was  stricken  out.  The  vote  of  Van  Buren  county  on  this  occasion 
was  as  follows:  Yes,  1,044;  No,  1,056;  a  majority  of  12  votes  in 
favor  of  the  retention  of  the  prohibitory  clause.  This  was  the 
closest  vote  ever  recorded  in  the  county  on  the  liquor  question. 

At  the  April  election  in  1887  another  prohibitory  amendment 
was  proposed  by  the  legislature  and  submitted  to  the  people,  and 
on  this  amendment  Van  Buren 's  vote  was  as  follows:  Yes,  5,111; 
No,  1,549;  a  majority  of  3,562  in  favor  of  the  proposition,  which 
failed  of  adoption  only  because  of  the  large  adverse  vote  cast  in 
the  city  of  Detroit  and  Wayne  county. 

The  legislature  of  1887  also  enacted  a  local  option  law,  the  first 
of  that  class  of  legislation  ever  attempted  in  Michigan.  Under 
the  provisions  of  this  law,  an  election  was  held  in  Van  Buren 
county  as  soon  as  practicable.     The  vote  was  as  follows:     Yes, 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  181 

3,607 ;  No,  456 ;  a  majority  of  3,251  in  favor  of  the  new  law.  Be- 
fore any  attempt  was  made  to  enforce  its  provisions  the  supreme 
court  of  the  state  declared  the  law  to  be  in  conflict  with  the  consti- 
tution, thus  making  it  null  and  void. 

Another  local  option  statute  which  avoided  the  unconstitutional 
features  of  the  law  of  1887  was  enacted  by  the  next  legislature  in 
1889.  Under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  an  election  was  held  in 
Van  Buren  county  on  the  24th  day  of  February,  1890,  which  re- 
sulted in  the  adoption  of  the  new  law  by  the  following  vote:  Yes, 
2,559;  No,  1,320;  a  prohibitory  majority  of  1,279,  every  precinct 
voting  in  favor  of  the  law. 

This  law,  by  resolution  of  the  board  of  supervisors,  became 
operative  on  the  first  day  of  May,  1890,  and  since  that  date  the 
manufacture  and  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  has  been  outlawed 
in  Van  Buren  county,  except  as  sale  is  permitted  by  druggists  and 
registered  pharmacists  for  medicinal,  mechanical,  scientific  and 
sacramental  purposes,  and  since  that  date  such  a  thing  as  an  open 
saloon  has  been  unknown  in  the  county. 

Two  years  later,  at  a  special  election  called  for  that  purpose, 
the  question  was  again  submitted  to  the  electors  of  the  county 
and  the  law  was  sustained  by  a  vote  of  2,918  to  2,450;  a  majority 
of  468  in  favor  of  the  retention  of  the  statute. 

An  unsuccessful  attempt  was  made  in  1895  and  1896  to  have 
the  question  again  tested  by  a  vote  of  the  electors  of  the  county. 
However,  in  1897,  another  vote  was  ordered  by  the  board  of  su- 
pervisors and  an  election  called  to  be  held  on  the  first  day  of  No- 
vember of  that  year.  Again  the  law  wras  sustained  by  the  follow- 
ing vote :  Yes,  4,158 ;  No,  2,613 ;  a  prohibitory  majority  of  1,545. 

Five  years  elapsed  before  the  question  was  again  submitted,  the 
board  of  supervisors,  in  response  to  petitions  presented,  ordering 
an  election  to  be  held  on  the  6th  day  of  April,  1903,  to  once  more 
test  the  sentiment  of  the  people  in  regard  to  the  retention  of  the 
law.  This  election  resulted  as  follows :  Yes,  4,476 ;  No,  3,077 ;  thus 
sustaining  the  law  by  a  majority  of  1,399. 

Again,  on  the  2d  day  of  April,  1906,  the  question  was  sub- 
mitted to  a  vote  of  the  people,  and  the  law  was  again  sustained  by 
a  vote  of  4,323  to  3,626 ;  a  majority  of  677  in  favor  of  its  reten- 
tion. 

An  attempt  was  again  made  in  1908  to  submit  the  matter  to  a 
vote.  This  wras  unsuccessful  and  another  petition  was  filed  at 
the  January  session  of  the  board  in  1910.  After  an  examination 
of  the  petition  the  board  declared  it  to  be  insufficient  and  refused 
to  order  an  election.  An  appeal  wras  made  to  the  circuit  court 
for  a  writ  of  mandamus  to  compel  the  board  to  reverse  its  action, 
but  that  court  sustained  the  board  and  refused  to  issue  the  writ 


182  HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

The  matter  was  then  appealed  to  the  supreme  court  which  re- 
versed the  decision  of  the  circuit  court  and  issued  a  writ  ordering 
the  board  to  reassemble  and  call  an  election  according  to  the 
prayer  of  the  petitioners.  In  obedience  to  this  mandate  of  the 
court  an  election  was  called  for  the  4th  day  of  April,  1910,  and 
again  the  voters  sustained  the  law  by  the  following  vote :  Yes, 
4,410 ;  No,  3,600 ;  a  majority  of  810  in  favor  of  retaining  the  law. 
By  the  operation  of  this  law,  Van  Buren  county  has  had  legal 
prohibition  for  upwards  of  twenty-one  years,  and  for  a  major 
portion  of  the  time  there  was  no  other  county  in  the  state  in  which 
the  provisions  of  the  law  were  operative,  although  in  several  coun- 
ties it  had  been  in  force  for  limited  periods.  At  the  present  time, 
however,  nearly  one-half  of  the  state  is  under  the  operation  of  its 
provisions 


CHAPTER  IX 

CIVIL  WAR  INFANTRY 

Sixth  Michigan  Infantry — Twelfth  Michigan  Infantry — 
Thirteenth  Michigan  Infantry — Stone  River — Seven- 
teenth Michigan  at  South  Mountain — Nineteenth  Michi- 
gan— Twenty-Fourth  Regiment — Twenty-Fifth  Michigan 
Infantry — Twenty-Eighth  Michigan  Infantry — Spanish- 
-American  War. 

The  military  history  of  Van  Buren  county  really  begins  with 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  in  the  spring  of  1861,  although 
there  was  here  and  there  a  representative  of  the  county  in  the 
war  with  Mexico,  1846  to  1848.  It  is  wholly  impracticable  to 
give  the  name  and  service  of  every  Van  Buren  soldier  of  the  great 
conflict  of  1861-5,  as  such  an  exhibit  would  necessitate  not  only  a 
careful  research  of  the  records  of  every  Michigan  regiment,  but 
also  of  numerous  companies  and  regiments  from  the  other  north- 
ern states  of  the  Union.  The  most  that  we  can  hope  to  do  is  to 
make  a  fair  approximation  to  accuracy  and  completeness,  and 
this  we  believe  we  have  accomplished  in  the  following  pages  that 
are  devoted  to  this  matter. 

When  the  news  was  received  that  Fort  Sumter  had  been  fired 
upon  such  a  wave  of  patriotism  swept  over  the  entire  northland  as 
the  world  had  never  before  witnessed,  and  Michigan  was  in-no- 
wise  behind  her  loyal  sister  states  in  her  readiness  to  resent  the 
insult  to  the  flag,  and  Van  Buren  county  was  no  whit  behind  in 
its  readiness  to  respond  to  its  patriotic  duty. 

Sixth  Michigan  Infantry 

The  first  Michigan  infantry  regiment  in  which  the  names  of 
any  considerable  number  of  Van  Buren  county  men  appear  was 
the  Sixth. 

Onward  then,  our  stainless  banner. 
Let  it  kiss  the  stripe  and  star, 
Till  in  weal  and  woe  united, 
They  forever  wedded  are. 

183 


184  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

The  Sixth  Infantry  was  organized  at  Kalamazoo  under  the 
command  of  Colonel  Frederick  W.  Curtenius  and  was  mustered 
into  the  service  of  the  United  States  on  the  20th  day  of  August, 
1861. 

The  regiment  started  from  its  rendezvous  to  join  the  army  of 
the  Potomac  on  the  30th  day  of  August,  1861,  having  a  total  en- 
rolment of  944  officers  and  enlisted  men.  While  this  regiment  ex- 
pected to  become  a  part  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  the  for- 
tunes of  war  transferred  it  to  the  southwest,  and  the  greater  part 
of  its  service  Avas  performed  on  the  Mississippi  and  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico.  The  regiment  was  recruited  for  the  infantry  arm  of  the 
service  and  served  in  that  capacity  until  July,  1863,  when  General 
Banks  converted  it  into  a  regiment  of  heavy  artillery. 

The  regiment  is  therefore,  frequently  referred  to  as  the  Sixth 
Heavy  Artillery. 

The  regiment  spent  the  winter  of  1861-2  in  camp  at  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  and  the  following  spring  was  embarked  upon  steamers 
for  Fortress  Monroe,  where  it  arrived  February  23,  1862. 

Again  embarking  with  other  Union  troops,  it  proceeded  by  sea 
to  Ship  Island,  Mississippi,  and  soon  after  was  sent  to  join  Gen- 
eral Butler 's  forces  in  an  attack  upon  New  Orleans,  Louisiana, 
and  arrived  at  the  city  May  2d,  after  the  fall  of  Forts  Jackson  and 
St.  Phillips  and  the  capture  of  the  city.  From  this  point  the  regi- 
ment, as  a  whole  or  in  detachments,  made  many  excursions  into 
the  surrounding  country  and  up  and  down  the  Mississippi  river, 
capturing  and  destroying  public  property  and  Confederate  sup- 
plies, many  of  the  excursions  being  of  extremely  hazardous  nature. 

On  August  5,  1862,  the  Sixth  made  a  brilliant  record  in  assist- 
ing to  repulse  a  heavy  attack  on  the  Union  forces  at  Baton  Rouge, 
and  in  a  desperate  charge  upon  the  enemy's  works  captured  the 
flag  of  the  Ninth  Louisiana  battalion.  The  regiment  suffered  se- 
verely in  killed  and  wounded  in  this  engagement  and  General 
Thomas  Williams,  IT.  S.  A.,  in  command  of  the  Union  forces,  was 
killed. 

In  January,  1863,  the  regiment  participated  in  an  expedition 
under  General  Weitzel  to  Bayou  Teche,  destroying  the  rebel  gun- 
boat " Cotton' '  and  also  took  part  in  the  expedition  against  Pon- 
chatoula  in  March,  where  the  regiment  had  nine  men  wounded, 
but  captured  a  number  of  the  enemy. 

In  April  the  Sixth  was  engaged  at  Amite  river  and  Tickfaw 
river,  and  made  a  raid  upon  the  Jackson  railroad  at  Pangipabo, 
where  it  captured  sixty  prisoners  and  destroyed  an  immense 
amount  of  public  property. 

From  May  until  July  the  Sixth  was  engaged  in  the  siege  of 
Port  Hudson,  when  it  received  special  commendations  for  its  gal- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  185 

lantry  and  daring.  It  made  a  desperate  charge  upon  the  enemy's 
entrenchments  on  the  27th  of  May  and  though  the  works  were 
carried  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  the  attack  was  unsuccessful 
by  reason  of  the  overwhelming  numbers  of  the  Confederates.  After 
the  siege  of  Port  Hudson  the  regiment  remained  there  until  March, 
1864,  when  247  men  re-enlisted  and  started  for  Michigan  on 
veteran  furlough. 

The  regiment  reassembled  at  its  former  camp  at  Kalamazoo 
after  the  expiration  of  the  thirty  days'  furlough  and  returned  to 
Port  Hudson,  where  it  arrived  May  11.  The  Sixth  moved  to  Vicks- 
burg,  Mississippi,  where  it  served  as  engineers,  and  then  moved 
to  White  River  and  soon  after  to  Ashton,  Arkansas.  The  regi- 
ment was  divided  into  detachments  to  serve  as  heavy  artillery  and 
was  stationed  at  Fort  Morgan,  Fort  Gaines,  Dauphin  island,  and 
Mobile  bay. 

The  regiment  performed  valuable  service  under  its  assignments 
as  heavy  artillery  until  August,  when  it  received  orders  to  return 
to  Michigan.  It  arrived  at  Jackson  August  30th,  and  was  paid  off 
and  discharged  September  5,  1865. 

The  regiment  during  its  term  of  service  met  the  enemy  at  Se- 
well's  Point,  Virginia,  March  5,  1862;  Fort  Jackson,  Lousiana, 
April  25,  1862 ;  Vicksburg,  Mississippi,  May  20,  1862 ;  Grand  Gulf, 
Mississippi,  May  27,  1862 ;  Amite  River,  Mississippi,  June  20,  1862 ; 
Baton  Rouge,  Lousiana,  August  5  and  17,  1862;  Bayou  Teche, 
Lousiana,  January  14,  1863;  Ponchatoula,  Lousiana,  March  24, 
25  and  26,  1863;  Barataria,  Lousiana,  April  7,  1863;  Tickfaw 
River,  La.,  April  12,  1863;  Amite  River,  Mississippi,  May  7,  1863; 
Ponchatoula,  Lousiana,  May  16,  1863;  Siege  of  Port  Hudson,  May 
23  to  July  8,  1863;  Tunica  Bayou,  Lousiana,  November  8,  1863; 
Ashton,  Arkansas,  July  24,  1864;  Fort  Morgan,  Alabama,  August 
23,  1864;  Spanish  Fort,  Alabama,  April,  1865;  Fort  Blakely,  Ala- 
bama, April,  1865;  Fort  Huger,  Alabama,  April,  1865;  Fort  Tra- 
cey,  Alabama,  April,  1865 ;  siege  of  Mobile,  Alabama,  from  March 
20  to  April  12,  1865. 

Total  enrolment,  1992 ;  killed  in  action,  45 ;  died  of  wounds,  25  ; 
died  in  prison,  13;  died  of  disease,  432;  discharged  for  disability 
(disease  and  wounds),  327. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  Van  Buren  county  mem- 
bers of  the  regiment :  Ball,  James ;  Company  C ;  enlisted  at 
Schoolcraft ;  corporal ;  discharged  August  20,  1865. 

Davis,  Benjamin  F. ;  Company  F ;  enlisted  at  Kalamazoo,  Au- 
gust 20,  1861  ;  died  at  New  Orleans,  August  31,  1862,  of  wounds 
received  in  action ;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  New  Orleans, 
grave  No.  5601. 


186  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Schermerhorn,  Cornelius ;  Company  F ;  enlisted  August  20,  1861, 
at  Kalamazoo;  discharged  November  12,  1862,  to  enlist  in  regular 
army. 

Sparling,  George  W. ;  Company  F ;  enlisted  August  20,  1861,  at 
Kalamazoo ;  corporal ;  discharged  August  23,  1864. 

Company  D:  Alford,  George  W.,  Lawton;  enlisted  August  3, 
1861,  at  Dowagiac;  corporal;  died  of  wounds  received  in  action, 
at  Baton  Rouge,  July  28,  1863;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at 
Baton  Rouge,  grave  No.  2381. 

Argabrite,  William  J. ;  enlisted  August  10,  1861,  at  Dowagiac ; 
corporal;  discharged  August  20,  1864;  reenlisted  in  Hancock's 
corps,  March  28,  1865,  at  South  Haven ;  discharged  March  27,  1866. 

Bankman,  Charles  K. ;  enlisted  August  8,  1861,  at  Dowagiac; 
died  at  Baltimore,  Maryland,  November  21,  1861 ;  buried  in  Lon- 
don Park  National  cemetery,  at  Baltimore. 

Broadwell,  William;  enlisted  August  10,  1861,  at  Dowagiac; 
corporal ;  discharged  August  23,  1864. 

Brooks,  Bradford;  enlisted  August  20,  1861,  at  Dowagiac;  dis- 
charged August  23,  1864;  died  November  15,  1895. 

Brown,  Silas  W. ;  enlisted  August  7,  1861,  at  Dowagiac;  dis- 
charged August  23,  1864. 

Coggswell,  Alanson  H. ;  enlisted  August  8,  1861,  at  Dowagiac ; 
discharged  for  disability  at  Baltimore,  October  18,  1861. 

Crabb,  John  H.;  enlisted  August  11,  1861,  at  Dowagiac;  cor- 
poral; discharged  August  23,  1864. 

Culver,  Meeker  M. ;  enlisted  August  12,  1861,  at  Dowagiac ;  dis- 
charged August  20,  1865. 

Dopp,  Harrison  H. ;  enlisted  August  11,  1861,  at  Dowagiac ;  cor- 
poral; discharged  August  23,  1864;  died  September  17,  1901; 
buried  at  Paw  Paw. 

Finch,  Charles  H.,  Lawton;  enlisted  August  3,  1861,  at  Dowa- 
giac ;  wagoner ;  died  at  Port  Hudson,  Lousiana,  November  20,  1863. 

Finch,  Nathan  V.,  enlisted  at  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  June  19, 
1861;  corporal,  promoted  to  sergeant;  discharged  for  disability, 
May  7,  1864;  died  in  1901,  buried  at  Lawton. 

Green,  Orsemus;  enlisted  August  8,  1861,  at  Dowagiac;  dis- 
charged September  6,  1865. 

Halsey,  John;  enlisted  August  8,  1861,  at  Dowagiac;  discharged 
for  disability,  February  10,  1863. 

Hawley,  William  C. ;  enlisted  August  4,  1861,  at  Dowagiac; 
killed  on  steamer  " Ceres' '  by  collision  with  gunboat,  May  18,  1862. 

Hurlburt,  Horace  H. ;  enlisted  August  6,  1861,  at  Dowagiac; 
corporal ;  discharged  August  20,  1865. 

Heath,  George  F. ;  enlisted  August  4,  1861,  at  Dowagiac;  cor- 
poral, promoted  to  sergeant;  discharged  August  29,  1865. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  187 

Jackson,  Andrew;  enlisted  August  5,  1861,  at  Dowagiae;  died 
at  Camp  Williams,  Lousiana,  September  4,  1862. 

Johnson,  Abner  L. ;  enlisted  August  2,  1861,  at  Dowagiae ;  dis- 
charged August  23,  1864. 

King,  Nathaniel  H. ;  enlisted  August  3,  1861,  at  Dowagiae;  dis- 
charged for  disability,  October  14,  1862. 

Kellogg,  William  R. ;  enlisted  August  8,  1861,  at  Dowagiae ;  cor- 
poral; discharged  August  20,  1865. 

McDonald,  William;  enlisted  August  7,  1861,  at  Dowagiae;  dis- 
charged August  23,  1864. 

Morrison,  Oscar ;  enlisted  August  7,  1861,  at  Dowagiae ;  corporal ; 
discharged  August  20,  1865. 

Mather,  George  W. ;  enlisted  August  8,  1861,  at  Dowagiae ;  dis- 
charged to  enter  regular  army  in  December,  1862. 

Mullen,  Samuel  D. ;  enlisted  August  7,  1861,  at  Dowagiae ; 
died  at  Baltimore,  Maryland,  November  21,  1861;  buried  in  Lon- 
don Park  National  cemetery,  at  Baltimore. 

Palmer,  Thomas  K. ;  enlisted  August  2,  1861,  at  Dowagiae;  dis- 
charged August  23,  1864. 

Pease,  John  W. ;  enlisted  August  1,  1861,  at  Dowagiae;  died  at 
Baton  Rouge,  Lousiana,  July  27,  1862. 

Perkins,  Charles  R. ;  enlisted  August  1,  1861,  at  Dowagiae;  dis- 
charged for  disability  March  24,  1862. 

Porter,  Tobias;  enlisted  August  7,  1861,  at  Dowagiae;  discharged 
August  23,  1864. 

Scott,  Francis  M. ;  enlisted  June  19,  1861,  at  Fort  Wayne,  In- 
diana; corporal;  died  at  New  Orleans,  Lousiana,  August  12,  1862; 
buried  in  National  cemetery  at  New  Orleans,  grave  No.  5549. 

Steadman,  John  J.,  Hartford;  enlisted  August  8,  1861,  at 
Dowagiae;  died  June  23,  1863,  at  Port  Hudson,  Lousiana,  of 
wounds  received  in  action;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Baton 
Rouge,  grave  No.  5432. 

Stevens,  George  E.,  Mattawan;  enlisted  August  7,  1861,  at 
Dowagiae ;  died  at  Port  Hudson,  Lousiana,  August  2,  1863. 

Smith,  Joseph,  Lawton ;  enlisted  August  8,  1861,  at  Dowagiae ; 
died  at  New  Orleans,  February  22,  1863. 

Sweet,  Thomas  0.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  7,  1861,  at  Dow- 
agiae; discharged  August  23,  1864;  died  at  Lawrence,  August  1, 
1911 ;  buried  at  Lawrence. 

Van  Ostran,  Holley;  enlisted  August  7,  1861,  at  Dowagiae;  dis- 
charged for  disability  October  22,  1861. 

Voorhees,  Orlando ;  enlisted  August  7,  1861,  at  Dowagiae ;  cor- 
poral; discharged  August  23,  1864. 

White,  George;  enlisted  August  7,  1861,  at  Dowagiae;  died  at 
Baton  Rouge.  La.,  June  5,  1862. 


188  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Wilcox,  Seth  D. ;  enlisted  August  7,  1861,  at  Dowagiac ;  died  at 
Camp  Williams,  Lousiana,  September  18,  1862. 

Twelfth  Michigan  Infantry 

We're  fighting  for  the  Union, 

We're  fighting  for  the  trust, 
WTe  're  fighting  for   the  land 

Where  sleeps  our  fathers'  dust. 

The  Twelfth  Michigan  Infantry  was  organized  at  Niles  by  Col- 
onel Francis  Quinn  of  that  city,  and  was  mustered  into  service 
March  5,  1862,  writh  an  enrolment  of  1,000  officers  and  men. 

The  regiment  left  the  state,  March  18th,  going  to  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  where  it  embarked  for  Pittsburg  Landing,  Tennessee, 
joining  General  Prentiss'  division  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee 
commanded  by  General  U.  S.  Grant.  The  regiment,  with  others 
newly  organized  and  wholly  without  any  military  experience,  was 
pushed  to  the  front,  and  on  Sunday  morning,  April  6th,  only 
one  month  after  its  organization,  received  its  first  baptism  of  blood 
in  the  attack  made  by  the  Confederate  forces  under  the  command 
of  General  Albert  Sidney  Johnston,  in  which  that  brilliant  officer 
lost  his  life,  being  succeeded  by  General  Beauregard. 

The  troops  lay  upon  their  arms  during  the  night,  and  before 
morning  General  Buell's  army  arrived,  when  the  battle  was  re- 
sumed Monday,  culminating  in  driving  General  Beauregard  and 
his  troops  from  the  field.  The  losses  of  the  Twelfth  in  this  en- 
gagement were  serious. 

The  regiment  during  the  rest  of  the  year  occupied  stations  at 
Bolivar,  Tennessee,  Iuka,  Mississippi,  and  Metamora,  and  from 
November,  1862,  to  May,  1863,  was  guarding  the  Mississippi  Cen- 
tral Railroad,  with  headquarters  at  Middleburg,  Tennessee. 

At  this  place  in  December  a  detachment  of  the  regiment  was 
besieged  in  a  block  house  which  was  gallantly  defended  against 
an  attack  by  General  Van  Dorn's  forces,  estimated  at  3,000  strong. 

Colonel  Graves  refused  to  surrender  and  succeeded  after  an 
engagement  of  two  hours  and  a  half  with  the  assistance  of  a  de- 
tachment of  the  Third  Michigan  Cavalry  that  came  to  his  relief, 
in  driving  off  the  Confederate  forces.  The  command  was  compli- 
mented by  General  Grant  in  General  Orders  for  this  brilliant  work. 
The   regiment   was  ordered  to  Vicksburg,    Mississippi,    in   June, 

1863,  where  it  took  post  at  Haynes'  Bluff  and  remained  until  the 
fall  of  Vicksburg. 

In  July,  1863,  the  Twelfth  comprised  a  part  of  the  force  under 
General  Steele,  when  he  invested  Little  Rock,  Arkansas.  At  this 
point  the  regiment  veteranized,  334  reenlisting,  and  in  January, 

1864,  started  for  Michigan  on  veteran  furlough.     After  the  expi- 


HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  189 

ration  of  the  thirty  days'  furlough,  the  Twelfth  reassembled  at 
Niles  and  returned  to  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  where  it  arrived 
April  1st.  The  regiment  was  engaged  in  long  marches  and  fre- 
quent skirmishes  with  the  enemy,  and  in  doing  picket  and  guard 
duty  until  October,  when  it  arrived  at  De  Vall's  Bluff,  Arkansas. 

The  regiment  was  then  separated  into  detachments,  the  different 
companies  occupying  posts  wherever  their  services  were  needed 
until  January,  1866,  when  the  detachments  wrere  ordered  to  as- 
semble at  Camden,  where  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice February  15,  1866. 

The  Twelfth  started  at  once  for  Michigan,  arrived  at  Jackson 
the  27th,  and  was  paid  off  and  disbanded  the  6th  of  March. 

The  Twelfth  was  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing, Tennessee,  April  6,  7,  1862;  Iuka,  Mississippi,  September  19, 
1862;  Metamora,  Tennessee,  October  5,  1862;  Middleburg,  Tennes- 
see, December  24,  1862 ;  Mechanicsville,  Mississippi,  June  4,  1863 ; 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  Mississippi,  June  and  July,  1863 ;  siege  of 
Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  August  and  September,  1863 ;  Clarendon, 
Arkansas,  June  26,  1864;  Gregory's  Landing,  September  4,  1864. 

Total  enrolment,  2357 ;  killed  in  action,  29 ;  died  of  wounds,  26 ; 
died  in  confederate  prisons,  17;  died  of  disease,  316;  discharged 
for  disability   (wounds  and  disease),  221. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  members  of  this  regiment 
from  Van  Buren  County: 

Company  A :  Alexander,  Horace  N.,  Keeler ;  enlisted  February 
5,  1864,  at  Keeler;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Brown,  Caleb  J.,  Decatur;  enlisted  November  21,  1861,  at  Deca- 
tur; corporal;  discharged  February  13,  1866;  died  December  10, 
1895. 

Buckley,  John ;  enlisted  February  24,  1865,  at  Geneva ;  dis- 
charged February  15,  1866;  died  May  7,  1895;  buried  at  Monk, 
Michigan. 

Freelove,  Joseph,  Hamilton;  enlisted  March  16,  1865,  at  Hamil- 
ton; discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Horton,  Samuel,  Columbia;  enlisted  January  24,  1865,  at  Co- 
lumbia; discharged  January  24,  1866. 

Hess,  Calvin,  Columbia;  enlisted  January  24,  1865,  at  Colum- 
bia; discharged  January  24,  1866. 

Welcher,  Albert,  Decatur;  enlisted  November  23,  1861,  at  De- 
catur; discharged  May  31,  1862. 

Welcher,  John,  Decatur;  enlisted  November  22,  1861,  at  Deca- 
tur; discharged  May  31,  1862. 

Company  B :  Beal,  Franklin,  Covert ;  enlisted  November  6, 
1862;  discharged  November  11,  1865. 


190  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Bucknell,  Uriah;  enlisted  February  14,  1865,  at  Antwerp,  dis- 
charged February  15,  1866. 

Evans,  Robert  K.,  Keeler;  enlisted  February  5,  1864,  at  Keeler; 
discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Gates,  Franklin  D. ;  enlisted  March  27,  1865,  at  Kalamazoo ; 
discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Hall,  James  H.,  Lawton ;  enlisted  November  6,  1861,  at  Lawton ; 
sergeant  and  commissary  sergeant,  promoted  to  second  lieutenant 
and  to  first  lieutenant;  discharged  February  15,  1866;  present 
residence,  Lawton. 

Matran,  Morgan  W. ;  enlisted  December  20,  1863,  at  Kalamazoo; 
discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Lamson,  William  W.,  Covert;  enlisted  November  20,  1861,  at 
Covert;  died  at  Camp  Prentice,  Tennessee,  April  21,  1862. 

Teachout,  Henry,  Covert;  enlisted  November  26,  1862,  at  Cov- 
ert; discharged  June  20,  1865. 

Timmons,  Bedient ;  enlisted  December  30,  1863,  at  Kalamazoo ; 
discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Company  D :  Davidson,  Andrew  L. ;  enlisted  March  6,  1866, 
at  Keeler;  discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Dougherty,  George  W. ;  enlisted  March  15,  1865,  at  Hamilton : 
died  at  De  Vall's  Bluff,  Arkansas,  June  2,  1865. 

Keyes,  Nathaniel;  enlisted  March  18,  1865,  at  Hamilton;  dis- 
charged for  disability,  June  12,  1865. 

McMillan,  John;  enlisted  March  6,  1865,  at  Keeler;  discharged 
February  15,  1866. 

Smith,  Estell  H. ;  enlisted  March  7,  1865,  at  Keeler ;  discharged 
February  15,  1866. 

Company  E :  Crippen,  David  G. ;  enlisted  February  15,  1865, 
at  Antwerp;  discharged  May  22,  1865. 

Company  F :  Barrett,  Charles ;  enlisted  February  29,  1864, 
at  Kalamazoo;  discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Hamlin,  Shadrach;  enlisted  September  6,  1864,  at  Hamilton: 
discharged  September  9,  1865. 

Johnson,  Elias  V.;  enlisted  February  15,  1865,  at  Antwerp; 
discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Smith,  Eber  A. ;  enlisted  April  4,  1865,  at  Antwerp ;  discharged 
June  20,  1865. 

Tryon,  Israel  D. ;  enlisted  November  3,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo : 
died  at  Washington,  Arkansas,  July  22,  1865. 

Company  G:  Barnes,  Robert;  enlisted  February  24,  1865,  at 
Lawton;  discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Bratton,  Andrew  W. ;  enlisted  December  29,  1863,  at  Kalama- 
zoo; discharged  for  disability  July  19,  1865. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  191 

Company  H:  Atkinson,  William  E.,  Lawton;  enlisted  Novem- 
ber 6,  1861,  at  Lawton;  supposed  to  have  been  taken  prisoner 
and  murdered  by  guerrillas  in  May,  1863. 

Allen,  Owen  L. ;  enlisted  February  29,  1864,  at  Decatur;  dis- 
charged February  15,  1866. 

Andrews,  Wallace  W.,  Lawton;  enlisted  November  29,  1861, 
at  Lawton;  discharged  February  5,  1865. 

Armitage,  Richard,  Decatur;  enlisted  November  25,  1861,  at 
Decatur;  corporal;  died  at  Washington,  Arkansas,  August  7,  1865. 

Barnes,  George,  Mattawan;  enlisted  December  14,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton;  killed  in  action  at  Shiloh,  Tennessee,  April  6,  1862. 

Baker,  Franklin;  enlisted  February  22,  1865,  at  Antwerp;  dis- 
charged February  15,  1866. 

Beals,  William,  Lawton;  drummer;  enlisted  October  16,  1861, 
at  Lawton;  discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Bitely,  Stephen;  corporal;  enlisted  November  1,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton;  promoted  to  commissary  sergeant,  commissioned  first  lieu- 
tenant and  quartermaster;  discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Bitely,  Cyrus,  Lawton;  enlisted  November  26,  1861,  at  Lawton; 
corporal,  promoted  to  commissary  sergeant;  discharged  February 
15,  1866. 

Bowman,  James  M.,  Lawton;  enlisted  October  20,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton;  died  April  17,  1862,  on  hospital  boat  opposite  Cairo,  Illi- 
nois, of  wounds  received  in  action  at  Shiloh,  Tennessee,  April  6, 
1862 ;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  Missouri, 
section  53,  grave  No.  955. 

Brott,  William,  H.,  Porter;  enlisted  August  25,  1862,  at  Law- 
ton;  discharged  September  30,  1865. 

Burgess,  David;  enlisted  February  18,  1865,  at  Kalamazoo;  dis- 
charged February  15,  1866. 

Burrell,  Joseph ;  enlisted  February  15,  1864,  at  Paw  PawT ;  dis- 
charged February  15,  1866. 

Case,  Randall  Z.,  Lawton;  enlisted  November  1,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton  ;  discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Chase,  Jonathan  L.,  Lawton;  entered  service  at  Lawton  as  sec- 
ond lieutenant;  resigned  May  5,  1862,  on  account  of  wounds  re- 
ceived in  action  at  Shiloh,  Tennessee,  April  6,  1862. 

Cole,  Danford  D. ;  enlisted  March  15,  1865,  at  Hamilton ;  dis- 
charged February  15,  1866. 

Cole,  John  J.,  Lawton;  enlisted  November  6,  1861,  at  Lawton; 
supposed  to  have  been  taken  prisoner  and  murdered  by  guerril- 
las, in  May,  1863. 

DeBolt,  William  H.,  Decatur;  sergeant  and  first  sergeant,  pro- 
moted to  second  lieutenant ;  resigned  August  20,  1864 ;  died  at  De- 
catur, January  11,  1902. 

Dibble,  David  W.,  Lawton;  enlisted  October  28,  1861,  at  Law- 


192  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

ton;  wounded  at  Shiloh,  Tennessee,  April  6,  1862;  discharged  for 
disability,  July  8,  1862. 

Dibble,  Charles  J.,  Lawton;  enlisted  October  28,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton;  died  at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  November  13,  1863;  buried 
in  National  cemetery  at  Little  Rock,  grave  No.  171. 

Dine,  Adam,  Lawton;  enlisted  October  26,  1861,  at  Lawton; 
corporal;  discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Dine,  Benjamin  F.,  Decatur;  enlisted  December  19,  1864,  at 
Decatur;  discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Dine,  Lewis,  Porter;  enlisted  December  16,  1861,  at  Porter; 
discharged  November  17,  1865,  from  Veteran  Reserve  corps. 

Doolittle,  Alfred,  Lawton;  enlisted  November  6,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton;  discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Durden,  James  E.,  Keeler,  enlisted  March  7,  1865,  at  Keeler; 
discharged  June  20,  1865. 

Eggleston,  Harvey,  Porter;  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  at  Law- 
ton;  discharged  September  30,  1865. 

Eastman,  George,  Porter ;  enlisted  January  8,  1862,  at  Porter ; 
discharged  May  8,  1863. 

Farrow,  John;  enlisted  February  24,  1865,  at  Lawton;  dis- 
charged for  disability,  May  3,  1865. 

Flanders,  Edwin;  enlisted  March  15,  1865,  at  Hamilton;  dis- 
charged February  25,  1866. 

Flanders,  Milan;  enlisted  March  15,  1865,  at  Hamilton;  dis- 
charged February  15,  1866. 

Follett,  Luther  D.,  Lawton;  enlisted  November  7,  1861,  at 
Lawton ;  died  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  June  6,  1862 ;  buried  in  Na- 
tional cemetery,  Jefferson  Barracks,  Missouri,  grave  No.  823. 

Fuller,  Isaac  H.,  Arlington;  enlisted  February  15,  1864,  at  Ar- 
lington; died  May  1.4,  1864,  at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Little  Rock,  grave  No.  451. 

Gustin,  Clinton  J.,  Keeler;  enlisted  March  17,  1865,  at  Keeler, 
discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Hall,  James  H.,  Lawton;  enlisted  November  6,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton;  sergeant  and  commissary  sergeant,  second  lieutenant  Com- 
pany B  and  first  lieutenant  Company  C ;  discharged  February  15, 
1866. 

Hall,  Wesley  M.,  Lawton;  enlisted  October  29,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton;  corporal;  wounded  at  Shiloh,  Tennessee,  April  6,  1862;  dis- 
charged for  disability  August  25,  1862;  present  residence,  Paw 
Paw. 

Harper,  Harvey,  Lawton;  enlisted  December  10,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton,  discharged  August  18,  1863,  for  disability. 

Hartman,  Conrad  R.,  Hamilton;  enlisted  December  9,  1861,  at 
Hamilton;  discharged  June  21,  1863. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  193 

Hawkins,  Daniel,  Lawton;  enlisted  February  1,  1862,  at  Law- 
ton;  discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Hincher,  Eli  J.,  Decatur ;  enlisted  March  18,  1865,  at  Hamilton ; 
discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Hopkins,  George  P.;  enlisted  February  22,  1864,  at  Lawton; 
discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Hopkins,  Cyrus;  enlisted  March  31,  1865,  at  Kalamazoo;  dis- 
charged February  15,  1866 ;  died  July  21,  1903. 

Johnson,  Gilbert  D.,  Lawton;  entered  service  October  14,  1861, 
at  Lawton,  as  captain  of  Company  H;  wounded  in  action  at  Shi- 
loh,  Tennessee,  April  6,  1862;  resigned  October  8,  1862;  dead, 
buried  at  Lawton. 

Johnson,  Uriah,  Decatur;  enlisted  February  10,  1862,  at  Deca- 
tur; died  June  1,  1862;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Jefferson 
Barracks,  Missouri,  section  52,  grave  No.  912. 

Kennard,  William,  Lawton;  enlisted  November  6,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton;  discharged  for  disability,  June  20,  1862.     . 

Kinney,  George  R. ;  enlisted  March  15,  1865,  at  Hamilton ;  dis- 
charged February  15,  1866. 

Kidney,  Samuel  A. ;  enlisted  January  5,  1864,  at  Lawton ;  dis- 
charged February  15,  1866. 

Lee,  Henry  W.,  Lawton;  enlisted  August  14,  1862,  at  Lawton; 
discharged  September  30,  1865. 

Leet,  Franklin,  Porter;  enlisted  December  30,  1861,  at  Lawton; 
died  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  April  23,  1862. 

Longcor,  William  H. ;  enlisted  February  13,  1865,  at  Kalama- 
zoo; discharged  February  15,  1866. 

McNeil,  Livingston;  enlisted  February  9,  1864,  at  Lawton;  died 
at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  July  21,  1864;  buried  in  National  cem- 
etery at  Little  Rock,  grave  No.  763. 

Mayo,  Lyman,  Lawton;  enlisted  October  24,  1861,  at  Lawton; 
discharged  for  disability  October  24,  1862. 

Miller,  Nicholas,  Lawton;  enlisted  November  8,  1861,  at  Lawton; 
died  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  June  1,  1862 ;  buried  in  National  cem- 
etery at  Jefferson  Barracks,  Missouri,  section  52,  grave  No.  878. 

Minnick,  William,  Porter;  enlisted  November  29,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton  ;  died  at  Atlanta,  Georgia,  June  17,  1862,  while  prisoner  of  war. 

Monroe,  Richard,  Lawton;  enlisted  October  23,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton;  discharged  for  disability,  November  10,  1862. 

Munger,  Alpheus  D.,  Lawton;  enlisted  November  6,  1861,  at 
Lawton;  discharged  for  disability,  July  18,  1862. 

Myers,  Alfred,  Lawton;  enlisted  November  6,  1861,  at  Lawton; 
discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Nash,   Samuel  D.,   Hamilton;   enlisted  November  16,   1861,   at 


194  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Hamilton;  died  at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas;  July  12,  1864;  buried 
in  National  cemetery  at  Little  Rock,  section  2,  grave  No.  713. 

Nash,  William  A.,  Lawton;  enlisted  October  31,  at  Lawton; 
died  at  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  July  27,  1862. 

Nichols,  Joseph;  enlisted  February  20,  1864,  at  Decatur;  cor- 
poral; discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Parker,  Dyer,  Porter;  enlisted  August  13,  1862,  at  Porter;  died 
at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  August  17,  1863. 

Parker,  Ira,  Porter;  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  at  Porter;  dis- 
charged for  disability,  November  23,  1862. 

Parker,  James;  enlisted  December  21,  1862,  at  Kalamazoo;  died 
at  Lawton,  Michigan,  January  11,  1865. 

Parker,  James  M. ;  enlisted  January  5,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo ; 
died  in  Michigan,  March  25,  1864. 

Parsons,  Christopher;  enlisted  March  1,  1862;  discharged  for 
disability,  July  14,  1862. 

Pattingill,  Clark,  Lawton;  enlisted  December  26,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton;  discharged  September  25,  1862. 

Prince,  Daniel;  enlisted  February  25,  1864,  at  Lawton;  died  at 
Lawton;  November  21,  1864. 

Rice,  Edward  H.,  Arlington;  enlisted  October  26,  1861,  at  Ar- 
lington; sergeant;  discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Robards,  Barney  S.,  Hamilton;  enlisted  November  22,  1861, 
at  Hamilton ;  wounded  in  action  at  Shiloh,  Tennessee,  April  6, 
1862 ;  discharged  March  5,  1864. 

Robinson,  Lucius  K.,  Lawton ;  enlisted  October  14,  1862,  at  Law- 
ton  ;  discharged  for  disability,  July  7,  1863. 

Robinson,  Walter  P.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  October  23,  1861,  at 
Lawton;  discharged  for  disability,  December  11,  1862. 

Rough,  Uriah  W. ;  enlisted  March  15,  1864;  discharged  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1866. 

Sams,  James;  enlisted  February  25,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo;  dis- 
charged February  15,  1866. 

Scott,  Thomas  J.;  enlisted  February  17,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo; 
died  at  De  Vall's  Bluff,  Arkansas,  July  26,  1864;  buried  in  Na- 
tional cemetery  at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  section  10,  grave  No. 
407. 

Sheldon,  Luther  D. ;  enlisted  February  25,  1864,  at  Decatur; 
died  at  De  Vall's  Bluff,  Arkansas,  November  23,  1864. 

Showers,  Jacob,  Jr. ;  enlisted  February  26,  1864,  at  Antwerp ; 
discharged  February  26,  1866. 

Smith,  Allen;  enlisted  at  Kalamazoo,  February  9,  1864;  dis- 
charged February  15,  1866. 

Smith,  Bennett;  enlisted  February  9,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo;  dis- 
charged February  15,  1866. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  195 

Stambrook,  Samuel  F.,  Lawton;  enlisted  October  30,  1861,  at 
Lawton ;  corporal ;  discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Stephens,  George,  Lawton;  enlisted  November  7,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton;  died  at  Pittsburgh  Landing,  Tennessee,  May  11,  1862. 

Sternbergh,  William,  Lawton;  enlisted  November  2,  1861,  at 
Lawton;  discharged  August  22,  1865. 

Stilwell,  Isaiah,  Lawton;  enlisted  October  16,  1861,  at  Lawton; 
discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Stilwell,  James;  enlisted  August  9,  1862,  at  Lawton;  discharged 
September  30,  1865. 

Tomlinson,  Clauson,  Lawton;  enlisted  October  22,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton;  died  at  Pittsburgh  Landing,  Tennessee,  June  6,  1862. 

Tomlinson,  James  H. ;  enlisted  February  26,  1864,  at  Kalama- 
zoo; discharged  February  26,  1866. 

Tyler,  James  P. ;  enlisted  December  5,  1861,  at  Lawton ;  dis- 
charged for  disability,  October  24,  1862. 

Van  Hise,  Jared  P.,  Decatur;  enlisted  February  27,  1865;  dis- 
charged June  17,  1865 ;  died  January  11,  1903 ;  buried  at  Decatur. 

Van  Hise,  Runyan,  Lawton;  enlisted  October  26,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton;  taken  prisoner  April  6,  1862;  returned  to  company,  January 
26,  1863 ;  promoted  to  commissary  sergeant  and  to  second  lieuten- 
ant of  Company  K,  commissioned  first  lieutenant  Company  H; 
resigned  December  31,   1864. 

Van  Hise,  William  K.,  Decatur;  enlisted  December  9,  1863,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Vannetten,  William,  Porter;  enlisted  November  16,  1861,  at 
Porter;  missing  in  action  at  Shiloh,  Tennessee,  April  6,  1862;  no 
further  record. 

Vought,  Samuel,  Decatur;  enlisted  February  29,  1864,  at  De- 
catur; discharged  June  17,  1865. 

Vought,  Thomas  A.,  Decatur;  enlisted  February  20,  1864,  at  De- 
catur;  discharged   February   15,*  1866. 

Wait,  Stephen  E.;  enlisted  April  19,  1864,  at  Lawton;  dis- 
charged February  15,  1866. 

Wilson,  Charles,  Lawton;  enlisted  November  27,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton;  died  at  De  Vall's  Bluff,  August  23,  1863. 

Wilson,  William,  Lawton;  enlisted  November  22,  1861,  killed  in 
action  at  Shiloh,  Tennessee,  April  6,  1861. 

Wilson,  William;  enlisted  February  13,  1865,  at  Kalamazoo; 
discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Wright,  Adelbert;  enlisted  February  26,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo; 
discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Company  K:  Ames,  Roswell,  Lawrence;  enlisted  December  15, 
1861,  at  Lawrence;  discharged  January  7,  1865. 


196  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Blackmer,  David  C,  Keeler;  enlisted  November  15,  1861,  at 
Keeler;  died  at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  September  24,  1863. 

Blackmer,  John  R.,  Hamilton;  enlisted  November  12,  1861,  at 
Hamilton;  discharged  for  disability  June  1,  1865. 

Barnum,  Amos;  enlisted  March  18,  1865,  at  Hamilton;  died  at 
Washington,  Arkansas,  July  3,  1865. 

Barnum,  William;  enlisted  March  18,  1865,  at  Hamilton;  dis- 
charged February  15,  1866. 

Chubbuck,  Russell  L.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  November  4,  1861,  at 
Lawrence;  sergeant;  discharged  February  15,  1866;  dead. 

Code,  John;  enlisted  March  16,  1865,  at  Hamilton;  discharged 
February  15,  1866. 

Corder,  Eli  M. ;  enlisted  March  5,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo;  dis- 
charged February  15,  1866. 

Earl,  John  T.,  Decatur;  enlisted  December  10,  1861,  at  Decatur; 
corporal;  discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Earl,  Samuel  E.,  Hamilton;  enlisted  March  15,  1865;  discharged 
February  15,  1866. 

Field,  Othniel  H.,  Hamilton;  enlisted  November  13,  1861,  at 
Hamilton;  sergeant,  discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Geer,  Charles  M.,  Hamilton;  enlisted  November  15,  1861,  at 
Hamilton;  died  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  May  10,  1862. 

Geer,  William  A.,  Hamilton;  enlisted  November  16,  1861,  at 
Hamilton;  died  December  22,  1864,.  while  a  prisoner  of  war  at 
Camp  Tyler,  Texas. 

Hartman,  Conrad  R.,  Hamilton;  enlisted  December  9,  1861,  at 
Hamilton;  discharged  June  21,  1863. 

James,  William  H.,  Hamilton;  enlisted  November  15,  1861,  at 
Hamilton;  discharged  for  disability  October  25,  1864. 

Jordan,  Allen  J.,  Hamilton;  enlisted  November  15,  1861,  at 
Hamilton;  corporal;  discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Luce,  Charles  C,  Arlington;  enlisted  October  18,  1861,  at  Ar- 
lington; discharged  January  7,  1865. 

Morrison,  John  H.,  Decatur;  enlisted  November  21,  1861,  at 
Hamilton;  discharged  for  disability,  July  18,  1862. 

Parker,  Henry  C. ;  corporal ;  discharged  February  15,  1864. 

Peck,  John  A.,  Hamilton;  enlisted  November  22,  1861,  at  Hamil- 
ton; discharged  January  7,  1865. 

Pletcher,  Daniel  E.,  Keeler;  enlisted  March  7,  1865;  discharged 
February  15,  1866. 

Redding,  John  D. ;  enlisted  February  16,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo ; 
discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Rider,  William  B.,  Keeler ;  enlisted  December  7,  1861,  at  Keeler ; 
died  at  Keeler,  July  15,  1862. 

Roberts,   Russell;   enlisted   February  26,   1864,   at  Kalamazoo; 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  197 

died  at  De  Vall's  Bluff,  Arkansas,  September  1,  1864;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  section  10,  grave  No. 
373. 

Stearns,  William  W. ;  enlisted  March  15,  1865,  at  Hamilton ; 
discharged  for  disability,  October  5,  1865. 

Sweet,  Allen;  enlisted  February  16,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo;  dis- 
charged for  disability,  June  12,  1865. 

Wilson,  Burney  0.,  Hamilton;  corporal;  enlisted  November  15, 
1861,  at  Hamilton;  wounded  in  action  at  Shiloh,  Tennessee,  April 
6,  1862;  died  at  Paducah,  Kentucky,  May  30,  1862. 

Thirteenth  Michigan  Infantry 

Onward,  onward,  then  to  Battle, 

For  bright  Freedom  points  the  way, 
Though  the  grape  shot  thickly  rattle, 

Onward,  onward,  to  the  fray. 

The  Thirteenth  Michigan  Infantry  was  organized  at  Kalama- 
zoo, under  the  direction  of  Colonel  Charles  E.  Stuart  of  that  city, 
and  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  January 
17,  1862,  with  an  enrolment  of  935  officers  and  enlisted  men.  It 
left  the  state  February  12th,  under  command  of  Colonel  Michael 
Shoemaker  (Colonel  Stuart  having  resigned),  and  proceeded  to 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  where  it  was  assigned  to  Wood's  division  of 
General  Buell's  army,  and  marched  to  Pittsburgh  Landing  to  re- 
inforce General  Grant,  arriving  just  after  the  two  days'  battle 
writh  the  Confederate  forces  under  Generals  Johnston  and  Beau- 
regard. 

General  Buell  moved  his  headquarters  to  Dechard,  north  of 
Stevenson,  on  the  line  of  the  Nashville  and  Chattanooga  Railway, 
and  left  the  Thirteenth  with  a  small  garrison  to  hold  Stevenson. 

The  enemy  attacked  before  the  Union  forces  left  Stevenson,  but 
were  repulsed,  and  then  a  long  march  continued  night  and  day 
over  horrible  roads  across  the  mountains  until  Cowan  was  reached, 
where  Colonel  Shoemaker  learned  the  army  had  left  Dechard. 
He  pressed  forward  and  reached  Tullahoma  September  2nd,  where 
he  joined  General  Smith's  division  of  Buell's  army.  Colonel 
Shoemaker  was  highly  complimented  by  the  commanding  general 
for  bringing  in  all  his  forces,  artillery,  and  baggage,  without  loss 
of  either  men  or  equipment.  The  Thirteenth,  with  the  balance  of 
the  army,  then  fell  back  to  Nashville  and  joined  in  the  pursuit  of 
General  Bragg 's  army  to  Louisville,  Kentucky.  In  December  the 
regiment  belonged  to  the  Third  Brigade,  First  Division,  General 
Thomas'  corps,  and  joined  the  army  commanded  by  General  Rose- 
crans  on  his  a'dvance  upon  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee. 


198  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BURBN  COUNTY 

Stone  River 

The  regiment  was  engaged  at  Stone  River  the  30th  and  31st  of 
December,  1862,  and  in  January,  1863,  where  it  distinguished  it- 
self by  its  desperate  valor  and  wras  most  warmly  commended  for 
the  heroic  work  that  checked  the  onward  rush  of  the  Confederate 
forces. 

The  brigade  of  which  the  Thirteenth  formed  a  part  wras  com- 
manded by  Colonel  Charles  G.  Harker,  and  was  detached  from 
its  division  and  sent  to  the  extreme  right  of  the  Union  line,  where 
the  enemy  had  crushed  that  wing,  when  it  formed  a  line  in  the 
immediate  front  of  the  Confederates  and  a  desperate  conflict  com- 
menced. The  Union  forces  wrere  steadily  pressed  back  by  the 
enemy,  but  the  Thirteenth  held  its  position  until  nearly  sur- 
rounded, when  it  fell  back  a  short  distance  and  reformed,  con- 
tinually showing  a  bold  front  to  the  enemy.  Colonel  Shoemaker 
ordered  a  bayonet  charge  and  the  Thirteenth  sprang  forward  with 
a  yell,  driving  the  enemy  from  the  field  in  confusion  and  capturing 
a  large  number  of  prisoners.  The  regiment  lost  nearly  one  third 
of  its  strength  in  killed  and  wounded  in  the  action  on  this  part  of 
the  field.  It  recaptured  two  pieces  of  artillery  of  the  Sixth  Ohio 
Battery,  which  had  been  abandoned  when  the  Union  forces  were 
driven  back  by  the  furious  onslaught  of  the  enemy. 

The  Thirteenth  commenced  its  advance  toward  Chattanooga  in 
August  and  marched  over  the  Cumberland  mountains,  crossed  the 
Tennessee  river  at  Shell  Mound  and  was  one  of  the  first  regiments 
to  march  into  Chattanooga  on  the  morning  of  the  13th  of  Septem- 
ber. It  proceeded  almost  at  once  to  Chickamauga,  where  it  was 
engaged  the  19th  and  20th  of  September,  coming  in  contact  with 
the  enemy  near  Lee  and  Gordon's  Mills,  and  before  the  close  of 
the  battle  lost  107  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  out  of  a  total  of 
217,  the  number  of  officers  and  men  the  regiment  carried  into 
action.  Such  a  record  tells  how  the  Thirteenth  sustained  its  part 
in  this  historic  engagement  far  more  eloquently  than  words  can 
describe. 

After  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  the  regiment  was  in  the 
trenches  about  Chattanooga  and  took  part  in  the  movements  about 
Lookout  Mountain  and  Mission  Ridge. 

In  November,  1863,  the  Thirteenth  was  organized  with  other 
regiments  into  a  brigade  of  engineers  and  wTas  attached  to  the 
headquarters  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  In  January, 
1864,  it  veteranized  and  returned  to  Kalamazoo,  where  it  arrived 
on  the  12th  and  was  furloughed  for  thirty  days. 

It  returned  to  Chattanooga  on  the  20th  of  April  with  a  large 
number  of  recruits  and  was  soon  engaged  in  the  construction  of 


HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  199 

military  hospitals  on  Lookout  Mountain,  and  in  the  pursuit  of 
Forrest's  forces  until  the  month  of  November,  when  it  joined  the 
army  under  the  command  of  General  Sherman,  being  assigned  to 
the  Second  Brigade,  First  Division  of  the  Fourteenth  Corps.  The 
regiment  marched  with  Sherman  to  the  sea  and  reached  Savannah 
on  the  16th  of  December.  After  the  surrender  of  the  city  the 
regiment  continued  with  Sherman's  army  through  South  Carolina 
and  North  Carolina,  meeting  with  Johnston  and  Hardee's  forces 
at  Bentonville,  on  the  19th  of  March,  1865,  where  it  sustained  a 
severe  loss.  This  was  the  last  battle  of  importance  fought  by 
Sherman's  army. 

After  Johnston's  surrender  the  regiment  marched  to  Richmond 
and  thence  to  Washington,  where  it  participated  in  the  grand  re- 
view. 

On  the  9th  day  of  June  the  regiment  proceeded  to  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  where  it  was  mustered  out  of  the  service,  proceeding 
to  Jackson,  Michigan,  where  it  was  paid  off  and  disbanded  July 
27,  1865. 

The  Thirteenth  participated  in  the  following  engagements:  Shi- 
loh,  Tennessee,  April  7,  1862;  Farmington,  Mississippi,  May  9, 
1862;  Owl  Creek,  Mississippi,  May  17,  1862?  siege  of  Corinth,  May 
10  to  31,  1862;  Stevenson,  Alabama,  August  31,  1862;  Munfords- 
ville,  Kentucky,  September  14,  1862;  Perryville,  Kentucky,  Octo- 
ber 8,  1862;  Danville,  Kentucky,  October  17,  1862;  Gallatin,  Ten- 
nessee, December  5,  1862;  Mill  Creek,  Tennessee,  December  15, 
1862;  Lavergne,  Tennessee,  December  27,  1862;  Stewart's  Creek, 
Tennessee,  December  29,  1862;  Stone  River,  Tennessee,  December 
29,  1862  to  January  3,  1863;  Eagleville,  Tennessee,  January  20, 
1863;  Pelham,  Tennessee,  July  2,  1863;  Lookout  Valley,  Tennes- 
see, September  7,  1863;  Lookout  Mountain,  Tennessee,  September 
10,  1863 ;  Chickamauga,  Georgia,  September  12,  18,  and  19,  1863 ; 
Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  October  6,  1863;  Mission  Ridge,  Tennes- 
see, November  26,  1863;  Florence,  Alabama,  October  8,  1864;  Sav- 
annah, Georgia,  December  17  to  21,  1864;  Catawba  River,  South 
Carolina,  February  28,  1865 ;  Averysborough,  North  Carolina, 
March  16,  1865;  Bentonville,  North  Carolina,  March  19,  1865. 

Total  enrolment,  2092 ;  killed  in  action,  47 ;  died  of  wounds,  33 ; 
died  in  Confederate  prisons,  7;  died  of  disease;  253;  discharged 
for  disability  (wounds  and  disease),  216. 

Following  are  the  names  of  the  Van  Buren  county  members  of 
the  regiment:  Culver,  Joshua  B.,  Paw  Paw;  entered  service  at 
organization  of  the  regiment  as  first  lieutenant  and  adjutant; 
major,  July  4,  1862;  lieutenant-colonel,  February  26,  1863;  col- 
onel, May  26,  1863 ;  commanding  brigade  July  23,  1864 ;  final  dis- 
charge July  25,  1865. 


200  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUBEN  COUNTY 

Whitcomb,  Lewis  J.,  Paw  Paw;  entered  service  as  chaplain, 
commissioned  August  7,  1863;  discharged  for  disability  March  17, 
1865 ;  died  August  10,  1903 ;  buried  at  Milford,  Michigan. 

Company  A :  Brown,  Jesse  M.,  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  August  16, 
1864,  at  Paw  Paw;  discharged  June  8,  1865;  died  at  Paw  Paw, 
April  14,  1911. 

Bush,  Philemon,  Waverly;  enlisted  December  20,  1863,  at  Osh- 
temo;  corporal;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Hoyt,  Benjamin  F.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  February  26,  1864,  at 
Paw  Paw;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Merritt,  Charles  A.,  South  Haven;  enlisted  February  24,  1864, 
at  Sturgis;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Rice,  Orville  A.;  enlisted  February  24,  1864;  discharged  from 
hospital,  May  23,  1865 ;  present  residence,  Paw  Paw. 

Whitford,  De  Forest  A.,  Waverly;  enlisted  December  20,  1863, 
at  Oshtemo;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Chapman,  Dewey  D.,  Columbia;  enlisted  August  19,  1864,  at 
Columbia ;  discharged  July  25,  1865 ;  died  September  5,  1898 ; 
buried  at  Arlington. 

Waldron,  Frederick;  enlisted  January  24,  1865,  at  Kalamazoo; 
discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Company  B :  Collins,  Edgar ;  enlisted  August  26,  1864,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  June  8,  1865. 

Coon,  Carlton,  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  August  26,  1864,  at  Paw  Paw ; 
discharged  June  8,  1865. 

Coon,  Edwin  H.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  26,  1864,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  June  21,  1865. 

Loveland,  George  B.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  26,  1864,  at 
Paw  Paw;  discharged  June  8,  1865. 

McGrady,  James,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  26,  1864,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  June  8,  1865. 

McVey,  James  W.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  .September  3,  1864,  at 
Jackson;  substitute  for  Joshua  Bangs;  discharged  June  8,  1865. 

Smith,  Junius,  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  August  26,  1864,  at  Paw  Paw ; 
discharged  June  8,  1865 ;  died  April  20,  1891 ;  buried  at  Paw  Paw. 

Woodbeck,  David;  enlisted  December  31,  1863,  at  Waverly;  dis- 
charged January  31,  1865. 

Company  C:  Austin,  William  F.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August 
13,  1864,  at  Paw  Paw;  died  June  29,  1865;  buried  in  National 
cemetery,  Arlington,  Virginia. 

Arnold,  William  W.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  February  16,  1864,  at 
Antwerp;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Butler,  William  D.,  Mattawan;  enlisted  October  23,  1861,  at 
Mattawan ;  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  May  20,  1863 ;  buried  in 
National  cemetery,  Nashville. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  201 

Britton,  William  H.,  Malta  wan;  enlisted  February  24,  1864,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Calkins,  Orlando  W.,  Mattawan;  enlisted  December  6,  1861,  at 
Mattawan;  died  at  Mattawan,  May  10,  1862. 

Covey,  Hiram  F.,  Waverly;  enlisted  April  29,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  died  at  Savannah,  Georgia,  March  18,  1865;  buried  in  Na- 
tional cemetery,  Beaufort,  South  Carolina,  section  41,  grave  No. 
4655. 

Dailey,  Ira  IT.,  Lawton ;  enlisted  March  29,  1865,  at  Kalamazoo ; 
discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Dailey,  William  S.,  Lawton ;  enlisted  December  13,  1861,  at  Por- 
ter; corporal;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Davis,  Andrew  J.,  Hartford;  enlisted  September  1,  1864,  at 
Paw  Paw;  discharged  May  31,  1865. 

Dunbar,  Edwin  G.,  Decatur;  enlisted  October  9,  1861;  sergeant; 
second  lieutenant  May  15,  1862;  first  lieutenant  and  quartermas- 
ter August  18,  1862;  captain  January  4,  1864;.  major  August  1, 
1865 ;  breveted  lieutenant-colonel  for  gallant  services  March  13, 
1865;  discharged  November  22,  1865. 

Edick,  George  W.,  Decatur;  enlisted  November  2,  1861,  at  Deca- 
tur ;  musician ;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Fox,  George  N.,  Waverly;  enlisted  August  24,  1864,  at  Kalama- 
zoo; sick  at  Tilton  November  1,  1864;  no  further  record. 

Fox,  Henry,  Mattawan;  enlisted  October  23,  1861,  at  Mattawan; 
sergeant,  color  sergeant ;  killed  in  action  at  Chickamauga,  Georgia. 
September  19,  1863. 

Greenman,  Miles,  Decatur;  enlisted  December  23,  1861,  at  Deca- 
tur; died  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  April  22,  1862;  buried  in  Na- 
tional cemetery,  Louisville. 

Griffith,  Collins  D. ;  enlisted  February  15,  1864,  at  Antwerp ; 
discharged  July  17,  1865. 

Hand,  Alden  S.,  Decatur;  enlisted  December  21,  1861,  at  Al- 
legan; killed  in  action  at  Stone  River,  Tennessee,  December  31, 
1862;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee, 
grave  No.  2911. 

Huff,  Henry,  Mattawan;  enlisted  February  23,  1864,  at  Ant- 
werp; discharged  July  11,  1865. 

Huff,  Marion,  Mattawan;  enlisted  February  15,  1864,  at  Ant- 
werp ;  discharged  June  9,  1865. 

Johnson,  Henry  M.,  Porter;  enlisted  December  13,  1861,  at 
Porter;  died  at  Danville,  Kentucky,  November  20,  1862;  buried 
in  National  cemetery  at  Lebanon,  Kentucky. 

Lee,  Edward;  enlisted  October  19,  1861,  at  Decatur;  sick  at 
Nashville,   Tennessee;   no   further   record. 


202  HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Lent,  Champlin;  enlisted  at  Antwerp,  February  27.  1864; 
wounded  in  action  at  Bentonville,  North  Carolina,  March  19,  1865 ; 
discharged  June  20,  1865. 

Lynden,  Elbridge  G.,  Lawton;  enlisted  February  25,  1864,  at 
Porter;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Nash,  Eugene  D.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  30,  1864,  at  Wa- 
verly;  discharged  June  8,  1865. 

Niles,  Augustus;  enlisted  August  30,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo;  dis- 
charged August  30,  1865. 

Oaks,  Samuel  E. ;  enlisted  February  27,  1864,  at  Antwerp ;  died 
at  Alexandria,  Virginia,  May  28,  1865;  buried  in  National  cem- 
etery at  Alexandria.  % 

Pratt,  Warren,  South  Haven;  enlisted  December  24,  1861,  at 
South  Haven;  transferred  to  U.  S.  Engineers;  discharged  Sep- 
tember 20,  1865. 

Price,  Andrew  A.;  enlisted  November  6,  1861;  discharged  for 
disability  July  3.1,  1862. 

Prindle,  Lawrence  E.,  Waverly;  enlisted  August  30,  1864,  at 
Waverly;  discharged  June  8,  1865. 

Stilwell,  Tra,  Porter;  enlisted  December  30,  1861,  at  Porter; 
wounded  in  action  at  Chickamauga,  Georgia,  September  20,  1863; 
discharged  January  30,  1865. 

Van  Wickle,  William  B. ;  enlisted  February  15,  1864,  at  Ant- 
werp :  taken  prisoner  at  Goldsboro,  North  Carolina :  discharged 
June  3,  1865. 

Varnum,  John,  Mattawan;  enlisted  .August  21,  1864,  at  Kala- 
mazoo; discharged  June  8,  1865. 

Welch,  John  A.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  30,  1864;  discharged 
June  15,  1865. 

Williams,  Cantine  R.,  Mattawan;  enlisted  February  15,  1864, 
at  Antwerp ;  corporal ;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Williams,  Smith  G.,  Mattawan;  enlisted  October  23,  1861,  at 
Mattawan ;  sergeant ;  wounded  in  action  at  Chickamauga,  Geor- 
gia, September  19,  1863;  second  lieutenant,  March  19,  1864;  first 
lieutenant,  May  12,  1865;  captain  July  5,  1865;  discharged  July 
25,  1865. 

Company  D :  Allen,  Anson,  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  December  10, 
1863,  at  Bloomingdale;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Bell,  Ephraim  N. ;  enlisted  December  20,  1863,  at  Blooming- 
dale;  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  March  28,  1864;  buried  in  Na- 
tional cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Bush,  Sylvanus,  Bloomingdale;  enlisted  December  16,  1863,  at 
Bloomingdale;  discharged  July  12,  1865. 

Cadwell,  Levi,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  3,  1864,  at  Cooper; 
discharged  June  8,  1865. 


HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  203 

Doran,  William,  Decatur;  enlisted  November  1,  1861,  at  Deca- 
tur; discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Foote,  Cortes  F.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  October  19,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  for  disability  July  16,  1862. 

Howard,  Orange  F.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  February  3,  1863,  at 
Bloomingdale ;  died  at  Lookout  Mountain,  Tennessee,  August  13, 
1864;  buried  in  National  cemetery,  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  grave 
No.  1393. 

Joy,  Andrew  J.;  enlisted  December  14,  1863,  at  Waverly,  died 
at  Stevenson,  Alabama,  February  10,  1864. 

Lull,  Abner,  Mattawan;  enlisted  December  31,  1861,  at  Mat- 
tawan;  died  at  Hillsboro,  Tennessee,  August  4,  1863;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  grave  No/  3059. 

Northrup,  John  L.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  November  17,  1861,  at 
Lawrence;  discharged  for  disability,  July  12,  1862;  died  May  7, 
1888. 

Reynolds,  Oscar  A.,  Bangor;  enlisted  September  7,  1864,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  June  27,  1865. 

Reynolds,  Simeon,  Bangor;  enlisted  in  September,  1864,  at  Ar- 
lington ;  discharged  June  8,  1 865 ;  died  February  6,  1903. 

Stedman,  George,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  December  10,  1863,  at  Wa- 
verly; died  at  Bridgeport,  Alabama,  January  14,  1865;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  grave  No.  10976. 

Vanderveer,  Oscar  D.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  31,  1861,  at 
Paw  Paw;  discharged  June  28,  1865;  died  at  Paw  Paw. 

Vandervoort,  Clark;  enlisted  November  21,  1861,  at  Hartford; 
died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  September  4.  1863 :  buried  in  Na- 
tional cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Vaughn,  George  W.,  Bloomingdale;  enlisted  December  14,  1863, 
at  Bloomingdale ;  discharged  May  20,  1865. 

Company  E :  Acker,  Charles  W.,  Hartford ;  enlisted  January 
5,  1862,  at  Kalamazoo;  discharged  for  disability  July  12,  1862. 

Brown,  Orra  S.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  December  7,  1863,  at  Wa- 
verly; sergeant;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Burridge,  George  W.,  Keeler;  enlisted  October  13,  1861,  at 
Hamilton;  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  December  6,  1862;  buried 
in  National  cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Cannum,  James;  enlisted  October  5,  1861,  at  Lawton;  trans- 
ferred to  Invalid  Corps,  September  30,  1863. 

Cotton,  Joshua,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  February  11,  1862,  at  Do- 
wagiac ;  discharged  in  June,  1863. 

Fowler,  John  R. ;  enlisted  October  22,  1861,  at  Silver  Creek; 
discharged  January  16,  1865. 

Henry,  William,  Lawrence;  enlisted  December  12,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  September  12,  1862;  dead. 


204  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Jay,  Henry;  enlisted  October  5,  1861,  at  Decatur;  transferred 
to  Invalid  Corps  September  1,  1863. 

Johnson,  Andrew,  Jr.;  enlisted  September  19,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  for  disability  October  8,  1863. 

Lillie,  Arthur  L.,  Waverly ;  enlisted  March  27,  1865,  at  AVaverly ; 
discharged  July  25,  1865. 

McNeil,  David ;  enlisted  October  22,  1861,  at  Keeler ;  discharged 
September  14,  1862. 

Parrish,  Nathaniel  C,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  20,  1861, 
at  Paw  Paw ;  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  April  4,  1862 ;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Robbins,  William;  enlisted  December  5,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw;  dis- 
charged January  18,  1865. 

Rogers,  Henry  A.;  enlisted  October  6,  1861,  at  Lawtoii ;  musi- 
cian; discharged  October  5,  1862. 

Sams,  George  W. ;  enlisted  at  Paw  Paw,  October  23,  1861 ;  dis- 
charged for  disability  September  27,  1862 ;  reentered  service  in 
Company  II,  Twelfth  Infantry;  discharged  February  15,  1866. 

Saxton,  Byron;  enlisted  September  10,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw;  dis- 
charged January  20,   1863. 

Slocum,  Henry  E.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  February  11,  1862,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  for  disability,  July  22,   1862. 

Tatman,  William  S. ;  enlisted  October  22,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Trumbull,  Guy  E. ;  enlisted  February  11,  1862,  at  Kalamazoo; 
discharged  for  disability,  July  29,  1862. 

Tyler,  Elisha,  Jr.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  14,  1861,  at 
Paw  Paw ;  discharged  July  25,  1865 ;  died  at  Paw  Paw,  November 
3,  1902. 

Wilson,  James,  PawT  Paw;  enlisted  October  19,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw ;  sergeant ;  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps,  September  30,  1863 ; 
discharged  January  17,  1865;  served  in  regular  army  from  1862 
to  1867. 

Wetherbee,  John  B. ;  enlisted  August  30,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo ; 
died  at  Savannah,  Georgia,  December  19,  1864. 

Company  F:  Beaman,  Azor;  drafted  from  Hartford,  mustered 
September  24,  1864;  died  of  disease  at  Savannah,  Georgia,  Jan- 
uary 12,  1865;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Beaufort,  South 
Carolina,  section  41,  grave  No.  4648. 

Cady,  Philo;  enlisted  April  11,  1865,  at  Paw  Paw;  discharged 
May.  15,  1865. 

Hainmell,  John  H.,  Hartford;  drafted,  mustered  September 
24,  1864 ;  wounded  in  action  at  Bentonville,  North  Carolina,  March 
19,  1865;  discharged  June  29,  1865. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  205 

Stratton,  Hiram  L.,  Hartford ;  drafted,  mustered  September  24, 
1864;  discharged  June  8,  1865. 

Company  G:  Allen,  Henry,  Waverly;  enlisted  December  23, 
1863,  at  Waverly;  discharged  for  disability  May  16,  1865. 

Ashley,  William  H. ;  enlisted  August  30,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo; 
discharged  for  disability  October  26,  1864. 

Babbitt,  William  A. ;  enlisted  February  25,  1864,  at  Paw  Paw ; 
discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Belden,  George  W.,  Breedsville;  enlisted  October  23,  1861,  at 
Breedsville ;  discharged  January  16,  1865. 

Bell,  James,  Waverly;  enlisted  February  26,  1864,  at  Waverly; 
discharged  July  15,  1865. 

Bewley,  George  W. ;  enlisted  November  16,  1861,  at  Breeds- 
ville; sick  at  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  March,  1863;  no  further 
record. 

Bewley,  Timothy;  enlisted  October  26,  1861,  at  Breedsville; 
discharged  February  25,  1863;  died  March  14,  1894;  buried  at 
Breedsville. 

Bogardus,  Joseph  L.,  Breedsville;  enlisted  February  10,  1864, 
at  Columbia;  corporal;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Bush,  Levi,  Waverly;  enlisted  December  14,  1863,  at  Waverly; 
corporal;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Campbell,  Walter  H.,  Waverly;  enlisted  August  29,  1864,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  May  26,  1865. 

Campbell,  Willard  N.,  Waverly;  enlisted  August  29,  1864,  at 
Kalamazoo ;  sick  at  Goldsboro,  North  Carolina ;  no  further  record. 

Cleveland,  Lucius,  Breedsville;  enlisted  October  28,  1861,  at 
Breedsville;  corporal;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Dean,  Euberto,  Almena;  enlisted  August  30,  1864,  at  Almena; 
killed  in  action  at  Bentonville,  North  Carolina,  March  19,  1865. 

Dean,  Marshall,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  20,  1864; 'taken 
prisoner  March  10,  1865 ;  discharged  July  29,  1865. 

Davis,  John  H. ;  drafted  from  South  Haven ;  mustered  Septem- 
ber 24,  1864;  died  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  October  24,  1864; 
buried  at  Indianapolis. 

Fox,  James  P. ;  enlisted  March  27,  1865,  at  Waverly ;  discharged 
May  15,  1865. 

Foster,  Simon  P. ;  enlisted  October  26,  1861 ;  taken  prisoner  at 
Milledgeville,  Georgia,  November  25,  1864;  released  February  26, 
1865;  discharged  June  27,  1865. 

Hannah,  John  H. ;  drafted  from  Hartford ;  mustered  Septem- 
ber 24,  1864;  sick  June,  1865;  no  further  record. 

Hays,  Daniel  F.,  Waverly;  enlisted  December  18,  1863,  at  De- 
troit; discharged  July  25,  1865. 


206  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Hooper,  Charles  I).,  Porter;  enlisted  February  25,  1864,  at  Ka- 
lamazoo; discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Howard,  James  M. ;  enlisted  February  23,  1864,  at  Columbia ; 
died  at  Tullahoma,  Tennessee,  June  16,  1864. 

Johnson,  George;  enlisted  February  20,  1864,  at  Waverly;  dis- 
charged July  25,  1865. 

Johnson,  Henry  B. ;  enlisted  February  26,  1864,  at  Paw  Paw; 
discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Johnson,  William  H. ;  enlisted  October  16,  1861,  at  Schoolcraft ; 
sergeant;  wounded  in  action  at  Chickamauga,  Georgia,  Septem- 
ber 19,  1863 ;  discharged  July  29,  1865. 

Joy,  Obadiah,  Bloomingdale ;  enlisted  December  20,  1863,  at 
Waverly;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Kent,  George,  Waverly ;  enlisted  February  20,  1864,  at  Waverly ; 
discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Kidney,  Byron  II.,  Porter;  enlisted  January  13,  1862,  at  Ka- 
lamazoo; discharged  for  disability,  August  4,  1863. 

Lyon,  Amasa ;  enlisted  November  6,  1861,  at  Breedsville;  dis- 
charged June,  1863 ;  re-entered  service  in  Company  C,  First  Cav- 
alry, January  28,  1864;  discharged  for  disability  June  18,  1865. 

Murch,  William;  enlisted  September  6,  1861,  at  Waverly;  ser- 
geant, and  first  sergeant ;  discharged  for  disability  April  21,  1862 ; 
re-entered  service  January  11,  1864,  as  second  lieutenant ;  resigned 
on  account  of  disability  May  26,  1864. 

Myers,  Chauncey  A. ;  enlisted  February  23,  1864,  at  Waverly ; 
died  at  Jackson,  Michigan,  May  26,  1864. 

Niles,  John  W. ;  enlisted  October  23,  1861,  at  Breedsville;  dis- 
charged January  16,  1865. 

Price,  Andrew  A. ;  enlisted  November  6,  1861  ;  discharged  for 
disability  July  31,  1862. 

Rice;  Charles  H. ;  enlisted  December  12,  1861 ,  at  Kalamazoo ; 
discharged  for  disability,  July  8,  1862. 

Robinson,  John  T.,  Bloomingdale;  enlisted  December  14,  1863, 
at  Bloomingdale;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Rundell,  James  S.,  Breedsville ;  enlisted  January  17,  1862 ;  died 
at  Gallatin,  Tennessee,  December  30,  1862;  buried  in  National 
cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Smith,  John  P.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  3,  1864,  at  Jack- 
son; died  December  15,  1864;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at 
Beaufort,  South  Carolina,  section  48,  grave  No.  5799. 

Taylor,  Ezekiel  V. ;  enlisted  October  26,  1861,  at  Breedsville; 
discharged  for  disability,  October  20,  1862. 

Valleau,  William,  Waverly;  enlisted  December  22,  1863,  at  Wav- 
erly, died  at  David's  Island,  New  York,  March  8,  1865,  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Brooklyn,  New  York,  grave  No.  2355. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  207 

Walker,  Robert;  enlisted  April  10,  1865,  at  Paw  Paw;  dis- 
charged May  15,  1865. 

Company  II:  Abrams,  Albert;  enlisted  August  31,  1864,  at 
Paw  Paw;  died  at  Savannah,  Georgia,  January  10,  1865;  buried 
at  Detroit,  Michigan. 

Barton,  Nathan  S.,  Lawrence ;  enlisted  January  1,  1862,  at 
Lawrence ;  corporal ;  discharged  June  26,  1865,  on  account  of 
wounds  received  in  action  at  Bentonville,  North  Carolina,  March 
19,  1865. 

Bennett,  James;  enlisted  at  Waverly,  February  27,  1864;  dis- 
charged July  18,  1865. 

Bovier,  James;  drafted  from  Hartford;  mustered  September 
24,  1864 ;  discharged  June  13,  1865 ;  died  December  10,  1896. 

Brooks,  George  W.,  Hartford;  enlisted  February  10,  1863,  at 
Hamilton,  (substitute  for  Ansel  Goodspeed  drafted  at  Hartford, 
February  12,  1863)  ;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Burch,  Wilson;  enlisted  February  18,  1863,  at  Hamilton,  (sub- 
stitute for  Archibald  Richardson  drafted  February  10,  1863,  at 
Bloomingdale)  ;  discharged  for  disability,  May  5,  1864. 

Clark,  Joshua;  enlisted  February  27,  1864,  at  Paw  Paw; 
wounded  in  action  at  Bentonville,  North  Carolina,  March  19, 
1865;  discharged  June  16,  1865. 

Coon,  Edward  M.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  26,  1864,  at  Ant- 
werp; taken  prisoner  near  Rockingham,  South  Carolina,  March 
8,  1865;  confined  in  prison  at  Danville,  Virginia;  discharged 
June  7,  1865. 

Davis,  John  H. ;  drafted  from  South  Haven;  mustered  Sep- 
tember 24,  1864;  died  of  disease  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  October 
24,  1864. 

De  Long,  George,  Hamilton;  enlisted  August  29,  1864,  at  Kala- 
mazoo; discharged  May  6,  1865. 

Dustin,  William  D. ;  enlisted  February  27,  1865,  at  Kalamazoo ; 
discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Dustin,  Albert  M. ;  enlisted  February  27,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo; 
discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Dunton,  Edwin;  enlisted  April  6,  1865,  at  Almena;  discharged 
May  15,  1865. 

Edson,  Mortimer  J.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  February  27,  1864,  at 
Paw  Paw;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Ellison,  James;  enlisted  February  27,  1863,  at  Hamilton,  (sub- 
stitute for  Milo  J.  Barton;  drafted  February  14,  1863,  at  Ham- 
ilton) ;  discharged  for  disability  November  15,  1863. 

Erkenbeck,  Martin  V.,  Mattawan ;  enlisted  February  26,  1864, 
at  Kalamazoo;  discharged  May  25,  1865. 


208  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Gibson,  Charles;  drafted  from  South  Haven;  mustered  Sep- 
tember 24,  1864;  discharged  July  13,  1865. 

Hale,  Jerome;  drafted  from  South  Haven;  mustered  Septem- 
ber 24,  1864;  discharged  June  8,  1865;  dead;  buried  at  South 
Haven. 

Hill,  Henry  W. ;  drafted  from  South  Haven;  mustered  Sep- 
tember 24,  1864;  sick,  January  31,   1865;  no  further  record. 

Hill,  Ira  M.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  February  22,  1864,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  June  16,  1865. 

Holmes,  Alvin  P.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  October  5,  1861,  at  Ant- 
werp; discharged  July  28,  1865. 

Holmes,  Philemon  B.,  Mattawan;  enlisted  February  26,  1864, 
at  Kalamazoo ;  discharged  June  8,  1865. 

Huey,  p]nos;  enlisted  February  27,  1864,  at  Waverly;  died  at 
Millen,  Georgia,  December  4,  1864. 

Hannah,  John  H. ;  drafted  at  Hartford ;  mustered  September  24, 
1864 ;  sick,  June,  1865 ;  no  further  record. 

Herron,  Ashbel;  enlisted  March  9,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo;  dis- 
charged July  25,   1865. 

Loveridge,  John,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  26,  1864,  at  Ant- 
werp; discharged  June  8,  1865;  died  January  15,  1901. 

Lane,  Irving  H. ;  enlisted  February  26,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo ; 
discharged  July  25,  1865;  died  November  29,  1900;  buried  at 
Paw  Paw. 

McGregor,  Malcolm ;  drafted  from  South  Haven ;  mustered 
September  24,  1864;  discharged  May  25,  1865;  died  July  11,  1899; 
buried  at  South  Haven. 

Mather,  Spencer;  enlisted  February  22,  1864,  at  Paw  Paw; 
died  at  Lookout  Mountain,  Tennessee,  July  20,  1864;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  grave  No.  1300. 

Myers,  Francis  P.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  February  27,  1864,  at 
Bloomingdale ;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Myers,  George  W. ;  enlisted  February  20,  1864,  at  Waverly ; 
discharged  July  20,  1865. 

Osborne,  Eugene;  enlisted  August  20,  1864,  at  Paw  Paw;  died 
on  march  through  Georgia ;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Beau- 
fort, South  Carolina,  section  41,  grave  No.  4645. 

Rhoades,  Orrin,  Almena;  enlisted  February  26,  1864,  at  Kala- 
mazoo; discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Riehl,  Charles;  enlisted  February  20,  1864,  at  Waverly;  killed 
in  action  at  Bentonville,  North  Carolina,  March  19,  1865. 

Sirrine,  William  R.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  February  27,  1864,  at 
Paw  Paw;  sergeant  and  first  sergeant;  commissioned  second  lieu- 
tenant, July  19,  1865;  discharged  July  25,  1865;  present  resi- 
dence Paw  Paw. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  209 

Soules,  George  W.,  Mattawan;  enlisted  August  24,  1864,  at 
Jackson;  discharged  June  8,  1865. 

Strong,  Elijah;  enlisted  March  3,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo;  dis- 
charged July  25,  1865. 

Warner,  Jerome  C,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  February  26,  1864,  at 
Paw  Paw;  corporal;  wounded  in  action  at  Bentonville,  North 
Carolina,  March  19,  1865;  discharged  June  22,  1865;  present 
residence  Paw  Paw. 

Welch,  Charles,  Waverly;  enlisted  August  30,  1864,  at  Wav- 
erly;  discharged  June  8,  1865. 

Woodman,  Edson,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  27,  1864;  dis- 
charged July  22,  1865,  on  account  of  wounds  received  in  action  at 
Bentonville,  North  Carolina,  March  19,  1865;  present  residence, 
Paw  Paw. 

Wood,  George,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  20,  1864,  at  Kalama- 
zoo; discharged  June  8,  1865. 

Company  I :  Byers,  James  A. ;  drafted  from  South  Haven ; 
mustered  September  24,  1864;  discharged  June  8,  1865. 

Chapman,  Alvin,  Arlington;  drafted  from  Almena;  mustered 
September  26,  1864;  discharged  June  8,  1865. 

Cook,  Joseph  S. ;  enlisted  as  substitute  for  Edwin  Olds,  (drafted 
from  Hartford)  ;  mustered  October  7,  1864;  no  further  record. 

Culver,  Arvis  B. ;  enlisted  December  5,  1863,  at  Paw  Paw;  dis- 
charged June  19,  1865. 

Fish,  Miram ;  drafted  from  South  Haven ;  mustered  Septem- 
ber 24,  1864,  discharged  July  10,  1865. 

Freeman,  David  II.;  enlisted  March  31,  1865,  at  Kalamazoo; 
discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Gorham,  Bradford  C. ;  enlisted  December  29,  1863,  at  Keeler; 
discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Lee,  James  F. ;  drafted  from  South  Haven ;  mustered  Septem- 
ber 24,  1864;  discharged  June  8,  1865;  died  August  14,  1898. 

Kidney,  Zenas,  Lawton;  enlisted  February  29,  1864,  at  Law- 
ton;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Kinney,  Warren  G.,  Antwerp ;  enlisted  March  9,  1864,  at  Kala- 
mazoo; discharged  July  29,  1865. 

Martin,  James;  enlisted  August  29,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo;  died 
April  23,  1865,  of  wounds  received  in  action  at  Bentonville,  North 
Carolina,  March  19,  1865 ;  buried  at  New  Berne,  North  Carolina. 

Company  K :  Allen,  Edmund  R. ;  enlisted  November  12,  1861, 
at  Mattawan;  sergeant;  first  sergeant;  wounded  in  action  at 
Chickamauga,  Georgia,  September  19,  1863;  discharged  January 
16,  1865. 

Allen,  Erastus  V. ;  enlisted  February  1,  1862,  at  Mattawan ;  dis- 
charged for  disability,  November  1.5,  1863 ;  died  March  5,  1894. 


210  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Anderson,  George  E.,  Mattawan;  enlisted  February  27,  1864, 
at  Antwerp;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Anderson,  William,  Mattawan;  enlisted  February  12,  1862,  at 
Lawton;  corporal,  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Baker,  Alverton,  Lawrence;  enlisted  February  7,  1862,  at 
Lawrence;  died  at  Hamburg  Landing,  Tennessee,  June  26,  1862; 
buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Shiloh,  Tennessee. 

Baker,  Charles  A. ;  enlisted  February  13,  1865,  at  Antwerp ; 
discharged  July  19,  1865. 

Baker,  Chester,  Mattawan;  enlisted  March  15,  1862;  at  Mat- 
tawan; discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Baker,  Royal  W.,  Hartford;  enlisted  December  12,  1861,  at 
Bangor;  discharged  for  disability,  July  12,  1862. 

Baker,  William  M.,  drafted  from  Hartford,  mustered  Septem- 
ber 24,  1864,  wounded  and  missing  in  action  at  Bentonville,  North 
Carolina,  March  19,  1865,  no  further  record. 

Balfour,  Harrison,  Mattawan;  entered  service  at  organization 
of  regiment  as  second  lieutenant.  First  lieutenant,  July  13,  1862 ; 
resigned  on  account  of  disability,  March  5,  1863. 

Balfour,  Harrison  M.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  November  12,  1861,  at 
Bangor ;  corporal ;  died  at  Cave  City,  Kentucky,  November  5,  1862 ; 
buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tennessee. 

Berzley,  Francis  A.,  Pine  Grove;  enlisted  August  22,  1864,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  June  8,  1865. 

Berzley,  William  R.,  Pine  Grove;  enlisted  February  25,  1863, 
at  Bloomingdale,  (as  substitute  for  Starr  I.  Butler,  drafted  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1863,  from  Bloomingdale)  ;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Birge,  Washington  I. ;  enlisted  December  12,  1861,  at  Hartford ; 
corporal;  discharged  for  disability  May  30,  1863. 

Bishop,  Joshua,  enlisted  December  14,  1861,  at  Mattawan; 
taken  prisoner  at  Crawfish  Springs,  Georgia,  September  20,  1863 ; 
discharged  July  1,  1865;  died  January  13,  1910;  buried  at  Paw 
Paw. 

Blandon,  Othniel  H.,  enlisted  December  9,  1861,  at  Bangor; 
discharged  June  9,  1862. 

Boss,  Andrew  J.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  November  23,  1861,  at 
Mattawan ;  discharged  for  disability  June  25,  1865. 

Boss,  William,  Mattawan;  enlisted  November  15,  1861,  at  Mat- 
tawan; discharged  for  disability  September  9,  1862;  dead;  buried 
at  Fairgrove,  Michigan. 

Bush,  Elijah,  Waverly;  enlisted  December  14,  1863,  at  Wa- 
verly ;  died  near  Sister's  Ferry,  Georgia,  January  20,  1865. 

Butler,  Dimick,  Mattawan;  enlisted  November  15,  1861,  at  Mat- 
tawan ;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 


HISTOKY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY  211 

Butler,  Ellis,  Mattawan;  enlisted  February  13,  1864,  at  Ant- 
werp; discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Byington,  Elmore  A.,  Bangor;  enlisted  November  14,  1861,  at 
Breedsville;  sergeant;  died  at  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  March 
22,  1863 ;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Murfreesboro ;  grave  No. 
5689. 

Brick,  Jeremiah;  (substitute  for  Andrew  Monroe  drafted,) 
mustered  October  7,  1864;  discharged  June  9,  1865. 

Clark,  Cyrus  F. ;  enlisted  November  12,  1861,  at  Bangor;  dis- 
charged for  disability  March  3,  1863. 

Cleveland,  William;  enlisted  December  7,  1861,  at  Bangor;  cor- 
poral; discharged  January  16,  1865. 

Clugston,  George;  enlisted  December  11,  1861,  at  Mattawan; 
died  March  21,  1865,  of  wounds  received  at  Bentonville,  North 
Carolina,  March  19,  1865. 

Cook,  Joseph  0.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  November  29,  1861,  at 
Lawrence;   discharged  for  disability,  July  12,  1862. 

Covey,   Alphonso,   Paw   Paw;   enlisted   December  20,   1863,   at 
Waverly ;  taken  prisoner  March  4,  1865 ;  discharged  July  20,  1865. 
Curtis,  Charles  L. ;  enlisted  November  30,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
discharged  for  disability  September  8,  1862. 

Daggett,  Danford;  enlisted  December  7,  1861,  at  Bangor;  dis- 
charged January  17,  1861 ;  died  May  5,  1903. 

Dean,  William  W.,  Bangor;  enlisted  December  14,  1861,  at 
Bangor;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

De  Long,  Nathan,  enlisted  December  9,  1861,  at  Hartford;  dis- 
charged for  disability  June,  1863;  drafted  from  Hartford;  mus- 
tered September  24,  1864;  discharged  June  8,  1865. 

Dyckman,  Michael  F. ;  enlisted  August  26,  1864,  at  Paw  Paw; 
died  at  Savannah,  Georgia,  February  1,  1865;  buried  in  National 
cemetery  at  Brooklyn,  New  York;  grave  No.  2388. 

Dye,  Horace,  Mattawan;  enlisted  February  27,  1864,  at  Kala- 
mazoo; discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Earle,  Adelbert  T.,  Mattawan;  enlisted  December  15,  1861,  at 
Mattawan;  killed  in  action  at  Chickamauga,  Georgia,  September 
19,  1863. 

Earle,  Albert,  Arlington;  enlisted  December  13,  1861,  at  Ar- 
lington; corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant;  discharged  July  25, 
1865. 

Earle,  James  L.,  Mattawan;  enlisted  November  12,  1861,  at  Mat- 
tawan; killed  in  action  at  Chickamauga,  Georgia;  September  19, 
1863. 

Fitch,  De  Witt  C,  Mattawan;  entered  service  at  organization 
of  regiment  as  captain;  promoted  to  major,  September  22,  1862; 
resigned  on  account  of  disability  April  12,  1864;  died  at  Paw  Paw. 


212  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Gilpin,  William  T. ;  enlisted  December  7,  1861,  at  Breedsville ; 
corporal;  wounded  in  action  September  19,  1863;  discharged 
January  18,  1865. 

Griffin,  Alexander;  enlisted  September  5,  1864,  at  Antwerp; 
discharged  June  8,  1865. 

Hamlin,  Amos  M.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  29,  1864,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  July  11,  1865. 

Hamlin,  Frederick  J.  D.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  February  23, 
1864,  at  Paw  Paw;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Hamlin,  Julius  P.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  29,  1864,  at  Paw 
Paw;  died  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  November  25,  1864;  buried 
in  National  cemetery  at  Chattanooga;  grave  No.  1477. 

Hamlin,  William  C. ;  enlisted  December  13,  1861,  at  Arlington; 
corporal ;  missing  in  action  at  Chickamauga,  Georgia ;  September 
19,  1863;  no  further  record. 

Handyside,  Reuben;  enlisted  November  12,  1861,  at  Mattawan; 
discharged  for  disability  November  8,  1862. 

Hoppin,  Franklin;  enlisted  November  12,  1861,  at  Mattawan; 
wounded  in  action  at  Chickamauga,  Georgia,  September  19,  1863 ; 
discharged  April  4,  1865. 

Hosner,  Sylvester,  Mattawan;  enlisted  February  20,  1864,  at 
Antwerp;  wounded  in  action  at  Bentonville,  North  Carolina, 
March  19,  1865;  discharged  July  18,  1865;  dead;  buried  at 
Geneva,  Michigan. 

Hudson,  Charles;  enlisted  December  24,  1863,  at  Almena ;  dis- 
charged July  25,  1865. 

Hudson,  Joel,  Mattawan;  enlisted  December  13,  1861,  at  Mat- 
tawan; wounded  in  action  at  Chickamauga,  Georgia,  September 
19,  1863 ;  corporal ;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Hurlbut,  Chester,  Lawrence ;  enlisted  August  27,  1864,  at  Kala- 
mazoo; died  at  De  Camp  hospital,  New  York  harbor,  March  7, 
1865 ;  buried  in  Cypress  National  cemetery,  Brooklyn,  New  York. 

Jackson,  Joshua;  enlisted  November  23,  1861,  at  Mattawan; 
corporal;  taken  prisoner  at  Chickamauga,  Georgia,  September 
10,  1863;  discharged  March  10,  1865. 

Johnson,  Aaron  H. ;  enlisted  December  4,  1861,  at  Mattawan; 
discharged  September  27,  1862. 

Johnson,  William  0.,  Bangor;  enlisted  November  22,  1861,  at 
Bangor;  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  June  7,  1862;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Kemp,    Solomon,    Hartford;    enlisted    February    25,    1863,    at  * 
Hartford   (substitute  for  John  Travis,  drafted  from  Hartford)  ; 
died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  June  30,  1863;  buried  in  National 
cemetery  at  Nashville. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  213 

Ketchum,  Oliver,  Almena;  enlisted  December  10,  1861,  at  Mat- 
tawan;  corporal;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Ketchum,  John;  enlisted  February  27,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo; 
discharged  July  26,  1865. 

Kidder,  James  F. ;  enlisted  December  19,  1861,  at  Arlington ; 
corporal;  discharged  March  10,  1865. 

Kidder,  Moses  L.,  Lawrence ;  enlisted  August  29,  1864,  at  Kala- 
mazoo; wounded  in  action  December  28,  1864;  taken  to  hospital 
at  Savannah,  Georgia;  no  further  record. 

Kidder,  Sherburne,  Lawrence;  enlisted  December  13,  1861,  at 
Arlington,  corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant  and  to  first  sergeant; 
discharged  July  25,  1865. 

King,  Samuel  J.,  Mattawan;  enlisted  November  12,  1861,  at 
Mattawan;  died  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  Tennessee,  April  22, 
1862;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Shiloh,  Tennessee;  grave 
No.  597. 

Layton,  Harvey  E.,  Arlington;  enlisted  November  26,  1861,  at 
Arlington ;  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  December  1,  1862 ;  buried 
in  National  cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Lett,  Aquilla,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  1,  1864,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  June  8,  1865;  died  February  20,  1902. 

McManigal,  William  H.,  Mattawan;  enlisted  December  10, 
1861,  at  Mattawan;  died  at  Kalamazoo,  February  21,  1862. 

McPherson,  William;  enlisted  November  18,  1861,  at  Mattawan; 
discharged  for  disability  August  20,  1862. 

Marcellus,  Andrew,  Bangor;  enlisted  November  18,  1861,  at 
Bangor;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Marshall,  Nelson  S. ;  enlisted  December  12,  1861,  at  Bangor; 
discharged  June  14,  1862. 

Miller,  George  F.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  November  15,  1861,  at 
Mattawan;  died  at  Lookout  Mountain,  May  17,  1864,  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee;  grave  No.  1199. 

Miller,  Jeremiah,  Mattawan;  enlisted  November  14,  1861,  at 
Mattawan;  corporal;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Monroe,  Richard,  Mattawan;  enlisted  February  10,  1863,  at 
Hamilton  (substitute  for  James  Comley,  drafted  from  Hamilton)  ; 
discharged  August  9,  1865. 

Nelson,  Francis  M.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  February  7,  1862,  at 
Lawrence;  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  August  5,  1862;  buried 
in  National  cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Nichols,  Edmond,  Mattawan;  enlisted  December  2,  1861,  at 
Mattawan ;  died  October  19,  1863,  of  wounds  received  in  action  at 
Chickamauga,  Georgia,  September  19,  1863;  buried  in  National 
cemetery  at  Nashville. 


214  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Nightingale,  Anthony;  enlisted  December  10,  1861,  at  Matta- 
wan; discharged  June  1,  1862. 

Palmer,  Alfred  B. ;  enlisted  August  29,  1864,  at  Paw  Paw;  dis- 
charged July  25,  1865. 

Reynolds,  Oscar  G.,  Hartford;  enlisted  August  30,  1864,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  June  27,  1865. 

Robinson,  William  H.  H.,  Breedsville;  enlisted  Nov.  12,  1861, 
at  Mattawan ;  died  at  New  Albany,  Indiana,  November  9,  1862 ; 
buried  in  National  cemetery  at  New  Albany;  grave  No.  1151. 

Rooker,  Myron  D. ;  enlisted  November  20,  1861,  at  Breedsville  ; 
discharged  October  6,  1862. 

Rowe,  Rufus  M.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  December  2,  1861,  at 
Lawrence;  corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant  and  to  first  sergeant; 
discharged  January  16,  1865. 

Samson,  Edwin  0.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  February  7,  1862;  dis- 
charged for  disability  July  25,  1862. 

Shaver,  Isaac,  Arlington;  enlisted  November  12,  1861,  at  Ar- 
lington; musician;  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  September  12, 
1862;  buried  in  National  cemetery,  at  Nashville. 

Shulters,  David  H.,  Mattawan;  enlisted  November  14,  1861,  at 
Mattawan;  killed  in  action  at  Bentonville,  North  Carolina,  March 
19,   1865. 

Smith,  Robert  C. ;  enlisted  December  6,  1861,  at  Arlington ; 
discharged  for  disability  October,  1862. 

Smith,  Samuel  H.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  January  25,  1862,  at 
Bangor;  corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant;  discharged  July  25, 
1865. 

Spencer,  Charles  F. ;  enlisted  December  6,  1861,  at  Bangor ; 
discharged  June  20,  1862. 

Story,  Edgar;  Mattawan;  enlisted  December  13,  1861,  at  Mat- 
tawan; died  October  18,  1863,  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  of 
wounds  received  in  action  at  Chickamauga,  Georgia,  September 
19,  1863. 

Story,  Lorenzo  D.,  Pine  Grove;  enlisted  December  9,  1861,  at 
Mattawan;  corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant;  discharged  July  25, 
1865. 

Story,  William  R. ;  enlisted  December  9,  1861,  at  Mattawan ; 
discharged  for  disability  January  26,  1864. 

Stover,  Martin,  Antwerp;  enlisted  November  21,  1861,  at  Mat- 
tawan; discharged  for  disability  June  25,  1865. 

Sumner,  Noble,  Lawrence;  enlisted  November  21,  1861,  at 
Lawrence;  died  at  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  March  9,  1863; 
buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Murfreesboro;  grave  No.  7. 

Stanton,  John  L. ;  enlisted  April  12,  1865,  at  Kalamazoo;  dis- 
charged May  15,  1865. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  215 

Taplin,  George  A.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  November  21,  1861,  at 
Lawrence ;  discharged  June  30,  1865. 

Vandervoort,  Nathan  G.  Hartford;  enlisted  September  3, 
1864,  at  Hickory  Corners;  died  at  Savannah,  Georgia,  January 
18,  1865 ;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Beaufort,  South  Caro- 
lina, section  41,  grave  No.  4652. 

Van  Ostrom,  Hawley;  enlisted  February  7,  1862,  at  Hartford; 
discharged  December  15,  1862. 

Van  Sickle,  Benjamin,  Lawton;  enlisted  December  9,  1861,  at 
Paw  Paw ;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Waite,  Amos,  Paw  £aw;  enlisted  December  2,  1861,  at  Matta- 
wan;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 

Wallace,  Henry  C,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  29,  1864,  at 
Paw  Paw;  wounded  in  action  at  Bentonville,  North  Carolina, 
March  19,  1865;  died  at  De  Camp  hospital,  New  York  Harbor, 
May  29,  1865 ;  buried  in  Cypress  Hill  cemetery,  Brooklyn,  New 
York. 

Ward,  Abram  R.,  Mattawan ;  enlisted  November  12,  1861,  at 
Mattawan;  died  at  Town  Creek,  Alabama,  June  27,  1862;  buried 
in  National  cemetery  at  Corinth,  Mississippi. 

Welker,  John,  Lawrence;  enlisted  November  29,  1861,  at  Ban- 
gor; killed  in  action  at  Stone  River,  Tennessee,  December  31, 
1862. 

West,  Hopkins;  enlisted  August  26,  1864,  at  Paw  Paw;  dis- 
charged June  8,  1865. 

White,  James,  Jr.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  November  21,  1861,  at 
Hartford;  discharged  for  disability  July  12,  1862. 

Williams,  Daniel  F. ;  enlisted  November  30,  1861,  at  Mattawan ; 
mustered  January  17,  1862;  no  further  record. 

Unassigned:  Cannum,  James;  enlisted  October  5,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton;  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps,  September  39,  1862. 

Harris,  George  W. ;  enlisted  August  27,  1864,  at  Paw  Paw ; 
discharged  May  6,  1865. 

Heffron,  Eugene;  enlisted  September  2,  1864,  at  Paw  Paw; 
mustered  same  date;  no  further  record. 

Seventeenth  Michigan   Infantry 

Then  up  with  the  Banner,  let  Southern  breezes  fan  her, 

It  shall  float  o  'er  Columbia  evermore, 
In  glory  we'll  sustain  her,  in  battle  we'll  defend  her, 

With  heart  and  with  hand  like  our  fathers  before. 

The  Seventeenth  Infantry,  the  celebrated  "Stonewall  Kegi- 
ment,"  rendezvoused  at  Detroit  in  the  spring  of  1862  and  started 
for  Washington  on  the  27th  day  of  the  succeeding  August  under 
command  of  Colonel  William  H.  Withington,  with  an  enrolment 


216  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

of  982  officers  and  enlisted  men,  was  at  once  assigned  to  the  First 
Brigade,  First  Division,  Ninth  Army  Corps,  and  continued  to 
form  a  part  of  this  celebrated  corps  during  its  entire  period  of 
service. 

At  South  Mountain 

Perhaps  no  other  Michigan  regiment  had  such  a  serious  test 
of  its  patriotism,  courage  and  soldierly  qualities  so  soon  after  ar- 
riving in  the  field  as  the  Seventeenth.  Scarcely  two  weeks  after 
it  left  the  state  it  participated  in  one  of  the  severest  engagements 
of  the  war,  considering  the  numbers  engaged — the  battle  of  South 
Mountain,  Maryland,  where  the  Ninth  Corps  attempted  to  cross 
the  mountain  through  Turner's  gap  and  drive  the  Confederates 
from  the  summit. 

The  Seventeenth  had  been  so  recently  organized  and  was  so  in- 
experienced in  actual  warfare  that  the  men  did  not  realize  the 
desperate  task  they  were  assigned  until  the  enemy's  shot  and 
shell  were  crashing  through  their  ranks. 

Almost  at  a  moment's  notice  the  regiment  was  plunged  into 
the  horrible  realities  of  a  pitched  battle.  On  the  crest  of  the 
mountain,  behind  stone  walls,  the  enemy  awaited  the  advance  of 
the  Union  forces.  The  orders  came  for  the  Seventeenth  to  charge, 
when  with  wrild  cheers  the  regiment  rushed  through  a  storm  of 
lead,  drove  the  enemy  from  his  stone  defences  and  sent  him  re- 
treating down  the  slope  of  the  mountain. 

In  this  charge  the  Seventeenth  secured  the  title  of  the  "Stone- 
wall Regiment, "  wrhich  clung  to  it  as  an  honorable  distinction 
during  the  war.  The  regiment  carried  approximately  500  men 
into  this  engagement  and  lost  140  in  killed  and  wounded. 

The  Seventeenth  had  strenuous  work  during  the  entire  period 
of  its  service.  Some  of  the  more  important  battles  in  which  it 
participated  wTere  South  Mountain,  Antietam,  Fredericksburg, 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  siege  of  Knoxville,  The  Wilderness,  Spottsyl- 
vania,  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg  and  Weldon  Railroad. 

After  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  in  which  the  regiment  was 
nearly  annihilated,  it  practically  lost  its  position  in  the  brigade 
for  want  of  numbers  and  lack  of  regimental  organization  and  the 
few  that  remained  were  detailed  in  the  engineer  corps  and  at 
headquarters.  After  Lee's  surrender,  the  regiment  proceeded  to 
Washington  and  participated  in  the  Grand  Review  on  the  23d  of 
May,  1865,  after  which  it  was  ordered  to  Michigan,  arriving  at 
Detroit,  June  7th,  where  it  was  paid  off  and  disbanded. 

Total  enrolment,  1,224;  killed  in  action,  84;  died  of  wounds, 
48;  died  in  Confederate  prisons,  54;  died  of  disease,  84;  dis- 
charged for  disability,  wounds  and  disease,  249. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  217 

There  were  but  comparatively  few  Van  Buren  county  men  in 
the  Seventeenth.     Following  is  a  list: 

Company  I:  Bailey,  Harry,  Lawrence;  enlisted  May  29,  1862, 
at  Lawrence ;  died  at  Newport  News,  Virginia,  March  8,  1863. 

Brotherton,  Frederick,  Decatur;  enlisted  May  29,  1862,  at  De- 
catur; died  at  Washington,  District  Columbia,  September  12, 
1862. 

Combs,  William,  Lawrence;  enlisted  May  29,  1862,  at  Lawr- 
rence ;  discharged  for  disability,  September  12,  1862. 

Dilts,  Hezekiah,  Lawrence ;  enlisted  May  29,  1862,  at  Lawrence ; 
wounded  in  action  at  South  Mountain,  Maryland,  September  14, 
1862;  sergeant;  discharged  June  3,  1865. 

Dunning,  John  T.,  Decatur;  enlisted  May  29,  1862,  at  Deca- 
tur; taken  prisoner  at  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  November  20,  1863; 
returned  to  regiment  April  30,  1864;  promoted  to  sergeant;  dis- 
charged April  20,  1865. 

Dexter,  Norman;  enlisted  at  Decatur  May  29,  1862;  discharged. 

Flanders,  Henry,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  12,  1862,  at  Kala- 
mazoo; discharged  June  3,  1865;  died  March  29,  1882;  buried  at 
Paw  Paw. 

Grey,  James,  Decatur;  enlisted  May  29,  1862,  at  Decatur;  died 
at  Camp  Nelson,  Kentucky,  November  11,  1863;  buried  in  Na- 
tional cemetery  at  Camp  Nelson;  grave  No.  1544. 

Griffin,  Ross  A.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  June  7,  1862,  at  Lawrence; 
discharged  for  disability  November  5,  1862. 

Hodges,  Herrick,  Lawrence;  first  enlisted  in  Company  C, 
Seventieth  New  York  Infantry;  discharged  for  disability  Octo- 
ber 24,  1861 ;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  Seventeenth  Michigan  In- 
fantry, May  29,  1862,  at  Lawrence;  sergeant;  wounded  in  action 
at  Antietam,  Maryland,  September  17,  1862;  discharged^  for  dis- 
ability June  1,   1863;  present  residence,  South  Haven. 

Hodges,  Orrin  W.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  May  29,  1862,  at  Law- 
rence; corporal;  wounded  in  action  at  Antietam,  Maryland,  Sep- 
tember 17,  1862;  discharged  for  disability,  April  14,  1863. 

Lindsley,  Floyd,  Lawrence;  enlisted  July  23,  1862,  at  Law 
rence;  discharged  for  disability,  January  5,  1863. 

McGann,  Porter,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  15,  1862,  at  Deca- 
tur; wounded  in  action  at  Sharpsburg,  Maryland,  September  17 
1862;  discharged. 

Nichols,  John,  Lawrence;  enlisted  May  29,  1862,  at  Lawrence 
taken  prisoner  at  Spottsylvania,  Virginia,  May  12,  1864;  dis- 
charged June  3,  1865. 

Pritchard,  George,  Decatur;  enlisted  July  22,  1862,  at  Decatur 
discharged  November  27,  1863. 

Robb,  John,   Lawrence;   enlisted  May"  29,   1862,   at  Lawrence 


218  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps;  discharged  July  17,  1865; 
died  at  Paw  Paw. 

Smith,  John  Philip,  Lawrence;  enlisted  May  29,  1862,  at  Law- 
rence; discharged  December  30,  1862;  present  residence,  Waverly. 

Other  Companies:  Slover,  John  F.  Waverly;  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany B,  July  22,  1862,  at  Niles ;  discharged  June  3,  1865. 

Hadsell,  Stephen  B.,  Bloomingdale ;  drafted  February  26,  1863; 
assigned  to  Company  E ;  discharged  December  16,  1863. 

Nineteenth  Michigan  Infantry 

Come,  come,  ye  braves — aye  come! 

The  battle  dawn  is  nigh; 
The  screaming  trump  and  rolling  drum 

Are  calling  you  to  die! 

The  Nineteenth  Michigan  Infantry  was  organized  at  Dowagiac 
under  the  direction  of  Colonel  Henry  C.  Gilbert,  and  was  mustered 
into  service  September  5,  1862,  with  an  enrolment  of  995  officers 
and  enlisted  men.  The  regiment  left  its  camp  for  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  September  14,  1862,  and  became  a  part  of  the  First  Di- 
vision of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio.  In  January,  1863,  it  was  incor- 
porated into  Baird's  Division  of  the  Army  of  Kentucky,  subse- 
quently absorbed  by  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

The  first  serious  engagement  in  which  the  Nineteenth  partici- 
pated was  at  Thompson's  Station,  Tennessee,  where  it  displayed 
those  soldierly  qualities  of  heroism  and  bravery  that  afterward 
distinguished  it  on  many  a  hard-fought  field  of  battle.  The  di- 
vision to  which  the  regiment  was  attached  was  furiously  assaulted 
by  a  Confederate  force  under  General  Yan  Dorn,  estimated  at 
18,000  men,  and  a  fierce  conflict  ensued.  The  Confederates  made 
three  separate  charges  which  were  gallantly  repulsed,  in  one  of 
which  the  Nineteenth  captured  the  colors  of  a  Mississippi  regi- 
ment. The  battle  lasted  five  hours  and  until  the  ammunition  was 
exhausted  and  the  overwhelming  number  of  the  Confederates 
made  it  necessary  to  surrender.  The  loss  of  the  Nineteenth  in 
this  engagement  was  113  killed  and  wounded.  Nor  did  the  Union 
troops  surrender  until  the  enemy  had  paid  dearly  for  his  victory. 

After  the  officers  had  been  exchanged  and  the  enlisted  men  pa- 
roled, the  regiment  was  reorganized  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio,  and  in 
June  returned  to  Nashville  and  took  part  in  the  advance  upon 
Tullahoma.  The  Nineteenth  assisted  in  fortifying  McMinnville, 
Tennessee,  in  October,  and  at  that  time  was  in  the  Second  Bri- 
gade, Third  Division,  Twentieth  Corps. 

The  regiment  was  employed  on  the  fortification  about  McMinn- 
ville in  building  bridges  and  block  houses  until  May,  when  it 
joined  General  Sherman's  army  on  the  Atlanta  campaign. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  219 

At  Resaca,  Georgia,  May  15,  1864,  the  Nineteenth  made  a  des- 
perate charge  upon  the  enemy's  line  and  almost  in  the  nature  of  a 
forlorn  hope  gallantly  captured  a  battery,  but  at  a  fearful  loss  of 
life.  Colonel  Gilbert  was  mortally  wounded  and  the  regiment  lost 
80  officers  and  men  killed  and  wounded.  Major  E.  A.  Griffin  suc- 
ceeded to  the  command  of  the  regiment  after  the  death  of  Colonel 
Gilbert,  which  occurred  May  24th,  and  on  the  25th  of  May,  fought 
a  severe  engagement  at  New  Hope  Church,  Georgia,  with  a  loss  of 
over  50  killed  and  wounded.  The  Nineteenth  took  an  active  part 
during  the  entire  campaign,  engaging  the  enemy  at  Golgotha 
Church,  where  Major  Griffin  was  mortally  wounded,  at  Culp's 
Farm  and  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  near  Atlanta,  where  it  was  as- 
sailed by  the  enemy  and  lost  40  in  killed  and  wounded  in  repuls- 
ing the  attack.  Upon  the  surrender  of  Atlanta,  the  Nineteenth 
moved  into  the  city  and  remained  until  October. 

Major  Baker  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  regiment  and 
wThen  General  Sherman  started  with  his  army  on  his  march  from 
" Atlanta  to  the  Sea,"  the  Nineteenth  was  still  a  part  of  the  Sec- 
ond Brigade,  Third  Division,  Twentieth  Corps,  and  moved  by 
way  of  Madison,  Louisville,  and  Millen  upon  Savannah. 

After  the  fall  of  Savannah,  the  Nineteenth,  under  command  of 
Major  Anderson,  started  on  the  campaign  through  the  Carolinas. 
It  shared  the  long  marches  and  vicissitudes  of  Sherman's  army 
and  arrived  befort  Averysboro,  North  Carolina,  January  16,  1865, 
where  the  Confederate  Generals  Johnston  and  Hardee  had  thrown 
up  strong  works  and  massed  their  infantry  to  oppose  General 
Sherman's  farther  advance.  The  brigade  of  which  the  Nineteenth 
formed  a  part  was  ordered  to  storm  the  works  and  by  a  gallant 
charge  carried  them,  taking  many  guns  and  prisoners.  This  was 
the  last  hard  fought  battle  in  which  the  Nineteenth  was  engaged, 
as  General  Lee  surrendered  the  army  of  Northern  Virginia  to 
General  Grant,  April  9th,  and  General  Johnston  surrendered  his 
army  to  General  Sherman  a  few  days  later. 

The  Nineteenth  marched  from  Bentonville  to  Raleigh,  and  then 
to  Alexandria,  Virginia,  and  participated  in  the  grand  review  of 
Sherman's  army  at  Washington,  D.   C,  May  24th. 

The  Nineteenth  was  mustered  out  of  service  June  10,  1865,  and 
arrived  at  Detroit,  Michigan,  the  13th,  when  it  was  paid  off  and 
disbanded. 

The  Nineteenth  was  in  engagements  at  Thompson's  Station, 
Tennessee,  March  5,  1863;  Nashville  and  Chattanooga  Railroad, 
Tennessee,  October  5,  1863 ;  Resaca,  Georgia,  May  15,  1864 ;  Cass- 
ville,  Georgia,  May  19,  1864 ;  New  Hope  Church,  Georgia,  May  25, 
1864;  Golgotha,  Georgia,  June  15,  1864;  Culp's  Farm,  Georgia, 
June  22,  1864;  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Georgia,  July  20,  1864;  siege 


220  HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

of  Atlanta,  Georgia  July  22,  to  September  2,  1864;  Savannah, 
Georgia,  December  11,  18,  20,  21,  1864;  Averysboro,  North  Caro- 
lina, March  16,  1865;  Bentonville,  North  Carolina,  March  19, 
1865. 

Total  enrolment,  1,206;  killed  in  action,  54;  died  of  wounds, 
81;  died  in  Confederate  prisons,  7;  died  of  disease,  182;  dis- 
charged for  disability,  wounds  and  disease,  182. 

Folio  wing  is  a  list  of  the  names  of  Van  Buren  county  soldiers 
who  served  in  the  Nineteenth  : 

Company  A:  Brodhead,  Daniel  W.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August 
24,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Freelove,  Joseph,  Keeler;  enlisted  August  4,  1862,  at  Dowagiac; 
discharged  for  disability,  March  24,  1863. 

Larzelere,  Reuben  B.,  Hamilton;  enlisted  at  organization  as 
second  lieutenant;  resigned  August  8,  1868;  died  at  Lansing, 
Michigan,  in  November,  1902. 

Lee,  George,  Keeler;  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  at  Dowagiac; 
discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Stever,  Charles  E.,  Keeler;  enlisted  August  2,  1862,  at  Dow- 
agiac; killed  in  action  at  Thompson's  Station,  Tennessee,  March 
5,  1863. 

Frost,  Frank,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  15,  1864,  at  Law- 
rence; discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Company  G:  Bailey,  Augustus,  South  Haven;  enlisted  July 
16,  1862,  at  South  Haven;  sergeant;  promoted  to  first  sergeant; 
wounded  in  action  at  Thompson's  Station,  Tennessee,  March  5, 
1863 ;  died  at  Murf  reesboro,  Tennessee,  September  5,  1863 ;  buried 
in  National  cemetery  at  Murf  reesboro. 

Beechner,  John,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  9,  1862,  at  Decatur; 
died  at  Lynchburg,  Virginia,  March  22,  1863;  buried  at  Lynch- 
burg. 

Bigelow,  Charles  W.,  South  Haven;  entered  service  as  captain, 
July  17,  1862,  at  South  Haven;  died  near  Chattanooga,  Tennes- 
see, of  wounds  received  in  action  at  New  Hope  Church,  Georgia, 
May  25,  1864. 

Brainard,  Clark  D. ;  enlisted  August  9,  1862,  at  Decatur ;  died 
at  Lexington,  Kentucky,  December  30,  1862;  buried  in  National 
cemetery  at  Lexington;  grave  No.  186. 

Breed,  William,  South  Haven;  enlisted  July  14,  1862,  at  South 
Haven;  taken  prisoner  at  Thompson  Station,  Tennessee,  March  5, 
1863;  died  at  Richmond,  Virginia,  March  19,  1863;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Richmond. 

Brown,  Charles  H.,  South  Haven;  enlisted  July  18,  1862,  at 
South    Haven;    died    at    Nicholasville,    Kentucky,    December    15, 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  221 

1862;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Camp  Nelson,  Kentucky; 
grave  No.  1574. 

Brown,  Elijah  M.,  Keeler;  enlisted  December  15,  1863,  at  Pon- 
tiac; discharged  July  19,  1865. 

Company  I:  Brown,  Elijah  M.,  Keeler;  enlisted  November  28, 
1863,  at  Pontiac;  discharged  July  19,  1865. 

Buttrick,  William  L.,  Keeler;  enlisted  January  4,  1864,  at 
Wayne;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Klett,  John  M.,  Keeler;  enlisted  December  30,  1863,  at  Kala- 
mazoo; wounded  in  action  at  Altoona,  Georgia,  May  26,  1864; 
transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps;  discharged  July  23,  1865. 

Klett,  George,  Keeler;  enlisted  December  30,  1863,  at  Kala- 
mazoo; died  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  of  wounds  received  at 
Chattanooga  River,  Georgia,  June  10,  1864;  buried  in  National 
cemetery  at  Chattanooga. 

Linsenmeyer,  Christian,  Keeler;  enlisted  January  2,  1863,  at 
St.  Joseph;  discharged  July  19,  1865. 

Linsenmeyer,  William,  Keeler;  enlisted  January  4,  1864,  at 
Keeler;  discharged  July  19,  1865. 

Palmer,  John,  Keeler;  enlisted  December  19,  1863,  at  Pontiac; 
discharged  July  19,  1863. 

Brown,  Erastus  P. ;  enlisted  July  16,  1862,  at  Pine  Grove ;  dis- 
charged for  disability  November  24,  1863. 

Butterfield,  Charles  A.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  12,  1862, 
at  Hartford;  wounded  in  action  at  Thompson's  Station,  Tennes- 
see, March  5,  1863 ;  corporal ;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Carroll,  Thomas  W.,  South  Haven;  enlisted  July  14,  1862,  at 
South  Haven,  died  at  Covington,  Kentucky,  November  22,  1862; 
buried  in  National  cemetery,  Covington;  grave  No.  1895. 

Chambers,  William,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  8,  1862,  at  De- 
catur; discharged  for  disability,  June  8,  1863. 

Chapman,  NewTton  F. ;  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  at  Decatur; 
corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant;  wounded  in  action  at  Resaca, 
Georgia,  May  15,  1864 ;  discharged  June  5,  1865. 

Clark,  Chester,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  at  Decatur; 
discharged  for  disability  February  25,  1863. 

De  Long,  Silas  B.,  Hartford;  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  at  Ar- 
lington; discharged  August  1,  1865,  on  account  of  wounds  re- 
ceived in  action  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Georgia,  July  26,  1864: 

Delongay,  Henry,  Breedsville;  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  at  Ar- 
lington; discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Dopp,  Cyrus  B.,  South  Haven;  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  at 
South  Haven;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Dunham,  John  A.,  Hartford;  enlisted  August  1,  1862,  at  Hart- 
ford; died  May  17,  1864,  of  wounds  received  in  action  at  Resaca, 


222  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Georgia,  May  5,  1864;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Chatta- 
nooga, Georgia ;  ^rave  No.  8993. 

Eaton,  Moses  E.  F.;  enlisted  August  2,  1862,  at  Covert;  dis- 
charged for  disability  June  22,  1862. 

Evans,  Isaac  K.,  Keeler;  enlisted  August  14,  1862,  at  Dowagiac; 
discharged  for  disability,  April  19,  1863;  dead;  buried  at  Grand 
Junction,  Michigan. 

Evans,  Selah  L,  Keeler;  enlisted  August  14,  1862,  at  Keeler; 
discharged  for  disability  June  17,  1863. 

Foster,  Jonathan  W.,  South  Haven;  enlisted  August  4,  1862, 
at  South  Haven;  corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant;  discharged 
June  10,  1865. 

Freeman,  Charles,  South  Haven;  enlisted  August  7,  1862,  at 
South  Haven;  corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant;  wounded  in  ac- 
tion at  Thompson's  Station,  Tennessee,  March  5,  1863;  dis- 
charged May  19,  1865. 

Gilpin,  Elias  E.  Geneva;  enlisted  July  18,  1862,  at  Geneva; 
corporal;  wounded  July  22,  1864;  killed  in  action  at  Averysboro, 
North  Carolina,  March  16,  1865;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at 
Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 

Gowers,  George,  Keeler;  enlisted  August  14,  1862,  at  Keeler; 
taken  prisoner  at  Thompson's  Station,  Tennessee,  March  5,  1863; 
paroled ;  died  at  Annapolis,  Maryland,  April  5,  1863. 

Graham,  John,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  15,  1862,  at  Decatur: 
wounded  in  action  at  Thompson's  Station,  Tennessee,  March  5, 
1863;  sergeant  and  color  bearer;  second  lieutenant,  June  15, 
1865;  dead;  buried  at  Decatur. 

Hand,  Patrick,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  8,  1862,  at  Decatur; 
corporal;  no  further  record. 

Harvey,  Thomas  M.,  Bangor;  enlisted  August  1,  1862,  at  Ban- 
gor; corporal;  wounded  in  action  at  Resaca,  Georgia;  discharged 
June  19,  1865;  died  at  Bangor. 

Heald,  James,  Hartford;  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  at  Hart- 
ford; transferred  to  Marine  Brigade;  discharged  January  18y 
1865. 

Hinckley,  Gershom,  South  Haven;  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  at 
South  Haven;  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  March  20,  1863; 
buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Horton,  Thomas  Arlington;  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  at  Ar- 
lington ;  corporal ;  promoted  to  sergeant ;  taken  prisoner  at 
Thompson's  Station,  Tennessee,  March  5,  1865;  confined  in  Libby 
Prison;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Hubbard,  William  H.,  South  Haven;  enlisted  July  14,  1862, 
at  South  Haven;  discharged  June  12,  1865. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUKEN  COUNTY  223 

Hughes,  James,  Arlington;  enlisted  August  14,  1862,  at  Ar- 
lington; corporal;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Hughes,  Philip,  Keeler;  enlisted  August  15,  1862,  at  Keeler; 
discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Hugnin,  Van  Renssellaer  R.,  Waverly;  enlisted  August  11, 
1862,  at  Columbia;  sick  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio,  June,  1863,  re- 
entered service  in  Co.  H,  13th  Infantry,  February  25,  1864;  dis- 
charged July  25,  1865. 

Kingston,  John  W.,  Breedsville;  enlisted  August  12,  1862,  at 
Columbia;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Kleckner,  Frederick,  South  Haven;  enlisted  August  7,  1862,  a( 
South  Haven;  wounded  in  action  at  Thompson's  Station,  Ten- 
nessee, March  5,  1863 ;  wounded  in  action  at  Peach  Tree  Creek, 
Georgia,  July  20,  1864;  discharged  June  27,  1865. 

Lewis,  Jacob  H.,  Keeler;  enlisted  August  14,  1862,  at  Keeler; 
discharged  June  10,  1865. 

McLaughlin,  Archibald,  Bangor;  enlisted  July  16,  1862,  at 
Bangor ;  first  sergeant ;  second  lieutenant,  January  6,  1863 ;  re- 
signed on  account  of  disability  May  25,  1864;  died  1890;  buried 
at  Goodrich,  Tennessee. 

McNitt,  Manley  B. ;  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  at  Hartford; 
wounded  in  action  at  Thompson's  Station,  Tennessee,  March  5, 
1863;  wounded  in  action  at  Resaca,  Georgia,  May  15,  1864;  pro- 
moted to  corporal;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Messenger,  Aaron,  Decatur;  enlisted  July  31,  1862,  at  Decatur; 
died  at  Columbia,  Tennessee,  March  31,  1863,  while  a  prisoner, 
of  wounds  received  at  Thompson's  Station,  Tennessee,  March  5, 
1863. 

Nyman,  A.  J.,  Bangor;  enlisted  August  31,  1862,  at  Bangor; 
sergeant;  second  lieutenant,  June  1,  1864;  taken  prisoner  October 
27,  1864;  paroled;  resigned  and  honorably  discharged  April  24, 
1865. 

Olds,  Albert  J.,  Hartford ;  enlisted  August  6,  1862,  at  Hartford ; 
corporal;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Olds,  Allen  O.,  Hartford;  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  at  Hart- 
ford; corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Olds,  Almon  H.,  Decatur;  enlisted  September  5,  1864,  at  Kala- 
mazoo; discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Page,  Ephraim  R.,  South  Haven;  enlisted  August  4,  1862,  at 
South  Haven;  corporal;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Page,  James  L.,  South  Haven;  enlisted  August  4,  1862,  at 
South  Haven;  discharged  June  5,  1865. 

Page,  John,  South  Haven;  enlisted  August  4,  1862,  at  South 
Haven;  died  at  Nashville,   Tennessee,  June  14,  1864,  of  wounds 


224  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

received  in  action  at  Resaca,  Georgia,  May  15,  1864;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Pierce,  Almon  J.,  South  Haven;  enlisted  August  15,  1862,  at 
South  Haven ;  transferred  to  Marine  Brigade ;  discharged  Janu- 
ary 17,  1865. 

Rea,  John,  Bangor;  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  at  Bangor;  cor- 
poral; wounded  before  Atlanta,  Georgia,  August  3,  1864;  died 
April  9,  1898;  buried  at  Taylor,  Michigan. 

Reams,  Uriah,  Arlington;  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  at  Bangor; 
discharged  for  disability  July  15,  1863;  died  at  Bellevue,  Michi- 
gan, March  3,  1904. 

Root,  Henry  D.,  Porter;  enlisted  August  12,  1862,  at  Porter; 
discharged  for  disability  November  18,  1862. 

Sayles,  Benjamin  C,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  12,  1862,  at  De- 
catur; died  at  McMinnville,  Tennessee,  May  23,  1864. 

Shaff,  Andrew  J.,  Geneva;  enlisted  July  15,  1862,  at  Geneva; 
discharged  June  10,  1865 ;  present  residence,  Lawton. 

Shearer,  John  M.,  enlisted  March  4,  1864,  at  Hamilton;  trans- 
ferred to  10th  Infantry;  discharged  July  19,  1865. 

Shepard,  Sears  J.,  South  Haven;  enlisted  August  9,  1862,  at 
South  Haven;  wounded  in  action  at  Culp's  Farm,  Georgia,  June 
22,  1864;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Smith,  Charles  D.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  6,  1862,  at  Law- 
rence; corporal;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Stafford,  John  A.,  Decatur;  enlisted  as  second  lieutenant  at 
organization  of  regiment ;  promoted  to  first  lieutenant ;  resigned 
on  account  of  disability  July  27,  1863. 

Stone,  Jerome,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  12,  1862,  at  Decatur; 
discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Stone,  Solomon  R.,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  12,  1862,  at  De- 
catur; discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Stone,  William  S.,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  9,  1862,  at  De- 
catur; discharged  for  disability  November  14,  1862. 

Stuyvesant,  Azariah  D.,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  9,  1862,  at 
Decatur;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Sweet,  Aaron,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  8,  1862,  at  Decatur; 
discharged  for  disability  April  25,  1863. 

Sweet,  Lyman  S.,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  6,  1862,  at  Deca- 
tur; wounded  in  action  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Georgia,  July  20, 
1864;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Sweet,  Samuel  L.,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  6,  1862,  at  Deca- 
tur; discharged  for  disability  April  23,  1863. 

Tittle,  George  W.,  Porter ;  enlisted  August  8,  1862,  at  Decatur ; 
accidentally  killed  at  Porter,  Michigan,  June  2,  1863. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUBEN  COUNTY  225 

Todd,  Gilmore,  Hamilton;  enlisted  August  12,  1862,  at  Hamil- 
ton; discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Van  Hise,  Orlando,  Decatur;  enlisted  July  31,  1862,  at  De- 
catur; sergeant;  promoted  to  first  sergeant;  discharged  Decem- 
ber 3,  1863,  to  accept  promotion  in  17th  U.  S.  colored  troops. 

Van  Horn,  Jared,  Bangor;  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  at  Ban- 
gor ;  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  March  12,  1863 ;  buried  in  Na- 
tional cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Vincent,  John  W.,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  9,  1862,  at  De- 
catur; discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Watson,  Phineas  F.,  Geneva;  enlisted  August  14,  1862,  at 
Geneva;  fifer;  discharged  June  10,   1865. 

White,  Henry,  Columbia;  enlisted  August  8,  1862,  at  Breeds- 
ville;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Wilson,  John,  South  Haven;  enlisted  July  14,  1862,  at  South 
Haven;  first  sergeant;  first  lieutenant  November  1,  1864;  dis- 
charged June  10,  1865. 

Other  Companies:  Crofoot,  Benjamin,  Porter;  enlisted  August, 
1862,  in  Company  F,  at  Schoolcraft;  discharged  May  26,  1865. 

Graham,  William  A.,  Decatur;  enlisted  August,  1862,  at  De- 
catur, in  Company  H ;  died  at  Richmond,  Virginia,  from  exposure 
while  a  prisoner,  April,  1863. 

Twenty-Fourth  Michigan  Infantry 

Our  country!   Forever  Ave  swear    'neath  the  blue, 
Thy  name  and  thy  fame  spotless  forever  shall  be. 
Thine  honor  we'll  guard — hearts  and  hands  ever  true — 
Columbia!  We  owe  all  and  give  all  to  thee. 

The  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  Infantry  was  largely  recruited  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  state  and  rendezvoused  at  Detroit.  The 
regiment  was  mustered  into  service  on  the  15th  day  of  August, 
1862,  under  command  of  Colonel  Henry  A.  Morrow.  Its  service 
was  almost  wholly  in  the  east  and  it  participated  in  a  large  num- 
ber of  battles,  notably  at  Fredericksburg,  Port  Eoyal,  Chancel- 
lorsville,  The  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  North  Anna,  Cold  Har- 
bor and  the  siege  of  Petersburg. 

The  regiment  was  eventually  ordered  to  Springfield,  Illinois, 
for  special  duty  and  while  there  acted  as  escort  at  the  funeral  of 
our  first  martyred  president,  the  immortal  Abraham  Lincoln.  It 
was  mustered  out  of  the  service  at  Detroit,  June  30,  1865. 

Total  enrolment,  2,104;  killed  in  action,  125;  died  of  wounds, 
42;  died  in  Confederate  prisons,  28;  died  of  disease,  109;  dis- 
charged for  disability,  wounds  and  disease,  254. 

There  were  but  few  Van  Buren  county  men  in  the  Twenty- 
fourth.     Their  names  were  as  follows :  Campbell,  David  H. ;  en- 
voi. 1—15 


226  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BURBN  COUNTY 

listed  in  Company  F,  July  30,  1862,  at  Detroit ;  missing  in  action 
at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  July  1,  1863;  returned  to  regiment 
in  August,  1863 ;  corporal,  promoted  to  sergeant ;  discharged 
June  30,  1865. 

Daniels,  Chester,  Hamilton;  enlisted  in  Company  F,  August 
25,  1864;  discharged  June  30,  1865. 

Dean,  Porter  A.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  in  Company  H,  March 
21,  1865,  at  Paw  Paw ;  discharged  June  30,  1865. 

Hawkins,  Anthony;  enlisted  in  Company  B,  March  20,  1865,  at 
Antwerp;  discharged  June  30,  1865. 

Head,  Jerome,  Decatur;  enlisted  in  Company  C,  August  22. 
1864,  at  Kalamazoo;  discharged  June  30,  1865. 

Parrish,  Isaac  F.,  Lawton;  enlisted  in  Company  K,  February 
14,  1865,  at  Kalamazoo;  discharged  June  30,  1865. 

Ward,  Richard  A.,  Lawton;  enlisted  in  Company  K,  February 
14,  1865;  discharged  June  30,  1865. 

Twenty-Fifth  Michigan   Infantry 

The  following  named  soldiers  were  members  of  the  Twenty- 
fifth  Michigan  Infantry :  Bennett,  John  J.,  Porter ;  enlisted  August 
12,  1862,  at  Lockport,  in  Company  G;  discharged  June  24,  1865. 

Fitch,  De  Witt  C,  Mattawan;  major,  formerly  captain  Com- 
pany K,  Thirteenth  Michigan  Infantry;  resigned  February  12, 
1864,  on  account  of  disability. 

Kinney,  Stephen  H.,  Porter;  enlisted  April  11,  1862,  at  Lock- 
port,  in  Company  D;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Ridlon,  John  M.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  27,  1862;  first 
lieutenant  and  quartermaster;  discharged  June  24,  1865;  present 
residence,  Lawrence. 

Ryder,  Jonathan,  Keeler;  enlisted  August,  1862,  at  Keeler,  in 
Company  C;  died  of  disease  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  February 
29,  1864 ;  buried  in  Cave  Hill  National  cemetery,  Louisville. 

Snow,  Franklin  C,  Lawton;  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  at  Niles; 
in  Co.  F ;  discharged  for  disability  February  5,  1863. 

Stevens,  Jared  A.,  Almena;  enlisted  August  13,  1862,  at  Osh- 
temo,  in  Co.  H ;  discharged  June  24,  1865. 

Vining,  Leander  O.,  Arlington;  enlisted  August  10,  1862,  in  Com- 
pany I,  at  Oshtemo;  died  at  Washington,  District  Columbia, 
March  9,  1865;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Arlington,  Vir- 
ginia. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  227 

Twenty-Eighth  Michigan  Infantry 

Ho!  comrades,  see  the  starry  flag,  broad  waving  at  our  head! 
Ho!   comrades,  mark  the  tender  light  on  the  dear  emblem  spread! 
Our  fathers'  blood  has  hallowed  it,    'tis  part  of  their  renown, 
And  palsied  be  the  caitiff  that  would  pull  its  glories  down. 

The  Twenty-eighth  was  organized  by  consolidating  the  Twenty- 
eighth,  which  rendezvoused  at  Marshall,  and  the  Twenty -ninth, 
which  rendezvoused  at  Kalamazoo.  The  several  companies  were 
mustered  into  service  at  different  dates,  and  the  organization  of 
the  regiment  was  completed  at  Kalamazoo,  October  26,  1864,  with 
an  enrolment  of  886  officers  and  men. 

The  Twenty-eighth  left  Kalamazoo,  October  26th,  for  Louis- 
ville, Kentucky,  and  upon  arrival  was  sent  to  Camp  Nelson,  Ken- 
tucky, where  it  took  charge  of  a  wagon  train  en  route  for  Nash- 
ville, Tennessee,  where  it  arrived  December  5th,  and  reported  for 
duty  to  General  Thomas. 

The  regiment,  under  command  of  Colonel  Wheeler  who  had 
formerly  served  in  the  Twenty-third  Infantry,  took  a  gallant 
part  in  the  battle  of  Nashville  Dec.  12th  to  the  16th,  in  repelling 
the  Confederates  under  General  Hood,  who  was  defeated  with 
great  loss  and  driven  in  confusion  out  of  the  state. 

After  the  battle  of  Nashville,  the  Twenty-eighth  was  assigned 
to  the  Twenty-third  Corps,  and  when  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  was 
ordered  early  in  January,  1865,  to  proceed  writh  its  corps  to  Alex- 
andria, Virginia,  where  it  embarked  upon  transports  for  More- 
head  City,  North  Carolina.  It  then  moved  to  Newberne  and  then 
to  Wilmington,  to  cooperate  with  General  Sherman's  army,  then 
marching  north  through  the  Carolinas. 

At  Wise  Forks,  the  Twenty-eighth  was  engaged  for  three  days, 
the  enemy  making  determined  assaults  on  the  Union  lines,  but 
were  repulsed  in  every  instance.  The  Twenty-eighth  was  in  the 
thickest  of  the  fighting,  and  lost  during  the  engagements  seven 
killed  and  thirteen  wounded.  The  regiment  then  marched  inland 
to  Kingston  and  reached  Goldsboro,  North  Carolina,  on  the  21st, 
where  it  was  assigned  to  duty  in  guarding  the  Atlanta  and  North 
Carolina  railroad. 

After  General  Lee  and  General  Johnston  surrendered,  the  Twenty- 
eighth  was  on  duty  at  Raleigh,  Charlotte,  Wilmington  and  New- 
berne until  it  was  mustered  out  of  service,  June  5,  1866,  at  Raleigh, 
North  Carolina.  The  regiment  at  once  returned  to  Detroit,  Michi- 
gan, where  it  was  paid  and  disbanded,  June  8,  1866. 

Total  enrolment,  980;  killed  in  action,  7;  died  of  wounds,  3; 
died  of  disease,  101 ;  discharged  for  disability  (wounds  and  dis- 
ease), 47. 


228  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

The  names  of  Van  Buren  County  soldiers  serving  in  the  Twenty- 
eighth  are  as  follows: 

Company  G :  Allen,  Erastus  V. ;  enlisted  September  3,  1864,  at 
Hartford;  acting  sergeant  major  July,  1865;  discharged  June  5, 
1866. 

Andrews,  Sherman;  enlisted  September  1,  1864,  at  Columbia; 
killed  in  action  at  Wise's  Forks,  North  Carolina,  March  10,  1865. 

Baldwin,  Moses;  enlisted  September  5,  1864,  at  Hartford;  dis- 
charged February  15,  1866. 

Bancroft,  Daniel  J.;  enlisted  September  24,  1864,  at  Hartford; 
died  at  Alexandria,  Virginia,  February  14,  1865;  buried  in  Na- 
tional cemetery  at  Alexandria. 

Barnes,  James;  enlisted  September  20,  1864,  at  Covert;  dis- 
charged for  disability,  December  21,  1865. 

Bartlett,  Andrew;  enlisted  September  9,  1864,  at  Hartford; 
sergeant;  discharged  April  14,  1866. 

Beebe,  Eri,  Decatur;  entered  service  at  organization  of  regiment 
as  second  lieutenant;  promoted  to  captain;  resigned  September 
12,  1865 ;  died  at  Decatur. 

Birge,  Washington  I. ;  enlisted  September  2,  1864,  at  Decatur ; 
discharged  June  5,  1866. 

Blackmer,  Daniel  R. ;  enlisted  September  15,  1864,  at  Decatur ; 
discharged  June  5,  1866. 

Butcher,  Charles  C. ;  enlisted  September  5,  1864,  at  Lawrence ; 
died  at  Newberne,  North  Carolina,  March  26,  1865;  buried  at 
Newberne. 

Cannon,  James;  enlisted  September  7,  1864,  at  Antwerp;  dis- 
charged June  5,  1866. 

Clay,  William  H.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  5,  1864,  at 
Lawrence;  commissary  sergeant;  discharged  Sept  13,  1865;  died 
April  4,  1896;  buried  at  Lawrence. 

Cooper,  James  L. ;  enlisted  September  5,  1864,  at  Decatur ;  dis^ 
charged  May  21,  1865. 

Cook,  Joseph  C. ;  enlisted  September  5,  1864,  at  Lawrence;  dis- 
charged May  26,  1865. 

De  Long,  Henry,  Hartford;  enlisted  September  3,  1864,  at  Ka- 
lamazoo; corporal;  discharged  June  5,  1866. 

Doty,  Charles,  Hartford;  enlisted  September  19,  1864,  at  Hart- 
ford, discharged  June  5,  1866. 

Dowzer,  John;  enlisted  September  6,  1864,  at  Antwerp;  dis- 
charged June  5,  1866. 

Drake,  Israel  M.,  Arlington;  enlisted  August  31,  1864,  at  Arling- 
ton; discharged  June  5,  1866. 

Drake,  James  N.,  Hartford ;  enlisted  September  1,  1864,  at  Law- 
rence ;  discharged  for  disability,  December  6,  1864. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  229 

Draper,  Augustus  H.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  20,  1864, 
at  Lawrence;  quarter-master  sergeant;  discharged  May  14,  1866; 
died  April  21,  1903;  buried  at  Lawrence. 

Dyer,  La  Rue;  enlisted  September  2,  1864,  at  Decatur;  dis- 
charged June  5,  1866. 

Earl,  George  H. ;  enlisted  September  2,  1864,  at  Decatur ;  dis- 
charged June  5,  1866. 

Easton,  Pulaski;  enlisted  September  12,  1864,  at  Hartford;  dis- 
charged May  22,  1866. 

Farmer,  Edwin  R.,  Decatur;  entered  service  as  first  lieutenant 
at  organization  of  regiment ;  promoted  to  captain ;  discharged  June 
5,  1866. 

Fitzpatrick,  John;  enlisted  September  5,  1864,  at  Hartford; 
died  at  Alexandria,  Virginia,  February  1,  1865;  buried  at  Alex- 
andria. 

Foreman,  Edward,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  5,  1864;  dis- 
charged June  7,  1865. 

Gibbs,  Amos;  enlisted  September  14,  1864,  at  Bangor;  died  at 
Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  February  9,  1864;  buried  in  Alleghany 
cemetery  at  Pittsburg. 

Gray,  Charles  C. ;  enlisted  October  3,  1864,  at  Antwerp;  dis- 
charged June  5,  1866. 

Herrington,  Lewis;  enlisted  September  12,  1864,  at  Antwerp; 
corporal;  discharged  June  5,  1866. 

Irish,  Justus  A.,  Keeler;  enlisted  September  21,  1864;  dis- 
charged June  5,  1866. 

Kelly,  Charles ;  enlisted  September  3,  1864,  at  Bangor ;  corporal ; 
discharged  September  13,  1865 ;  died  April  14,  1890. 

McAllister,  Ezra;  enlisted  September  1,  1864,  at  Decatur;  dis- 
charged June  5,  1866. 

McNitt,  Orville  F. ;  enlisted  September  13,  1864,  at  Lawrence ; 
first  sergeant;  promoted  to  second  lieutenant;  discharged  June  5, 
1866. 

Mahard,  John,  Lawton ;  enlisted  September  13,  1864,  at  Lawton ; 
sergeant;  discharged  April  16,  1866;  previously  served  in  Com- 
pany C,  Third  Michigan  Cavalry. 

Mahoney,  Ned,  Lawton ;  enlisted  September  2,  1861,  at  Antwerp ; 
discharged  November  9,  1865 ;  deceased ;  buried  at  Dowagiac. 

Mance,  Henry;  enlisted  September  2,  1864,  at  Waverly;  cor- 
poral; discharged  June  5,  1866. 

Mason,  Marion;  enlisted  September  20,  1864,  at  Decatur;  dis- 
charged November  15,  1864. 

Mentor,  Russell  W. ;  enlisted  September  2,  1864,  at  Decatur; 
discharged  June  5.  1866. 


230  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Nesbitt,  Thomas  S. ;  enlisted  September  20,  1864,  at  Porter;  dis- 
charged June  5,  1866. 

Nichols,  Tyler;  enlisted  September  5,  1864,  at  Decatur;  dis- 
charged June  14,  1865. 

Olcott,  Orlin  F. ;  enlisted  August  3,  1864,  at  Hartford ;  dis- 
charged June  12,  1865. 

Olds,  Ira  C. ;  enlisted  September  23,  1864,  at  Decatur;  died  at 
Detroit,  March  4,  1865 ;  buried  at  Detroit. 

Page,  Wallace  H.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  5,  1864,  at 
Lawrence;  corporal;  discharged  June  5,  1866. 

Potter,  Harvey ;  enlisted  September  24,  at  Bangor ;  discharged 
May  26,  1865. 

Privette,  Robert  H. ;  enlisted  September  6,  1864,  at  Porter ;  cor- 
poral; discharged  August  25,  1865. 

Rhodes,  Forice,  Bangor;  enlisted  September  5,  1864,  at  Law- 
rence; discharged  September  13,  1865. 

Root,  Reuben,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  1,  1864,  at  Deca- 
tur; discharged  June  5,  1866. 

Root,  Stephen;  enlisted  September  27,  at  Bangor;  discharged 
June  5,  1866 ;  died  September  5,  1889 ;  buried  at  Bangor. 

Russell,  Philo  M. ;  enlisted  September  2,  1 864,  at  Lawrence ;  dis- 
charged June  5,  1866. 

Ryan,  William;  enlisted  September  5,  1864,  at  Antwerp;  dis- 
charged June  5,  1866. 

Salisbury,  Joseph ;  enlisted  September  15,  1864,  at  Ant/werp  ; 
discharged  June  5,  1866. 

Salisbury,  Joseph  A. ;  enlisted  September  3,  1864,  at  Antwerp ; 
discharged  June  5,  1866. 

Shaffer,  Jefferson  D. ;  enlisted  September  2,  1864,  at  Decatur ; 
discharged  May  10,  1865. 

Smith,  Lyman  T. ;  enlisted  September  28,  1864,  at  Bangor ;  died 
on  board  of  transport  in  New  York  harbor,  August  22,  1865 ;  buried 
in  Cypress  Hill  cemetery  at  Brooklyn,  New  York,  grave  No.  3161. 

Spicer,  Daniel,  Lawton;  enlisted  September  2,  1864,  at  Antwerp; 
promoted  to  second  lieutenant;  discharged  May  15,  1865,  on  ac- 
count of  wounds  received  in  action  at  Wise's  Forks,  North  Caro- 
line, March  8,  1865 ;  present  residence  Paw  Paw. 

Stedman,  Morris;  enlisted  September  2,  1864,  at  Lawrence;  dis- 
charged June  8,  1865. 

Tillou,  James  D. ;  enlisted  September  10,  1864,  at  Antwerp;  cor- 
poral ;  discharged  June  5,  1866. 

Traver,  Cassius  M.  C. ;  enlisted  September  10,  1864,  at  Hart- 
ford; died  at  Charlotte,  North  Carolina,  August  28,  1865. 

Upton,  John  B.,  Lawrence;  entered  service  as  first  lieutenant 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  231 

and  quartermaster  at  organization  of  regiment,  discharged  June 
5,  1866 ;  died  October  21,  1896 ;  buried  at  Big  Rapids,  Michigan. 

Van  Sickle,  John  M.,  Lawton;  enlisted  September  12,  1864,  at 
Antwerp ;  discharged  June  5,  1866. 

Wells,  George  W. ;  enlisted  September  19,  1864,  at  Antwerp ; 
discharged  June  13,  1865. 

Witter,  William;  enlisted  September  20,  1864,  at  Porter;  dis- 
charged May  25,  1865. 

Young,  John  G. ;  enlisted  September  1,  1864,  at  Decatur ;  cor- 
poral; promoted  to  sergeant;  discharged  June  5,  1866. 

Other  Companies:  Gorham,  Allen,  Almena;  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany C,  October  4,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo ;  sergeant ;  promoted  to  first 
sergeant;  discharged  June  5,  1866;  previously  served  in  Company 
C,  Seventh  NewT  York  Infantry. 

Cook,  Joseph  A.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  in  Company  A,  xUigust  30, 
1864;  discharged  for  disability,  June  26,  1865. 

Conley,  Dorey;  enlisted  in  Company  D,  August  27,  1864,  at 
Columbia;  discharged  June  5,  1866, 

Graham,  Isaac,  enlisted  in  Company  D,  September  3,  1864,  at 
Kalamazoo;  died  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  March  30,  1865;  buried 
in  Cave  Hill  cemetery,  at  Louisville. 

Storey,  Barker  C. ;  enlisted  in  Company  E,  September  15,  1864, 
at  Bloomingdale ;  discharged  for  disability  February  18,  1865. 

Wetmore,  Edward  M. ;  enlisted  in  Company  E,  September  12, 
1864,  at  Kalamazoo;  discharged  June  5,  1866. 

Coburn,  Delmont  J.;  enlisted  in  Company  IT,  September  10, 
1864,  at  Decatur,  first  sergeant;  discharged  June  5,  1866. 

Platts,  George,  Bloomingdale;  enlisted  in  Company  IT,  Septem- 
ber 10,  1864,  at  Decatur;  first  sergeant;  promoted  to  second  lieuten- 
ant, aide-de-camp  and  acting  assistant  adjutant  general;  commis- 
sioned first  lieutenant;  discharged  June  5,  1866. 

Gallegher,  Daniel;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  October  3,  1864,  at 
Bangor;  discharged  July  13,  1865. 

Nichols,  William  H. ;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  September  12,  1864, 
at  Kalamazoo;  corporal;  discharged  June  5,  1866. 

Smith,  Abram  A.;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  September  27,  1864, 
at  Kalamazoo;  discharged  June  5,  1866. 

Yalleau,  Freeman,  Waverly;  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Septem- 
ber 30,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo;  discharged  June  5,  1866. 


CHAPTER  X 

CIVIL  WAR  CAVALRY 
First    Michigan — Third    Cavalry — Justice    to    Cavalry    Regi- 
ments— Fourth   Michigan    Cavalry — Capture   of   Jefferson 
Davis — Ninth    Michigan — Capture    of    Morgan — First    and 
Last. 

The  combat  deepens,  On,  ye  brave, 
Who  rush  to  glory  or  the  grave! 
Wave,  Michigan,  all  thy  banners  wave, 
And  charge  with  all  thy  chivalry! 

The  First  Michigan  Cavalry  was  organized  at  Detroit  and  mus- 
tered into  the  service  of  the  government  September  13,  1861,  with 
an  enrolment  of  1,144  officers  and  enlisted  men. 

The  regiment  left  the  state  September  29,  1861,  for  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  and  went  into  camp  at  Frederick,  Maryland,  at  which 
place  it  remained  for  several  months.  It  comprised  a  part  of  Gen- 
eral Banks'  forces  and  in  February,  1862,  moved  to  Harper's 
Ferry  and  later  entered  the  Shenandoah  valley,  advancing  as  far 
as  Winchester  and  pushing  the  enemy  before  them.  The  regi- 
ment distinguished  itself  in  many  skirmishes  while  advancing  up 
the  valley,  and  made  a  number  of  brilliant  charges  which  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  the  commanding  general  and  which  re- 
ceived complimentary  mention  in  orders.  Banks  had  too  meager  a 
force  to  hold  his  advanced  position  and  so  fell  back  to  Williams- 
port  fighting  most  of  the  wTay,  as  the  enemy  had  succeeded  in  get- 
ting between  him  and  Willamsport  and  at  the  same  time  were 
pressing  his  rear  with  a  force  that  outnumbered  his  command.  In 
this  movement  the  First  Cavalry  did  brilliant  work  and  only  fell 
back  when  greatly  outnumbered  by  the  Confederate  forces. 

The  regiment  remained  at  Williamsport  until  June  12th,  when 
it  began  to  take  part  in  General  Pope's  Virginia  campaign.  It 
was  in  Banks'  command  when  he  fought  the  battle  of  Cedar  Moun- 
tain. 

The  regiment  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Manassas,  August 
30,  and  suffered  severely,  the  brave  Colonel  Brodhead  losing  his 
life  on  that  occasion. 

The  regiment  afterward  became  a  part  of  the  famous  Michigan 
Cavalry  Brigade  commanded  by  the  brilliant  young  General  Cus- 

232 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  233 

ter,  and  remained  with  that  brigade  until  the  close  of  the  war.  The 
regiment  participated  in  Sheridan's  celebrated  raid  in  the  rear  of 
Lee's  army,  and  took  part  in  the  severe  fighting  that  occurred  in 
the  advance  upon  Richmond  and  upon  the  return. 

After  the  surrender  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  the 
First  was  ordered  to  North  Carolina,  but  returned  to  Washing- 
ton in  time  to  take  part  in  the  Grand  Review  at  Washington  on 
the  23d  of  May,  1865,  after  which  it  was  ordered  to  the  then  far 
west  and  suffered  many  hardships  in  a  campaign  against  the  In- 
dians. This  action  on  the  part  of  the  war  department  was  the 
subject  of  severe  criticism.  The  war  was  ended  and  the  regiment 
had  completed  its  term  of  service,  which,  like  all  the  volunteer 
troops,  was  "three  years  or  during  the  war"  and  to  exact  this 
further  service  after  the  brilliant  record  made  by  the  regiment, 
was  regarded  as  rank  injustice. 

The  official  records  show  that  the  First  Cavalry  participated 
in  seventy  different  battles  and  skirmishes  with  the  Confederate 
forces,  some  of  the  principal  ones  being  as  follows:  Winchester, 
March  23,  1862;  Winchester,  May  24,  1862;  Cedar  Mountain,  Au- 
gust 9,  1862;  Manassas,  August  30,  1862;  Gettysburg,  July  3, 
1863;  Culpepper  Court  House,  September  14,  1863;  Richmond, 
March  1,  1864;  Wilderness,  May  6  and  7,  1864;  Cold  Harbor,  May 
30  and  June  1,  1864,  and  again  at  the  same  place  July  21,  1864; 
Winchester,  August  11,  1864;  Appomattox,  April  8  and  9,  1865; 
and  with  the  Indians  at  Willow  Springs,  Dakota,  August  12,  1865. 

The  regiment  was  paid  off  and  disbanded  at  Salt  Lake,  Utah, 
March  10,  1866,  after  four  and  one-half  years  of  hard  and  faith- 
ful service. 

Total  enrolment,  2,490;  killed  in  action,  96;  missing  in  action, 
40 ;  died  of  wounds,  52 ;  died  as  prisoners  of  war,  58 ;  died  of  di- 
sease, 172;  accidentally  killed,  4;  drowned,  2;  killed  by  Indians, 
1 ;  discharged  for  disability,  209. 

Company  D:  Boudoin,  Cyrus;  enlisted  January  20,  1864,  at 
Bangor;  discharged  June  3,  1865. 

Cuthbertson,  Thomas;  enlisted  January  15,  1864,  at  Bangor; 
discharged  June  9,  1865. 

Defoe,  John;  enlisted  January  15,  1864,  at  Bangor;  absent 
without  leave  October  10,  1865;  no  further  record. 

Donahue,  Thomas;  enlisted  January  25,  1864,  at  Bangor;  dis- 
charged June  6,  1865. 

Keating,  Philip;  enlisted  January  20,  1864,  at  Bangor;  dis- 
charged for  disability,  June  6,  1865. 

Company  E:  Beach,  Levi  S. ;  enlisted  February  27,  1865;  died 
January  2,  1866;  buried  at  Alexandria,  Virginia,  grave  No.  2949. 

Bugby,   Alvin  M. ;  enlisted  March  2,   1865,  at   Columbia;  died 


234  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

June  11,  1865 ;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Benton  Barracks, 
Missouri,  grave  No.  1416. 

Burch,  William  H. ;  enlisted  February  15,  1865,  at  Porter;  dis- 
charged March  25,  1866. 

Cleveland,  Jewett;  enlisted  February  8,  1865,  at  Columbia;  dis- 
charged October  7,  1865. 

Cleveland,  Zelon;  enlisted  February  9,  1865,  at  Columbia;  dis- 
charged July  17,  1865. 

Company  I:  Bentley,  Augustus  W.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 5,  1861,  at  Kalamazoo;  corporal;  killed  in  action  at  Get- 
tysburg, Pennsylvania,  July  3,  1863. 

Eastman,  Oscar  A.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  21,  1861,  at  Ka- 
lamazoo; sergeant:  died  October  25,  1864,  of  wounds  received  in 
action  at  Winchester,  Virginia ;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at 
Winchester,  lot  No.  73. 

Hungerford,  Lucius  E.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  5,  1861, 
at  Detroit;  died  at  Washington,  D.  C,  November  1,  1861. 

Judson,  Lucius  L.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  4,  1861,  at 
Kalamazoo;  corporal;  discharged  May  1.1,  1866. 

Munger,  Ira  A.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  21,  1861,  at  Kala- 
mazoo; discharged  for  disability. 

Munger,  Samuel  E.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  2,  1861,  at 
Kalamazoo;  wagoner;  discharged  August  23,  1864;  died  at  Paw 
Paw. 

Rickard,  Edward  J.,  Paw  Paw:  enlisted  September  2,  1861,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  June  30,  1866. 

Shaw,  Richmond  L.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  7,  186.1,  at 
Detroit,  taken  prisoner  at  Trevellian  Station,  Virginia,  June  11, 
1864;  discharged  January  23,  1866. 

Skinner,  Trving  II.,  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  September  4,  1861 ,  at 
Kalamazoo;  bugler;  promoted  to  quartermaster  sergeant;  dis- 
charged for  disability,  November  14,  1862. 

Whitford,  Alexander  L.,  Paw  Pawr;  enlisted  September  5,  1861, 
at  Kalamazoo ;  died  at  Washington,  D.  C,  July  10,  1862. 

Company  K;  Anger,  Abner;  enlisted  October  31,  1863,  at  De- 
catur; taken  prisoner  at  Trevellian  Station,  Virginia,  June  11, 
1864;  discharged  June  16,  1865. 

Ayers,  Hiram;  enlisted  November  23,  1863,  at  Columbia;  dis- 
charged July  24,  1865. 

Bashford,  Truman  R. ;  enlisted  October  31,  1863,  at  Decatur; 
blacksmith ;  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps ;  discharged 
August  21,  1865. 

Bisbee,  Floyd;  enlisted  February  22,  1865,  at  Paw  Paw;  dis- 
charged March  10,  1866. 


HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  235 

Bronson,  John  G. ;  enlisted  November  21,  1863,  at  Columbia; 
discharged  May  24,  1865. 

Caryl,  Charles  S.,  Columbia;  enlisted  November  23,  1863,  at 
Columbia;  discharged  June  28,  1865. 

Conner,  Isaac  B.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  February  17,  1865,  at  Ka- 
lamazoo; discharged  March  10,  1866;  died  at  Paw  Paw. 

Cornell,  David  A.;  enlisted  February  22,  1865,  at  Paw  Paw; 
discharged  March  10,  1866. 

Dailey,  Ebenezer;  enlisted  November  30,  1863,  at  Decatur;  dis- 
charged March  10,  1866. 

Field,  Cassius  M. ;  enlisted  December  5,  1865,  at  Decatur;  trum- 
peter; promoted  to  sergeant;  discharged  March  10,  1866. 

Finley,  William,  Jr.;  enlisted  November  6,  1863,  at  Decatur; 
promoted  to  regimental  quartermaster  sergeant;  discharged  March 
10,  1866. 

Flage,  Martin;  enlisted  November  30,  1863,  at  Decatur;  dis- 
charged July  10,  1865. 

Fonger,  William ;  enlisted  November  30,  1863,  at  Decatur;  died 
October  7,  1864;  buried  at  Baltimore,  Maryland. 

Gibbs,  Hiram  F. ;  enlisted  November"  30,  1863,  at  Decatur ;  cor- 
poral;  died  September  2,  1865;  buried  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kan- 
sas. 

Creen,  Clark  II.,  Jr.;  enlisted  November  11,  1863,  at  Decatur; 
died  at  Andersonville,  Georgia ;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at 
Andersonville,  grave  No.  6482. 

Hammond,  Henry  M.  C,  Hartford;  enlisted  November  26,  1863, 
at  Hartford;  discharged  June  16,  1865. 

Hanna,  Hezekiah  D. ;  enlisted  November  26,  1863,  at  Decatur; 
died  at  Washington,  D.  C,  July  2,  1864;  buried  at  Arlington, 
Virginia. 

Hayes,  Orange,  Decatur;  enlisted  December  10,  1863;  discharged 
for  disability,  September  27,  1864. 

Hoard,  Orlando;  enlisted  November  23,  1863,  at  Paw  Paw, 
corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant;  discharged  June  30,  1866.  * 

Hudson,  Gilbert  H. ;  enlisted  November  23,  1863,  at  Columbia; 
discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Huntley,  Cadmus  C. ;  enlisted  October  21,  1863,  at  Hartford; 
corporal;  discharged  for  disability  May  3,  1865;  died  June  8,  1893; 
buried  at  Hartford. 

Trish,  Charles  II.;  enlisted  November  28,  1863,  at  Hartford; 
died  at  Point  Lookout,  Maryland,  July  3,  1864. 

Johnson,  Irving ;  enlisted  November  21 ,  1 863 ;  mustered  Decem- 
ber 8,  1863 ;  no  further  record. 

Jones,  Joseph  W. ;  enlisted  November  26,  1863,  at  Geneva;  dis- 
charged June  16,  1865. 


236  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

June,  Benjamin  C. ;  enlisted  November  30,  1863,  at  Decatur; 
discharged  March  10,  1866. 

Kenney,  James;  enlisted  November  30,  1863,  at  Decatur;  dis- 
charged July  10,  1866. 

Knowles,  John;  enlisted  November  21,  1863,  at  Columbia;  dis- 
charged July  7,  1865. 

Manuel,  Peter ;  enlisted  November  30,  1863,  at  Lawrence ;  died 
at  Washington,  D.  C,  July  29,  1864,  of  wounds  received  in  ac- 
tion; buried  in  Arlington  National  cemetery  at  Washington. 

Manuel,  William  H. ;  enlisted  December  7,  1863,  at  Decatur; 
discharged  March  10,  1866. 

Mather,  Charles  H. ;  enlisted  November  28,  1863,  at  Hartford; 
discharged  June  21,  1866. 

Meachum,  Simeon ;  enlisted  November  23,  1863,  at  Lawrence ; 
discharged  May  18,  1865;  died  February  3,  1884;  buried  at  Hart- 
ford. 

Munson,  John,  Decatur ;  enlisted  November  30,  1863,  at  Volinia ; 
saddler;  promoted  to  first  sergeant,  second  lieutenant  and  first 
lieutenant;  discharged  March  10,  1866. 

Northrup,  Theodore  G. ;  enlisted  October  29,  1863,  at  Decatur; 
quartermaster  sergeant ;  discharged  May  19,  1865. 

Painter,  Samuel  H. ;  enlisted  December  14,  1863,  at  Arlington; 
died  December  1,  1864;  buried  at  Salisbury,  North  Carolina. 

Parmalee,  Edward  M. ;  enlisted  November  30,  1863,  at  Decatur; 
corporal;  discharged  July  10,  1865. 

Pierce,  Charles  H. ;  enlisted  October  29,  1863,  at  Paw  Paw ; 
taken  prisoner  at  Jericho  Ford,  Virginia,  March  18,  1865;  dis- 
charged June  1,  1865. 

Ransom,  William  W. ;  enlisted  November  17,  1863,  at  Hartford ; 
corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant;  died  at  Washington,  D.  C,  Au- 
gust 3,  1864,.  of  wounds  received  in  action;  buried  in  Arlington 
National  cemetery  at  Washington. 

Reed,  Charles  D. ;  enlisted  November  21,  1863,  at  Columbia ; 
corporal;  killed  in  action  August  20,  1864. 

Revere,  Hiram;  enlisted  February  27,  1865,  at  Hartford;  dis- 
charged August  18,  1865. 

Robinson,  Walter;  enlisted  February  24,  1865,  at  Paw  Paw; 
discharged  July  29,  1865;  died  at  Paw  Paw. 

Shaul,  Norman;  enlisted  November  17,  1863,  at  Decatur;  ser- 
geant; discharged  June  27,  1865. 

Smith,  Luther  J.;  enlisted  November  27,  1863,  at  Hartford; 
died  at  Washington,  D.  C,  July  29,  1864. 

Smith,  Topham;  enlisted  December  12,  1863,  at  Hartford;  dis- 
charged June  16,  1865. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  237 

Southworth,  Gillespie  B. ;  enlisted  November  26,  1863,  at  Deca- 
tur ;  discharged  July  17,  1865.    Present  residence  Paw  Paw. 

Shattuck,  Dewitt  C. ;  enlisted  February  17,  1865,  at  Kalamazoo ; 
discharged  December  5,  1865. 

Stephenson,  Thomas  H.,  Paw  Paw;  entered  service  as  first 
lieutenant;  commissioned  October  3,  1862;  discharged  for  dis- 
ability May  28,  1864;  died  at  Paw  Paw. 

Stoddard,  Henry;  enlisted  March  11,  1865,  at  Paw  Paw;  dis- 
charged March  10,  1866. 

Sutter,  John;  enlisted  October  29,  1863,  at  Decatur;  trans- 
ferred to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps;  discharged  November  14,  1865. 

Taylor,  Isaac ;  enlisted  December  10,  1863,  at  Decatur ;  sergeant  ; 
died  August  30,  1864;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Philadel- 
phia, grave  No.  293. 

Truesdale,  Lewis  B. ;  enlisted  November  21,  1863,  at  Geneva; 
corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant;  died  at  Winchester,  Virginia, 
September  27,  1864,  of  wounds  received  in  action. 

Tucker,  William  H. ;  enlisted  October  28,  1863,  at  Decatur ;  first 
sergeant;  promoted  to  second  lieutenant  and  first  lieutenant;  dis- 
charged March  10,  1866. 

Wescott,  James  M. ;  enlisted  October  28,  1863,  at  Paw  Paw ; 
killed  in  action  at  Hawes'  Shop,  Virginia,  May  28,  1864. 

West,  John;  enlisted  December  9,  1863;  discharged  for  disabil- 
ity January  10,  1865. 

Williams,  Isaac ;  enlisted  November  23,  1863,  at  Lawrence ;  killed 
in  action  at  Yellow  Tavern,  Virginia,  May  11,  1864. 

Worix,  William;  enlisted  November  30,  1863,  at  Decatur;  killed 
in  action  at  Yellow  Tavern,  Virginia,  May  11,  1864. 

Wilson  Charles;  enlisted  November  30,  1863,  at  Decatur;  taken 
prisoner  at  Trevillian  Station,  Virginia,  June  12,  1864;  discharged 
July  7,  1865. 

Company  M  :  Babcock,  Henry  B.,  Keeler ;  enlisted  August  20, 
1861,  at  Dowagiac;  corporal;  discharged  March  25,  1866. 

Bartholomew,  Benjamin  F.,  Mattawan;  enlisted  August  10,  1861, 
at  Dowagiac;  discharged  on  account  of  wounds  received  in  action 
October,  1862. 

Burgher,  Matthew  B.,  Decatur ;  enlisted  August  4,  1861,  at  Dowa- 
giac ;  corporal ;  wounded  in  action ;  discharged  for  disability,  March 
13,  1863. 

Cleland,  Thomas;  enlisted  February  13,  1865,  at  Decatur;  dis- 
charged December  5,  1865. 

Field,  Onslow  L.,  Lawrence ;  enlisted  August  20,  1861,  at  Dowa- 
giac ;  discharged  for  disability  October  6,  1862. 

Gregory,  Stephen  A.,  Keeler;  enlisted  December  5,  1862,  at 
Keeler ;  absent  sick  July,  1865 ;  no  further  record. 


238  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Ilungerl'ord,  Lester;  enlisted  February  9,  1865,  at  Elartlord; 
discharged  December  5,  1865. 

King,  John  R.,  Porter;  enlisted  October  10,  1862;  taken  prison- 
er at  Robinson  River,  September  23,  1863 ;  died  February  3,  1864 ; 
buried  at  Richmond,  Virginia. 

Knight,  Daniel,  Keeler;  enlisted  August  15,  1861,  at  Dowagiac; 
wounded  in  action  at  Winchester,  Virginia ;  discharged  June  19, 
1862. 

McElheny,  James  S.,  Mattawan;  enlisted  August  15,  1861,  at 
Dowagiac ;  corporal ;  promoted  to  sergeant  and  to  sergeant  major ; 
commissioned  second  lieutenant  and  promoted  to  first  lieutenant ; 
killed  in  action  at  Fairfield  Gap,  Maryland,  July  4,  1863. 

Poor,  Lorenzo  D.  F.,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  17,  1861,  at 
Dowagiac;  quartermaster  sergeant;  taken  prisoner  at  Gettysburg, 
Pennsylvania;  discharged  August  22,  1864. 

Sirrine,  Ezra,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  16,  1861,  at  Dowagiac; 
discharged  for  disability  May,  1862. 

Shaw,  John  N.,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  16,  1861,  at  Dowagiac; 
corporal;  taken  prisoner  at  Trevillian  Station,  Virginia,  June  11, 
1864;  discharged  March  25,  1866. 

Shilling,  Watson  N.?  Decatur;  enlisted  August  22,  1861,  at 
Dowagiac ;  taken  prisoner  at  Emmetsburg,  Maryland,  July  4,  1863 ; 
returned  to  regiment  November  3,  1863;  promoted  to  hospital 
steward;  discharged  November  7,  1865. 

Vincent,  Albert,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  20,  1861,  at  Dowagiac, 
corporal;  taken  prisoner  at  Trevillian  Station,  Virginia,  June  11, 
1864;  promoted  to  sergeant;  died  August,  1865. 

Vincent,  Gilbert;  enlisted  August  20,  1861,  at  Dowagiac;  dis- 
charged for  disability  November  1,  1862. 

Other  Companies:  Dailey,  David  M.,  Porter;  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany A,  February  22,  1863,  at  Detroit,  substitute  for  Samuel 
Whitlock  drafted  from  Hamilton;  discharged  July  10,  1865;  died 
September  2,  1892. 

Mills,  William  R. ;  enlisted  in  Company  A,  February  27,  1865, 
at  Hartford;  discharged  February  18,  1866.  . 

Ellenwood,  Alonzo ;  enlisted  in  Company  B,  February  24,  1865, 
at  Paw  Paw;  discharged  July  10,  1865. 

Galligan,  Charles  E.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Feb- 
ruary 20,  1865,  at  Paw  Paw;  discharged  August  11,  1865. 

Lamb,  Charles  C,  Porter;  enlisted  in  Company  B,  February 
10,  1863,  at  Detroit;  substitute  for  Ransom  J.  Olds  drafted  from 
Hartford;  discharged  November  7,  1865. 

Hoover,  George  W.,  Porter;  enlisted  in  Company  C,  February 
24,  1863;  substitute  for  Pulaski  Eaton  drafted  from  Hartford,  on 
detached  service,  July,  1865 ;  no  further  record. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  J3UREN  COUNTY  239 

Taplin,  Nathan ;  enlisted  in  Company  C,  February  27,  1865,  at 
Hartford;  discharged  December  5,  1865. 

Terrill,  Walter  M.,  Porter;  enlisted  in  Company  C,  February 
24,  1863,  at  Hartford ;  substitute  for  Webster  Goodenough  drafted 
from  Lawrence;  taken  prisoner  near  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania, 
July  4,  1863 ;  returned  to  regiment  October  4,  1863 ;  discharged 
May  6,  1865. 

Amick,  Charles;  enlisted  in  Company  F,  March  2,  1865,  at 
Columbia;  discharged  July  10,  1865. 

Ryan,  Michael;  enlisted  in  Company  G,  February  2,  1862,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  January  20,  1866. 

Sheldon,  Benjamin;  enlisted  in  Company  G,  February  9,  1865, 
at  Hartford;  discharged  May  14,  1866. 

Clay,  John  P. ;  enlisted  in  Company  L,  February  23,  1865 ;  dis- 
charged December  1865. 

Baker,  William;  enlisted  February  27,  1865,  at  Lawrence;  un- 
assigned ;  discharged  July  10,  1865. 

Maxam,  Horace  W. ;  enlisted  February  13,  1865,  at  Lawton ;  un- 
assigned ;  discharged  June  12,  1865. 

Webster,  Anthony;  enlisted  February  7,  1865,  at  Decatur;  mus- 
tered February  7,  1865;  unassigned ;  no  further  record. 

Third  Michigan  Cavalry 

The  squadron  is  forming,  the  war  bugles  play, 

To  saddle,  brave  comrades,  stout  hearts  for  the  fray, 

Our  commander  is  mounted,  strike  spurs  and  away. 

The  Third  Michigan  Cavalry  was  organized  at  the  city  of  Grand 
Rapids  in  September,  1861,  and  was  mustered  into  the  service  of 
the  United  States,  October  4th  following,  with  an  enrolment  of 
1,163  officers  and  men. 

The  following  named  members  of  the  field  and  staff  were  from 
Van  Buren  County:  Dr.  Josiah  Andrews,  of  Paw  Paw,  was  the 
regimental  surgeon;  Dr.  Lucius  C.  Woodman,  of  the  same  place, 
assistant  surgeon ;  William  S.  Burton,  of  South  Haven,  major  of 
Third  battalion. 

Dr.  Andrews  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  and  honorably 
discharged  October  24,  1864,  a.nd  died  at  Paw  Paw,  August  29, 
1886. 

Dr.  Woodman  wras  commissioned  surgeon  of  the  Eleventh  Michi- 
gan Cavalry,  October  7,  1863;  taken  prisoner  October  2,  1864;  con- 
fined in  Libby  prison;  exchanged  October  29,  1864;  mustered  out 
of  service  and  honorably  discharged,  August  10,  1865.  Died  April 
11,  1883,  buried  at  Paw  Paw. 

Major  Burton  resigned  and  was  honorably  discharged,  Decem- 
ber 2,  1864. 


240  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

The  regiment  left  Grand  Rapids  November  28,  1861,  for  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Robert  H. 
G.  Minty.  In  March,  1862,  the  Third  was  in  the  army  commanded 
by  General  Pope,  who  at  that  date  was  operating  against  Island 
No.  10,  in  the  Mississippi  river,  the  regiment  being  located  at  New 
Madrid,  Missouri,  and  was  constantly  under  fire  for  several  days. 
The  water  at  this  place  was  extremely  bad,  and  more  sickness  was 
contracted  here  than  at  any  one  period  of  the  four  and  a  half 
years'  service  of  the  regiment,  the  death  rate  being  very  heavy. 

Governor  Blair  commissioned  Captain  John  K.  Mizner,  U.  S. 
A.,  colonel  of  the  regiment  March  7,  1862,  and  he  immediately  as- 
sumed command. 

Its  first  engagement  was  at  New  Madrid,  Missouri,  where  it  be- 
gan a  most  creditable  career,  giving  the  foe  a  lively  idea  of  the 
mettle  of  the  Michigan  cavalry  boys,  of  which  the  southern  troops 
were  destined  to  have  a  large  experience  before  the  close  of  the  war. 
After  the  evacuation  of  New  Madrid  and  the  surrender  of  Is- 
land No.  10  the  regiment  was  sent  up  the  Tennessee  river  to  the 
battlefield  of  Shiloh  and  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Corinth,  Mis- 
sissippi, which  lasted  until  the  end  of  May,  and  during  that  time 
the  regiment  performed  most  efficient  service  and  was  highly  com- 
mended by  officers  in  high  command. 

After  the  fall  of  Corinth  the  Third  served  under  General  Rose- 
crans  in  the  campaign  in  Mississippi  and  Alabama,  which  was 
directed  by  General  Grant.  It  bore  a  conspicuous  part  in  the 
battle  of  Iuka,  September  19,  1862,  and  acted  so  gallantly  that 
General  Rosecrans  acknowledged  its  meritorious  services  in  gen- 
eral orders. 

One  of  its  hardest  fought  battles  was  that  of  Corinth,  Mississippi, 
October  3  and  4,  1862.  For  several  days  some  portions  of  the  regi- 
ment were  in  the  saddle  without  intermission  day  and  night.  On 
the  retreat  of  the  rebels  south  the  Third  Cavalry  were  constantly 
on  their  flanks  and  rear,  capturing  many  prisoners.  This  pursuit 
extended  over  seventy-five  miles  into  the  heart  of  Mississippi. 

During  the  following  months  of  that  year  the  regiment  was 
constantly  on  scouting  duty,  and  its  marches  and  engagements 
with  the  enemy  were  continuous  and  incessant.  During  this  period 
it  was  under  command  of  Major  Lyman  G.  Wilcox,  Colonel  Miz- 
ner having  been  made  chief  of  cavalry  for  the  Sixteenth  Army 
Corps,  while  Lieutenant  Colonel  Minty  was  commissioned  colonel 
of  the  Fourth  Cavalry  and  returned  to  Michigan  and  organized 
that  regiment. 

In  November  the  Confederates  destroyed  telegraphic  communi- 
cations between  General  Grant  and  General  Sherman,  the  former 
at  La  Grange  and  the  latter  at  Memphis,  Tennessee.     It  was  im- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY  241 

portant  that  General  Grant  should  communicate  with  General 
Sherman.  Captain  Cicero  Newell,  who  had  been  commissioned 
captain  of  Company  K,  April  11,  1862,  vice  Davis,  resigned,  was 
selected,  with  his  company,  to  carry  the  dispatches,  although  the 
country  was  held  by  the  enemy  in  strong  force  and  every  road 
guarded.  By  persistent  effort  and  marked  tact  and  bravery  Cap- 
tain Newell  succeeded  in  delivering  the  dispatches  and  received  a 
complimentary  letter  from  General  Sherman  for  the  daring  deed. 
This  was  only  one  of  the  many  daring  expeditions  by  the  officers 
and  men  of  this  regiment  during  that  momentous  period. 

The  regiment  did  efficient  service  in  northern  Mississippi  and 
Tennessee  during  the  winter  of  1863,  and  took  part  in  a  severe 
engagement  at  Jackson,  Tennessee,  in  July  of  that  year.  In  Au- 
gust it  was  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  Grenada,  Mississippi,  and 
destroyed  an  immense  amount  of  railroad  stock,  including  sixty 
locomotives  and  nearly  five  hundred  cars.  During  the  following 
months  of  the  year,  by,  continuous  marches  and  fighting,  it  suc- 
ceeded in  driving  from  the  country  the  notorious  bands  of  guer- 
rillas that  had  long  infested  that  section.  It  met  on  several  oc- 
casions the  forces  under  Generals  Forrest  and  Chalmers,  and  severe 
engagements  took  place  at  Ripley,  Orizaba  and  Ellistown,  Miss- 
issippi, and  at  Purely  and  Jack's  Creek,  Tennessee. 

Justice  to  Cavalry  Regiments 

A  comprehensive  history  of  a  cavalry  regiment  can  only  be 
written  by  recording  its  daily  movements.  When  not  moving  with 
its  brigade  it  is  often  sent  on  dangerous  and  important  missions 
far  from  its  support,  and  has  to  depend  upon  the  officer  in  command 
for  a  successful  termination,  and  frequently  he  finds  most  exact- 
ing and  trying  conditions  confronting  him. 

The  different  companies  of  this  regiment  were  daily  sent  on 
dangerous  scouting  duty,  either  separately  or  by  detachments,  and 
often  secured  information  that  was  of  vital  importance  to  the 
commanding  general.  These  separate  companies  or  detachments 
had  to  rely  upon  themselves  in  critical  situations,  and  they  often 
displayed  during  the  wrar  the  genius  of  generalship  that  would 
have  distinguished  them  in  history  were  such  circumstances  not  so 
frequent  or  were  they  written  up  at  the  time  and  made  public. 

Tn  the  movements  of  a  great  army  the  minor  movements  of 
regiments  and  companies  are  overshadowed  and  unknown  except 
to  those  who  take  part.  A  regiment  of  cavalry  performs  most  in- 
cessant and  arduous  service  during  a  campaign,  but  its  recon- 
naissances and  scouts,  its  skirmishes  and  charges,  are  only  a  part 
of  the  main  army  and  are  seldom  mentioned  with  the  importance 


242  HISTOEY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY 

they  deserve.  The  frequent  charges,  marches,  battles  and  skir- 
mishes of  a  cavalry  regiment  cannot  be  recorded  with  justice  in 
a  brief  outline  of  its  history. 

In  January,  1864,  the  Third,  was  at  La  Grange,  Tennessee,  where 
the  regiment  reenlisted  and  was  sent  to  Michigan  on  veteran  fur- 
lough. The  reputation  it  had  attained  drew  a  large  number  of 
recruits  to  its  ranks  at  this  time,  and  at  the  termination  of  the 
thirty-day  furlough  the  regiment  reassembled  at  Kalamazoo  and 
again,  under  command  of  Colonel  Mizner,  returned  to  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  where,  in  May,  1864,  it  was  sent  to  Little  Eock,  Arkan- 
sas, and  was  soon  engaged  in  scouting  and  driving  General  Shel- 
by and  the  Confederates  he  commanded  beyond  the  Arkansas 
river. 

From  November,  1864,  to  February,  1865,  the  headquarters  of 
the  Third  were  at  Brownsville  Station,  Arkansas,  and  many 
marches  and  scouts  were  made  in  the  surrounding  country,  secur- 
ing large  supplies  for  the  Union  army,  thus  immeasurably  crip- 
pling the  Confederates,  whose  resources  were  constantly  being 
curtailed. 

In  March,  1865,  the  Third  was  transferred  to  the  Military  De- 
partment of  the  Mississippi  commanded  by  General  Canby,  to 
operate  against  Mobile.  After  the  fall  of  that  city  it  marched 
across  Alabama  and  Mississippi  to  Baton  Eouge,  Lousiana.  When 
General  Sheridan  was  sent  west  to  command  the  Military  Depart- 
ment of  the  Southwest  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  report  to  him 
for  duty,  and  immediately  joined  the  expedition  to  San  Antonio, 
Texas,  where  it  arrived  August  2nd,  after  a  long  and  fatiguing 
march.  Here  it  was  employed  in  guarding  the  Mexican  border, 
where  it  performed  garrison  duty  and  engaged  in  constant  scout- 
ing. Its  headquarters  were  at  San  Antonio,  Texas,  until  Febru- 
ary 15,  1866,  when  it  was  dismounted  and  marched  to  Indianola, 
where  it  took  a  steamer  for  Cairo,  Illinois,  via  New  Orleans. 

On  its  return  to  Michigan,  March  10,  1866,  the  regiment  was  ren- 
dezvoused at  Jackson,  where  it  was  paid  off  and  disbanded.  The 
veterans  of  1861  in  this  organization  saw  four  years  and  six 
months'  service  and  a  great  majority  of  its  recruits  served  well 
and  faithfully  for  over  three  years.  Its  members,  both  officers  and 
enlisted  men,  came  from  all  sections  of  the  state,  and  in  a  short 
time  after  their  muster  out  could  be  found  at  their  former  avoca- 
tions, the  better  citizens  for  having  been  good  soldiers.  Their 
long  and  arduous  service  added  luster  to  the  lasting  reputation 
won  by  the  cavalry  regiments  from  Michigan. 

From  March,  1862,  until  December,  1863,  the  regiment  took 
part  in  the  following  engagements  and  skirmishes:  New  Madrid, 
Missouri,  March  13,  1862;  siege  of  Island  No.  10,  Missouri,  March 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  243 

14  to  April  7,-  1862 ;  Farmington,  Mississippi,  May  5,  1862 ;  siege 
of  Corinth,  Mississippi,  May  10  to  31,  1862;  Spangler's  Mills, 
Mississippi,  July  26,  1862;  Bay  Springs,  Mississippi,  September 
10,  1862;  luka,  Mississippi,  September  19,  1862;  Corinth,  Miss- 
issippi, October  3  and  4,  1862;  Hatchie,  Mississippi,  October  6, 
1862;  Holly  Springs,  Mississippi,  November  7,  1862;  Hudson- 
vine,  Mississippi,  November  14,  1862;  Lumkin's  Mill,  Mississippi, 
November  29,  1862;  Coffeeville,  Mississippi,  November  29,  1862; 
Oxford,  Mississippi,  December  2,  1862;  Coffeeville,  Mississippi, 
December  5,  1862;  Brownsville,  Mississippi,  January  14,  1863; 
Clifton,  Mississippi,  February  10,  1863;  Panola,  Mississippi,  July 
20,  1863;  Grenada,  Mississippi,  August  14,  1863;  Byhalia,  Miss- 
issippi, October  12,  1863;  Wyatt's  Ford,  Mississippi,  October  13, 
1863;  Ripley,  Mississippi,  November  29,  1863;  Orizaba,  Missis- 
sippi, November  30,  1863;  Ellistown,  Mississippi,  December  3, 
1863;  Purdy,  Mississippi,  December  22,  1863;  Jack's  Creek,  Ten- 
nessee, December  24,  1863. 

Shortly  after  the  engagement  at  Jack's  Creek  the  regiment  re- 
turned to  Michigan  on  veteran  furlough,  and  on  its  return  to  the 
front  was  closely  identified  with  the  skirmishes  and  battles  in  the 
southwest,  including  the  battle  at  Mobile,  and  at  the  surrender  of 
the  last  rebel  troops  under  General  Richard  Taylor.  It  is  the 
record  of  the  regiment  that  it  did  active  service  in  ten  states,  oc- 
cupying more  territory  and  marching  more  miles  than  any  regi- 
ment that  left  the  state.  The  official  records  show  that  the  regi- 
ment actually  marched  a  distance  of  10,800  miles  exclusive  of 
marches  by  separate  companies  and  detachments. 

Volumes  could  be  written  from  the  few  statistical  lines  recorded 
beneath,  every  figure  of  which  represents  an  individual  part  taken 
by  some  soldier  in  the  great  War  of  the  Rebellion. 

Total  enrolment,  2,264;  killed  in  action,  24;  died  of  wounds  re- 
ceived in  action,  9 ;  died  in  Confederate  prisons,  8 ;  died  of  disease 
contracted  in  the  service,  333 ;  discharged  for  disability  (wounds 
and  disease),  319. 

Company  A:  Baughman,  Homer;  enlisted  September  9,  1861; 
saddler;  discharged  February  12,  1866. 

Bridges,  Benjamin  F.,  Bloomingdale ;  enlisted  September,  1,861, 
at  Bloomingdale;  discharged  February  12,  1866. 

Brown,  Charles  M. ;  enlisted  August  31,  1861;  discharged  for 
disability  December  9,  1862. 

Brown,  Cyrus,  Waverly ;  enlisted  August  14,  1862,  at  Waverly  ; 
discharged,  February  3,  1863. 

Brown,  Lorenzo,  Bloomingdale;  enlisted  October  3,  1861,  at 
Bloomingdale;  discharged  for  disability  July  25,  1862. 


244  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Clark,  Marcus  F.,  Bloomingdale;  enlisted  September  9,  1861, 
at  Allegan;  discharged  for  disability,  July  13,  1862. 

Colwell,  Edwin  A.,  Bloomingdale;  enlisted  September,  5,  1861, 
at  Bloomingdale;  on  duty  with  Ninth  Illinois  Cavalry  from  Jan- 
uary 31  to  May  30,  1864;  discharged  October  24,  1864. 

Coon,  Charles  M.,  Bloomingdale  enlisted  September  6,  1861,  at 
Bloomingdale;  discharged  December  1,  1864. 

Coy,  Daniel,  Bloomingdale;  enlisted  September  3,  1861,  at 
Bloomingdale;  discharged  July  24,  1861. 

Fowler,  George,  Bloomingdale;  enlisted  September  9,  1861,  at 
Bloomingdale;  died  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  May  17,  1862;  buried 
in  St.  Louis  National  cemetery,  grave  No.  979. 

Holbrook,  William  A.;  enlisted  September  3,  1861;  corporal; 
discharged  for  disability,  July  25,  1862. 

McMeeken,  William,  Bloomingdale;  enlisted  September  5,  1861, 
at  Bloomingdale;  discharged  for  disability  March  28,  1864;  died 
at  Petoskey. 

Miller,  James  EL,  Bloomingdale;  enlisted  September  4,  1861,  at 
Bloomingdale ;  promoted  to  sergeant ;  discharged  February  12, 
1866. 

Moore,  John,  Bloomingdale;  enlisted  August  25,  1863,  at  Bloom- 
ingdale ;  died  July  30,  1864. 

Parsons,  Francis  M.,  Bloomingdale;  enlisted  September  4,  1861, 
at  Bloomingdale;  discharged  for  disability. 

Quint,  Obed  W.,  Bloomingdale;  enlisted  September  25,  1.861, 
at  Bloomingdale;  on  duty  with  Ninth  Illinois  Cavalry  from  Jan- 
uary 31  to  May  30 ;  discharged  October  24,  1864. 

Richard,  John,  Pine  Grove;  enlisted  February  29,  1864,  at  Pine 
Grove,  died  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  November  6,  1864;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  St.  Louis,  grave  No.  3140. 

Robinson,  William  A.;  enlisted  September  3,  1861,  at  Allegan; 
discharged  for  disability  January  20,  1863. 

Scott,  Aaron;  enlisted  August  31,  1861,  at  Allegan;  discharged 
February  12,  1866. 

Smith,  Marion  M. ;  enlisted  August  15,  1862,  at  Paw  Paw;  dis- 
charged June  2,  1865. 

Whaley,  Ezra,  Bloomingdale;  enlisted  October  7,  1862,  at 
Bloomingdale;  promoted  to  corporal  and  to  sergeant;  discharged 
February  12,  1866;  dead;  buried  at  Charlotte,  Michigan. 

Company  C :  This  company  was,  in  the  first  place,  wholly  made 
up  of  Van  Buren  county  men,  although  there  were  numbers  of  re- 
cruits from  other  parts  of  the  State.  There  were  over  two  hun- 
dred men  in  its  ranks  during  its  period  of  service. 

The  following  list  contains  the  names  of  those  from  Van  Buren 
County :    Hudson,  Gilbert  J.,  Paw  Paw ;  first  captain  of  the  com- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BDREN  COUNTY  245 

pany,    commissioned    major    November    1,    1862;    honorably    dis- 
charged, June  6,  1865 ;  died  at  Paw  Paw,  December  19,  1881. 

Rowland,  Oran  W.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Lawrence;  appointed  sergeant  at  organization  of  company;  sub- 
sequently promoted  to  first  sergeant;  commissioned  second  lieuten- 
ant Company  E,  April  29,  1863;  first  lieutenant  Company  I,  Octo- 
ber 24,  1864;  acting  assistant  adjutant  general  at  brigade  head- 
quarters, January,  February  and  March,  1865;  captain  Company 
C,  November  17,  1864 ;  honorably  discharged,  June  6,  1865 ;  present 
residence,  Paw  Paw. 

Dyckman,  Barney  II.,  South  Haven;  entered  service  as  second 
lieutenant  Company  C,  at  South  Haven,  September  17,  1861 ;  pro- 
moted to  first  lieutenant  January  13,  1862;  captain  Company  A, 
May  25,  1862;  resigned  and  honorably  discharged  October  31, 
1864;  died  November  25,  1890. 

Huston,  Joseph  W.,  Paw  Paw ;  entered  service  as  first  lieuten- 
ant September  17,  1861 ;  resigned  January  12,  1862 ;  major  Fourth 
Michigan  Cavalry  September  1,  1862;  resigned  and  honorably 
discharged,  August  25,  1863 ;  died  at  Boise  City,  Idaho. 

Thompson,  Albert  H.,  Lawton;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Lawton;  first  sergeant  and  sergeant  major;  second  lieutenant 
Company  C,  January  13,  1862 ;  resigned  and  honorably  discharged, 
October  12,  1862 ;  died  at  Lawton. 

Chatfield,  Henry,  South  Haven;  enlisted  September  17,  1861, 
at  South  Haven;  promoted  to  quartermaster  sergeant;  second 
lieutenant  September  22,  1864;  first  lieutenant  November  7,  1864; 
honorably  discharged  on  account  of  disability,  June  12,  1865 ;  died 
at  South  Haven,  August  20,  1906. 

Abbott,  John,  Bangor;  enlisted  December  21,  1863,  at  Bangor; 
discharged  February  12,  1866 ;  present  residence,  South  Haven. 

Baker,  Orson  M.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  February  29,  1864,  at  Ka- 
lamazoo; discharged  for  disability,  October  7,  1864;  dead. 

Bates,  Isaac  L.,  Porter;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Porter, 
as  corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant,  January  19,  1864;  discharged 
October  5,  1865;  present  residence,  Andover,  South  Dakota, 

Beardsley,  Eli,  Lawrence;  enlisted  February  26,  1864,  at  Law- 
rence; died  at  DeVall's  Bluff,  Arkansas,  August  14,  1864. 

Beaver,  Watson  II.,  Bangor;  enlisted  October  16,  1862;  dis- 
charged October  15,  1865 ;  present  residence,  Bangor. 

Bedell,  Edward  R. ;  enlisted  January  1,  1862;  taken  prisoner 
August  24,  1864;  returned  to  regiment  January  2,  1865;  dis- 
charged February  12,  1866. 

Benjamin,  Marion  D.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  February  26,  1864,  at 
Lawrence;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  died  at  Big  Rock,  Illi- 
nois, January  27,  1908. 


246  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Blaisdale,  John,  Arlington;  enlisted  as  corporal;  September  17, 
1861,  at  Arlington;  discharged  for  disability  November  22,  1862; 
died  at  Arlington,  May  1,  1902. 

Bonesteele,  John  Q.,  Arlington ;  enlisted  September  17,  1861, 
at  Arlington ;  discharged  February  12,  1866 ;  died  at  Evart,  Michi- 
gan, March  5,  1907. 

Bowman,  Walter,  Lawton;  enlisted  June  20,  1863,  at  Lawton; 
missing  in  action  at  La  Grange,  Tennessee;  reported  prisoner  of 
war;  no  further  record. 

Branch,  Charles,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  16,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw;  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps;  died  at  Washington, 
D.  C,  March  24,  1865. 

Branch,  Frank,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Law- 
rence ;  corporal  January  1,  1865 ;  discharged  February  12,  1866 ; 
present  residence,  Lawrence. 

Branch,  Luther,  Lawrence ;  enlisted  September  16,  1863,  at  Law- 
rence ;  discharged  February  12,  1866 ;  present  residence,  Yaquina, 
Oregon. 

Bridges,  George  W.,  Bangor;  enlisted  February  23,  1864,  at 
Kalamazoo ;  discharged  February  12,  1866 ;  present  residence,  Ban- 
gor. 

Bridges,  James,  South  Haven;  enlisted  February  15,  1864,  at 
South  Haven;  discharged  February  12,  1864;  dead. 

Bunnell,  Jabe  C,  Lawrence;   enlisted  September  17,   1861,   at 

Lawrence,  as  saddler ;  discharged  for  disability,  May  9,  1863 ;  dead. 

Buss,  Horace  B.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  February  20,  1864,  at  Paw 

Paw;   discharged  February  12,   1866;   died   at  Evart,  Michigan, 

September  25,  1907. 

Buys,  Cornelius,  South  Haven;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
South  Haven;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  present  residence, 
South  Haven. 

Camp,  Daniel  S.,  Arlington;  enlisted  September  7,  1863,  at  Ar- 
lington ;  discharged  February  12,  1866 ;  present  residence,  Bangor. 
Chandler,  John  D.,  Arlington;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Arlington;  corporal;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  present  resi- 
dence soldiers'  home,  Orting,  Washington. 

Chubbuck,  John  F.,  Arlington;  enlisted  February  20,  1864,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  October  5,  1865;  dead.  This  soldier  was 
in  the  South  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war  and  was  con- 
scripted into  the  southern  army,  but  availed  himself  of  the  first 
opportunity  to  escape  and  join  the  northern  forces. 

Churchill,  George  W.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  17,  1861, 

at  Paw  Paw ;  taken  prisoner  November  2,  1863 ;  died  at  Anderson- 

ville;  buried  in  Andersonville  National  cemetery,  grave  No.  5686. 

Cochrane,  Andrew  M.,  Bangor;  enlisted  February  29,  1864,  at 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  247 

Kalamazoo;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  present  residence  Ban- 
gor. 

Cross,  Burrill  A.,  Arlington;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Arlington;  on  duty  with  Ninth  Illinois  Cavalry,  January  21  to 
May  30,  1864 ;  discharged  October  24,  1864 ;  dead. 

Cross,  George  A.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Paw  Paw;  corporal;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  present  resi- 
dence, Lawrence. 

Cross,  Orrin  W.,  Bangor;  enlisted  as  corporal,  September  17, 
1861,  at  Bangor;  discharged  September  26,  1863,  to  accept  com- 
mission in  Sixty-first  Colored  Troops;  died  September  26,  1865; 
buried  at  Bangor. 

Dailey,  Andrew,  Porter;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Por- 
ter; killed  by  guerrillas  at  Corinth,  Mississippi,  November  14, 
1863;  buried  in  Union  National,  cemetery,  Corinth,  grave  No. 
2552. 

Daskam,  Charles  S.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  17,  at  Paw 
Paw;  promoted  to  corporal;  quartermaster  sergeant;  first  ser- 
geant; second  lieutenant  Company  F,  November  17,  1864;  dis- 
charged February  12,  1866;  died  at  Albion,  Michigan,  February 
14,  1904. 

De  Haven,  David,  Arlington ;  enlisted  at  Paw  Paw,  August  14, 
1862;  wounded  and  died  at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  January  31, 
1864;  buried  in  National  cemetery,  Memphis. 

Dolson,  John  H.,  Lawrence ;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  died  1876;  buried  near 
Covert. 

Donovan,  Andrew,  Arlington;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Arlington ;  discharged  February  12,  1866 ;  present  residence  Ban- 
gor. 

Dopp,  Amos,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Law- 
rence ;  discharged  December  29,  1862 ;  died  at  Lawrence,  February 
12,  1908. 

Dow,  Joseph,  South  Haven;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
South  Haven;  died  of  wounds  received  in  action  near  Corinth, 
Mississippi,  April  29,  1862;  the  first  man  killed  in  the  regiment; 
buried  in  Union  National  cemetery  at  Corinth,  Mississippi,  grave 
No.  2555. 

Durkee,  William  H.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Paw  Paw ;  corporal ;  taken  prisoner  at  Corinth,  November  12, 
1 863,  released  December  16,  1864 ;  discharged  March  3,  1865 ;  died 
at  soldiers'  home,  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  1911,  buried  at  Paw 
Paw. 

Earl,  Roswell  A.,  Bangor;  enlisted  at  Bangor,  September  17, 


248  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

1861;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  died  at  Wexford,  Michigan, 
February  23,  1904,  buried  at  Wexford. 

Ecklar,  Wallace,  Arlington;  enlisted  August  15,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw;  taken  prisoner  at  Corinth,  November  2,  1863;  died  August 
14,  1864 ;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Andersonville. 

Ewers,  Ebenezer,  Arlington;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Arlington;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  died  at  Coloma,  Michi- 
gan. 

Ewers,  William,  Arlington;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Arlington;  missing  in  action  at  Brownsville,  Arkansas;  supposed 
to  have  been  killed  by  guerrillas. 

Ewing,  Benjamin  F.,  Bangor;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Bangor;  sergeant;  discharged  for  disability,.  November  30,  1863; 
died  at  Bangor. 

Ferguson,  Philo  N. ;  enlisted  at  Paw  Paw,  September  17,  1861 ; 
bugler ;  discharged  October  3,  1864 ;  died  May  17,  1891  ;  buried  at 
Harbor  Springs,  Michigan. 

Finley,  William  W. ;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Bangor; 
farrier;  discharged  July  9,  1865;  dead. 

Fassett,  James  S.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  17,  1863,  at  Law- 
rence; died  at  Corinth,  Mississippi,  November  8,  1863;  buried  in 
Union  National  cemetery,  number  of  grave  unknown. 

Foster,  Abram  F.,  Columbia;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Columbia;  discharged  for  disability,  March  28,  1864;  dead. 

Fuller,  Daniel  P.,  Decatur;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  De- 
catur; discharged  January  2,  1866;  died  at  Charlotte,  Michigan, 
1898. 

Fuller,  Solon  P.,  Decatur;  enlisted  September  17,  1.861,  at  De- 
catur; died  at  Detroit,  October  14,  1862, 

Gage,  Delos,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  14,  1862,  at  Lawrence; 
discharged  for  disability,  November  1,  1864;  died  at  Lawrence. 

Geiser,  Ernest,  Lawton;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton  ;  discharged  for  disability,  June  1863 ;  died  at  Lawton,  January 
21,  1903. 

Gilbert,  James,  Arlington;  enlisted  August  14,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  for  disability  February  6,  1863;  died  at  Ban- 
gor, March  9,  1901. 

Goodell,  Oliver  E.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Lawrence;   discharged   October   24,    1864;   dead. 

Goss,  John  P.,  Bangor;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Ban- 
gor; discharged  February  12,  1866;  present  residence  Bangor. 

Greenman,  Columbus;  enlisted  July  10,  1864,  at  Lawton;  dis- 
charged May  26,  1865;  no  further  record. 

Harris,  James;  enlisted  at  Paw  Paw,  September  17,  1861;  dis- 
charged for  disability,  November  8,  1862;  dead. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUR-EN  COUNTY  249 

Harvey,  Samuel  P.,  Bangor;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Bangor;  promoted  to  corporal,  sergeant  and  first  sergeant;  dis- 
charged February  12,  1866 ;  present  residence  Bangor. 

Hennesey,  James,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  15,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw;  on  duty  with  Ninth  Illinois  Cavalry  from  January  31  to 
May  30,  1864;  discharged  June  2,  1865;  dead. 

Hilliard,  Charles,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  17,  1863,  at  Law- 
rence; discharged  February  12,  1866;  present  residence  Hart- 
ford. 

Hilliard,  Harris  W.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  February  29,  1864, 
at  Kalamazoo;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  present  residence 
Lawrence. 

Hogmire,  Charles,  Arlington ;  enlisted  February  26,  1864,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  present  residence  Port- 
land, Michigan. 

Hogmire,  Edwin  S.,  Arlington;  enlisted  August  14,  1862,  at 
Paw  Paw ;  discharged  June  2,  1865 ;  present  residence,  Breeds- 
ville. 

Hogmire,  Mitchell  H.,  Arlington;  enlisted  August  14,  1862,  at 
Paw  Paw ;  promoted  to  corporal  and  to  sergeant ;  discharged 
June   2,   1865. 

House,  Frederick  A.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  February  9,  1864;  dis- 
charged July  5,  1865 ;  dead. 

Howe,  Martin  A.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Lawrence;  wagoner;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  present 
residence,  Michigan  City,  Indiana. 

Hoxie,  Orville  C,  Lawrence;  enlisted  February  26,  1864,  at 
Lawrence;  died  at  De  Vall's  Bluff,  Arkansas,  August  16,  1864. 

Hunt,  Isaiah  F.,  Arlington;  enlisted  August  14,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  for  disability  December  31,  1862. 

Hurlbut,  Albert  F.,  Arlington;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Arlington;  corporal;  discharged  February  21,  1866;  present  resi- 
dence, Paw  Paw. 

Hurlbut,  Spencer  N.,  Arlington;  enlisted  September  17,  1861, 
at  Arlington;  commissioned  first  lieutenant,  Eleventh  Cavalry; 
unassigned;  discharged,  special  order  war  department,  dated  De- 
cember 1,  1863.     Died  in  California, 

Huston,  William  H.  II.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  17, 
1861,  at  Paw  Paw;  promoted  to  sergeant  and  sergeant  major; 
second  lieutenant,  Company  B,  October  3,  1864;  first  lieutenant, 
Company  B,  December  7,  1864;  captain  same  company,  July  4, 
1865;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  present  residence,  San  An- 
tonio, Texas. 

Ives,  Charles,  Arlington ;  enlisted  August  17,  1863,  at  Lawrence, 


250  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

discharged  October  5,  1865;  present  residence,   Hesperia,  Michi- 
gan. 

Johnson,  Freeman  G.,  Bangor;  enlisted  May  29,  1862,  at  Jack- 
son; discharged  June  2,  1865;  subsequently  served  in  Company 
C,  Seventeenth  United  States  Infantry. 

Kelly,  Franklin  N.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  17,  1863,  at 
Lawrence;  discharged  June  9,  1865;  died  at  Lawrence,  April  21, 
1897. 

Kelly,  Julius  H.,  Lawrence,  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Lawrence;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  died  at  Lawrence, 
March  20,  1906. 

Kinney,  John  R.,  Porter;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Por- 
ter; promoted  to  sergeant  and  quartermaster  sergeant;  dis- 
charged February  12,  1866. 

Kidney,  Marvin  N.,  Porter;  enlisted  November  16,  1863,  at 
Porter;  discharged  February  14,  1865;  present  residence,  Keno- 
sha, Wisconsin. 

King,  Charles  0.,  Arlington;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Arlington ;  promoted  to  corporal,  sergeant  and  regimental  com- 
missary sergeant ;  second  lieutenant,  Company  I,  November  6, 
1865;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  dead. 

Lamont,  Hans,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw,  discharged  for  disability  June  14,  1863;  died  at  Paw  Paw. 

Lamphear,  Dempster,  Lawrence;  enlisted  February  17,  1864,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  June  19,  1865;  present  residence,  Olivet. 

Lamphear,  Otis  E.,  LawTrence;  enlisted  February  24,  1864,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  no  further  record. 

Lamphear,  Loren  E.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Lawrence;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  died  at  Lawrence, 
January  12,  1911. 

Lamphear,  Truman  R.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  February  24,  1864, 
at  Kalamazoo ;  discharged  October  5,  1865 ;  dead. 

Lamphear,  Truman,  Lawrence;  enlisted  February  24,  1864,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  for  disability  November  19,  1865;  died  at 
Lawrence,  October  21,  1904. 

Lewis,  William  H.,  Arlington;  enlisted  August  17,  1863,  at 
Lawrence;  died  at  Corinth,  Mississippi,  October  31,  1863;  buried 
in  National  cemetery  at  Corinth,  grave  No.  255. 

Luce,  Joseph  W.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Paw  Paw;  discharged  for  disability  November  7,  1862;  present 
residence,  Dwight,  Kansas. 

Lutz,  Samuel,  South  Haven;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
South  Haven;  discharged  for  disability  October  22,  1865;  dead. 

Mallory,  Lemuel  C,  Bangor;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Bangor;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  no  further  record. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  251 

Mahard,  John,  Lawton;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton  ;  discharged  August,  1862 ;  subsequently  served  in  Twenty- 
eighth  Michigan  Infantry  from  1864  to  1866.  Present  residence 
Lawton. 

Martin,  Oscar  D.,  Bangor;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Bangor;  on  duty  with  9th  Illinois  Cavalry  from  January  31  to 
May  30,  1864;  discharged  October  24,  1864;  present  residence 
Lawrence. 

Marshall,  Jerome  B.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  17,  1861, 
at  Lawrence ;  discharged  for  disability  July  20,  1862 ;  died  at  Law- 
rence. 

McDonald,  John;  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Paw  Paw;  corporal  and  sergeant;  discharged  February  12,  1866; 
dead. 

McDonald,  Ronald,  South  Haven;  enlisted  September  17,  1861, 
at  South  Haven;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  died  at  San  An- 
tonio, Texas,  February  3,  1889;  buried  same  place,  National  ceme- 
tery, grave  No.  851. 

McNeil,  Minard,  Lawton;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton;  discharged  October  24,  1864;  died  at  Lawton. 

Miller,  Henry  II.,  Lawton;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Lawton;  discharged  to  accept  appointment  second  lieutenant, 
Company  II,  Fourth  United  States  Heavy  Artillery,  colored, 
August  17,  1864;  honorably  discharged  at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas; 
present  residence,  Marshall,  Michigan. 

Mitchelson,  Shortis,  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  February  26,  1864,  at 
Paw  Paw;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  died  at  Antwerp,  May 
16,  1899. 

Monroe,  Ebenezer,  Porter ;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Por- 
ter ;  corporal ;  on  duty  with  Ninth  Illinois  Cavalry,  from  January 
31  to  May  30,  1864;  discharged  October  24,  1865;  present  resi- 
dence, Schoolcraft. 

Moon,  Eugene  F.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Paw  Paw ;  discharged  for  disability  July  19,  1863 ;  no  further 
record. 

Moses,  Andrew  F.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Paw  Paw;  died  at  Hamburg,  Tennessee,  May  27,  1862. 

Moses,  Judson  J.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Paw  Paw;  discharged  for  disability  November  8,  1862;  died  at 
Arlington,  May  17,  1909. 

Moon,  William  H.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Pawr  Paw;  discharged  for  disability  April  16,  1862;  dead. 

Musson,  Thomas  G.,  Lawrence ;  enlisted  August  14,  1863,  at  Law- 
rence; died  at  Corinth,  Mississippi,  October  16,  1863;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Corinth;  number  grave  unknown. 


252  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Murch,  Ford,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  February  16,  1864,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  present  residence,  Mattawan. 

Nyman,  R.  C,  Bangor;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Bangor; 
prisoner  of  war  from  May  to  October,  1863 ;  discharged  February 
12,  1866;  present  residence,  Bangor. 

Ormsby,  Edwin  B.,  Porter;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Porter;  corporal;  discharged  February  7,  1865;  present  residence, 
Greenville. 

Osborn,  Ozias,  Lawrence;  enlisted  December  28,  1863,  at  Kala- 
mazoo; discharged  February  12,  1866;  dead. 

Parrish,  James,  Porter;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Por- 
ter; discharged  for  disability,  December  16,  1863;  dead. 

Parker,  James ;  enlisted  December  23,  1863,  at  Kalamazoo ;  died 
May  30,  1864;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Memphis,  Tennes- 
see, grave  No.  4130. 

Patterson,  William;  enlisted  February  16,  1864,  at  Paw  Paw; 
discharged  February  12,  1866 ;  no  further  record. 

Peabody,  George  W.,  Arlington;  enlisted  September  17,  1861, 
at  Arlington;  saddler;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  died  at 
Hartford,  July  7,  1909 ;  buried  at  Lawrence. 

Pease,  Enoch  M.,  Geneva;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Geneva;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  died  at  Grand  View, 
South  Dakota. 

Pierce,  Franklin  M.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  10,  1862,  at 
Lawrence;  discharged  for  disability  January  10,  1863;  dead. 

Randall,  Hiram  A.,  South  Haven;  enlisted  September  17,  1861, 
at  South  Haven ;  discharged  for  disability  June  17,  1864 ;  dead. 

Rhodes  Fernando  C. ;  Arlington ;  enlisted  August  17,  1863,  at 
Lawrence;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  died  at  Lawrence,  De- 
cember 29,  1908. 

Richardson,  Milan  IL,  Arlington;  enlisted  at  Lawrence,  August 
1,  1863 ;  discharged  February  12,  1866 ;  died  at  Paw  Paw,  December 
26,  1896. 

Richardson,  Noble  D.,  Arlington;  enlisted  September  17,  1861, 
at  Arlington ;  discharged  for  disability,  April  6,  1862 ;  died  Janu- 
ary 8,  1895;  buried  at  Pawr  Paw. 

Richmond,  Andrew  J.,  enlisted  February  22,  1864,  at  Paw  Paw; 
discharged  February  12,  1866 ;  dead. 

Rogers,  Henry  A.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Paw  Paw;  promoted  to  quartermaster  sergeant  and  first  sergeant, 
second  lieutenant  Company  H,  December  11,  1862;  resigned  and 
honorably  discharged  August  13,  1863 ;  died  at  Paw  Paw. 

Royal,  Hiram  L.,  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Antwerp ;  dis- 
charged February  1,  1866;  dead. 

Russell,  Clark  G.,  Bangor;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Ban- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  253 

gor;  discharged  to  accept  promotion  in  United  States  Colored 
Troops,  September  16,  1864;  assisted  in  the  organization  of  a  regi- 
ment of  Kentucky  State  militia;  seriously  wounded  April,  1865; 
present  residence,  Lansing,  Michigan. 

Russell,  Lyman  S.,  Bangor ;  enlisted  September  17,  1861 ;  dis- 
charged to  accept  promotion  in  regiment  of  colored  troops ;  as- 
sisted in  organizing  first  colored  soldiers ;  first  sergeant  Company 
A,  Sixty-first  United  States  Colored  Troops;  sergeant  major  one 
year,  second  lieutenant  and  acting  adjutant,  October  30,  1864; 
discharged  May  23,  1865;  died  at  Lansing,  Michigan. 

Shaver,  Talcott  A,  Lawrence ;  enlisted  August  14,  1863,  at  Law- 
rence; discharged  February  12,  1866;  present  residence,  Benton 
Harbor. 

Showers,  John,  Lawton;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Law- 
ton;  discharged  for  disability  September  8,  1862;  dead. 

Sinclair,  Otis,  Covert;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Covert; 
died  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  August  19,  1862,  of  small  pox;  buried 
at  St.  Louis. 

Smith,  Hudson  D.,  Bangor;  enlisted  December  30,  1863,  at 
Bangor;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  removed  to  Missouri;  no 
further  record. 

Smith,  John  B.,  South  Haven;  enlisted  August  15,  1863,  at 
South  Haven;  discharged  February,  1866.    No  further  record. 

Smith,  William  J.,  enlisted  December  19,  1863,  at  Kalamazoo; 
discharged  for  disability  October  1,  1864;  dead. 

Southwell,  Silas  J.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Lawrence;  died  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  January  12,  1862. 

Stearns,  Stacy  N.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Lawrence;  discharged  for  disability  October  30,  1862;  died  at 
Lawrence,  March  21,  1879. 

Stickney,  Daniel  M.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Paw  Paw;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  dead. 

Swan,  John,  Arlington;  enlisted  August  15,  1862,  at  Paw  Paw; 
discharged  for  disability,  January  11,  1863 ;  dead. 

Travis,  James  B. ;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Bangor;  died 
at  New  Madrid,  Missouri,  April  6,  1862 ;  buried  in  National  ceme- 
tery at  Memphis,  Tennessee. 

Tucker,  George  M.  D.,  Arlington;  enlisted  September  17,  1861, 
at  Arlington;  bugler;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  dead. 

Utley,  Urijah,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Law- 
rence; discharged  for  disability  July  1,  1862;  dead. 

Van  Draiss,  Frederick,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  17,  at 
Lawrence;  transferred  to  Ninth  Illinois  Cavalry,  January  31, 
1864;  no  further  record. 

Van   Dusen,    Henry,   Paw   Paw;   enlisted  August   18,    1862,   at 


254  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Paw  Paw;  discharged  for  disability,  April  21,  1863;  no  further 
record. 

Van  Dyke,  Joseph  G.,  South  Haven;  enlisted  September  17, 
1861,  at  South  Haven;  discharged  March  28,  1864;  died  at  South 
Haven,  March  11,  1890. 

Voorhees,  Augustus,  South  Haven;  enlisted  September  17,  1861, 
at  South  Haven;  on  duty  with  Ninth  Illinois  Cavalry  from  Janu- 
ary 31,  to  May  30,  1864;  discharged  October  20,  1864;  died  at 
South  Haven,  October  20,  1901. 

Ward,  David  M.,  Porter;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Por- 
ter; discharged  February  12,  1866;  present  residence  Lawton. 

Ward,  John  C,  Porter;  enlisted  August  5,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo; 
discharged  February  12,  1866;  present  residence  Paw  Paw. 

Ward,  William  H.  H.,  Porter;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Porter;  killed  in  action  near  Corinth,  Mississippi,  November  15, 
1863;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Corinth,  grave  No.  2555. 

Wells,  Henry  A.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  12,  1863,  at  Law- 
rence; promoted  to  regimental  quartermaster  sergeant,  com- 
missioned second  lieutenant  Company  D,  October  17,  1865;  dis- 
charged February  12,  1866;  present  residence  Soldiers'  Home; 
Grand  Rapids. 

Wells,  Hiram  K.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  12,  1863,  at  Law- 
rence; discharged  February  12,  1866;  died  July  20,  1893;  buried  at 
Lawrence. 

Widner,  James,  Lawrence;  enlisted  February  22,  1864,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  died  at  Lawrence,  March  9, 
1908. 

Wood,  Daniel,  Bangor;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Bangor; 
died  at  Bangor,  April  24,  1862;  buried  with  military  honors. 

Worallo,  William  H. ;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Bangor; 
discharged  for  disability,  July  23,  1862;  died  at  Bangor  in  1866. 

Wright,  Claudius  D.,  Porter;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at 
Porter;  died  at  Kienzi,  Mississippi,  July  27,  1862;  buried  in  Na- 
tional cemetery  at  Corinth,  Mississippi,  grave  No.  2564. 

Company  M:  Brott,  Charles,  Geneva;  enlisted  February  13, 
1864,  at  South  Haven;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  died  Janu- 
ary 26,  1905,  at  Geneva. 

Burnham,  Gifford,  Covert ;  enlisted  December  16,  1863,  at  Kala- 
mazoo; died  at  De  ValPs  Bluff,  Arkansas,  July  4,  1864,  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  grave  No.  143. 

Buys,  Redford,  South  Haven;  enlisted  February  22,  1864,  at 
South  Haven;  died  at  Brownsville,  Arkansas,  November  30,  1864. 

Camp,  Edgar  N.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  February  23,  1864,  at 
Kalamazoo;  died  April  3,  1864,  in  Michigan. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  255 

Crakes,  William,  Geneva;  enlisted  February  15,  1864,  at  Ge- 
neva;  discharged  February  12,   1866. 

Hoag,  Orrin  S.,  Geneva;  enlisted  February  15,  1864,  at  Geneva; 
discharged  February  12,  1866;  died  at  Lacota,  Michigan,  Janu- 
ary 5,  1904. 

Hess,  James  S.,  South  Haven;  enlisted  February  27,  1864,  at 
South  Haven;  died  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  March  28,  1864. 

Ingrain,  Alfred  T.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  February  22,  1864,  at 
Paw  Paw ;  discharged  January  21,  1866 ;  dead. 

Jones,  James;  South  Haven;  enlisted  February  11,  1864;  cor- 
poral; died  at  Brownsville,  Arkansas,  August  29,  1864. 

Long,  Achilles,  South  Haven;  enlisted  February  11,  1864,  at 
South  Haven;  died  at  De  Vall's  Bluff,  Arkansas,  July  12,  1864; 
buried  in  National  cemetery,  Little  Rock,  Arkansas;  grave  No.  211. 

McDonough,  John,  Geneva;  enlisted  February  15,  1864;  dis- 
charged February  12,  1866. 

McPherson,  Hugh,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  March  2,  1864,  at  Kala- 
mazoo, discharged  October  5,  1865;  died  at  Paw  Paw,  September 
20,  1906. 

Matthews,  Billings  W.,  South  Haven;  enlisted  February  16, 
1864;  discharged  February  12,  1866. 

Newman,  Nicholas,  South  Haven;  enlisted  at  Geneva,  February 
18,  1864;  died  at  De  Vall's  Bluff,  July  20,  1864. 

Orr,  Robert,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  February  16,  1864,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  February  12,  1866. 

Parker,  William  S.,  South  Haven;  enlisted  at  South  Haven, 
February  15,  1864;  discharged  February  12,  1866. 

Paul,  Jay,  Lawrence;  enlisted  February  26,  1864,  at  Lawrence; 
died  at  De  Vall's  Bluff,  Arkansas,  August  8,  1864;  buried  at  same 
place. 

Pease,  Henry,  South  Haven;  enlisted  February  15,  1864,  at 
South  Haven;  discharged  February  12,  1866. 

Pike,  Silas  B.,  South  Haven;  enlisted  February  11,  1864,  at 
South  Haven ;  wounded  in  action  May  15,  1865 ;  discharged  Febru- 
ary 12,  1866. 

Rathburn,  Adrian,  Lawrence;  enlisted  February  26,  1864,  at 
Lawrence;  discharged  February  12,  1866. 

Seeger,  Lorenzo,  Columbia,  enlisted  February  23,  1864,  at  Co- 
lumbia; died  in  Michigan,  May  25,  1864. 

Shepard,  William  M.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  February  25,  1864,  at 
Paw  Paw ;  discharged  February  12,  1866 ;  died  at  Paw  Paw. 

Shoemaker,  William  W.,  South  Haven;  enlisted  February  15, 
1864,  at  South  Haven ;  discharged  February  12,  1866. 

Swick,  William  R.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  February  24,  1864,  at 


256  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Paw  Paw;  died  at  New  Orleans,  April  19,  1865;  buried  in  New 
Orleans  National  cemetery. 

Van  Tassell,  Jason  D.,  South  Haven;  enlisted  February  26, 
1864,  at  South  Haven;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  died  No- 
vember 19,  1896. 

Walker,  Absalom,  Bloomingdale ;  enlisted  August  20,  1861,  at 
Bloomingdale ;  discharged  February  12,  1866. 

Other  Companies:  Hamilton,  Julius,  South  Haven;  Company 
F ;  enlisted  December  12,  1863,  at  South  Haven ;  discharged  Febru- 
ary 12,  1866. 

Koons,  John,  Lawton,  Company  F;  enlisted  February  23,  1864, 
at  Kalamazoo;  discharged  May  5,  1865. 

Mills,  Lyman,  Paw  Paw,  Company  F;  enlisted  September  30. 

1861,  at  Kalamazoo ;  discharged  for  disability  August  24,  1862. 
Glidden,  Harrison  W.,  Paw  Paw,  Company  H;  enlisted  Febru- 
ary 9,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo;  discharged  February  12,  1866;  died 
at  Antwerp,  November  20,  1907. 

Stanton,  Lyman,  Lawrence;  Company  1;  enlisted  August  27, 
1863,  at  Lawrence;  died  of  wounds  received  in  action,  at  Mem- 
phis, Tennessee,  February  12,  1864;  buried  in  National  cemetery 
at  Memphis,  grave  No.  4163. 

Carpenter,  William,  South  Haven,  Company  K;  died  in  Michi- 
gan, September  14,  1864. 

Sisson,  Benjamin  A.,  Decatur,  Company  E ;  enlisted  at  Decatur, 
February  20,  1864;  discharged  February  12,  1866. 

Harmon,  Asa,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  15,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw,  in  Company  I,  Second  Michigan  Cavalry;  transferred  to 
Third  Cavalry,  hospital  steward ;  discharged  for  disability  May  30, 
1862;  reentered  service  December,  1862,  as  chaplain;  discharged 
February  12,  1866. 

Fourth  Michigan  Cavalry 

Let  the  flag  of  our  country  be  flung  to  the  sky; 

Our  arm  shall  be  bared  for  the  glorious  fight, 
As  freemen  we'll  live,  or  like  freemen  we'll  die! 

Our  Union  and  Liberty,  and  God  save  the  right. 

The   Fourth   Michigan   Cavalry  was  authorized   about  July   1, 

1862,  and  rendezvoused  at  Detroit  on  July  29th.  It  was  mus- 
tered into  the  service  of  the  United  States  just  a  month  afterward 
under  command  of  Colonel  Robert  H.  G.  Minty.  It  left  the  state 
for  Louisville,  Kentucky,  September  26th,  fully  armed  and  equip- 
ped, with  1,233  officers  and  enlisted  men  on  its  rolls.  Colonel 
Minty,  its  commanding  officer,  had  been  a  major  in  the  Second 
Cavalry  and  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  Third  Cavalry.  He  com- 
manded  the   brigade,   of   which   the   Fourth   formed   a   part,    for 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  257 

the  greater  part  of  the  time  it  was  in  service,  the  command  being 
known  as  "Minty's  Brigade/'  which  became  as  famous  in  the 
west  as  was  the  Michigan  Cavalry  Brigade  in  the  east. 

The  first  real  engagement  in  which  the  regiment  participated 
was  with  the  Confederate  General  Morgan,  at  Stanford,  Ken- 
tucky, which  resulted  in  a  Union  victory.  From  that  time  to  the 
end  of  the  year  the  Fourth  was  constantly  on  duty,  taking  the 
advance  of  the  Union  forces  from  Nashville,  and  making  recon- 
naissances and  scouts  in  every  direction,  meeting  the  enemy  al- 
most daily,  and  invariably  was  victor  when  not  overwhelmed  by 
superior  numbers. 

During  these  months  of  active  service  the  regiment  as  a  whole, 
or  by  detachments,  made  a  number  of  saber  charges  with  bril- 
liant success,  or  fought  on  foot  with  the  facility  of  veteran  infan- 
try when  occasion  required.  It  routed  the  enemy  on  many  a  field 
and  captured  prisoners  and  destroyed  vast  amounts  of  public  prop- 
erty which  the  south  could  ill  afford  to  lose. 

In  January,  1863,  though  the  weather  was  severe  and  the  roads 
almost  impassable  and  rations  scarce,  the  regiment  started  from 
Murfreesboro,  met  Forrest's  and  Wheeler's  Cavalry  and  drove 
them  back  with  considerable  loss  of  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners. 

The  following  month  the  regiment  was  in  pursuit  of  Wheeler 
and  Forrest  near  Fort  Donelson.  During  this  march  of  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty  miles  in  snow,  sleet  and  rain  the  regiment  cap- 
tured 145  prisoners  and  14  commissioned  officers. 

On  the  22d  day  of  May,  1863,  the  regiment,  with  its  brigade, 
marched  to  Middleton,  and  the  Fourth  charged  through  the  town 
and  a  mile  beyond,  where  it  met  the  First  Alabama.  Quickly  dis- 
mounting and  advancing  on  the  camp  with  their  repeating  rifles, 
the  Confederates  fled  and  the  Fourth  took  possession,  capturing 
the  flag  of  the  First  Alabama  and  destroying  a  large  amount  of 
small  arms,  ammunition,  saddles  and  clothing.  The  flag,  by  reso- 
lution of  the  regiment,  was  presented  to  the  governor  of  Michi- 
gan and  is  now  deposited  in  the  Military  Museum  at  the  capitol. 

In  April,  1864,  the  Fourth  marched  across  the  Cumberland  moun- 
tains to  the  vicinity  of  Chattanooga  and  then  crossing  Lookout 
mountain  and  Taylor's  ridge  attacked  the  enemy  at  Rome,  Georgia, 
on  the  15th,  where  it  routed  a  Confederate  brigade.  Joining  in  the 
Atlanta  campaign  with  the  army  under  General  Sherman,  the 
Fourth  led  the  advance  of  the  infantry  and  took  part  in  all  the  en- 
gagements of  the  campaign  in  and  around  Atlanta. 

The  regiment  formed  a  part  of  General  Kilpatrick's  force  of 
2,500  men  in  a  raid  south  of  Atlanta,  and  when  the  Union  troops 
reached  Flint  river  they  found  the  enemy  behind  formidable  en- 


258  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

trenehments,  but  dismounted  and,  fighting  on  foot,  charged  him  into 
Jonesboro. 

Kilpatriek  then  marched  for  Lovejoy's  Station  to  destroy  the  Ma- 
con railroad.  Here  the  Union  forces  were  surrounded  and,  being 
outnumbered  five  to  one,  were  in  a  critical  situation. 

Minty's  Brigade  was  then  massed  by  regiments  and  with  drawn 
saber  cut  its  way  through  the  enemy's  line,  thereby  securing  the 
safety  of  the  balance  of  the  command. 

After  the  fall  of  Atlanta,  the  Fourth  was  engaged  in  scouting,  and 
detachments  of  the  regiment  had  several  severe  encounters  with 
the  enemy.  In  October,  when  General  Hood  commenced  his  march 
north  with  the  intention  of  taking  Nashville,  Tennessee,  the  Fourth, 
with  its  brigade,  followed  in  pursuit,  and  marching  through  Rome, 
Kingston  and  Resaca,  Georgia,  met  Wheeler's  cavalry  at  Little 
River,  Alabama,  on  the  20th  and  drove  the  Confederates  five  miles, 
killing  and  capturing  a  large  number. 

Early  in  March,  1865,  the  regiment  started  on  a  long  raid 
through  Alabama,  meeting  the  enemy  at  numerous  places,  captur- 
ing guns  and  supplies,  and  arrived  before  Selma,  April  2d,  which 
was  strongly  fortified  and  defended  by  Forrest's  men,  estimated  at 
9,000. 

The  Fourth,  witli  its  brigade,  was  dismounted  and  assaulted  the 
Avorks,  losing  heavily  in  the  advance,  but,  undaunted  by  the  ter- 
rific fire,  scaled  the  breastworks  and  with  the  balance  of  the  com- 
mand captured  the  city  and  25  pieces  of  artillery,  a  large  amount 
of  ammunition  and  stores,  besides  2,800  prisoners. 

The  Fourth  then  marched  through  Montgomery  to  Macon,  Geor- 
gia, and  the  Union  trops  here  received  the  surrender  of  Major  Gen- 
eral Howell  Cobb,  with  his  entire  Confederate  force  of  380  of- 
ficers, 2,000  men  and  62  pieces  of  artillery,  with  all  the  arsenals, 
foundries  and  machine  shops  in  the  city. 

It  was  here  that  the  commanding  general  of  the  Union  forces 
received  the  news  of  the  surrender  of  Generals  Lee  and  Johnston, 
which  terminated  hostilities  east  of  the  Mississippi. 

It  was  soon  learned  that  Jefferson  Davis,  president  of  the  so- 
called  southern  Conferedacy,  was  trying  to  make  his  escape  to  the 
Atlantic  coast. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Pritchard  was  directed  by  Colonel  Minty  to 
proceed  with  the  Fourth  to  the  Ockmulgee  river  and  try  to  learn 
the  whereabouts  of  Davis.  Colonel  Pritchard  learned  that  Davis 
was  moving  towards  Irwinsville,  Georgia,  and,  selecting  150  of  his 
best  mounted  troopers,  started  in  rapid  pursuit.  He  found  Mr. 
Davis  encamped  in  the  woods  with  members  of  his  family  and 
friends,  and  all  were  soon  made  prisoners. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BURBN  COUNTY  259 

Capture  of  Jefferson  Davis 

The  story  of  the  capture  of  the  Confederate  chieftain  is  an  in- 
teresting one.  We  give  it  substantially  as  related  by  the  chief  par- 
ticipants. 

At  Irwinsville,  Georgia,  Colonel  Pritchard  learned  that  a  train 
which  probably  belonged  to  the  fleeing  president  of  the  fallen  Con- 
federacy was  encamped  but  a  short  distance  away.  Moving  out 
into  the  vicinity  of  the  camp,  he  sent  Lieutenant  Purinton  with  a 
small  detail  of  men  to  wait  on  the  other  side  of  it.  At  the  break 
of  day  Pritchard  advanced  and  arrived  within  a  few  rods  of  the 
camp  without  being  discovered,  and  then  dashed  forward  and 
placed  a  chain  of  guards  around  it  before  the  astonished  inmates 
fairly  realized  the  situation. 

While  this  was  being  done,  Corporal  George  Munger  of  Com- 
pany C,  Fourth  Cavalry,  a  resident  of  Schoolcraft,  Michigan,  and 
Corporal  James  F.  Bullard  of  the  same  company,  then  of  Paw 
Paw,  Michigan  (now  a  resident  of  St.  Cloud,  Fla.),  observed  two 
persons,  each  dressed  in  feminine  garb,  moving  rapidly  away  from 
one  of  the  tents. 

"That  ought  to  be  attended  to,"  said  one  of  them. 

"Yes,"  replied  the  other,  and  Munger,  closely  followed  by  Bul- 
lard, rode  in  front  of  them  and  commanded  them  to  halt. 

"This  is  my  mother-in-law,"  said  one  of  them.  "Can't  you  let 
her  pass?  She  is  going  to  the  spring  for  some  water."  Her  com- 
panion, a  tall,  stooping  person,  wrapped  in  a  woman's  waterproof, 
with  a  shawl  over  the  head  and  a  pail  in  one  hand,  said  nothing. 

"No,  you  can't  pass,"  was  the  reply. 

Seeing  that  further  concealment  would  avail  nothing,  the 
pseudo  mother-in-law  straightened  up,  dropped  the  waterproof  and 
shawl  revealing  a  tall  man,  with  gray  hair  and  wrhiskers  and  with 
but  one  eye.  At  first,  no  one  recognized  the  fugitive  as  the  presi- 
dent of  the  played-out  Confederacy.  Mrs.  Davis  (for  the  other 
party  was  the  wife  of  the  fleeing  president),  threw  her  arms  around 
her  husband's  neck  exclaiming  "Don't  shoot  him!  Don't  shoot 
him!" 

"Let  them  shoot,"  said  Davis.  "Let  them  shoot,  if  they  choose. 
I  may  as  wTell  die  here  as  anywhere." 

But  it  was  not  customary  for  Union  soldiers  to  shoot  prisoners  of 
war,  and  there  was  no  one  who  had  the  slightest  inclination  to 
slay  the  ex-Confederate  president. 

Upon  being  questioned,  Mrs.  Davis  admitted  the  identity  of  her 
companion,  saying  to  Bullard :  ' '  Mr.  Davis  is  a  very  reverend  man. 
I  hope  he  will  not  be  insulted." 


260  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

"I  shall  not  insult  him,  if  he  behaves  himself/'  was  the  curt 
reply. 

Meanwhile  Colonel  Pritchard  had  gone  to  the  assistance  of  Lieu- 
tenant Purinton,  in  whose  front  heavy  firing  was  heard.  The  fight 
proved  to  be  a  most  unfortunate  occurrence.  A  detachment  of 
the  First  Wisconsin  Cavalry,  which  was  also  in  pursuit  of  Davis, 
had  met  Purinton 's  advanced  guard  and  began  firing  on  them 
before  ascertaining  their  identity.  In  this  lamentable  affair  sev- 
eral men  were  killed  and  wounded. 

As  Colonel  Pritchard  rode  up  on  his  return  to  the  camp  he  was 
accosted  by  Davis,  who  inquired  if  he  was  the  commanding  officer. 
The  colonel  replied  in  the  affirmative  and  asked  by  what  name  he 
should  address  his  interlocutor. 

"Call  me  whatever  you  please/'  was  the  reply. 

"Then  I  shall  call  you  Davis,"  said  Pritchard,  and  after  a  mo- 
ment's hesitation,  the  prisoner  admitted  that  was  his  name. 

Then,  assuming  an  attitude  of  great  dignity,  he  said  to  Prit- 
chard "I  suppose  you  consider  it  bravery  to  charge  a  train  of  de- 
fenseless women  and  children ;  but  it  is  theft ;  it  is  vandalism. ' ' 

Without  inquiring  whether  his  distinguished  prisoner  considered 
himself  a  woman  or  a  child,  the  colonel  at  once  set  out  for  Macon, 
joining  the  rest  of  the  command  on  the  way. 

As  to  attacking  a  camp  of  women  and  children,  there  were  with 
the  captured  party,  two  of  Davis'  aides-de-camp  and  several  other 
Confederate  officers,  the  entire  party  consisting  of  about  thirty 
persons. 

The  official  records  show  that  during  its  period  of  service  the 
Fourth  Cavalry  met  the  enemy  in  nearly  a  hundred  different  bat- 
tles and  skirmishes,  some  of  the  principal  ones  being  as  follows: 
Stone  River,  Tennessee,  December  31,  1862;  McMinnville,  Tennes- 
see, April  21,  1863 ;  Shelbyville,  Tennessee,  June  27,  1863 ;  Chicka- 
mauga,  Georgia,  September  19,  20  and  21,  1863,  Chattanooga, 
Tennessee,  November  17,  1863 ;  Mission  Ridge,  Tennessee,  Novem- 
ber 25,  1863;  Rome,  Georgia,  April  15,  1864;  Atlanta,  Georgia, 
August  1  to  14,  1864;  Lovejoy's  Station,  Georgia,  August  20,  1864; 
Macon,  Georgia,  April  20,  1865. 

The  regiment  left  Macon  at  the  close  of  the  war  and  reached 
Nashville,  June  17,  1865.  On  the  first  of  July  it  was  mustered  out 
of  service  and  returned  to  Detroit  where  it  was  paid  off  and  dis- 
banded. 

Total  enrolment,  2,006;  killed  in  action,  30;  died  of  wounds, 
15 ;  died  while  prisoners  of  war,  7 ;  died  of  disease,  283 ;  discharged 
for  disability,  230. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  Van  Buren  county  soldiers  who 
served  in  the  Fourth  Cavalry. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  261 

Company  C :  Anderson,  Return  T.,  Porter ;  enlisted  July  8,  1862, 
at  Porter;  discharged  July  1,  1865;  deceased;  buried  at  Porter. 

Austin,  Benjamin  F.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  July  25,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  May  30,  1865. 

Barker,  Wesley  T.,  Porter;  enlisted  August  6,  1862,  at  Porter; 
discharged  July  1,  1865;  present  residence,  Porter. 

Barnes,  Charles  W.,  Arlington;  enlisted  July  24,  1862,  at  Arling- 
ton; died  December  29,  1862;  buried  in  Cave  Hill  National  cem- 
etery at  Louisville,  Kentucky. 

Bennett,  John,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  5,  1862,  at  Decatur; 
corporal ;  promoted  to  commissary  sergeant  and  tc  first  sergeant ; 
taken  prisoner  at  Flint  Hill  church,  July  10,  1864;  commissioned 
second  lieutenant  and  assigned  to  Company  B ;  brevet  first  lieuten- 
ant, United  States  Volunteers,  for  meritorious  services  in  the  cap- 
ture of  Jefferson  Davis;  discharged  July  1,  1865. 

Bierce,  James  M.,  Arlington;  enlisted  August  7,  1862,  at  Ar- 
lington ;  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  January  28,  1863 ;  buried 
in  National  cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Bryant,  John  R.,  Porter;  enlisted  August  6,  1862,  at  Porter; 
discharged  July  1,  1865. 

Buck,  B.  Franklin,  Keeler;  enlisted  August  7,  1862,  at  Keeler ; 
discharged  for  disability  April  28,  1863. 

Buck,  R.  Mortimer,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  6,  1862,  at 
Paw  Paw;  first  sergeant;  subsequently  commissioned  as  second 
lieutenant,  first  lieutenant  and  captain;  discharged  July  1,  1865; 
died  December  9,  1902 ;  buried  at  Paw  Paw. 

Buckle}^  James  M.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  2,  1862,  at  Law- 
rence ;  corporal ;  wounded  in  action  near  Fairburn,  Georgia,  Au- 
gust 19,  1864;  promoted  to  sergeant;  discharged  July  1,  1865. 

Bullard,  James  F.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  2,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw ;  corporal ;  was  one  of  the  immediate  captors  of  Jefferson 
Davis  and  one  of  the  detail  of  guards  that  accompanied  him  to 
prison;  discharged  July  1,  1865;  present  residence,  St.  Cloud, 
Florida. 

Burns,  Robert,  Paw  Paw;  entered  service  at  organization  of 
the  regiment  as  first  lieutenant;  appointed  adjutant,  commis- 
sioned captain  and  acting  assistant  adjutant  general,  brevet  lieuten- 
ant colonel  United  States  Volunteers  for  gallant  conduct  during  an 
assault  on  the  enemy's  works  at  Selma,  Alabama;  discharged  July 
1,  1865. 

Burrell,  Charles,  Arlington;  enlisted  August  7,  1862,  at  Arling- 
ton; discharged  July  1,  1865. 

Carr,  Peter,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  July  20,  1862,  at  Paw  Paw; 
taken  prisoner  at  Columbia,  Tennessee,  April  17,  1865;  no  fur- 
ther record. 


262  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Clark,  Edwin  L.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  July  19,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw;  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  December  13,  1863;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Colburn,  Stephen  A.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  July  11,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw ;  discharged  for  disability  December  27,  1862 ;  re-entered  ser- 
vice in  Company  C,  Thirteenth  Michigan  Infantry,  August  15, 
1864,  at  Paw  Paw;  discharged  June  8,  1865. 

Collins,  George  W.,  Hamilton ;  enlisted  August  1,  1862,  at  Hamil- 
ton ;  died  at  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  February  17,  1863. 

Conklin,  Luman,  Porter;  enlisted  July  26,  1862,  at  Porter;  dis- 
charged for  disability  August  6,  1863;  deceased;  buried  at  Law- 
ton. 

Crandall,  James  C,  Hartford;  enlisted  July  21,  1862,  at  Hart- 
ford; sergeant;  discharged  January  26,  1863,  by  reason  of  ac- 
cidental wounds. 

Crane,  Edgar  A.,  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  July  5,  1862,  at  Paw  Paw ; 
corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant;  discharged  July  1,  1865;  died, 
PHI;  buried  at  Kalamazoo. 

Crane,  James  M.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  6,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  for  disability  October  31,  1863. 

Crawford,  Lester  B.,  Arlington;  enlisted  August  5,  1862,  at  Ar- 
lington; discharged  July  1,  1865. 

Curry,  David  Q.,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  6,  1862,  at  Decatur; 
corporal;  discharged  July  1,  1865. 

Dake,  Hiram  P.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  7,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Darling,  Gilbert  II.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  August  5,  1862,  at  Ant- 
werp; taken  prisoner  November  12,  1862;  paroled;  discharged 
July  1,  1865. 

Davern,  Timothy,  Antwerp ;  enlisted  August  6,  1862,  at  Porter ; 
discharged  for  disability  February  3.  1863;  died  January  16,  1902. 
Davis,  Benajah  M.,  Waverly;  enlisted  August  9,  1862,  at  ¥a- 
verly;  discharged  July  1,  1862. 

Dean,  E.  Rolla,  Hamilton;  enlisted  August  7,  1862,  at  Hamil- 
ton ;  discharged  for  disability  March  8,  1863. 

Delano,  Harvey,  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  August  6,  1862,  at  Waverly ; 
died  July  30,  1863 ;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Nashville,  Ten- 
nessee. 

Denton,  John,  Lawrence ;  enlisted  August  7,  1862,  at  Lawrence ; 
wounded  in  action  October  21,  1862;  discharged  June  5,  1865; 
died  at  Lawrence  March  27,  1885;  buried  in  Prospect  Lake  cem- 
etery. 

Dickinson,  Egbert  O.,  Antwerp ;  enlisted  July  12,  1862,  at  Ant- 
werp; discharged  July  1,  1865. 

Dillon,  David,  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  August  7,  1862,  at  Paw  Paw ; 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  263 

corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant;  discharged  July  1,  1865;  present 
residence  Paw  Paw. 

Dolson,  Elon  G.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  July  21,  1862,  at  Lawrence; 
discharged  for  disability,  September  30,  1863. 

Dopp,  James,  Lawrence;  enlisted  July  31,  1862,  at  Lawrence; 
sergeant;  died  at  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  January  18,  1863; 
buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Stone  River,  Tennessee,  grave  No. 
4413. 

Eastman,  Norman  W..  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  July  21,  1862,  at 
Paw  Paw;  discharged  for  disability,  March  25,  1863. 

Ecklar,  Daniel,  Columbia;  enlisted  July  30,  1862;  discharged 
July  1,  1865. 

Engle,  Allen,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  12,  1862,  at  Paw  Paw; 
discharged  June  13,  1865. 

Farrow,  John;  enlisted  February  4,  1863,  at  Keeler;  discharged 
August  15,  1865. 

Fernam,    August,    Hartford;   enlisted   July   20,    1862,   at    Hart- 
ford; discharged  for  disability.  June  21,  1864.  on  account  of  wounds 
received  in  action  at  Chickamauga,  Georgia,  September  18,  1863. 
Field,    William    A.,    Lawrence;   enlisted    July    22,    1862;   trans- 
ferred to  Invalid  Corps  November  1,  1863. 

Fisk,  George  W.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  7,  1862,  at  Law- 
rence; died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  January  26,  1863;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Harrington,  Russell,  Columbia;  enlisted  July  23,  1862,  at  Co- 
lumbia; died  at  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  March  12,  1863. 

Harrison,  George  P.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  August  7,  1862,  at 
Antwerp;  corporal;  taken  prisoner  September  30,  1863;  discharged 
July  1,  1865. 

Hayes,  Jeremiah  C,  Antwerp;  enlisted  August  6,  1862,  at  Por- 
ter; died  at  Nashvile,  Tennessee.  January  18,  1863;  buried  in  Na- 
tional cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Hazard,  Elijah  C,  Arlington,  enlisted  July  24,  1862,  at  Arling- 
ton; discharged  for  disability  July  1,  1863;  died  February  27, 
1890;  buried  at  Arlington  cemetery. 

Holly,  Henry  A.,  Arlington,  enlisted  August  5,  1862,  at  Ar- 
lington; discharged  for  disability  July,  1864. 

Horton,  Charles  D. ;  drafted  from  Pine  Grove;  mustered  No- 
vember 4,  1863;  died  at  Columbia,  Tennessee,  May  20,  1864. 

Howard,  Hosea  L.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  July  31,  1862.  at  Law- 
rence; died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  February  2,  1863;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Howe,  Harry  T.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  10,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  for  disability  February  25,  1863. 

Huston,  Joseph  W.,  Paw  Paw;  entered  service  in  Company  C, 


264  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Third  Michigan  Cavalry,  as  first  lieutenant;  resigned  January  12, 
1862;  re-entered  service  in  Fourth  Cavalry  as  adjutant,  August 
8,  1862,  at  Detroit;  promoted  to  major,  September  1,  1862;  re- 
signed and  honorably  discharged  on  account  of  disability,  Au- 
gust 23,  1863;  died  at  Boise  City,  Idaho. 

Irwin,  William  G.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  August  7,  1862,  at  Ant- 
werp; discharged  for  disability  July  18,  1863. 

Ismon,  Aaron,  F.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  6,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw ;  quartermaster  sergeant ;  promoted  to  first  sergeant ;  commis- 
sioned second  lieutenant ;  resigned  on  account  of  disability,  Decem- 
ber 16,  1863 ;  died  December  21,  1863. 

Jaquays,  Oliver,  Porter;  enlisted  July  29,  1862,  at  Porter;  died 
at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  January  5,  1863;  buried  in  National  cem- 
etery at  Nashville. 

Jenkins,  George,  Arlington;  enlisted  August  9,  1862,  at  Arling- 
ton; died  at  Ooltewah,  Tennessee,  February  28,  1864;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  grave  No.  10844. 

Jenkins,  Marcus  D.,  Paw  Pawr;  enlisted  August  7,  1862,  at  Paw 
PawT;  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps,  December  15,  1863;  discharged 
June  6,  1865. 

Jones  Allen,  Antwerp ;  enlisted  August  6,  1862,  at  Antwerp ; 
discharged  for  disability  September  30,  1863. 

Lane,  Edward  J.,  Arlington;  enlisted  August  7,  1862,  at  Ar- 
lington ;  discharged  July  1,  1865 ;  died  at  Lawrence. 

Lanphear,  Byron  W.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  5,  1862,  at 
Lawrente ;  taken  prisoner  near  Nashville,  Tennessee,  November 
2,  1862;  paroled;  killed  in  action  at  Latimer 's  Mills,  Georgia,  June 
26,  1864;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Georgia,  grave 
No  2208,  section  C. 

Lawton,  George  W.,  Antwerp ;  entered  service  at  organization 
as  second  lieutenant,  July  8,  1862,  at  Porter;  commissioned  first 
lieutenant  and  captain;  wounded  in  action  at  Dallas,  Georgia, 
May  24,  1864 ;  brevet  major  United  States  Volunteers  for  gallant 
and  meritorious  conduct  at  Dallas,  Georgia;  discharged  July  1, 
1865;  died  at  Lawton;  buried  in  the  Lawton  cemetery. 

Leathers,  Charles  L.,  Columbia;  enlisted  July  30,  1862,  at  Co- 
lumbia; corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant  and  to  commissary  ser- 
geant ;  discharged  July  1,  1865 ;  present  residence  Kalamazoo. 

Leonard,  William,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  6,  1862,  at  Deca- 
tur; died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  December  9,  1862;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Loveland,  Henry  J.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  5,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw;  corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant;  discharged  July  1,  1865; 
died  at  Paw  Paw,  July  9,  1908. 

McKinney,  Thomas  J.,  Porter;  enlisted  August  6,  1862,  at  Por- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  265 

ter;  commissary  sergeant;  wounded  at  Latimer's  Mills,  Georgia, 
June  20,  1864;  promoted  to  quartermaster  sergeant;  discharged 
July  1,  1865. 

MeLain,  John  C,  Porter;  enlisted  August  7,  1862,  at  Porter; 
wounded  in  action  at  Winchester,  Tennessee,  September  30,  1863 ; 
corporal;  discharged  July  1,  1865;  present  residence  in  South 
Dakota. 

Melchor.  Thaddeus  W.,  Paw  Paw;  entered  service  as  captain  at 
Paw  Paw,  July  8,  1862;  resigned  on  account  of  disability  March 
31,  1863;  died  at  Paw  Paw. 

Merriman,  Alfred  M.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  7,  1862,  at 
Paw  Paw:  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps,  September  1,  1863;  dis- 
charged as  sergeant  June  29,  1865. 

Merriman,  Henry,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  7,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw ;  died  at  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  November  22,  1863 ;  buried 
in  National  cemetery  at  Stone  River,  Tennessee. 

Moore,  William,  Columbia ;  enlisted  July  23,  1862,  at  Columbia ; 
corporal ;  promoted  to  sergeant ;  died  at  Murfreesboro.  Tennessee, 
February  17,  1863. 

Munson.  Stephen  B.,  Columbia  ;  enlisted  July  26,  1862,  at  Colum- 
bia ;  paroled  prisoner  January  11,  1863;  discharged  July  1,  1865. 

Niles,  Austin  D. ;  enlisted  August  5,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo ;  sub- 
stitute for  Edmund  Hewitt;  discharged  July  1,  1865. 

Niles,  Gideon  P..  Columbia;  enlisted  July  23,  1862,  at  Colum- 
bia; discharged  May  24,  1865. 

Page,  John  F..  Columbia ;  enlisted  July  28,  1862,  at  Columbia  ; 
discharged  July  1,  1865. 

Palmerton,  Reuben,  Hamilton;  enlisted  August  1,  1862,  at 
Hamilton;  corporal;  discharged  July  1,  1865. 

Pierce.  George  W.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  5.  1862,  at  Law- 
rence; saddler;  discharged  May  13,  1865. 

Place,  Howland,  Lawrence;  enlisted  July  31,  1862,  at  Lawrence; 
discharged  for  disability  May  27,  1863. 

Prince,  John  Jr.,  Antwerp ;  enlisted  August  5,  1862,  at  Antwerp ; 
transferred  to  Invalid  Corps;  discharged  July  5,  1865. 

Prince,  Pomeroy,  Geneva;  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  at  Geneva; 
discharged  July  1,  1865. 

Pritchard,  Philo,  Antwerp;  enlisted  August  7,  1862,  at  Ant- 
werp; discharged  July  1.  1865. 

Pugsley,  John  S.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  6,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw;  regimental  quartermaster  sergeant;  promoted  to  first  lieuten- 
ant and  commissary,  acting  assistant  brigade  quartermaster;  dis- 
charged July  1,  1865. 

Rawson,  Silas  M.,  Decatur;  enlisted  August  5,  1862,  at  Deca- 
tur; veterinary  surgeon;  discharged  July  1,  1865. 


->m  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Rediker,  George  B.,  Porter;  enlisted  July  28,  1862,  at  Porter; 
wagoner;  discharged  July  1,  1865;  deceased;  buried  at  Porter. 

Rickard,  Charles  E.,  Bangor;  enlisted  August  18,  1862,  at  Ban- 
gor; killed  in  action  at  Chickamauga,  Georgia,  September  18,  1868. 

Riggs,  Ranselaer,  Porter;  enlisted  August  28,  1862;  discharged 
for  disability  August  11,  1863 ;  re-enlisted  in  same  company  Au- 
gust 18,  1864;  discharged  July  1,  1865. 

Rockwell,  Jerome,  Columbia;  enlisted  August  9,  1862,  at  Colum- 
bia; discharged  July  1,  1865. 

Russ,  Isaac  P.,  Arlington;  enlisted  August  7,  1862;  transferred 
to  Invalid  Corps. 

Ryan,  John,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  7.  1862,  at  Lawrence ; 
discharged  July  1,  1865;  died  at  Lawrence,  May  7,  1909. 

Sherwood,  Henry,  Columbia  ;  enlisted  July  23,  1862,  at  Colum- 
bia ;  wounded  in  action  at  Latimer's  Mills,  Georgia,  June  20,  1864; 
honorably  discharged. 

Smead,  Thomas  D.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  July  16,  1862,  at  Ant- 
werp; corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant;  discharged  July  1,  1865. 

Smith,  Charles  II..  Decatur;  enlisted  August  9,  1862,  at  Deca- 
tur; discharged  July  1,  1865. 

Smith,  William  J.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  August  8,  1862,  at  Porter; 
farrier;  discharged  June  3,  1865. 

Stevens,  Fitz  E.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  6,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw;  sergeant  major;  discharged  July  1,  1865;  present  residence 
Paw  Paw. 

Warner,  Oliver  W.,  Paw  Paw;  drafted;  mustered  November  4, 
1863;  killed  in  action  at  Lovejoy  Station,  Georgia,  August  20,  1864. 

Wilcox,  Reuben  O.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  August  6,  1862,  at  Ant- 
werp; discharged  July  1,  1865. 

Woolsey,  William  F.,  Hartford;  enlisted  July  21,  1862,  at  Hart- 
ford ;  died  at  Nash  vile,  Tennessee.  January  1 3,  1 863 ;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Worthey,  George,  Arlington;  enlisted  August  6,  1862,  at  Arling 
ton;  wrounded  in  action  at  Latimer's  Mills,  Georgia,  June  20,  1864; 
discharged  July  1,  1865;  died  at  Paw  Paw,  June  5,  1906. 

Other  Companies;  Baty,  John;  drafted  from  Hartford;  mus- 
tered October  14,  1863;  assigned  to  Company  A;  discharged  Au- 
gust 15,  1865. 

Moon,  Josiah  B. ;  drafted  from  Decatur ;  mustered  November  47 
1863;  assigned  to  Company  A;  discharged  August  15,  1865. 

Moon,  Rodolphus ;  drafted  from  Columbia ;  mustered  Novem- 
ber 4,  1863;  assigned  to  Company  A;  died  at  Cartersville,  Geor- 
gia, June  7,  1864. 

Cobb,  Dennis  H.,  Columbia;  enlisted  in  Company  F,  August  11, 
1862,   at  Adrian;  taken  prisoner  at  Kingston  Georgia,  May  18, 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  267 

1864;  died  in  prison  at  Florence,  South  Carolina,  November  1, 
.  1864. 

Cross,  Ira  F. ;  drafted  from  Paw  Paw;  mustered  November  4, 
1863;  assigned  to  Company  G ;  discharged  December  27,  1864. 

Ward,  John  W. ;  drafted  from  Antwerp ;  mustered  November  4. 
1863;  assigned  to  Company  G;  in  hospital  at  Edgefield,  Tennes- 
see, July,  1865. 

Driskil,  Noah,  Porter;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  August  11,  1862. 
at  Dowagiac ;  discharged  April  2,  1863. 

Lewis,  Francis  F.,  Porter;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  August  11, 
1862,  at  Dowagiac;  wounded  in  action  at  Lavergne,  Tennessee, 
December  26,  1862;  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  January  11,  1865. 

Morton,  Charles  L.,  Porter;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  August  11, 
1862,  at  Dowagiac;  discharged  for  disability  February  27,  1863. 

Orr,  Hugh;  enlisted  in  Company  T.  March  14,  1864,  at  Decatur: 
discharged  July  26,  1865. 

Armstrong,  Worden ;  drafted  from  Antwerp;  mustered  Novem- 
ber 4,  1863 ;  assigned  to  Company  E  :  died  at  Nashville.  Tennessee, 
March  3,  1865;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Derby,  John  L.,  Bloomingdale ;  enlisted  August  1,  1862,  in  Com- 
pany L,  at  Allegan;  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  February  16. 
1863;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Burdette,  Abraham;  drafted  from  Hamilton;  assigned  to  Fourth 
Cavalry,  mustered  November  4,  1863;  no  further  record. 

Dyer,  Andrew  J.;  drafted  from  Lawrence;  assigned  to  Fourth 
Cavalry;  mustered  November  4,  1863;  no  further  record. 

Finley,  Andrew  M. ;  drafted  from  Geneva ;  assigned  to  Fourth 
Cavalry;  mustered  November  4,  1863;  no  further  record. 

Labadie,  Joseph ;  drafted  from  Almena ;  assigned  to  Fourth 
Cavalry ;  mustered  November  4,  1863 ;  no  further  record. 

Lawhorn,  Henry ;  drafted  from  Porter ;  mustered  November  4. 
1863;  assigned  to  Fourth  Cavalry;  no  further  record. 

Nash,  Albert  H.,  Paw  Paw;  joined  regiment  October  10,  1862. 
as  sergeant  major ;  commissioned  as  second  lieutenant ;  resigned 
on  account  of  disability,  February  17,  1863. 

Ninth  Michigan  Cavalry 

Bally,  valiant  soldiers,  rally, 

'Tis  the  time  for  you  and  me, 
We  will  stand  by  one  another, 

Round  the  standard  of  the  free. 

The  Ninth  Cavalry  was  organized  at  Coldwater  in  1862  under 
the  supervision  of  Colonel  James  I.  David  and  was  mustered  into 
the  United  States  service  in  May,  1863.  The  total  enrolment  at 
organization  was  1,073  officers  and  enlisted  men. 


268  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Many  of  the  officers  of  this  regiment  had  seen  service  in  the 
field  with  other  regiments  and  their  experience  in  military  duties 
and  discipline  was  of  great  advantage  and  served  to  place  the 
Ninth  on  a  war  hasis  much  sooner  than  would  have  been  possible 
under  other  circumstances.  The  regiment  was  splendidly  equipped 
when  it  took  the  field,  being  armed  with  the  Spencer  carbine, 
a  magazine  gun  that  could  be  fired  seven  times  without  stopping 
to  reload — the  best  cavalry  weapon  of  that  date. 

Capture  of  Morgan 

The  Ninth  was  also  furnished  with  fine  mounts  when  it  left  the 
state  and  the  personnel  of  the  different  companies  was  excellent. 
Ten  companies  of  the  regiment  left  Coldwater  in  May  for  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  and  its  first  camp  in  the  field  was  at  Covington,  Ken- 
tucky. In  June  it  was  ordered  to  Mt.  Sterling,  Kentucky,  in  pur- 
suit of  a  band  of  guerrillas  and  its  first  engagement  with  the 
enemy  was  at  Triplett  Bridge,  wThere  it  routed  Everett's  guerrillas 
and  wounded  and  captured  a  number  of  them.  The  Confederate 
General  John  Morgan  was  in  Kentucky  at  the  time  the  Ninth  was 
sent  in  pursuit,  but  Morgan  eluded  his  foes  although  the  Ninth 
captured  his  chief  of  staff  and  a  number  of  his  men.  The  regiment 
returned  to  Danville,  Kentucky,  July  6,  where  all  the  cavalry  pres- 
ent wras  placed  under  the  command  of  Colonel  AY.  T.  Saunders  of 
the  Fifth  Kentucky. 

In  the  meantime  the  Confederate  General  Morgan  had  crossed 
the  Ohio  river  into  Indiana  and  made  his  celebrated  raid  through 
that  state  and  Ohio,  destroying  property,  burning  bridges,  looting 
villages,  taking  provisions  for  his  men  and  capturing  horses, 
spreading  consternation  along  his  march. 

The  regiment  soon  assembled  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  reported 
to  General  Burnside  whose  headquarters  were  in  the  city.  Reports 
wrere  so  conflicting  as  to  the  location  of  Morgan  that  the  regiment 
was  divided,  companies  A,  B,  F,  L,  C,  and  K  eventually  overtaking 
the  enemy  at  Buffington  Island,  where  a  sharp  engagement  fol- 
lowed, resulting  in  a  complete  rout  of  Morgan's  forces,  capturing 
500  prisoners,  a  large  quantity  of  small  arms  and  three  pieces  of 
artillery. 

Companies  C,  D,  E,  H,  I,  and  K  left  Cincinnati  on  the  Little 
Miami  Railroad,  and  arrived  at  Mingo  Junction,  Ohio,  on  the  25th 
and  marched  immediately  to  Steubenville.  On  the  26th  Morgan 
was  pressed  into  an  engagement  near  Salineville,  Ohio,  by  a  charge 
of  the  detachment  of  the  Ninth  in  which  the  Confederates  were 
routed  with  a  loss  of  23  killed,  about  50  wounded  and  250  prison- 
ers.    General  Morgan  was  driven  from  the  field  and  in  his  flight 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  269 

ran  into  the  forces  of  General  Shackleford,  who  was  marching  on 
the  same  road  Morgan  was  retreating,  and  the  Confederate  Gen- 
eral surrendered  to  General  Shackleford.  General  Morgan  and 
staff  were  taken  to  Salineville  where  they  were  placed  in  a  coach 
and  sent  to  Columbus,  Ohio. 

The  Ninth  took  part  in  the  expedition  against  Cumberland  Gap 
and  that  stronghold  surrendered  to  the  Union  forces,  with  2.500 
men  and  13  pieces  of  artillery.  Then  followed  the  East  Tennessee 
campaign  which  probably  was  unequaled  for  hardships  during  the 
war  on  account  of  the  severity  of  the  climate,  the  want  of  cloth- 
ing and  tents,  and  the  scarcity  of  rations.  The  Ninth  was  con- 
stantly on  duty  and  was  in  frequent  contact  with  the  enemy's  cav- 
alry, as  the  Confederate  General  Longstreet  encamped  his  corps 
in  the  valleys  of  Tennessee  during  the  winter.  The  hardships  im- 
posed upon  the  horses  by  constant  marches  and  the  want  of  for- 
age finally  dismounted  most  of  the  companies,  the  men  being 
obliged  to  see  their  faithful  horses  die  of  hunger,  while  they  them- 
selves were  often  on  the  verge  of  starvation. 

In  the  spring  of  1864,  the  regiment,  having  lost  most  of  its 
horses,  returned  to  Nieholasville,  Kentucky,  to  remount  and  secure 
new  equipments.  The  first  of  June  found  the  regiment  supplied 
with  fine  mounts  and  well  equipped.  On  the  12th  the  regiment 
confronted  the  Confederate  General  John  Morgan  (who  had  es- 
caped from  prison)  once  more,  this  time  at  Cynthiana,  Kentucky. 
The  Ninth  attacked  in  a  splendid  charge,  driving  the  enemy  into 
the  Licking  river  and  capturing  about  300  prisoners  and  a  large 
supply  of  stores  and  small  arms. 

First  and  Last 

The  Ninth  joined  General  Sherman's  army  on  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign, and  before  the  fall  of  Atlanta  was  a  part  of  the  force  under 
General  Kilpatrick  in  a  raid  south  of  Atlanta  on  the  Montgomery 
railroad.  The  Ninth  formed  a  part  of  the  Cavalry  Corps  com- 
manded by  General  Kilpatrick,  and  marched  with  Sherman  from 
"Atlanta  to  the  Sea/'  being  engaged  in  frequent  combats  with 
General  Wheeler  and  General  Wade  Hampton's  Cavalry.  At 
Waynesboro,  Georgia,  the  Ninth  made  a  brilliant  charge  upon  the 
forces  of  General  Wheeler,  driving  the  enemy  in  confusion  and 
capturing  100  prisoners.  This  charge  wras  especially  mentioned  by 
General  Kilpatrick  in  his  dispatch  to  the  war  department.  When 
the  regiment  arrived  at  Savannah,  Georgia,  it  was  selected  by  Gen- 
eral Kilpatrick  as  his  escort  to  march  to  St.  Catherine's  Sound  on 
the  Atlantic  coast  and  open  communication  with  the  federal  fleet. 
This  gave  the  regiment  the  prestige  of  being  the  first  regiment  of 
Sherman's  army  to  reach  the  coast. 


270  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

The  cavalry  division  started  from  Savannah,  Georgia,  on  the 
Carolina  campaign  the  27th  of  January,  1865.  It  marched  on  the 
flanks  in  advance  and  in  the  rear  of  Sherman's  army,  whenever 
the  enemy's  cavalry  might  appear.  The  regiment  met  the  enemy 
at  many  points  as  it  moved  through  the  states  of  South  Carolina 
and  North  Carolina,  and  was  at  Chapel  Hill,  North  Carolina,  when 
the  news  of  General  Lee's  surrender  was  received.  In  a  skirmish 
with  the  Confederate  General  Johnston's  forces  just  before  the 
news  of  General  Lee's  surrender  and  the  order  came  to  "cease 
firing,"  it  is  asserted  that  the  Ninth  fired  the  last  hostile  shot  of 
the  war  east  of  the  Mississippi.  The  regiment  was  at  Chapel  Hill, 
North  Carolina,  when  General  Johnston  surrendered  to  General 
Sherman. 

The  official  records  show  that  the  Ninth  Cavalry  was  engaged 
in  sixty  battles  and  skirmishes,  the  following  being  some  of  the 
principal  ones:  Cumberland  Gap,  Tennessee,  September  9,  1863: 
Zollicotfer,  Tennessee,  September  23,  1863;  Knoxville,  Tennessee, 
December  5,  1863;  Fair  Garden,  Tennessee,  January  24,  1864: 
siege  of  Atlanta,  August  1  to  September  3,  1864 ;  Stone  Mountain. 
Georgia,  September  13,  1864;  Lovejoy  Station,  Georgia,  November 
16,  1864;  Macon,  Georgia,  November  21,  1864;  Cypress  Swamp, 
Georgia,  December  7,  1864;  Averysboro,  North  Carolina,  March 
14  and  15,  1865 ;  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  April  12,  1865. 

The  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Concord,  North 
Carolina,  and  immediately  started  for  Michigan,  arriving  at  Jack- 
son, July  30,  1865,  where  it  was  paid  off  and  disbanded. 

Total  enrolment,  1,213 ;  killed  in  action,  32 ;  died  of  wounds,  8  ? 
died  in  Confederate  prisons,  32;  died  of  disease,  110;  discharged 
for  disability  (wounds  and  disease),  59. 

Van  Buren  County  soldiers  in  the  Ninth  Cavalry  were  as  fol- 
lows. 

Company  E:  Banks,  Will  H.  S.,  Lawton;  captain  Company  II, 
Twelfth  Infantry,  September  17,  1861;  resigned  February  20, 
1862;  re-entered  service  as  second  lieutenant  Company  E,  Ninth 
Cavalry,  at  organization ;  promoted  to  first  lieutenant  and  to  cap- 
tain;  discharged  July  21,  1865. 

Bilby,  George,  Antwerp;  enlisted  January  12,  1863,  at  Ant- 
werp; taken  prisoner  February  4,  1864;  died  at  Andersonville, 
Georgia ;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Andersonville. 

Bliss,  Merritt,  Antwerp ;  enlisted  January  2,  1863,  at  Antwerp : 
taken  prisoner  at  Dandridge,  Tennessee,  January  16,  1864;  died 
April  16,  1864;  buried  at  Annapolis,  Maryland. 

Bradford,  Calvin  P.,  Porter ;  enlisted  December  13,  1862,  at 
Porter;  discharged  July  21,  1865. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  271 

Brott,  Aaron,  Antwerp ;  enlisted  December  14,  1862,  at  Antwerp ; 
discharged  July  21,  1865. 

Brown,  Charles  W.,  Almena ;  enlisted  December  5,  1862,  at 
Almena;   commissary  sergeant;   discharged  June  7,   1865. 

Brown,  William,  Almena;  enlisted  November  28,  1862,  at  Al- 
mena ;  corporal ;  taken  prisoner  in  March,  1865 ;  paroled  in  June, 
1865;  discharged  July  12,  1865. 

Buchanan,  William,  Columbia;  enlisted  January  2,  1868,  at 
Jackson;  discharged  March  14,  1863. 

Clark,  John,  Almena  ;  enlisted  December  >  8,  1862,  at  Almena  ; 
died  at  Camp  Nelson,  Kentucky,  June  2,  1864;  buried  in  National 
cemetery  at  Camp  Nelson,  grave  No.  1432. 

Clark,  Joseph,  Antwerp;  enlisted  December  15,  1862,  at  Anr- 
werp;  discharged  July  21,  1865. 

Cook,  Willis  C,  Lawton;  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Thirteenth 
Infantry,  November  18,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  November 
3,  1862;  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Ninth  Cavalry,  April  15,  186.".. 
at  Antwerp;  farrier;  discharged  July  21,  1865. 

Covey,  Alphonso,  Waverly;  enlisted  December  9,  1862,  at  W; - 
verly;  discharged  February  27,  1863. 

Earl,  David,  Pine  Grove;  enlisted  December  19,  1862,  at  Pinv 
Grove;  taken  prisoner  at  Wadesboro,  South  Carolina,  March  4, 
1865;  paroled  in  June,  1865;  discharged  June  23,  1865. 

Ellison,  Joseph,  Antwerp ;  enlisted  December  18,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw;  taken  prisoner  in  March,  1865;  paroled;  discharged  August 
5,  1865 ;  deceased. 

Finch,  Alfred,  Pine  Grove;  enlisted  December  18,  1862,  at  Pirn* 
Grove;  corporal;  discharged  July  21,  1865;  died  December  5,  1889. 

Finch,  Edward  E.,  Pine  Grove;  enlisted  December  IS,  1862. 
at  Pine  Grove;  taken  prisoner  at  Atlanta,  Georgia,  August  2K 
1864;  paroled  June  15,  1865;  discharged  July  1,  1865. 

Goff,  Dewitt  C,  Porter;  enlisted  January  10,  1863,  at  Porter: 
discharged  July  21,  1865. 

Hill,  George  B.  A.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  December  27,  1862,  at 
Antwerp ;  sergeant ;  promoted  to  second  lieutenant  and  to  first 
lieutenant;  discharged  July  21,  1865;  died  at  Worcester,  Mas- 
sachusetts, August  8,  1896. 

Hinchey,  John  J.,  Antwerp ;  entered  service  at  organization  of 
regiment  as  captain;  discharged  July  21,  1865. 

Holden,  Elmore,  Antwerp;  enlisted  December  8,  1862,  at  Ant- 
werp; died  at  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  March  1,  1864;  buried  at 
Knoxville. 

Holden,  Orrin,  Antwerp;  enlisted  December  17,  1862,  at  Ant« 
werp;  discharged  July  21,  1865;  died  July  2,  1903. 

Holden,   Samuel  E.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  December  17,  1862,  at 


272  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Antwerp;  discharged  July  21,  1865;  deceased;  buried  at  Lawton, 
Michigan. 

Lewis,  Frederick  L.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  December  11,  1862,  at 
Paw  Paw ;  veterinary  surgeon ;  taken  prisoner  December  14,  1863 ; 
died  at  Andersonville,  Georgia,  June  12,  1864 ;  buried  in  National 
cemetery  at  Andersonville,  grave  No.  1882. 

Magoon,  Edward;  Lawton ;  enlisted  April  7,  1863,  at  Battery 
L,  First  Light  Artillery ;  transferred  to  Ninth  Cavalry ;  discharged 
July  21,  1865. 

McKay,  Henry  M.,  Porter;  enlisted  July  22,  1862,  at  Detroit; 
substitute  for  James  V.  Campbell;  no  further  record. 

McLain,  Hamilton  H.,  Porter;  enlisted  January  12,  1863,  at 
Porter;  discharged  July  21,  1865. 

Markillie,  Jacob,  Antwerp;  enlisted  December  5,  1862,  at  Ant- 
werp ;  discharged  February  4,  1864 ;  died  at  Almena,  Michigan. 

Markillie,  John  G.,  Almena;  enlisted  December  5,  1862,  at  Al- 
mena; corporal;  discharged  July  21,  1865. 

Marsh,  James  G.,  Antwerp ;  enlisted  December  27,  1862,  at  Ant- 
werp ;  corporal;  discharged  July  21,  1865;  deceased;  buried  at 
Newburg,  Michigan. 

Morse,  Manley  M.,  Pine  Grove;  enlisted  December  18,  1862,  at 
Pine  Grove ;  corporal ;  discharged  June  12,  1865. 

Niles,  Thomas  L.,  Waverly;  enlisted  December  5,  1862,  at  Wa- 
verly;  corporal;  discharged  May  18,  1865. 

Phelps,  Edwin  T.,  Pine  Grove;  enlisted  December  20,  1862,  at 
Pine  Grove ;  corporal ;  promoted  to  sergeant ;  discharged  August 
5,  1865,  from  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

Rider,  Truman,  Antwerp ;  enlisted  December  9,  1862,  at  Ant- 
werp ;  sergeant ;  taken  prisoner  at  Dandridge,  Tennessee,  January 
16,  1864;  died  while  prisoner  of  war,  at  Richmond,  Virginia,  April 
4,  1864;  buried  at  Richmond. 

Sheldon,  Joseph  F.,  Pine  Grove;  enlisted  December  10,  1862,  at 
Pine  Grove ;  discharged  July  21,  1865. 

Simmons,  Ellis  D.,  Antwerp ;  enlisted  December  8,  1862,  at  Law- 
ton;  first  sergeant;  discharged  for  disability  June  9,  1865. 

Smith,  Daniel  W.,  Keeler;  enlisted  February  10,  1863,  at  Keeler; 
discharged  July  13,  1865. 

Smith,  Eugene  E. ;  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Sixth  Infantry, 
June  19,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  June  25,  1863 ;  re-entered 
service  in  Company  3,  Ninth  Cavalry,  at  organization  as  first 
lieutenant ;  discharged  for  disability  December  28,  1863. 

Smith,  Silas  A.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  March  6,  1863,  at  Paw  Paw; 
first  sergeant;  discharged  July  21,  1865;  deceased;  buried  at  Paw 
Paw. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  *     273 

Stevens,  Thomas,  Antwerp;  enlisted  December  9,  1862,  at  Ant- 
werp; discharged  July  21,  1865. 

Tillou,  John  B.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  December  26,  1862,  at  Ant- 
werp ;  died  at  Camp  Nelson,  Kentucky,  August  10,  1863 ;  buried 
in  National  cemetery  at  Camp  Nelson,  grave  No.  1533. 

Tuttle,  George  L.,  PawT  Paw;  enlisted  January  10,  1863,  at  Paw 
Paw ;  sergeant ;  discharged  May  18,  1865 ;  present  residence,  Paw 
Paw. 

Tuttle,  Grant  W.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  December  19,  1862,  at 
Paw  Paw ;  quartermaster  sergeant ;  promoted  to  second  lieutenant ; 
acting  regimental  quartermaster;  resigned  November  24,  1864; 
present  residence,  Kalamazoo. 

Tyler,  John  B.,  Antwerp ;  enlisted  January  2,  1863,  at  Antwerp ; 
died  at  Camp  Nelson,  Kentucky,  August  20,  1863. 

Tyler,  Kimball,  Antwerp ;  enlisted  January  2,  1863,  at  Antwerp ; 
discharged  November,  1863. 

Veley,  William,  Pine  Grove;  enlisted  December  17,  1862,  at 
Pine  Grove;  discharged  July  21,  1865. 

Waldo,  Uriah,  Antwerp;  enlisted  December  26,  1862,  at  Ant- 
werp; discharged  July  21,  1865. 

Williams,  Daniel,  Antwerp;  enlisted  January  12,  1863,  at  Ant- 
werp ;  taken  prisoner  May  10,  1865 ;  discharged  June  20,  1865. 

Other  Companies :  Blakely,  Truman  G. ;  enlisted  May  6,  1864, 
in  Company  K,  at  Bangor;  discharged  July  21,  1865. 

Linfear,  George;  enlisted  May  6,  1864,  in  Company  K,  at  Ban- 
gor; discharged  July  21,  1865. 

Quinn,  Martin;  enlisted  May  6,  1864,  in  Company  K,  at  Ban- 
gor; corporal;  discharged  July  21,  1865. 

Sowders,  Peter;  enlisted  May  12,  1864,  in  Company  K,  at  Ban- 
gor; taken  prisoner  in  March,  1865;  discharged  June  12,  1865. 

White,  Owen  C. ;  enlisted  May  8  ,1864,  in  Company  K,  at  Ban- 
gor ;  corporal ;  discharged  June  8,  1865. 

Baxter,  Edward,  Pine  Grove ;  enlisted  August  15,  1864,  in  Com- 
pany C,  at  Kalamazoo;  discharged  May  3,  1865. 

Root,  Maurice  T.,  Keeler;  enlisted  in  Company  L,  January  1, 
1863,  at  Keeler;  sergeant;  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps;  dis- 
charged August  30,  1865. 


CHAPTER  XI 

OTHER  COMMANDS 

First  Michigan  Engineers  and  Mechanics — First  Regiment 
Michigan  Light  Artillery — Van  Buren  County  Soldiers  in 
Other  Michigan  Regiments — Birge's  Western  Sharpshooters 
— Company  C,  Seventieth  New  York  Infantry — Other  Com- 
panies or  Regiments. 

Stand  by  the  flag,  all  doubt  and  treason  scorning; 

Believe  with  courage  strong  and  faith  sublime, 
That  it  will  float  until  the  eternal  morning 

Pales  in  its  glories,  all  the  lights  of  time. 

The  organization  of  the  Michigan  Engineers  and  Mechanics  was 
especially  authorized  by  the  war  department.  The  authority  to 
raise  it,  with  the  sanction  of  Governor  Blair,  was  delegated  to  Col- 
onel William  P.  Innes,  a  practical  engineer  of  Grand  Rapids. 

The  regiment  rendezvoused  at  Marshall,  was  mustered  into  the 
service  on  the  29th  of  October,  1861,  and  left  for  the  front  on  De- 
cember 17th  following:  It  was  divided  into  four  detachments 
and  assigned  to  duty  with  the  four  divisions  of  General  Buell's 
army. 

The  service  rendered  by  this  regiment  was  very  important  and 
valuable.  Ten  of  the  companies  were  with  Sherman  on  his  mem- 
orable march  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea  and  were  required  to  keep 
pace  with  the  army,  moving  at  the  rate  of  some  twenty  miles  per 
day,  and  at  the  same  time  tearing  up  miles  of  railroad  track,  twist- 
ing the  rails,  burning  bridges  in  the  rear  of  the  army,  repairing 
and  making  roads  in  advance,  laying  pontoons  and  building  bridges 
across  the  streams. 

After  the  surrender  of  Generals  Lee  and  Johnston,  the  regi- 
ment proceeded  to  Washington  where  it  participated  in  the  Grand 
Review  after  which  it  was  sent  to  Nashville  where,  on  the  22nd 
day  of  September,  1865,  it  was  mustered  out  of  service  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Jackson,  Michigan,  where  it  was  paid  off  and  disbanded, 
October  1,  1865. 

During  its  four  years  of  service  the  regiment  was  engaged  at 
Mill  Springs,  Kentucky;  the  siege  of  Corinth,  Mississippi;  Perry- 
ville,  Kentucky;  La  Vergne,  and  Chattanooga,  Tennessee;  sieges 

274 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


*-W0 


of  Atlanta  and  Savannah,  Georgia,  and  Averysboro,  and  Benton- 
ville,  North  Carolina. 

Total  enrolment,  2,920;  killed  in  action,  2;  died  of  wounds,  4; 
died  in  Confederate  prisons,  2 ;  died  of  disease,  280 ;  discharged  for 
disability  (wounds  and  disease),  270. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  Van  Buren  County  men 
who  served  in  the  Engineers  and  Mechanics  corps. 

Company  A :  Coons,  George  II.,  Columbia ;  enlisted  December 
29,  1863,  at  Columbia ;  died  at  Bridgeport,  Alabama,  June  22,  1864 ; 
buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  grave  No. 
10974. 

Coons,  John  T.,  Columbia ;  enlisted  December  23,  1863,  at  Co- 
lumbia ;  died  at  Adairsville,  Georgia,  August  24,  1864;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Atlanta,  Georgia. 

Grow,  Benjamin  J.,  Columbia;  enlisted  December  23,  1863,  at 
Columbia;  died  at  Bridgeport,  Alabama,  June  23,  1864;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee, 

Keeling,  Thomas ;  enlisted  December  23,  1863,  at  Columbia :  dis- 
charged September  22,  1865. 

Peterson,  Harvey  G. ;  enlisted  December  23,  1863,  at  Columbia ; 
discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Silkworth,  Cyrus,  Columbia ;  enlisted  December  29,  1862,  at 
Columbia;  corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant;  discharged  September 
22,  1865. 

Smith,  William  IT.,  Columbia ;  enlisted  December  23,  1863,  at 
Columbia;  died  at  Cartersville,  Georgia,  July  18,  1864;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Georgia,  grave  No.  1726. 

Sparks,  Tolbert  W.,  Columbia;  enlisted  December  28,  1863.  at 
Columbia ;  discharged  June  30,  1865. 

Whiting,  Price ;  enlisted  in  December,  1863,  at  Columbia :  dis- 
charged January  1,  1865. 

Whitney,  Asaph ;  enlisted  December  23,  1863,  at  Columbia :  dis- 
charged for  disability,  April  9,  1864. 

Company  G  :  Allen,  Forbes,  Waverly ;  enlisted  August  25.  1864, 
at  Kalamazoo ;  discharged  June  6,  1865. 

Allen,  Reuben  IT.;  enlisted  November  26,  1861,  at  Waverly; 
corporal;  discharged  October  31,  1864. 

Austin,  Alexander;  enlisted  October  30,  1862,  at  Waverly;  dis- 
charged September  22,  1865. 

Austin,  Darius  F.,  Waverly;  enlisted  October  10,  1861,  at  Wa- 
verly; wounded  in  action  at  La  Vergne,  Tennessee,  January  1, 
1863 ;  corporal ;  discharged  for  disability,  July  23,  .1863. 

Brewer,  Clark  K. ;  enlisted  September  28,  1861,  at  Kalamazoo ; 
artificer-  discharged  October  31,  1864. 

Brown,    Barnabas.    Waverly;    enlisted    December    16,    1861,    at 


276  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Marshall ;  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  October  30,  1862 ;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Brown,  Daniel  D.,  Waverly;  enlisted  October  17,  1861,  at  Wa- 
verly;  discharged  October  31,  1864. 

Brown,  James  C. ;  enlisted  October  10,  1861,  at  Waverly ;  arti- 
ficer; discharged  for  disability,  August  18,  1862. 

Bush,  Eli;  enlisted  September  6,  1861,  at  Waverly;  artificer; 
discharged  for  disability,  April  3,  1862. 

Brown,  Cyrenus,  Waverly;  enlisted  October  9,  1861,  at  Wa- 
verly ;  died  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  March  13,  1862. 

Carr,  William  H.,  Waverly;  enlisted  November  1,  1862,  at  Wa- 
verly; artificer;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Colburn,  Eliphalet  V.,  Waverly ;  enlisted  August  15,  1864,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  June  6,  1865. 

Dyer,  Sylvester,  Almena;  enlisted  October  18,  1861,  at  Kalama- 
zoo; corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant;  discharged  October  31,  1864. 

Fosmire,  Ezra  H. ;  enlisted  September  20,  1861,  at  Kalamazoo ; 
discharged  October  31,  1864. 

Gaines,  Franklin  J.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  December  10,  1863,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Gault,  David  H. ;  Waverly;  enlisted  September  6,  1861,  at  Kala- 
mazoo ;  sergeant ;  discharged  for  disability  July  12,  1863. 

Gault,  Truman  H.,  Bloomingdale ;  enlisted  December  15,  1863, 
at  Kalamazoo;  died  at  Ringgold,  Georgia,  August  5,  1864;  buried 
in  National  cemetery  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  grave  No.  10369. 

Gobel,  Eliel  P. ;  enlisted  September  20,  1861,  at  Kalamazoo ;  dis- 
charged September  16,  1862. 

Haydon,  Edmond  N.,  Almena;  enlisted  September  12,  1861,  at 
Kalamazoo;  corporal;  died  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  March  22, 
1864. 

Hayes,  Alva;  enlisted  September  14,  1861,  at  Lawton;  reported 
sick  in  hospital  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  June  11,  1863 ;  no  further 
record. 

Jennings,  Henry  II.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  August  25,  1864,  at 
Kalamazoo ;  discharged  June  6,  1865 ;  died  at  Paw  Paw. 

Libbe,  Alonzo;  enlisted  October  19,  1861,  at  Marshall;  dis- 
charged July  24,  1862 ;  died  March  9,  1895 ;  buried  at  Paw  Paw. 

Murch,  Edwin  A. ;  enlisted  September  21,  1861,  at  Waverly ; 
discharged  October  31,  1864. 

Nash,  Newland;  enlisted  September  11,  1861,  at  Kalamazoo; 
corporal ;  promoted  to  sergeant ;  discharged  October  31,  1864. 

Palmer,  John  M.,  Waverly;  enlisted  September  6,  1861,  at  Wa- 
verly; artificer;  discharged  October  31,  1864. 

Reed,  William,  Almena;  enlisted  September  6,  1861,  at  Kalama- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  277 

zoo;  died  at  Murfreesboro,   Tennessee,  April  23,  1863;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Stone  River,  Tennessee. 

Richardson,  John;  enlisted  October  31,  1861,  at  Almena;  arti- 
ficer; discharged  October  31,  1864. 

Rogers,  Lucius  A.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  January  4,  1864,  at  Kalar 
mazoo;  artificer;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Root,  James  H. ;  enlisted  September  21,  1861,  at  Waverly ;  dis- 
charged October  31,  1864. 

Root,  Stephen  V.;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  "Waverly; 
artificer;  discharged  for  disability  June  23,  1862. 

Smith,  David  H.,  Waverly;  enlisted  August  25,  1864,  at  Kala- 
mazoo; discharged  June  6,  1865. 

Stanton,  Bradley  W. ;  enlisted  September  10,  1861,  at  Kalama- 
zoo; sergeant;  discharged  October  31,  1864;  deceased;  buried  at 
Paw  Paw. 

Stephens,  Eliphay;  enlisted  October  10,  1861,  at  Lawton;  no 
further  record. 

Stephens,  Uriah;  enlisted  September  14,  1861,  at  Lawton;  died 
at  Nashville,  Tennessee;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Nash- 
ville. 

Stevens,  Jesse ;  enlisted  August  25,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo ;  dis- 
charged June  6,  1865. 

Van  Tassell,  Daniel  S.,  Waverly;  enlisted  October  7,  1861,  at 
Waverly ;  artificer ;  corporal ;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Van  Tassell,  David  F.,  Waverly;  enlisted  January  4,  1864,  at 
Columbia;  died  February  16,  1864. 

Vosburg,  John  M.,  Almena;  enlisted  October  19,  1861,  at  Mar- 
shall; died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  October  21,  1863;  buried  in 
National  cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Wescott,  Martin  A.;  enlisted  September  17,  1861,  at  Kalamazoo; 
artificer;  discharged  October  11,  1864;  re-entered  service  in  Com- 
pany G,  Thirteenth  Infantry ;  final  discharge  May  15,  1865. 

Whipple,  John  A.,  Pine  Grove;  enlisted  September  12,  1861,  at 
Kalamazoo;  died  in  Tennessee,  February  8,  1864. 

Other  Companies :  Scott,  George,  Decatur ;  enlisted  in  Company 
D,  August  27,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo;  discharged  June  6,  1865. 

Palmer,  Hiram,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  in  Company  H,  August  22, 
1864,  at  Kalamazoo;  artificer;  discharged  June  6,  1865. 

Chappell,  Giles  R.,  Decatur;  enlisted  in  Company  M,  August 
29,  1863,  at  Bedford ;  corporal ;  died  at  Normandy,  Tennessee,  April 
12,  1864;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tennessee. 


278  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BITREN  COUNTY 

First  Michigan  Sharpshooters 

The  First  Michigan  Sharpshooters  under  command  of  Colonel 
C.  V.  DeLand  of  Jackson,  took  the  field  in  July,  1863.  Van  Buren 
county  was  not,  numerically,  largely  represented  in  this  organ- 
ization, following  being  a  list  of  her  soldiers. 

Company  D:  Berridge,  John,  Bangor;  enlisted  December  29, 
1862,  at  South  Haven ;  sergeant ;  wounded  in  action  June  15,  1864 ; 
promoted  to  sergeant  major,  to  first  lieutenant  and  to  captain; 
discharged  July  28,  1865. 

Bonfoey,  Charles  R.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  January  3,  1863,  at 
Antwerp;  taken  prisoner  at  Petersburg,  Virginia,  July  30,  1864; 
returned  to  company  April  29,  1865;  discharged  June  29,  1865; 
deceased;  buried  at  Almena,  Michigan. 

Briggs,  Charles  G.,  Porter;  enlisted  November  20,  1862,  at  Por- 
ter; discharged  August  11,  1865. 

Earl,  Alvin  P.,  Geneva;  enlisted  January  12,  1863,  at  Geneva; 
discharged  July  28,  1865. 

Meachum,  David  R.,  Geneva;  enlisted  February  7,  1863,  at 
Geneva ;  discharged  June  27,  1865. 

Noyes,  Kirk  W.,  South  Haven;  enlisted  December  27,  1862,  at 
South  Haven;  wounded  in  action  at  Spottsylvania,  Virginia,  May 
31,  1863 ;  promoted  to  first  lieutenant,  Company  K ;  again  wounded 
in  action  and  taken  prisoner  at  Peebles  Farm,  Virginia,  September 
30,  1864;  paroled  February  22,  1865;  promoted  to  captain,  Com- 
pany B ;  discharged  July  28,  1865 ;  present  residence  South  Haven, 
Michigan. 

Reynolds,  John,  Antwerp ;  enlisted  December  29,  1862,  at  Ant- 
werp; absent  (sick)  September,  1864;  no  further  record. 

Storey,  Nelson  A.,  Almena ;  enlisted  February  11,  1863 ;  at  Al- 
mena; missing  in  action  at  Petersburg,  Virginia,  June  17,  1864; 
died  on  board  transport  at  Hilton  Head,  South  Carolina,  Novem- 
ber 26,  1864. 

Taylor,  Augustus  E.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  December  8,  1862,  at 
Grand  Haven ;  discharged  July  8,  1865.. 

Waite,  Levi  IT.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  December  29,  1862,  at  Ant- 
werp ;  killed  in  action  at  Petersburg,  Virginia,  June  17,  1864. 

Watson,  Daniel  W.,  Geneva;  enlisted  December  29,  1862,  at 
Geneva ;  corporal ;  discharged  July  28,  1865. 

Wildey,  George  M.,  Mattawan ;  enlisted  March  14,  1863  ;  sergeant ; 
discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Other  Companies:  Guiley,  Henry,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany A,  July  9,  1863,  at  Paw  Paw ;  died  at  Andersonville,  Georgia, 
September  1,  1864. 

Tozer,  Webster  E.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  in  Company  B,  August 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  279 

23,  1863;  died  at  Washington,  D.  C,  June  13,  1864,  of  wounds 
received  in  action  at  Spottsylvania,  Virginia,  May  12,  1864. 

Tuthill,  Francis  H.  Lawton;  enlisted  September  6,  1861,  at  Jack- 
son ;  discharged  for  disability  October  24,  1862 ;  reenlisted  in  Com- 
pany E,  same  regiment,  October  20,  1864;  discharged  July  28,  1865. 

Drake,  Francis  W.,  Columbia ;  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Febru- 
ary 4,  1863,  at  Jackson;  assigned  to  Company  G,  discharged  July 
5,1865. 

First  Regiment  Michigan  Light  Artillery 

Then  shook  the  hills  with  thunder  riven, 
Then  rushed  the  steeds  to  battle  driven. 
And  louder  than  the  bolts  of  heaven, 
Far  flashed  the  red  artillery. 

The  First  Michigan  Light  Artillery  consisted  of  twelve  bat- 
teries, organized  at  different  dates  and  assigned  to  duty  in  different 
localities,  some  being  on  duty  with  the  Western  armies  and  others 
with  the  armies  of  the  east. 

Regiments  of  infantry  and  cavalry  ordinarily  are  kept  together 
as  a  unit  and  serve  as  a  single  organization,  but  such  is  not  usually 
the  case  with  an  artillery  regiment,  each  battery  being  attached  to 
some  distinct  army,  post  or  regiment,  and  it  is  seldom,  if  ever,  that 
the  regiment  is  all  assembled  together  at  one  place. 

The  several  batteries  of  this  regiment  were  engaged  in  many  dif- 
ferent battles  and  skirmishes  in  all  parts  of  the  Southern  Confeder- 
acy and  some  of  the  gunners  developed  a  degree  of  marksmanship 
that  would  be  creditable,  even  in  these  days,  of  such  greatly  im- 
proved guns  and  gunnery.  The  writer  once  was  an  eye  witness  to 
an  example  of  this  on  the  field  of  battle  in  the  state  of  Mississippi. 
A  running  cavalry  fight  between  the  Federal  and  Confederate  cav- 
alry forces  had  been  in  progress  for  several  days,  the  Federals 
gradually  forcing  their  opponents  to  retreat  southward,  although 
their  progress  was  stubbornly  contested.  Coming  to  a  valley  some- 
thing like  a  half  mile  wide,  as  the  Union  soldiers  were  descending 
the  northern  slope,  the  Confederates  suddenly  and  most  unex- 
pectedly uncovered  a  field  gun  and  opened  up  with  a  rapid  and 
vigorous  fire  of  grape  and  canister.  Battery  C,  of  the  First  Light 
Artillery,  was  with  the  Union  cavalry,  but  had  not  been  called  into 
action.  However,  one  of  its  guns  wras  speedily  unlimbered  and 
gunner  Chandler  Hamlin,  a  Van  Buren  county  soldier,  told  to 
send  a  solid  shot  across  the  valley,  which  he  speedily  did,  his  first 
shot  striking  the  enemy's  gun  full  in  its  muzzle  and  putting  it  en- 
tirely out  of  commission,  resulting  in  a  considerable  degree  of  de- 
moralization in  the  ranks  of  the  retreating  foe.    And  this  was  but 


280  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY 

a  fair  example  of  the  skill  with  which  the  guns  of  this  regiment 
were  handled. 

Total  enrolment  of  the  regiment,  3,090 ;  killed  in  action,  29 ;  died 
of  wounds,  13 ;  died  in  prison,  4 ;  died  of  disease,  207 ;  discharged 
for  disability,  390. 

Van  Buren  county  was  represented  in  the  First  Light  Artillery 
as  follows. 

Battery  A:  Carr,  Jacob,  Waverly;  enlisted  February  12,  1863, 
at  Hartford  (substitute  for  Huston  Taylor,  drafted  from  Hart- 
ford) ;  discharged  July  28,  1865;  present  residence,  Paw  Paw. 

Garrison,  Daniel  S.,  Hartford;  enlisted  February  12,  1863,  at 
Hartford  (substitute  for  Clark  Sampson,  drafted  from  Hartford)  ; 
wrounded  in  action  at  Chickamauga,  Georgia,  in  September,  1863; 
discharged  for  disability  July  22,  1864. 

Hill,  Micajah,  Porter;  enlisted  February  27,  1863  (substitute  for 
Daniel  Shein,  drafted  from  Prairieville)  ;  killed  in  action  at  Chicka- 
mauga, Georgia,  September  10,  1863. 

Hyde,  Franklin  W. ;  enlisted  February  25,  1863,  at  Hartford; 
discharged  July  28,  1865. 

Lemon,  John;  enlisted  September  6,  1864,  at  Hamilton;  dis- 
charged July  28,  1865. 

Lemon,  William;  enlisted  September  6,  1864,  at  Hamilton;  dis- 
charged July  28,  1865. 

Munger,  Ira  A.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  February  14,  1863,  at  Ham- 
ilton; (substitute  for  George  W.  Nesbitt,  drafted  from  Hamilton)  ; 
transferred  to  Invalid  Corps,  April  10,  1864. 

Battery  B :  Austin,  George  D. ;  enlisted  January  5,  1864,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  June  14,  1865. 

Beach,  James,  Antwerp;  enlisted  October  23,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
discharged  for  disability,  June  26,  1862. 

Brown,  Roswell  W.,  Antwerp ;  enlisted  October  15,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw ;  corporal ;  taken  prisoner  at  Shiloh,  Tennessee,  April  6,  1862 ; 
confined  at  Macon,  Georgia ;  promoted  to  quartermaster  sergeant ; 
discharged  June  14,  1865. 

Charles,  William  S.,  Bangor;  enlisted  October,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  corporal,  promoted  to  sergeant  and  to  second  lieutenant; 
taken  prisoner  at  Shiloh,  Tennessee,  confined  at  Macon,  Georgia; 
discharged  June  14,  1865 ;  present  residence,  Bangor. 

Deremo,  Earl,  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  August  26,  1862,  at  Paw  Paw ; 
discharged  June  14,  1865. 

Freeman,  Albert  H.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  January,  1864,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  June  14,  1865. 

Freeman,  Brad.  G. ;  enlisted  at  Paw  Paw,  January  9,  1864 ;  dis- 
charged June  14,  1865. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  281 

Holmes,  Wesley,  Antwerp ;  enlisted  October  23,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  June  14,  1865. 

Mills,  Lucius  W.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  October  1,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  for  disability  October  25,  1862. 

Plumb,  Nelson,  Almena;  enlisted  October  25,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
corporal;  taken  prisoner  at  Shiloh;  confined  at  Macon,  Georgia; 
discharged  June  14,  1865. 

Plumb,  Winfield  S. ;  enlisted  December  21,  at  Paw  Paw;  dis- 
charged June  14,  1865. 

Shepard,  Elijah  L.,  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  October  13,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  taken  prisoner  at  Shiloh,  Tennessee;  confined  at  Macon, 
Georgia,  and  other  prisons  for  six  months;  corporal;  discharged 
June  14,  1865. 

Teed,  Lowell  C,  Antwerp ;  enlisted  October  5,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw ; 
taken  prisoner  at  Shiloh,  Tennessee,  April  6,  1862;  in  prison  at 
Memphis,  Tennessee,  Mobile  and  Tuscaloosa,  Alabama,  Atlanta, 
Georgia,  and  Chattanooga,  Tennessee;  released  May  30,  1862;  pro- 
moted to  second  lieutenant  and  to  first  lieutenant ;  discharged  June 
14,  1865. 

Thayer,  Ransom  O.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  October  8,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw ;  taken  prisoner  at  Shiloh,  Tennessee,  April  6,  1862 ;  discharged 
for  disability  January  4,  1863 ;  present  residence  Paw  Paw. 

Tillou,  Charles  H.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  October  12,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  corporal;  discharged  December  24,  1864. 

Battery  C :  Griffin,  James  E.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  October  7,  1861, 
at  Grand  Rapids;  farrier;  discharged  April  20,  1862. 

Hamilton,  Chandler,  Arlington ;  enlisted  September  3,  1861 ; 
corporal ;  discharged  for  disability,  February  4,  1864. 

Percival,  George  W.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  October  7,  1861,  at 
Grand  Rapids;  discharged  June  22,  1865. 

Percival,  Stephen,  Decatur;  enlisted  November  25,  1861,  at 
Grand  Rapids ;  discharged  June  22^  1865. 

Ripley,  Sterne  L.,  enlisted  October  7,  1861,  at  Grand  Rapids; 
died  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  October  10,  1863;  buried  in  National 
cemetery  at  Benton  Barracks,  Missouri,  grave  No.  2827. 

Battery  F:  Barker,  John  P.,  Porter;  enlisted  August  27,  1862, 
at  Coldwater ;  corporal ;  discharged  June  9,  1865. 

Higbee,  Charles  0.;  enlisted  December  30,  1861,  at  Coldwater; 
discharged  for  disability  February  20,  1863. 

Battery  G:  Dunham,  Caspar;  enlisted  September  3,  1864,  at 
Bloomingdale ;  discharged  August  6,  1865. 

Killefer,  William,  Bloomingdale;  enlisted  September  3,  1864,  at 
Kalamazoo;  substitute  for  James  C.  Clement;  discharged  August 
6,  1865 ;  present  residence,  Paw  Paw. 


282  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Battery  H:  Kinney,  Elijah  M.,  Porter;  enlisted  August  15,  1864, 
at  Porter;  discharged  July  2,  1865;  died  November  21.  1889. 

Sherman,  Lewis;  enlisted  November  28,  1861.  at  Decatur;  dis- 
charged for  disability,  June  2,  1862.    . 

Battery  I:  Carr,  Moses,  enlisted  December  24,  1863,  at  Paw  Paw; 
died  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  May  19,  1864;  buried  in  National 
cemetery  at  Chattanooga,  grave  No.  1377. 

Cash,  Stephen,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  1,  1862,  at  Lawrence; 
discharged  July  14,  1865 ;  died  at  Lawrence. 

Clay,  William  H.,  Lawrence ;  enlisted  August  24,  1862,  at  Law- 
rence; discharged  for  disability  January  24,  1863:  died  at  Law- 
rence. 

Delong,  Henry;  enlisted  August  24,  1862,  at  Lawrence;  dis- 
charged for  disability  January  30,  1863 ;  died  April  14,  1896 ;  buried 
at  Arlington,  Michigan. 

Delong,  John,  Arlington;  enlisted  September  15,  1862,  at  Ar- 
lington; died  at  Detroit,  Michigan,  December  14,  1862;  buried  at 
Detroit. 

Hurd,  Eben  C,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  24,  1862,  at  Law- 
rence ;  corporal ;  promoted  to  sergeant ;  discharged  July  14,  1865. 

Rathbun,  James  L.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  24,  1862,  at 
Lawrence;  died  at  Annapolis,  Maryland,  August  17,  1863. 

Skelton,  Joseph,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  24,  1862,  at  Law- 
rence; corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant;  died  at  Chattanooga,  Ten- 
nessee, July  19,  1864,  of  wounds  received  in  action  July  13,  1864; 
buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Chattanooga,  grave  No.  1760. 

Battery  M :  Hare,  William ;  enlisted  September  3,  1864,  at  Bloom- 
ingdale ;  discharged  August  1,  1865. 

High,  Charles  W.,  enlisted  July  20,  1863,  at  Paw  Paw;  dis- 
charged on  account  of  being  a  minor. 

Y,\n  Burex  County  Soldiers  in  Other  Michigan  Regiments 

Onward,  then,   our  stainless  banner. 

Let  it  kiss  the  stripe  and  star, 
Till  in  weal  and  woe  united. 

They  forever  wedded   are. 
We  will  plant  them  by  the  river, . 

By  the  gulf,  and  by  the  strand. 
Till  they  float,  to  float  forever. 

O'er  a  free  united  land. 

First  Michigan  Infantry :  Abbott,  Howard ;  enlisted  in  Company 
H,  October  3,  1861,  at  Marshall ;  killed  in  action  at  Fredericksburg, 
Virginia,  December  13,  1862. 

Buss,  William;  drafted  from  Bangor.  June  10,  1864;  assigned 
to  Company  D;  died  at  Jeffersonville,  Indiana.  July  27,  1864. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  283 

Gravratt,  Abraham  P. ;  drafted  from  Geneva ;  mustered  June  10, 
1864;  assigned  to  Company  B;  corporal;  discharged  June  9,  1865. 

Redner,  Charles  E.,  Columbia;  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Septem- 
ber 14,  1861,  at  Ann  Arbor;  musician;  discharged  for  disability, 
March  10,  1863. 

Strong,  John  J. ;  enlisted  in  Company  K,  October  3,  1861,  at 
Marshall;  killed  in  action  at  Gaines'  Mill,  Virginia,  June  27,  1862. 

Swartout,  Louis ;  drafted  from  Covert ;  mustered  June  22,  1864 ; 
assigned  to  Company  D ;  discharged  for  disability  June  13,  1865,  by 
reason  of  wounds  received  in  action  at  Fort  Steaclman,  Virginia, 
March  5,  1865. 

Wilson,  Isaac  W. ;  drafted  from  Geneva ;  mustered  June  10, 
1864;  discharged  July  9,  1865. 

Second  Michigan  Infantry :  Colvin,  Stephen  G. ;  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany I,  April  22,  1861,  at  Kalamazoo ;  killed  in  action  at  the  Wilder- 
ness, Virginia,  May  6,  1864. 

Moody,  Oscar  L. ;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  April  22,  1861,  at  Kala- 
mazoo; discharged  July  21,  1864. 

Snell,  Theodore  W. ;  enlisted  in  Company  K,  May  25,  1861,  at 
Kalamazoo;  taken  prisoner  at  Petersburg,  Virginia,  October  27, 
1864;  died  of  starvation,  while  a  prisoner  of  war,  in  December, 
1864. 

Third  Michigan  Infantry :  Munson,  David  A.,  Antwerp ;  enlisted 
in  Company  D,  August  28,  1862,  at  Lawton;  discharged  for  dis- 
ability August  8,  1863. 

Fifth  Michigan  Infantry — Company  A :  Bachelder,  Carlos  C. ; 
enlisted  August  10,  1861,  at  Fort  Wayne ;  sick  in  Michigan  in  May, 
1862 ;  no  further  record. 

Burger,  James;  enlisted  August  10,  1861.  at  Fort  Wayne; 
wounded  in  action  at  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  May  5,  1862 ;  absent 
(sick)  July,  1862;  no  further  record. 

Everetts,  Russell;  enlisted  August  10,  1861,  at  Fort  Wayne; 
wounded  in  action  at  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  May  5,  1862;  dis- 
charged for  disability  September  23,  1862. 

Gallagher,  Peter  W. ;  enlisted  August  16,  1861.  at  Fort  Wayne; 
taken  prisoner  at  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  Virginia,  May  12, 
1864;  no  further  record. 

Haven,  Herman  R. ;  enlisted  August  16,  1861,  at  Fort  Wayne; 
wounded  in  action  May  16,  1864;  discharged  July  5,  1S65. 

Nesbitt,  William;  enlisted  June  19,  1861,  at  Fort  Wayne;  cor- 
poral; discharged  August  28,  1864. 

Rockwell,  James  D. ;  enlisted  August  14,  1861,  at  Fort  Wayne ; 
discharged  August  27,  1864. 

Sherman,  James ;  enlisted  August  9,  1861 ;  died  at  Camp  Michi- 
gan, Virginia,  February  19,  1862;  buried  at  Alexandria,  Virginia. 


284  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Spencer,  Myron  T. ;  enlisted  August  10,  1861,  at  Fort  Wayne ; 
discharged  for  disability  September  14,  1862. 

Vandecar,  Henry;  enlisted  August  5,  1861,  at  Fort  Wayne; 
wounded  in  action  at  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  May  5,  1862 ;  in  gen- 
eral hospital,  September,  1862. 

Vought,  Frank  M. ;  enlisted  August  18,  1861,  at  Fort  Wayne; 
corporal;  discharged  October  21,  1864. 

Seventh  Michigan  Infantry :  Daniels,  Julius  W. ;  enlisted  Febru- 
ary 21,  1863,  at  Bloomingdale ;  wounded  in  action  at  Ream's  Sta- 
tion, Virginia,  August  25,  1864 ;  discharged  July  5,  1864. 

Eighth  Michigan  Infantry:  Morrison,  John  H.,  Decatur;  en- 
listed February  24,  1863;  unassigned;  substitute  for  Seneca  H. 
Abbott,  drafted ;  no  further  record. 

Mouser,  John  W.r  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  in  Company  C,  August  30, 
1862,  at  Flint;  discharged  for  disability,  March  14,  1863. 

Munson,  John  M.,  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  in  Company  A,  October  3, 
1862,  at  Paw  Paw;  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps;  discharged  Au- 
gust 11,  1865. 

O'Brien,  John;  enlisted  in  Company  G,  December  14,  1864,  at 
Kalamazoo ;  substitute  for  Andrew  G.  Coombs ;  drafted ;  discharged 
July  30,  1865. 

Ninth  Michigan  Infantry :  Clark,  James  W. ;  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany I,  August  15,  1861 ;  discharged  August  6,  1862. 

Lee,  Reuben,  Covert ;  drafted  from  Covert ;  mustered  September 
24,  1864 ;  discharged  for  disability  March  14,  1865. 

Place,  James  N.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  in  Company  D,  August  18, 
1864;  substitute  for  Peter  Smith;  discharged  June  20,  1865. 

St.  Clair,  James ;  drafted  from  South  Haven ;  mustered  Septem- 
ber 24,  1864;  assigned  to  Company  I;  died  at  Chattanooga,  Tennes- 
see, October  26,  1864 ;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Chattanooga, 
grave  No.  1958. 

Saxton,  Hiram  G.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  in  Company  C,  April  27, 
1861,  at  Paw  Paw;  wounded  in  action  at  Williamsburg,  Virginia, 
May  5,  1862,  and  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  July  2,  1863;  dis- 
charged April  27,  1864;  reentered  service  September  30,  1864,  in 
Company  H ;  substitute  for  Edwin  M.  Eaton,  drafted ;  discharged 
June  20,  1865. 

Swift,  Le  Grand  E.,  Decatur;  enlisted  in  Company  B,  August 
20,  1861,  at  Niles;  corporal;  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  January 
9,  1863. 

Tuthill,  Francis  H.,  Lawton;  enlisted  in  Company  C,  September 
6,  1861,  at  Jackson ;  discharged  for  disability  October  24,  1862. 

Tenth  Michigan  Infantry:  Arms,  Christopher  (substitute  for 
Jol|n  Campbell,  Jr.),  Almena;  mustered  March  22,  1865:  unas- 
signed; discharged  May  15,  1865. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  285 

Findley,  Andrew,  South  Haven;  enlisted  in  Company  II,  Janu- 
ary, 1864,  at  South  Haven;  discharged  June  19,  1864. 

Panard,  Frederick;  drafted  from  Arlington;  mustered  October 
22,  1864:  assigned  to  Company  E,  January  1,  1863. 

Parsons,  Johnson.  Decatur;  substitute  for  Peter  Brinder, 
drafted;  mustered  February  6,  1862;  corporal;  promoted  to  hos- 
pital steward ;  discharged  July  19,  1865. 

Reynolds,  Ansel  E. ;  drafted  from  Hartford ;  mustered  March  21, 
1865 ;  unassigned ;  discharged  May  23,  1865. 

Trowbridge,  Silas  M.,  Geneva;  drafted;  mustered  March  21 
1865 :  unassigned ;  discharged  May  15,  1865 ;  present  residence 
South  Haven. 

Van  Scoy,  George  "W. ;  substitute  for  George  Drake,  Hartford 
enlisted  April  8,  1865 ;  unassigned ;  discharged  May  15,  1865. 

Young,  William,  Geneva;  drafted;  mustered  March  21,  1865 
unassigned :  discharged  May  15,  1865. 

Eleventh  Michigan  Infantry:  Bronson,  Elisha  C,  South  Haven 
enlisted  in  Company  G,  July  8,  1861,  at  Flowerfield ;  died  at  Bards- 
town,  Kentucky,  January  30,  1862. 

Brown,  Loren  W. :  enlisted  in  Company  G,  July  8,  1861,  at  Flow- 
erfield; discharged  for  disability  January  24,  1863. 

Clark,  John;  enlisted  in  Company  C,  January  17,  1865,  at  De- 
troit; discharged  September  16,  1865. 

Clement,  Allen  E. ;  enlisted  in  Company  F,  March  14,  1865,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  September  17,  1865. 

Crandall,  Charles  X. ;  enlisted  in  Company  F,  March  6,  1865,  at 
Hartford;  discharged  September  16,  1865;  died  April  14,  1886; 
buried  at  Hartford. 

Crandall,  Edwin  R. ;  enlisted  in  Company  F,  March  6.  1865,  at 
Hartford;  discharged  August  29,  1865. 

Freeman,  A.  I.:  enlisted  in  Company  G,  July  14,  1861,  at  ¥a- 
verly;  discharged  September  30,  1864. 

Horning,  Jacob:  enlisted  in  Company  G,  February  20,  1865,  at 
Jackson;  discharged  September  17,  1865. 

Rice,  Charles  H. ;  Lawrence ;  enlisted  in  Company  D,  January  23, 
1865,  at  Lawrence;  discharged  September  16,  1865. 

Webb,  James  P. :  enlisted  March  8,  1865,  at  Pine  Grove ;  mus- 
tered March  15,  1865:  unassigned;  no  further  record. 

Terrill,  George  T. :  enlisted  in  Company  K,  February  20,  1865, 
at  Geneva;  discharged  September  16,  1865;  died  June  2,  1895; 
buried  at  Geneva. 

Wright,  Alfred  G. ;  enlisted  in  Company  E,  August  24,  1861,  at 
Three  Rivers;  discharged  September  30,  1864. 

Fourteenth  Michigan  Infantry :  Austin,  Harvey  H..  Breedsville ; 
enlisted  in  Company  B,  November  25,  1861,  at  Breedsville ;  cor- 


286  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

poral;  promoted  to  sergeant;  wounded  in  action  March  16,  1865; 
discharged  July  20,  1865. 

Barnes,  Merrill  "W. ;  drafted  from  Arlington ;  mustered  Septem- 
ber 24,  1864;  assigned  to  Company  D;  discharged  July  18,  1865; 
deceased ;  buried  at  Arlington. 

Freeman,  Asa,  Waverly;  enlisted  in  Company  B,  February  1, 
1862,  at  Waverly ;  died  August  6,  1862 ;  buried  at  Evansville,  In- 
diana. 

Goodale,  Hiram  M. ;  enlisted  in  Company  B,  January  4,  1862,  at 
Cheshire;  discharged  for  disability  April  16,  1862. 

Jonkerman,  Johannes;  substitute  for  James  Ellsworth,  drafted 
from  Arlington;  mustered  October  3,  1864;  assigned  to  Company 
A;  discharged  May  31,  1865. 

Stewart.  James  A. ;  enlisted  in  Company  B,  January  5,  1862,  at 
Columbia ;  corporal ;  wounded  in  action  March  16,  1865 ;  dis- 
charged July  16,  1865. 

Fifteenth  Michigan  Infantry:  Adams,  John,  Porter;  drafted; 
mustered  October  22,  1864;  assigned  to  Company  D;  discharged 
August  13,  3865. 

Blass,  Jesse  C. ;  substitute  for  James  Hogmire,  drafted  from 
Arlington;  mustered  October  12,  1864;  discharged  August  13,  1865. 

Britten,  Joseph  N. ;  drafted  from  Geneva ;  mustered  April  3, 
1865;  discharged  August  13,  1865. 

Chatfield,  Darius ;  drafted  from  Hartford ;  mustered  September 
24,  1864;  assigned  to  Company  G;  discharged  May  30,  1865. 

Chugnimer,  Peter;  drafted  from  Geneva;  mustered  September 
24,  1864;  assigned  to  Company  D;  discharged  May  30,  1865. 

Coleman,  John ;  enlisted  in  Company  A,  May  26,  1864,  at  Ham- 
ilton; discharged  August  13,  1865. 

Cook,  "William,  Bangor;  drafted;  mustered  March  21,  1865;  dis- 
charged July  29,  1865. 

Disbrow,  Lodwick;  drafted  from  Bangor;  mustered  March  21, 
1865;  assigned  to  Company  G;  discharged  May  21,  1865. 

Eaton,  Moses  E.  F. ;  drafted  from  Bangor;  mustered  March  21, 
1865;  assigned  to  Company  G;  discharged  August  15,  1865. 

Fitzsimmons,  Henry;  enlisted  in  Company  A,  May  23,  1864,  at 
Hamilton;  discharged  August  13,  1865. 

Fleming,  James ;  drafted  from  Lawrence ;  mustered  March  21, 
1865 ;  discharged  August  16,  1865. 

Goetz,  Joseph;  substitute  for  Eli  Ruggles,  drafted  from  Hart- 
ford; mustered  November  2,  1864;  discharged  September  11,  1865. 

Gruber,  Peter;  drafted  from  Arlington;  mustered  October  22, 
1864 ;  assigned  to  Company  A ;  no  further  record. 

Hancock,  George;  drafted  from  Porter;  mustered  October  26, 
1864;  assigned  to  Company  E;  discharged  August  13,  1865. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  2b7 

Ingersoll,  Daniel  S. ;  drafted  from  Bangor;  mustered  March  21, 
1865;  assigned  to  Company  G;  discharged  August  11,  1865. 

Kingsbury.  Lemuel :  substitute  for  Lafayette  Meachum,  drafted ; 
mustered  April  1 .  1865 ;  discharged  June  20,  1865. 

Kochey,  Stephen;  drafted  from  Hartford;  mustered  September 
26,  1864;  assigned  to  Company  E;  discharged  May  30,  1865. 

Lores,  Eli ;  substitute  for  Hiram  Hale,  drafted  from  South  Ha- 
ven; mustered  December  1,  1864;  assigned  to  Company  F;  no  fur- 
ther record. 

McGowan,  George;  drafted  from  Hartford;  mustered  March  21, 
1865 ;  assigned  to  Company  F ;  discharged  August  13,  1865 ;  died 
October  17,  1895. 

May,  John  S. ;  substitute  for  William  H.  H.  Olds,  drafted"  from 
Hartford ;  mustered  October  18,  1864 ;  assigned  to  Company  I ; 
died  at  Baltimore,  Maryland,  June  23,  1865;  buried  in  London 
Park  National  cemetery,  Baltimore. 

Merrill,  Portius:  drafted  from  Paw  Paw;  mustered  March  21, 
1865;  no  further  record. 

Merriman,  Burse;  drafted  from  Bangor;  mustered  March  21, 
1865;  assigned  to  Company  G;  discharged  August  13,  1865;  pres- 
ent residence  Bangor. 

Russell,  Carlton;  drafted  from  Paw  Paw;  mustered  March  21, 
1865 ;  no  further  record. 

Snyder,  Henry;  substitute  for  Edwin  DeLong,  drafted  from 
Arlington;  mustered  March  28,  1865;  discharged  August  13,  1865. 

Webb,  Robert ;  substitute  for  David  Massey,  drafted  from  Ar- 
lington; mustered  October  13,  1864;  no  further  record. 

Whipple,  Thomas  J. ;  drafted  from  Arlington ;  mustered  October 
22,  1864 ;  assigned  to  Company  C ;  discharged  August  13,  1865. 

Sixteenth  Michigan  Infantry :  Brown,  George  W.,  Pine  Grove ; 
enlisted  in  Company  K,  February  26,  1863,  at  Otsego;  substitute 
for  Nier  Nies,  drafted ;  discharged  November  21,  1863. 

Carr,  James;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  February  9,  1864,  at  Ban- 
gor; corporal:  discharged  July  8,  1865. 

Cole  Levi;  enlisted  in  Company  G,  March  23,  1865,  at  Pine 
Grove;  substitute  for  Charles  Goodwin,  drafted  from  Pine  Grove; 
discharged  July  8,  1865/ 

Cole,  Nelson  H. ;  enlisted  in  Company  G,  March  23,  1865,  at  Pine 
Grove;  substitute  for  Chauncey  Wise,  drafted  from  Pine  Grove; 
discharged  July  8,  1865. 

Kennicot,  Henry  S.,  Keeler;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  March  20, 
1862,  at  Keeler ;  killed  in  action  at  Manassas,  Virginia,  August  30, 
1862. 

Niles,  Jerome  R.:  enlisted  in  Company  I,  March  15,  1865,  at 
Kalamazoo  (substitute  for  Abner  Lewis)  ;  discharged  July  8,  1865. 


288  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Smith,  William;  enlisted  in  Company  H,  February  21,  1865,  at 
Paw  Paw;  substitute  for  Dela  M.  Lewis,  drafted;  discharged 
July  8,  1865. 

Sirrine,  Peter,  Geneva;  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Lancers,  No- 
vember 4,  1861 ;  transferred  to  Company  I,  Sixteenth  Infantry ; 
discharged  for  disability  June  20,  1862. 

Van  Scoy,  William  E.  P. ;  enlisted  in  Company  G,  March  28, 
1865,  at  Arlington,  substitute  for  Miles  Monroe,  drafted  from  Ar- 
lington; discharged  July  8,  1865. 

White,  Charles ;  enlisted  January  4,  1865,  at  Arlington ;  substi- 
tute for  Philip  Nicholas,  drafted  from  Arlington:  no  further  rec- 
ord. 

Dygert's  Sharpshooters,  attached  to  the  Sixteenth  Michigan: 
Beiber,  George  W. ;  enlisted  October  16,  1861.  at  Detroit:  corporal; 
discharged  October  15,  1864. 

Botsford,  Robert  G.;  enlisted  March  18.  1862.  at  Detroit;  dis- 
charged October  22,  1862. 

De  Bolt,  Henry  S. ;  enlisted  March  18,  1862,  at  Detroit;  trans- 
ferred to  Invalid  Corps,  November  16,  1863. 

Dick,  Frank  J. ;  enlisted  October  16,  1861,  at  Detroit ;  sergeant ; 
promoted  to  second  lieutenant ;  discharged  July  8,  1865. 

Farmer,  Edwin  R. ;  enlisted  October  14,  1861,  at  Detroit ;  ser- 
geant; discharged  October  28,  1862. 

Long,  James  B. ;  enlisted  October  16,  1861,  at  Detroit ;  discharged 
October  15,  1864. 

Minnis,  Frederick  E.,  Decatur;  enlisted  October  16,  1861,  at  De- 
troit; corporal;  wounded  in  action  May  6,  1864;  transferred  to  Vet- 
eran Reserve  Corps ;  discharged  July  24,  1865. 

Vought,  John  C,  Decatur;  enlisted  October  16.  1861.  at  Detroit; 
died  at  Washington,  D.  C,  March  2,  1863. 

Wenner,  Michael ;  enlisted  March  18,  1862 ;  brigade  saddler  and 
corporal ;  discharged  July  8,  1865. 

Twenty-first  Michigan  Infantry :  Dedrick,  Philip :  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 3,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo;  unassigned :  discharged  for  disabil- 
ity November  13,  1864. 

Hilliard,  George  W.,  Lawrence ;  enlisted  in  Company  B,  July  25, 
1862,  at  Grand  Rapids;  corporal;  discharged  June  8,  1865. 

Shepard,  Daniel,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  September  5.  1864.  in  Com- 
pany B,  at  Paw  Paw;  died  January  2.  1865;  buried  in  National 
cemetery  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  grave  No.  1563. 

Thirtieth  Michigan  Infantry :  Gregory,  Guy  H. :  enlisted  Decem- 
ber 17,  1864,  in  Company  B,  at  Waverly ;  discharged  June  30,  1865. 

Veder,  Louis  C. ;  enlisted  December  23,  1864,  in  Company  H,  at 
Kalamazoo ;  discharged  June  23,  1865. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  289 

Michigan  Provost  Guard:  Barnard,  John,  Lawrence;  enlisted 
December  9,  1862,  at  Lawrence ;  discharged  May  9,  1865. 

Burt,  Elijah  G.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  December  9,  1863,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  May  9,  1865. 

Chapin,  Hiram  A.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  at  Paw  Paw,  December 
10,  1862;  discharged  May  9,  1865;  present  residence,  Paw  Paw. 

Culver,  Asahel  B.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  December  9,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  May  9,  1865. 

Dunning,  George  A.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  at  Paw  Paw,  October 
26,  1863 ;  discharged  May  9,  1865. 

Dunning,  Lester  D.,  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  October  26,  1863,  at  Paw 
Paw ;  discharged  May  9,  1865. 

Francis,  Simeon  L.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  December  4,  1862,  at 
Paw  Paw;  discharged  May  8,  1865. 

Frazee,  Jacob  S.,  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  December  17,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw ;  discharged  May  9,  1865. 

Glidden,  Orson  J.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  December  10,  1862,  at 
Paw  Paw;  furloughed. 

Hayes,  Ira,  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  December  15,  1862,  at  Paw  Paw ; 
detailed  in  Army  of  the  West. 

Hennesey,  John,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  December  2,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  May  9,  1865. 

Hurlbut,  Spencer  N.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  January  4,  1863,  at 
Flint ;  originally  in  service  in  Company  C,  Third  Michigan  Cavalry, 
detailed  at  Annapolis,  Maryland. 

1  Johnson,  Thomas,  Columbia;  enlisted  February  21,  1863,  at  Co- 
lumbia; discharged  May  9,  1865. 

McCollum,  Charles,  Lawrence;  enlisted  October  24,  1863,  at 
Lawrence;  discharged  May  9,  1865. 

Mather,  Joseph,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  October  24,  1863,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  May  9,  1865. 

North,  Joseph  W.,  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  December  22,  1862,  at  Paw 
Paw;  corporal;  absent  (sick). 

Parsons,  Christopher,  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  December  10,  1862,  at 
Paw  Paw;  discharged  May  9,  1865. 

Rawson,  Fayette,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  January  12,  1863,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  for  disability  October  29,  1863. 

Salisbury,  Joseph  L.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  December  10,  1862,  at 
Paw  Paw;  discharged  for  disability  March  23,  1863. 

Stoddard,  William  H.,  Decatur;  enlisted  October  24,  1863,  at 
Paw  Paw;  discharged  May  9,  1865. 

Stoughton,  Frederick  F.,  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  December  17,  1862, 
at  Paw  Paw;  discharged  May  9,  1865. 

Waldorff,  Aaron,  Antwerp;  enlisted  October  22,  1863,  at  Ant- 
werp; discharged  May  9,  1865. 


290  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Second  Michigan  Cavalry:  Brotherton,  Albert:  drafted  from 
South  Haven ;  mustered  November  4,  1863 ;  assigned  to  Company  K ; 
discharged  August  15,  1865 ;  died  at  Bloomingdale,  Michigan. 

Caldwell,  Oscar;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  September  1,  1861,  at 
Cooper;  sergeant;  discharged  for  disability  May  18,  1862. 

Freeman,  James  F. ;  drafted  from  Waverly ;  mustered  November 
3,  1863 ;  assigned  to  Company  K ;  discharged  August  17,  1865. 

Lamkin,  Frank  H.,  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  September 
11,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw;  sergeant;  died  at  Boonville,  Mississippi,  June 
30,  1862 ;  buried  in  Union  National  cemetery  at  Corinth,  Mississippi. 

Lamkin,  Reuben  R. ;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  September  25,  1861, 
at  Paw  Paw;  corporal;  died  March  29,  1863,  at  Nashville,  Tennes- 
see, of  wounds  received  in  action  at  Thompson's  Station,  Tennessee, 
March  4,  1863 ;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Nashville. 

Stewart,  George  L. ;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  September  7,  1861,  at 
Texas,  Michigan;  corporal;  promoted  to  commissary  sergeant:  dis- 
charged May  17,  1865. 

Fifth  Michigan  Cavalry :  Babeock,  Edwin  J. ;  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany D,  March  20,  1865,  at  Paw  Pawr,  died  at  Fort  Leavenworth, 
Kansas,  September  17,  1865. 

Foote,  Cortes,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  in  Company  L,  August  22, 
1862,  at  Kalamazoo;  discharged  April  15,  1863. 

Martin,  Lawrence,  Antwerp;  enlisted  in  Company  D,  March 
20,  1865,  at  Antwerp;  corporal;  discharged  March  10,  1866;  died 
at  Paw  Paw. 

Rawson,  Coleman  P.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  March  13,  1865,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  March  10,  1866;  died  at  Paw  Paw,  February  26, 
1902. 

Skinner,  Hiram  H.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  in  Company  L,  August 
22,  1862,  at  Kalamazoo ;  discharged  for  disability  April  30,  1863. 

Eighth  Michigan  Cavalry:  Bell,  Asa;  enlisted  in  Company  L, 
August  1,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo  (substitute  for  Russell  M.  Stickney 
of  Hartford);  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps;  discharged 
September  18,  1865. 

Brown,  Rinaldo,  Hamilton;  enlisted  in  Company  F,  November 
25,  1862,  at  Hamilton ;  taken  prisoner  on  raid  to  Macon,  Georgia, 
August  3,  1864;  returned  to  company  April  28,  1865;  discharged 
September  26,  1865. 

Chamberlain,  James  H. ;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  April  7,  1865, 
at  Kalamazoo;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Cook,  John  C. ;  enlisted  in  Company  M,  February  23,  1865,  at 
Bangor;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Crandall,  Leonard;  enlisted  in  Company  D,  April  11,  1865,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  September  22,  1865;  present  residence 
Antwerp,  Michigan. 


HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  291 

Davis,  Louden  II. ;  enlisted  in  Company  D,  April  8,  1865,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Elliott,  Martin;  enlisted  in  Company  II,  February  2,  1865;  at 
Bangor;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Flanders,  Hiram,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  in  Company  I),  April  7, 
1865,  at  Coe;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Galligan,  John;  enlisted  in  Company  L,  April  7,  1865,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  May  6,  1865. 

Leonard,  George;  enlisted  in  Company  II,  March  21,  1865,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Martin,  James  M. ;  enlisted  in  Company  H,  April  13,  1865,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

McDowell,  Helon,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  December 
12,  1862,  at  Paw  Paw;  missing  on  raid  to  Macon,  Georgia,  August 
3,  1864;  returned  to  regiment  January  14,  1865;  corporal;  pro- 
moted to  sergeant;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

McElheny,  William  D.,  Mattawan;  enlisted  in  Company  F,  De- 
cember 22,  1862,  at  Prairie  Ronde;  sergeant;  promoted  to  first 
lieutenant ;  missing  on  raid  to  Macon,  Georgia,  August  3,  1864 ;  dis- 
charged July  20,  1865. 

Mclntyre,  John;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  April  7,  1865,  at  Kala- 
mazoo ;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Perry,  George;  enlisted  in  Company  L,  April  6,  1865,  at  Kala- 
mazoo ;  returned  from  missing  in  action  May  10,  1865 ;  discharged 
September  22,  1865. 

Powers,  Richard;  enlisted  in  Company  D,  April  4,  1865,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Price,  James;  enlisted  in  Company  B,  April  4,  1865,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Randall,  William  H.,  Kendall;  enlisted  in  Company  B,  August 
11,  1864,  at  Kalamazoo;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Rose,  John  II.,  Decatur;  enlisted;  unassigned ;  discharged  for 
disability  March  21,  1863. 

Smith,  Augustus;  enlisted  in  Company  A,  March  14,  1865,  at 
Pine  Grove;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Van  Brunt,  Nicholas  J. ;  enlisted  in  Company  H,  March  20,  1865, 
at  Kalamazoo;  died  at  Edgefield,  Tennessee,  April  1,  1865;  buried 
in  National  cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tennessee. 

Van  Sickle,  Harmon;  enlisted  in  Company  L,  April  2,  1863,  at 
Porter;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Willerton,  John,  Columbia;  enlisted  in  Company  F,  November 
22,  1862,  at  Columbia ;  missing  on  raid  to  Macon,  Georgia,  August 
3,  1864;  no  further  record. 

Tenth  Michigan  Cavalry :  Dedrick,  Philip  C. ;  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany B,  February  20,  1865,  at  Decatur;  discharged  July  7,  1865. 


292  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Knight,  William ;  enlisted  in  Company  A,  January  20,  1865 ;  dis- 
charged November  11,  1865. 

Lewis,  Jesse;  enlisted  in  Company  A,  January  20,  1865;  dis- 
charged September  16,  1865. 

Manly,  Collins  D. ;  enlisted  in  Company  A,  March  2,  1865 ;  dis- 
charged November  11,  1865. 

Ormsby,  Edwin  D. ;  enlisted  in  Company  B,  February  25,  1865, 
at  Decatur;  discharged  November  7,  1865. 

Ormsby,  Newton  F. ;  enlisted  in  Company  B,  February  22,  1865 ; 
discharged  November  7,  1865. 

Osborn,  John  H. ;  enlisted  in  Company  C,  February  22,  1865,  at 
Decatur;  discharged  November  22,  1865. 

Osborne,  Rodolphus  B. ;  enlisted  in  Company  A,  February  24, 
1865,  at  Decatur ;  discharged  September  23,  1865. 

Rooker,  Chester  E. ;  enlisted  in  Company  F,  February  16,  1865, 
at  Columbia;  discharged  November  11,  1865. 

Ryan,  Michael;  first  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Seventieth  New 
York  Infantry,  at  Paw  Paw,  May  22,  1861 ;  transferred  to  Second 
United  States  Cavalry;  discharged  December  6,  1864;  enlisted  in 
Company  B,  February  22,  1865,  at  Decatur ;  discharged  November 
7,  1865. 

Sweet,  Samuel  S. ;  enlisted  in  Company  B,  February  23,  1865,  at 
Decatur;  discharged  November  11,  1865. 

Sherwood,  Fred  E.,  Breedsville ;  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Febru- 
ary 16,  1865,  at  Columbia;  discharged  November  11,  1865. 

Vought,  Jeremiah  S. ;  enlisted  in  Company  A,  February  24, 
1865,  at  Decatur;  discharged  November  11,  1865. 

Eleventh  Michigan  Cavalry :  Anderson,  John  W.  Covert ;  en- 
listed September  19,  1863,  at  Kalamazoo ;  first  sergeant ;  discharged 
September  22,  1864,  to  accept  commission  in  colored  regiment, 
captain  Company  A,  Fifth  United  States  Colored  Cavalry. 

Bush,  George  W. ;  enlisted  in  Company  E,  May  12,  1864,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Canning,  Thomas;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  September  19,  1863, 
at  Lawton;  discharged  August  24,  1865. 

Colton,  Thomas;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  October  8,  1863,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Courtright,  John  T. ;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  October  7,  1863,  at 
Lawton;  discharged  for  disability  July  15,  1865. 

Donaldson,  James  E. ;  enlisted  in  Company  B,  October  11,  1863, 
at  Pine  Grove;  died  at  Mount  Sterling,  Kentucky,  February  12, 
1865. 

Elliott,  John;  enlisted  in  Company  G,  October  12,  1863,  at 
Waverly;  killed  in  action  at  Clinch  River,  Virginia,  December  6, 
1864. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  293 

George,  William  EL,  Decatur;  entered  service  at  organization  of 
regiment  as  captain;  promoted  to  major;  discharged  August  10, 
1865. 

Eluey,  Eli;  enlisted  in  Company  G,  October  12,  1863,  at  Wa- 
verly ;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Lampson,  Benoni;  enlisted  in  Company  G,  November  3,  1863, 
at  Waverly ;  discharged  July  20,  1865 ;  died  December  15,  1898. 

Plopper,  Riley  L. ;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  October  23,  1863,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  May  22,  1865. 

Randall,  Stephen;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  October  6,  1863,  at 
Lawton;  sergeant;  taken  prisoner  at  Sandy  Ridge,  Virginia,  Oc- 
tober 4,  1864 ;  discharged  for  disability  May  26,  1865. 

Reams,  Zephaniah;  enlisted  in  Company  G,  August  22,  1863,  at 
Porter;  died  at  Bowling  Green,  Kentucky,  February  20,  1865; 
buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tennessee. 

Shears,  James  H. ;  enlisted  in  Company  G,  October  24,  1863,  at 
Waverly;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Silkworth,  George,  Lawton;  enlisted  in  Company  A,  September 
3,  1863 ;  discharged  July  20,  1863. 

Harvey,  Henry  W.,  Antwerp;  enlisted  in  Company  H,  Septem- 
ber 23,  1863;  discharged  September  22,  1865;  present  residence 
Antwerp. 

Skinner,  James  A. ;  enlisted  in  Company  G,  October  13,  1863,  at 
Waverly;  died  at  Lexington,  Kentucky,  February  13,  1864;  buried 
in  National  cemetery  at  Lexington,  grave  No.  524. 

Van  Ostrand,  Holly;  enlisted  in  Company  G,  August  27,  1863, 
at  Hartford;  discharged  September  22,  1865. 

Waber,  James ;  enlisted  in  Company  I,  October  12,  1864,  at  Pine 
Grove ;  taken  prisoner  at  Pendleton,  South  Carolina,  May  1,  1865 ; 
returned  to  regiment  June  6,  1865 ;  discharged  July  15,  1865. 

Wigent,  John;  enlisted  in  Company  G,  November  3,  1863,  at 
Waverly;  discharged  September  2,  1865. 

Woodman,  Lucius  C. ;  surgeon  of  regiment ;  first  entered  service 
as  assistant  surgeon  of  Third  Cavalry ;  died  at  Paw  Paw. 

Thirteenth  Michigan  Battery:  Parker,  Samuel;  enlisted  Novem- 
ber 15,  1863,  at  Paw  Paw ;  discharged  July  1,  1865. 

Fourteenth  Michigan  Battery:  Crowley,  Patrick;  enlisted  Oc- 
tober 13,  1863,  at  Kalamazoo ;  blacksmith ;  discharged  for  disability 
April  16,  1865. 

Coon,  Robert;  enlisted  September  28,  1863,  at  Kalamazoo;  died 
at  Camp  Barry,  District  of  Columbia,  March  18,  1864;  buried  in 
Military  Asylum  cemetery,  District  of  Columbia. 

Drake,  Benjamin;  enlisted  October  13,  1863,  at  Volinia;  dis- 
charged July  1,  1865. 


294  HISTORY  OP  VAN  BIIRBN  COUNTY 

Welcher,  John;  enlisted  September  28,  1863,  at  Decatur;  mus- 
tered October  7,  1863;  no  further  record. 

First  Michigan  Colored  Infantry:  Bowlin,  James;  drafted  from 
South  Haven;  mustered  November  4,  1864;  assigned  to  Company 
G;  discharged  September  30,  1865. 

Gayton,  Allen,  Arlington;  enlisted  in  Company  B,  October  21, 
1863,  at  Kalamazoo ;  died  at  Annapolis  Junction,  Maryland,  April 
24,  1864;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Baltimore,  Maryland. 

Gayton,  Nicholas,  Arlington;  enlisted  in  Company  B,  October 
21,  1863,  at  Kalamazoo ;  discharged  September  30,  1865. 

Hill,  Stephen  C. ;  enlisted  February  25,  1863,  at  Decatur ;  unas- 
signed;  no  further  record. 

Lett,  Emanuel;  enlisted  in  Company  G,  February  16,  1864,  at 
Waverly;  corporal;  discharged  September  30,  1865. 

Lewis,  Cassius  M. ;  enlisted  in  Company  H,  March  2,  1865,  at 
Paw  Paw;  discharged  September  30,  1865. 

Maxwell,  Foster  H. ;  enlisted  in  Company  D,  November  14,  1863, 
at  Kalamazoo ;  sergeant ;  discharged  October  27,  1865 ;  present 
residence  Paw  Paw. 

Miller,  James  L. ;  enlisted  in  Company  D,  March  6,  1865,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  September  30,  1865. 

Robinson,  James,  Bloomingdale ;  enlisted  in  Company  C,  March 
28,  1865,  at  Jackson;  discharged  September  30,  1865. 

Russell,  John ;  drafted  from  South  Haven ;  mustered  September 
24,  1864;  assigned  to  Company  B;  discharged  September  30,  1865. 

Birge's  Western  Sharpshooters 

Whether  on  the  scaffold  high, 

Or  in  the  battle's  van, 
The  finest  place  for  man  to   die, 

Is  where  he  dies  for  man. 

In  September,  1861,  a  company  of  sharpshooters  was  enlisted  in 
Van  Buren  and  Berrien  counties.  It  offered  its  services  to  General 
Fremont  and  was  by  him  ordered  to  Benton  Barracks,  Missouri, 
where  it  was  assigned  to  the  above  named  regiment,  which  was  af- 
terward designated  as  the  Sixty-sixth  Illinois.  Company  D  was 
the  only  Michigan  company  in  the  organization. 

The  accoutrements  of  this  regiment  were  not  of  a  kind  pre- 
scribed by  the  army  regulations,  but  consisted  of  a  bullet  pouch  of 
bear-skin  covering  and  a  powder  horn  or  flask.  In  the  bullet  pouch 
was  a  compartment  where  the  soldier  carried  screw  driver,  bullet 
mould  and  patch  cutter — singular  implements  for  a  soldier — but 
Birge's  men  moulded  their  own  bullets,  greased  and  patched  them 
with  as  much  care  as  would  the  most  expert  hunter  and  used  them 
with  the  same  effect,  every  man  among  them  being  an  expert  with 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  295 

the  use  of  the  rifle.  The  guns  that  these  men  carried  were  not 
of  the  regulation  army  pattern,  but  were  hunters '  rifles  of  the 
very  best  that  could  be  had — muzzle  loaders  of  course,  as  were  the 
best  guns  of  that  day — and  each  soldier  selected  such  a  weapon 
as  best  suited  his  judgment  or  fancy. 

It  had  been  the  intention  of  General  Fremont  to  dress  this  regi- 
ment in  a  complete  hunters'  garb,  but  General  Halleck,  his  su- 
perior officer,  would  not  permit  it  to  be  so  done  and  the  only  pe- 
culiar thing  about  the  uniform  worn  by  the  men  was  the  hat,  which 
was  a  gray  sugar-loaf  shaped  affair  adorned  by  three  squirrel 
tails  peculiarly  draped  over  the  crown,  by  which  feature  they  came 
to  be  known  by  both  friend  and  foe  as  the  *  *  Squirrel  Tails. ' ' 

The  regiment  was  in  service  nearly  four  years,  during  which 
time  it  was  actively  engaged  in  various  battles  and  engagements 
in  the  states  of  Missouri,  Mississippi,  Tennessee,  Georgia,  South 
Carolina  and  North  Carolina. 

Following  is  a  summary  of  the  service  of  the  Michigan  com- 
pany: Total  enrolment,  197;  killed  in  action,  17;  died  of  wounds, 
2 ;  died  of  disease,  17 ;  discharged  for  disability,  40. 

The  following  named  members  of  Company  D  were  from  Van 
Buren  county:  Andrews,  John  II.,  Hartford;  enlisted  October  5, 
1861,  at  Hartford;  sergeant;  promoted  to  first  sergeant,  first  lieu- 
tenant and  captain;  died  at  Allatoona,  Georgia,  June  24,  1864; 
from  wounds  received  in  action  at  Dallas,  Georgia,  May  27,  1864. 

Arbour,  James  M. ;  enlisted  September  24,  1861,  at  Keeler;  ser- 
geant; discharged  for  disability,  January  13,  1862. 

Arner,  Benjamin  W. ;  enlisted  at  Keeler,  September  21,  1861  ; 
corporal;  discharged  June  20,  1862. 

Baird,  Omer  A.,  Hartford;  enlisted  October  2,  1861,  at  Hart- 
ford; discharged  on  account  of  wTounds  in  September,  1864. 

Baird,  Walter  A.,  Hartford;  enlisted  October  2,  1861,  at  Hart- 
ford; wounded  in  action  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  Tennessee;  dis- 
charged for  disability  August  3,  1862. 

Balfour,  James,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  23,  1861,  at 
Keeler;  killed  in  action  at  Corinth,  Mississippi,  October  4,  1862. 

Barnes,  Harlow  G.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  November  9,  1861,  at 
Lawrence ;  corporal ;  discharged  for  disability,  October  8,  1862. 

Bidlac,  George,  Decatur;  enlisted  November  16,  1862,  at  Hamil- 
ton; wounded  in  action  near  Rome  Cross  Roads,  Georgia,  May  16, 
1864;  discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Bigelow,  George  M.,  Keeler;  enlisted  November  16,  1862,  at 
Hamilton;  killed  in  action  at  Corinth,  Mississippi,  October  4,  1862. 

Bliss,  George  M.,  Geneva;  enlisted  September  28,  1861,  at  Gen- 
eva ;  taken  prisoner  by  guerrillas  December  11,  1862 ;  released  Oc- 
tober 19,  1863 ;  discharged  July  7,  1865. 


296  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Branch,  Vine;  enlisted  October  12,  1861,  at  Hartford;  dis- 
charged for  disability  July  9,  1862,  on  account  of  wounds  received 
while  doing  picket  duty  May  14,  1862,  at  Monterey,  Tennessee. 

Breese,  Hiram  T.  Keeler;  enlisted  September  23,  1861,  at  Kee- 
ler;  corporal;  discharged  September  16,  1864. 

Brewster,  Samuel  F.,  Keeler;  enlisted  September  21,  1861,  at 
Keeler;  died  July  24,  1862,  while  home  on  sick  leave. 

Brewster,  Dallas,  Hartford;  enlisted  September  23,  1861,  at 
Keeler;  discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Bridgeford,  George  M.,  Keeler;  enlisted  September  23,  1861,  at 
Keeler;  corporal;  wounded  in  action  at  Resaca,  Georgia,  May  9, 
1864;  discharged  June  7,  1865. 

Bridgeford,  Henry,  Keeler;  enlisted  February  15,  1864,  at 
Keeler;  died  at  Rome,  Georgia,  October  21,  1864. 

Burnett,  Albert,  Hartford ;  enlisted  February  14,  1864,  at  Hart- 
ford ;  discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Burton,  James,  Columbia;  enlisted  October  28,  1862,  at  Colum- 
bia; corporal;  discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Camp,  Charles  H.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  23,  1861,  at 
Lawrence;  discharged  for  disability  July  5,  1862. 

Carris,  Henry  A.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  23,  1861,  at 
Lawrence ;  discharged  September  17,  1864 ;  died  July  17,  1904. 

Caryl,  Watson,  Columbia;  enlisted  October  28,  1862,  at  Colum- 
bia; discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Chatfield,  Isaac,  Hartford;  enlisted  October  5,  1861,  at  Hart- 
ford; discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Cheney,  Aaron  D.,  Keeler ;  enlisted  November  4,  1864,  at  Kee- 
ler; musician;  discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Combs,  John,  Arlington;  enlisted  August  13,  1862,  at  Arling- 
ton ;  discharged  June  2,  1865 ;  died  October  15,  1884. 

Cook,  Charles,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  16,  1862,  at  Detroit; 
discharged  June  2,  1865. 

Crobaugh,  William,  Geneva,  enlisted  September  28,  1861,  at 
Geneva;  discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Darrah,  John;  Hamilton;  enlisted  February  26,  1864,  at  Kala- 
mazoo; discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Dedrick,  Philip  C,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  28,  1861,  at 
Lawrence;  first  sergeant;  wounded  in  action  at  Fort  Donelson, 
Tennessee,  February  14,  1862;  promoted  to  second  lieutenant;  re- 
signed April  3,  1863. 

Disbrow,  Edward  J.,  Bangor;  enlisted  November  2,  1862,  at 
Bangor;  discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Dix,  Franklin  M.,  Decatur;  enlisted  February  25,  1864,  at  De- 
catur; discharged  July  6,  1865;  died  April  6,  1879. 


HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  297 

Doyle,  Patrick,  Hartford;  enlisted  September  23,  1861,  at  Hart- 
ford ;  killed  in  action  near  Atlanta,  Georgia,  May  27,  1864. 

Draper,  Willard  E.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  March  11,  1862,  at 
Dowagiac ;  discharged  April  4,  1865 ;  died  February  14,  1903 ;  pre- 
viously in  three  months'  service. 

Duncombe,  Stephen  W.,  Keeler;  entered  service  September  16, 
1861,  as  second  lieutenant;  promoted  to  first  lieutenant;  resigned 
July  16,  1862. 

Dowd,  Jefferson  S.,  Hartford;  enlisted  September  23,  1861,  at 
Hartford ;  wounded  in  action  at  Shiloh,  Tennessee ;  discharged  Sep- 
tember 17,  1864. 

Ellis,  Daniel,  Decatur;  enlisted  February  24,  1864,  at  Decatur; 
discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Erwin,  John  T.,  Hartford ;  enlisted  February  24,  1864,  at  Hart- 
ford ;  discharged  July  7,  1865 ;  died  January  25,  1870. 

Foster,  Morris  B.,  Keeler;  enlisted  September  24,  1861,  at  Kee- 
ler; discharged  September  17,  1864. 

Foster,  Newton  T. ;  enlisted  October  15,  1861,  at  Keeler;  cor- 
poral; promoted  to  sergeant;  discharged  for  disability  May  20, 
1862. 

Goodenough,  Calvin  C. ;  enlisted  October  11,  1861,  at  Hartford ; 
discharged  for  disability  February  5,  1862 ;  died  January  27,  1890. 

Goodenough,  Daniel  E.,  Hartford;  enlisted  October  11,  1861,  at 
Hartford;  corporal;  killed  in  action  at  Corinth,  Mississippi,  October 
4,  1862. 

Gore,  Albert;  entered  service  at  organization  of  company,  Sep- 
tember 16,  1861,  at  Keeler,  as  first  lieutenant;  resigned  on  account 
of  disability,  June  11,  1862. 

Gould,  Edwin  G.,  Decatur;  enlisted  February  22,  1864,  at  De- 
catur; taken  prisoner  near  Laurel  Hill,  South  Carolina;  dis- 
charged August  4,  1865 ;  died  October  28,  1900. 

Grimes,  Milford  D.,  Decatur;  enlisted  February  25,  1864,  at 
Decatur;  discharged  July  7,  1865;  died  June  27,  1896. 

Gilson,  Alonzo  D. ;  enlisted  September  20,  1861,  at  Hartford; 
corporal;  wounded  in  action  at  Atlanta,  Georgia,  August  1,  1864; 
discharged  July  7,  1865 ;  died  December  2,  1889. 

Hammond,  Luther  H. ;  enlisted  October  5,  1861,  at  Hartford ; 
discharged  for  disability  May  24,  1862 ;  died  May  30,  1862. 

Hard,  Bartholomew,  Columbia;  enlisted  November  1,  1862,  at 
Columbia;  discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Hardy,  Eben,  Hartford;  enlisted  February  27,  1864,  at  Kala- 
mazoo; wounded  in  action  near  Dallas,  Georgia,  May  27,  1864;  dis- 
charged July  7,  1865. 

Harris,  Charles  A.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  February  24,  1864,  at 
Lawrence;  discharged  July  6,  1865. 


298  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Hazard,  Asa  D.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  March  10,  1862,  at  Law- 
rence; discharged  for  disability  July  13,  1862;  deceased. 

Henry,  William;  enlisted  September  26,  1861,  at  Arlington; 
wounded  in  action  at  Corinth,  Mississippi,  October  4,  1862;  dis- 
charged for  disability,  May  13,  1863;  deceased. 

Hill,  Oscar  P.,  Keeler;  enlisted  September  24,  1861,*  at  Keeler; 
died  at  Owl  Creek,  Tennessee,  April  29,  1862. 

Hurlbut,  Albert  D.,  Hartford;  enlisted  February  18,  1864,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Irish,  Robert  D.,  Hartford ;  enlisted  October  11,  1861,  at  Hart- 
ford ;  corporal ;  discharged  July  7,  1865 ;  died  February,  1900. 

Jones,  Francis  M. ;  enlisted  September  18,  1861,  at  Geneva ;  cor- 
poral; discharged  for  disability  October  8,  1862;  deceased. 

Jones,  George  W.,  Geneva;  enlisted  September  21,  1861,  at  Gen- 
eva ;  died  near  Corinth,  Mississippi,  August  1,  1862. 

Jones,  Orrin,  Decatur ;  enlisted  February  10,  1864,  at  Hartford  ; 
corporal;  discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Kennedy,  James  H.,  Hartford;  enlisted  February  23,  1864,  at 
Hartford;  discharged  July  7,  1865;  died  May  31,  1888. 

Long,  William  W.,  Keeler;  enlisted  February  22,  1864,  at  Keeler; 
killed  in  action  at  Peach  Tree,  Georgia,  July  22,  1864. 

Mather,  William,  Hartford ;  enlisted  February  26,  1864,  at  Hart- 
ford ;  died  at  Marietta,  Georgia,  September  14,  1864. 

Mead,  Gilbert  E.,  Decatur:  enlisted  February  24,  1864,  at  De- 
catur; wounded  near  Atlanta.  Georgia,  August  11,  1864;  dis- 
charged July  7,  1864. 

Miller,  Martin,  Keeler;  enlisted  September  23,  1861,  at  Keeler; 
corporal;  died  March  14,  1862,  on  board  steamer  Lancaster,  be- 
tween Metal  Landing  and  Pittsburg  Landing,  Tennessee. 

Nelson,  Marcus  S.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  March  10,  1862,  at  Dowa- 
giac;  killed  in  action  at  Corinth,  Mississippi,  October  4,  1862. 

Noble,  Henry  W.,  Decatur;  enlisted  February  23,  1864,  at  De- 
catur; killed  in  action  near  Dallas,  Georgia,  May  27,  1864. 

Northrup,  Orrin  M.,  Decatur ;  enlisted  February  26,  1 864,  at  De- 
catur; discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Payne,  George,  Arlington;  enlisted  October  26,  1861,  at  Arling- 
ton ;  discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Phelps,  Henry,  Lawrence;  enlisted  August  14,  1862,  at  Detroit; 
taken  prisoner  by  guerrillas  January,  1863,  returned  to  company 
October  14,  1863;  discharged  June  2,  1865;  killed  by  cars  in  1884. 

Polmantier,  Seth;  enlisted  September  24,  1861,  at  Keeler;  dis- 
charged for  disability  June  20,  1862. 

Prater,  Giles  W.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  August  16,  1862,  at  Detroit  ; 
corporal ;  discharged  June  2,  1865. 

Prosser,  Henry  L.,  Arlington;  enlisted  September  26,  1861,  at 


HISTORY  OP  VAN  BIJREN  COUNTY  299 

Arlington;  corporal;  died  near  Corinth,  Mississippi,  July  20,  1863. 

Riley,  George,  Decatur;  enlisted  December  15,  1862,  at  Decatur; 
wounded  in  action  at  Dallas,  Georgia,  left  leg  amputated;  dis- 
charged June  5,  1865;  died  February  13,  1888. 

■  Ritter,  Philip,  Jr.;  enlisted  October  14,  1861,  at  Hartford, 
wagoner;  discharged  for  disability  February  23,  1862. 

Robinson,  Alfred  D.,  Hartford;  enlisted  September  24,  1.861,  at 
Hartford ;  corporal ;  promoted  to  sergeant ;  discharged  September 
16,  1864;  died  August  20,  1899. 

Root,  Milo,  Bangor;  enlisted  November  11,  1862,  at  Bangor: 
wounded  May  9,  1864;  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps;  died 
March  7,  1876. 

Rossman,  Hiram;  enlisted  October  11,  1861,  at  Hartford;  trans- 
ferred to  secret  service  December  11,  1862. 

Rupert,  William,  Keeler;  enlisted  September  16,  1861,  at  Kee- 
ler; killed  in  action  near  Dallas,  Georgia,  May  27,  1864. 

Rupert,  John,  Keeler;  enlisted  September  24,  1861,  at  Keeler; 
died  in  hospital  at  Owl  Creek,  Tennessee,  April  26,  1862. 

Sanborn,  Leander,  Hartford;  enlisted  February  16,  1864,  at 
Kalamazoo;  discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Simmons,  Hiram  P.,  Hartford;  enlisted  February  24,  1864,  at 
Hartford;  discharged  July  7,  1865;  died  at  Lawrence,  April  25, 
1904. 

Smith,  James,  Keeler;  enlisted  November  4,  1861,  at  Keeler; 
wounded  in  action  near  Decatur,  Georgia,  July  22,  1864;  dis- 
charged July  7,  1865. 

Stowe,  Freeman,  Hartford;  enlisted  October  3,  1861,  at  Hart- 
ford; wounded  in  action  near  Dallas,  Georgia,  May  27,  1864;  dis- 
charged July  7,  1865. 

Sutton,  Luther;  enlisted  at  Hartford,  September  30,  1861;  cor- 
poral; discharged  for  disability  May  20,  1862;  died  at  Hartford, 
October  5,  1903. 

Thompson,  Albert  C,  Keeler;  enlisted  September  23,  1861,  at 
Keeler;  corporal;  promoted  to  sergeant  and  to  first  sergeant; 
taken  prisoner  near  Dallas,  Georgia,  May  31,  1864;  discharged 
February  11,  1865. 

Tyler,  Enos  "W.,  Hartford;  enlisted  October  17,  1861,  at  Hart^ 
ford;  discharged  September  17,  1864;  died  August  24,  1903. 

Tyler,  Humphrey  P.,  Hartford;  enlisted  October  21,  1861,  at 
Hartford ;  discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Van  Auken,  John  L.,  Hartford;  enlisted  November  2,  1862,  at 
Bangor;  discharged  July  7,  1865;  died  March  30,  1897. 

Van  Ostrand,  John  G. ;  enlisted  October,  1861,  at  Hartford;  dis- 
charged for  disability  October  25,  1862;  deceased. 


300  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Van  Brunt,  Robert  W.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  September  26,  1861, 
at  Lawrence;  discharged  September  17,  1864;  died  August  10, 
1904. 

Vermette,  Mason  M.,  Hartford;  enlisted  September  24,  1861,  at 
Keeler;  taken  prisoner  at  Corinth,  Mississippi,  October  3,  1862; 
returned  to  company  March  21,  1863;  wounded  in  action  at  At- 
lanta, Georgia,  August  9,  1864;  discharged  July  7,  1865. 

Vincent,  Horace  L.,  Columbia;  enlisted  October  8,  1862,  at 
Columbia;  wounded  near  Atlanta,  Georgia,  July  31,  1864;  dis- 
charged July  7,  1865. 

Vincent,  Theodore  C,  Breedsville ;  mustered  December  2,  1862 ; 
no  further  record. 

Webster,  Charles  J.,  Bangor;  enlisted  November  2,  1862,  at 
Bangor;  killed  in  action  near  Decatur,  Georgia,  July  22,  1864. 

Whipple,  Elias,  Hartford;  enlisted  February  18,  1864,  at  Hart- 
ford ;  discharged  July  7,  1865 ;  died  in  1900. 

Whipple,  Simeon  W.,  Hartford;  enlisted  February  12,  1864,  at 
Hartford;  discharged  February   17,   1864. 

Wygent,  William  II.,  Hartford;  enlisted  December  2,  1862,  at 
Bangor;  wounded  at  Dallas,  Georgia,  May  31,  1864;  discharged 
July  7,  1865. 

Company  C,  Seventieth  New  York  Infantry 

To  arms!  the  voice  of  Freedom  calls, 

Nor  calls  in  vain: 
Up  from  the  fields,  the  shops,  the  halls, 
The  busy  street,  the  city  walls, 

Rush  martial  men. 

Company  C,  Seventieth  New  York  Infantry,  was  organized  at 
Paw  Paw  and  wTas  the  first  military  organization  of  the  Civil  war 
from  Van  Buren  county.  A  number  of  Paw  Paw  young  men,  in 
1859,  organized  themselves  into  a  military  company  under  the 
name  of  the  LaFayette  Light  Guard,  the  township  of  Paw  Paw  be- 
ing at  that  time  called  LaFayette. 

Early  in  1861,  shortly  after  the  outbreak  of  hostilities,  they 
sought  to  enter  the  service  in  some  Michigan  regiment,  but  were 
not  accepted,  because,  forsooth,  Michigan  needed  no  more  troops. 
And  so  they  offered  their  services  to  and  were  accepted  by  the 
state  of  New  York;  became  a  part  of  the  celebrated  Sickles'  Bri- 
gade, commanded  by  General  Daniel  E.  Sickles,  and  were  mus- 
tered into  the  service  in  what  was  afterward  called  the  Seventieth 
New  York  Infantry.  Thus  the  state  of  Michigan  lost  one  of  the 
finest  companies  that  was  organized  anywhere  during  the  entire 
Civil  war,   and  the   state   military   authorities  shortly   afterward 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  301 

discovered  that  they  needed,  not  only  such  a  company  as  this,  but 
a  good  many  more  like  it. 

The  Company  left  Paw  Paw  for  New  York  City,  June  13,  1861, 
from  which  place  it  was  sent  to  Staten  Island  and  there  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service  June  30,  1861.  The  company  re- 
mained on  Staten  Island  until  July  23,  1861,  at  which  time  it 
received  orders  to  leave  for  Washington,  where  it  arrived  July  24, 

1861.  The  regiment  then  went  into  camp  on  Meridian  Heights. 
On  April  16,  1862,  it  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Yorktown  and  on 

the  evacuation  of  that  city  by  the  enemy  it  was  ordered  to  Wil- 
liamsburg, Virginia,  where  it  arrived  May  5,  1862,  and  immediately 
became  engaged  with  the  enemy,  suffering  very  severely  and  los- 
ing eight  men  killed  and  23  wounded  and  missing. 

It  participated  in  the  engagement  at  Fair  Oaks,  again  losing 
very  heavily.  It  then  remained  in  front  of  the  White  House,  do- 
ing picket  duty  and  skirmishing  with  the  enemy  until  June  26, 

1862,  when  it  was  again  ordered  to  the  front,  taking  part  in  the 
Peninsular  campaign  and  serving  gallantly  in  the  several  en- 
gagements. The  regiment  was  very  badly  cut  up  at  Bristow  Sta- 
tion and  Bull  Run  and  took  part  in  Burnside's  disastrous  attack 
on  Fredericksburg  December  15,  1862,  after  which  it  received  or- 
ders to  follow  General  Lee,  who  was  then  moving  northward 
through  Maryland.  It  arrived  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  in 
time  to  participate  in  the  three  days'  fighting  near  that  place,  be- 
ing attached  to  the  Second  Brigade,  Second  Division,  Third  Army 
Corps,  commanded  by  Major  General  D.  E.  Sickles.  It  remained 
with  this  corps  until  April,  1864,  when,  on  consolidation  of  the 
Third  and  Second  Corps,  it  became  a  part  of  the  Second  Brigade, 
Fourth  Division,  Second  Army  Corps. 

It  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Wapping  Heights,  Kelly's  Ford, 
Mine  Run  campaign,  and  Locust  Grove,  Virginia. 

May  6,  1864,  it  entered  upon  the  Grant  campaign,  being  engaged 
at  the  Wilderness,  May  5,  6  and  7;  Spottsylvania,  May  8,  to  21  • 
North  Anna  river,  May  22  to  26 ;  Tolopotomy,  May  27  to  31 ;  Cold 
Harbor,  June  1  to  12 ;  siege  of  Petersburg  to  July  7,  1864,  when  it 
was  mustered  out  of  service,  the  veterans  and  recruits  being  as- 
signed to  the  Eighty-sixth  Regiment,  New  York  Infantry. 

Total  number  enrolled,  112;  killed  in  action,  14;  died  of  wounds, 
3 ;  died  of  disease,  6 ;  discharged  for  disability,  27. 

The  following  list  comprises  the  name  of  the  Van  Buren  county 
members  of  this  company:  Abrams,  James  E.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted 
May  14,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw;  transferred  to  second  United  States 
Cavalry. 

Alden,  Justin  V.,  Breedsville ;  enlisted  May  2,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw : 
died  at  Staten  Island,  New  York,  June  29,  1861. 


•302  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Barber,  John  \V. ;  enlisted  May  5,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw;  discharged 
July  6,  1865. 

Barnum,  Alfred  II.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  May  13,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  killed  in  action  at  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  May  5,  1862. 

Barnum,  John  H.,  Decatur;  enlisted  October  16,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  for  disability  November  7,  1862. 

Branch,  Elam,  Lawrence;  enlisted  April  30,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
corporal ;  discharged  July  24,  1862,  on  account  of  wounds  received 
in  action. 

Briggs,  David,  Hamilton;  enlisted  May  15,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
discharged  July  1,  1864. 

Brown,  Henry  R. ;  enlisted  May  1,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw;  wagoner; 
discharged  June  27,  1865. 

Brown,  Stephen  F.,  Waverly;  enlisted  September  18,  1861,  at 
Paw  Paw;  discharged  June  6,  1865. 

Bullard,  William  II.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  April  22,  1861,  at  Paw 
PawT ;  drummer ;  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps ;  present  residence, 
Niles,  Michigan. 

Burnham,  Horatio,  Lawton ;  enlisted  April  30,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  died  at  Wooster,  Ohio,  August  15,  1863. 

Butler,  Cyrus  II.,  Decatur;  enlisted  April  30,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  for  disability  March  15,  1862. 

Carney,  Edward,  Decatur;  enlisted  May  1,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
discharged  July  1,  1864. 

Canoll,  William  H.,  Decatur;  enlisted  May  1,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw ; 
second  lieutenant;  resigned  November  20,  1861. 

Case,  Harvey  S.,  Decatur;  enlisted  May  1,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
discharged  in  July,  1864. 

Chaffee,  Thomas  J.,  Waverly;  enlisted  April  22,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw ;  sergeant ;  brevet  second  lieutenant  and  first  lieutenant ;  dis- 
charged July  20,  1864.    Died  at  Paw  Paw,  December  30,  1910. 

Chamberlain,  Henry,  Decatur;  enlisted  May  1,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw ; 
sergeant;  promoted  to  first  lieutenant;  killed  in  action  at  the 
Wilderness  May  5,  1864;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Fred- 
ericksburg, Virginia,  grave  No.  330. 

Chevalier,  John  F.,  Decatur;  enlisted  April  30,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  sergeant;  discharged  July  1,  1864. 

Clark,  James,  Almena ;  enlisted  October  18,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw ; 
wounded  in  action  at  Wapping  Heights,  Virginia,  July  23,  1863; 
discharged  December  10,  1864. 

Constable,  William,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  May  14,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  December  31,  1862,  on  account  of  wounds  re- 
ceived in  action  at  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  May  5,  1862. 

Coon,  Carlton,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  April  22,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
discharged  for  disability,  January  5,  1862. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  J3UREN  COUNTY  303 

Covey,  Armand,  Waverly ;  enlisted  April  27,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw  • 
killed  in  action  at  Fair  Oaks,  Virginia,  June  25,  1862. 

Covey,  Hiram  P.,  Waverly;  enlisted  April  26,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  for  disability  January  20,  1863;  re-entered  ser- 
vice in  Company  G,  Thirteenth  Infantry ;  died  at  Savannah,  Geor- 
gia, March  18,  1865;  buried  in  National  cemetery  at  Beaufort, 
South  Carolina,  grave  No.  4655. 

Crandall,  Henry,  Keeler;  enlisted  May  14,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
transferred  to  United  States  Cavalry,  October  28,  1862. 

Craw,  Joseph  W.,  Hartford;  enlisted  April  26,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  died  at  Mill  Creek,  Virginia,  July  22,  1862,  of  wounds  re- 
ceived in  action  at  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  May  5,  1862. 

Cockett,  Charles  S.,  Decatur;  enlisted  May  14,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  corporal;  promoted  to  commissary  sergeant;  discharged  July 
11,  1864. 

Crofoot,  Edward  J.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  April  22,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  October  4,  1864. 

Cumings,  Adelbert  W.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  May  2,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  fifer;  discharged  for  disability,  January  22,  1862;  re-enlisted 
in  Company  II,  Twelfth  Infantry,  September  2,  1864;  discharged 
May  6,  1865;  present  residence  Paw  Paw. 

Dedrick,  Philip  C,  Lawrence;  enlisted  April  29,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  for  disability  August  3,  1861. 

Dolliver,  David,  Paw  Paw;  one  of  the  original  Company:  no 
record. 

Dutton,  Leonard,  Decatur;  enlisted  May  1,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
wounded  in  action  at  Bull  Run,  Virginia,  August  29,  1862;  dis- 
charged July  1,  1864. 

Emerling,  Anthony,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  October  28,  1861,  at 
Paw  Paw;  discharged  October  7,  1864. 

Emery,  John,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  October  16,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
discharged  June  27,  1865;  deceased. 

Fertig,  Andrew  N. ;  enlisted  April  23,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw;  dis- 
charged July  1,  1864. 

Fitzsimmons,  Philip;  enlisted  May  13,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw;  killed 
in  action  at  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  Virginia,  May  12,  1864. 
Fitch,  James,  Decatur;  one  of  original  Company;  no  record. 
Garver,   Samuel,  Lawton;  enlisted  April  27,  1861,  at  Lawton; 
wounded  in  action  at  Williamsburg,  Virginia ;  transferred  to  Sec- 
ond United  States  Cavalry. 

Gorham,  Allen,  Almena ;  enlisted  October  18,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw ; 
discharged  for  disability  August  23,  1862;  re-entered  service  in 
Company  K,  Twenty -eighth  Infantry;  first  sergeant;  discharged 
June  5,  1866. 


804  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Harrison,  Alexander  M.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  April  25,  1861,  at 
Paw  Paw ;  corporal ;  discharged  for  disability  July  26,  1862 ;  died 
at  Bangor. 

Hathaway,  W.  II.,  Waverly;  one  of  original  Company;  no 
record. 

Hartman,  Jeremiah,  Hamilton;  enlisted  May  15,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  October  26,  1864,  on  account  of  loss  of  left  arm 
in  action  at  Salem  Church,  Virginia,  May  31,  1864. 

Hayes,  Richard,  Paw  Paw ;  enlisted  April  22,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  absent  wounded  at  muster  out  of  Company.  Died  at  Paw 
Paw. 

Hinckley,  Gilman,  Antwerp ;  enlisted  November  1,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  June  27,  1865. 

Hodges,  Herrick,  Lawrence;  enlisted  April  29,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  for  disability,  October  24,  1861;  re-enlisted  in 
Company  I,  Seventeenth  Infantry;  wounded  in  action  at  An- 
tietam,  Maryland,  September  17,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 
June  1,  1863;  gunshot  wound  through  lung  and  left  leg;  present 
residence  South  Haven,  Michigan. 

Holt,  Benjamin,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  October  28,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  for  disability  March  4,  1863;  died  at  Paw  Paw. 

House,  Edward  E.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  May  15,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  for  disability,  July  10,  1861. 

Hugo,  William  H.,  Paw  Paw;  entered  service  as  captain  June 
21,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw ;  promoted  to  major ;  transferred  to  Twenty- 
fifth  Infantry. 

Hulbert,  Nathan,  Waverly;  enlisted  October  18,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  corporal;  discharged  June  27,  1865. 

Kilburn,  William  H.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  May  1,  18.61,  at  Paw 
Paw ;  sergeant ;  promoted  to  second  lieutenant ;  killed  in  action  at 
Williamsburg,  Virginia,  May  5,  1862. 

Lamphere,  Albert,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  May  6,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  died  November  21,  1862. 

Lewis,  William  II.,  Hartford;  enlisted  May  20,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw ;  wounded  in  action  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania ;  detailed  at 
Harwood  hospital,  Washington,  D.  C;  no  further  record. 

Longwell,  James  M.,  Paw  Paw;  entered  service  at  organization 
as  first  lieutenant;  promoted  to  captain;  resigned  November  21,  . 
1862;  died  at  Paw  Paw. 

McDonald,  William,  Decatur;  enlisted  May  20,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  July  1,  1864. 

McGhan,  Porter  H.,  Decatur;  enlisted  April  29,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  January  21,  1863,  on  account  of  wounds  re- 
ceived in  action  at  Antietam,  Maryland. 


HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  305 

McGill,  Florence;  enlisted  May  25,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw;  dis- 
charged for  disability  November  1,  1862. 

Melvin,  Frederick,  Bloomingdale ;  enlisted  April  12,-  1861,  at 
Paw  Paw;  killed  in  action  at  Williamsburg  Road,  Virginia,  June 
25,  1862. 

Miner,  Charles  W.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  April  26,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw ;  killed  in  action  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  July  2,  1863. 

Moon,  Alvah  F.,  Decatur;  enlisted  April  26,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
corporal;  killed  in  action  at  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  May  5,  1862. 

Loveland,  Andrew,  Paw  Paw;  one  of  original  Company;  no 
record. 

Moore,  Charles  W.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  April  22,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  July  1,  1864. 

Myers,  Henry  B.,  Decatur;  enlisted  April  30,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  corporal;  wounded  in  action  at  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  May 
5,  1862 ;  discharged  June  27,  1865. 

Newcomb,  Seth  B.,  Almena ;  enlisted  October  20,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  died  July  28,  1864. 

Parliman,  Byron,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  April  27,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  for  disability  January  26,  1863. 

Parrish,  Herman  S.,  Lawton;  enlisted  May  20,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw ;  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps. 

Patrick,  Dexter  D.,  Almena;  enlisted  April  2,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
died  June  3,  1862,  of  wounds  received  in  action  at  Williamsburg, 
Virginia,  May  5,  1862. 

Perry,  Stephen,  Decatur;  enlisted  April  27,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
discharged  June  27,  1865. 

Price,  William  H.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  April  22,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  died  May  22,  1862,  on  account  of  wounds  received  in  action 
at  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  May  5,  1862. 

Place,  Willard,  Hamilton;  enlisted  May  1,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
discharged  July  1,  1864. 

Priest,  Albert,  Decatur;  enlisted  May  1,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw;  dis- 
charged for  disability  March  15,  1862. 

Putnam,  Ira  W.,  Hamilton ;  enlisted  May  20,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw ; 
discharged  May  20,  1863. 

Ransom,  Albert  II.,  Lawton;  one  of  original  Company;  no 
record. 

Reese,  Henry,  Porter;  enlisted  April  30,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
transferred  to  Second  United  States  Cavalry. 

Remalia,  Stephen,  Almena;  enlisted  November  1,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  drowned  at  Harrison's  Landing,  Virginia,  August  8,  1862. 

Rickard,  John,  Pawr  Paw;  enlisted  October  16,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
discharged  for  disability  February  14,  1863;  died  at  Paw  Paw. 

Vol.  1—20 


306  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Robb,  Elias,  Lawrence;  enlisted  May  20,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
discharged  for  disability  October  14,  1862. 

Robinson,  Lyman,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  April  22,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  transferred  to  Second  United  States  Cavalry. 

Rogers,  Don  C,  Decatur;  enlisted  May  1,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
sergeant;  promoted  to  first  lieutenant;  discharged  April  9,  1864, 
on  account  of  wounds  received  in  action. 

Roundy,  Averill  J.,  Lawrence;  enlisted  April  22,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  October  2,  1862,  on  account  of  wounds  received 
in  action  at  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  June  25,  1862;  present  resi- 
dence Paw  Paw. 

Rowe,  Daniel  W.,  Lawrence ;  enlisted  May  20,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw ; 
killed  in  action  at  Williamsburg  Road,  Virginia,  June  25,  1862. 

Ryan,  Michael,  Lawrence;  enlisted  May  22,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
sergeant ;  transferred  to  Second  United  States  Cavalry ;  discharged 
December  6,  1864;  re-entered  service  in  Company  B,  Tenth  Cav- 
alry; discharged  November  7,  1865;  present  residence  Kalamazoo. 

Saunders,  Silas,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  October  30,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw ;  died  at  Falmouth,  Virginia,  February  4,  1863. 

Saxton,  Hiram  G.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  April  27,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  wounded  in  action  at  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  May  5,  1862 
and  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  July  2,  1863;  discharged  April 
27,  1864;  re-entered  service  in  Company  IT,  Ninth  Infantry;  dis- 
charged June  20,  1865. 

Sherman,  Walter  L.,  Decatur;  enlisted  May  1,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  died  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  July  2,  1863. 

Sirrine,  Art,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  April  20,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
transferred  to  Second  United  States  Cavalry. 

Sirrine,  John,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  April  25,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
transferred  to  Second  United  States  Cavalry;  wounded  in  action 
at  Winchester,  Virginia,  September  19,  1864;  discharged  for  dis- 
ability December  13,  1864;  present  residence  Paw  Paw\ 

Story,  Parker,  Almena;  enlisted  May  20,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
discharged  for  disability  January  20,  1863. 

Swift,  Francis  M.,  Decatur;  enlisted  April  20,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  transferred  to  Sixteenth  United  States  Infantry. 

Teale,  Charles  W. ;  enlisted  July  13,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw;  dis- 
charged February  10,  1862. 

Timmons,  Lewis  G.,  Keeler;  enlisted  May  1,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw; 
wounded  in  action  at  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  June  22,  1862;  dis- 
charged July  1,  1864. 

Tucker,  Augustus  B.,  Breedsville ;  enlisted  May  3,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  killed  in  action  at  Williamsburg  Road,  Virginia,  June  25, 
1862. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY  307 

Van  Fleet,  William,  Lawrence;  enlisted  May  6,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  for  disability  September  29,  1862. 

Van  Ostran,  Clare  E.,  Hartford;  enlisted  April  24,  1861,  at 
Paw  Paw;  corporal;  discharged  July  1,  1864. 

Walrath,  Byron,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  October  17,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw ;  killed  in  action  at  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  May  5,  1862. 

Whitehead,  William;  enlisted  July  7,  1861,  at  Paw  Paw;  dis- 
charged August  15,  1861. 

Williams,  John  W.,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  April  22,  1861,  at  Paw 
Paw;  discharged  July  1,  1864. 

Wright,  Alfred  G.,  Paw  Pawr;  member  of  original  Company; 
no  record. 

Other  Companies  or  Regiments 

Forty-second  Illinois  Infantry:  Mabury,  James  D.,  Pawr  Paw; 
corporal ;  Company  E ;  enlisted  July  26,  1861 ;  died  at  Nashville, 
Tennessee,  September  20,  1863. 

Miller,  Jesse,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  Company  E,  July  26,  1861; 
discharged  December  5,  1862. 

Mills,  Andrew  J.,  Hartford;  assistant  surgeon;  enlisted  August 
11,  1863;  discharged  April  16,  1865. 

Tanner,  John,  Mattawan ;  Company  H ;  enlisted  August  23,  1861 ; 
wmmded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Stone  River,  Tennessee,  December 
31,  1862;  discharged  September  10,  1864. 

Forty-fourth  Illinois  Infantry :  Andrews,  George  B.,  Lawrence ; 
Company  H;  enlisted  August  1,  1861;  discharged  September  15, 
1864. 

Bennett,  John  A.,  Columbia;  Company  II ;  enlisted  September 
1,  1861 ;  discharged  September  25,  1865. 

Benton,  Sylvester,  Antwerp;  Company  H;  enlisted  September 
1,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  June  2,  1862. 

Bliss,  John,  South  Haven ;  Company  H,  August  1,  1861 ;  dis- 
charged September  25,  1865. 

Garver,  Martin,  Lawton;  enlisted  August  1,  1861;  discharged 
September  25,  1865. 

Graham,  Wells,  Pine  Grove;  Company  H;  enlisted  August  1, 
1861  ;  died  at  Rolla,  Missouri,  January  20,  1862. 

Harris,  Ira  K.,  Pine  Grove;  Company  H;  enlisted  August  1, 
1861 ;  discharged  September  25,  1865. 

Harris,  James  II.,  Waverly;  Company  H;  enlisted  August  1, 
1861 ;  died  at  Rolla,  Missouri,  February  18,  1862. 

Harris,  James  W.,  Hamilton;  Company  H;  enlisted  August  1, 
1861 ;  died  of  wounds,  September  20,  1863. 

Johnson,  Job,  Columbia;  Company  H;  enlisted  September  1, 
1861 ;  discharged  February  28,  1865. 

Knowles,  Charles,  Columbia;  Company  H;  enlisted  September 


808  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

1,  1861;  corporal;  discharged  for  disability,  June  14,  1865;  gun 
shot  wound. 

Meachum,  Calvin,  Arlington;  Company  H;  enlisted  September 
1,  1861 ;  discharged  September  25,  1865. 

Munson,  Alfred,  Columbia;  enlisted  March  31,  1864;  corporal; 
discharged  September  25,  1865. 

Orvette,  Alvah,  Decatur;  Company  H;  enlisted  August  1,  1861; 
died  at  Rolla,  Missouri,  March  7,  1862. 

Patterson,  George  C,  Covert;  Company  B;  enlisted  September 
3,  1861;  discharged  for  disability,  March  31,  1863. 

Pitts,  George  W.,  Decatur;  Company  H;  corporal;  enlisted 
August  1,  1861 ;  supposed  to  have  been  killed  by  guerrillas,  at 
Forsyth,  Missouri,  April  18,  1862. 

Regan,  Christopher,  South  Haven;  Company  H;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 1,  1861;  discharged  for  disability,  February  6,  1863. 

Sickendick,  George  D.,  Columbia;  Company  II ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 1,  1861;  discharged  September  25.  1865. 

Thompson,  George  H.,  Arlington;  Company  H;  enlisted  August 
1,  3861;  killed  in  action  at  Stone  River,  Tennessee,  December  11, 
1862. 

Tibbitts,  Eugene  D.,  Pine  Grove;  Company  II;  enlisted  August 
I,  1861 ;  discharged  September  25,  1865. 

Van  Fleet,  Samuel  N.,  Lawrence;  Company  H;  enlisted  August 

I,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  February  28,  1862.  Subse- 
quently became  entirely  blind  as  a  result  of  his  service. 

Miscellaneous  Regiments 

Andrews,  Isaac  B.,  Hartford;  Company  G,  Thirty-ninth  Illi- 
nois Infantry;  enlisted  September  10,  1861;  killed  in  action  at 
Drury's  Bluff,  Virginia,  May  16,  1864. 

Bard  well,  Joseph  H.,  Paw  Paw;  Battery  I,  First  Illinois  Artil- 
lery; sergeant;  enlisted  February  10,  1862;  discharged  July  26, 
1865. 

Beddo,  Horace,  Paw  Paw;  Battery  I,  First  Illinois  Artillery; 
enlisted  February  19,  1862 ;  discharged  July  26,  1865. 

Campbell,  William  W.,  Paw  Paw;  Twenty-first  Indiana  Bat- 
tery; enlisted  September  9,  1862;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Dunham,  Hiram  G.,  Hartford;  Company  G,  Thirty-ninth  Illi- 
nois Infantry ;  enlisted  August  19,  1861 ;  died  at  Cumberland, 
Maryland,  February  23,  1862. 

Magoon,  Edward  M.,  Paw  Paw;  Battery  I,  First  Illinois  Artil- 
lery ;  enlisted  February  21 ,  1862 ;  discharged  for  disability  July 

II,  1862. 

Mitchelson,  Thomas  F.,  Paw  Paw;  Battery  I,  First  Illinois 
Artillery;  enlisted  February  10,  1862;  died  at  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing, Tennessee,  July  11,  1862. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  309 

Moon,  O.  F.,  Decatur;  Battery  I,  First  Illinois  Artillery;  enlisted 
February  6,  1862;  no  further  record. 

Pierce,  Charles  J.,  Decatur;  corporal;  Battery  I,  First  Illinois 
Artillery ;  enlisted  February  12,  1862 ;  discharged  July  6,  1865. 

St.  John,  George,  Hartford ;  Battery  I,  First  Illinois  Artillery ; 
enlisted  January  29,  1862;  died  at  Moscow,  Tennessee,  July  2, 
1862. 

Smith,  George,  Decatur;  Battery  I,  First  Illinois  Artillery;  en- 
listed February  6,  1862 ;  discharged  July  26,  1865. 

O'Dell,  Barnabas,  Paw  Paw;  enlisted  in  United  States  navy, 
March  1,  1865;  served  on  United  States  steamers,  Collier  and 
Great  Western;  discharged  August  20,  1865.  Present  residence, 
Paw  Paw. 

Teed,  Augustus,  Almena;  enlisted  United  States  navy,  March 
1,  1865. 

Foster,  Ebenezer;  enlisted  in  Ninth  United  States  Colored 
Heavy  Artillery,  August  13,  1864,  at  Decatur;  mustered  August 
13,  1864;  no  further  record. 

Fowler,  Galpin ;  enlisted  in  Ninth  United  States  Colored  Heavy 

Artillery;  mustered  August  13,  1864,  at  Decatur;  no  further  record. 

Good,  Horace;  enlisted  in  Ninth  United  States  Colored  Heavy 

Artillery,    at    Decatur;    mustered    August    13,    1864;    no    further 

record. 

During  this  great  struggle  for  the  life  of  the  nation  the  state 
of  Michigan  furnished  to  the  government  something  over  90,000 
troops,  of  whom  nearly  15,000  lost  their  lives  by  sickness  or  in 
battle.  Van  Buren  county  furnished  1,884  men.  When  we  re- 
member that  the  total  population  of  the  county  in  1860  was  only 
15,224;  that  the  total  enrolment  of  men  liable  for  military  duty 
in  December,  1864,  was  only  1,540;  that  the  war  tax  of  the  county 
was  $155,637  and  that  nearly  $100,000  was  paid  by  the  county  for 
the  relief  of  soldiers'  families,  we  get  some  faint  idea  of  the 
great  sacrifices  demanded  and  cheerfully  made.  Soldiers  from 
Van  Buren  county  were  found  in  seventy  regiments  from  Michi- 
gan and  other  states. 

But  neither  figures  of  arithmetic,  nor  figures  of  speech,  can 
record  the  sacrifices  and  the  suffering,  nor  the  deep  underlying 
current  of  patriotism  that  was  the  dominant  spirit  in  those  days 
that  tried  men's  souls.  That  this  great  nation  is  once  more  united, 
that  sectionalism  and  strife  no  longer  exist,  that  all  are  animated 
by  the  spirit  of  patriotism  that  knows  no  north,  no  south,  no  east, 
no  west,  is  sufficient  cause  for  our  everlasting  gratitude  and  thank- 
fulness. 

We  sometimes  feel  that  faith  in  the  perpetuity  of  our  free  in- 
stitutions that  was  manifested  by  the  little  lad  when,  during  the 


310       ,         HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Civil  war,  he  saw  a  rainbow  spanning  the  eastern  heavens.  ' '  Moth- 
er, mother,  oh!  mother !"  he  exclaimed,  pointing  upward  with  his 
innocent  little  hands,  "God  is  a  Union  man.  I  know  he  is  a 
Union  man  because  I  saw  his  flag  in  the  sky,  and  it  was  red,  white 
and  blue." 

Spanish- American  War 

Van  Buren  county  was  well  represented  in  the  Spanish- American 
war.  Perhaps  no  county  in  the  state  sent  a  greater  number  of  young 
men,  in  proportion  to  population,  to  free  the  Cubans  from  Spanish 
oppression,  than  did  Van  Buren.  Some  were  in  Cuba,  some  were 
in  the  Philippines  and  some  did  not  get  beyond  the  borders  of  their 
own  country.  The  author  regrets  that  after  diligent  search,  he  has 
been  wholly  unable  to  procure  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  Van  Buren 
county  boys  who  volunteered  in  that  struggle.  There  seemed  to  be 
no  way  in  which  a  complete  list  could  be  procured,  as  the  state  has 
not,  as  yet,  made  any  compilation  of  the  names  of  its  soldiers  who 
participated  in  that  contest  as  it  did  of  those  who  served  in  the  Civil 
war.  Rather  than  mention  a  few  names  picked  up  here  and  there, 
it  was  thought  best  not  to  mention  any. 


CHAPTER  XII 

GEOLOGY  OF  COUNTY 

The    Cambrian — Ordovician — The    Silurian    Age — Devonian — 
Lower  Carboniferous — The  Pleistocene   (Last  Chapter). 

By  R.  A.  Smith,  B.A.,  M.A.,  Assistant    Geologist    Michigan    Geo- 
logical  and  Biological   Survey 

In  order  to  understand  the  geological  history  of  Van  Buren 
county,  one  must  know  the  geological  history  of  the  rock  forma- 
tions of  Michigan  itself,  for  Michigan  may  be  considered  as  a  geo- 
logical unit  of  which  Van  Buren  county  is  but  a  small  and  insep- 
arable part.  If  the  thick  screen  of  unconsolidated  sands,  gravels, 
and  clays  which,  almost  everywhere,  form  the  surface  deposits  of 
the  state,  could  be  removed,  the  bed-rock  formations  would  appear 
lying  one  within  the  other  like  a  pile  of  very  shallow  but  gigantic 
basins.  The  rims  of  the  outer  basins  are  exposed  in  northern 
Michigan,  on  the  western  side  of  Green  Bay,  in  northern  Illinois, 
in  Ohio,  and  on  the  eastern  side  of  Georgian  bay  in  Canada.  The 
rims  of  the  smaller  basins  occur  successively  toward  the  center  in 
a  more  or  less  concentric  manner,  until  the  smallest  basin,  the  Sag- 
inaw coal  basin,  lies  wholly  in  lower  Michigan  and  almost  in  its 
exact  geographical  center.  These  beds  or  formations  are  sediment- 
ary deposits  of  sandstones,  conglomerates,  shales,  limestones,  etc. 
Obviously,  the  lowest  bed  was  deposited  first  and  each  successively 
higher  bed  followed  in  order,  so  that  the  oldest  rocks  are  the  low- 
est and  the  youngest  are  at  the  top. 

The  Cambrian 

For  a  long  time  previous  to  the  deposition  of  the  lowermost 
paleozoic  sediments,  the  region  extending  from  the  Arctic  ocean 
to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  appears  to  have  been  land.  Through  geolog- 
ical forces,  it  was  slowly  depressed  from  the  southwest  and  the  sea 
slowly  came  in  over  Texas  following  the  continued  sinking  of  the 
land  to  the  northeast,  until  all  of  the  Mississippi  valley  and  most 
of  the  Great  Lakes  region  was  occupied  by  a  vast  interior  or  epi- 
continental sea,  which  persisted  all  through  Palaeozoic  times  to 

311 


812  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

the  end  of  the  Carboniferous, — a  period  equal  to  half  the  time  scale 
since  the  Algonkian.  This  sea  was,  in  the  main,  shallow,  for  the 
deposits  were  largely  those  of  sands  and  gravels,  which  are  the 
marks  of  wave  action,  shore  currents  and  rivers.  This  period  is 
known  as  the  Cambrian.  At  the  close  of  this  period  of  encroach- 
ment by  the  sea,  Michigan  wras  covered  by  a  shallow  sea  with  prob- 
able land  to  the  north  and  east  of  Georgian  bay  and  to  the  north 
of  Lake  Superior. 

Since  Michigan  was  the  last  region  to  sink  beneath  the  water, 
only  the  upper  beds  of  the  Cambrian  are  found  in  Michigan.  They 
are  for  the  most  part  red  sandstones  and  are  known  as  the  Lake 
Superior  or  Potsdam  sandstone,  of  which  the  Pictured  Rocks  on 
the  south  shore  of  Lake  Superior  furnish  a  most  picturesque  ex- 
ample. These  sandstones,  if  present  at  all  under  Yan  Buren 
county,  must  lie  buried  beneath  several  thousand  feet  of  later  sedi- 
ments. 

The  Ordovician 

The  Cambrian  period  was  one  of  steady  encroachment  of  the 
sea  from  the  southwest.  The  Ordovician  age  which  followed  was 
one  of  continued  general  depression  with  wider  and  clearer  seas 
yet  shallow  and  wrarm,  so  that,  in  Middle  Ordovician  time,  enorm- 
ous deposits  of  limestone  were  laid  down,  now  called  the  Trenton 
limestone.  Naturally,  the  Lower  Ordovician  deposits  are  those  of 
transition  from  the  sandy  shore  deposits  of  Cambrian  time  to 
those  of  limestone  in  Middle  Ordovician  and  show  evidences  of 
local  emergences,  represented  by  the  Calciferous  and  St.  Peters 
sandstones.  The  St.  Peters  is  a  true  emergence  sandstone,  present 
in  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota,  but  unfortunately  it  is  hard  to  dis- 
tinguish it  in  Michigan  from  other  underlying  sandstones  that  are 
known  to  belong  to  the  uppermost  Cambrian.  We  find  it  present 
at  Rapid  river  in  the  Upper  Peninsula,  but  nothing  definite  is 
known  concerning  it  in  lower  Michigan. 

The  deposition  of  limestone  was  ended  in  Middle  Ordovician 
time,  however,  by  the  raising  up  of  a  long  low  arch  or  anticline, 
extending  northward  from  Nashville  and  Cincinnati  through  Ohio. 
This  is  known  as  the  Nashville  and  Cincinnati  anticline.  In  west- 
ern Ohio  this  arch  divides  into  two  branches,  one  passing  north- 
ward into  western  Ontario  and  southeastern  Michigan,  and  the 
other  northwestward  into  Indiana.  This  anticline,  together  with 
the  "Wisconsin  Island' '  and  the  ancient  Archean  highland  on  the 
north  and  northeast,  tended  to  make  a  great  gulf  over  Michigan 
running  northwest  to  southeast,  thus  separating  the  Michigan  basin 
from  the  more  open  sea  to  the  southwest  in  the  Mississippi  valley. 
This  emergence  resulted  in  the  deposition  of  muds  now  represented 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  313 

by  the  Utiea,  Lorraine  and  Richmond  shales.     The  Utica  shales  in 
Michigan  are  black,  while  the  others  are  mainly  blue. 

The  elevation  of  the  Nashville  and  Cincinnati  anticline  was  only 
an  expression  of  a  more  or  less  general  upward  movement  of  the 
continent  as  a  whole  until  the  deposits  were  largely  above  water 
and  exposed  to  the  agents  of  erosion,  so  that  when  the  land  again 
sank  below  the  water  the  six  hundred  feet  of  Utica,  Lorraine  and 
Richmond  muds  of  lower  Michigan  were  deposited  unconformably 
upon  an  eroded  and  worn  down  surface.  Little  is  known  of  this 
pre-Riehmond  emergence  in  lower  Michigan,  as  very  little  is  known 
of  Ordovician  formations  as  a  whole  in  the  Lower  Peninsula.  They 
are  all  so  deep  that  no  wells  in  Van  Buren  county  or  in  the  south- 
western part  of  the  state  have  positively  reached  them,  though 
borings  further  from  the  center  of  the  Michigan  basin,  as  at  South 
Bend,  Indiana,  at  Cheboygan  and  at  Manitoulin  island,  Lake1 
Huron,  indicate  the  Lorraine  to  be  fairly  uniform  in  thickness 
and  persistent  throughout  the  Lower  Peninsula.  The  Trenton,  the 
great  oil  horizon  of  Ohio,  has  been  sought  by  oil  prospectors  in  all 
parts  of  the  state,  but  probably  it  has  not  been  reached  in  the 
south  western  counties. 

The  Silurian 

The  emergence  at  the  end  of  the  Richmond  ended  the  Ordovician 
and  the  succeeding  submergence  of  the  land  and  encroachment  by 
the  sea  was  the  beginning  of  the  Silurian  age.  The  sea  gradually 
became  clearer  until  the  muds,  now  the  Medina,  Clinton  and  Ro- 
chester shales — the  latter  often  dolomitic — gave  place  to  the  thick 
(270-600  feet)  deposits  of  dolomites  and  limestones  of  Niagaran 
age. 

During  the  period  from  the  Richmond  to  the  Medina  and  Clin- 
ton, there  was  an  abundance  of  iron  in  the  muddy  sediments,  es- 
pecially in  the  Clinton,  which  from  New  York  to  Alabama  and  in 
Wisconsin  has  an  iron  content  that  makes  it  locally  of  considerable 
commercial  importance.  In  the  southwestern  part  of  the  state, 
some  of  these  ferruginous  shales  do  not  appear  to  have  been  de- 
posited. These  formations,  though  often  more  than  2,000  feet  be- 
low the  surface,  are  much  better  known,  as  drillings  at  Kalamazoo 
and  in  many  parts  of  the  state  have  pierced  them. 

As  the  Trenton  marks  the  period  of  the  greatest  transgression 
of  the  sea  upon  the  land  in  the  Ordovician,  so  the  Niagaran  marks 
a  similar  period  in  the  Silurian.  All  of  Michigan  seems  to  have 
been  covered  by  the  great  sea,  which  extended  from  the  Oulf  of 
Mexico  across  the  Arctic  zone  and  southward  into  Europe.  Vast 
as  the  Niagaran  sea  was,  it  was  still  a  shallow  sea  with  a  fauna 


314  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

characteristic  of  clear,  shallow,  warm  water.  The  Niagara  is  one 
of  the  thickest  and  most  extensive  deposits  of  coralline  limestone 
known  in  any  age.  If  forms  the  shore  of  western  and  northern 
Lake  Michigan  and  of  northern  and  eastern  Lake  Huron,  and  the 
precipice  over  which  the  waters  of  the  Niagara  river  tumble.  Its 
outcrops  in  Alabama,  Iowa,  Alaska,  Greenland,  Spitzenbergen, 
Great  Britain,  Scandinavia,  Russia,  China  and  Southern  Europe 
give  an  idea  of  the  enormous  extent  of  the  Niagara  limestone. 
Wells  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  state  show  that  the  Niagara 
limestone  occurs  from  about  one  thousand  to  nearly  two  thousand 
feet  below  the  surface. 

Following  the  great  limestone  age,  there  came  one  of  excessive 
aridity.  The  Michigan  sea  was  nearly,  if  not  quite,  enclosed  by 
land,  so  that  great  deposits  of  salt,  anhydrite,  and  limestone  were 
laid  down.  These  form  the  Salina  (or  Lower  Monroe)  of  the  Mid- 
dle Silurian  age,  which  carries  most  of  the  beds  of  rock  salt  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  state.  No  rock  salt  occurs  in  the  strata 
under  Van  Buren  county  and  the  Monroe  is  much  thinner  than  it 
is  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state.  This  suggests  the  possibility 
that  the  western  part  of  the  state  may  have  been  out  of  water  for 
a  time,  so  that  there  may  have  been  an  erosion  instead  of  a  depo- 
sition of  sediments.  This  western  Michigan  bar  appears  to  have 
divided  the  Michigan  sea  into  two  parts, — a  closed  eastern  sea  like 
Great  Salt  lake,  in  which  both  gypsum  and  salt  were  deposited, 
and  an  open  western  one  in  which  obviously  conditions  necessary 
for  the  deposition  of  gypsum  or  salt  could  not  obtain.  Toward  the 
end  of  Silurian  time,  normal  conditions  gradually  returned  with 
a  corresponding  gradual  transition  upward  in  the  deposits  from 
salt  and  anhyrite  to  limestones,  now  the  Lower  Monroe  dolomite. 

The  Devonian 

At.  the  very  end  of  the  Silurian  age  or  at  the  beginning  of  Dev- 
onian time,  a  very  pure  white  sandstone,  the  Sylvania,  was  laid 
down.  This  bed  is  so  pure  that  it  is  used  for  glass  manufacture  in 
some  states.  Toward  the  north,  in  Michigan,  the  bed  grades  into 
calcareous  sand  or  into  limestone.  Above  this  bed,  lie  the  lime- 
stones of  the  Middle  and  Upper  Monroe  formations.  These  carry 
beds  of  anhydrite  or  gypsum,  indicative  of  the  recurrence  of  arid 
and  Mediterranean  conditions.  An  emergence  at  the  end  of  the 
Upper  Monroe  occurred,  as  shown  by  the  superposition  of  the  Dun- 
dee limestone  unconformably  upon  the  eroded  surface  of  the 
former.  This  is  significant  in  the  explanation  of  the  deposits  of 
salt  and  anhydrite  in  the  Middle  Monroe,  as  just  such  an  emer- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  315 

gence  would  cause  the  Michigan  gulf  to  become  a  closed  or  Mediter- 
ranean sea. 

Middle  and  Upper  Devonian  rocks  are  mainly  alternating  beds 
of  heavy  limestones  and  shales,  indicative  of  a  somewhat  variable 
character  of  the  age  as  a  whole,  though  the  heavy  limestone  show 
that  stable  conditions  existed  for  part  of  the  period.  The  three  divi- 
sions of  these  sediments  are  the  Dundee  limestones,  the  Traverse 
formation  of  limestones  and  shales,  and  the  black  Antrim  shales. 
The  latter  have  often  been  mistaken  by  the  oil  drillers  for  the  black 
shales  just  above  the  Trenton.  This  error  has  been  made  in  drill- 
ings in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  state.  The  Trenton  horizon 
probably  has  never  been  penetrated  in  Van  Buren  county,  nor  in 
any  of  the  southwestern  counties. 

Lower  Carboniferous 

The  Berea  grit  at  the  base  of  the  Mississippian  or  Lower  Car- 
boniferous, is  another  very  pure  sandstone.  It  is  indicative  of  a 
general  emergence  of  the  land,  as  it  is  so  widespread  in  Ohio  and 
Michigan.  The  brines,  which  it  contains,  are  extremely  salt,  so 
that  Mediterranean  conditions  must  have  obtained  for  a  time,  but 
the  concentration  was  not  carried  to  such  an  extent  that  salt 
was  deposited.  This  bed,  the  Berea,  is  found  all  along  the  eastern 
side  of  the  state  in  wells  but  it  gradually  disappears  towTard  the 
west,  so  that  it  has  not  been  recognized  in  western  Michigan. 

Very  muddy  seas  prevailed  for  a  long  time  after  the  deposition 
of  the  Berea  as  nearly  one  thousand  feet  of  shales  lie  above  it. 
These  are  the  Coldwater  shales,  which  everywhere  underlie  the 
loose  surface  deposits  of  Van  Buren  county.  These^  shales,  in  the 
western,  part  of  the  state,  are  really  shaly  limestones  rather  than 
shales.  The  western  part  of  the  Michigan  sea  therefore  seems  to 
have  been  clearer,  thus  favoring  the  deposition  of  calcareous  sedi- 
ments. 

The  Pleistocene  (Last  Chapter) 

If  other  deposits  were  laid  down  upon  the  Coldwater  shales  of 
Van  Buren  county,  they  were  afterwards  eroded  away  so  that 
no  trace  of  them  remains.  At  the  end  of  the  Carboniferous  period, 
the  land  east  of  the  Mississippi  was  elevated  above  water  and  Michi- 
gan was  never  covered  by  the  sea  again.  Thus,  during  the  enor- 
mous period  elapsing  between  the  end  of  the  Carboniferous  and 
the  beginning  of  the  Pleistocene,  or  Ice  Age,  a  period  represented 
by  nearly  half  the  time  scale  since  the  Algonkian,  the  land  surface 
of  Michigan  was  exposed  to  the  agents  of  erosion,  so  that  it  may 
have  been  much  eroded  and  worn  down  to  base  level  by  great  river 
systems,  which  must  have  existed  in  what  is  now  the  Great  Lakes 


816  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

region.  Probably  a  thick  mantle  of  soil  had  accumulated,  but  of 
this  we  know  little  or  nothing,  for  in  the  Pleistocene  or  Ice  age, 
great  continental  ice  sheets  from  Canada  invaded  the  whole  region 
north  of  the  Ohio  and  the  Missouri  rivers  and  removed  the  loose  sur- 
face accumulations  from  nearly  the  whole  region.  One  of  the 
sheets  spread  from  a  center  west  of  Hudson  bay,  and  another  from 
Labrador.  The  ice  advanced  in  the  form  of  tongues  or  lobes.  The 
basins  of  Lake  Michigan,  Green  Bay,  Lake  Huron,  Lake  Erie,  Sag- 
inaw Bay,  etc.,  were  each  occupied  by  one  of  these  lobes  which 
not  only  scoured  their  respective  basins  deeper  but  scraped  the  soil 
mantle  clean  from  the  adjacent  lands.  The  bed  rocks  were  also 
much  ground  and  worn  away.  Their  surfaces,  where  exposed,  are 
nearly  always  found  to  be  smoothed  and  polished,  with  grooves  or 
striae  cut  in  them,  showing  the  direction  of  the  ice  movement.  The 
ice  movement  in  Van  Buren  county  was  chiefly  from  the  north- 
west, as  the  ice  moved  radially  outward  from  the  Lake  Michigan 
lobe.  The  hills  in  general  were  rounded  off  and,  while  valleys  as 
a,  rule  were  worn  deeper,  some  were  filled  up  with  loose  materials 
such  as  clays,  sands,  and  gravels. 

With  the  melting  away  of  the  ice  sheet,  the  glacial  materials  be- 
neath and  within  the  ice  were  left  in  irregular  masses,  or  in  more 
or  less  level  sheets,  sometimes  six  hundred  feet  or  more  in  thick- 
ness. In  Van  Buren  county,  the  glacial  drift  is  not  nearly  so  thick, 
being  sometimes  less  than  one  hundred  feet,  and  rarely  much  more 
than  three  hundred  feet  in  thickness.  The  irregular  hilly  tracts, 
the  accumulation  of  glacial  materials  along  the  melting  ice  front, 
are  called  moraines,  while  the  level  or  gently  undulating  tracts,  the 
accumulations  of  glacial  debris  beneath  the  ice,  are  the  till  plains. 
The  latter  are  mainly  composed  of  clay,  except  where  running 
water  from  the  melting  ice  has  more  or  less  worked  over  the  glacial 
material  or  drift,  so  that  we  have  beds  of  sands  and  gravel.  The 
till  plains  of  clay  form  the  finest  of  soils  and  the  basis  of  much  of 
the  farming  in  Michigan. 

Wherever  the  water  was  for  a  time  ponded  in  front  of  the  ice 
or  in  the  depressions  we  have  lake  sands  and  clays.  A  large  lake 
called  Lake  Chicago  occupied  the  southern  end  of  the  Lake  Michi- 
gan depression,  being  ponded  in  front  of  the  ice  border  to  the 
north.  The  lake  stood  at  so  high  a  level  that  its  waters  flowed 
through  an  outlet  near  Chicago  into  the  Mississippi.  The  waters 
of  this  lake  covered  much  of  Van  Buren  county  and  in  the  western 
part  of  the  county  near  Lake  Michigan  there  remains  an  area  of 
the-  resulting  lake  clays  and,  in  the  northern  and  northwestern, 
there  are  considerable  areas  of  the  light  lake  sands.  Large  streams 
from  the  melting  ice  front  worked  over  a  large  part  of  the  glacial 
material  or  drift  and,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  spread  it 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  317 

out  into  gravelly  or  sandy  plains  called  outwash  aprons.  Most  of 
the  material  in  the  central  and  western  parts  of  the  county  is  a 
boulder  clay,  or  till,  as  it  is  called,  and  was  a  direct  deposit  under 
the  ice.  In  places,  it  has  been  partially  worked  over  by  streams,  giv- 
ing rise  to  sandy  or  gravelly  strips. 

The  long  range  of  irregular  hills  running  north  and  south 
through  the  western  part  of  the  county  and  an  irregular  hilly  area 
in  the  central  and  northern  part  are  morainic  accumulations  in 
front  of  the  ice  margin,  when  the  latter  remained  stationary  for  a 
considerable  time — that  is,  the  ice  advanced  just  about  as  fast  as  it 
was  melted  away.  Thus  a  great  deal  of  glacial  debris  would  be 
left  in  irregular  masses,  forming  a  line  of  hills  running  parallel 
to  the  ice  front  for  hundreds  of  miles.  The  moraine,  or  the  range 
of  hills  mentioned  above,  extends  from  Muskegon  county  through 
Van  Buren  county  and  around  the  southern  end  of  Lake  Michigan 
into  Wisconsin.  It  marks  the  position  of  the  ice  front  in  one  of  its 
many  halts  during  its  retreat.  The  materials  of  these  deposits 
are  mainly  clays,  sandy  loams,  clay  loams,  etc.,  and  form  good 
soils,  but  their  hilly  character  often  renders  them  less  adapted  to 
ordinary  farming  than  the  till  plains. 

With  the  deposition  of  this  material  from  the  retreating  ice 
sheet,  and  its  partial  reworking  by  water,  the  last  chapter  in  the 
geological  history  of  Michigan  was  closed. 


318  HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


Orchards  in  Bloom 


Corn  From  Reclaimed  Swamp  Land 


CHAPTER  XIII 

AGRICULTURE  AND  HORTICULTURE 

Western  Van  Buren — Lake  Michigan,  a  Benefactor — Fruit 
Raising  at  South  Haven — Fruit  Belt  Widens — Cooperation 
through  Societies — "Master  L.  H.  Bailey" — A.  S.  Dyckman 
and  T.  T.  Lyon — Crops  of  the  County — Semi-Agricultural  In- 
dustries— Agriculture  in  Eastern  Van  Buren — "Oak  Open- 
ings" First  Cultivated — Pioneer  Farm  Implements — After 
The  Civil  War— Live  Stock— Golden  Era  (1865-90)— The 
Lean  Years  of  the  Nineties — Development  of  the  Grape  In- 
dustry. 

Fruit  has  been  grown  on  a  commercial  scale  in  the  western  part 
of  Van  Buren  county  for  over  fifty  years. 

The  first  orchards  in  this  section  were  set  sixty  years  ago,  and 
for  the  greater  part  of  those  six  decades  fruit-raising  has  been  its 
chief  industry.  It  has  always  been  more  important  in  this  section 
than  either  grain-farming  or  stock-raising,  and  this  is  increasingly 
true  as  one  approaches  Lake  Michigan. 

Except  for  the  earlier  years  of  the  community,  from  its  first 
settlement  to  the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  during  which  period  the 
timber  industry  in  its  various  branches  was  the  leading  one,  the 
fruit  industry  has  held  undisputed  sway  as  the  chief  interest  and 
principal  support  of  this  thriving  and  prosperous  community. 

Lake  Michigan,  a  Benefactor 

Natural  causes  brought  about  this  condition.  Chief  among  them 
was  the  proximity  of  Lake  Michigan  which  acts  as  a  vast  regulator 
of  temperatures.  The  lake  modifies  the  extremes  of  heat  and  cold 
all  through  this  region;  it  protects  the  fruit  trees  by  checking  a 
premature  development  of  their  buds  in  spring,  and  by  retarding 
their  growth  in  the  fall;  it  prevents  in  a  large  degree  frosts  in 
spring  and  fall,  and  in  times  of  drought  is.  a  great  reservoir  for 
disseminating  needed  moisture. 

During  the  earlier  days  of  the  fruit  industry,  and  particularly 

319 


;}20  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

in  the  decade  of  the  seventies  during  which  it  forged  to  the  front, 
these  influences  of  the  lake  were  carefully  observed  and  records 
kept  that  showed  the  advantages  derived  from  that  body  of  water. 
And  Van  Buren  county,  situated  as  it  as  at  the  eastern  edge  of  the 
broadest  part  of  the  lake,  gains  the  fullest  measure  of  benefit  from 
this  source. 

Contour  of  the  land  for  favorable  water  and  air  drainage  and 
suitable  soil  have  also  been  elements  contributing  largely  to  the 
development  of  the  fruit  industry,  and  a  no  less  potent  factor  has 
been  the  nearness  and  accessibility  to  markets,  particularly  the 
magic  city  of  Chicago,  which  not  only  consumes  vast  quantities  of 
the  fruit  and  other  farm  products  from  this  section,  but  affords  a 
center  for  the  speedy  and  economical  distribution  of  the  surplus 
to  sub-centers  serving  millions  of  people  in  the  middle  west,  north- 
west, southwest  and  south,  and  even  east  and  southeast. 

Fruit  Raising  at  South  Haven 

Orcharding  at  South  Haven  dates  from  1852  when  Stephen  B. 
Morehouse  and  Randolph  Densmore  set  out  apple  orchards,  and  the 
former  also  set  out  a  peach  orchard. 

Mr.  Morehouse  came  to  South  Haven  from  Albion  for  the  pur- 
pose of  engaging  in  the  fruit  business  His  peach  orchard  stood 
in  what  is  now  the  business  district  of  South  Haven  city,  in  the 
block  bounded  by  Center  and  Phoenix  streets  and  the  main  ravine. 
His  apple  orchard  was  on  the  property  now  owned  by  E.  B.  Ket- 
cham  along  North  Shore  Drive,  and  many  of  the  original  trees  are 
still  standing  and  in  bearing.  The  orchard  set  by  Mr.  Densmore 
was  just  south  of  that,  its  southern  boundary  being  about  where 
Wells  street  now  runs. 

These  orchards  were  set  only  two  or  three  years  after  the  old 
Parmelee  orchard  of  seven  acres  at  St.  Joseph,  so  that  the  birth  of 
the  industry  in  the  two  localities  was  nearly  simultaneous.  It  grew 
more  rapidly  at  St.  Joseph  for  the  first  few  years  because  of  the 
greater  extent  there  of  lands  already  cleared  and  ready  for  trees 
and  vines,  while  around  South  Haven  were  the  forests  that  had 
first  to  be  removed. 

Among  the  other  early  orchardists  of  this  section  were  James 
L.  Reid,  Joseph  Dow,  S.  G.  Sheffer  and  C.  M.  Sheffer.  The  first 
vineyards  were  set  in  1858 — one  and  one-half  acres  by  Orris  Church 
and  one  acre  by  A.  S.  Dyckman — and  Aaron  Eames  was  another 
early  grape  grower.  Mr.  Dyckman  was  also  among  the  pioneer 
peach  growers,  having  set  an  orchard  of  four  acres  in  1857. 

In  1855  and  1856  L.  H.  Bailey  set  out  the  apple  orchard  that  is 
notable  not  only  as  one  of  the  first  and  one  of  the  largest  in  this 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  321 

section  but  as  the  school  in  which  his  son,  Liberty  H.  Bailey,  Jr., 
received  the  practical  training  that  started  him  on  the  way  to  be- 
coming the  foremost  authority  on  horticulture  in  this  country  if 
not  in  the  world. 

From  these  beginnings  along  and  near  the  lake  shore  have  spread 
the  orchards  and  vineyards  that  cover  so  large  a  portion  of  the 
western  part  of  the  county.  As  the  forests  receded  before  the  axe 
of  the  lumberman  and  the  settler,  fruit  trees  and  vines  sprung  up 
to  replace  them  and  to  provide  the  means  through  which  the  set- 
tlers should  derive  so  much  of  their  sustenance  from  the  soil  that 
had  long  been  given  over  to  the  "forest  primeval. " 

Fruit  Belt  Widens 

Receding  from  the  lake  the  proportion  of  fruit  to  grain  and 
stock  lessened  steadily.  This  was  due  in  large  measure  to  the  belief 
in  the  earlier  years  that  the  beneficent  influence  of  the  lake  only 
extended  over  a  narrow  strip,  estimated  by  some  to  be  as  narrow  as 
two  miles  in  width,  but  with  the  gradual  dispelling  of  this  notion 
and  the  continuing  prosperity  of  the  fruit  growers,  the  "  Fruit 
Belt"  has  been  increasing  in  width  until  it  is  now  fair  to  say  that 
the  fruit  industry  is  the  leading  one  of  the  western  half  of  the 
county. 

It  was  just  about  the  close  of  the  Civil  war  that  the  fruit  in- 
dustry began  to  compete  with  the  timber  business  for  supremacy 
in  this  section,  and  for  a  few  years  they  kept  on  fairly  even  terms. 
But  with  the  fruit  steadily  gaining  and  the  other  standing  still  or 
falling  behind,  it  was  only  a  few  years  before  the  former  and 
securely  established  itself  in  the  van  where  it  has  since  remained. 

Previous  to  1865  the  lands  were  mainly  purchased  for  the  tim- 
ber and  the  majority  of  the  residents  were  more  or  less  directly 
concerned  in  the  various  branches  of  the  timber  industry.  Many  of 
the  small  clearings  made  in  the  pursuit  of  the  timber  trade  were 
set  to  fruit  trees  and  vines,  and  as  these  came  into  bearing  with 
their  luscious  and  profitable  crops,  attention  was  turned  to  the 
possibilities  of  their  culture.  The  example  of  the  pioneers  who 
have  been  named  in  a  preceding  paragraph  was  followed  by  scores 
of  others,  and  the  beginnings  of  permanent  settlement  really  oc- 
curred in  this  period  of  the  community's  history. 

Large  tracts  of  land,  particularly  the  cut-over  parcels  were  pur- 
chased and  set  to  fruit,  mainly  to  peaches  which  have  since  been 
the  leading  crop,  though  in  recent  years  the  apple  has  closely 
pressed  its  less  hardy  sister  fruit  for  first  place  in  extent  of  or- 
charding, volume  of  product  and  profits  derived.  The  peach  has 
a  record  of  more  than  half  a  century  of  annual  crops,  except  for 

VoL  1—21 


322  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

two  or  three  years.  Aside  from  the  freeze  of  October  10,  1906, 
there  has  never  been  any  loss  of  trees  by  severe  cold,  except  from 
preventable  causes,  like  poor  drainage,  over-fertilization,  late  culti- 
vation, and  the  like,  and  no  loss  of  trees  or  fruit  by  extreme  cold 
in  winter,  or  by  spring  or  fall  frosts,  when  the  air  current  lias 
been  off  Lake  Michigan  which  has  tempered  the  winds  before  they 
reached  the  orchards  and  vineyards. 

Cooperation  Through  Societies 

Cooperation  has,  from  the  outset,  been  a  dominant  principle  of 
the  fruit-growing  interests  of  this  section.  Possibly  no  one  factor 
outside  of  the  natural  conditions  previously  mentioned,  has  con- 
tributed so  much  to  the  rapid  and  healthy  growth  of  this  industry 
in  this  community  as  the  willingness  of  the  growers  to  share  with 
each  other  the  lessons  learned  by  experience  and  observation  and 
the  study  of  successful  methods  in  other  fruit  sections. 

The  existence  of  this  spirit  of  cooperation  led  to  the  organization 
in  December,  1870,  of  the  South  Haven  Pomological  Society,  now 
known  as  the  South  Haven  and  Casco  Pomological  society. 

This  society  extends  its  influence  and  benefits  not  alone  over  the 
townships  mentioned  in  its  title  but  over  a  wide  section  of  the  west- 
ern portions  of  Van  Buren  and  Allegan  counties.  It  has  an  un- 
broken record  of  holding  weekly  meetings  part  or  all  of  the  year 
for  the  forty-odd  years  of  its  life,  to  its  discussions  have  contributed 
the  foremost  fruit  growers  of  this  section,  many  of  whom  can  justly 
claim  a  like  preeminence  in  state  and  nation,  and  it  is  fair  to  say 
that  the  story  of  the  society  is  the  history  of  the  fruit  industry  in 
the  section  from  which  the  society  draws  its  members  and  over 
which  it  spreads  its  benefits. 

Concerning  the  purposes  of  the  society  and  the  record  of  its 
first  year,  let  us  quote  from  the  report  made  by  its  secretary,  C.  T. 
Bryant,  in  December,  1871,  to  the  secretary  of  the  State  Pomological 
Society.  Mr.  Bryant  says:  "By  way  of  introduction,  it  falls  to 
me  to  write  briefly  of  our  organization  and  its  work.  Convinced 
that  our  superior  advantages  of  climate  and  soil  for  growing  fruit 
and  facilities  for  shiping  to  the  best  markets,  indicated  that  fruit 
culture  was  to  be  the  principal  business  of  this  community  and 
justified  us  in  striving  for  the  highest  attainments  and  in  expecting 
the  greatest  possible  success  and  profit  in  this  branch  of  agricul- 
ture as  a  reward  for  well  directed  effort,  those  interested,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1870,  organized  the  South  Haven  Pomological  Society;  the 
specific  object  of  which  is,  'to  develop  facts,  promulgate  information 
as  to  the  best  methods  of  growing  the  best  varieties  of  fruits  for 
our  vicinity,  and  for  our  own  profit  and  improvements.' 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  323 

"This  society  has  steadily  increased  in  members  and  interest. 
The  meetings  are  well  attended;  the  discussions  are  spirited;  the 
expressions  of  opinion,  and  statements  of  experience,  candid;  the 
feeling  harmonious;  and  we  are  more  and  more  assured  that  our 
interests  are  mutual  and  that  the  greatest  obstacles  in  the  way  of 
making  fruit  growing  a  constantly  profitable  business  may  be 
overcome  by  cooperation. ' ' 

Such  a  paragraph  as  the  last  night  be  written  is  summarizing 
each  year  the  efforts  of  the  members  to  carry  out  the  concisely 
stated  but  comprehensive  purposes  set  forth  in  the  preceding 
paragraph. 

The  first  officers  of  the  society  were :  President,  Norman  Phil- 
lips; vice  president,  C.  H.  Wigglesworth ;  secretary,  C.  T.  Bryant; 
treasurer,  C.  J.  Monroe;  executive  committee,  I.  S.  Linderman, 
John  Williams,  H.  E.  Bidwell  and  J.  Lannin. 

From  the  formation  of  the  society  South  Haven  and  its  tributary 
territory  took  increasing  prominence  in  the  field  of  horticulture. 
Among  the  features  that  contributed  toward  making  the  society 
and  its  efficiency  and  energy  well-known  throughout  this  state  and 
to  a  considerable  extent  over  the  nation  was  the  meeting  at  South 
Haven  of  the  State  Pomological  Society  September  3  and  4,  1872. 

Within  two  weeks  the  local  society  raised  the  funds  and  built 
complete  the  hall  in  which  the  meeting  was  held,  an  example  of 
energy  and  enterprise  that  received  much  comment  from  the  visitors 
in  their  addresses  and  discussions  at  the  sessions,  and  wTas  com- 
plimented in  the  resolutions  adopted  at  the  close  of  the  meeting. 

"Master  L.  H.  Bailey" 

Just  a  year  later  to  a  day,  the  State  Society  again  met  at  South 
Haven  and  at  that  meeting  there  was  read  an  essay  on  " Birds" 
by  "Master  L.  H.  Bailey,  a  lad  of  fifteen  years,"  as  noted  in  the 
reports  of  that  meeting.  This  was  probably  the  first  appearance 
before  the  state  society  of  this  young  man  who  was  to  become  so 
great  an  authority  on  horticulture.  His  essay  is  published  in  full 
in  the  annual  reports  of  the  state  society,  and  it  shows  throughout 
the  combination  of  the  practical  and  the  poetic  that  has  so  char- 
acterized his  work  as  gardener,  farmer,  educator,  lecturer,  author 
and  adviser.  In  recognition  of  his  interest  in  horticulture  and 
particularly  in  the  relation  of  birds  thereto,  the  local  society  elected 
"Master"  L.  H.  Bailey  as  its  Ornithologist  in  1873.  The  discus- 
sions of  the  local  society  for  1873,  as  recorded  by  the  secretary,  are 
published  in  full  in  the  report  of  the  state  society  for  that  year, 
the  only  instance  of  the  kind  in  which  any  local  body  has  been 
thus  honored  in  the  history  of  the  state  organization. 


324  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

The  society  and  its  members  have  taken  awards  at  many  of  the 
international  expositions,  commencing  with  the  Centennial  in  1876, 
and  continuing  through  the  Paris  exposition  to  its  triumphs  at  the 
more  recent  exhibitions. 

A.  S.  Dyckman  and  T.  T.  Lyon 

Space  forbids  individual  mention  of  the  many  persons  who  have 
contributed  so  much  to  the  development  of  the  fruit  industry  and 
to  the  work  and  influence  of  the  society.  But  no  sketch  of  the 
industry  and  society  would  be  complete  that  did  not  pay  tribute 
to  the  service  of  A.  S.  Dyckman  and  T.  T.  Lyon. 

Mr.  Dyckman  was,  as  has  been  seen,  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the 
business,  and  was  for  many  years  the  most  extensive  grower  and 
shipper  of  this  section.  He  served  the  state  and  local  societies  as 
president  and  in  many  other  capacities. 

Before  coming  to  Yan  Buren  county  from  Wayne  county,  Mr. 
Lyon  had  won  a  national  reputation  as  a  pomologist,  and  that  repu- 
tation he  greatly  enhanced  during  the  years  that  he  dwelt  in  Yan 
Buren.  He,  too,  served  the  state  society  as  president,  and  that  for 
a  period  of  fifteen  years,  through  successive  annual  re-elections. 
He  was  the  first  director  of  the  sub-experiment  station  established 
at  South  Haven  in  1889  by  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  and 
arranged  its  facilities  and  organized  its  work  on  the  practical, 
scientific  basis  that  has  enabled  the  station,  despite  inadequate  space, 
to  be  of  the  greatest  benefit  to  the  fruit  growers  of  Michigan. 

Crops  op  the  County 

Over  one  hundred  staple  products  of  farm,  orchard,  garden  and 
forest  have  been  raised  in  Yan  Buren  county  with  remarkable 
regularity  for  many  years,  a  considerable  number  of  them  for 
fifty  or  sixty  years.  The  leading  crops  are  thus  summarized  and 
classified  in  a  late  official  report : 

Fruit  Products:  Apples,  peaches,  pears,  plums,  cherries,  other 
tree  fruits,  strawberries,  raspberries,  blackberries,  currants,  goose- 
berries, other  fruit  and  grapes. 

General  farm  products:  Hay,  corn,  wheat,  oats,  barley,  rye,  < 
buckwheat,  clover  seed,  grass  seed,  potatoes,  beans,  peas,  other  crops, 
maple  sugar,  maple  syrup,  sugar  beets,  other  roots,  cabbage,  toma- 
toes, sweet  corn,  onions,  cucumbers,  celery,  melons,  poultry  sold, 
eggs  sold,  honey  and  wax,  flowers,  vegetable  seeds,  nursery  prod- 
ucts, wood,  logs  and  other  timber  products. 

The  state  census  of  1904,  the  latest  official  figures  yet  available, 
gave  some  interesting  statistics  about  some  of  the  crops  that  might 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  325 

be  deemed  of  minor  importance.  For  instance,  on  six  and  one- 
quarter  acres  of  flowers  and  foliage  plants,  there  was  produced  in 
the  year  preceding,  the  value  of  $8,091,  or  at  the  rate  of  $1,293  per 
acre.  The  "busy  bees' '  with  1,544  swarms,  valued  at  $6,187, 
produced  in  honey  and  was  $6,379.  To  this  every  fruit  grower 
would  add  a  very  liberal  percentage  for  their  services  in  aiding 
the  fertilization  of  the  fruit  blossoms.  Poultry  valued  at  $72,801, 
produced  eggs  worth  $136,360,  and  poultry  sold  amounted  to  $105,- 
654,  or  the  total  product  worth  nearly  three  and  one-third  times 
the  value  of  the  "producing  plant." 

Semi-Agricultural  Industries 

Indicative  of  how  largely  Van  Buren  county  is  devoted  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  the  state  census  of  1904,  above  mentioned,  con- 
tains no  statistics  of  any  manufacturing  establishments  within  the 
county.  Since  that  time  there  have  been  started  at  South  Haven 
two  piano  factories,  a  wood-working  factory,  and  a  pipe  organ 
factory,  now  in  process  of  erection. 

There  are  within  the  county  many  industrial  concerns  whose 
products  directly  relate  to  the  agricultural  and  horticultural  in- 
terests of  the  county.  Included  among  these  are  canning  and 
preserving  plants ;  crushed  fruit,  grape  juice,  cider  and  vinegar 
factories;  pickle  factories;  basket  and  package  factories;  butter 
and  cheese  factories  and  creamery  stations;  plants  for  making 
spraying  outfits  and  preparing  spray  materials;  grist  mills,  saw- 
mills, planing  mills,  sash  and  door  factories;  manufactories  of 
cement  blocks,  fence  posts,  brick  and  tile;  also  shops  for  black- 
smithing  and  the  mending  of  all  sorts  of  farm  and  orchard  tools, 
wagons,  carriages;  besides  packing  houses,  warehouses,  depots  and 
docks,  with  special  equipment  of  cars  and  boats  for  handling  the 
various  products  amounting  annually  to  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
dollars  and  giving  employment  to  thousands  of  men,  women  and 
children. 

The  compiler  is  pleased  to  acknowledge  his  indebtedness  to  Hon. 
Charles  J.  Monroe,  one  of  his  associate  editors,  for  the  foregoing 
able  and  interesting  article  on  the  agricultural  and  horticultural 
interests  of  Van  Buren  county.  No  man  is  better  qualified  to  speak 
authoritatively  concerning  these  important  industries  than  Mr.  • 
Monroe. 

Agriculture  in  Eastern  Van  Buren 
By  Jason  Woodman 

Very  few,  if  any,  of  the  counties  of  Michigan  can  show  so  great 
a  diversity  of  soil  and  timber  as  the  county  of  Van  Buren.  Beauti- 
ful "oak  openings, "  heavy  timbered  lands,  pine  lands,  thousands 


326  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

of  acres  of  fat  black  muck,  clay  and  loam,  sand  and  gravel,  with 
all  the  varying  types  of  soils  composed  of  these  materials ;  plains, 
hills  and  valleys;  lakes,  streams  and  woodlands,  give  an  infinite 
variety  to  the  landscape  and  furnish  the  foundation  for  as  diversi- 
fied an  agriculture  as  can  be  found  anywhere  in  the  United  States. 
On  the  plains  east  and  north  of  the  village  of  Paw  Paw,  the 
pioneers  found  unmistakable  evidences  of  fields  or  " gardens' '  that 
had  once  been  cultivated,  although  again  grown  up  with  forest 
timber.  The  real  agricultural  history  of  the  county,  however, 
begins  with  the  spring  of  the  year  1829,  on  the  northern  boundaries 
of  Little  Prairie  Ronde,  section  thirty-five  of  the  township  of  Deca- 
tur. There,  eighty-three  years  ago,  settled  Dolphin  Morris;  on 
lands  still  owned  by  his  descendants  he  turned  the  first  furrow  and 
raised  the  first  crop  ever  grown  in  the  county  by  a  white  man.  For 
two  or  three  years  Mr/ Morris  enjoyed  the  distinction  of  being  the 
only  settler  in  the  county;  but  the  years  1833,  1834  and  1835  wit- 
nessed the  beginning  of  the  tide  of  immigration  from  the  east. 

"Oak  Openings"  First  Cultivated 

The  new  comers  found  a  broad,  well-beaten  Indian  trail,  running 
diagonally  across  the  townships  of  Almena,  Antwerp,  Paw  Paw, 
Lawrence,  Hamilton  and  Keeler.  The  old  Territorial  road,  when 
first  laid  out,  generally  speaking  followed  this  trail,  and  along  its 
course  the  tide  of  immigration  flowed.  Nearly  all  the  way,  this 
road  ran  through  oak  openings. 

According  to  the  accounts  of  early  settlers,  these  openings,  in  a 
state  of  nature,  were  beautiful  beyond  description.  The  surface  of 
the  land  was  level,  or  gently  rolling.  The  trees  grew  scattering, 
some  in  groups,  others  standing  alone,  with  wide  "openings"  or 
vistas  between.  The  timber  was  mostly  of  the  various  varieties  of 
oak,  with  low  broad-spreading  tops.  There  wTas  little  or  no  under- 
growth, and  one  could  see  for  many  rods  in  any  direction.  The 
ground  wTas  carpeted  with  grass  and,  during  the  summer  months, 
sprinkled  over  with  flowers.  These  "openings  were  great  natural 
parks, ' '  wrote  one  of  the  early  pioneers.  Another  said :  ' '  Coming 
from  the  bleak  New  England  hills,  the  country  looked  to  our  eyes 
like  the  Garden  of  Eden." 

The  land  was  easily  cleared  and  had  natural  underdrainage.  It 
was  fertile  and  produced  abundantly,  and  twenty  years  from  the 
time  the  first  settlers  made  their  appearance,  while  the  heavily 
timbered  portions  of  the  county  were  yet  sparsely  settled  the  "oak 
openings"  were  dotted  over  with  well  improved  farms  and  with 
substantial,  well  built,  commodious  farm  houses  and  barns. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  327 

Pioneer  Farm  Implements 

The  farm  operations  of  those  early  days  were  primitive.  Hay 
was  mown,  raked  and  gathered  by  hand.  Wheat  was  cut  with  a 
"cradle,"  bound  by  hand  and  threshed  with  a  flail,  or  the  grain 
trodden  out  underneath  the  feet  of  cattle  or  horses.  The  first 
threshing  machine  made  its  advent  about  1850,  and  was  operated 
by  David  Woodman.  It  is  described  by  his  son,  Edson  Woodman, 
who  in  his  boyhood  wrorked  with  this  machine  many  days,  as  "a 
cylinder  mounted  on  a  platform  and  operated  by  horse-power." 
The  bundles  of  grain  were  fed  through  the  cylinder ;  the  straw  was 
raked  from  the  rear  of  the  machine  by  hand,  while  the  grain  and 
chaff  were  shoveled  to  one  side,  to  be  afterwards  run  through  a 
fanning-mill,  thus  separating  the  grain  from  the  chaff.  Later,  a 
device  for  separating  the  grain  was  attached  to  the  cylinder  and 
this  \vas  considered  a  great  improvement.  This  threshing  outfit 
was  used,  not  only  in  this  county,  but  in  Kalamazoo  and  Cass 
counties  as  well ;  being  for  years  the  only  implement  of  its  kind  in 
this  immediate  part  of  the  state.  It  was  last  operated  on  the  farm 
of  the  late  J.  J.  Woodman  about  the  year  1861,  where  it  was  broken 
by  a  too  violent  pull  on  the  part  of  a  team  of  fractious  horses  and 
never  repaired.  It  was  succeeded  by  a  new  and  improved  machine, 
owned  and  operated  by  Mr.  A.  R.  Wildey,  the  father  of  E.  A.  and 
W.  C.  Wildey.  This  new  threshing  outfit  was  considered  remark- 
able because  of  the  fact  that  a  bundle  of  wheat  could  be  run  through 
it  whole,  with  the  band  uncut,  and  not  stop  the  machine. 

After  the  Civil  War 

With  the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  Van  Buren  county  agriculture 
entered  upon  a  new  era.  In  1864  the  population  of  the  county, 
mainly  agricultural,  numbered  about  eighteen  thousand,  an  in- 
crease of  ten  thousand  in  ten  years.  The  giant  forests  that  covered 
the  heavier,  more  fertile  lands  of  the  county,  were  rapidly  disap- 
pearing before  the  woodman 's  axe ;  the  age  of  American  invention 
was  on  and  modern  agricultural  machinery  was  replacing  the  prim- 
itive implements  of  husbandry.  Mowers,  horse  hayrakes  and  horse 
forks,  grain  drills  and  reapers,  improved  machines  for  threshing 
grains  and  hulling  clover,  radically  changed  the  methods  of  the 
husbandman.  All  farms  were  fenced  into  fields  and  carried  live- 
stock; clover  grew  abundantly,  furnishing  hay  and  pasture;  the 
farmer  sold  wheat,  wool,  mutton,  beef  and  pork.  For  many  years, 
it  is  said,  more  wheat  was  shipped  from  Decatur  than  from  any 
other  station  on  the  line  of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  between 
the  cities  of  Chicago  and  Buffalo.    Many  thousand  pounds  of  wool 


328  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

were  marketed  by  the  farmers  every  spring,  and  the  annual  ship- 
ment of  sheep,  cattle  and  hogs  amounted  to  hundreds  of  carloads. 

Live  Stock 

Aside  from  the  practice,  usual  on  practically  every  farm,  of  fat- 
tening home-grown  stock  for  the  market,  during  the  three  decades 
following  the  close  of  the  Civil  war  a  considerable  stock  feeding  in- 
dustry was  built  up.  John  and  William  Lyle  and  Albert  R.  "Wildey 
were  the  pioneers  in  this  business.  Others  followed  after  and  the 
feeding  of  sheep  and  cattle  purchased  for  that  purpose  became 
common.  A  large  portion  of  this  stock  came  from  the  west  and 
many  thousands  of  bushels  of  "Chicago  corn"  were  consumed 
every  year  in  addition  to  the  hay  and  grain  grown  on  the  ' 'feed- 
ers '  "  farms.  In  1892  seventy-three  carloads  of  stock  in  car  lots 
were  fed  for  the  market  within  three  miles  of  the  writer's  home. 
In  the  main  this  business  was  profitable  and  the  acres  of  the  stock- 
feeding  farmer  grew  more  and  more  fertile. 

During  the  years  from  1876  to  1890,  Van  Buren  county  became 
one  of  the  great  horse  breeding  sections  of  the  state.  In  the  former 
year  Mr.  Edson  Woodman  purchased  the  "Duke  of  Perche,"  one 
of  the  first  six  Percheron  stallions  imported  by  M.  W.  Dunham  of 
Illinois.  The  "Duke"  proved  to  be  a  remarkable  foal-getter  and 
while  he  was  owned  by  Mr.  Woodman  sired  about  1,700  colts.  The 
uniform  excellence  of  his  progeny  did  much  to  popularize  the  Per- 
cheron breed  in  this  part  of  the  state.  Other  breeds  of  horses  also 
had  their  advocates,  and  the  introduction  of  many  stallions  and 
pure  bred  mares,  of  the  Percheron  and  other  breeds,  followed. 
Thousands  of  colts  were  raised  by  the  farmers.  This  industry,  for 
many  years,  was  a  most  profitable  one,  and  the  county  became 
famous  for  its  fine  horses.  Like  the  sheep  and  cattle  industry,  the 
raising  of  horses  not  only  added  materially  to  the  income  of  the 
farms  but  also  aided  in  maintaining  them  in  the  highest  condition 
of  fertility. 

Golden  Era  (1865-90) 

As  one  looks  back  on  the  eighty  years  of  the  history  of  Van 
Buren  county,  this  period,  from  1865  to  1890,  seems  to  stand  out 
as  the  "golden  era"  of  its  agriculture.  The  soil  was  fertile  and  the 
farm  methods  practiced  tended  to  maintain  its  fertility.  Clover 
grew,  blossomed  and  matured  its  seed,  unhampered  and  unimpaired 
by  insect  enemies.  As  compared  with  the  cost  of  production,  the 
prices  received  for  farm  products  were  profitable.  There  was  an 
abundance  of  competent  and  reliable  farm  help.  The  more  profit- 
able city  industries,  paying  rates  of  wages  with  which  the  farmer 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  329 

could  not  compete,  had  not  yet  drawn  the  larger  part  of  competent, 
skilful  young  men  away  from  the  rural  neighborhoods ;  large  num- 
bers of  farmers'  sons,  well  trained  by  industrious  fathers,  when  not 
needed  at  home,  worked  by  the  day  or  month  for  neighboring  hus- 
bandmen. The  intelligent,  steady-going,  hardworking  " hired  men" 
of  the  sixties,  seventies  and  eighties,  not  only  earned  substantial 
profits  for  their  employers,  but,  in  very  many  cases,  laid  for  them- 
selves the  foundations  of  future  substantial  competence.  Many  of 
those,  who  are  today  among  our  most  successful  farmers,  profes- 
sional and  business  men,  were  farm  laborers  in  those  days. 

The  Lean  Years  of  the  Nineties 

It.  is  said  that  misfortunes  never  come  singly.  Beginning  with 
1890,  excepting  the  year  1892  Van  Buren  county  farmers  suffered 
from  a  series  of  disastrous  droughts.  Year  after  year  they  saw 
their  crops  shortened  or  destroyed  by  rainless  weather.  In  1893 
came  the  clover  seed  midge  and  the  clover  root  borer,  and  a  little 
later  the  clover  leaf  beetle,  which  in  the  spring  destroyed  the  young 
clover  plants.  This  latter  insect  was  especially  disastrous  to  young 
spring  seedings.  For  years,  there  were  practically  no  clover  fields, 
and  as  a  consequence  the  soil  rapidly  deteriorated.  During  the 
same  years  the  prices  of  farm  products  fell  to  a  ruinous  level. 
Wheat  sold  as  low  as  forty  cents  per  bushel,  wool  at  eight  cents  per 
pound,  fat  wethers  at  seventy-five  cents  per  head  and  hogs  at  $2.40 
per  hundred.  The  best  heavy  horses  sold  for  from  seventy-five  to 
one  hundred  dollars  per  head,  and  in  1896  corn  of  the  best  quality 
sold  for  seventeen  cents  per  bushel  of  seventy-five  pounds.  The 
prices  of  other  staple  crops  dropped  to  the  same  level ;  good  agri- 
cultural lands  were  offered  at  from  twenty  to  forty  dollars  per 
acre,  with  few  sales  even  at  those  prices.  The  breeding  of  horses 
ceased,  the  fattening  of  stock  for  the  market  came  to  a  sudden 
termination,  while  sheep  and  beef  breeds  of  cattle  practically  disap- 
peared from  the  farms. 

After  a,  time,  however,  the  situation  began  to  improve ;  the  rain- 
fall increased,  parasites  preyed  on  the  clover  insect  enemies  and 
clover  again  grew  on  well  managed  farms,  although  not  with  its 
old-time  luxuriance;  prices  of  farm  produce  improved,  but  live- 
stock farming  has  never  regained  its  former  importance,  nor,  as 
a  rule,  its  former  profit. 

Development  of  the  Grape  Industry 

Out  of  the  hardships  of  the  lean  years  was  born  the  great  grape- 
growing  industry.    It  is  true  that  for  years  prior  to  1890  the  grow- 


330  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

ing  of  grapes  and  other  fruits  in  what  is  known  as  the  Lawton  dis- 
trict was  a  business  of  some  magnitude,  but  the  carloads  shipped 
each  year  were  numbered  by  the  score  and  not  by  the  thousand. 
In  1868  A.  B.  Jones  of  Lawton  set  out  a  plantation  of  one  hun- 
dred grape  vines,  Concords  and  Delawares.  That  year,  or  the 
next,  N.  H.  Bitely,  planted  a  small  vineyard.  Mr.  Jones  made  the 
first  shipment  of  grapes,  sending  them  to  Lansing,  where  they  sold 
from  twelve  to  fifteen  cents  per  pound.  These  grapes,  after  being 
picked,  were  "wilted"  for  twenty-four  hour's,  picked  over  and 
packed  with  great  care.  Mr.  Jones,  in  speaking  of  his  second  crop, 
said  :  ' '  The  grapes  were  put  up  in  three-pound  baskets  and  crated, 
twelve  baskets  to  the  crate. "  This  fruit  was  also  shipped  to  Lan- 
sing and  sold  as  high  as  nine  dollars  per  crate./ The  soil  and  cli- 
matic conditions  proved  to  be  exceptionally  favorable  for  produc- 
ing good  crops  of  finely  flavored  grapes,  and  as  their  culture  was 
found  profitable  the  industry  steadily  extended.  In  1890  there 
was  a  considerable  acreage  devoted  to  vineyards.  This  area  rapidly 
increased  during  the  years  immediately  following.  The  introduc- 
tion of  the  eight-pound  basket  and  of  refrigerator  cars  widely  ex- 
tended the  market. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  nineties  the  great  majority  of  the  grow- 
ers were  getting  substantial  incomes  from  their  vineyards.  Then 
it  was  that  hundreds  of  the  farmers  of  the  eastern  part  of  the 
county,  suffering  from  the  low  prices  of  the  "lean  years,"  turned 
their  attention  to  this  new  industry.  Thousands  of  acres  of  grapes 
were  planted.  The  years  of  low  prices  and  hard  times  were  passing, 
and  the  first  crops  from  their  new  vineyards  were  very  profitable. 
Then  came  the  "boom;"  men  with  no  experience  in  farming  and 
having  no  knowledge  of  agriculture,  bought  vineyards  "set  out  to 
sell,"  or  bought  land  and  planted  vineyards  of  twenty,  thirty  or 
forty  acres  in  extent.  On  lowlands  and  highlands,  on  table-lands 
and  in  valleys  and  frost  holes,  on  steep  side  hills,  on  sand  and  on 
the  best  of  beech  and  maple  timbered  lands,  grapes  were  set  by  en- 
thusiastic amateurs.  A  new  era  of  prosperity,  greater  than  the 
old,  seemed  to  have  set  in. 

And  then  the  inevitable  happened.  Men  who  tried  to  raise 
grapes  at  long  range  found  it  impossible  to  hire  sufficient  numbers 
of  men,  skilled  in  the  details  of  grape  growing.  Spring  frosts  cut 
short  the  crops  on  land  that  lacked  air  drainage;  the  great  freeze 
of  October,  1906,  completely  destroyed  a  large  portion  of  that 
year's  crop  and,  to  a  great  extent,  killed  the  buds  that  should  have 
produced  the  crop  of  1907.  The  cut-worm,  the  rose  bug  and  other 
insects  exacted  a  heavy  toll  and,  to  crown  all,  the  dreaded  "black 
rot"  overspread  the  grape  growing  district.  Many  men  who  had 
so  enthusiastically  rushed  into  the  industry  found  it  wise  to  get 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  331 

out.  Hundreds  of  acres  of  vineyards  were  pulled  and  many  others 
have  been  woefully  neglected.  The  greater  number  of  the  grow- 
ers, however,  have  stuck  manfully  to  their  task.  They  have  learned 
to  handle  spraying  machinery;  they  have  mastered  the  chemistry 
of  sprays  and  the  method  of  their  proper  and  effectual  application. 
The  great  yields  of  1908,  1909  and  1911  have  demonstrated  the 
ability  of  Van  Buren  county  vineyardists  to  grow  grapes,  but  the 
problem  of  marketing  crops  that  are  numbered  by  the  thousands  of 
car-loads,  in  such  manner  as  shall  leave  a  profit  for  the  producer, 
is  yet  to  be  solved 

Van  Buren  county,  because  of  its  proximity  to  great  markets, 
its  varied  soils,  and  its  especially  favorable  climatic  conditions, 
will  always  be  a  great  fruit-producing  region.  The  grape,  the 
peach  and  the  apple  grow  to  a  degree  of  perfection  not  surpassed 
in  any  portion  of  the  country.  The  great  muck  beds,  once  the 
home  of  the  fragrant  peppermint,  about  which  a  chapter  might  be 
written,  are  rapidly  being  utilized  for  less  exhaustive  and,  in  the 
long  run,  more  remunerative  crops,  while  the  great  diversity  of 
upland  affords  the  opportunity  for  an  equally  varied  system 
of  agriculture.  The  disadvantages  of  the  rural  home  are  being 
gradually  eliminated  by  modern  inventive  genius;  country  life  is 
becoming  more  desirable,  and  when  the  time  shall  come,  as  it  will, 
that  the  profits  of  agriculture  equal  those  of  other  industries,  then 
the  population  will  flow  toward  the  farm,  instead  of  away  from  it. 
When  that  time  comes,  men  better  educated  and  better  trained  than 
we  are,  working  in  the  light  of  greater  knowledge,  will  develop 
systems  of  agriculture  that  will  enrich  rather  than  deplete  the  soil 
and,  at  the  same  time,  will  continue  to  provide  ample  supplies  of 
food  for  the  people. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

TALES  OF  THE  OLDEN  DAY 

Decatur  War  Scare — Snow  Not  Turned  to  Oil — Fight  with 
a  Wolf  Pack — Wolf  Bounties — Woods  Full  of  "Painters" 
— Mrs.  Rice's  Reminiscences — Narrow  Escape  of  Edwin 
Mears — Indian  Mounds  in  Lawrence  Township — Joseph 
Woodman  Locates  at  Paw  Paw  (1835) — Stories  by  Mrs. 
Nancy  (Hicks)  Bowen — "Good  Times"  of  the  Olden  Day. 

It  is  related  that  just  after  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war,  a 
meteor  fell  on  the  south  side  of  the  great  Decatur  swamp,  with  a 
loud  explosion,  and  which  was  the  occasion  of  a  good  deal  of  ex- 
citement. One  valiant  and  brave  citizen  of  the  village,  it  is  said, 
was  sure  that  the  commotion  was  occasioned  by  the  advance  of  a 
column  of  the  enemy  on  the  peaceful  village  of  Decatur.  He 
rushed  into  his  home  in  great  excitement  shouting  "The  rebels 
are  shelling  us,  the  rebels  are  shelling  us ! ' '  and  proceeded  to  bar- 
ricade the  doors  and  windows,  put  his  family  under  arms,  and, 
seizing  his  trusty  fowling  piece,  he  declared  that  he  was  ready  for 
them  and  that  he  would  guarantee  to  whip  a  dozen  rebels  single 
handed.  His  misunderstanding  of  the  cause  of  the  explosion  was 
the  occasion  of  much  merriment  and  "joshing"  at  his  expense. 

Snow  Not  Turned  to  Oil 

During  the  "hard  winter"  of  1842-3  a  considerable  number  of 
the  inhabitants  in  some  parts  of  the  county  became  much  exercised 
over  the  predicted  approaching  "end  of  the  world."  This  was  the 
time  when  "Millerism"  was  rampant  and  great  numbers  of  people 
in  different  parts  of  the  country  so  firmly  believed  the  prediction 
that  they  gave  away  their  property  and  prepared  their  "ascension 
robes."  The  idea  of  some  of  the  people  who  placed  credence  in 
Miller's  prophesies  was  that  the  great  body  of  snow  that  had  fallen 
would,  by  some  miraculous  power,  be  turned  to  oil  and  set  on  fire, 
thus  destroying  the  entire  world.  It  is  certain  that  this  notion  be- 
came so  prevalent  as  to  cause  no  little  uneasiness  in  the  minds  of 
superstitious   people,   which   was  only   dispelled  when   the   warm 

332 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  333 

spring  rains  and  the   soft  southern   breezes  turned  the   snow  to 
water  instead  of  oil. 

Fight  with  a  Wolf  Pack 

Wolf  stories  without  number  are  related  by  the  earlier  settlers 
of  the  county.  The  following  incident  was  told  by  the  late  Robert 
Nesbitt,  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  Hamilton  and  who  made 
the  first  entry  of  government  land  in  that  township.  Coming 
home  on  foot  from  Kalamazoo  and  while  passing  through  the  for- 
est about  night-fall,  he  was  attacked  by  a  pack  of  ravenous  wolves. 
He  lost  no  time  in  climbing  a  tree.  He  was  only  about  a  mile  from 
his  home,  and  from  the  tree-top  he  could  plainly  see  the  light  in 
his  cabin.  The  wolves  surrounded  the  tree  and,  with  savage  howls, 
waited  for  him  to  descend.  The  weather  was  bitterly  cold  and  Mr. 
Nesbitt  soon  realized  that  it  was  up  to  him  to  "get  a  move  on/" 
as  there  was  no  possibility  of  any  outside  aid.  Being  wholly  un- 
armed, he  cut  a  heavy  club  and  determined  to  make  a  fight  for  life. 
He  descended  rapidly  and  made  such  a  vigorous  onslaught  on 
the  hungry  pack  that  they  fell  back.  Taking  advantage  of  the 
opportunity,  he  ran  to  another  tree  and  braced  himself  for  battle, 
with  his  enemies,  which  had  returned  to  the  charge.  In  this  man- 
ner he  fought  his  way  to  the  shelter  of  his  cabin,  which  he  reached 
in  safety,  although  nearly  exhausted  with  the  strenuous  fight  and 
the  attending  excitement. 

Wolf  Bounties 

During  the  earlier  years  after  the  organization  of  the  county 
both  the  county  and  the  state  paid  a  bounty  on  wolves.  At  their 
first  meeting  the  board  of  supervisors  "voted  to  pay  five  dollars 
per  head  for  each  wolf  and  panther  which  may  be  killed  during  the 
ensuing  year."  The  state,  at  the  same  time,  was  paying  a  bounty 
of  eight  dollars,  so  that  wolves  (dead  ones)  were  worth  thirteen  dol- 
lars apiece.  The  following  named  hunters  received  such  bounties 
during  the  year :  Luther  Branch,  four  wolves ;  John  Condon,  three ; 
Joseph  Butler,  one;  Cahcah,  an  Indian,  one.  In  1838  the  county 
bounty  was  raised  to  eight  dollars,  but  the  next  year  it  was  re- 
duced to  four.  Bounties  were  paid  for  twenty-four  wolves  during 
that  year.  From  1840  to  1847,  inclusive,  bounty  was  paid  on 
sixty-eight  slaughtered  wolves  and  wolf  whelps.  The  breeding  of 
wolf  whelps  seems  to  have  been  a  growing  industry,  and  in  1844 
the  supervisors  reduced  the  bounty  on  baby  wolves  to  the  meager 
sum  of  $2.40,  which  seemed  to  put  a  quietus  on  what  promised  to 
be  a  remunerative  occupation.     There  is  no  record  of  the  payment 


334  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

of   any   bounty   for  killing  a   panther.      Evidently   those   savage 
beasts  were  not  very  abundant. 

Woods  Full  of  "Painters" 

Apropos  of  panthers,  the  following  amusing  story  related  by 
one  Abe  Norwood,  who  was  knowing  to  the  circumstances,  may  not 
be  out  of  place.  Two  young  men,  Will  Shutter  and  Zade  Rose- 
brook,  brothers-in-law,  many  years  ago  planned  to  have  a  little 
sport  at  the  expense  of  the  good  people  of  the  township  of  Ham- 
ilton. They  took  a  tin  can  and  punched  a  hole  in  the  bottom,  and 
through  this  hole  passed  a  stout  linen  string,  which  was  then  well 
resined.  To  operate  the  machine  the  string  was  held  taut  and 
drawn  back  and  forth  through  the  hole.  It  required  some  prac- 
tice to  get  the  best  effect.  The  result  was  a  noise  resembling  the 
growl  of  some  savage  beast  or  the  scream  of  a  panther  (They  used 
to  call  them  " painters"  in  those  early  days).  When  everything 
was  in  readiness,  one  of  the  boys  went  to  the  house  of  one  of  the 
residents  and  said  he  had  heard  an  awful  strange  noise  as  he  was 
passing  through  the  woods  and  that  he  thought  it  must  be  made 
by  some  wild  beast.  Going  out  of  doors  they  listened,  and  sure 
enough  they  could  hear  the  sound,  but  it  was  hard  to  locate,  some- 
times seeming  near  and  the  next  minute  far  away.  Next  day  all 
the  people  in  the  vicinity  knew  about  the  exciting  news,  and  it 
was  planned  to  put  an  end  to  the  " panther/'  as  the  people  be- 
lieved it  to  be.  They  did  not  succeed  in  finding  the  beast  although 
they  heard  it  first  in  one  direction  and  then  in  another.  Night 
after  night  the  thing  went  on.  Although  the  creature  was  so  timid 
that  no  one  could  get  near  enough  to  see  it,  the  people  were  as 
timid  as  the  supposed  wild  animal  and  went  armed  when  they  had 
to  pass  through  the  haunted  neighborhood. 

The  narrator  of  the  incident  says :  "I  remember  one  night  a 
wagon  load  of  armed  men  drove  up  to  a  squad  of  hunters  who  were 
listening  to  the  growler.  They  did  not  get  out  of  the  wagon. 
They  could  hear  just  as  well  in  it.  Besides,  if  the  beast  should 
make  a  charge,  those  in  the  wagon  would  be  in  the  safer  position. 
They  could  fight  just  as  well  and  in  case  of  being:  compelled  to  make 
a  speedy  retreat  they  would  save  the  time  required  to  clamber  into 
the  vehicle  and  would  be  in  less  danger  of  being  left  at  the  mercy 
of  the  fierce  growler. 

"Rosebrook's  wife  being  in  the  secret,  told  a  chum  and  she  told 
her  husband  and  he  in  turn  told  another  man  and  they  each  made 
a  "panther"  and  went  into  the  forest  to  help  the  boys  carry  on 
the  farce.  And  so  it  seemed  as  though  the  woods  were  full  of  wild 
animals.     It  was  several  weeks  before  the  secret  of  the  scare  was 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  335 

revealed  and  then  there  were  a  lot  of  mad  fellows.  Some  were  so 
angry  that  they  threatened  to  prosecute  the  originators  of  the 
affair  and  actually  went  to  see  the  public  prosecutor  in  regard 
to  the  matter.  After  listening  to  their  story  he  laughed  at  them 
and  told  them  to  go  home  and  let  the  boys  alone,  for  they  had  hurt 
nobody  and  that  he  thought  it  a  pretty  good  joke. 

Mrs.  Rice's  Reminiscences 

Mrs.  Allen  Rice,  of  Lawrence,  says:  "I  think  I  am  the  oldest 
person  that  has  lived  in  Lawrence  since  1837.  (I  am  inclined  to 
think  she  is  the  only  one. — Editor.)  My  father  moved  his  fam- 
ily to  Lawrence  in  1837,  when  I  was  in  my  fourteenth  year. 

"My  father,  Uriel  T.  Barnes,  was  the  first  settler  between  Law- 
rence and  Breedsville,  and  in  comfortable  weather  there  were  very 
few  nights  that  we  were  not  called  upon  to  entertain  people  going 
to  or  returning  from  Paw  Paw,  which  wras  the  nearest  place  where 
supplies  could  be  obtained,  and  settlers  from  the  north  and  east 
could  not  make  the  trip  in  a  single  day.  The  usual  reward  for 
the  entertainment  was  '  Thank  you,  Uncle  Barnes.  When  you 
come  our  way,  call  on  us. '  The  pioneers  were  poor,  but  were  glad 
to  help  each  other. 

"The  general  election  of  1840  was  held  at  my  father's  house 
and  my  mother  and  I  cooked  dinner  for  the  town  board  and  as 
many  of  th  voters  as  cared  to  partake. 

"Thanksgiving  evening  of  the  second  autumn  of  our  wilderness 
life,  we  were  surprised  to  see  a  group  of  eight  men  emerging  from 
the  woods.  They  were  the  captain  and  crew  of  a  schooner  wrecked 
at  the  mouth  of  Black  river  (now  the  city  of  South  Haven). 
Guided  by  their  compass,  they  had  found  their  way  to  the  '  Barnes 
Place,'  where  they  were  entertained  over  night,  when  they  went 
their  way  hoping  to  find  some  conveyance  to  St.  Joseph. 

"After  the  road  was  opened  from  Lawrence  to  Breedsville,  a 
postoffice  was  established  at  Lawrence  and  John  R.  Haynes  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster.  It  was  the  custom  that  whoever  went  to  Paw 
Paw  on  Friday  should  bring  in  the  mail.  That  was  the  day  that 
we  expected  to  receive  the  weekly  mail.  Letters  cost  twenty-five 
cents  apiece,  payable  by  the  receiver.  There  was  no  talk  of  '  penny 
postage'  in  those  days.  On  one  occasion  James  Gray,  who  lived 
a  mile  or  so  east  of  the  postoffice,  brought  in  the  mail.  Three 
young  girls,  of  whom  I  was  one,  called  at  his  place  and  Mr.  Gray 
jestingly  remarked  'now  you  girls  can  carry  the  mail  and  save  me 
the  journey.'  We  took  him  at  his  word  and  thought  it  a  great 
lark.  We  hung  the  mail  on  a  stick  and  a  girl  at  each  end  carried 
it  along.     It  wasn't  very  heavy. 


336  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

''The  first  Fourth  of  July  celebration  took  place,  I  think,  in 
1839.  (Mrs.  Rice  evidently  has  too  early  a  date.  See  Mrs.  Bow- 
en's  allusion  to  this  same  event. — Editor.)  Some  of  the  women 
thought  we  should  have  a  celebration  and  decided  to  undertake  it. 
They  would  invite  all  the  settlers  to  join  with  them.  Two  of  the 
ladies  planned  to  put  the  milk  of  their  cows  together  and  make  a 
cheese  which  would  be  ripened  sufficiently  to  be  eaten  by  the  time 
of  the  celebration.  The  pioneers  were  pleased  with  the  plan  and 
joined  in  heartily.  A  table  was  set  in  the  woods  near  where  the 
Shultz  store  nowr  is  and  spread  with  such  dainties  as  the  times  af- 
forded. Pies  made  from  huckleberries  and  wild  gooseberries,  cakes 
made  with  maple  sugar,  chickens  and  partridges,  and  to  cap  the 
climax,  a  young  man  named  De  Long  brought  in  a  deer  roasted 
whole,  with  head  and  horns  still  on  and  a  knife  and  fork  stuck  in 
its  back.  It  was  braced  so  that  it  stood  up  on  its  feet  as  in  life. 
The  people  assembled  in  the  schoolhouse  where  patriotic  exercises 
were  held.  The  Declaration  of  Independence  was  read,  a  young 
man  sang  '  The  Star-Spangled  Banner, '  and  John  Mellen,  the  black- 
smith, furnished  his  anvil,  and  considerable  powder  was  burned — 
the  first  time  the  surrounding  forest  was  ever  awakened  by  the 
echoes  of  a  patriotic  celebration  of  the  birthday  of  Freedom. " 

Mrs.  Rice  relates  how  young  Allen  Rice,  afterward  her  husband, 
met  with  a  pack  of  wolves  in  the  forest,  in  the  winter  of  1837. 
The  trees  wrere  too  large  to  climb  and  he  was  some  distance  from 
home.  He  armed  himself  with  a  cudgel  and  made  the  best  time 
possible  out  of  the  woods,  escaping  with  nothing,  more  serious  than 
a  bad  scare.  She  says:  "The  first  sheep  were  brought  into  the 
township  in  1841  or  1842  by  Nelson  Marshall.  My  father  bought 
six  and  I  bought  two  with  money  I  had  earned  teaching.  Late  the 
next  fall  all  of  father's  sheep,  except  the  buck,  were  killed  by 
wolves,  while  they  spared  mine,  and  so  my  sheep  became  the  basis 
of  the  flock  which  my  father  afterward  raised. 

"Those  pioneer  days  were  not  free  from  tragedies.  I  recall 
one  as  I  write.  It  was  in  the  fall  of  1841.  The  weather  was  very 
dry  and  the  leaves  were  falling  and  forest  fires  were  burning. 
Warren  Van  Fleet  had  harvested  his  first  crop  of  wheat,  which  was 
stacked  a  few  rods  from  the  house.  His  wife  was  alone  with  her 
babe,  just  old  enough  to  sit  alone.  Fearing  that  the  fire  would 
reach  the  wheat,  she  placed  the  child  in  a  place  that  she  thought 
was  entirely  safe  and  began  to  rake  back  the  leaves  to  prevent  the 
flames  from  reaching  the  stack.  Suddenly  she  heard  the  screams 
of  the  little  one  and  saw  it  enveloped  in  flames.  The  wind  had 
carried  a  burning  leaf  to  the  straw  where  the  child  sat.  The  poor 
little  thing  lived  but  a  short  time  and  died  in  great  agony. 

"In  1840  Norman  Bierce,  'Uncle  Norman'  as  he  was  afterward 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  337 

familiarly  known,  came  to  Lawrence  and  set  up  a  turning  lathe 
and  began  the  manufacture  of  chairs,  bedsteads  and  spinning 
wheels.  I  have  now  in  my  possession  a  wheel  on  which  I  have  spun 
yarn  to  make  many  yards  of  flannel,  specimens  of  which  I  still  re- 
tain, also  several  chairs,  a  rolling  pin  and  a  neat  wooden  cup 
holding  about  half  a  pint,  all  of  Uncle  Norman's'  make." 

Narrow  Escape  of  Edwin  Mears 

About  the  year  1836,  Edwin  Mears,  a  young  man  living  in  Paw 
Paw,  with  a  half  dozen  or  so  companions,  set  out  on  a  hunting 
expedition.  Young  Mears  became  separated  from  his  companions 
and  could  neither  find  them  nor  could  he  find  his  way  home.  He 
wandered  in  the  forest  for  four  days  and  nights,  suffering  ter- 
ribly with  cold  and  hunger.  At  the  end  of  the  fourth  day  he 
found  himself  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  many  miles  from 
home.  He  had  about  made  up  his  mind  that  he  would  surely  per- 
ish, when  he  heard  voices  and  was  rescued  by  a  searching  party 
that  had  set  out  to  find  him.  He  was  so  nearly  dead  that  it  was 
feared  for  a  time  that  he  would  not  recover  from  the  effects  of  his 
terrible  experience,  but  he  survived  the  ordeal  and  lived  for  many 
a  long  year  thereafter. 

Indian  Mounds  in  Lawrence  Township 

There  were  well  defined  traces  of  what  were  called  "Indian 
mounds"  in  the  township  of  Lawrence,  especially  on  sections  seven 
and  eighteen.  Just  north  of  Sutton's  lake  were  three  of  these 
mounds,  each  about  four  feet  in  height.  They  were  located  in  the 
form  of  a  triangle  and  were  about  ten  feet  apart.  Other  smaller 
mounds  were  found  on  section  eighteen.  A  hunter  opened  one  of 
these  mounds  in  1843  and  discovered  human  bones,  arrow  heads, 
etc.  At  that  time  trees  a  foot  and  a  half  in  diameter  were  grow- 
ing on  some  of  the  mounds.  The  Indians  had  no  tradition  concern- 
ing them  and  it  is  generally  thought  that  they  were  the  burial 
places  of  some  prehistoric  race.  This  is  all  the  more  probable 
from  the  fact  that  although  the  Indians  used  these  arrow  heads 
when  they  became  possessed  of  them,  they  did  not,  themselves, 
make  them. 

Joseph  Woodman  Locates  at  Paw  Paw  (1835) 

Joseph  Woodman,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  township  of 
Antwerp,  related  the  following  experience :  "  I  landed  at  Detroit, ' ' 
said  Mr.  Woodman,  "in  the  spring  of  1835,  and  made  my  way  to 

Vol.  1—22 


338  HISTOEY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY 

Kalamazoo,  through  mud  and  mire,  with  two  teams,  a  span  of 
horses  and  a  yoke  of  oxen,  and  I  often  had  to  double  up  my  teams 
in  order  to  get  through.  I  frequently  met  stages,  with  the  pas- 
sengers on  foot,  carrying  rails  or  poles  with  which  to  pry  the  ve- 
hicles out  of  the  mud  holes.  They  said  it  was  hard  fare  and  that 
the  driver  wanted. them  to  carry  two  rails  apiece,  but  they  couldn't 
see  it  that  way. 

"I  started  alone  from  Kalamazoo  for  Paw  Paw,  eighteen  miles 
distant.  I  was  told  that  I  could  not  get  through  that  night;  that 
I  would  be  eaten  by  wolves,  but  being  young  and  vigorous  I 
pushed  on  and,  without  mishap,  reached  a  cabin  known  as  Dodge 's 
tavern  standing  upon  the  site  of  the  now  flourishing  village  of 
Paw  Paw.  The  next  day,  Saturday,  in  company  with  Silas  Breed,  I 
went  land-viewing  and  returned  to  the  tavern  that  evening.  I 
asked  Dodge  if  they  had  Divine  worship,  and  was  answered  in  the 
negative.  I  told  him  we  had  a  minister  in  our  party — Mr.  Wood- 
man was  himself  a  clergyman — and  that  we  would  have  a  meeting 
Sunday,  which  we  did,  holding  it  in  a  slab  shanty.  The  next  day, 
I  went  out  on  the  Territorial  road  and  located  my  land.  I  brought 
my  family  on  from  Kalamazoo — wife  and  six  children — and  es- 
tablished them  in  a  blacksmith  shop,  Eodney  Hinckley's  shop  in 
Paw  Paw.  I  built  a  log  house  into  which  I  moved  on  the  10th 
of  May,  1835.  I  went  to  clearing  land,  plowed  seven  acres  with  a 
wooden  plow,  and  raised  a  fine  crop  of  corn,  potatoes  and  other 
vegetables. ' ' 

Stories  by  Mrs.  Nancy  (Hicks)  Bowen 

Mrs.  Nancy  (Hicks)  Bowen  has  told  of  some  of  her  interesting 
pioneer  experiences.  She  says:  "We  came  from  the  state  of  New 
York  in  1845.  Our  first  home  was  in  the  township  of  Arlington. 
There  were  twenty  acres  cleared  on  the  place;  the  rest  was  heavy 
timbered  land  and  the  forest  reached  for  miles  around.  We  had 
one  neighbor,  a  mile  and  a  half  distant.  Myself  and  husband  and 
a  little  one  year  old  girl  constituted  our  family.  It  was  useless  to 
think  of  fruit.  I  made  mince  pies,  using  pumpkin  instead  of  ap- 
ples, and  venison  instead  of  beef.  I  well  remember  my  uncle  call- 
ing on  me  one  time  on  his  way  home.  He  was  tired  and  hungry 
and  I  gave  him  a  lunch.  When  he  came  to  his  pie  he  said  'Why, 
Nancy,  where  did  you  find  apples?'  He  could  hardly  believe  me 
when  I  told  him  what  I  had  used.  Our  house  was  of  logs,  with  a 
chimney  in  the  center  which  supported  three  fire-places.  I  did 
my  baking  in  a  tin  oven  placed  before  the  fire,  or  in  a  bake  kettle. 
(The  present  generation  will  need  to  go  to  their  grandmothers  to 
find  out  what  a  tin  oven  was,  or  how  their  ancestors  baked  in  a 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  339 

bake  kettle. — Editor.)  I  was  ironing  one  evening  and  stepped  out 
of  doors  to  get  some  wood.  I  noticed  a  black  log  lying  by  the 
wood  pile  and  wondered  that  I  had  not  noticed  it  before.  The 
next  morning  the  'log'  was  gone.  It  was  a  bear.  We  soon  found 
that  the  bears  would  come  in  the  night  and  try  to  get  our  pigs  out 
of  the  pen.  There  were  a  good  many  hogs  running  in  the  woods, 
and  sometimes  there  would  come  a  drove  of  them  near  the  clear- 
ing with  their  shoulders  and  sides  torn  and  bleeding  where  the 
bears  had  bitten  them.  The  woods  were  full  of  bears,  deer,  wolves, 
foxes,  wildcats,  wild  turkeys  and  many  other  kinds  of  game.  My 
husband  and  Mr.  De  Long  once  sat  up  all  night  to  roast  a  deer 
they  had  killed.  They  took  it  to  the  first  Fourth  of  July  celebra- 
tion held  at  Brush  Creek  (now  Lawrence)  where  they  arranged 
it  to  stand  on  the  table,  as  it  stood  in  life. 

"We  then  had  two  children,  and  all  the  latter  part  of  the  fall 
they  were  both  sick.  The  little  boy  had  the  ague  for  a  long  time 
and  the  little  girl  had  erysipelas.  Her  father  thought  he'd  better 
take  her  to  Paw  Paw  to  see  a  doctor.  He  had  to  go  on  horseback, 
a  distance  of  about  eight  miles,  or  else  with  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  a 
lumber  wagon — there  were  no  carriages  in  those  days.  So  he  got 
ready,  with  a  pillow  in  his  lap  for  the  little  girl,  Mertice,  to  sit 
on.  The  doctor  readily  told  him  the  trouble  and  also  gave  him 
some  medicine  for  the  boy.  We  had  something  of  a  task  in  those 
days  to  care  for  our  children  and  do  the  work  that  had  to  be  done. 
"One  winter  there  was  a  good  deal  of  excitement  about  the 
Indians.  It  was  said  that  they  were  going  to  Canada  to  prepare 
to  fight  the  people  of  Michigan.  Indians  and  snakes  were  my 
greatest  fears  of  life  in  the  wilderness.  One  night  we  were 
aroused  from  sleep  by  a  noise  and  a  light  shining  through  the 
window.  There  were  several  Indians  at  the  door  who  wanted  to 
come  in  and  stay  for  the  night.  It  was  cold  and  rainy  and  Mr. 
Bowen  let  them  in.  They  built  a  fire  and  lay  down  in  front  of  it, 
but  it  was  little  sleep  I  got  the  remainder  of  that  night. 

"In  the  spring  of  1848  Mr.  Bowen  rented  the  place  and  we 
packed  up  our  things  intending  to  go  back  east,  but  when  we  got 
to  Paw  Paw  Judge  Dyckman  prevailed  on  Mr.  Bowen  to  abandon 
the  eastern  trip  and  go  to  Pine  Grove,  and  so,  on  the  2d  day  of 
July,  we  went  there  into  what  was  to  be  a  boarding  house.  It 
was  an  unfinished  log  house,  without  doors  or  windows,  and  the 
floor  was  laid  down  just  as  the  boards  came  from  the  mill.  Three 
days  afterward  twelve  men  came  to  work  and  the  family  num- 
bered from  that  to  twenty  until  the  last  of  the  next  March.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  a  number  of  families  came  there  to  live  and  we  had 
a  good  neighborhood  there  in  the  woods.  The  next  nearest  set- 
tlement was  two  miles  distant,  with  'blazed'  trees  to  mark  the  way. 


340  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

"That  spring  Mr.  Bo  wen  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace.  He 
married  one  couple  and  took  venison  for  pay.  During  the  early 
part  of  that  summer  the  youngsters  thought  they  would  have  a 
little  sport  with  a  newly  married  couple,  just  across  the  way  from 
our  house,  by  giving  them  a  little  music,  what  would  now  be  called 
a  charivari.  Accidentally  a  gun  was  fired  into  the  crowTd.  The 
charge  struck  Jim  Clark,  passing  through  his  lungs.  It  was  six 
weeks  before  he  could  be  removed  to  his  home,  but  he  eventually 
recovered  from  the  wound. 

"In  1851  Mr.  Bowen  bought  a  farm  a  little  east  of  Paw  Paw. 
"We  moved  there  in  January  of  that  year.  All  the  next  summer 
the  children  and  I  used  to  work  days  and  nights  until  eleven  or 
twelve  o'clock,  clearing  up  brush  and  the  roots  that  were  plowed 
up.  In  1853  we  had  four  children,  two  girls  and  two  boys,  and 
they  were  all  taken  sick  with  scarlet  fever.  My  mother  came 
down  to  stay  with  us  one  Wednesday  night.  She  went  home  at 
noon  and  died  before  sundown.  Our  youngest  daughter  died  on 
Tuesday  evening  following  and  our  little  boy  the  next  Saturday. 
The  other  two  were  not  expected  to  live,  but  by  the  mercy  of  the 
Heavenly  Father  they  were  spared  and  eventually  became  es- 
tablished in  homes  of  their  own.  Mr.  Bowen  sold  his  place  and  we 
went  east,  but  we  returned  to  Michigan  the  following  year  and 
bought  another  place  on  which  we  made  our  home." 

These  reminiscences  were  written  by  Mrs.  Bowen  in  1902.  She 
concluded  them  by  saying:  "I  have  been  a  widow  over  ten  years 
and  now  am  nearly  eighty  years  old."  But  recently  she  passed 
into  the  "Great  Beyond." 

"Good  Times"  of  the  Olden  Day 

These  reminiscences  might  be  multiplied  indefinitely,  but 
enough  has  been  written  to  show  the  hardships  that  those  hardy 
pioneers  of  this  beautiful  and  fertile  county  had  to  bear;  the 
trials  and  tribulations  they  had  to  undergo,  that  we  who  have  suc- 
ceeded to  the  result  of  their  labors  might  enjoy  the  fair  heritage 
they  left  behind  them.  After  all,  it  is  likely  that  they  enjoyed  life 
equally  as  well  as  do  their  descendants.  They  knew  nothing  of 
many  things  that  we  think  are  indispensable,  but,  on  the  other 
hand,  there  were  many  things  that  contributed  to  their  happiness 
that  we,  their  successors,  know  nothing  of  except  by  hearsay. 

We  must  not  think  that  they  or  their  children  were  without  the 
means  of  enjoying  themselves  in  those  primitive  days.  Think  of 
a  load  of  fifteen  or  twenty  young  people  piled  into  the  box  of  a 
double  sleigh,  half  filled  with  bright,  clean  straw,  and  drawn  by 
a  yoke  of  oxen,  going  for  miles  through  the  crisp  winter  air  to  a 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  341 

spelling  school,  or  a  debating  school — the  two  were  quite  generally 
combined — and  returning  in  the  "wee  sma  hours' '  of  the  morning, 
making  the  forests  ring  with  their  merry  shouts,  laughter  and 
songs.  Be  honest  now,  you  grandfathers  and  grandmothers — 
wasn't  it  pure  and  unadulterated  fun?  And  wouldn't  you  like  to 
try  it  just  once  more  before  you  shuffle  off  this  mortal  coil?  I 
would. 

And  in  the  summer  time  there  were  parties  and  country  dances 
at  which  we  all  gathered.  We  didn't  have  any  orchestra,  not  even 
a  violinist;  only  just  a  fiddler;  and  how  he  could  play  "Money 
Musk"  and  the  two  or  three  other  tunes  that  he  knew!  No  writ- 
ten score  for  him.  He  didn't  play  "by  note" — not  he;  his  fiddle 
and  his  bow  and  a  piece  of  "rosin"  were  all  he  needed,  and  he 
could  and  would  play  from  early  in  the  evening  until  daylight  in 
the  morning.  And  the  way  he  could  "call  off"  was  simply  de- 
lightful. We  can  hear  him  yet:  "All  join  hands  and  circle  to  the 
left;"  "right  and  left  all;"  "change  partners;"  "grand  right 
and  left,"  and  so  on  throughout  the  quadrille — we  called  them 
cotillons — and  every  girl  and  boy  was  sorry  when  the  end  of  the 
figure  was  reached  and  the  call  came  "seat  your  partners;"  and 
every  one  was  ready  for  the  floor  for  the  next  dance.  And  we  did 
not  dance  on  waxed  floors  in  elegantly  furnished  ball  rooms,  but 
in  private  houses.  It  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  a  merry  party 
of  girls  and  boys  to  take  possession,  uninvited,  and  pull  up  the 
home-made  carpets,  if  any  such  thing  there  happened  to  be,  and 
proceed  with  the  festivities. 

And  the  boys  were  as  much  addicted  to  athletic  games  as  are 
the  youths  of  the  present  day.  They  could  run  races,  wrestle — 
they  called  it  rassling — play  "pom-pom-pullaway, "  and  ball  ("one 
old  cat"  and  "two  old  cat") — yes,  and  even  base  ball;  but  the 
latter  was  not  the  highly  developed,  scientific  game  of  today.  It- 
was  not  played  by  "hired  men,"  but  by  both  youths  and  "grown- 
ups" for  the  pure  enjoyment  of  the  game,  and  it  wras  "lots  of 
fun."      * 

Let  no  one  think  for  a  moment  that  the  young  people  of  those 
primitive  days  did  not  have  as  many  "good  times,"  as  do  the 
youths  of  the  twentieth  century.  It  is  indeed  a  far  cry  from  the 
ox  sled  to  the  automobile,  from  the  log  cabin  to  the  stately  man- 
sion, from  the  once-a-week  mail  to  the  daily  free  delivery,  from 
the  spelling-book  to  the  Carnegie  library,  but  none  of  these  mod- 
ern luxuries  of  life — we  have  grown  to  call  them  necessities — 
were  needed  that  life  might  be  pleasant  and  enjoyable.  But  the 
times  are  changed,  and  we  are  changed  with  them. 


CHAPTER  XV 

FINANCIAL  AND  OTHER  INSTITUTIONS 

First  National  Bank,  Paw  Paw — The  Paw  Paw  Savings  Bank — 
First  National  Bank,  South  Haven — The  Citizens  State 
Bank,  and  First  State  Bank,  South  Haven — Banks  of  Deca- 
tur— Hartford  Banks — West  Michigan  Savings  Bank,  Ban- 
gor— The  Peoples  Bank  of  Bloomingdale — At  Gobleville, 
Covert,  Lawrence  and  Lawton — South  Haven  Loan  and  Trust 
Company — Van  Buren  County  Farmers  Mutual  Fire  Insur- 
ance Company — Telegraph  and  Telephone  Lines. 

There  are  fourteen  institutions  in  Van  Buren  county  that  do 
a  general  banking  business.  Two  of  them  are  located  in  Paw  Paw, 
two  in  South  Haven,  two  in  Decatur,  two  in  Hartford,  one  in 
Covert,  one  in  Lawrence,  one  in  Lawton,  one  in  Gobleville,  one  in 
Bloomingdale  and  one  in  Bangor.  The  combined  paid-up  capital 
of  these  institutions  is  upwards  of  $400,000,  besides  undivided 
profits  and  surplus  amounting  to  about  $250,000.  The  combined 
commercial  and  savings  deposits  in  these  fourteen  banking  insti- 
tutions amount  to  about  $2,700,000. 

First  National  Bank,  Paw  Paw 

The  first  organized  bank  in  the  county  was  the  First  National  of 
Paw  Paw.  The  articles  of  association  of  this  solid  institution  bear 
date  March  30,  1865,  and  its  charter,  No.  1,521,  was  granted  on  the 
11th  day  of  the  ensuing  August.  The  bank  was  first  opened  for 
business  on  Monday  morning,  August  21,  1865.  For  about  two 
years  the  First  National  was  the  only  banking  institution  of  any 
kind  in  the  county,  but  for  several  years  before  there  had  been  a 
private  banking  house  in  the  town  under  the  name  of  Stevens, 
Holton  &  Company,  successors  to  Stevens,  French  &  Company. 

The  First  National  was  started  with  a  paid-up  capital  of  $50,000. 
Its  first  board  of  directors  were  Thomas  L.  Stevens,  Thomas  H. 
Stephenson,  Alonzo  Sherman,  James  Crane,  Emory  O.  Briggs, 
Charles  S.  Maynard  and  Nathaniel  M.  Pugsley.  The  first  officers 
were  Alonzo   Sherman,   president;   James   Crane,   vice-president; 

342 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  343 

Joe  A.  Hollon,  cashier.  In  1871  the  capital  of  the  bank  was  in- 
creased to  $100,000.  Edmund  Smith  was  elected  president  in  1883 
and  was  succeeded  by  Horace  M.  Olney  in  1894.  Emory  O.  Briggs 
was  appointed  cashier  in  1867,  followed  by  F.  E.  Stevens  in  1874. 
E.  F.  Parks  was  appointed  cashier  in  January,  1886.  The  vice 
presidents  of  the  institution  have  been  Emory  O.  Briggs,  Gilbert 
J.  Hudson,  E.  A.  Park,  Charles  Bilsborrow,  Nathaniel  M.  Pugs- 
ley,  William  R.  Hawkins,  Edward  R.  Annable  and  George  M.  Har- 
rison. The  present  officers  are  Horace  M.  Olney,  president;  Geo. 
M.  Harrison,  vice-president;  E.  F.  Parks,  cashier;  W.  H.  Longwell, 
assistant  cashier. 

The  capital  stock  of  the  bank  remains  at  the  sum  of  $100,000, 
which  is  double  that  of  any  other  bank  in  the  county.  It  has  at 
the  present  time  deposits  in  the  sum  of  $250,000. 

This  institution  is  not  only  the  oldest,  but  it  is  one  of  the  best  and 
strongest  banks  in  the  county.  In  1903,  it  erected  a  handsome 
block  on  Main  street  and  had  the  ground  floor  fitted  up  especially 
for  its  headquarters,  so  that  it  occupies  one  of  the  finest,  most 
convenient  and  modern  suite  of  banking  offices  in  the  county.  No 
expense  was  spared  in  order  to  safeguard  the  funds  that  might  be 
intrusted  to  its  custody. 

The  Paw  Paw  Savings  Bank 

The  Paw  Paw  Savings  Bank  was  organized  in  1886.  Its  articles 
of  association  bear  date  on  the  27th  day  of  March  of  that  year. 
Its  charter  was  granted  just  one  month  later.  Its  capital  stock 
was  originally  $35,000,  but  has  since  been  increased  to  $40,000. 
Its  doors  were  first  opened  for  business  on  the  10th  day  of  May, 
1886.  (By  special  request  of  the  president  of  the  bank,  we  here 
state  that  Capt.  O.  W.  Rowland  was  the  first  depositor).  The  first 
board  of  directors  were  Daniel  Lyle,  John  Lyle,  F.  W.  Sellick,  John 
W.  Free,  William  Lyle,  Edgar  A.  Crane,  Edwin  Martin,  William 
J.  Sellick  and  Jonathan  J.  Woodman.  The  first  officers  were  F. 
W.  Sellick,  president;  Edgar  A.  Crane,  vice-president;  John  W. 
Free,  cashier.  The  present  officers  are  John  W.  Free,  president; 
W.  R.  Sellick,  vice-president;  C.  A.  Wolfs,  cashier;  W.  R.  Sellick, 
Edwin  A.  Wildey,  A.  Lynn  Free,  Howard  B.  Allen,  H.  Y.  Tarbell, 
Daniel  Morrison  and  John  W.  Free,  board  of  directors. 

The  gentlemen  who  have  filled  the  office  of  president  of  the  bank 
are:  F.  W.  Sellick,  William  J.  Sellick,  Milton  L.  Decker  and  John 
W.  Free;  the  vice  presidents  have  been:  Edgar  A.  Crane,  J.  J. 
Woodman  and  Wr.  R.  Sellick ;  cashiers,  John  W.  Free,  J.  B.  Shower- 
man  and  C.  A.  Wolfs. 

The  present  financial  condition  of  the  bank  is  as  follows :    Cap- 


344  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

ital  stock,  $40,000;  undivided  profits  and  surplus,  $10,000;  de- 
posits, $285,000.  This  bank  was  organized  under  the  state  banking 
law  and  developel  into  one  of  the  leading  financial  institutions 
of  the  county.  It  is  located  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Kala- 
mazoo streets,  the  two  principal  streets  in  the  town ;  occupies  com- 
modious and  convenient  rooms  for  the  transaction  of  its  constantly 
increasing  business,  and  has  all  the  modern  accessories  for  safe- 
guarding the  funds  entrusted  to  its  care. 

First  National  Bank,  South  Haven 

The  second  bank  to  be  organized  in  the  county  was  the  First 
National  Bank  of  South  Haven.  Silas  R.  Boardman  and  Charles 
J.  Monroe  started  a  private  bank  in  1867  and  the  business  trans- 
acted by  them  showing  the  necessity  of  a  permanent  organization, 
they  joined  with  other  citizens  and  organized  the  First  National 
Bank.  Judge  Jay  R.  Monroe  was  the  first  man  who  signed  the 
articles  of  association.  Some  of  the  other  signers  were  Augustus 
Haven,  of  Bloomingdale ;  D.  B.  Allen,  Dawson  Pompey  and  the 
Packards,  of  Covert;  Timothy  McDowell  and  M.  H.  Bixby,  of 
Casco ;  C.  P.  Ludwig,  George  Hannahs,  Marshall  Hale,  George  C. 
and  H.  W.  Sweet  of  South  Haven;  and  Henry  E.  Boardman  of 
Rochester,  New  York.  The  bank  had  $50,000  capital,  which  was 
a  large  sum  for  those  early  days,  but  with  the  limited  deposits,  it 
was  needed  to  carry  on  the  business  of  the  town.  When  the 
National  charter  expired,  it  was  deemed  best  to  reorganize  under 
the  general  banking  law  of  the  state,  on  account  of  such  organiza- 
tion offering  a  better  opportunity  for  savings  depositors  and  also 
permitting  the  loaning  of  moneys  on  real  estate  security.  The 
capital  of  the  bank  remains  at  the  same  figure  as  when  it  was 
first  started,  though,  on  account  of  the  large  surplus  and  undivided 
profits,  the  actual  working  capital  is  about  $125,000.  The  "Bank 
Register"  for  1911  gives  the  following  figures:  Capital  stock, 
$50,000 ;  surplus  and  undivided  profits,  $75,000 ;  deposits,  $456,000. 

Charles  J.  Monroe  remains  the  active  head  of  the  bank.  Volney 
Ross  is  the  vice  president  and  Charles  F.  Hunt  is  cashier.  M.  H. 
Bixby  is  still  one  of  the  board  of  directors  and  S.  R.  Boardman 
remains  a  customer  of  the  bank,  but  has  no  active  part  in  its  man- 
agement. All  others  who  were  in  the  first  list  of  directors  have 
joined  the  great  majority  on  the  other  side  of  the  "River  of  Time." 
The  institution  has  at  the  present  time  (January,  1912)  over  half 
a  million  of  dollars  on  deposit,  which  is  a  good  indication  of  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  the  section  of  Van  Buren  county  that  it 
serves,  as  well  as  a  mark  of  the  confidence  of  the  people  in  the 
honor  and  integrity  of  those  citizens  who  have  built  up  this  solid 
financial  institution. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  345 

Citizens  State  Bank,  South  Haven 

One  of  the  substantial  banking  institutions  of  the  county — in 
fact,  of  this  section  of  the  state — and  one  which  owes  its  satisfactory 
growth  and  success  largely  to  the  energies,  good  judgment  and 
business  standing  of  the  men  back  of  it,  is  the  Citizens  State  Bank 
of  South  Haven. 

Organized  in  the  fall  of  1892,  the  bank  opened  its  doors  to  the 
public  in  January,  1893,  and,  with  a  capitalization  of  $50,000  and 
the  confidence  of  the  public  as  a  primary  asset,  began  its  career. 
Today,  with  a  record  of  nineteen  years  back  of  it,  this  bank  has 
over  a  half  million  dollars  assets,  a  surplus  and  undivided  profits 
of  $40,000,  and  is  paying  a  semi-annual  dividend  of  five  per  cent 
to  stockholders,  as  well  as  the  taxes.  It  numbers  among  its  deposit- 
ors and  business  clientage  many  of  the  more  prominent  fruit 
growers  and  merchants  of  this  section  and  occupying  one  of  the 
handsomest  bank  buildings  in  the  city,  situated  on  a  prominent 
corner  of  the  down  town  district,  is  referred  to  with  pride,  not  only 
by  those  directly  interested  in  it  in  a  financial  way  but  citizens 
of  South  Haven  and  vicinity  generally. 

The  personnel  of  the  organizers,  directors  and  officials  is  worthy 
of  more  than  passing  notice.  G.  N.  Hale,  head  of  the  Hale  & 
Company  stores  of  South  Haven,  was  the  first  president ;  C.  J. 
Hempstead,  vice  president,  and  L.  E.  Parsons  cashier.  In  1897 
Mr.  Hale  retired  and  W.  S.  Bradley  was  made  president  of  the 
institution.  The  present  officers  are  as  follows:  W.  S.  Bradley, 
president;  R.  T.  Pierce,  vice  president;  L.  E.  Parsons,  cashier; 
R.  J.  Madill,  assistant  cashier;  R.  T.  Pierce,  L.  A.  Spencer,  S.  M. 
Trowbridge,  O.  M.  Vaughn,  C.  W.  Williams,  L.  E.  Parsons,  J.  C. 
Merson,  T.  A.  Bixby,  W.  S.  Bradley,  J.  K.  Barden  and  L.  F.  Otis, 
directors. 

President  W.  S.  Bradley  is  an  excellent  type  of  the  New  Eng- 
land "Yankee,"  of  keen,  sound  business  acumen,  honesty  of  pur- 
pose and  determination  which  go  to  spell  success  for  any  man.  A 
native  of  Massachusetts,  he  served  in  the  Civil  war  three  years, 
and  after  being  mustered  out  went  to  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  where 
he  engaged  successfully  in  the  leather,  hides  and  rubber  belting 
business,  remaining  in  the  Iowa  town  fifteen  years.  He  then  went 
to  Chicago,  where  he  opened  offices  and  continued  in  the  same  line 
of  business  with  continued  success. 

In  1884  Mr.  Bradley  came  to  South  Haven  and,  purchasing  a 
then  barren  tract  of  land  near  the  city  limits,  proceeded  to  con- 
vert it  by  hard  work  and  intelligent  effort  into  a  model  fruit  farm 
which  today  stands  as  a  monument  to  his  energy  and  good  judg- 
ment.    Mr.  Bradley,  when  he  assumed  the  presidency  of  the  Citi- 


846  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

zens  State  Bank  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  first  directors  and 
organizers,  brought  to  it  the  training  which  comes  from  an  active 
and  successful  business  life,  a  pleasing,  honest  personality  and  the 
business  confidence  which  is  the  natural  heritage  of  the  man  with 
continuity  of  purpose  and  "a  square  deal"  as  his  motto.  A  good 
common  school  education,  sound  judgment  and  a  perfect  knowl- 
edge of  business  situations  here  and  in  the  surrounding  country 
combine  to  happily  fit  him  for  the  important  position  as  head  of 
this  banking  institution. 


W.  S.  Bradley 

L.  E.  Parsons,  cashier  of  the  Citizens  State  Bank  and  one  of  its 
organizers,  is  well  equipped  for  his  position.  Mr.  Parsons  "grew 
up  in  a  bank"  (to  use  the  expression)  and  his  knowledge  of  the 
details  of  the  business  comes  from  experience.  He  is  a  native  of 
Union  City,  Michigan,  and  was  identified  with  the  Farmers'  Na- 
tional Bank  of  that  city  from  1885  to  1892,  when  he  came  to  South 
Haven,  flatteringly  introduced  by  the  president  of  the  Union  City 
banking  institution  where  he  had  been  employed.  He  took  an 
active  part  in  the  organization  of  the  Citizens  State  Bank  here  and 
his  energies  and  interests  are  united  in  the  one  object,  viz:  con- 
tinuing the  Citizens  State  Bank  in  its  present  success  and  on  its 
firm  foundation  of  reliability  and  business  confidence. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  347 

In  R.  J.  Madill,  assistant  cashier,  Mr.  Parsons  has  an  able  as- 
sistant and  a  man  who  devotes  his  time  and  attention  to  the  duties 
which  fall  to  him.  Mr.  Madill  came  to  South  Haven  from  Cree- 
more,  Ontario,  in  1883,  and  for  thirteen  years  was  employed  as 
clerk  in  the  John  Mackey  hardware  store.  He  accepted  a  posi- 
tion as  teller  in  the  Citizens  State  Bank  in  1896  and  in  1908  was 
made  assistant  cashier.  He  has  twice  been  elected  city  treasurer 
and  is  a  thorough  accountant  and  bookkeeper,  his  early  education 
in  Belleville  Commercial  college,  Belleville,  Ontario,  and  subsequent 
experience  as  a  school  teacher,  giving  him  practical  knowledge, 
which  is  a  valuable  asset  in  his  present  business  occupation. 


L.  E.  Parsons 

Two  South  Haven  high  school  young  men  of  more  than  ordinary 
ability,  C.  E.  Dilley  and  Clell  Krugler  hold  positions  in  the  bank 
as  bookkeepers.  Mr.  Dilley  was  born  at  Lacota,  but  has  lived  much 
of  his  life  here  and  is  a  young  man  of  clean  character,  excellent 
ability  and  energetic  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties. 

The  bank  directors  could  not  have  been  more  happily  chosen. 
In  this,  a  fruit  country,  where  large  amounts  of  money  are  handled, 
naturally  patrons  of  a  bank  are  pleased  that  men  of  unquestioned 
knowledge  of  conditions  be  identified  with  it.  In  the  directorate 
are  prominent  and  influential  fruit  growers  of  this  section,  all 
men  high  in  the  confidence  of  their  fellows  and  successful  in  their 
own  business  affairs. 


348 


HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


With  nineteen  years  of  marked  success  and  a  steadily  increasing 
business  as  an  indication  of  public  confidence  and  satisfaction  in 
the  conduct  of  the  bank  and  with  the  excellent  personnel  of  of- 
ficers, directors  and  clerical  force  referred  to,  the  future  of  the 
Citizens  State  Bank  of  South  Haven  seems  in  the  hands  of  the 
right  men. 

The  deposits  in  the  two  banks  of  South  Haven  (the  Citizens  and 
First  State)  are  not  far  short  of  a  million  dollars,  a  fine  showing 
for  the  banks  as  well  as  for  the  city  which,  according  to  the  last 
Federal  census,  had  a  population  of  a  little  less  than  4.000.  Both 
of  the  South  Haven  banks  are  centrally  located  and  have  fine,  con- 


R.  J.  Madill 

venient  quarters,  fitted  up  with  all  the  modern  appliances  for  the 
safe  keeping  of  the  funds  in  their  custody  and  for  their  protec- 
tion against  loss  either  by  fire  or  burglary. 

Banks  of  Decatur 


Like  the  towns  of  Paw  Paw  and  South  Haven,  the  village  of 
Decatur  also  has  two  strong,  solid  banking  institutions — the  first 
State  and  the  Citizens.  Previous  to  1870,  the  only  banking  facil- 
ities possessed  by  the  village  were  such  as  were  afforded  by  the 
private  banks  of  John  Tarbell  and  Joseph  Rogers.  On  the  15th 
day  of  October  of  that  year  the  First  National  Bank  of  Decatur  was 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY  349 

chartered  with  a  capital  of  $75,000,  which  was  afterward  reduced 
to  $50,000.  The  first  board  of  directors  were  Charles  Duncombe, 
Charles  W.  Fisk,  Alexander  B.  Copley,  Levi  B.  Lawrence,  E. 
Parker  Hill,  O.  S.  Abbott  and  A.  S.  Hathaway.  Mr.  Copley  was 
chosen  president  and  Mr.  Hill  cashier.  This  bank  was  afterward 
reorganized  under  the  general  banking  law  of  Michigan  and  has 
since  been  a  state  institution.  Its  capital  stock,  at  the  present  time, 
is  $30,000.  The  "Bank  Register"  for  1911  places  the  surplus  and 
undivided  profits  at  $19,000  and  the  deposits  at  $262,000.  The 
present  officers  are  as  follows:  President,  E.  B.  Copley;  vice 
president,  Arthur  W.  Haydon;  cashier,  L.  Dana  Hill. 

The  Citizens,  also  organized  under  the  state  banking  law,  has  a 
capital  stock  of  $30,000.  Its  president  is  George  T.  Pomeroy; 
vice  president,  James  Dunnington ;  cashier,  F.  C.  Stapleton.  From 
the  same  source  as  above  given,  we  find  the  surplus  and  undivided 
profits  of  the  institution  to  be  $6,300,  and  the  deposits  amount  to 
$153,000.  Both  banks  are  doing  a  flourishing  and  profitable  busi- 
ness, are  carefully  and  conservatively  managed  and  are  possessed 
of  the  confidence  and  enjoy  the  support  of  the  business  men  of  the 
town  and  surrounding  country.  Perhaps  no  town  of  its  size  in 
Michigan  has  better  banking  facilities. 

Hartford  Banks 

The  village  of  Hartford  also  has  two  banking  institutions — the 
Olney  National  and  the  Hartford  Exchange  banks,  the  latter  be- 
ing a  private  institution  which  has  been  in  operation  for  a  con- 
siderable number  of  years.  It  was  established  by  Hon.  George  W. 
Merriman.  who  has  continued  ever  since  as  its  manager.  It  was. 
until  a  little  more  than  a  year  ago,  the  only  bank  in  the  town,  has 
always  transacted  a  large  and  profitable  business  and  possesses  the 
fullest  confidence  of  the  people. 

The  Olney  National  Bank  was  organized  in  1910,  and  was  first 
opened  for  business  on  the  27th  day  of  September  of  that  year. 
The  first  year's  business  proved  to  be  very  successful  and  satis- 
factory to  its  stockholders.  The  officers  of  the  bank  are  as  fol- 
lows: President,  Horace  M.  Olney;  vice  president.  Jacob  Op- 
penheim;  cashier,  J.  Ingalls.  The  board  of  directors  consists  of 
the  following  gentlemen :  Jacob  Oppenheim,  M.  C.  Mortimer,  E. 
R.  Smith,  O.  M.  Vaughan  and  Horace  M.  Olney.  Mr.  Olney  is  also 
president  of  the  First  National  of  Paw  Paw.  The  paid  up  capital 
of  the  bank  is  $25,000.  The  deposits,  as  given  in  the  "Bank  Reg- 
ister" published  last  July,  were  the  sum  of  $84,000.  The  institu- 
tion is  located  in  what  is  called  the  Post  office  block,  a  new  struct- 
ure erected  by  President  Olney  and    finished    in    modern    style, 


350  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY 

steam-heated,  electric-lighted  and  with  all  the  appliances  and  con- 
veniences of  present-day  business  requirements.  In  the  bank 
offices,  especially,  great  pains  was  taken  and  no  expense  spared 
to  make  it  an  ideal  place  for  conducting  the  business  for  which  it 
was  intended.    No  finer  banking  house  can  be  found  in  the  county. 


West  Michigan  Savings  Bank,  Bangor 

The  West  Michigan  Savings  Bank,  another  of  the  solid,  pros- 
perous financial  institutions  of  the  county,  is  located  in  the  village 
of  Bangor.  The  first  banking  institution  in  this  place  was  estab- 
lished by  E.  M.  Hipp  in  1872  and  managed  by  him  for  a  couple  of 
years,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Messrs.  J.  E.  Sebring  &  Com- 
pany, who  conducted  its  affairs  for  about  three  years,  doing  a  pros- 
perous business.  The  bank  then  passed  into  the  possession  of  N. 
S.  Taylor,  who  retained  Mr.  Sebring  as  his  cashier  and  general 
manager.  The  institution  was  afterward  known  as  the  Monroe 
Bank  and  was  under  the  same  general  management  as  the  First 
National  of  South  Haven.  The  present  bank,  organized  under  the 
state  law  and  known  as  "The  West  Michigan  Savings  Bank,"  was 
instituted  on  the  16th  day  of  April,  1880,  taking  the  place  of  the 
Monroe  Bank,  and  commenced  business  on  the  first  day  of  the 
succeeding  July,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $20,000.  The  original 
trustees  of  the  bank  were  C.  J.  Monroe,  Alvin  Chapman,  Thompson 

A.  Bixby,  William  Packard,  Anson  Goss,  J.  G.  Miller,  D.  K. 
Charles,  Stephen  W.  Duncombe  and  John  Scott.  The  first  officers 
were  C.  J.  Monroe,  president;  Alvin  Chapman,  vice  president;  A. 

B.  Chase,  treasurer.  The  present  officers  are  J.  E.  Sebring,  presi- 
dent; William  Broadwell,  vice  president;  J.  E.  Sebring,  cashier. 
Mr.  Sebring  took  charge  of  the  bank  in  1892.  At  that  time  the 
amount  of  deposits  was  in  the  neighborhood  of  $65,000,  that  figure 
fairly  indicating  the  economic  condition  of  the  town  and  the 
country  around. 

At  the  present  time  the  deposits  are  in  excess  of  $400,000,  which 
may  be  taken  as  a  fair  index  to  the  financial  progress  of  the  com- 
munity during  the  past  twenty  years,  as  the  radius  of  territory 
over  which  the  bank  extends  its  usefulness  has  not  materially 
changed.  This  progress  is  but  an  earnest  of  what  may  reasonably 
be  expected  in  the  next  twenty  years,  as  capital  and  energy  shall 
be  expended  in  the  development  of  the  rich  and  fertile  section  of 
country  in  which  the  town  is  situated.  The  latest  figures  in  the 
"Bank  Kegister"  place  the  capital  of  the  bank  at  $25,000,  with 
an  undivided  surplus  of  $8,000. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  351 

The  Peoples  Bank  of  Bloomingdale 

The  Peoples  Bank  of  Bloomingdale  is  one  of  the  prosperous  pri- 
vate banks  of  the  county,  instituted  and  managed  by  Hon.  Milan 
D.  Wiggins.  It  has  been  in  successful  operation  and  has  pos- 
sessed the  confidence  of  the  community  where  it  is  situated  for  a 
considerable  number  of  years.  Mr.  Wiggins  is  its  president  and 
Ellis  Simon  its  cashier.  According  to  the  "Register,"  it  has  a 
capital  of  $25,000,  a  surplus  of  the  same  amount  and  deposits  of 
$150,000.  As  there  is  another  bank  in  the  same  township,  these 
figures  point  to  a  great  degree  of  prosperity  in  the  community 
tributary  to  the  bank. 

At  Gobleville,  Covert,  Lawrence  and  Lawton 

In  the  village  of  Gobleville,  five  miles  east  of  Bloomingdale,  is 
located  another  private  bank,  called  the  Gobleville  Exchange, 
which  is  also  doing  a  flourishing  and  profitable  business.  This 
bank  is  under  the  management  of  Stanley  Sackett,  its  president, 
assisted  by  his  brother,  Frank  Sackett,  who  is  its  cashier.  The 
"Bank  Register "  gives  the  amount  of  deposits  in  this  institution 
as  $65,000. 

"The  Bank  of  Covert/'  as  its  name  indicates,  is  situated  in  the 
thriving  little  village  of  Covert.  This  bank  is  likewise  a  private 
institution,  but  has  a  very  efficient  organization.  George  C.  Mon- 
roe is  president  and  A.  B.  Chase  cashier,  both-  good  business  men 
and  experienced  in  the  intricacies  of  banking.  This  bank  was  re- 
ported by  the  same  authority  as  that  above  mentioned  as  having 
a  paid-up  capital  of  $10,000  and  an  undivided  surplus  of  $2,700. 
It  amply  provides  for  the  banking  requirements  of  the  community, 
which,  especially  at  the  time  of  the  fruit  harvest,  is  quite  heavy7, 
paying  annually  over  $100,000  on  fruit  checks  alone. 

The  village  of  Lawrence  is  provided  with  the  needed  banking 
facilities  by  another  private  institution  called  the  Farmers  and 
Merchants  Bank.  The  officers  of  this  enterprise  are  as  follows: 
J.  H.  Baxter,  president;  J.  H.  Clark,  vice  president;  J.  L.  Welch, 
cashier.  It  has  been  in  operation  for  quite  a  number  of  years  and 
gives  the  community  ample  banking  facilities  and  satisfaction.  The 
reported  capital  of  the  bank  is  $10,000,  with  deposits  of  $53,000. 

The  banking  house  of  Juan  McKeyes  &  Company  is  situated  in 
the  village  of  Lawton.  Juan  McKeyes  is  the  active  manager  of  the 
business  and  Frank  McKeyes,  his  son,  is  the  cashier.  This  insti- 
tution does  a  very  large  business,  especially  during  the  grape 
harvest,  at  which  season  it  disburses  the  funds  to  pay  for  thou- 
sands of  carloads  of  that  delectable  fruit,  situated  as  it  is  in  the 


352  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

very  midst  of  Van  Buren's  famous  "grape  belt."  The  "Bank 
Register"  reports  the  capital  of  this  firm  at  $10,000,  with  a  sur- 
plus of  $5,000  and  deposits  of  $150,000.  The  institution  has  been 
in  operation  for  a  number  of  years  and  has  been  uniformly  suc- 
cessful since  beginning  business. 

South  Haven  Loan  and  Trust  Company 

Another  financial  institution  of  importance  is  the  South  Haven 
Loan  and  Trust  Company  (not  incorporated),  which  is  composed 
of  W.  P.  Breeding,  Mrs.  L.  S.  Monroe,  C.  J.  Monroe  and  C.  O. 
Monroe,  and  represents  a  financial  responsibility  of  upwards  of 
$200,000.  The  business  of  the  company  consists  principally  of 
making  loans  on  real  estate  and  investments  in  bonds  for  the 
proprietors  and  other  parties.  W.  P.  Breeding,  president  and  gen- 
eral manager,  is  the  active  member  of  the  firm.  He  is  the  son-in- 
law  of  the  late  Lyman  S.  Monroe  and  succeeded  to  his  interests, 
having  been  connected  with  him  prior  to  his  death.  He  is  also  a 
director  of  the  First  State  Bank  and  vice  president  and  secretary 
of  the  Monroe  Realty  Company. 

Mrs.  L.  S.  Monroe  (capitalist)  is  the  widow  of  Lymon  S.  Mon- 
roe.    Her  interests  consist  of  real  estate  and  other  investments. 

Hon.  C.  J.  Monroe  is  president  of  the  First  State  Bank  of 
South  Haven  and  of  the  Monroe  Realty  Company,  a  member  of  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  Kalamazoo  Savings  Bank  and  a  member 
of  the  banking  firm  of  C.  J.  Monroe  &  Sons  at  Covert. 

C.  O.  Monroe,  son  of  C.  J.,  is  the  editor  and  manager  of  the 
South  Haven  Daily  Tribune, 

Farmers'  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company 

The  Van  Buren  County  Farmers'  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Com- 
pany is  one  of  the  valuable  financial  institutions  of  the  county. 
It  was  organized  thirty-seven  years  ago  and  has  been  doing 
business  continuously  ever  since.  Milton  H.  Pugsley  of  Paw 
Paw  is  president  of  the  company  and  B.  L.  Breed  of  Paw  Paw  is 
the  secretary.  The  recently  filed  annual  report  of  the  company 
shows  that  it  has  3,207  members  and  that  the  amount  of  property  at 
risk  is  $4,833,057.  The  losses  paid  during  the  year  amounted  to 
$6,518.  The  company  generally  meets  all  its  losses  and  expenses 
by  making  one  assessment  of  one-fourth  of  one  per  cent  each  year, 
thus  providing  for  its  patrons  a  cheap  and  secure  insurance.  The 
present  board  of  directors  are  the  following  substantial  citizens  and 
business  men  of  the  county:  Isaac  Monroe,  D.  C.  Hodge,  C.  B. 
Charles,  S.  A.  Breed,  M.  H.  Pugsley  and  M.  D.  Buskirk. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  353 

Telegraph  and  Telephone  Lines 

The  Western  Union  Telegraph  extends  along  the  lines  of  every 
railroad  in  the  county,  bringing  the  entire  population  within  easy 
reach  of  telegraphic  communication. 

There  are  a  number  of  .local  telephone  companies  in  the  county. 
The  first  of  these  was  the  Kibbie,  wThich  was  organized  in  1898 
and  has  its  lines  extended  well  over  the  county  and  into  adjoining 
counties.  The  South  Haven  Mutual  had  its  articles  of  association 
recorded  in  1909.  The  Citizens  was  launched  in  the  summer  of 
1910,  and  the  Lawrence  Mutual  was  organized  in  the  month  of 
March,  1911.  Some  of  these  companies  reach  into  every  community 
in  the  county,  and  the  denizen  of  city,  village  or  country  that  has 
no  telephone  connection  is  the  exception  rather  than  the  rule. 
These  lines  connect  with  the  great  telephone  system  that  traverses 
the  state,  so  that  oral  communication  from  factory,  office,  store  or 
home  may  be  had  with  nearly  every  place  of  any  importance  in  the 
state  and  in  many  parts  of  the  states  adjoining. 

What  would  the  pioneers  of  Michigan  have  said  had  anybody 
intimated  that  such  a  thing  were  possible?  They  would  have 
thought  that  a  man  who  entertained  any  such  preposterous  idea  was 
crazy,  and  if  a  man  had  invented  such  a  thing  as  a  telephone  in 
the  day  of  Cotton  Mather  he  would  have  been  pronounced  in 
league  with  the  Devil  and  burned  at  the  stake. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

THE  PRESS 

''Paw  Paw  Free  Press" — "Paw  Paw  Free  Press  and  Courier" 
— "The  True  Northerner" — "Decatur  Republican" — "The 
Lawton  Leader" — "Hartford  Day  Spring" — "The  Bangor 
Advance  ' ' — Early  Lawrence  Newspapers — '  'Lawre  n  c  e 
Times  ' ' — ' '  Bloomingdale  Leader  ' ' — ' '  Gobleville  News  ' ' — 
South  Haven  Newspapers. 

The  first  attempt  at  publishing  a  newspaper  in  Van  Buren 
county  was  in  January,  1843,  when  H.  B.  Miller  of  Niles,  sent  his 
brother-in-law,  one  Harris,  with  a  press  and  printing  outfit,  to 
Paw  Paw,  ostensibly  to  start  a  newspaper,  but  chiefly  for  the  pur- 
pose of  getting  the  job  of  printing  the  delinquent  tax  lists,  which 
at  the  date  was  quite  a  valuable  "plum."  Harris  started  a  six 
column  folio  sheet  and  named  it  the  Paw  Paw  Democrat.  He 
died  soon  afterward  and  that  ended  the  career  of  the  paper,  the 
press  and  material  being  taken  back  to  Niles. 

"Paw  Paw  Free  Press" 

For  two  years  thereafter  Van  Buren  county  had  no  newspaper. 
Tn  January,  1845,  Samuel  N.  Gantt,  one  of  the  early  lawyers  of  the 
county,  and  a  printer  named  Geiger,  brought  by  wagon  from  De- 
troit to  Paw  Paw,  a  wooden  Ramage  press,  and  the  other  neces- 
sary material  for  establishing  a  printing  office,  and  started  a  five 
column  four  page  weekly  sheet,  which  they  christened  the  Paw 
Paw  Free  Press.  After  a  few  months  had  elapsed,  however. 
Geiger,  for  some  reason,  became  dissatisfied  with  the  course  of 
events  and  more  especially  with  his  partner,  against  whom  he  har- 
bored some  kind  of  a  grievance,  real  or  imaginary,  and  in  order 
to  "get  even"  he  removed  the  screw  of  the  press  and  threw  it 
into  the  Paw  Paw  river  and  himself  fled  to  Detroit.  Gantt  did 
not  care  at  all  for  the  loss  of  his  partner,  but  he  mourned  over 
the  loss  of  the  screw,  without  which  the  press  could  not  be  worked. 
He  offered  a  reward  of  ten  dollars  for  its  recovery  and  return,  and 
A.   V.  Pantlind,  who  chanced  to  know  where  Geiger  had  thrown 

354 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  355 

it,   fished  it   out  of  the  river,   greatly  to   the  satisfaction   of  its 
owner. 

Mr.  Gantt  continued  the  publication  of  the  Free  Press  until  the 
spring  of  1846,  when  he  disposed  of  it  to  John  McKinney,  then 
county  treasurer.  McKinney  did  not  long  retain  the  ownership  of 
the  paper,  but  soon  sold  it  to  Emory  0.  Briggs,  who  published  it 
for  a  little  more  than  a  year.  In  January,  1848,  S.  Tallmadge 
Conway  became  its  owner.  Mr.  Conway  had  been  a  compositor 
in  the  office  for  a  considerable  length  of  time  and  had  also  done 
some  work  on  the  Paw  Paw  Democrat  during  its  brief  existence. 
He  retained  the  ownership  of  the  Free  Press  until  the  summer  of 
1854,  when  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  a  stock  company,  but  the 
stockholders  not  finding  it  to  be  a  bonanza,  transferred  it  to  Isaac 
W.  Van  Fossen,  who  is  yet  a  resident  of  Paw  Paw.  Soon  after 
becoming  possessed  of  the  plant,  Mr.  Van  Fossen  changed  the 
name  of  the  sheet  by  dropping  out  the  word  "Free"  and  the 
paper  became  the  Paw  Paw  Press,  but  this  change  was  not  satis- 
factory to  the  proprietor.  It  seamed  to  be  too  limited  in  scope 
and  so  he  soon  made  another  change  and  called  it  the  Van  Bur  en 
County  Press.  Under  this  name,  and  by  this  same  publisher,  the 
paper  was  issued  until  January,  1868,  when  the  office  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  and  the  publication  was  discontinued  for  a  few 
months.  However,  it  was  soon  revived  by  Mr.  Van  Fossen.  who 
continued  its  publication  until  1872,  at  which  time  he  leased  the 
plant  to  Frank  Drummond.  The  paper  had  always  been  Dem- 
ocratic in  its  politics  and  during  the  campaign  of  1872  it  supported 
the  Liberal  Democrat  ticket  of  Greeley  and  Brown.  Soon  after  the 
close  of  that  campaign,  the  publication  ceased  to  exist  and  some  of 
the  material  was  purchased  by  Messrs.  G.  W.  Matthews  and  E.  A. 
Landphere,  who  utilized  it  in  the  publication  of  a  new  sheet  which 
they  launched  under  the  name  of  the  Paw  Paw  Courier. 

The  Courier  was  a  Republican  journal,  and  continued  as  such 
while  owned  by  its  originators.  In  1877  Messrs.  Blackman  and 
Park  became  the  owners  and  changed  its  political  complexion  and 
made  it  an  exponent  of  the  Democratic  party. 

In  the  meantime,  and  while  Matthews  &  Landphere  were  publish- 
ing the  Courier,  Messrs.  E.  K.  Park  and  George  F.  Sellick,  job 
printers,  started  a  new  Democratic  paper,  to  which  they  gave  the 
old  name  of  the  Van  Buren  County  Press. 

"Paw  Paw  Free  Press  and  Courier" 

Perhaps  this  venture  of  Messrs.  Park  &  Sellick  might  be  con- 
sidered as  a  resuscitation  of  the  suspended  paper  the  name  of 
which  they  assumed.     It  is  said  that  a  man  who  once  gets  his 


356  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

lingers  thoroughly  daubed  with  printer 's  ink  never  again  gets  them 
thoroughly  clean,  which  is  but  another  way  of  saying  that  there 
is  a  certain  fascination  about  the  business  that  once  engaged  in 
makes  it  difficult  to  wholly  abandon.  At  any  rate,  be  this  as  it 
may,  the  business  and  the  name  of  the  sheet  with  which  he  had  so 
long  been  identified,  so  attracted  Mr.  Van  Fossen  that  he  again 
became  its  owner.  However,  he  did  not  long  retain  its  ownership, 
but  transferred  it  to  O.  D.  Hadsell,  who  again  changed  its  name  to 
the  Paw  Paw  Free  Press,  the  name  by  which  the  sheet  had  been  first 
christened — that  is,  if  it  be  considered  as  a  direct  continuation  of 
the  original  paper.  Under  this  name  Mr.  Hadsell  continued  to 
publish  the  paper  until  the  summer  of  1877,  when  he  sold  it  to 
the  Paw  Paw  Courier.  The  two  papers  being  thus  consolidated, 
there  was  also  a  consolidation  of  names  and  the  publication  be- 
came the  Paw  Paw  Free  Press  and  Courier,  under  which  name  it 
has  since  been  and  still  is  published.  In  1878  Mr.  Park  withdrew 
and  E.  A.  Blackmail  became  the  sole  editor  and  proprietor.  After 
the  consolidation  the  sheet  was  published  as  a  semi-weekly  for  a 
few  months,  but  soon  returned  to  its  once-a-week  issue. 

The  next  change  of  ownership  was  a  transfer  of  a  half  interest 
to  Mr.  James  F.  Jordan.  Mr.  Jordan  is  now  the  credit  man  of  a 
wholesale  drygoods  house  in  Minneapolis,  the  largest  establishment 
of  the  kind  in  the  northwest. 

About  the  year  1883,  Hiram  A.  Cole,  a  practical  compositor  and 
job  printer,  became  the  owner  of  Mr.  Blackman's  interest  in  the 
plant  and  for  a  time  the  firm  was  Jordan  &  Cole.  The  property 
soon  afterward  passed  into  Mr.  Cole 's  individual  possession  and  the 
paper  has  been  managed  and  published  by  him  down  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  It  is  the  only  Democratic  newspaper  in  the  county  and 
is  one  of  the  leading  Democratic  weeklies  of  western  Michigan. 
Through  all  these  vicissitudes  and  changes  of  name,  the  publica- 
tion claims  lineal  descent  from  the  Paw  Paw  Free  Press,  mak- 
ing it  the  oldest  publication  in  Van  Buren  county,  the  last  issue 
being  labeled  "Volume  67,  No.  46."  The  presses  of  the  Courier 
as  the  paper  is  usually  spoken  of  are  run  with  a  gasoline  engine. 

In  the  spring  of  1851,  James  N.  Gantt  launched  a  paper  called 
The  Paw  Paw  Journal.  This  sheet  had  a  comparatively  brief 
existence,  but  just  how  long,  it  is  impossible  to  say,  as  there  is  no 
record  of  its  career,  although  Dr.  O'Dell  of  Paw  Paw,  has  two  or 
three  of  the  earlier  issues,  the  earliest  being  No.  5,  issued  in  June 
1851. 

"The  True  Northerner" 

The  True  Northerner,  a  weekly  publication,  was  established  at 
Paw  Paw  in  1855,  and  is  nearing  the  end  of  fifty-seven  years  of 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  357 

continuous  publication  without  change  of  name  and,  so  far  as  can 
be  ascertained,  without  the  omission  of  a  single  number,  although 
the  entire  plant  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  January,  1888,  which  is 
a  record  of  which  its  managers  may  well  be  proud.  The  question 
is  sometimes  asked  why  the  paper  was  christened  the  True  North- 
erner. To  those  who  can  remember  the  antislavery  agitation  of 
the  years  before  the  Civil  war,  the  bitter  contests  that  were  waged 
and  the  animosity  that  was  thereby  engendered  between  the  north 
and  the  south,  the  answer  to  that  query  is  self-evident.  The  paper 
was  founded  as  an  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  new  Repub- 
lican party  that  had  then  recently  been  organized  under  the  his- 
toric oaks  at  the  city  of  Jackson,  Michigan,  and  it  has  ever  since 
been  an  unwavering  champion  of  that  party. 

Its  founder  was  George  A.  Fitch,  who  was  at  the  time  publish- 
ing the  Kalamazoo  Telegraph.  Mr.  Fitch  sent  John  B.  Butler  to 
edit  and  publish  the  new  paper. 

The  first  issue,  which  by  the  courtesy  of  Dr.  B.  O'Dell  is  now 
in  the  hands  of  the  compiler,  bears  date  April  25,  1855.  It  is  a 
five-column  quarto,  well  preserved  and  creditably  printed.  The 
opening  paragraph  of  Mr.  Butler's  salutatory,  entitled  "To  the 
Public,"  is  as  follows:  "Citizens  of  Van  Buren  county,  we  have 
spread  before  you  a  Newspaper.  We  have  come  among  you  to 
advocate  the  cause  of  Popular  Sovereignty  and  of  human  rights. 
You  may  call  our  politics,  Fusionism,  Republicanism,  or  any  other 
'ism,  so  long  as  you  connect  the  idea  of  the  name  you  apply  with 
that  of  equal  rights  and  the  welfare  of  our  whole  country.  AYe  will 
adhere  to  no  party  which  has  not  for  its  aim  the  good  of  the 
country,  nor  advocate  any  cause  which  seeks  triumph  for  the  sake 
of  the  spoils  of  office,  regardless  of  the  rights  and  liberties,  the 
happiness  and  prosperity  of  the  people  at  large  If  such  are  your 
sentiments,  citizens,  you  will  support  this  print ;  if  not  we  have 
mistaken  the  feelings  and  views  which  have  long  actuated  the  True 
Northerner,  north  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  and  which  has  been 
so  successfully  exemplified  in  your  late  elections,  both  in  state  and 
county."  Further  along,  Mr.  Butler  adds:  "It  is  our  desire, to 
place  our  paper  on  as  high  and  truly  independent  grounds  as  pos- 
sible and,  although  enlisted  in  the  cause  of  the  Republican  party 
of  this  State,  we  will  in  no  manner  be  tied  down  by  party  tram- 
mels, or  led  at  the  caprice  of  any  political  faction. ' ' 

The  only  local  items  in  the  paper  are  two  marriage  notices — to- 
wit,  the  marriage  of  Joseph  W.  Luce  and  Miss  Martha  Richmond, 
of  LaFayette,  on  the  17th  instant,  and  of  William  Hodges  and  Miss 
Caroline  Blowers  on  the  25th,  the  day  of  the  birth  of  the  paper; 
and  a  notice  of  the  meeting  of  subscribers  to  the  stock  of  the  Al- 
legan and  Paw  Paw  Railroad,   a  road  that  never  materialized. 


358  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

The  notice  stated  that  about  $30,000  had  been  subscribed  toward  the 
projected  road  and  was  signed  by  the  following  board  of  directors : 
John  R.  Kellogg,  F.  J.  Littlejohn,  Charles  L.  Mixer,  E.  D.  Follet 
and  John  Clifford,  Jr.,  of  Allegan  county,  and  John  Smolk,  Silas 
Breed,  F.  M.  Manning,  F.  H.  Stevens  and  S.  G.  Grimes  of  Van 
Buren  county.  Some  of  the  other  articles  in  the  paper  wrere 
"Scenes  in  the  Kansas  Election/'  "War  with  Spain,"  "Loss  of 
the  Propellor  Oregon/'  "Arrival  of  the  America"  on  the  13th  of 
April,  with  the  latest  European  news,  among  which  appears  this 
item:  "The  demolition  of  Sevastopol  was  not  demanded,  but  a 
reduction  of  the  Russian  power  in  the  Black  sea  wras  called  for, 
the  recompense  being  the  withdrawal  of  the  allies  from  Russian 
territory. ' ' 

Mr.  Butler  retired  from  the  management  of  the  paper  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  summer  of  1855,  and  Fitch  sold  it  to  John  Rey- 
nolds and  Edwin  A.  Thompson.  Rufus  C.  Nash  was  employed 
as  editor  but  did  not  long  remain  in  charge,  being  succeeded  the 
next  January  by  L.  B.  Bleecker  and  S.  F.  Breed.  Soon  afterward 
Mr.  Breed  and  Samuel  H.  Blackman  became  the  sole  proprietors 
of  the  paper.  In  1858  they  sold  it  to  Thaddeus  R.  Harrison,  who 
continued  in  its  ownership  until  1866,  although  during  the  latter 
part  of  that  period  it  was  leased  to  Charles  P.  Sweet.  Mr.  Har- 
rison transferred  the  publication  to  Thomas  0.  Ward,  who  con- 
tinued it  until  August,  1870,  at  which  time  S.  Tallmadge  Conway, 
formerly  owner  and  publisher  of  the  Paw  Paw  Press,  became  the 
owner  of  the  plant  and  sole  editor  and  publisher  of  the  paper. 
He  retained  the  ownership  for  a  period  of  ten  years,  when  he 
transferred  it  to  Henry  S.  Williams,  who  had  been  county  clerk 
and  school  superintendent.  Mr.  Williams  retained  the  property 
until  May,  1882,  at  which  date  he  sold  it  to  Messrs.  A.  C.  Martin 
and  O.  W.  Rowland,  Mr.  Martin  becoming  the  manager  of  the 
concern  and  Mr.  Rowland  assuming  the  editorial  chair.  This  ar- 
rangement continued  for  six  years,  when  Mr.  Rowland  parted 
with  his  interest  in  the  plant,  and  Mr.  Martin  became  sole  owner, 
although  Rowland  was  retained  as  editor  for  a  year  after  the  dis- 
solution of  the  firm  of  Martin  &  Rowland.  In  the  fall  of  1889, 
Charles  L.  Eaton  purchased  an  interest  in  the  plant  and  the  firm  be- 
came Martin  &  Eaton,  with  Eaton  as  the  editor.  Two  years  after- 
ward Eaton  retired  from  the  business  and  Mrs.  A.  C.  Martin, 
wife  of  the  proprietor,  became  the  editress  of  the  paper.  In  No- 
vember, 1892,  the  property  was  capitalized  at  the  sum  of  $10,000 
and  converted  into  a  stock  company  and  as  such  it  still  remains. 
Mrs.  Martin  was  succeeded  in  the  editorship  by  M.  O.  Rowland,  a 
son  of  one  of  the  former  editors.  He  managed  and  edited  the  paper 
for  several  years,  wThen  he  disposed  of  his  interest  and  removed 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  '       359 

to  Lansing,  having  been  appointed  to  a  clerkship  in  the  state  insur- 
ance department.  He  was  afterward  appointed  deputy  insurance 
commissioner  and  later  insurance  commissioner,  an  office  which  he 
resigned  on  the  coming  in  of  a  new  administration.  He  is  now 
president  of  the  Detroit  National  Fire  Insurance  Company.  E.  A. 
Wildey,  a  former  commissioner  of  the  state  land  office,  succeeded 
Mr.  Rowland  as  editor  of  the  paper,  but  remained  in  control  only 
about  a  year.  Frank  N.  Wakeman,  formerly  county  clerk,  has 
been  editor  and  manager  for  nearly  seven  years. 

The  True  Northerner  has  long  been  recognized  as  one  of  the  in- 
fluential weekly  publications  of  the  state  and  has  been  a  success- 
ful business  enterprise  from  the  date  of  its  first  appearance.  Its 
equipment  of  presses,  type  and  material  is  very  complete.  Its 
machinery  is  run  by  an  electric  motor. 

The  National  Independent  was  established  at  Paw  Paw  in* March, 
1878,  by  Dr.  Charles  Maynard,  as  an  exponent  of  Greenbackism. 
The  founder  continued  the  paper  until  January,  1879,  when  he 
sold  it  to  Rufus  C.  Nash.  Mr.  Nash  did  not  long  remain  in  pos- 
session, but  transferred  the  sheet  to  Messrs.  Smith  &  Wilson.  Mr. 
Wilson  soon  retired  from  the  firm  and  W.  E.  Smith  became  sole 
editor  and  proprietor.  The  Independent  met  with  sudden  deatli 
in  the  latter  part  of  December,  1879,  its  proprietor  leaving  the 
town  under  somewhat  of  a  dense  cloud. 

The  Paw  Paw  Herald  followed  after  the  Independent,  but  had 
but  a  brief,  precarious  existence. 

' '  Decatur  Republican  ' ' 

The  first  attempt  at  publishing  a  newspaper  in  the  village  of 
Decatur  was  made  by  Rufus  C.  Nash,  about  the  year  1859  or  1860. 
His  paper  was  printed  in  Paw  Paw  and  circulated  in  Decatur. 
"Rufe"  did  not  find  the  venture  to  be  such  as  to  warrant  a  finan- 
cial success  and  only  a  few  issues  were  ever  printed,  and  even  tradi- 
tion does  not  preserve  the  name  of  this  pioneer  sheet. 

So  quickly  it  was  done  for, 

We  wonder  what  it  was  begun  for. 

Some  time  in  1860,  C.  P.  Sweet  inaugurated  the  Decatur  Trib- 
une, which  he  conducted  until  about  1864,  when  it  was  allowed  to 
depart  in  peace,  and  for  a  time  Decatur  was  without  a  newspaper. 

In  the  summer  of  1865,  Moses  Hull  came  from  Kalamazoo  and 
launched  the  Decatur  Clarion  on  the  journalistic  sea.  Mr.  Hull 
conducted  this  sheet  for  about  six  months  and  sold  it  to  A.  W. 


360  HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Briggs,  who  published  it  about  the  same  length  of  time,  when  it 
met  the  fate  of  its  predecessors  and  sank  peacefully  out  of  sight. 

Unawed  and  undeterred  by  these  previous  newspaper  fiascos,  E. 
A.  Blackman  and  Prof.  C.  F.  R.  Bellows,  the  latter  at  the  time 
being  superintendent  of  the  Decatur  schools,  in  1867  founded  the 
Van  Buren  County  Republican,  which  proved  to  be  a  healthy 
youngster  and  has  continued  until  the  present  time.  Prof.  Bel- 
lows did  not  remain  long  connected  with  the  paper,  and  on  his 
withdrawal,  Mr.  Blackman  became  sole  proprietor.  As  indicated 
by  its  name,  the  new  journal  was  an  advocate  of  Republicanism. 
It  continued  in  that  political  faith  until  the  presidential  cam- 
paign of  1872,  when,  along  with  its  proprietor,  it  ' '  Greeleyized " 
and  the  next  year  became  a  straight  out  Democratic  sheet. 

In  1876,  Mr.  Blackman  disposed  of  the  plant  to  H.  C.  Buffing- 
ton,  who  had  formerly  been  engaged  in  the  newspaper  business  in 
Cass  county.  Under  the  administration  of  Mr.  Buffington,  the 
paper  returned  to  the  Republican  fold  where  it  has  ever  since  re- 
mained. In  1879  Buffington  transferred  the  property  to  A.  M. 
Wooster  and  >he,  in  turn,  sold  it  to  Robert  L.  Warren  and  he  to 
Andrew  Johnson.  About  1890  the  paper  was  purchased  from  Mr. 
Johnson  by  O.  W.  and  M.  O.  Rowland,  father  and  son.  The  father 
had  had  several  years  experience  as  editor  of  the  True  Northerner 
and  the  son  was  an  expert  compositor  and  pressman  and  had  had 
considerable  experience  as  a  reporter  on  different  daily  papers. 
The  father  afterward  transferred  the  plant  to  the  younger  man, 
who,  after  conducting  it  successfully  for  a  considerable  time,  re- 
moved the  plant  to  Paw  Paw,  and  once  more  Decatur  wras  with- 
out a  paper. 

When  the  Messrs.  Rowland  assumed  charge  the  name  had  been 
changed  to  the  Decatur  Republican,  but  they  restored  the  old  name, 
dropping  "Decatur' '  and  substituting  "Van  Buren  County"  in- 
stead. The  paper  was  conducted  at  Paw  Paw  under  that  name 
until  its  owner  became  connected  with  the  True  Northerner,  when 
it  was  suspended  and  its  list  of  subscribers  transferred  to  the 
Northerner.  Shortly  afterward,  Messrs.  Secord  &  Dewey  pur- 
chased the  presses,  type  and  material  and  took  them  back  to  Deca- 
tur and  started  the  Decatur  Independent.  This  was  soon  trans- 
ferred to  A.  N.  Moulton,  who  dropped  the  name  "  Independent ' ' 
and  resumed  the  old  appellation  of  Decatur  Republican  and  such  it 
has  since  remained.  Mr.  Moulton  is  still  the  proprietor  and  editor 
and  under  his  direction  and  management  the  paper  has  been  pros- 
perous and  profitable.  It  is  well  equipped  with  power  presses  and 
all  the  material  required  for  first  class  newspaper  and  job  print- 
ing. 

The  first  newspaper  in  Lawton,  the  Iron  Age,  was  founded  in 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  361 

1860  by  one  Joseph  Twell.  The  name  was  derived  from  the  fact 
that  about  that  time  a  large  blast  furnace  was  established  in  the 
place  that  for  a  number  of  years  did  a  large  and  prosperous  busi- 
ness.   The  Age  lived  until  1867,  when  it  peacefully  breathed  its  last. 

After  the  demise  of  the  Age  Judge  Geo.  W.  Lawton  began  the 
publication  of  the  Lawton  Gazette,  a  wreekly  sheet  the  printing 
of  which  was  done  in  Paw  Paw.  The  Gazette  lived  less  than  two 
years  when  it  surrendered  to  the  inevitable. 

In  September,  1869,  J.  II.  Wickwire  founded  the  Lawton  Trib- 
une, which  passed  in  succession  through  the  hands  of  Cowgill  & 
Jennings,  Ambrose  Moon,  Orno  Strong  and  Ezra  Haydon  and  came 
to  an  inglorious  end  in  1873. 

"The  Lawton  Leader" 

In  1887,  A.  E.  Marvin  established  another  weekly  in  Lawton, 
under  the  name  of  the  Lawton  Leader.  In  the  month  of  May,  1890, 
the  list  of  subscribers  and  the  "good  will7  was  purchased  by 
Messrs.  C.  E.  Lewis  and  E.  Drury,  who  put  in  new  presses  and 
material  and  continued  the  publication  of  the  paper.  Drury 
parted  with  his  interest  about  1898,  Lewis  at  that  time  becoming 
sole  owner  and  continuing  as  such  for  about  eight  years.  In  1906 
he  took  in  as  a  partner,  Rev.  AV.  K.  Lane,  but  Lewis  has  recently 
again  become  the  sole  proprietor,  which,  under  his  administration 
and  management,  has  become  one  of  the  fixed  and  valued  institu- 
tions of  the  town,  and  which,  having  survived  the  usual  vicissitudes 
of  the  life  of  a  village  newspaper,  has  gained  strength  with  age 
and  bids  fair  to  have  a  long  and  useful  life.  The  paper  is  not 
attached  to  any  political  party,  but  is  strongly  in  favor  of  tem- 
perance and  is  a  consistent  and  persistent  advocate  of  the  local  op- 
tion law  that  has  been  in  force  in  Van  Buren  county  for  the  past 
twenty-one  years.  In  this  regard,  with  only  one  or  two  excep- 
tions, it  does  not  differ  materially  from  the  other  newspapers  of 
the  county  which  have  almost  unanimously  accorded  their  sup- 
port to  that  phase  of  the  temperance  question. 

"Hartford  Day  Spring" 

The  first  newspaper  to  make  its  appearance  in  the  thriving  vil- 
lage of  Hartford  was  the  Hartford  Bay  Spring.  Its  first  issue  ap- 
peared on  the  16th  day  of  November,  1871.  Its  founders  were 
Messrs.  0.  D.  Hadsell  and  A.  H.  Chandler,  the  latter,  however, 
retiring  from  the  venture  when  the  paper  was  but  a  few  weeks 
old.  It  was  continued  by  Mr.  Hadsell,  who  gained  a  great  degree 
of  notoriety,  by  reason  of  the  quaintness,  sarcasm  and  bluntness 


362  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

of  his  writings,  until  October  28,  1876,  when  it  wras  purchased  by 
William  H.  H.  Earle.  Mr.  Earle  edited  and  published  the  Day 
Spring  about  a  year,  when  Luther  Sutton  assumed  the  editorship, 
Mr.  Earle  continuing  as  publisher.  In  1888  Charles  C.  Phillips 
acquired  the  paper  by  purchase  and  remained  in  its  editorial  charge 
until  1893,  wrhen  the  paper  again  experienced  a  change  of  owner- 
ship, L.  S.  Johnson  becoming  editor  and  manager.  In  1898  H.  P. 
Cochrane  assumed  charge  of  the  paper  under  a  lease,  having  as- 
sociated with  him  his  son,  Donald  F.  Cochrane.  A  year  later  a 
stock  company  was  formed,  which  purchased  the  publication  from 
Mr.  Johnson.  Complete  ownership  was  later  acquired  by  Editor 
Cochrane  and  his  son,  although  the  Day  Spring  still  appears  under 
the  name  of  the  Day  Spring  Publishing  Company.  With  the  for- 
mation of  the  stock  company  began  a  period  of  development,  in 
which  the  old  hand  press  and  meager  equipment  that  had  sufficed 
during  a  succession  of  ownerships  gave  way  to  new  machinery, 
until  the  Day  Spring  has  today  one  of  the  most  modern  equip- 
ments possessed  by  any  of  the  weekly  newspapers. 

Editor  H.  F.  Cochrane  died  February  25,  1905,  after  which  the 
editorship  passed  to  his  son,  Donald  F.  Cochrane,  who  has  since 
continued  as  editor  and  owner. 

Of  all  the  men  who  were  identified  with  the  early  publication  of 
the  Day  Spring,  none  survives  except  A.  H.  Chandler,  who,  then 
as  now,  is  a  lawyer  located  in  the  village.  Editor  Hadsell  died  in 
Chicago  in  1892,  where  he  had  pursued  a  successful  business 
career.  Mr.  Earle  died  while  in  charge  of  the  paper;  Sutton 
passed  away  in  1903.  Mr.  Phillips,  who  purchased  the  property 
of  the  Earle  estate,  is  now  quartermaster  at  the  Michigan  Soldiers' 
Home,  Grand  Rapids. 

The  Day  Spring  is  now  a  six-column  paper  of  from  eight  to 
twelve  pages,  all  printed  on  its  own  presses,  and  is  a  lively  ex- 
ponent of  its  field. 

Mr.  Hadsell  was  a  schoolmaster  with  a  limited  newspaper  ex- 
perience when  he  and  Mr.  Chandler  planned  the  launching  of 
Hartford's  first  newspaper.  The  venture  was  conceived  and 
planned  in  a  day,  and  so  they  christened  the  paper  the  Day  Spring. 
Under  the  editorship  of  Mr.  Hadsell,  it  wTas  an  aggressive  Dem- 
ocratic sheet,  reflecting  the  personal  opinions  of  its  editor  with 
the  emphasis  characteristic  of  the  times.  With  advent  of  Editor 
Earle  came  a  change  of  political  policy  and  the  Day  Spring  has 
since  been  continued  as  a  Republican  journal,  although  it  is  first 
concerned  with  the  unbiased  publication  of  the  news  of  its  im- 
mediate field  and  of  the  county.  The  paper  has  been  closely 
identified  with  the  development  of  Hartford  and  few  villages  are 
represented  by  a  more  aggressive  exponent. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  363 

During  the  time  when  the  people  of  the  country  were  all  wrought 
up  over  "greenbaekism, "  "free  silverism,"  the  crime  of  73  (?) 
and  other  evanescent  political  issues,  another  newspaper,  The  Peo- 
ple's Alliance  was  established  in  Hartford  by  Sullivan  Cook,  who 
was  an  ardent  advocate  of  what  he,  with  many  others,  thought  was 
necessary  for  the  welfare  of  the  people,  a  radical  change  in  the  cur- 
rency system  of  the  country.  The  Alliance  lived  for  a  number  of 
years,  but  with  the  decline  of  the  money  controversy  the  paper  also 
declined,  until  it  finally  shuffled  off  its  mortal  coil  and  was  peace- 
fully laid  to  rest,  another  unsuccessful  venture  in  the  uncertain 
field  of  rural  journalism. 

The  first  attempt  at  journalism  in  the  village  of  Bangor  was 
made  by  Charles  Gillett  in  February,  1873,  who  started  a  news- 
paper which  he  christened  the  Bangor  Journal.  The  venture  did 
not  prove  a  success  from  a  financial  standpoint  and  in  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  the  Journal  gently  breathed  its  young  life  away,  un- 
honored  and  unsung,  and  it  has  practically  passed  out  of  mind 
and  memory. 

Out  of  the  remains  of  the  Journal  arose  another  and  more  vigor- 
ous plant.  W.  AY.  Secord  purchased  its  remains — that  is  its  type 
and  other  material — and  established  the  Bangor  Reflector,  the 
first  issue  of  w7hich  appeared  in  the  month  of  December,  1873. 
The  new  project  met  with  only  a  limited  success  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Mr.  Secord,  who  managed  it  until  April,  1875,  when  it  was 
purchased  by  Charles  C.  Phillips,  who  made  it  a  valuable  prop- 
erty and  a  paper  of  influence  and  fair  circulation. 

"The  Bangor  Advance" 

The  West  Michigan  Advance  was  started  by  G.  F.  Burkett,  in 
1881,  and  was  purchased  by  L.  S.  Russell  the  next  year,  at  which 
time  his  son,  M.  F.  Russell,  started  in  to  learn  the  printer's  trade, 
and  he  has  never  since  got  the  ink  off  from  his  fingers.  In  1888 
Mr.  Phillips  leased  the  Reflector  to  Mr.  Russell,  who  consolidated 
the  two  papers,  under  the  name  of  the  Advance  and  Reflector.  On 
the  first  of  January,  1891,  Mr.  Russell  turned  over  the  busi- 
ness to  his  son,  M.  F.  Russell,  who  found  the  venture  to  be  profit- 
able, and  after  managing  it  for  a  year  purchased  the  entire  plant 
and  it  still  remains  in  his  possession.  The  name  was  changed  to 
the  Bangor  Advance,  the  "Reflector"  disappearing  from  view. 
The  paper  was  originally  started  with  a  Washington  hand  press. 
Mr.  Phillips  purchased  a  ' '  Prouty, ' '  which  has  been  succeeded  by 
a  "Potter  drum  cylinder."  The  outfit  of  the  Advance  is  modern 
and  consists  of  the  newspaper  press,  two  job  presses,  a  five-horse 


364  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

power  gasoline  engine,  abundance  of  type  and  all  the  equipment 
needful  for  a  first  class  newspaper  and  job  plant. 

Bangor  had,  at  one  time,  three  newspapers,  the  other  two  being 
the  Bangor  Breeze  and  the  Van  Bur  en  County  Visitor.  The  local- 
ity proved  to  be  too  breezy  for  the  Breeze  and  after  a  brief  career 
it  blew  away.  There  was,  for  a  considerable  length  of  time,  a 
fierce  rivalry  between  the  Visitor  and  the  Advance,  but  the  strife 
ended  in  1907  by  the  amalgamation  of  the  two  papers,  Mr.  Rus- 
sell purchasing  the  Visitor  outright,  its  publisher,  Mr.  B.  F.  Harris, 
entering  the  employ  of  the  Advance  as  foreman  where  he  has  since 
remained. 

Early  Lawrence  Newspapers 

It  was  not  until  1875  that  the  village  of  Lawrence  could  boast 
of  having  a  newspaper.  That  year  Theodore  L.  Reynolds  estab- 
lished the  Lawrence  Advertiser.  Mr.  Reynolds  continued  this 
paper  until  some  time  in  1877,  when  he  sold  it  to  Robert  L.  Warren 
who  published  it  for  three  years  longer.  In  1880,  Mr.  Warren, 
becoming  the  owner  of  the  Decatur  Republican,  removed  the  Ad- 
vertiser plant  to  Decatur  and  consolidated  the  two  papers,  leav- 
ing Lawrence  as  an  open  field  for  some  other  venturesome  news- 
paper aspirant.  A  job  printing  office  was  continued  in  the  village 
by  different  parties,  but  it  wras  not  until  November,  1882,  that  any 
further  effort  was  made  to  establish  a  newspaper,  and  that  effort 
proved  to  be  exceedingly  weak.  Messrs.  Wilson  &  Moon  started 
a  sheet  that  they  christened  the  Lawrence  Times,  but  it  did  not 
live  long  enough  to  learn  its  own  name.  Its  ambitious  originators 
had  no  press  and  their  "forms"  had  to  be  taken  to  Paw  Paw,  nine 
miles  distant,  to  be  printed.  Only  three  issues  of  the  Times  ever 
sawT  the  light  of  day,  and  for  about  three  years  no  further  effort 
was  made  to  publish  a  paper  in  Lawrence.  In  the  spring  of  1885 
G.  M.  Vining  began  the  publication  of  a  little  six-by-nine  paper 
called  the  Basket  of  Locals  and  continued  the  little  sheet  until  mid- 
summer, when  he  revived  the  Times  which  he  continued  for  five 
years,  but  it  was  too  much  up-hill  traveling;  and  the  Times  fol- 
lowed in  the  wake  of  its  predecessors  and  lay  down  and  died. 

For  a  short  time,  in  1890,  Messrs  Cash  &  Vining  published  a 
paper  called  the  Lyre,  but  it  was  not  a  success.  Possibly  people  not 
up  in  orthography  mistrusted  the  name  and  so  refused  to  give  it 
their  confidence. 

The  Van  B,uren  County  Visitor,  mentioned  as  among  the  Ban- 
gor papers,  wras  first  established  at  Lawrence  in  1895  by  W.  E. 
Thresher  and  by  him  removed  to  Bangor  in  1897. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  365 

"Lawrence  Times" 

After  so  many  abortive  attempts  to  provide  the  people  of  Law- 
rence and  the  adjacent  country  with  a  local  newspaper,  it  seemed 
that  the  time  was  ripe  for  a  successful  effort  along  that  line.  On 
the  first  of  January,  1898,  Ernest  G.  Klock,  a  newspaper  man  from 
Holland,  Michigan,  brought  his  outfit  to  Lawrence  and  started  a 
new  paper,  taking  the  old  name  of  the  Lawrence  Times.  It  was 
rather  "hard  sledding"  for  the  paper  and  in  the  fall  of  1899  Mr. 
Klock  sold  his  plant  to  Miss  Vera  P.  Cobb,  of  Middleville,  Michi- 
gan, who  conducted  it  until  January,  1901,  at  which  time  she  dis- 
posed of  it  to  James  G.  Jennings.  Mr.  Jennings  succeeded  in 
giving  the  paper  some  prestige  and  continued  to  publish  it  until 
November,  1909,  when  he  sold  it  to  G.  S.  Easton  of  Onsted,  Michi- 
gan. Mr.  Easton  has  shown  himself  to  be  a  hustler,  has  made 
the  Times  one  of  the  foremost  newspapers  in  the  county  and  has 
spared  no  pains  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  town.  He  has  put 
in  a  large  amount  of  new  material,  including  a  typesetting  ma- 
chine. The  business  men  of  the  village  have  accorded  him  a  liberal 
support  and  the  paper  has  every  appearance  of  having  become 
one  of  the  well-established,  permanent  and  paying  newspaper  plants 
of  the  county. 

The  first  effort  at  the  publication  of  a  newspaper  in  the  little 
village  of  Bloomingdale  was  made  in  the  early  seventies  when  a 
paper  was  started  at  that  town,  by  Mr.  W.  W.  Secord,  under  the 
name  of  the  Bloomingdale  Tidings.  Mr.  Secord  continued  the 
publication  of  this  paper  for  a  few  years,  but  it  did  not  prove  to 
be  a  financial  success,  finally  "lay  down  and  died,"  and  was 
buried  in  the  newspaper  cemetery  of  the  county  among  numerous 
other  unsuccessful  aspirants  for  journalistic  fame  and  fortune. 

' '  Bloomingdale  Leader  ' ' 

On  the  10th  day  of  June,  1881,  undaunted  by  the  fate  that  over- 
took the  Tidings,  Messrs.  M.  A.  Barber  and  C.  F.  Smith  founded 
the  Bloomingdale  Leader,  which  proved  to  be  possessed  of  a 
greater  degree  of  vitality  than  the  Tidings  and  which  is  yet,  after 
the  lapse  of  thirty  years,  still  in  the  ring  and  doing  a  prosperous 
business.  Originally,  the  paper  was  a  five-column  folio.  Messrs. 
Barber  &  Smith  continued  to  publish  the  Leader  for  a  couple  of 
years  when  Barber  sold  his  interest  to  Smith,  who  became  the  sole 
proprietor,  and  who,  in  1892,  added  new  material,  put  in  new 
presses  and  enlarged  the  paper  to  a  five-column  quarto,  which  it 
has  since  remained.  In  1895  Mr.  R.  D.  Perkins  purchased  the 
plant  from  Mr  Smith,  and  has  successfully  managed  the  property 


366  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

for  the  past  sixteen  years.  A  large  two  story  cement  building, 
which  will  be  the  future  home  of  the  Leader,  is  in  process  of  con- 
struction and  is  nearly  completed,  and  the  prospect  for  future 
successful  business  was  never  better  than  at  the  present  time. 

"GOBLEVILLE  NEWS" 

The  Gobleville  News  was  established  in  the  hustling  little  vil- 
lage of  Gobleville  in  the  fall  or  1890,  by  J.  M.  Hall,  who  was  its 
editor  and  publisher  for  nearly  fifteen  years.  Under  his  admin- 
istration of  affairs  the  paper  became  a  six-column  quarto,  with 
two  pages  only  printed  at  home,  the  remainder  of  the  sheet  being 
"plate."  In  August,  1905,  the  present  editor  and  publisher,  J. 
B.  Travis,  became  the  owner  of  the  plant  and  at  once  doubled 
the  amount  of  home  matter,  giving  the  patrons  of  the  paper  four 
pages  of  home  news,  instead  of  two  as  theretofore.  In  June,  1907, 
the  News  moved  into  new  and  commodious  quarters  on  State  street, 
which  it  now  occupies.  During  the  six  years  of  the  paper  under  its 
present  management,  it  has  practically  doubled  its  business  in  all 
departments,  has  purchased  a  full  supply  of  new  and  up-to-date 
type  and  other  material  including  a  power  press,  and  now  has  a 
superior  outfit  for  a  newspaper  of  its  class.  Its  editor,  Mr.  Travis, 
is  a  "Michigan  boy"  born  in  Hillsdale  county,  and  prior  to  en- 
gaging in  the  newspaper  business  was  superintendent  of  schools 
in  various  localities  in  the  state. 

South  Haven  Newspapers 

The  South  Haven  Sentinel  was  the  first  newspaper  to  be  es- 
tablished in  the  village  (now  city)  of  South  Haven.  It  was  founded 
in  1867,  by  Capt.  David  M.  Phillips,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war, 
and,  unlike  most  of  the  first  papers  started  in  the  county,  it  proved 
a  success  from  the  start.  Captain  Phillips,  however,  did  not  long 
retain  the  ownership  of  the  Sentinel,  for  one  year  after  it  was  born 
he  sold  it  to  Dr.  Samuel  Tobey,  who,  in  turn,  transferred  it  to  Capt, 
W.  E.  Stewart,  another  Civil  war  veteran.  Captain  Stewart  suc- 
cessfully conducted  the  Sentinel  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
on  the  11th  day  of  July,  1899.  The  plant  then  passed  into  the 
possession  and  management  of  his  daughter,  Miss  Nellie  Stewart, 
who  was  a  pretty  good  newspaper  man  (?)  herself.  The  paper 
has,  since  that  time,  undergone  change  of  name  and  change  of 
ownership  until  it  has  finally  landed  in  the  office  of  the  South 
Haven  Daily  Gazette.  The  change  of  name  occurred  while  the 
plant  was  owned  and  published  by  Dr.  H.  M.  Spencer,  who  came 
into  its  ownership  after  Captain  Stewart's  decease.  It  was  after- 
ward owned  and  published  by  0.  C.  Schmidt.    Under  his  adminis- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  367 

tration  the  paper  was  converted  into  a  semi-weekly,  but  when  it 
passed  into  its  present  quarters  it  was  again  changed  into  a  weekly. 
While  Captain  Stewart  owned  the  Sentinel  it  was  a  Republican 
paper  and  strenuously  advocated  the  principles  of  that  party. 
Since  his  death  and  since  it  became  an  Advocate  it  has  sometimes 
advocated  political  ideas  which,  to  draw  it  mild,  have  been  very 
much  at  variance  with  the  convictions  of  its  founder  and  former 
owners. 

In  1878  J.  Densmore  started  a  "Greenback"  paper  in  South 
Haven,  which  he  named  the  South  Haven  Record.  After  less  than 
a  year  of  life  in  the  place  of  its  birth  it  was  sold  to  Kalamazoo 
parties  and  removed  to  that  city  where  it  continued  to  support  the 
Greenback  party  until  there  was  no  Greenback  party  to  support 
the  Record. 

There  have  been  numerous  other  ventures  in  the  newspaper  line 
in  South  Haven  that  have  had  their  little  day  and  then  passed 
into  oblivion.  Among  them  were  the  Fonetic  Klips,  a  little  monthly 
sheet  issued  by  Almon  J.  Pierce.  As  its  title  indicates,  the  purpose 
of  this  little  monthly  novelty  was  to  promote  the  use  of  phonetic 
orthography,  of  which  system  the  publisher  was  an  ardent  sup- 
porter. 

Other  papers  that  have  either  been  consolidated,  amalgamated  or 
abrogated  are  the  News,  the  Avalanche,  the  Index  and  possibly 
others  that  have  had  their  little  day  and  passed  off  the  stage. 

There  are  published  in  the  city  of  South  Haven  at  the  present 
time,  two  daily  papers — the  Tribune  and  the  Gazette;  one  semi- 
weekly,  the  Tribune-Messenger,  and  one  weekly,  the  Citizens  Ad- 
vocate. 

The  Daily  Tribune  was  founded  in  May,  1899,  by  Ira  A.  Smith, 
who  converted  it  into  a  stock  company.  The  articles  of  incorpora- 
tion were  executed  on  the  31st  of  July,  1902.  The  stockholders 
were  Ira  A.  Smith,  Hattie  B.  Smith  and  Wilbur  G.  Smith,  and  the 
amount  of  the  capital  stock  was  $10,000.  Later  the  paper  passed 
into  the  possession  of  the  present  owners.  The  officers  of  the  com- 
pany are  S.  H.  Wilson,  president;  C.  O.  Monroe,  vice  president, 
editor  and  manager;  C.  J.  Monroe,  treasurer;  F.  W.  Taylor,  man- 
ager of  advertising  and  job  department.  The  Tribune  is  a  six  col- 
umn folio  sheet.  Soon  after  the  paper  passed  into  the  possession 
of  the  present  owners,  the  Messenger,  a  weekly  paper  that  was  be- 
ing published  in  the  city  at  the  time,  was  merged  with  the  weekly 
edition  of  the  Tribune,  under  the  name  of  the  Tribune-Messenger. 
This  sheet  was  continued  as  a  weekly  until  March,  1911,  when  it 
was  changed  to  a  semi-weekly  and  so  remains. 

The  Daily  Gazette  was  started  about  the  first  of  May,  1909,  with 
F.  T.  Lincoln  as  editor.    On  the  31st  day  of  July,  1902,  articles  of 


368  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

incorporation  were  filed  under  the  name  of  the  South  Haven 
Gazette  Company.  The  amount  of  capital  stock  was  fixed  at  $10,- 
000  and  the  stockholders  were  F.  F.  Rowe  and  A.  E.  Kettle,  of 
Kalamazoo,  and  F.  T.  Lincoln,  of  South  Haven.  Mr.  Lincoln  con- 
tinues to  be  the  editor  of  the  paper,  which  is  a  seven  column  folio 
sheet. 

The  Citizens  Advocate,  which  is  the  lineal  descendant  of  the 
Sentinel,  the  first  South  Haven  newspaper,  is  also  published  by 
the  Gazette  Company,  as  a  weekly  journal. 

Two  dailies,  one  semi-weekly  and  one  weekly  represent  a  fairly 
ample  supply  of  newspapers  for  a  town  of  the  size  of  South  Haven, 
but  they  all  appear  to  be  prospering  and  to  be  well  patronized. 
Neither  of  these  journals  misses  an  opportunity  to  advance  the  in- 
terests of  the  city  and  vicinity  and  the  enterprising  citizens  of  the 
place  appear  to  fully  appreciate  the  efforts  of  the  press  in  their 
behalf  and  to  give  their  papers  a  generous  support. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

MEDICINE  AND  SURGERY 

Medical  Scientific  Research — Preventive  Medicine — Surgery — 
The  Country  Physician  and  the  Trained  Nurse — Early  Phy- 
sicians of  Van  Buren  County — Paw  Paw  Physicians — Ban- 
gor —  Gobleville  —  Hartford  —  Covert  —  Lawrence  —  Law- 
ton — The  Profession  in  South  Haven — South  Haven  City 
Hospital — Decatur — Will  Carleton's  "The  Country  Doc- 
tor"— The  Veterinary  School. 

By  Dr.  G.  W.  Cornish 

In  the  compilation  of  this  chapter  it  has  been  necessary  to 
digress  somewhat  from  the  usual  routine  of  county  histories.  On 
account  of  the  wonderful  advancement  of  medicine  during  the 
period  which  this  wrork  covers,  a  general  review  of  the  progress 
of  this  science  would  be  the  history  of  the  progress  of  medicine  in 
this  county. 

We  have  summed  up  as  concisely  as  possible  the  recent  changes 
that  have  taken  place  along  this  line,  and  have  endeavored  to 
present  them  in  such  a  manner  that  they  may  be  readily  compre- 
hended and  understood  by  the  lay  reader  and  may  also  prove  both 
interesting  and  instructive. 

Tn  a  work  that  covers  so  much  ground  it  has  been  necessary  to 
quote  quite  freely  from  the  writings  of  medical  profession  and 
others. 

To  those  whose  kindly  assistance  and  ready  response  to  in- 
quiries have  so  materially  aided  us  in  acquiring  much  informa- 
tion and  data  for  this  chapter,  wre  desire  to  express  our  most  sin- 
cere thanks  and  hearty  appreciation. 

The  problem  of  public  health,  always  of  vital  interest,  assumes 
with  the  advance  of  civilization,  the  increase  of  population,  the 
social  and  economic  condition  incident  thereto,  greater  import- 
ance from  year  to  year. 

The  one  great  problem  of  life  is  the  preservation  of  health, 
and  this  one  word  covers  the  whole  realm  of  the  physician's  labors, 
and  hygiene  or  science  and  art  of  the  preservation  of  health  is 

Vol.  1—2  4 

369 


370  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

receiving  more  attention  today  than  ever  before.  Wherever 
people  have  correct  ideas  as  to  the  requirements  of  health  and 
make  intelligent  efforts  to  obey  its  laws,  sickness  is  comparatively 
rare  and  the  very  best  work  both  physical  and  mental  is  accom- 
plished. Not  only  does  the  individual  help  himself  to  progress  and 
also  those  about  him,  but  the  community  at  large  is  benefited  so 
that  "public  health  is  public  wealth." 

There  are  more  people  making  themselves  "physical  bank- 
rupts' '  by  violating  the  laws  of  health  than  the  great  majority  of 
people  think.  Unfortunately,  very  few  people  will  regard  what 
the  physician  says  on  the  subject  until  it  is  too  late.  However, 
it  is  the  duty  of  every  physician  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  teach 
his  patrons  the  laws  of  the  preservation  of  health  and  prevention 
of  disease. 

Roosevelt  says .-  ' '  The  preservation  of  national  vigor  should  be 
a  matter  of  patriotism."  Hygiene  can  prevent  more  crime  than 
law.  We  need  education  along  health  lines.  "Ignorance  is  the 
greatest  criminal  of  the  twentieth  century.  It  smothers  and 
strangles  more  babies,  it  eats  out  the  hearts  of  more  women,  and 
cuts  the  throats  of  more  men,  it  injures  more  homes,  and  fills  more 
untimely  graves  than  all  the  felons  who  fill  the  prisons  of  this 
world." 

Medical  Scientific  Research 

A  marked  feature  of  this  age  is  scientific  research,  and  many 
great  and  useful  additions  have  been  made  to  the  world's  knowl- 
edge within  the  last  fifty  years. 

The  acquirement  of  a  fuller  knowledge  of  the  properties  of 
steam  and  electricity  and  their  practical  employment  have  revolu- 
tionized the  world.  Human  conveniences  have  been  multiplied  and 
human  comforts  have  increased,  but  the  results  of  scientific  ad- 
vancement have  not  been  merely  material;  they  have  made  for  a 
greater  amity  and  closer  union  between  men  and  people.  Medical 
science  has  gone  apace  with  sister  sciences.  The  physician  has 
been  no  less  active  than  the  physicist  and  the  electrician.  Within 
the  past  three  decades  a  great  mass  of  actual  pain  has  been  lifted 
from  off  suffering  humanity,  social  conditions  have  been  improved, 
life  has  been  prolonged,  and  made  better  and  happier.  The  world 
is  not  ungratefully  blind  to  the  fact  that  progress  in  medicine  and 
surgery  has  had  an  incalculable  humanitarian  importance. 

Medical  science  can  boast  no  less  than  any  other  science  so  far 
as  progress  is  concerned,  though  our  progress  is  not  so  visible  to  the 
eye  as  others  are — such  as  ship-building  that  made  it  possible  to 
cross  the  Atlantic  in  less  than  five  days;  steam  and  electricity 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  871 

which  revolutionized  the  commerce  of  the  world  and  made  it  pos- 
sible to  travel  sixty  miles  or  more  an  hour  by  rail ;  air  ships  which 
fly  thousands  of  feet  in  the  air;  the  telegraph,  telephone,  the  wire- 
less system  which  in  times  of  war  and  storms  will  be  of  untold 
benefit,  and  I  cannot  forget  the  horseless  carriages  that  convey  the 
doctors  to  suffering  patients  in  almost  no  time  with  a  speed  of 
from  twenty  to  one  hundred  miles  an  hotfr.  These  are  some  of 
the  very  conspicuous  results  of  the  present  day  progress  in  science 
that  strike  the  eye.  But  stop  and  think  of  the  number  of  human 
lives  saved  as  a  result  of  medical  advancement  and  of  the  great 
undertakings  that  sanitation  and  hygiene  have  made  possible  as  a 
result  of  discoveries  of  causes  of  disease.  It  can  then  be  com- 
pared more  than  favorably  with  the  advances  made  in  other 
branches  of  science. 

The  doctors  are  the  connecting  link  between  that  great  medical 
body  which  handles  the  vast  majority  of  the  diseases  we  would 
prevent  and  the  general  public,  the  victim  of  those  diseases.  This 
means  that  the  doctor  is  awake  and  must  awaken  the  people  to 
their  duty  to  themselves  and  make  it  plain  to  them  that  no 
man  has  a  right  so  to  keep  his  house  or  so  to  live  his  life  in  a 
civilized  community  as  to  jeopardize  his  neighbor's  health  or  hap- 
piness. It  is  said  in  China  it  is  the  custom  to  pay  the  physician  a 
certain  amount  to  keep  you  well.  When  the  patient  is  ill  the  pay 
ceases.  This  unique  practice  has  much  to  recommend  it.  It 
means  that  we,  the  doctors,  shall  teach  all  our  people  that  the 
duty  of  keeping  clean  in  a  physical  sense  is  as  high  as  that  of 
moral  cleanliness.  This  is  accomplished  in  a  great  degree  by 
teaching  patients  how  to  prevent  diseases,  how  to  avoid  diseases 
instead  of  curing  them. 

Preventive  Medicine 

The  Philadelphia  Ledger  of  May  5,  1911,  reports  in  substance 
the  speech  of  President  Taft  on  preventive  medicine:  "Whatever 
hostages  to  civilization  were  given  by  the  United  States  in  the  war 
of  1898  have  been  wonderfully  redeemed.  The  unwelcome  con- 
quest of  undesired  territory  in  the  tropics  has  been  turned  to  the 
world's  advantage  by  the  conquest  over  tropical  disease.  This  is 
the  greatest  triumph  in  the  history  of  the  American  army.  The 
army  did  not  do  it  all,  nor  is  the  progress  achieved  since  1898  to 
be  boasted  of  as  a  peculiarly  national  achievement.  The  study  of 
bacteriology  and  the  causation  of  disease  has  been  going  on  in  the 
laboratories  and  hospitals  of  the  wide  world,  from  British  India 
all  the  way  round  the  globe,  through  Europe  and  America  and 
over  the  Pacific  to  Japan.    What  our  army  doctors  did  was  to  keep 


372  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

alert  to  every  discovery  and  suggestion  and  apply  it  as  the  op- 
portunity came  to  them,  with  a  scientific  thoroughness  and  a 
military  efficiency  that  changed  the  whole  aspect  of  life  in  tropi- 
cal countries. 

' '  Need  I  remind  you  of  the  names  of  men  made  famous,  who  are 
dear  to  the  hearts  of  the  nation  for  the  great  and  unselfish  work 
they  have  done  to  preserve  health  and  life  ?  Close  investigation  and 
experimentation,  demonstrated  that  the  dread  yellow  fever  was 
due  to  the  mosquito  and  could  be  banished,  and  that  malaria  is 
not  'bad  air'  as  its  name  indicates,  but  it  is  the  poision  of  a  cer- 
tain kind  of  mosquito,  and  'Yellow  Jack'  is  the  same,  only  a  dif- 
ferent kind  of  mosquito.  It  was  early  observed  that  exposure  to 
night  air  wTas  frequently  followed  by  either  malaria  or  yellow  fe- 
ver, and  this  as  well  as  other  observations  gave  rise  to  a  supposed 
similarity  of  cause  of  these  two  diseases.  All  this  is  now  explained 
by  the  discovery  of  the  fact  that  the  two  kinds  of  mosquitoes  which 
communicate  these  twTo  diseases  are  night  birds.  It  is  all  very 
simple,  after  we  know.  It  is  very  gratifying  that  our  country  has 
been  able  to  show  to  the  world  one  of  the  most  striking  examples 
in  the  history  of  preventive  medicine  by  the  extermination  of  yel- 
low fever  through  the  discoveries  of  Drs.  Reed  and  Carroll,  and 
the  practical  application  of  their  researches  by  Colonel  Gorgas 
has  made  it  possible  for  the  nation  to  undertake  a  great  engineer- 
ing task  for  years  considered  impossible  by  scientific  men  of  other 
people.  Medical  science  shall  have  its  share  in  the  glory  of  the 
achievement  of  the  Panama  Canal,  a  national  dream  realized. 
Were  it  not  for  this  discovery  this  great  canal  could  not  be  com- 
pleted. If  United  States  had  done  nothing  more  than  to  show  the 
Cubans  how  to  prevent  these  terrible  diseases  it  alone  would  have 
repaid  many  times  over  all  the  loss  and  suffering  of  the  Spanish 
war.  The  redemption  of  the  Philippines  from  all  manner  of  dis- 
eases by  efficient  sanitation,  vaccination  and  the  extermination  of 
disease  bearing  pests  would  make  the  American  occupancy  of  the 
islands  glorious,  even  if  it  had  accomplished  nothing  for  the  men- 
tal advancement  of  the  people. 

' '  The  value  of  vaccination  must  be  admitted  by  every  sane  mind 
as  a  preventive  of  smallpox.  In  well  vaccinated  Germany  but 
one  person  a  year  in  every  million  dies  of  smallpox.  In  Eng- 
land, where  vaccination  is  general  but  not  universal,  twenty  per- 
sons in  a  million  die  of  the  disease.  In  the  Philippine  Islands  in 
certain  districts  where  there  had  been  6,000  deaths  annually  be- 
fore vaccination,  one  year  after  its  completion  Dr.  Victor  G. 
Heiser  reports  that  not  a  single  death  from  smallpox  has  been 
known. 

"In  the  comparative  restricted  field  of  military  medicine  alone 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  373 

we  have  but  to  recall  the  awful  scourge  of  typhoid  fever  in  the 
camp  at  Chickamauga  and  contrast  with  it  the  army  reports  of 
today  to  recognize  the  astounding  progress  of  twelve  years.  In 
the  Spanish  War  hardly  a  regiment  escaped  typhoid  and  the  death 
rate  among  the  affected  was  appalling.  In  the  division  now  in 
Texas  living  for  two  months  under  canvass  in  a  rain  soaked  coun- 
try, there  has  been  one  case,  a  civilian,  not  protected  by  vaccina- 
tion against  typhoid.  Thus  by  our  vaccines  and  serums,  our  hy- 
gienic and  sanitary  precautions  and  by  the  alert  watchfulness  of 
specially  trained  physicians  we  are  able  to  prevent  epidemics,  and 
how  has  our  mortality  decreased." 

The  practitioner  of  medicine  saves  lives  one  at  a  time,  and  right- 
noble  is  his  calling.  But  is  it  not  infinitely  wiser  to  prevent  the 
pollution  by  sewage  of  a  stream  supplying  a  city  of  a  million  than 
to  fight  that  pollution  in  the  bodies  of  10,000  innocent  victims  of 
filth?  Is  it  not  better  far  to  prevent  the  pollution  of  our  food, 
houses,  vehicles  and  streets  from  tuberculosis  than  to  spend  mil- 
lions on  treatment  and  then  see  our  loved  ones  die  by  the  tens  of 
thousands?  Is  it  not  cheaper  to  spend  a  hundred  million  of  dol- 
lars and  rid  our  country  of  every  mosquito  than  to  see  business 
wither  at  flood-tide  under  blighting  grip  of  yellow  fever,  and  our 
kindred  and  friends  perish  from  the  pest,  while  malaria  takes  its 
yearly  tribute  of  thousands  of  lives  in  our  country  and  destroys 
the  earning  power  to  the  extent  of  probably  $50,000,000  an- 
nually and  perhaps  double  that?  Shall  we  not  vaccinate  all  our 
people  at  a  cost  of  25  cents  each  rather  than  leave  some  hundreds 
to  die  annually,  and  some  other  hundreds  of  thousands  to  be 
branded  with  scars?  Vaccination,  with  re- vaccination  until  the 
susceptibility  to  vaccine  is  exhausted  is  an  absolute  protection  from 
an  attack  of  smallpox,  but  there  is  no  known  remedy  which  in  any 
way  modifies  the  disease  once  it  is  well  started. 

Of  no  less  importance  to  mankind  is  the  wonderful  discovery 
of  diphtheritic  anti-toxin.  In  this  country  more  than  100,000 
lives  are  saved  annually  by  the  use  of  this  serum. 

We  shall  better  estimate  the  value  of  disease  prevention  in  our 
time  by  considering  the  losses  which  the  human  race  has  in  the 
past  sustained  by  reason  of  the  non-existence  of  an  adequate  and 
scientific  prevention.  Take  for  example  the  bubonic  plague  some 
times  called  "Black  Death,"  or  the  "Great  Mortality ' '  which  is  said 
to  be  the  most  dreadful  calamity  ever  visited  upon  mankind.  It 
is  said  that  when  the  plague  visited  London  it  killed  50,000  peo- 
ple in  one  year.  In  Constantinople  there  were  daily  more  than 
10,000  victims.  One  third  the  population  of  Persia  is  said  to  have 
been  bestroyed  by  it  and  one  half  the  population  of  Europe  was 
destroyed  by  this  disease  in  the  14th  century.     But  of  the  great 


374  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

destroyers  of  mankind  none  has  ever  been  comparable  with  tuber- 
culosis— "Great  White  Plague."  It  is  killing  5,000,000  people  in 
the  world  every  year.  However,  tuberculosis  no  longer  claims  its 
victims  in  these  days  unchallenged  as  those  who  contract  it  are 
not  abandoned  as  hopeless  cases  for  many  in  the  incipiency  of  the 
disease  recover.  But  the  cry  on  all  sides  is  not  so  much  how  to 
cure  it  as  how  to  prevent  it.     How  to  stamp  it  out. 

The  recent  causation  of  the  hookworm  disease  has  likewise  been 
found  to  have  its  origin  in  soil  pollution  and  stagnant  waters  in 
a  similar  manner  to  that  of  typhoid  as  it  is  an  intestinal  disease, 
and  now  that  the  cause  of  this  disease  is  known  the  spread  of  it 
will  doubtless  soon  be  under  control. 

Of  late  years,  much  interest  has  been  manifested  in  prevention 
and  cure  of  one  of  the  most  fatal  diseases  when  once  infected  of 
any  of  the  contagions,  that  of  tetanus.  No  doubt  the  unsuccess- 
fulness  of  the  serum  treatment  of  this  disease  is  largely  due  to  the 
fact  that  the  treatment  is  not  used  sufficiently  early.  The  physi- 
cians need  the  co-operation  of  legislative  bodies  in  accomplishing 
a  sane  Fourth  of  July,  thus  doing  away  with  source  of  infection 
of  a  large  percentage  of  this  disease. 

Above  we  deem  sufficient  to  give  the  reader  some  idea  of  the 
advancement  in  medical  research  in  the  last  few  years  among  in- 
fectious and  contagious  diseases,  although  many  more  might  be 
enumerated. 

The  one  thing  we  have  done  well  in  the  last  few  years  is  devel- 
oping of  the  preventive  side  of  medicine,  the  triumph  of  which 
we  have  above  mentioned.  How  is  this  accomplished?  One  of 
the  most  encouraging  features  of  modern  civilization  is  the  gen- 
eral interest  which  is  being  aroused  in  the  matter  of  healthful  and 
hygienic  methods  of  living.  All  these  advances  have  been  the  re- 
sult of  agitation  and  education  among  the  laity,  by  the  progressive 
physician.  Hygienic  measures  and  varied  environment  have  cer- 
tainly replaced  much  of  the  drugging  which  was  the  only  recourse 
in  former  years,  but  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  these  by  them- 
selves have  by  no  means  covered  the  whole  treatment  of  disease  as 
is  sometimes  fondly  imagined,  nor  do  they  justify  us  in  withhold- 
ing other  therapeutic  agents,  already  well  approved  by  experience 
in  conjunction  with  them. 

Within  the  last  few  years  there  have  arisen  several  non-drug 
branches  of  the  healing  art,  such  as  chiropractic,  osteopathy,  new 
thought,  Emmanuel  movement,  magnetic  healing,  Christian  science 
and  other  cults  or  "pathies,"  nearly  all  of  which  could  be  classed 
under  the  head  of  psycho-therapy  or  mind  cure  and  massage; 
each  and  every  one  of  which  has  an  element  of  truth  on  which  it 
bases  its  claims  and  in  functional  troubles,  and  to  some  extent  in 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  375 

organic  disease,  exerts  a  curative  effect.  Also  infra-red  and  ultra- 
violet rays  as  curative  agencies  are  receiving  considerable  recogni- 
tion. 

Someone  says:  "One  of  the  most  important  relationships  be- 
tween the  medical  profession  and  citizenship  at  large  exists  in  the 
carefully  planned  and  properly  carried  out  system  of  medical 
supervision  of  school  children.  The  influence  that  physical  defects 
have  upon  retardation  in  school  work  is  becoming  well  recognized. 
It  is  a  lamentable  fact  that  many  school  children  are  unjustly  ad- 
judged of  being  mentally  deficient,  or  dull  and  backward,  when  in 
fact  this  deficiency  is  due  to  remedial  physical  defects.  It  is  a 
deplorable  fact  that  thirty  per  cent  of  all  school  children  are  suf- 
fering from  diseases  of  the  eye." 

Dr.  Stanley  Hall  says:  "What  shall  it  profit  a  child  if  he  gain 
the  whole  world  of  knowledge  and  lose  his  owrn  health?"  The 
thinking  mind,  the  equipped  mind,  and  the  healthy  body  are  the 
three  things  necessary  to  make  the  ideal  life,  and  the  greatest  of 
these  is  the  healthy  body.  Our  law  makers  are  beginning  to  rec- 
ognize the  necessity  of  legislation  along  these  lines.  Already  a  man 
who  risks  the  spread  of  tuberculosis  and  other  pulmonary  dis- 
eases by  expectoration  in  public  places  is  amenable  to  law.  The 
treatment  of  children's  diseases  is  now  eminently  a  matter  of  en- 
couraging national  reaction.  Air  is  admitted  in  abundance,  chil- 
dren are  properly  fed,  and  they  are  taught  the  importance  of 
cleanliness.  "Children  should  be  warned  against  open  fruit  and 
candy  stands  on  streets,  street  soda  fountain,  open  waffle  wagons, 
hokey-pokey  ice-cream,  and  the  public  drinking  cup.  House- 
wives should  not  buy  foods  in  open,  fly-invested  markets  or  those 
exposed  to  street  dust,  flies,  animals  and  promiscuous  public 
handling.  Investigate  your  milkman,  your  baker,  your  ice  man  and 
your  marketman.  Know  where  your  ice  cream  is  made  and  how." 
These  are  a  few  of  the  instructions  of  Michigan  Board  of  health. 

We  are  becoming  forcibly  acquainted  with  the  facts  of  the  per- 
nicious character  of  flies  in  spreading  disease,  and  are  being 
aroused  to  the  great  necessity  of  destroying  them.  No  longer  can 
we  patiently  tolerate  the  little  pests  good  naturedly.  Toleration 
in  the  matter  is  a  deadly  error  of  omission.  We  must  wage  an 
active  warfare  upon  them  in  the  name  of  humanity.  Never  drive 
a  fly  from  a  sick-room  but  swat  him  on  the  spot. 

Surgery 

As  to  surgery  which  is  probably  one  of  the  most  fascinating  di- 
visions of  the  work  of  a  physician,  two  prominent  discoveries  were 
made  during  the  period  which  we  cover  that  revolutionized  the 


376  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

practice  of  surgery,  namely,  anaesthesia  and  antisepsis.  The  first 
abolished  pain  as  a  disturbing  element  during  operative  proced- 
ures, and  the  second  prevented  suppuration  during  the  healing 
process.  Together  they  effect  a  painless  operation  and  rapid  heal- 
ing of  the  wound.  Operations  that  a  half  century  ago  were  un- 
thought  of  and  even  unthinkable  on  account  of  their  danger,  are 
daily  performed  with  the  most  absolute  success.  The  surgeon  of 
today  enters  and  explores  the  abdominal  cavity  with  as  little  hes- 
itancy as  he  would  amputate  a  toe  or  finger.  The  battle  field  of 
the  late  wars  bear  positive  proof  of  the  advancement  in  surgery. 
The  mortality  from  wounds  being  only  about  one-sixth  of  that  of 
the  wars  of  a  half  century  ago. 

Probably  no  recent  discovery  has  aroused  more  interest  or  curi- 
osity in  the  people  of  the  world  than  the  discovery  by  Roentgen  of 
Germany  in  1895  of  the  X-ray  which  is  a  kind  of  light  produced 
by  electricity  and  is  capable  of  penetrating  wood,  flesh,  and  other 
organic  substances.  Practical  use  of  the  rays  is  made  in  looking 
within  the  body  so  as  to  determine  by  sight  the  condition  of  the 
bones  and  the  location  of  substances  imbedded  in  the  flesh.  As  an 
adjunct  for  diagnostic  purposes  in  both  medicine  and  surgery  it 
has  proved  a  wonderful  aid.  In  fractures  and  dislocations,  in  lo- 
cating foreign  bodies,  in  the  treatment  of  some  types  of  skin  dis- 
eases and  cancer,  and  in  the  examination  of  many  of  the  internal 
organs  its  value  is  beyond  dispute. 

The  Country  Physician  and  Trained  Nurse 

The  country  physician  is  compelled  to  handle  nearly  the  entire 
field  of  work  without  assistance.  Not  even  a  trained  nurse.  He 
usually  finds  his  most  difficult  cases  many  miles  from  help,  and 
nine  times  out  of  ten  too  poor  to  obtain  a  nurse  or  extra  physician. 
Consequently  the  country  physician  has  to  "strip  off  and  sail  in." 
He  handles  the  compound  fracture  as  readily  as  would  a  whole 
hospital  staff.  He  comes  out  as  successfully  with  his  transverse 
or  face  presentation  as  the  best  of  the  maternity  hospital.  And 
many  other  such  cases  he  handles  alone  which  the  city  doctor  would 
not  undertake  without  a  trained  nurse  and  an  extra  physician. 
One  of  the  most  valuable  accessories  in  recent  years  to  the  success- 
ful handling  of  disease  is  the  trained  nurse.  Not  a  few  people  could 
bear  witness  to  the  fact  that  they  owe  their  lives  to  the  untiring 
efforts  of  the  faithful  nurse.  Only  the  physician  can  appreciate 
at  full  value  her  assistance,  who  during  the  critical  hours,  or 
days  or  weeks  faithfully  cares  for  her  patient,  watches  every 
symptom,  rightly  interprets  its  meaning,  whether  for  good  or  for 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  377 

evil,  and  promptly  and  intelligently  applies  the  prescribed  reme- 
dial measure. 

Many  are  the  physicians  and  many  are  the  trustful  nurses  who 
have  laid  down  their  lives  in  their  efforts  to  relieve  suffering  hu- 
manity from  the  ravages  of  virulent  contagions,  with  no  rattle 
of  musketry,  no  din  of  battle,  no  cheers  of  comrades,  no  thrilling 
strains  of  military  music  to  stimulate  and  urge  them  forward  to 
meet  the  enemy,  but  calmly  and  deliberately  they  place  their  lives 
as  a  bulwark  between  death  and-  disease,  many  times  with  no 
prospects  of  recompense  or  remuneration  other  than  the  conscien- 
tious satisfaction  of  duty  to  mankind.  No  annals  tell  of  battles 
fought  and  won;  no  songs  tell  of  their  brave  deeds;  no  liowers 
deck  their  graves ;  no  anniversaries  emulate  and  commemorate  their 
virtues;  no  monuments  are  erected  in  honor  of  fallen  heroes. 
And  again,  the  physician  who  worked  and  studied  hard  and  long 
to  perfect  some  wonderful  discovery  that  has  been  the  means  of 
relieving  so  much  pain  and  suffering  and  ,the  saving  of  so  many 
lives,  unlike  other  scientific  inventors,  does  not  ask  for  a  patent; 
does  not  demand  a  royalty  on  every  life  saved, , but  gives  it  to  the 
world  gratuitously  for  the  benefit  of  mankind. 

The  triumphs  which  have  been  already  achieved  by  .preventive 
medicine  have  rightly  won  the  plaudits  of  the  world ;  but  we  must 
not  forget  that  the  pharmacologist  whose  scientific  investigation 
of  drugs  has  been  no  small  factor  in  contributing  toward  success 
The  most  unsavory  concoctions  of  the  modern  pharmacy  are  as 
the  "nectar  of  the  gods,"  when  compared  with  the  medicines  of 
olden  times.  A  few  years  ago  the  pharmacist  or  physician  made 
all  of  the  elixirs,  tinctures,  plasters,  pills,  etc.  from  crude  drugs 
and  with  no  degree  of  certainty  as  to  their  strength.  The  elegant 
pharmacy  of  today  furnishes  palatable  mixtures,  coated  tablets, 
capsulated  bitter  or  nauseous  medicines,  serums,  vaccines,  etc. 
with  unquestionable  ,  accuracy. 

Early  Physicians  of  Van  Buren  County 

The  early  physicians  of  Van  Buren  county  were  pioneers  and 
they  were  the  guardians  of  a  widely  .dispersed  population.  Aside 
from  their  professional  duties  they  contributed  their  full  share 
to  the  material  development  of  a  newly  opened  country.  Some 
were  men  of  culture  who  had  gained  their  medical  education  in 
college  but  the  greater  number  were  of  limited  educational  attain- 
ments; their  professional  knowledge  had  been  acquired  in  the 
office  of  established  practitioners  of  more  or  ,less  ability.  Of 
either  class,  almost  without  exception,  they  were  practical  men  of 
great  force  of  character  who  gave  cheerful  and  efficacious  assist- 


378  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

ance  ,  to  the  suffering,  daily  journeying  on  horseback  scores  of 
miles,  over  a  country  almost  destitute  of  roads  and  encountering 
swollen,  unbridged  streams  and  destitute  of  water-proof  garments 
or  other  now  common  protections  against  weather.  Out  of  .neces- 
sity the  pioneer  physician  developed  rare  quickness  of  perception 
and  self-reliance.  The  specialist  was  then  unknown  and  the  phy- 
sician was  called  upon  to  treat  every  phase  of  bodily  ailment  serv- 
ing as  physician,  surgeon,  oculist,  dentist  and  often  times  as 
nurse.  His  books  wTere  few  and  there  were  no  practitioners  more 
able  than  himself  with  whom  he  might  consult;  his  medicines 
were  ( simple  and  carried  upon  his  person,  and  every  preparation 
of  pill  or  solution  was  the  work  of  his  own  hands. 

To  the  men  of  those  days  we  owe  much  for  our  present  knowl- 
edge ,and  lightened  burdens,  of  which  they  knewT  nothing  in  the 
days  of  their  activity.  They  blazed  the  way  for  us  through  pathless 
forests  and  unmarked  fields  of  medical  research  and  we  certainly 
should  feel  very  grateful  for, their  noble  life-work. 

It  is  at  all  times  pathetic  to  contemplate  the  dependence  that 
is  placed  on  the  skill  and  ability  of  the  regular  practitioner  to 
accomplish  cures  in  cases  that  are  oftimes  beyond  human  aid,  and 
if  it  is  so  at  ^ this  time  when  the  physician  is  aided  in  his  work  by 
all  the  modern  appliances  that  scientific  investigation  has  devel- 
oped, ,  how  much  more  so  it  was  in  pioneer  times  when  he  had  not 
only  to  cope  with  disease  but  with  an  unhealthful  environment 
that  tended  to  tear  down  his  work  as  rapidly  as  accomplished. 
Chills  and  fevers  in  the  early  days  were  great  promoters  of  dis- 
ease, weakening  the  system  and  rendering  it  a  vulnerable  prey 
to  the  epidemics  that  were  prevalent  each  year,  and  the  miasma 
of  the  swamps  was  a  condition  that  ever  existed,  so  that  the  pa- 
tients were  only  relieved  to  again  become  victims  of  a  malady 
produced  from  this  source.  Quinine  and  liver  pills  were  kept  in 
every  household,  and  indeed  they  formed  an  important  part  of 
the  equipment  of  the  ;  pioneer  physician,  who  supplemented  their 
use  by  medicines  to  allay  the  fever  following  the  chills.  Often- 
times, however,  he  wTas  not  sent  for  until  disease  had  made  such 
ravages  f  that  the  utmost  he  could  do  was  to  relieve  the  suffering  of 
the  lingering  patient  who  was  beyond  the  aid  of  human  skill. 
Doctors  were  few  in  those  days,  and  it  was  not  unusual  for  a 
father  to  take  ,a  sick  child  in  his  arms  and  tenderly  carry  it  for 
many  miles  to  consult  a  physician  in  regard  to  its  ailment,  which 
likely  as  not  was  of  some  virulent  type  of  germ  disease.  Local 
prejudices, existed  then,  as  now,  and  who  shall  say  that  they  were 
not  well  founded,  for  faith  in  the  ability  of  the  attending  physi- 
cian is  a  valuable  aid  to  the  work  of  the  remedies  employed. 
In  those  days,  it  was  not  unusual,  in  the  dark  hours  of  night, 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  379 

to  hear  the  galloping  horse  of  the  hurried  messenger  go  speeding 
past,  and  in  the  gray  of  the  morning  to  see,  returning  home,  the 
familiar  form  of  the  weary  physician  who  had  traveled  far  in  the 
cold  or  wet,  smoothed  the  pillow  of  the  pain-racked  brow  or  ush- 
ered into  the  world  a  new  being,  in  whose  life  he  ever  after  took 
the  interest  that  can  only  be  engendered  by  a  life-long  association 
in  a  community  fraught  with  human  interest. 

To  the  mother  of  the  household  the  family  physician  was  re- 
garded as  a  dependence  as  indispensable  ,as  is  the  check  book  of 
the  modern  financier  of  today,  and  in  her  he  found  a  faithful  ally 
who  in  the  administration  of  his  remedies  expended  ,a  generous 
share  of  loving  solicitude  that  inspired  the  complete  confidence  of 
the  patient.  Indeed  so  keenly  alive  did  she  become  to  the  neces- 
sity of  coping  with  disease  under  adverse  circumstances  that  in  her 
wanderings  in  the  fields  or  woods  she  t  was  ever  on  the  lookout  for 
roots  and  herbs  to  be  used  for  medicinal  purposes.  Mullein  leaves 
were  gathered  and  dried  to  be  smoked  for  catarrh ; ,  hoarhound  was 
brewed  and  the  tea  used  for  making  candy  for  colds;  sassafras 
was  made  into  a  tea  in  the  t  spring  time  and  the  children  were  in- 
duced to  drink  it  under  the  representation  by  the  diplomatic 
mother  that  it  was  a  rare  treat,  and  if  the  youngster  presumed  to 
differ  from  this  opinion  he  was  made  to  drink  it  anyhow;  catnip 
was  made  into  a  tea  for  infants  and  nervous  people,  and  wild 
cherry  bark  into  a  tonic,  and  sundry  other  roots  and  herbs  had 
their  various  uses,  known  to  the  careful  mother.  In  every  ( neigh- 
borhood it  seemed  there  was  some  woman  who  was  especially  gifted 
in  the  line  of  nursing  and  f  who  was  sent  for  by  neighbors  for  miles 
around  in  case  of  sickness.  Many  times  in  the  pioneer  days  a 
messenger  would  come,  often  times  in  the  night,  setting  the  dogs 
to  barking  and  startling  the  household  by  loud  rappings  on  the 
door,  saying,  "Mother  is  sick,  Mrs.  Blank/'  or  "baby  is  sick," 
and  "mother  wants  you  to  come  over  right  away, "  and  there  never 
was  any  hesitation  in  complying  with  such  requests  or  thought  of 
pay  for  the  rendering  of  such  services,  and  the  same  excited  mes- 
senger who  called  for  the  neighborhood  nurse  went  speeding  on 
to  bring  the  doctor. 

Paw  Paw  Physicians 

Van  Buren  county's  first  physician  according  to  the  best  knowl- 
edge obtainable  was  one  Dr.  Barrett  who  located  in  Paw  Paw  in 
the  summer  of  1835.  He  came  from  New  York.  After  practicing 
in  Paw  Paw  for  three  or  four  years  he  moved  to  Kalamazoo,  where 
he  spent  the  remaining  portion  of  his  life. 

In  the  fall  of  1835  Dr.  Levi  II.  Warner  settled  in  or  near  Paw 
Paw.  Dr.  Warner  with  several  others  came  from  New  York.  After 
following  his  profession  in  this  county  for  about  twelve  years  he 
returned  to  New  York. 


380  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Dr.  Torrey  came  to  Paw  Paw  in  1837  practiced  several  years. 
On  account  of  failing*  health  he  returned  East  and  soon  after  died. 

Dr.  Josiah  Andrews  from  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  located  at 
Paw  Paw  in  1838,  one  of  nature's  noblemen,  representative  in  state 
legislature  in  1846,  later  associated  with  Dr.  H.  C.  Clapp  and 
with  Dr.  L.  C.  Woodman.  Was  surgeon  of  the  Third  Michigan 
Cavalry  during  the  Civil  War.  Died  at  Paw  Paw  in  1886,  age 
seventy-five  years. 

Dr.  John  W.  Emery  came  from  New  Hampshire  to  Paw  Paw 
in  1848,  died  in  1884,  age  eighty-six. 

Dr.  George  Bartholomew  practiced  in  Paw  Paw  three  years.  Was 
surgeon  of  Panama  R.  R.  Co.,  died  in  Keeler  in  1887,  age  sixty-six. 

Dr.  Wm.  B.  Hathaway  of  Jefferson  Co.,  New  York  located  at 
South  Haven  1853,  came  to  Paw  Paw  1861,  practiced  quite  a  num- 
ber of  years. 

Dr.  Henry  C.  Clapp,  Cayuga  Co.,  New  York  came  to  Paw  Paw 
in  1842.  Studied  with  Dr.  Andrews.  Practiced  in  Paw  Paw- 
several  years  then  removed  to  Chicago. 

Dr.  Lucius  C.  Woodman,  was  assistant  surgeon  Third  Michigan 
Cavalry  and  surgeon  Eleventh  Cavalry  in  Civil  War,  an  excel- 
lent surgeon  and  a  very  fine  man.  Was  partner  of  Dr.  Andrews 
after  the  close  of  war.    Died  1883,  age  fifty-five. 

Dr.  Leroy  R.  Dibble  practiced  in  Paw  Paw  several  years ;  in  the 
early  '70s  removed  to  Albion,  Mich. 

Dr.  Edwin  B.  Dunning  practiced  in  Paw  Paw  for  quite  a  num- 
ber of  years  and  until  his  death  was  member  of  the  pension  ex- 
amining board.    Died  1894,  age  sixty-four. 

Dr.  Charles  M.  O'Dell  came  to  Paw  Paw  in  the  early  '50s.  Died 
in  Paw  Paw  1895,  age  eighty-one. 

Dr.  Eugene  Bitely  settled  in  Paw  Paw  in  1853  and  practiced 
there  until  his  death.    Died  1873,  age  forty-nine. 

Dr.  Michael  E.  Whalen,  died  in  Paw  Paw  1895,  age  thirty-five. 

Dr.  Charles  S.  Maynard  practiced  in  Paw  Paw  for  many  years, 
died  1910,  age  eighty. 

Dr.  Geo.  Hilton  came  to  Paw  Paw  in  1883  and  in  1887  moved  to 
Chicago. 

Dr.  L.  E.  Curtiss,  born  in  Paw  Paw,  began  practice  in  his  home 
town.     He  removed  to  Berrien  county  a  few  years  ago. 

Dr.  A.  W.  Hendryx,  homeopathist,  practiced  in  Paw  Paw,  for  a 
few  years.  Dr.  F.  T.  Roach,  a  young  man,  a  graduate  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan,  began  practice  here  a  few  years  ago,  but  re- 
moved to  Detroit.  Dr.  Roscoe  W.  Broughton,  another  Paw  Paw 
born  and  bred  also  a  graduate  of  the  same  institution,  began  prac- 
tice in  his  home  town,  but  soon  removed  to  the  far  west  where  he 
is  now  practicing. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  381 

Dr.  Henry  Charles  began  practice  here,  but  recently  removed  to 
Kalamazoo. 

The  resident  physicians:  Dr.  Wilbur  F.  Hoyt,  Dr.  J.  C.  Maxwell, 
Dr.  Geo.  B.  Jackson  and  Dr.  Barnabas *OT>ell,  Dr.  M.  F.  Smith, 
Osteopath,  Miss  L.  R.  Lofquist,  Chiropractic. 

The  registered  dental  surgeons  of  Paw  Paw  are:  Dr.  W.  C.  Y. 
Ferguson,  Dr.  0.  E.  Lanphear  and  Dr.  Vera  Van  Fossen. 

Bangor 

Dr.  Joel  Camp  came  from  New  York  State  to  Bangor  when  it 
was  a  wilderness,  being  obliged  to  go  on  foot  and  horseback.  He 
was  truly  a  pioneer.  Practiced  about  fifty-five  years.  Died  1901 
at  the  age  of  eighty-five. 

Dr.  Jas.  E.  Ferguson  was  born  in  New  York  State  1824,  grad- 
uate of  Jefferson  Medical  College  and  came  to  Bangor  in  1866  where 
he  practiced  continuously  until  his  death  in  1903.  He  served  two 
terms  in  the  State  Legislature. 

Dr.  John  L.  Cross  graduated  from  Cincinnati  Medical  College  in 
1872.  He  came  to  Bangor  1877  where  he  practiced  until  his  death 
in  1883. 

Dr.  M.  C.  Cronin  came  to  Bangor  in  1882.  He  graduated  from 
Medical  department  of  Butler  University,  Indiana,  in  1881,  and 
built  up  a  very  large  and  renumerative  practice  in  this  vicinity. 
He  moved  to  Mt.  Clemens,  Mich.,  about  1898  where  he  still  lives 
and  has  an  extensive  practice. 

Dr.  John  R.  Giffen,  a  native  of  Canada  came  to  Bangor  in  1894, 
having  graduated  from  Williamette  University  the  same  year. 
He  is  still  practicing  his  chosen  profession  in  Bangor  and  stands 
high  in  the  community. 

Dr.  N.  A.  Williams  a  native  of  Michigan  came  to  Bangor  1897, 
graduated  from  University  of  Michigan  1883.  He  is  still  lo- 
cated in  Bangor  and  is  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  the  county. 

Dr.  E.  G.  Low  came  to  Bangor  from  Breedsville  about  1904 
and  is  still  in  active  practice. 

Dr.  James  Murphy,  a  native  of  Ireland,  came  to  Bangor  in  1900. 
Dr.  Murphy  graduated  from  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1866. 
He  died  in  Bangor,  1906  at  the  age  of  sixty-three. 

Dr.  Norman  D.  Murphy,  son  of  Dr.  James  Murphy,  was  born 
in  Canada,  graduated  from  University  of  Michigan  1904,  began 
practice  in  Bangor  the  same  year,  and  through  his  integrity 
and  skill  is  enjoying  a  very  renumerative  practice  and  is  held 
in  high  esteem. 

GOBLEVILLE 

Dr.  Babbit  located  in  Pine  Grove  township  about  1864-65. 
Dr.   E.  A.   Bulson  located  in  Gobleville  about  1869,  practiced 


382  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

here  for  a  number  of  years,  went  from  here  to  Jackson  where  he 
is  at  this  time  making  a  specialty  of  the  diseases  of  the  eye,  ear. 
nose  and  throat. 

Dr.  J.  P.  Failing  followed  Dr.  Bulson  in  1878,  going  from 
here  to  Grand  Rapids,  later  to  California  where  he  died  of  con- 
sumption. 

Dr.  J.  C.  Anderson  located  here  in  the  'eighties  and  stayed 
only  a  few  years. 

Dr.  J.  J.  Carpenter  located  here  about  1892  where  he  practiced 
until  his  death  about  two  years  ago. 

Dr.  E.  V.  N.  Hall  has  been  here  about  twenty  years.  He  is 
still  practicing. 

Dr.  J.  H.  Bennett  practiced  here  about  a  year,  ten  or  twelve 
years  ago,  and  is  now  located  in  Boyne  City,  Mich. 

Dr.  Michael  Mason  was  located  at  Pine  Grove  for  a  number  of 
years  during  the  70s,  went  from  there  to  Muskegon  where  he  died 
a  few  years  ago. 

Dr.  C.  L.  Bennett  came  here  after  graduating  from  Ann  Arbor 
seven  or  eight  years  ago.  He  has  built  up  a  large  practice  and 
is  doing  well. 

Dr.  Edna  Goble  located  here  about  1901.  On  account  of  ill 
health  she  has  not  been  able  to  practice  for  the  past  two  years. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  H.  E.  Goble  for  whom  the  village  was 
named. 

Dr.  Hugh  Smith  has  been  here  about  sixteen  months  and  is 
doing  a  large  business. 

Dr.  J.  W.  Wisely  has  been  here  about  a  year.  For  a  number 
of  years  previous  he  was  located  four  miles  north  on  the  Allegan 
road. 

Dr.  C.  M.  Wilkinson  has  been  located  in  Kendall  for  a  number 
of  years  where  he  has  a  large  practice  and  is  a  strong  man  in 
his  profession. 

Dr.  G.  J.  Shand,  dentist,  located  here  about  1905,  went  from 
here  in  1910  to  Kalamazoo  where  he  is  now  located. 

Dr.  de  Goenaga  followed  Dr.  Shand  and  is  doing  a  good  busi- 
ness. 

Hartford 

Dr.  Milton  F.  Palmer  was  a  native  of  Bridgewater,  Oneida 
county,  New  York.  When  eleven  years  of  age  he  came  to  Michigan 
and  settled  in  Jackson  county  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  After 
completing  his  professional  education  he  came  to  Hartford  in 
1852  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  his  death  occur- 
ring in  1904.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  intellect  and  a  lover  of 
nature.     A  vein  of  poetry  ran  through   his  life  and   he   wrote 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  883 

many  beautiful  and  acceptable  verses,  all  of  which  are  unpub- 
lished. Of  the  difficulties  and  privations  of  the  pioneer  physician, 
Doctor  Palmer  had  his  full  share.  Called  to  visit  a  patient  at 
South  Haven,  he  would  drive  as  far  as  the  wagon  road  could 
be  traversed,  then  saddle  his  horse  for  a  few  miles  further  ride, 
finishing  the  journey  by  Indian  trail  on  foot. 

Dr.  W.  A.  Engle  was  born  in  Allegany  county,  New  York,  in 
1827.  His  grandfather  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  his 
great-grandfather  participated  in  the  noted  Germantown  battle. 
Dr.  Engle  came  to  Michigan  in  18.55  and  was  graduated  from  the 
medical  department  of  the  University  in  1856,  locating  at  Hart- 
ford the  same  year,  continuing  the  practice  of  medicine  until 
1900.  He  was  very  talented  as  a  poet  and  had  several  books  of 
poems  published  which  received  many  commendations.  He  had 
the  honor  of  being  appointed  post-master  of  Hartford  by  Presi- 
dent Lincoln. 

Dr.  Ezra  A.  Palmer  was  a  native  of  Orleans  county,  New  York, 
coming  to  Paw  Paw  with  his  parents  when  three  years  of  age. 
After  completing  the  study  of  medicine  at  the  University  of 
Michigan  in  1876,  he  located  in  Hartford  where  he  continued  the 
practice  of  medicine  thirty-three  years.  In  private  life  Dr.  Pal- 
mer was  a  man  of  pronounced  opinions  and  strong  convictions. 
In  professional  life  and  in  business  affairs  he  was  eminently  suc- 
cessful, and  hewed  strictly  to  the  line  of  personal  integrity.  Dr. 
Palmer  with  Dr.  Rose  of  Decatur,  and  Dr.  Cronin  then  of  Bangor, 
now  of  Mt.  Clemens,  Mich,  constituted  the  original  U.  S.  Pen- 
sion Examining  Board  of  this  county.  Dr.  Palmer  died  Sept. 
17,  1909. 

Dr.  Andrew  Robinson  located  in  Hartford  in  1905,  remaining 
only  five  or  six  months  when  he  moved  to  Allegan  where  he  con- 
ducts a  hospital  and  gives  considerable  attention  to  surgery. 

Those  practicing  in  Hartford  at  the  present  time  are:  Dr.  H. 
C.  Maynard.  who  located  in  Hartford  in  1872;  Dr.  R.  I.  Law- 
rence in  1882;  Dr.  W.  R.  Sober  in  1900;  Dr.  John  McLean  1902; 
Dr.  J.  D.  Stewart  1905.  The  present  dentists  are:  Dr.  B.  W. 
Dineous  and   Dr.  F.  M.  Hinckley. 

Covert 

Dr.  Logie  was  the  first  physician  to  locate  in  Covert,  coming 
here  about  1874.  Dr.  Logie  was  in  Covert  about  two  years  and 
sold  out  to  G.  D.  Carnes  of  South  Haven. 

Dr.  Carnes  moved  to  South  Haven  in  1883  and*  Dr.  O.  M. 
Vaughn  came  to  Covert  the  same  year,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Dr.  Osmer  Letson  moved  to  Covert  from  McDonald,  Michigan. 


384  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

After  a  few  years  he  discontinued  practice  and  died  a  few  months 
ago. 

Dr.  Edwin  Low  now  in  Bangor  was  in  Covert  a  few  months. 

Dr.  M.  McCausland,  now  in  Imlay  City,  Michigan,  was  in 
Covert  a  few  years. 

Dr.  E.  F.  Partello  came  to  Covert  in  1907  and  left  in  1910. 

Dr.  Marvin  now  of  Coloma  practiced  in  Covert  while  residing 
on  his  farm  two  miles  from  here. 

Lawrence 

We  think  no  better  history  of  the  physicians  of  Lawrence  can 
be  given  than  is  summed  up  in  a  letter  written  in  response  to  our 
inquiry  by  Mrs.  A.  Rice,  who  is  eighty-seven  years  of  age.  We 
print  the  letter  verbatim.  "For  some  twelve  or  fourteen  years 
after  the  first  settlement  in  the  town  there  was  no  resident  doc- 
tor. The  pioneers  when  ill  used  such  home  remedies  as  were  at 
hand  and  in  critical  cases  sent  to  Paw  Paw  for  a  doctor.  The 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  church,  Rev.  John  L.  Marvin,  had 
studied  medicine  before  he  became  a  preacher  and  in  extreme 
cases  he  ministered  to  the  bodies  of  the  people  as  well  as  the 
souls. 

"On  one  occasion  Mrs.  Barnes,  my  mother,  fell  and  broke  her 
arm.  Mr.  Marvin  dressed  the  injured  arm,  but  fearing  that  it 
might  not  be  right  he  the  next  day  drove  to  Paw  Paw  and  brought 
Dr.  Andrews  to  inspect  the  injured  arm  who  pronounced  it  all 
right.  The  first  resident  physician  in  Lawrence  was  Dr.  Prindle. 
who  came  in  1849,  or  there  about  from  the  state  of  New  York. 
After  about  a  year  he  returned  to  New  York  and  brought  home 
a  bride.  A  year  or  two  later  he  removed  to  Dowagiac  where  he 
remained  until  his  death  a  good  many  years  later.  At  his  death 
there  was  universal  mourning  as  he  had  endeared  himself  to  the 
people  especially  the  poor  by  his  kindness.  He  was  a  doctor  of 
the  old  school  his  chief  remedies  were  calomel  and  quinine,  blisters 
and  bleeding. 

"The  next  doctor  to  settle  in  Lawrence  was  Dr.  Nelson  Rowe 
whose  son  Rufus  Rowe  still  lives  in  Lawrence.  Doctor  Rowe  came 
to  Lawrence  about  1859  or  1860  and  remained  until  his  death 
some  years  later,  Dr.  Rowe  was  a  man  much  respected  and  trusted 
by  his  patients.  His  system  was  Allopathy.  About  the  time 
Doctor  Rowe  came  to  Lawrence  Doctor  Camp  came  from  Bangor 
to  Lawrence;  he  only  remained  a  year  or  two  and  returned  to 
Bangor  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  death  oc- 
curred several  years  ago.     Not  far  from  the  time  Doctor  Rowe 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  385 

came  to  Lawrence,  Doctor  Jackson  came  to  live  in  Lawrence  but 
only  stayed  about  a  year  and  then  removed  to  Paw  Paw. 

"Doctor  Sylvanus  Rowe  came  to  Lawrence  sometime  in  1854 
from  the  state  of  Iowa  and  remained  until  his  death,  several 
years  ago.  Doctor  Rowe  was  a  man  greatly  beloved  and  respected 
for  his  unvarying  kindness,  while  his  patients  had  great  confi- 
dence in  his  skill.  His  system  was  Eclectic.  Doctor  W.  E.  Rowe, 
his  son,  was  born  in  Lawrence,  studied  with  his  father  and  grad- 
uated at  the  University  of  Michigan,  began  practice  with  his  father 
in  Lawrence,  is  at  present  or  was  when  last  I  heard  living  and 
practicing  in  Grand  Rapids. 

"In  1867,  or  thereabout,  Doctor  Edward  Cleveland  came  to 
Lawrence.  He  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Edward  Cleveland,  pastor  of 
the  Congregational  Church.  I  think  they  came  from  state  of 
New  York.  Doctor  Cleveland  practiced  a  part  of  the  time  in 
partnership  with  Doctor  Rowe.  Doctor  Cleveland  remained  five 
or  six  years  then  removed  with  his  father's  family  to  Coffey  ville, 
Kansas. 

"Doctor  0.  B.  Wiggins  came  to  Lawrence  before  Doctor  Cleve- 
land but  I  cannot  give  date.  Doctor  Wiggins  came  from  state 
of  New  York,  he  was  for  a  time  in  practice  with  Doctor  Sylvanus 
Rowe  but  not  long.  Doctor  Wiggins  died  in  Lawrence  a  few 
years  ago.  Doctor  A.  S.  Haskin  came  to  Lawrence  when  a  young 
man  1857,  and  quietly  made  his  way  and  acquired  many  warm 
friends.  He  still  lives  in  town  though  now  out  of  practice  by 
reason  of  age  and  ill  health.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  physi- 
cians of  the  county  and  had  an  extensive  practice.  Doctor  A.  W. 
Hendricks  came  to  Lawrence  from  White  Pigeon,  Mich.,  and  re- 
mained two  or  three  years  then  removed  to  Paw  Paw  where  re- 
mained a  few  years  and  then  removed  to  other  parts.  Doctor 
Zell  L.  Baldwin  came  to  Lawrence  from  Manchester,  Mich.,  in 
1888,  and  entered  into  partnership  with  Doctor  Rowe.  After 
residing  in  Lawrence  several  years  he  removed  to  Niles,  Michi- 
gan. Doctor  Baldwin  is  at  present  head  of  a  tuberculosis  sani- 
tarium at  Kalamazoo. 

"Doctor  A.  G.  Six  and  Doctor  W.  P.  Bope  had  been  chums  in 
Columbus,  Ohio  and  came  to  Lawrence  at  or  about  the  same  time, 
1897.  Three  or  four  years  later,  Doctor  Bope  removed  to  Decatur 
and  went  into  practice  there.  Doctor  Six  still  practices  in  Law- 
rence. Doctor  Donaldson  came  to  Lawrence,  in  1902  and  remained 
two  years,  from  same  place  in  Kent  county.  Doctor  F.  A.  Butter- 
came  to  Lawrence  in  1900  from  Illinois.  Doctor  F.  B.  Crowell 
came  to  Lawrence  in  1897  where  he  is  now  doing  a  general  prac- 
tice." 

Vol.  1—25 


386  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Lawton 

In  the  early  'fifties  a  Dr.  Gregg  came  to  Lawton,  where  he 
practiced  two  or  three  years. 

In  1855  Dr.  Shankland  came  and  practiced  a  number  of  years. 

Dr.  Hazen  came  also  in  1855  and  stayed  three  years. 

Dr.  Barnum  came  and  practiced  in  Lawton  a  short  time  then 
went  to  Grand  Rapids. 

Dr.  Griffin  came  to  Lawton  from  Edwardsburg,  1862;  after 
practicing  here  about  ten  years  he  returned  to  Edwardsburg. 

Dr.  Taylor  came  to  Lawton  and  stayed  but  a  few  months. 

Dr.  Lee  came  to  Lawton  shortly  after  the  war.  he  was  a  fleshy 
man  and  in  summer  time  rested  during  the  day  and  worked  at 
night. 

Dr.  Eugene  Bitely  although  a  residence  of  Paw7  Paw  for  many 
years  practiced  extensively  in  Lawton. 

Dr.  M.  V.  B.  McKinney  came  from  Florida,  Ohio  in  1867,  when 
he  practiced  until  1884  when  he  went  to  Hastings,  Nebr.  He  re- 
turned to  Lawton  in  1892  for  a  year,  then  went  to  Kalamazoo 
where  he  resided  until  his  death  in  1901. 

Dr.  0.  F.  Thomas  came  to  Lawton  1869,  practiced  here  for 
twelve  years  and  removed  to  Lakeland,  Minn.,  where  he  died  in 
1910. 

Dr.  West  came  to  Lawton  in  1870  and  died  in  1886. 

Dr.  Megan  came  from  Pine  Grove  to  Lawton  in  1880,  stayed 
a  few  years  and  went  west. 

Dr.  Long  practiced  in  LawTton  two  or  three  years  and  removed 
to  Mendon. 

Dr.  Hipp  came  from  Chicago  to  Lawton  in  1881  and  returned 
to  Chicago  in  1884. 

Dr.  Iddings  came  to  Lawton  from  Lansing  but  stayed  only  a 
few  months. 

Dr.  Moffitt  came  from  Indiana  to  Lawton  in  1885  and  in  1888 
went  west  where  he  died. 

Dr.  I.  E.  Hamilton  came  to  LawTton  in  1887  and  is  still  prac- 
ticing here. 

Dr.  F.  A.  Phillips  came  to  Lawton  in  1891,  after  a  two  or  three 
years  stay  he  went  to  Chicago  to  specialize  in  diseases  of  the  Eye, 
Ear,  Nose  and  Throat.  After  practicing  in  Chicago  a  few  years, 
on  account  of  ill  health,  he  removed  to  California. 

Dr.  G.  W.  Cornish  followed  Dr.  Phillips  and  is  still  practicing 
here. 

Dr.  Storrs  came  from  Detroit  to  Lawton  in  1895,  remained 
about  five  years  when  he  went  to  Minneapolis  to  engage  in  lit- 
erary work. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  387 

Dr.  Irwin  came  to  Lawton  about  1905  remaining  about  a  year 
when  he  removed  to  Paw  Paw,  and  is  at  present  practicing  in 
Volinia,  Cass  Co. 

Dr.  Perry,  dentist,  practiced  in  Lawton  from  about  189-1  till 
1897. 

Dr.  Johnson,  dentist,  located  in  Lawton  and  enjoys  a  large 
remunerative  practice.  He  has  been  secretary  of  the  South  West 
Michigan  Dental  Association  for  several  years. 

The  Profession  in  South  Haven 

The  first  doctor  to  practice  in  this  vicinity  was  Dr.  Goodrich 
who  must  have  kept  up  his  work  in  the  late  'forties  and  early 
'fifties.  He  covered  a  wide  range  of  country  traveling  often 
thirty  and  forty  miles  to  visit  his  patients.  People  in  those  days 
did  not  call  a  physician  unless  there  was  urgent  need.  Dr.  Good- 
rich was  the  grandfather  of  the  present  Dr.  Goodrich.  Dr.  E. 
B.  Moon  came  in  the  early  'fifties  and  practiced  for  some  years. 
Dr.  A.  N.  Moulton  practiced  here  in  the  late  'fifties,  and  until 
about  1866.  He  was  a  man  of  much  ability.  Dr.  Dunn  came  in 
about  1866  and  stayed  a  few  years.  Dr.  Anderson  practiced  here 
in  1888  and  later. 

Dr.  W.  B.  Hathaway  was  one  of  the  early  physicians  who  prac- 
ticed for  many  years  in  Bloomingdale  and  Gobleville.  In  1876 
the  physicians  were  Dr.  L.  C.  Woodman  who  came  here  soon  after 
the  war  and  bought  some  land  now  known  as  the  Dyckman  & 
Woodman  addition.  He  was  a  remarkable  man  of  very  superior 
ability  as  a  physician  and  surgeon  and  enjoyed  the  unlimited 
confidence  of  the  community.  Dr.  Hewson  who  was  also  the 
pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  was  here  a  few  years.  He  was  a 
man  of  very  pleasing  personality  and  had  many  warm  friends. 
Dr.  Gunsaulus  was  here  a  few  years  but  moved  in  1877  to  the 
Black  Hills  where  he  died,  the  result  of  an  accident.  Dr.  Seeley 
was  also  here  a  few  years,  dying  about  1877. 

Dr.  Geo.  V.  Hilton,  a  nephew  of  Dr.  Woodman,  graduated  in 
1876  and  located  here,  remaining  till  1883  when  he  went  to  Paw 
Paw,  leaving  there  in  1887,  and  locating  in  Chicago  where  he 
established  himself  and  has  a  high  reputation  as  physician  and 
surgeon.  Dr.  Bishop  located  here  in  the  fall  in  1876,  coming 
from  New  York.  He  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  South 
Haven  and  died  in  1910.  a  kindly,  respected  man. 

Dr.  Triece  came  in  1879  and  enjoyed  a  very  active  and  lucra- 
tive practice,  dying  at  his  home  here  in  1910.  Dr.  Ransom  came 
in  1880  and  remained  till  1894  when  he  organized  and  equipped 
a  boat  to  sail  around  the  world.     Dr.  Springer  came  in  1895  re- 


388  -HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

maining  till  1910.  Dr.  Lucy  Hemenway  practiced  here  for  about 
three  years,  1900  to  1903.  She  subsequently  married  W.  D.  Cook 
and  moved  to  the  state  of  Washington  where  she  enjoys  a  lucra- 
tive practice.  Dr.  Marian  Law,  another  lady  physician,  came  in 
1896  and  has  since  practiced  here  enjoying  a  good  clientage.  Dr. 
Geo.  D.  Carnes  came  here  in  1883  having  located  in  Covert  in 
1876.  He  has  been  here  since  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  Dr.  L.  G.  Rhodes  came  here  in  1896  and  has  since 
been  a  very  active  and  successful  practitioner.  Dr.  E.  L.  Mater 
came  here  in  1897  and  immediately  planned  a  very  active  practice 
which  he  retained  until  he  left  on  account  of  ill  health  in  about 
1902.  Dr.  Geo.  F.  Young,  born  in  Paw  Paw,  a  graduate  of  the 
Michigan  University,  came  about  1901  and  went  into  partnership 
with  Dr.  Mater.  He  has  a  good  practice  and  is  a  highly  respected 
physician.  Dr.  Pennoyar  came  in  1903  and  soon  attained  a  good 
practice  and  has  been  for  the  past  8  years  a  most  active  hard 
working  and  successful  physician. 

Dr.  Neal  Goodrich  came  in  the  Spring  of  1911,  and  has  secured 
a  good  foothold  and  bids  fair  to  make  a  very  able  and  substantial 
physician. 

Dr.  Ben  Webster  was  here  for  a  time  some  three  or  four  years 
ago,  also  Dr.  Kesler  about  the  same  time.  The  Osteopathic  physi- 
cians are:  Dr.  G.  F.  Lathrop  and  wife,  and  preceding  them  in  the 
same  profession.  Dr.  Classen  and  wife. 

South  Haven  City  Hospital 

The  City  Hospital  at  South  Haven  is  a  public  institution  for 
the  care  of  the  sick  and  the  injured.  The  new  building  was 
erected  by  public  subscription  at  a  cost  of  $6,500,  and  formally 
opened  January  1,  1909.  It  is  maintained  partly  by  money  re- 
ceived for  care  of  patients,  and  partly  by  charitable  contribu- 
tions. It  has  no  endowment  or  financial  aid  from  the  county  or 
state ;  the  city  has  very  kindly  donated  the  electric  light  and  water 
service.  It  is  a  two  story  building  with  full  basement,  built  to 
accommodate  fourteen  patients,  and  in  case  of  emergency,  four 
or  five  more.  Though  small,  it  is  well  equipped  with  modern  hos- 
pital conveniences.  The  operating  room  is  up  to  date  in  its  con- 
struction and  furnishings  for  aseptic  surgery. 

The  building  is  so  planned  that  all  patients'  rooms  have  a  south 
exposure.  It  is  furnished  with  steam  heat,  up  to  date  plumbing 
with  sewer  connection  and  a  special  ventilation  system.  An  elec- 
tric annunciator  enables  the  patients  to  call  a  nurse  by  pressing 
a  button.4   The  building  also  has  gas  as  well  as  electricity. 

Any  reputable  physician  may  take  his  patients  there  and  feel 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


389 


assured  that  they  will  have  the  efficient  care  of  trained  nurses, 
and  know  that  his  instructions  will  be  faithfully  carried  out. 
Any  patient  coming  to  the  hospital  may  have  the  services  of  his 
family  physician.  Patients  suffering  from  contagious  diseases 
are  not  admitted.  The  rates  for  admission  depend  upon  the  room 
and  nature  of  the  ease,  and  includes  room,  board,  laundry  and 
general  care  by  competent  nurses. 

The  hospital  is  not,  and  is  not  expected  ever  to  be  self-support- 
ing ;  if  it  were,  the  rates  would  be  so  high  as  to  defeat  the  pur- 
pose for  which  it  was  built  viz.,  to  furnish  good  hospital  ac- 
commodations for  people  of  moderate  means. 

The  Woman's  Auxiliary  Board  was  organized  for  the  purpose 
of  meeting  the  annual  deficit,  and  much  praise  is  due  the  ladies  for 


City  Hospital,  South  Haven 


the  untiring  zeal  in  raising  funds  for  this  purpose.  They  have 
instituted  two  annual  methods  of  raising  funds;  one,  a  hospital 
Sunday,  when  an  offering  is  taken  the  first  Sunday  in  October 
in  all  of  the  city  churches,  and  the  other,  a  tag  day  in  August. 
Material  aid  has  come  from  many  sources  in  supplies,  furnishings 
and  maintainance.  Rooms  have  been  completely  furnished  by  in- 
dividuals, churches,  and  lodges.  The  County  Federation  of 
Woman's  Clubs  furnished  one  room,  and  aided  in  other  ways. 

Any  person  paying  one  dollar  or  more  may  become  a  member 
of  the  South  Haven  Hospital  Association.  This  Association  holds 
its  annual  meeting  the  first  Tuesday  in  October,  at  wThich  time  are 
elected  the  trustees,  nine  in  number,  of  whom  three  are  elected 
each  year.  The  first  regular  meeting  of  .the  Association  was  held 
Oct,  1,  1907,  when  the  following  board  of  trustees  were  elected: 


390  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

President,  W.  S.  Bradley;  Vice  President,  Mrs.  H.  M.  Avery; 
Secretary,  Mrs.  R.  T.  Pierce;  Treasurer,  S.  H.  Wilson;  Trustees, 
A.  C.  Runyan,  George  Myhan,  George  C.  Monroe,  and  Mrs.  C.  II. 
Van  Ostrand;  Mrs.  M.  Porter,  Superintendent. 

No  member  except  the  superintendent,  who  devotes  her  entire 
time  to  the  work,  receives  any  pay  for  services  rendered.  While  the 
local  physicians  have  rendered  all  possible  aid  to  the  Board,  it 
was  not  deemed  advisable  that  they  should  be  officially  connected 
with  the  hospital.  As  many  charity  patients  have  been  admitted 
as  the  financial  condition  would  justify,  the  Trustees  having 
rigidly  adhered  to  their  determination  not  to  go  into  debt. 

It  has  more  than  justified  the  belief  of  those  who  took  an  early 
interest  in  the  project  that  it  was  a  much  needed  institution  and 
the  large  number  of  patients  cared  for.  testify  to  its  efficiency 
and  the  appreciation  of  the  public  which  has  so  generously  con- 
tributed to  its  support. 

A  separate  fund  is  kept  for  charity  patients,  for  which  contribu- 
tions may  at  any  time  be  sent  to  the  superintendent  or  secretary 
and  they  will  be  duly  accredited  and  acknowledged. 

Decatur 

In  1848  in  a  small  office  on  Railroad  street,  there  located  a  Dr. 
Bartholomew,  Decatur's  first  physician.  After  remaining  but  a 
short  time,  he  joined  the  "forty  niners"  and  went  to  California 
to  seek  his  fortune.  Later  he  returned  to  Keeler  where  he  died  a 
few  years  ago. 

The  next  physician  to  practice  in  Decatur  was  Dr.  Wells,  who 
resided  on  Little  Prairie  Ronde.  He  devoted  more  time  to  teach- 
ing singing-school  than  to  the  practice  of  medicine. 

Dr.  J.  T.  Keables  located  in  Decatur  in  1851  and  for  many 
years  was  the  leading  physician  in  this  village.  He  was  a  pen- 
sion examiner  before  the  County  Board  System  was  adopted.  He 
died  in  1891.  In  1855  Dr.  Foster  located  in  Decatur  but  soon 
moved  elsewhere. 

Dr.  Gilbert  L.  Rose  was  born  at  Laporte,  Indiana,  in  1853,  in 
which  city  he  received  his  early  education.  He  studied  at  the 
University  of  Michigan  and  at  Cincinnati.  He  began  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  in  Marcellus  in  1874,  where  he  stayed  but  a 
short  time,  then  came  to  Decatur  where  he  followed  his  profes- 
sion for  more  then  thirty-two  years.  When  he  first  came  to  Deca- 
tur he  entered  into  partnership  with  Dr.  Dillon,  the  partnership 
lasting  two  years.  In  1888  Dr.  Rose  formed  a  partnership  with 
Dr.  George  W.  Mahoney,  which  lasted  four  years,  Dr.  Mahoney 
removing  to  Chicago,  where  he  practices  his  specialty :   diseases 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  391 

of  the  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat.  Dr.  Rose  died  January  5,  1907 ; 
''but  he  still  lives  in  the  hearts  of  all  who  knew  him  as  the  most 
noble,  the  most  generous,  the  most  charitable,  the  most  beloved 
of  all  men/'  are  the  words  of  a  fellow  practitioner. 

Dr.  C.  T.  Baker  was  born  in  1829  in  Steuben  county,  N.  Y. 
He  graduated  from  University  of  Michigan  in  1854  and  located  in 
Decatur  the  same  year,  where  he  has  since  practiced  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  time  spent  in  the  army  where  he  served  as  con- 
tract surgeon,  and  was  on  duty  at  City  Point,  Virginia,  General 
Grant's  headquarters,  when  General  Lee  surrendered  his  army 
to  General  Grant  and  returned  to  Washington  on  the  memorable 
14th  of  April,  1865 — the  day  of  President  Lincoln's  assassination. 
He  still  resides  in  Decatur,  although  not  in  active  practice. 

Doctors  II.  D.  Dillon,  II.  M.  Brodrick  and  J.  W.  Rogers  were 
also  formerly  among  the  prominent  leading  physicians  of  Decatur. 

Those  practicing  in  Decatur  at  present  are:  Dr.  J.  E.  Maxwell, 
who  located  in  1892;  Dr.  J.  M.  Easton.  in  1898,  and  Dr.  W.  P. 
Bope,  in  1907. 

The  present  dentists  of  Decatur  are:  Dr.  N.  E.  Hooper,  the 
oldest  practicing  dentist  in  the  county,  and  Dr.  W.  Huyck,  who 
is  in  partnership  with  Dr.  Hooper. 

Will  Carleton's  "The  Country  Doctor  '  ■ 

There's  a  gathering  in  the  village  that  has  never  been  outdone 
Since  the  soldiers  took  their  muskets  to  the  war  of    'sixty-one ; 
And  a  lot  of  lumber-wagons  near  the  church  upon  the  hill, 
And  a  crowd  of  country  people,  Sunday-dressed  and  very  still. 
Now  each  window  is  preempted  by  a  dozen  heads  or  more, 
Now  the  spacious  pews  are  crowded  from  the  pulpit  to  the  door; 
For  the  coverlet  of  blackness  on  his  portly  figure  spread, 
Lies  the  grim  old  country  doctor,  in  a  massive  oaken  bed. 

Lies  the  fierce  old    country   doctor, 

Lies  the  kind  old  country  doctor, 
Whom  the  populace  considered  with  a  mingled  love  and  dread. 

Maybe  half  the  congregation,  now  of  great  or  little  worth, 

Found  this  watcher  waiting  for  them  when  they  came  upon  the  earth; 

This  undecorated  soldier,  of  a  hard,  unequal  strife, 

Fought  in  many  stubborn  battles  with  the  foes  that  sought  their  life. 

In   the   night-time  or  the   day-time,   he  would  rally  brave  and  well, 

Though  the  summer  lark  was  fifing,  or  the  frozen  lances  fell; 

Knowing   if   he   won   the   battle,   they   would   praise   their   Maker's  name, 

Knowing  if  he  lost  the  battle,  then  the  doctor  was  to  blame. 

'Twas  the  brave  old  virtuous  doctor, 

'Twas  the  good  old  faulty  doctor, 
'Twas  the  faithful  country  doctor — fighting  stoutly  all  the  same. 

When  so  many  pined  in  sickness,  he  ,had  stood  so  strongly  by, 
Half  the  people  felt  a  notion  that  the  doctor  couldn't  die; 


392  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

They  must  slowly  learn  the  lesson  how  to  live  from  day  to  day, 
And  have  somehow  lost  their  bearings — now  this  landmark  is  away. 
But  perhaps  it  still  is  better  that  his  busy  life  is  done: 
He  has  seen  old  views  and  patients  disappearing,  one  by  one; 
He  has  learned  that  Death  is  master  both  of  Science  and  of  Art ; 
He  has  clone  his  duty  fairly,  and  has  acted  out  his  part. 

And  the  strong   old  country  doctor, 

And  the  weak  old  country  doctor, 
Is  entitled  to  a  furlough  for  his  brain  and  for  his  heart. 

The  Veterinary  School 

We  would  hardly  feel  justified  in  closing  this  chapter  without 
giving  the  Veterinary  school  the  recognition  it  deserves  in  the 
field  of  medicine.  In  the  early  history  of  this  county  this  branch 
of  the  healing  art  received  little  or  no  scientific  attention,  most 
of  the  doctoring  being  done  by  some  neighborhood  "hoss  doctor" 
who  possessed  more  conceit  than  knowledge,  and  was  more  for- 
tunate than  skillful  in  saving  his  patients,  for  he  knew  practically 
nothing  of  disease,  medicine  or  anatomy,  but  the  rapid  advance- 
ment in  veterinary  surgery  in  the  past  few  years  has  elevated  it 
to  a  parallel  with  the  other  schools  of  medicine.  Today  the  study 
of  preventable,  communicable  diseases  among  animals  is  receiv- 
ing as  much  or  more  attention  than  similar  diseases  of  man. 
Being  an  article  of  commerce,  our  legislative  bodies  are  more  lib- 
eral in  their  appropriations  for  scientific  research  and  prevention 
of  disease  in  animals  than  in  man.  Too  much  credit  can  not  be 
given  in  the  Veterinary  School  of  Medicine  for  the  benefit  to  man- 
kind in  the  study  of  tuberculosis  in  animals.  The  recent  ad- 
vancement in  the  treatment  of  hog  cholera,  of  foot  and  mouth  dis- 
ease, and  of  the  oxygen  treatment  of  milk  fever  in  cows,  are  some 
of  the  valuable  results  of  veterinarian  research. 

About  thirty-five  years  ago  there  were  only  four  veterinary  sur- 
geons in  this  county  of  whom  wTe  have  any  record :  Dr.  George 
Brown  of  Lawrence,  who  continued  his  practice  until  about  ten 
years  ago  when  he  gave  up  his  business  to  his  son.  Dr.  E.  W. 
Brown,  who  is  now  one  of  the  County's  leading  veterinarians; 
Dr.  Bartram  who  practiced  in  Paw  Paw  until  the  time  of  his 
death;  Dr.  Wilkinson  settled  in  Decatur  about  1865  practicing 
there  until  about  1880  when  he  moved  to  Indiana;  the  late  Capt. 
Gr.  H.  Prentice  of  Lawton  wras  a  veterinary  surgeon  in  the  Civil 
War  and  afterwards  resumed  his  practice  in  Lawton.  Dr.  Pren- 
tice was  a  man  of  ready  wit,  quick  perception  and  natural  ability, 
and  in  those  days  his  practice  extended  over  the  greater  portion 
of  this  county.  Dr.  W.  J.  Johnson,  of  Paw  Paw,  is  also  a  scientific 
and  skilful  veterinarian.  Other  registered  veterinarians  are  Dr. 
A.  Elgas  of  Hartford,  and  Dr.  H.  T.  Creagan  of  Decatur. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

TOWNSHIP  OF  ALMENA 

General  Description — Pioneer  Settlers  and  Institutions — 
Busy  Period  (1836-42) — Settlement  in  the  Northern  Sec- 
tions— Churches — Schools,  Supervisors,  Etc. 

The  township  of  Almena  is  officially  designated  by  the  United 
States  survey  as  township  number  two  south,  of  range  number 
thirteen  west.  It  was  originally  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  town- 
ship of  Clinch.  The  name  "Clinch"  was  conferred  in  honor  of 
Judge  Clinch  of  the  state  of  Georgia.  This  township  was  divided 
by  act  of  the  legislature,  in  1842,  the  east  half  being  named  Al- 
mena and  the  west  half,  AVaverly.  In  1849  the  township  of  Al- 
mena was  again  cut  in  half,  the  northern  portion  taking  the  name 
of  Pine  Grove,  while  the  southern  retained  the  name  of  Almena. 
It  forms  one  of  the  eastern  tier  of  the  townships  of  the  county. 
Its  boundaries  are  Pine  Grove  on  the  north,  Kalamazoo  County 
on  the  east,  Antwerp  on  the  south  and  Waverly  on  the  west. 

General  Description 

Originally  there  was  a  large  swamp  covering  nearly  one-third 
of  the  township  extending  from  the  northeast  to  the  southwest 
along  the  river  valley,  but  this  has  been  practically  reclaimed  and 
converted  into  valuable  pasturage  and  grass  land. 

The  township  is  one  of  the  three  within  the  county  that  is  not 
touched  by  a  railroad.  The  nearest  railroad  stations  are  Paw 
Paw  on  the  Fruit  Belt  line;  Mattawan  and  Lawton  on  the  main 
line  of  the  Michigan  Central ;  and  Kendall,  Pine  Grove  and  Goble- 
ville  on  the  line  of  the  South  Haven  division  of  the  latter  road. 

There  is  no  postoffice  in  the  township,  it  being  thoroughly 
covered  by  the  free  delivery  system.  Neither  does  it  boast  of  any 
incorporated  village,  the  nearest  approach  thereto  being  a  small 
hamlet  on  section  twenty-eight  called  Almena,  the  same  as  the 
township,  where  there  are  two  stores,  a  flouring  mill,  a  black- 
smith-shop, a  creamery,  a  church,  a  town  hall  and  a  Maccabees  hall. 

The  assessed  valuation  of  the  township  for  1849,  the  first  year 

393 


394  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Pine  Grove  was  separated  from  it,  was  $27,985,  and  the  total  of 
taxes  for  that  year  was  the  sum  of  $530.60.  The  assessed  valuation 
of  the  township  for  the  year  1911  was  $479,025  and  the  total 
taxes  levied  was  the  sum  of  $9,965.93. 

The  Federal  census  of  1910  gave  Almena  a  population  of  868, 
the  smallest  number  of  inhabitants  of  any  township  in  the  county. 

At  the  general  election  held  in  1850,  the  first  after  the  present 
organization  of  the  township,  there  were  sixty-two  votes  cast, 
thirty-eight  Democratic  and  twenty-four  Whig.  At  the  presi- 
dential election  of  1908,  the  total  vote  of  the  township  was  153, 
of  which  112  were  cast  for  Taft,  Republican;  thirty-seven  for 
Bryan,  Democrat ;  two  for  Debs,  Socialist ;  and  one  each  for 
Chafin,  Prohibitionist  and  Hisgen,  Independent  party. 

The  township  possesses  a  variety  of  soil,  ranging  from  compar- 
atively light  sand  to  heavy  clay  loam  and  on  the  whole  is  fertile 
and  productive. 

Several  small  streams  in  the  northeastern  part  unite  to  form 
the  west  branch  of  the  Paw  Paw  river,  which  flows  in  a  south- 
westerly direction  across  the  township.  Some  of  these  streams  are 
very  clear  and  pure  and  are  stocked  with  speckled  trout,  affording 
rare  sport  to  many  enthusiastic  disciples  of  Izaak  Walton  during 
the  open  season,  which  is  from  the  first  day  of  May  to  the  first  day 
of  September.  There  are  not  as  many  lakes  in  Almena  as  there 
are  in  some  of  the  other  townships  of  the  county.  The  principal 
ones  are  called  West,  North,  Fish  and  Wolf  lakes. 

Pioneer  Settlers  and  Institutions 

The  first  white  man  who  became  an  inhabitant  of  the  township 
was  a  Frenchman  named  Joseph  Derosier.  His  wife  was  an  Ot- 
tawa squaw.  Derosier  came  into  the  township  about  the  year  1833. 
He  followed  the  occupation  of  an  Indian  trader,  trapper,  guide 
and  interpreter.  He  could  speak  the  English,  French  and  Indian 
languages  with  equal  facility.  He  died  in  the  township  of  Wa- 
verly  in  1854.  The  great  Indian  trail  from  Chicago  to  Grand 
Rapids  passed  through  Almena  and  it  was  on  this  route  that 
Derosier  lived.  In  the  vicinity  of  his  place,  until  as  late  as  1845, 
considerable  numbers  of  Indians  of  the  Pottawattamie  and  Ottawa 
tribes  encamped  from  time  to  time. 

The  first  laid-out  highway  wras  called  the  Kalamazoo  road  and 
it  is  yet  one  of  the  principal  highways  of  the  township;  it  crosses 
the  southern  part  of  the  township  from  east  to  west. 

Mr.  Jonas  Barber  built  the  first  saw-mill  in  the  township  not 
long  after  the  advent  of  Derosier,  and  in  1834  Elder  Junia  War- 
ner, Horace  Bonfoey  and  Willard  Newcomb  located  lands  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  395 

township.  Warner  and  Bonfoey  made  a  settlement  on  their  lands 
and  began  their  improvements  in  the  spring  of  the  following  year. 
Warner  had  entered  a  tract  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  partly 
in  the  township  of  Antwerp  and  partly  in  Almena.  Bonfoey  lo- 
cated on  section  twenty-nine  in  the  latter  township. 

Warner  and  his  father,  who  was  also  named  Junia,  purchased  a 
few  boards  at  Barber's  mill,  put  up  a  cabin  on  section  thirty-one 
and  began  at  once  to  clear  a  portion  of  the  land  and  put  in  some 
crops.  Having  built  a  substantial  log  house,  Junia.  the  younger, 
returned  to  the  state  of  New  York  for  his  family,  while  the  father 
concluded  to  stop  in  Kalamazoo,  where  for  a  time  he  worked  at 
his  trade  as  a  mason.  When  the  son  returned  with  his  family  in 
the  fall  of  the  same  year,  the  father  joined  them  and  they  were 
all  speedily  and  comfortably  located  in  their  pioneer  home. 

The  younger  Warner  had  been  a  Methodist  preacher  before  com- 
ing to  Michigan  and  he  continued  to  follow  his  sacred  calling  to 
a  considerable  extent  until  his  death  which  occurred  in  1847.  His 
health  was  such  that  he  did  not  always  feel  able  to  preach  the 
Gospel,  in  addition  to  his  arduous  labors  in  clearing  up  and  cul- 
tivating his  farm,  but  the  demands  made  upon  him  were  so  fre- 
quent and  so  urgent  that  he  was  said  to  be  almost  as  busy  in 
ministerial  work  as  he  was  as  a  farmer.  He  officiated  at  many  of 
the  weddings  and  funerals  that  occurred  around  the  county  and 
in  the  adjoining  county  of  Kalamazoo.  He  was  the  first  minister 
in  the  township,  if  not  in  the  county.  His  father  and  mother 
continued  to  live  with  him  until  the  father's  death  in  1840.  His 
mother  died  at  Paw  Paw  in  January,  1880,  at  the  ripe  age  of 
ninety-six  years. 

In  the  fall  of  1834  a  company  of  seven  land-lookers.  William 
Ranney  and  his  son  John,  Campbell  Waldo,  Frederick  Krull,  Alvin 
Hall,  Russell  Palmer  and  Freeman  Hall,  came  to  Almena.  Ran- 
ney purchased  land  on  sections  fourteen,  twenty-three,  twenty-five 
and  twenty-six,  Palmer  and  Krull  on  section  twenty-four :  Freeman 
and  Alvin  Hall  on  section  twenty-six.  Returning  east  with  the  rest 
of  the  company  after  having  located  their  land,  John  Ranney  re- 
turned alone  the  next  year  and  settled  on  the  land  that  his  father 
had  located  the  previous  year.  He  lived  a  bachelor  all  his  life  and 
died  on  his  Almena  farm  in  1863.  Willard  Newcomb  settled  in 
the  township  in  1835,  and  put  up  a  blacksmith-shop  on  section 
twenty-nine.  Freeman  Hall  returned  in  1836  and  made  a  per- 
manent home  on  the  land  he  had  previously  located. 

Fernando  C.  Amiable,  with  his  family,  became  a  resident  of  the 
township  in  the  fall  of  1835.  Mr.  Annable  became  a  person  of  in- 
fluence, not  only  in  his  township,  but  in  the  county  at  large.  Pol- 
itically, he  was  a  strong  Democrat  and  was  regarded  as  a  leader 


396  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

in  his  party.  He  lived  and  died  a  resident  of  the  township.  His 
son,  Edward  R.  Annable,  became  a  prominent  attorney  and  was 
at  one  time  prosecuting  attorney  of  the  county.  He  emigrated  to 
California  where  he  died  in  the  prime  of  his  manhood. 

Asahel  S.  Downing,  with  his  family  and  his  father-in-law,  Isaac 
Barnum,  came  from  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  in  1836,  and 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  of  Messrs.  Newcomb  and  Bonfoey.  There 
was  a  water  power  on  the  property,  subsequently  occupied  by  a 
saw-mill  called  Brewer's  mill.  It  was  the  intention  of  Mr.  Bar- 
num to  erect  a  grist-mill,  but  he  was  stricken  with  apoplexy  and 
died  the  next  year  after  settling  in  the  township.  Henry  Barnum, 
his  son,  after  his  father's  death  settled  on  section  twenty-nine,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death  in  1856.  Downing  established  a  black- 
smith-shop on  his  place  and  operated  it  for  many  years.  Asa 
Crofoot  made  a  visit  to  Almena  in  1835  and  entered  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  sections  twenty-five  and  twenty-six.  He 
made  a  small  improvement  and  then  went  to  Schoolcraft,  in  Kala- 
mazoo county,  where  he  obtained  employment,  improving  his  Al- 
mena farm  from  time  to  time  as  best  he  could.  He  did  not  be- 
come a  permanent  resident  until  1844,  when  he  married  and  lo- 
cated on  his  farm  permanently. 

Busy  Period   (1836-42) 

Between  1836  and  1842  the  settlers  became  quite  numerous. 
Among  them  were  John  Campbell,  Harvey  Fauzdik,  Bridget  Fin- 
ley,  Nahum  Eager,  Chauncey  Abbott,  Louis  and  Benjamin  Eager, 
Thomas  Roland,  Blakelee  Burns,  Abel  Burns,  Jacob  Plank,  T.  C. 
Benton,  Samuel  Turner  and  others. 

Chauncey  Abbott  settled  on  section  twenty-three  in  1840. 
Bridget  Finley,  with  her  six  children,  located  on  section  twelve  in 
1839.  Messrs.  Fauzdik  and  Campbell  settled  in  the  same  neigh- 
borhood at  about  the  same  tinte.  S.  B.  Fisk,  a  millwright,  located 
in  the  town  in  1844.  Amasa  Tenney  came  in  1840,  buying  a  farm 
of  A.  S.  Downing.  Samuel  Mills  purchased  land  on  section  thirty- 
four,  in  1843,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1860. 

Alva  T.  Stevens  was  a  settler  in  1837,  afterward  removing  to 
Kalamazoo,  but  eventually  returned  and  made  his  home  on  lands 
he  had  entered  during  that  year  in  Almena  and  Antwerp,  where  he 
continued  to  reside  until  his  decease  in  1865.  The  early  settle- 
ments above  mentioned  were  all  on  the  south  side  of  the  "big 
swamp.77 

The  pioneers  of  this  township  did  not  meet  with  the  trials  and 
hardships  that  were  incident  to  the  settlement  of  some  other  parts 
of  the  county.     The  lands  were  not  so  heavily  timbered,  consist- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  397 

ing  largely  of  "oak  openings"  through  which  it  was  comparatively 
easy  to  travel,  even  before  there  were  any  laid-out  highways.  Paw 
Paw  was  close  at  hand,  and  even  at  that  early  day  there  were  to  be 
found  there  many  of  the  conveniences  of  a  new  civilization. 

The  year  1838  was  noted  for  being  a  very  sickly  year.  Fever 
and  ague,  that  then  prevalent  disease  throughout  the  entire  state, 
was  more  than  usually  in  evidence.  It  is  said  that  at  one  time 
there  were  but  three  persons  in  the  town  who  were  in  their  ac- 
customed good  health ;  Mrs.  Isaac  Barnum,  Horace  Bonfoey  and  a 
colored  man  named  Henderson.  These  looked  after  the  sick  and 
it  may  well  be  believed  that  they  had  little  spare  time  for  anything 
else. 

Settlement  in  the  Northern  Sections 

In  the  northern  part  of  the  township  the  first  settlement  was 
made  by  Nathan  Williams  and  his  son-in-law,  John  Condon.  They 
first  located  on  section  twelve,  in  1836.  The  next  year  they 
crossed  what  was  then  the  "big  swamp"  and  located  on  section 
four,  where  they  remained  for  nearly  thirty  years  when  they  re- 
moved to  the  state  of  Iowa.  David  Showerman  and  Jacob  Cur- 
rier came  soon  after  Mr.  Williams.  Showerman  worked  in  a  PawT 
Paw  saw-mill  for  a  couple  of  years  and  then  settled  on  section 
seven,  in  Almena,  on  what  is  still  known  as  the  Allegan  road,  and 
there,  after  a  time,  he  opened  a  tavern.  He  died  in  1863.  Currier 
was  a  machinist  by  trade.  He  also  settled  on  section  seven,  built 
a  small  shop  and  lived  there  until  his  decease  in  1843.  His  widow 
married  the  late  William  Markillie,  who  came  to  Waverly  in  1843 
and  to  Almena  in  1845.  They  occupied  the  Currier  farm,  which, 
under  Mr.  Markillie 's  skilful  management,  became  one  of  the  finest 
pieces  of  property  in  the  entire  county. 

James  Ketchum  came  to  the  township  in  1843 ;  Henry  Campbell, 
from  the  state  of  New  York,  arrived  in  1838,  but  settled  in  Waverly 
where  he  remained  until  1844,  when  he  located  on  section  eight, 
in  Almena,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  died 
in  1872.  Thomas  Clark  came  to  the  town  in  1846  and  the  next 
year  settled  on  section  eighteen.  Silas  Breed,  who  first  settled 
in  the  township  of  Columbia  and  after  whom  the  village  of  Breeds- 
ville  was  named,  became  a  resident  of  Almena  in  1851,  having 
purchased  a  place  on  section  seven  of  John  Crowell,  a  settler  who 
preceded  him.  Mr.  Breed  was  a  man  of  prominence  in  the  affairs 
of  the  township  and  served  as  its  supervisor  for  many  years.  He 
died  in  1878.  One  of  his  sons,  also  named  Silas,  is  still  a  resident 
on  the  old  farm. 

J.  W.  Stoughton,  while  not  among  the  earlier  settlers  of  the 
township,  was  a  very  early  inhabitant  of  the  state.     He  came  to 


398  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Michigan  with  his  father  in  1824,  when  he  was  a  lad  of  but  four 
years.  He  located  in  Almena  about  1854  and  settled  on  a  farm 
that  had  been  previously  occupied  by  Josiah  Hopkins,  where  he 
lived  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  son,  Warren  M.  Stoughton,  is 
now  the  treasurer  of  Van  Buren  county. 

The  first  birth  in  the  township  was  a  child  of  Elder  Junia 
Warner,  and  this  same  child  was  likewise  the  first  person  that 
died  in  the  township,  the  year  of  its  birth  and  death  being  1836. 
The  second  birth  was  that  of  a  son  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Currier. 
His  fond  parents  named  him  George;  he  grew  to  manhood  and 
spent  his  entire  life  in  Almena. 

The  first  couple  that  were  married  within  the  limits  of  the  town- 
ship were  Alonzo  Cobb  and  Mary  Newcomb,  who  began  their 
hymeneal  voyage  on  the  17th  day  of  October,  1837,  Esquire  Charles 
M.  Morrill  being  the  party  that  launched  them  on  the  matrimonial 
sea. 

The  first  saw-mill,  that  built  by  Jonas  Barber  in  1835,  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Edwin  Mears  of  Paw  Paw,  and  afterward  was 
sold  to  a  company  composed  of  Charles  M.  Morrill,  Nathaniel 
Livermore,  Jacob  Currier  and  Thomas  Brown.  The  property 
afterward  came  into  the  possession  of  Daniel  O.  Dodge  of  Paw 
Paw  and  wTas  known  as  the  Dodge  mill.  At  a  later  date  Walter 
Wise  undertook  to  utilize  the  power  in  the  manufacture  of  paper, 
but  the  venture  did  not  prove  a  success. 

The  first  and  only  grist-mill  in  the  township  wras  built  in  1859, 
by  Stephen  W.  Fisk  and  for  a  considerable  number  of  years  was 
owned  and  operated  by  him  and  was  known  as  Fisk's  mill,  but  its 
owner  becoming  financially  embarrassed,  the  plant  passed  into  other 
hands  and  is  now  called  Miner's  mill,  from  the  name  of  the  pres- 
ent proprietors.  It  is  located  at  the  village  of  Almena  on  a  small 
branch  of  the  Paw  Paw  river. 

Churches 

There  are  three  church  buildings  in  the  township — the  Free- 
will Baptist,  the  Methodist  Episcopal  and  the  Brethren,  com- 
monly called  the  Dunkard. 

The  Free  Will  Baptist  church  of  Waverly,  as  it  is  called,  al- 
though the  house  of  worship  is  located  across  the  line  in  the  town- 
ship of  Almena  on  what  is  called  Covey  Hill,  was  organized  in 
1843,  with  thirteen  members,  to-wit:  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harviland 
Thayer,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jonah  Austin,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  Brown,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Peter  Haynes,  Jeptha  Waterman,  Lucy  Herron,  Lucinda 
Aldrich,  Elizabeth  Brown  and  Polly  Marble.  Eev.  Peter  Haynes 
was  the  first  minister  and  for  a  time  meetings  wrere  held  at  private 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  399 

houses  and  then  at  a  sehoolhouse  until  1866,  when  the  present 
meeting  house  was  built.  The  present  membership  of  the  church  is 
sixty-five.    Rev.  R.  0.  Thompson,  of  Gobleville,  is  the  pastor. 

The  Methodist  church  was  organized  in  1853,  with  but  live 
members,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Philip  N.  Teed,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  North 
and  Ann  Smith.  The  Almena  sehoolhouse  was  used  as  a  place  of 
worship  until  1869,  when  the  present  church  building  was  oc- 
cupied, it  having  been  dedicated  in  December  of  that  year.  The 
church  is  now  under  the  care  of  Rev.  Alex.  T.  Luther,  pastor  of 
the  Methodist  church  at  Paw  Paw.  It  has  a  membership  of  twenty- 
eight. 

The  Brethren  or  Dunkard  church  is  in  a  state  of  suspension  at 
the  present  time.  Their  church  building  is  situated  on  section 
twenty-seven. 

There  was  formerly  another  church  society  at  the  village,  but  it 
has  practically  disbanded  and  their  house  of  worship  has  been 
sold  to  the  Maccabees,  who  occupy  it  for  their  hall  and  who  have 
quite  a  flourishing  organization. 

The  hall  of  AYaverly  Grange,  No.  37,  Patrons  of  Husbandry, 
like  the  Free-will  Baptist  house  of  worship,  is  situated  on  Covey 
Hill,  in  the  township  of  Almena  and  now  has  about  forty  members. 

Schools,  Supervisors,  Etc. 

The  first  school  taught  in  the  township  was  in  the  Warner  set- 
tlement and  the  first  teacher  was  Elizabeth  Merry,  a  sister-in-law 
of  Rev.  Junia  Warner.  The  following  statistics  of  the  public 
schools  of  the  township  are  taken  from  the  official  school  reports 
of  1911:  Number  of  children  of  school  age  (between  the  ages  of 
five  and  twenty),  301;  number  of  volumes  in  school  libraries,  579; 
number  of  school  houses,  8;  value  of  school  property,  $6,050;  ag- 
gregate number  of  months  school  taught,  66 ;  paid  for  salaries  of 
teachers,  $2,855.  During  the  year  1911,  the  several  school  districts 
«f  the  township  were  apportioned  the  sum  of  $2,194.50  from  the 
state  primary  school  fund. 

The  first  town  meeting  in  the  township  was  held  at  the  New- 
comb  school  house  on  the  first  Monday  in  April,  1842.  (At  this 
time  the  township  included  what  was  afterwards  set  off  and  or- 
ganized as  the  township  of  Pine  Grove.)  The  following  named 
officers  were  chosen :  Supervisor,  Charles  M.  Morrill ;  township 
clerk,  Junia  "Warner;  township  treasurer,  Henry  Barnum;  high- 
way commissioners,  John  A.-Ranney,  Benjamin  Eager  and  Green 
H.  Brown;  assessors,  Willard  Newcomb  and  Freeman  Hall;  school 
inspectors,  F.  C.  Annable,  Roswell  Cook  and  Junia  Warner;  con- 
stables, Russell  Bonfoey,  Asahel  S.  Downing,  Thomas  F.  Browrn 


400  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

and  Green  H.  Brown;  directors  of  poor,  Horace  Bonfoey  and 
Willard  Newcomb ;  justice  of  the  peace,  Jacob  S.  Currier. 

The  following  named  gentlemen  have  served  the  township  in 
the  office  of  supervisor:  Charles  M.  Morrill,  Samuel  Turner,  J. 
A.  Ranney,  Green  II.  Brown,  Henry  Barnum,  J.  B.  Hudson,  F. 
C.  Annable,  Silas  Breed,  Chauncey  B.  Palmer,  Stephen  W.  Fisk, 
Warren  F.  French,  James  H.  Darling,  William  H.  Stevens,  Philip 
N.  Teed,  Benton  YY.  Hipp,  Joshua  B.  Breed,  Rut  us  M.  Waite,  Levi 
A.  Brown,  John  C.  Kennedy  and  Walter  A.  Brown  (present  in- 
cumbent). Of  the  foregoing  named  supervisors,  Messrs.  Ranney 
and  Stevens  each  served  three  years;  Supervisor  Waite,  four 
years;  Supervisor  L.  A.  Brown,  five  years;  Supervisor  Kennedy, 
seven  years;  Supervisor  French,  twelve  years;  Supervisor  Silas 
Breed,  seventeen  years. 

Almena  is  one  of  the  three  towns  in  the  county  that  are  not 
touched  by  a  railroad.  For  the  southern  part  of  the  township, 
Mattawan  on  the  Michigan  Central,  and  Paw  Paw,  on  the  Fruit 
Belt  line,  are  the  nearest  stations,  and  for  the  northern  part,  Ken- 
dall and  Gobleville  on  the  Kalamazoo  and  South  Haven  line. 

While  there  has  been,  according  to  the  census  figures,  a  mate- 
rial decrease  in  the  population  of  the  township  during  the  past 
decade,  there  has  been  at  the  same  time,  quite  a  material  increase 
in  the  assessed  valuation  of  the  property  of  its  citizens,  indicating 
that  they  are  prosperous  from  a  financial  stand  point.  Some  of 
the  very  best  farms  in  the  entire  county  are  located  in  the  town- 
ship, and  while  the  inhabitants  are  not. engaged  in  the  culture  of 
fruit  to  as  great  an  extent  as  in  some  of  the  near-by  townships,  yet 
there  are  numerous  fine  orchards  and  vineyards  to  be  found  in 
some  localities,  and  its  citizens  are  as  prosperous  and  progressive 
as  those  of  any  of  her  sister  townships. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

TOWNSHIP  OF  ANTWERP 

General  Description — Railroads,  Property  and  Population — 
Early  Settlement — Settlers  of  1836-8 — Settlers  in  South- 
ern Antwerp  Township — Post  Offices,  Roads  and  Hotels — 
Pioneer  Mills — Township  Elections  and  Officials — Educa- 
tional Statistics — Glen  Springs  Trout  Hatchery — Village 
of  Lawton — Village  of  Mattawan — Retrospect. 

The  township  of  Antwerp  is  one  of  the  seven  original  townships 
of  Van  Buren  county,  and  is  the  only  township  in  the  entire  county 
that  remains  as  originally  organized  without  having  undergone 
either  a  change  of  territory  or  name,  or  both.  It  is  said  that  it 
was  named  by  Harmon  Van  Antwerp  after  the  city  of  Antwerp 
in  Europe,  but  one  can  hardly  resist  the  conclusion  that  there  was 
a  little  personal  pride  in  the  selection  of  the  name.  All  he  had  to 
do  was  to  drop  the  "Van."  ' 

General  Description 

It  is  one  of  the  eastern  tier  of  the  townships  and  is  bounded  north 
by  Alrnena.  east  by  Kalamazoo  county,  south  by  Porter  and  west 
by  Paw  Paw.  It  is  officially  designated  in  the  United  States  sur- 
vey as  township  number  three  south,  of  range  number  thirteen 
west.  It  is  situated  in  the  midst  of  the  famous  fruit  belt  of  south- 
western Michigan,  and  while  it  was  originally  largely  devoted  to 
the  production  of  the  various  kinds  of  grain  indigenous  to  this 
region,  its  inhabitants  are  now  more  extensively  engaged  in  horti- 
culture, especially  in  the  production  of  grapes,  there  being  several 
thousand  acres  of  vineyards  within  its  boundaries,  and  the  annual 
production  of  that  delicious  fruit  amounting  to  millions  of  baskets. 
Other  fruits,  such  as  peaches,  apples,  cherries,  plums,  pears  and 
berries  of  various  kinds  are  also  produced  in  great  abundance.  In- 
deed, the  business  of  fruit  culture  has  very  largely  superseded  all 
other  kinds  of  husbandry. 

There  are  two  villages  in  the  township,  Lawton  and  Mattawan, 
the  former  only  being  incorporated.     There  are  not  many  of  the 

Vol.  1—26 

401 


402 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


little  gems  of  lakes  that  beautify  the  landscape  in  various  sections 
of  the  county  to  be  found  in  Antwerp.  Its  principal  stream  is  the 
east  branch  of  the  Paw  Paw  river,  wThich  enters  the  township  near 
its  southeast  corner  and  crosses  it  diagonally  in  a  northwesterly 
direction,  uniting  with  the  east  branch  of  the  same  stream  in  the 
village  of  Paw  Paw,  about  a  half  mile  west  of  the  east  line  of  the 
township.    There  were  formerly  twro  very  good  water  powers  on  this 


A  Glimpse  of  the  Grape  Industry,  near  Lawton 

stream,  one  of  them  on  section  twenty-one  and  the  other  on  section 
eighteen,  almost  in  sight  of  the  village  of  Paw  Paw.  Neither  of 
these  powers  is  in  use  at  the  present  time.  The  mill  and  dam  that 
stood  on  the  site  of  the  former  have  entirely  disappeared.  The 
mill  that  occupied  the  site  of  the  latter  has  been  removed,  but  the 
dam  is  kept  in  repair  and  the  power,  most  likely,  will  be  again  put 
to  use  at  some  future  date. 


Railroads,  Property  and  Population 

Two  railroads  pass  through  the  township,  the  main  line  of  the 
Michigan  Central  and  the  Kalamazoo,  Lake  Shore  and  Chicago  line, 
better  known  as  the  "Fruit  Belt"  line.  Both  these  roads  pass  en- 
tirely across  the  township,  intersecting  at  the  village  of  Lawton. 
The  Central  enters  the  town  on  the  east  one  mile  north  of  the  center 
line  and  runs  in  a  southwesterly  direction,  leaving  the  town  very 
near  its  southwest  corner.  The  Fruit  Belt  running  in  a  southeast- 
erly course  enters  the  township  on  the  west  line  of  section  nineteen 
and  reaching  Lawton,  changes  to  a  northeasterly  course  and  prac- 
tically parallels  the  Central  to  the  city  of  Kalamazoo,  which  is  the 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  403 

eastern  terminus  of  the  line.  It  is  anticipated  that  this  line  will  be 
electrified  in  the  near  future,  in  which  event  there  will  be  a  con- 
tinuous electric  line  across  the  state  from  Detroit  to  South  Haven. 
This  latter  road  had  its  beginning  in  the  construction  of  what  was 
called  the  Paw  Paw  Railroad,  a  four  mile  line  between  Paw  Paw 
and  Lawton,  which  under  various  names  has  been  extended  to  South 
Haven  on  the  west  and  to  Kalamazoo  on  the  east,  making  a  line 
fifty-five  miles  in  length. 

The  soil  of  Antwerp  consists  largely  of  a  sandy  loam,  generally 
fertile  and  productive,  in  some  localities,  however,  bordering  on 
quite  a  light  sand,  and  in  other  places  clay  and  gravel  prevail. 
The  surface  is  generally  level,  although  there  are  some  quite  con- 
spicuous elevations,  the  principal  of  these  being  south  of  the  village 
of  Mattawan  and  one  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  town. 

On  the  first  tax  roll  of  the  township,  made  in  1837,  the  total 
amount  of  the  tax  levy  was  $172.60.  The  valuation  of  property 
does  not  appear  on  the  roll,  but  the  tax  levied  on  the  lands  was 
uniformly  one  and  a  half  cents  per  acre.  There  was  no  assessment 
of  personal  property.  In  1911  the  township  was  assessed  at  the 
sum  of  $955,000,  and  the  taxes  levied  were  $21,653.33.  According 
to  the  census  of  1910,  the  township  contained  a  population  of  2,320 
souls.  It  ranks  fourth  among  the  townships  of  the  county  in  point 
of  population  and  fifth  in  point  of  wealth. 

Early  Settlement 

On  account  of  the  comparative  ease  with  which  lands  in  the  town- 
ship of  Antwerp  could  be  converted  into  tillable  farms,  it  was  set- 
tled much  earlier  than  some  other  portions  of  the  county  that  were 
covered  with  heavy  timber.  Most  of  the  lands  of  the  town  con- 
sisted of  "oak  openings,''  and  it  was  practically  free  from  low  or 
swampy  lands.  Crops  could  be  planted  in  many  places  with  very 
little  clearing  away  of  brush  or  trees,  and  the  virgin  soil  needed 
but  to  be  tickled  with  the  rude  implements  of  the  pioneer  to  pro- 
duce the  necessities  of  life  in  abundance.  Even  before  any  roads 
were  laid  out,  traveling  through  the  town  in  almost  any  direction 
was  a  matter  of  no  great  difficulty.  There  was  very  little  under- 
brush or  other  obstructions  in  the  way  and  the  settler  could  drive 
almost  anywhere  without  having  to  cut  a  road  before  him.  The 
woods  were  like  orchards,  in  that  a  person  could  see  round  about 
for  a  considerable  distance. 

There  seems  to  be  a  difference  of  opinion  as  to  who  was  the  first 
settler  in  Antwerp.  It  was  either  Joel  Tomlinson  or  Joseph  Wood- 
man. Mr.  Tomlinson  settled  on  section  twenty-two,  in  the  month 
of  December,  either  in  1834  or  1835;  the  year  is  uncertain.    There 


404  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

is  no  question  of  the  date  at  which  Mr.  Woodman  came.  He  made 
his  home  on  section  seven,  on  the  10th  day  of  May,  1835,  and  there 
is  little  doubt  but  that  to  him  must  be  ascribed  the  honor  of  having 
been  the  first  settler  in  the  township. 

Mr.  Woodman  was  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  being  an  ordained 
minister  of  the  Methodist  church.  He  died  in  the  month  of  April, 
1879.  The  Woodman  family  have  borne  a  prominent  part  in  the 
affairs  of  Van  Buren  county.  The  late  Hon.  Jonathan  J.  Wood- 
man, Elder  Woodman's  youngest  son,  was  a  member  of  the  Michi- 
gan legislature  for  twelve  successive  years,  a  speaker  of  the  house 
for  four  years  of  such  service,  and  was  one  of  the  United  States 
commissioners  to  the  Paris  exposition  in  1878.  He  was  prominent 
in  the  agricultural  matters  of  the  county  and  state  and  served  as 
master  of  the  State  Grange,  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  and  also  as 
master  of  the  National  Grange.  He  died  at  his  Antwerp  home 
just  outside  the  limits  of  the  village  of  Paw  Paw,  on  the  13th  day 
of  July,  1904.  His  widow,  Rev.  Olivia  J.  Woodman,  a  minister  of 
the  Universalist  denomination,  still  occupies  the  homestead. 

The  incoming  pioneers,  following  the  route  of  the  Territorial 
road,  which  was  opened  in  the  summer  of  1835  and  which  crossed 
the  northern  part  of  Antwerp,  naturally  chose  the  line  of  that 
highway  on  which  to  plant  their  future  homes.  • 

In  the  spring  of  1835,  Joshua  Bangs,  Silas  Breed  and  Elder 
Jonathan  Hinckley  started  from  Monroe  county.  New  York,  for 
Michigan,  on  a  land-looking  expedition.  They  journeyed  overland 
as  far  as  Silver  Creek,  Ohio,  and  found  the  traveling  so  bad  that, 
to  use  Mr.  Bangs'  own  words,  "One  of  us  drove  the  team,  while 
the  other  two  footed  behind,  carrying  rails  with  which  to  pry  the 
wagon  out  of  the  mud  holes."  They  continued  their  journey  by 
way  of  the  lake  from  Silver  Creek  to  Detroit,  where  they  again  took 
to  the  road,  their  objective  point  being  Grand  Rapids.  At  Marshall 
they  overtook  Joseph  Woodman  and  his  family,  who  was  headed 
for  the  same  location.  Ascertaining  that  the  land  office  was  located 
at  Bronson  (now  Kalamazoo),  they  halted  there  and  were  per- 
suaded to  change  their  route  to  Van  Buren  county.  Woodman  and 
Bangs  visited  the  township  of  Antwerp  and  being  pleased  with  the 
outlook  concluded  to  locate  there  instead  of  looking  farther.  Bangs 
entered  lands  on  sections  five  and  seven  adjoining  those  selected  by 
Woodman  on  the  latter  section.  Bangs  settled  on  his  new  location 
in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  some  months  after  Woodman  had 
taken  up  his  residence  on  the  lands  entered  by  him.  He  had  been 
back  to  the  state  of  New  York  after  his  family  and  on  his  return 
he  was  accompanied  by  Dr.  Levi  Warner,  Joseph  Luce,  Theophilus 
Bangs  and  John  Hill.  Warner  and  Luce  settled  in  the  adjoining 
township  of  Paw  Paw.    Joshua  Bangs  resided  on  his  Antwerp  farm 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  405 

until  he  was  elected  county  treasurer  at  a  special  election  held  on 
the  20th  day  of  Setpeinber,  1837,  when  he  moved  to  Paw  Paw.  He 
held  that  office  for  four  years  after  which  he  returned  to  his  farm. 
Nominally,  he  was  the  second  treasurer  of  the  county,  but  really 
the  first,  as  Daniel  0.  Dodge,  who  was  elected  in  the  spring  before, 
failed  to  assume  the  duties  of  the  office.  Mr.  Bangs  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1883. 

Philip  Moon,  of  New  York,  settled  on  section  five  in  1835.  He 
died  in  1856.  His  son,  Horace  W.,  who  came  out  with  Joshua 
Bangs,  was  formerly  a  resident  on  section  sixteen,  the  present  fruit 
farm  of  Messrs.  Rowland  &  Shaef er  and  known  as  ' '  Fairview  Fruit 
Farm." 

Peter  Moon  was  also  a  settler  in  1835.  Elder  Samuel  Oilman 
became  a  resident  on  section  five  in  1838.  He  sold  his  farm  to  E.  H. 
Niles  and  moved  to  a  place  on  section  six,  where  he  lived  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  His  son,  Joseph  Oilman,  who  succeeded  him 
in  the  ownership  of  the  place,  died  in  1884. 

Theophilus  Bangs,  who  came  to  Antwerp  with  his  brother, 
Joshua,  settled  on  section  nineteen,  where  he  lived  for  about  thirty 
years,  when  he  moved  to  Paw  Paw  and  died  there. 

Among  the  early  land-lookers  of  Michigan  was  John  Hunt,  of 
Vermont,  who  first  visited  the  township  of  Antwerp  in  1835  and 
was  so  well  pleased  with  the  outlook  that  he  entered  a  tract  of  160 
acres  on  section  one.  He  returned  to  Vermont  after  making  his 
entry  and  did  not  become  a  settler  until  1837.  Mr.  Hunt  and  his 
family  proceeded  to  Buffalo  by  canal  and  finding  that  they  could 
not  easily  embark  at  that  place,  he  engaged  a  man  and  team  to 
carry  his  family  and  goods  to  Silver  Creek,  thirty-six  miles  distant, 
wrhere  he  was  told  he  would  find  a  steamer  for  Detroit.  The  roads 
were  knee  deep  with  mud  and  the  driver  of  the  team  was  drunk 
and  finally  abandoned  them  in  the  woods  when  only  about  half  way 
to  their  objective  point.  Finally  after  three  days  they  reached 
Silver  Creek  and  found  the  steamer.  They  disembarked  at  To- 
ledo, and  eventually  after  a  journey  of  three  weeks  duration, 
reached  Kalamazoo.  "When  I  left  Vermont,' '  said  Mr.  Hunt,  "I 
had  $800  in  money,  but  when  I  got  to  Michigan  I  had  $300  less,  a 
pretty  stiff  price  to  pay  for  a  journey  that  can  now  be  made  in 
thirty-six  hours. "  As  an  evidence  of  the  cost  of  the  necessaries 
of  life  in  those  "good  old  days,"  Mr.  Hunt  paid  $55  for  a  second 
hand  cook  stove  in  Kalamazoo;  "and,"  said  he,  "it  was  about  as 
big  as  a  warming  pan."  Mr.  Hunt  spent  the  remaining  years  of 
his  life  on  his  Antwerp  farm,  dying  some  years  ago  at  a  ripe  old 
*ige. 

Among  the  more  conspicuous  and  well  known  early  settlers  of 
the  township  were  Samuel  Lull ;  Anthony  Corey,  who  settled  on  the 


406  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

site  of  the  present  village  of  Lawton ;  Hiram  and  Robert  Morrison, 
the  latter  of  whom  settled  on  section  eight  where  he  lived  until 
his  death  which  occurred  on  the  8th  day  of  September,  1907;  Ly- 
man Taylor,  Patrick  Johnson,  Harman  Harwick  and  Peter  Har- 
wick,  his  son ;  Silas  F.  Breed,  the  founder  of  the  village  of  Breeds- 
ville;  the  Weldins,  the  Hathaways  and  John  McKinney,  who  was 
county  treasurer  from  1842  to  1846.  Peter  Hinckley  settled  on 
section  four  in  1835  and  sold  to  E.  B.  Dyckman  in  1838. 

Settlers  op  1836-8 

The  year  1836  brought  many  settlers  into  Antwerp.  Among  them 
was  Wells  Gray,  who  located  on  section  two.  He  built  the  usual 
log  cabin,  which  had  a  loose  board  floor,  and  one  day  when  a  huge 
blacksnake  crawled  through  between  the  boards,  his  wife  was  so 
frightened  that  she  declared  she  would  not  live  there  and  her 
husband,  having  to  choose  between  the  serpent  and  his  wife,  wisely 
chose  the  latter  and  sought  a  new  location,  selling  his  claim  to  Rea- 
son Holmes  and  taking  up  a  new  one  on  section  seven.  Mrs.  Gray 
died  not  long  afterward.  Mr.  Gray  married  again  and  spent  his 
days  on  his  farm  where  he  died  in  1867. 

Among  other  settlers  of  1836  were  Samuel  Longstreet  and  his 
brother  Andrew.  The  latter  was  the  second  sheriff  elected  in  the 
county.  The  first  was  Samuel  Gunton,  who  was  elected  in  the 
spring  of  1837,  but  did  not  accept  the  office.  Mr.  Longstreet  was 
elected  at  the  same  special  election  at  which  Joshua  Bangs  was 
chosen  as  county  treasurer,  so  that  he  was,  in  point  of  fact,  the  first 
officer  to  serve  as  sheriff.  He  held  the  office  for  four  years.  He  died 
in  the  village  of  Lawton  in  1871. 

Morgan  L.  Fitch  was  also  a  pioneer  of  1836.  He  bought  four 
eighty  acre  tracts  on  sections  one,  two,  eleven  and  twelve,  and  also 
an  eighty  on  section  three  for  his  brother,  Lyman  C.  Fitch,  who 
became  a  settler  of  the  town  the  succeeding  year.  Morgan  L.  was 
elected  and  served  as  a  member  of  the  Michigan  legislature  in  1851, 
and  Lyman  C.  was  elected  state  senator  in  1855.  The  former  died 
in  1883,  and  the  latter  in  1900. 

The  elder  brother,  Morgan,  related  an  incident  that  occurred 
during  his  trip  from  Western  New  York,  his  former  residence,  to 
Michigan,  that  shows  that  the  science  of  "graft"  was  not  wholly 
unknown,  even  at  that  early  day.  On  his  arrival  at  Detroit  he 
found  that  all  the  seating  capacity  of  the  stages  from  that  city  to 
Kalamazoo  had  been  sold  for  six  days  in  advance.  Not  caring  to 
make  the  journey  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  on  foot,  he 
managed,  after  a  search  of  three  days,  to  purchase  a  horse  which 
he  rode  over  the  route,  and  so  at  least  escaped  the  task  of  carrying 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREX  COUNTY  407 

a  rail  with  which  to  pry  the  coach  out  of  the  mud.  On  his  arrival 
at  the  latter  place  he  was  very  much  surprised  to  see  an  old  Quaker 
who  had  been  his  fellow  passenger  across  the  lake  to  Detroit  and 
with  whom  he  had  parted  at  Detroit.  "Why,  my  friend,"  said  Mr. 
Fitch,  "how  did  you  get  here  so  soon?  They  told  me  in  Detroit 
that  there  wouldn't  be  a  chance  in  the  stage  for  a  week." 

"Well,"  said  he  of  the  broad  brim  and  drab  garments,  "I  waited 
until  ye  were  all  gone  from  the  stage  office,  when  I  said  to  the  clerk 
'If  any  of  thy  friends  conclude  they  will  not  go  today,  thee  mayst 
save  a  seat  for  me ;  I  hand  thee  here  two  dollars,  not  for  my  ticket, 
but  for  thyself;  my  ticket  I  will  pay  for  beside,'  When  I  came 
around  at  time  for  the  stage  to  start,"  continued  the  sly  Quaker, 
"I  found  the  man  had  a  seat  ready  for  me." 

Nathaniel  L.  Surdam  and  his  wife  came  to  Antwerp  in  1837  and 
settled  on  section  three  where  they  lived  out  the  remainder  of 
their  days,  both  living  to  a  good  old  age.  Mr.  Surdam  was  a  man 
of  remarkable  vitality  and  longevity.  He  died  at  his  farm  resi- 
dence on  the  8th  day  of  March  at  the  unusual  age  of  a  little  over 
one  hundred  years. 

The  pioneer  blacksmith  of  Antwerp  was  William  Taylor,  who 
also  came  to  the  town  in  1836  with  a  Rooseveltian  family  consisting 
of  a  wife  and  twelve  children.  He  was  brother-in-law  of  Reason 
Holmes  and  his  first  residence  was  a  "rail  pen"  on  Holmes  place, 
which  he  occupied  until  he  could  secure  a  more  permanent  dwelling 
place.  He  located  on  section  three  on  the  Territorial  road,  where 
he  established  his  forge  and  where  he  lived  until  his  death.  He  was 
a  very  industrious  man,  but  was  possessed  with  the  crazy  notion 
that  he  could  invent  a  "perpetual  motion  machine,"  upon  which 
subject  he  became  a  monomaniac.  He  worked  secretly  for  fear 
that  some  one  would  steal  his  plans  and  forestall  him  in  procuring 
a  patent,  and  on  one  occasion  his  invention  was,  as  he  inferred, 
actually  stolen.  He  immediately  filed  an  application  at  the  patent 
office  in  order  to  head  off  the  thieves  ( ?).  After  a  time  his  beloved 
machine  was  returned  to  its  accustomed  place  as  mysteriously  as 
it  had  disappeared,  much  to  the  joy  of  its  inventor.  The  affair 
was  but  the  prank  of  some  mischievous  youngsters.  Like  many 
another  who  has  been  possessed  with  the  same  insane  idea,  Mr. 
Taylor  lacked  but  one  thing  to  make  his  machine  a  great  success. 
It  wouldn  't  go ! 

James  Ferguson  came  to  Antwerp  in  1836  and  died  there  a  few 
years  later.  During  the  same  year  John  Lyon  settled  on  section 
three.  He  died  during  the  sickly  season  of  1838.  In  June  of  the 
same  year,  Daniel  Van  Antwerp  and  family,  consisting  of  his  wife 
and  four  children,  together  with  his  father  (Harmon)  and  his 
mother,  came  from  Geneseo,  New  York,  where  he  had  exchanged  his 


408  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

farm  for  twelve  eighty-acre  lots  in  township  number  three  south, 
of  range  number  thirteen  west,  afterward  to  bear  the  Van  Antwerp 
name.  Mr.  Van  Antwerp's  land  lay  near  the  center  of  town  on 
either  side  of  the  Paw  Paw  and  Schoolcraft  road.  So  well  pleased 
was  he  with  his  location  that  he  bought  one  more  eighty-acre  tract 
in  the  same  locality.  The  first  adult  death  in  the  township  was 
that  of  his  mother,  who  died  May  4,  1837 ;  the  first  death  was  that 
of  a  child  of  John  Lyon's,  who  died  the  previous  year.  Mrs.  Van 
Antwerp  was  buried  in  the  Van  Antwerp  cemetery  which  is  lo- 
cated on  sections  ten  and  fifteen. 

The  next  year,  1838,  was  a  sad  time  for  those  early  pioneers, 
as  seven  new  made  graves  in  that  cemetery  silently  testified.  Chills 
and  fever  in  aggravated  form  prevailed  and  four  persons — John 
Lyon,  a  Mr.  Whittel,  John  Barber  and  Benjamin  Markle — suc- 
cumbed to  that  disease,  the  treatment  of  which,  at  that  time,  was 
but  little  understood.  That  same  year  Daniel  Woodman,  son  of 
Joseph  Woodman,  a  youth  of  eighteen  years,  died  of  brain  fever 
and  was  buried  in  the  same  cemetery.  Mrs.  Wells  Gray  was  also 
one  of  the  pioneers  who  passed  away  that  year.  Daniel  Morrison 
was  also  one  of  those  who  died  that  same  fatal  year. 

It  is  said  that  the  reason  that  this  cemetery  was  laid  out  on  two 
sections  was  to  prevent  the  road  from  Paw  Paw  to  Mattawan  pass- 
ing through  the  Van  Antwerp  domain,  and  that  in  consequence  of 
such  opposition  the  road  was  laid  half  a  mile  farther  south. 

Another  cemetery  was  afterward  laid  out  on  section  two.  Bodies 
that  had  been  buried  in  different  places  were  disinterred  and  bur- 
ied there.  Among  those  who  have  been  buried  there  was  Elizabeth 
Quackenbush,  who  at  the  time  of  her  death  was  one  hundred  and 
one  years  of  age  and  who  had  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  de- 
scendants, to-wit :  fourteen  children,  sixty-nine  grandchildren, 
thirty-four  great-grandchildren  and  four  great-great-grandchildren. 
Harmon  Van  Antwerp  died  in  1849,  and  his  son  Daniel  in  1875. 
His  daughter,  Ann,  was  Mrs.  P.  Nary  Smith.  Her  son,  John  Smith, 
is  now  a  resident  of  the  village  of  Paw  Paw. 

Jacob  Plank  located  near  what  is  now  the  village  of  Mattawan, 
in  1837,  and  James  Murray  in  the  same  locality  in  1838. 

Solomon  Phillips,  a  bachelor,  was  one  the  early  land  owners  in 
the  township,  but  he  did  not  become  a  resident  until  after  it  was 
well  settled.  He  and  his  brother,  Benjamin  Phillips,  built  the  first 
flouring  mill  in  the  township,  utilizing  a  now  dismantled  water 
powrer  on  the  Paw  Paw  river  on  section  twenty-two. 

E.  B.  Dyckman,  in  1838,  exchanged  his  farm  near  Syracuse,  New 
York,  for  Antwerp  lands  on  sections  four  and  nine,  taking  as  part 
of  the  consideration  in  the  trade  one  hundred  barrels  of  salt,  at 
the  agreed  price  of  one  dollar  per  barrel.     He  was  very  reluctant 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  409 

to  accept  the  salt  part  of  the  bargain,  but  was  finally  prevailed  on 
to  do  so.  He  shipped  the  salt  to  St.  Joseph,  where  he  realized  from 
six  to  ten  dollars  per  barrel  for  the  same;  and  Michigan  was  fairly 
underlaid  with  salt,  but  nobody  knew  it.  O !  Those  good  old  times 
that  so  many  people  long  for!  "Distance  lends  enchantment  to 
the  view."  With  Mr.  Dyckman  also  came  Philip  Hinckley  and 
P.  Nary  Smith,  above  mentioned. 

Oliver  Warner  settled  on  section  six  in  1836  and  lived  there 
until  his  death.  A.  M.  Lane  came  to  the  county  the  same  year  and 
lived  in  the  vicinity  of  Paw  Paw  for  a  while  and  then  became  an 
Antwerp  settler  on  section  five. 

Settlers  in  Southern  Antwerp  Township 

Most  of  the  parties  that  have  been  mentioned  settled  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  township  which  was  fairly  well  filled  before  many 
improvements  were  made  in  the  southern  portion.  One  of  the 
earliest  settlers  in  that  part  of  the  town  was  Levi  Savage  who  lo- 
cated in  1835.  on  section  thirty-six,  but  who  soon  afterward  disposed 
of  his  land  to  Samuel  Lull  and,  himself,  moved  to  a  farm  in  the 
Van  Antwerp  neighborhood.  Lull  eventually  became  a  Mormon  and 
went  to  Salt  Lake  City. 

In  1836,  John'  Cooper,  from  Ohio,  located  on  section  thirty-six, 
but  moved  away  a  few  years  afterward.  The  same  year  Daniel 
Bird  settled  on  section  twenty-four.  He  removed  to  Prairie  Ronde 
where  he  died.  J.  B.  Wildey  was  another  early  settler  on  section 
twenty-four.  He  died  at  the  village  of  Lawton.  Mr.  Whittel  set- 
tled on  section  twenty  in  the  fall  of  1837  and  died  the  next  year. 
The  Markle  family,  consisting  of  a  widow  and  her  four  sons,  Jacob, 
Benjamin,  Elias  and  David,  settled  on  section  twenty-two  in  the 
spring  of  1837. 

As  in  other  parts  of  the  county,  game  was  abundant.  Wolves 
and  deer  were  especially  so.  Most  of  the  men  and  the  boys  who 
were  old  enough  to  carry  a  gun  were  hunters,  and  as  the  finding  of 
game  was  an  easy  matter,  abundant  returns  invariably  rewarded 
the  efforts  of  the  hunters.  Venison  was  more  plentiful  than  pork, 
and  much  less  highly  prized.  Wolves  were  a  constant  menace  to 
the  farmers '  stock  and  great  vigilance  was  necessary  for  its  protec- 
tion. It  is  related  that  young  William  Van  Antwerp,  who  was 
given  to  playing  the  flute,  used  to  tune  up  his  instrument  nearly 
every  evening,  and  as  soon  as  he  began  to  play  the  waives  would  be- 
gin to  howl ;  when  the  music  ceased,  the  howling  stopped,  only  to  be 
renewed  with  greater  vigor  when  the  young  man  resumed  his 
playing. 


410  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BlTREN  COl'NTY 

Post  Offices,  Roads  and  Hotels 

The  first  post  office  in  Antwerp  was  at  the  tavern  of  Reason 
Holmes  on  the  Territorial  road  and  Mr.  Holmes  was  the  postmaster. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Philip  Williams.  On  the  completion  of  the 
Michigan  Central  Railroad  the  office  was  removed  to  Mattawan. 

In  April,  1837,  the  commissioners  of  highways  divided  the  town- 
ship into  four  road  districts,  cutting  the  township  into  quarters  in 
the  division  and  putting  nine  sections  of  land  into  each  district, 
which  was  certainly  a  systematic  division,  although  it  is  doubtful 
if  any  other  township  was  divided  in  a  similar  manner.  Immedi- 
ately afterward  the  following  roads  were  surveyed.  The  Long- 
street  road  April  11th,  the  Center  road  April  12th,  the  Paw  Paw 
road  April  13th,  the  Cooper  road  April  13th,  the  Bangs  road  April 
14th. 

The  large  traffic  that  soon  began  to  pass  over  the  Territorial  road 
gave  rise  to  the  establishment  of  many  public  houses  which  were 
dignified  by  the  name  of  taverns.  On  that  portion  of  the  road  that 
passed  through  Antwerp,  Jesse  Abbe  was  the  first  person  to  open 
a  place  of  public  entertainment.  Like  most  of  those  primitive 
" hotels"  it  was  merely  a  log  cabin  and  contained  the  kitchen  and 
dining  room  on  the  first  floor  and  a  couple  of  sleeping  rooms  above. 
One  of  the  principal  things  in  evidence  in  those  primitive  hostelries 
was  the  whiskey  bottle.  There  was  no  thought  of  total  abstinence, 
local  option,  prohibition  or  other  phase  of  the  temperance  question 
in  those  early  days,  and  the  travelers  were  generally  thirsty  when- 
ever they  came  to  any  place  where  liquor  was  to  be  had.  Mr.  Abbe 
kept  this  tavern  until  the  construction  of  the  railroad  put  the  stage 
route  out  of  business. 

Mr.  Abbe  was  a  very  eccentric  man  and  also  very  religious.  Nu- 
merous anecdotes  of  these  traits  are  related  of  him.  Calling  once 
on  Mr.  Hunt  and  finding  that  gentleman  hoeing  his  corn,  he  said 
"Mr.  Hunt,  this  is  a  fine  field  of  corn,  but  you  don't  deserve  it; 
you  don't  pray  enough."  "Very  well,"  replied  Mr.  Hunt,  c'you 
pray  and  I'll  hoe,  and  we'll  see  who  has  the  best  corn,"  Calling 
on  one  occasion  upon  Jonathan  Woodman,  he  remarked :  "Jonathan, 
you  are  altogether  too  fine  a  fellow  for  the  devil  to  have."  He  had 
at  one  time  in  his  employ  a  youngster  who  preferred  resting  to 
working,  and  often,  when  the  boy  wanted  to  do  a  little  loafing  on 
the  job,  he  would  say  to  his  employer  "Hadn't  we  better  go  into 
the  grove  and  have  a  season  of  prayer  ? ' '  and,  pleased  beyond  meas- 
ure at  the  young  scapegrace's  religious  turn  of  mind,  the  old  man 
would  leave  off  work  and  pray  for  an  hour  or  more  with  the  lad 
in  the  grove,  never  dreaming  that  the  young  rascal  was  simply 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  411 

imposing  on  him  in  order  that  he  might  enjoy  a  loafing  spell.     Late 
in  life  Mr.  Abbe  embraced  spiritualism  and  died  in  that  faith. 

Reason  Holmes  built  a  frame  house  on  section  one,  tjie  first  frame 
house  in  the  township,  which  he  conducted  for  several  years  as  a 
tavern.  This  place  was  but  a  short  distance  east  of  Abbe's  and, 
just  over  the  line  in  Kalamazoo  county,  Samuel  Millard  kept  an- 
other tavern,  so  that  within  a  distance  of  less  than  three  miles  there 
were  three  public  houses.  That  would  have  been  a  good  place  for 
the  governor  of  South  Carolina  and  the  governor  of  North  Caro- 
lina, as  it  was  no  very  "long  time  between  drinks."  Between 
Abbe's  and  Dodge's  tavern  in  Paw  Paw  there  was  dry  stretch  of 
five  long,  thirsty  miles. 

Pioneer  Mills 

The  first  saw  mill  built  in  the  township  was  put  up  by  Samuel 
0.  Miller  on  section  twenty-six,  through  which  flows  a  tributary  of 
the  Paw  Paw  river.  This  property  subsequently  came  into  the  pos- 
session of  Cowgill,  McKeyes  &  Company,  who  put  a  flouring  mill 
on  the  old  saw-mill  site.  In  1838,  John  Bingman  built  the  second 
saw-mill  in  the  township,  on  section  twenty-one.  The  site  of  this 
mill  was  afterwards  occupied  by  the  Rix  flouring  mill.  Messrs. 
Solomon  and  Benjamin  Phillips  built  the  pioneer  grist  mill  on 
this  same  stream  in  1858.  In  1869  Asa  Landphere  built  quite  a 
large  flouring  mill  on  the  Paw  Paw,  about  half  a  mile  east  of  the 
village  of  Paw  Paw,  but  this  structure,  like  the  others  mentioned, 
has  gone  out  of  existence.  None  of  these  water  powers  are  in  use 
at  the  present  time.  The  clearing  up  of  the  surrounding  country 
lias  so  affected  the  flow  of  the  streams,  that  none  of  them,  except  the 
latter,  is  of  any  great  value,  although,  perhaps,  they  might  be 
used  as  auxiliary  to  some  system  for  the  development  of  electric 
power. 

Townships  Elections  and  Officials 

The  first  town  meeting  in  the  township  of  Antwerp  was  held  at 
the  house  of  Philip  Williams  on  the  first  Monday  in  April.  1837,  at 
which  the  following  named  officers  were  chosen:  Supervisor,  An- 
drew Longstreet ;  township  clerk,  John  K.  Bingham :  assessors, 
Theophilus  Bangs,  Reason  Holmes,  Joel  Tomlinson ;  commissioners 
of  highways,  Joshua  Bangs,  Jesse  Abbe,  Joel  Tomlinson;  con- 
stable and  collector,  John  Hill;  directors  of  the  poor,  Jesse  Abbe, 
Patrick  Johnson.  At  a  special  town  meeting  held  May  4,  1837,  the 
following  additional  officers  were  elected:  Justices  of  the  peace, 
Reason  Holmes,  Joseph  Woodman,  Philip  Williams :  school  inspect- 
ors, John  Cooper,  Samuel  O.  Wells  and  John  A.  Lyon. 


412  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

The  following  named  gentlemen  have  served  the  township  in 
the  capacity  of  supervisor :  Andrew  Longstreet,  Morgan  L.  Fitch, 
Theophilus  Bangs,  Joshua  Bangs,  I.  S.  Borden,  Peter  Harwick, 
John  Hunt,  Lyman  A.  Fitch,  Harman  Harwick,  Daniel  Van  Ant- 
werp, John  Smolk,  Nathan  H.  Bitely,  Henry  Fitch,  Oliver  H.  P. 
Sheldon,  Orrin  Buck,  Jonathan  J.  Woodman,  Asa  C.  Glidden, 
Napoleon  B.  McKinney,  John  Ihling,  Juan  McKeyes,  Franklin  B. 
Adams,  Charles  D.  Lawton,  William  II.  Stainton,  George  H.  Rix, 
Harlan  P.  Waters,  Alonzo  S.  Mitchell,  Elmer  W.  Hall.  Oscar  J. 
Williams,  Sheldon  Coleman,  J.  W.  Mitchell  and  Charles  8.  Shaefer. 

Of  the  above  named  supervisors  the  following  served  for  more 
than  two  years:  Waters,  ten  years;  Hunt,  seven;  McKeyes,  five; 
Theophilus  Bangs,  Stainton,  A.  S.  Mitchell,  Shaefer  and  Coleman 
(the  present  incumbent),  each  four  years. 

At  the  general  election  held  in  November,  1838,  there  were  thirty- 
eight  votes  polled  in  the  township,  which  shows  the  rapidity  with 
which  it  was  being  settled,  the  first  settler  coming  only  a  little  more 
than  three  years  before. 

At  the  first  presidential  election,  held  on  the  2d  and  3d  days  of 
November,  1840,  sixty-three  ballots  were  cast,  thirty-two  Demo- 
cratic and  thirty-one  Whig. 

At  the  presidential  election  of  1908,  553  votes  were  polled,  as 
follows:  Taft,  Republican,  374;  Bryan,  Democrat,  153:  Chafin, 
Prohibitionist,  fifteen;  Debs,  Socialist,  seven;  Hisgen,  Independent, 
four. 

Educational  Statistics 

The  first  school  teacher  in  Antwerp  was  Miss  Ann  Van  Antwerp, 
and  the  first  schoolhouse  was  the  log  cabin  of  Joshua  Bangs,  on 
section  seven,  in  the  second  story  of  which  Miss  Van  Antwerp 
taught  a  private  school  and  had,  perhaps,  a  dozen  scholars.  The 
next  season  a  slab  schoolhouse  was  built,  near  where  the  v  *  Steeple ' ' 
schoolhouse  now  stands,  which  did  duty  as  a  "temple  of  learning" 
for  some  considerable  time.  On  May  4,  1837,  the  township  was  di- 
vided into  four  school  districts  and  shortly  afterward  two  additional 
districts  were  formed.  On  February  26, 1839,  there  was  apportioned 
to  the  township  the  sum  of  $14.08,  primary  school  money.  The 
annual  report  of  the  board  of  school  inspectors  for  that  year  showed 
that  reports  had  been  received  from  but  two  of  the  six  districts  in 
the  town,  and  that  the  text  books  used  were  the  Elementary  Spell- 
ing Book,  Smith's  Grammar,  Adams'  Arithmetic,  English  Reader 
and  Olney's  Geography. 

The  official  reports  for  the  school  year  of  1910-11  show  that  there 
are  six  schools  in  the  township,  two  of  them  graded  schools:  total 
number  of  persons  of  school  age,  591 ;  number  of  volumes  in  school 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  413 

libraries.  1,446;  number  of  schoolhouses,  seven;  value  of  school 
property.  $23,050;  total  district  indebtedness,  $2,500;  number  of 
qualified  teachers  employed,  nineteen ;  aggregate  number  of  months 
of  school  taught,  143;  amount  paid  for  teachers'  salaries,  $7,555 
during  .the  past  year;  the  township  received  from  the  state  pri- 
mary school  fund  the  sum  of  $4,372.50. 

Glen  Springs  Trout  Hatchery 

There  is  one  unique  enterprise  carried  on  in  the  township  that 
should  not  be  passed  by  without  special  notice,  the  Glen  Springs 
Trout  Hatchery,  situated  on  the  east  side  of  section  twenty-two, 
about  three  miles  from  Lawton,  and  conducted  by  Messrs.  Bassett 
&  Son  of  Paw  Paw.  The  hatchery  is  located  in  a  glen,  encircled 
on  three  sides  by  high  banks  and  groves,  the  fourth  side  being 
laved  by  the  waters  of  the  Paw  Paw  river.  From  under  the  bank 
flows  a  spring  of  cold  water  as  clear  as  crystal,  at  the  rate  of  about 
2,000  gallons  per  minute,  making  it  an  ideal  place  for  fish  culture. 
The  company  have  twenty  tanks  or  ponds  containing  speckled 
trout  (the  only  variety  of  fish  bred  by  them)  in  all  sizes,  from  the 
tiniest  minnows  up  to  fish  of  marketable  size :  about  a  million  of 
them  on  hand  at  the  present  time.  The  season's  yield  of  eggs,  just 
closed,  was  about  4,000,000.  Eggs  and  fry  as  well  as  fish  of  larger 
size  are  shipped  to  various  parts  of  the  country.  It  is  the  most 
complete  hatchery  of  the  kind  in  the  state  of  Michigan,  and  one  of 
the  largest  and  best  of  any  in  the  entire  United  States. 

Village  of  Lawton 

In  1849  Nathan  Lawton  of  Watertown,  New  York,  owned  the 
land  on  which  the  business  portion  of  the  village  of  Lawton  is 
situated.  When  the  place  was  selected  as  a  station  on  the  line  of 
the  Michigan  Central  Railroad,  Mr.  Lawton  laid  out  a  village  there. 
lie  gave  ten  acres  of  land  for  railroad  depot  buildings,  which  were 
erected  in  1848.  It  was  at  first  known  as  Paw  Paw  station  and 
that  name  adorned  the  passenger  house  for  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  years.  A  post  office  was  established  there  in  1851  and  by 
Colonel  Longstreet  christened  "Lawton,"  in  honor  of  the  proprie- 
tor of  the  town,  and  that  became  not  only  the  name  of  the  post 
office,  but  of  the  town  as  well ;  and  the  railroad  eventually  adopted 
it  as  the  name  of  the  station. 

Andrew  Longstreet  was  the  first  postmaster.  His  successors  in 
the  office  have  been  Henry  McNeil,  Livingston  McNeil,  Albert  II. 
Thompson,  Eichard  Finley,  Napoleon  B.  McKinney,  Andrew  Long- 
street  (second  appointment),  William  Harvey  Smith,  Otis  Rider, 
James  H.  Hall,  Al  McElheny,  James  H.  Hall  (second  appointment). 


414 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


o 
x 

H 

si 

o 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  415 

Pliny  A.  Hubbard,  Milton  F.  Lawton,  Elmer  W.  Hall,  who  died 
while  holding  the  office,  and  Minnie  Hall,  the  present  incumbent, 
widow  of  Elmer  W.  Hall. 

Nathan  Lawton,  himself,  never  became  a  resident  of  the  village, 
but  his  two  sons,  George  W.  and  Charles  D.,  spent  their  lives  there 
and  became  prominent,  not  only  in  the  affairs  of  the  village  and 
township,  but  in  county  and  state  affairs  as  well.  Major  George 
W.  Lawton  was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  wounded  in  action,  and 
brevetted  major,  as  the  record  says,  "for  gallant  and  meritorious 
conduct  in  action."'  He  served  the  county  as  judge  of  probate  for 
eight  years,  from  1868  to  1876,  and  also  held  various  other  official 
positions.  He  was  one  of  the  prominent  attorneys  of  the  county 
and  was,  at  one  time,  the  nominee  of  the  Republican  party  for  the 
office  of  circuit  judge  of  the  judicial  circuit  of  which  the  county 
formed  a  part,  but  owing  to  party  dissensions  between  the  two 
counties  composing  the  circuit — Van  Buren  and  Kalamazoo — he 
was  defeated  and  a  candidate  of  the  opposition  party  elected.  Mr. 
Lawton  owned  a  tine  home  in  the  village  of  Lawton,  where  his 
widow,  Mrs.  Isabella  Lawton,  yet  resides.  Judge  Lawton  died  on 
the  7th  day  of  February,  1887,  in  his  fifty-fourth  year. 

Hon.  Charles  D.  Lawton  was  a  surveyor  and  civil  engineer  by 
profession.  He  was  commissioner  of  mineral  statistics  for  the  state 
of  Michigan  from  1885  to  1891  and  regent  of  the  Michigan  Univer- 
sity for  a  period  of  eight  years,  beginning  January  1,  1898,  and 
had  also  served  two  terms  as  county  surveyor.  The  brothers  were 
both  ardent  Republicans  and  were  reckoned  among  the  advisers 
and  leaders  of  that  party.  Charles  D.  departed  this  life  at  Lawton 
on  the  24th  day  of  August,  1909.  His  widow,  L.  Lovina  Lawton, 
still  occupies  the  fine  homestead  in  that  village  left  her  by  her  late 
husband. 

When  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  was  being  constructed 
through  what  is  now  the  village  of  Lawton,  Henry  McNeil  opened 
a  store  in  a  log  cabin  on  the  west  side  of  what  is  now  Main  street. 
He  supplied  the  laborers  with  merchandise,  such  as  they  required, 
and,  as  was  customary  in  those  days,  it  is  said  that  a  considerable 
part  of  such  merchandise  was  "wet."  He  made  quite  a  bit  of 
money  out  of  his  venture  and  removed  to  Minnesota.  While  Mc- 
Neil was  still  in  the  mercantile  business,  Andrew  Longstreet.  who 
had  been  living  on  a  farm,  moved  into  the  embryo  town  and  started 
a  shoe-shop.  About  the  same  time  Gilbert  Johnson  opened  another 
store,  calling  it  the  "Farmers'  Head  Quarters."  From  these  small 
beginnings  the  village  began  to  show  signs  of  improvement. 

Horace  Sebring  erected  a  hotel  where  the  "Hotel  Giddings" 
now  stands.  Other  business  places  were  started  and  the  town  began 
to  grow,  but  for  a  number  of  years  such  growth  was  very  moderate. 


416  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

With  the  establishment  of  the  Michigan  Central  Iron  Company,  in 
1867,  the  town  took  a  long  stride  in  advance.  This  company  con- 
tinued in  business  until  1875,  during  which  period  Lawton  was 
experiencing  its  palmy  days.  When  that  institution  went  out  of 
business  there  was  a  decided  decrease  of  population  and  a  falling 
off  of  business  and  for  some  years  it  looked  as  though  the  place 
would  not  be  able  to  recover  its  lost  prosperity,  but  with  the  advent 
of  the  grape  industry  throughout  the  region  roundabout,  the  town 
again  took  on  new  life  and  at  the  present  time  is  one  of  the  pros- 
perous go-ahead  towns  of  the  county. 

While  it  lasted  the  Iron  Company  did  a  large  and  profitable  busi- 
ness. It  had  a  capital  stock  of  $150,000  and  employed  about  150 
men.  Among  the  stockholders  were  General  U.  S.  Grant,  Generals 
Gillmore,  Barnard  and  Porter,  and  others  in  the  military  service. 
General  Gillmore  was  the  president  of  the  company.  The  ore  was 
shipped  from  the  Lake  Superior  region  by  lake  to  Michigan  City, 
thence  to  the  works,   by  the  Michigan  Central   Railroad.     A   de- 


Town  Hall,   Soldiers'  Monument,   Municipal  Plant,   Lawton 

pression  in  the  business  of  manufacturing  iron  caused  a  suspen- 
sion of  the  establishment  and  the  work  was  never  resumed. 

The  village  of  Lawton  was  first  platted  by  Nathan  Lawton,  on 
the  6th  of  September,  1853.  The  original  village  embraced  but  a 
small  plat  of  six  blocks  lying  between  the  railroad  and  Union  street 
and  west  of  Main  street.  Since  that  time,  however,  there  have  been 
eleven  additions  to  the  town,  almost  any  one  of  which  is  larger  than 
the  original  plat,  and  the  town  is  now  nearly  a  mile  in  width  from 
east  to  west  and  a  little  more  than  a  mile  from  north  to  south.  It 
was  first  incorporated  by  a  resolution  of  the  board  of  supervisors, 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  417 

on  the  15th  day  of  October,  1858.  It  was  reincorporated  by  act 
of  the  legislature  in  1869  (S.  L.  1869,  Vol.  2,  p.  160).  This  act  of 
incorporation  was  amended  by  the  legislature  1893  (L.  A.  1893, 
p.  393). 

Lawton  is  well  represented  in  the  line  of  ladies  and  gentlemen 
of  mystic  signs,  grips  and  passwords. 

Lawton  Lodge  No.  216,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  was 
instituted  January  19,  1867,  with  Grove  C.  Love  as  master,  H.  P. 
Robinson  as  senior  warden  and  John  Ihling  as  junior  warden. 
It  now  has  101  members. 

There  is  also  a  flourishing  lodge  of  the  Eastern  Star. 

Lawton  Lodge  No.  83,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  was 
instituted  on  the  14th  day  of  February,  1861.  It  has  had  somewhat 
of  checkered  life,  but  at  the  present  time  has  seventy-four  members 
and  is  prospering.  Its  oldest  member  is  David  Powell,  who  united 
with  the  lodge  in  1864. 

Vineyard  Rebekah  Lodge,  No.  305,  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  was  instituted  September  8,  1909,  and  has  a  membership 
of  sixty-four. 

The  Order  of  Maccabees  is  represented  by  Lodge  No.  307,  K.  O. 
T.  M.,  organized  on  the  6th  day  of  June,  1890,  with  twenty -six 
charter  members  and  which  now  has  a  membership  of  ninety.  The 
ladies  branch  of  the  order  is  represented  by  Lawton  Hive,  No.  427, 
L.  O.  T.  M.,  which  was  instituted  November  9,  1893,  and  now  has 
120  members. 

Lawton  Lodge  No.  256,  Mystic  Workers  of  the  World,  was  or- 
ganized May  19,  1900,  and  now  has  seventy-four  members.  There 
are  also  more  or  less  flourishing  lodges  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  and  its  ladies '  branch,  the  Royal  Neighbors,  and  also  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  the 
Woman's  Relief  Corps. 

The  Isabella  Club  is  an  organization  of  the  ladies  of  the  place 
and  is  one  of  the  prosperous,  interesting  and  profitable  institutions 
of  the  village.  It  is  affiliated  with  the  State  Federation  of  Women's 
Clubs.  Through  the  instrumentality  of  the  ladies  of  this  club  the 
village  has  been  for  several  years  past,  provided  with  a  first  class 
lecture  course. 

There  are  two  incorporated  companies  in  Lawton  formed  for  the 
purpose  of  handling  and  marketing  the  immense  fruit  crop  that  is 
produced  in  the  two  townships  of  Antwerp  and  Porter — principally 
grapes.  There  are  about  15,000  acres  of  vineyard  in  those  two  town- 
ships ;  the  larger  part  of  the  fruit  produced  is  marketed  in  the  two 
villages  of  Lawton  and  Mattawan,  although  that  grown  in  the 
northwest  part  of  Antwerp  is  mostly  marketed  at  Paw  Paw. 

The   Southern   Michigan   Grape   Association   was    organized    in 

Vol.  I— 2T 


418  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BURBN  COUNTY 

1897  by  A.  D.  Benway,  an  experienced  man  in  the  marketing  of 
fruit.  The  name  has  since  been  changed  to  the  Southern  Michigan 
Fruit  Association.  It  was  incorporated  in  the  spring  of  1899.  For 
some  years  the  company  has  been  under  the  management  of  Carey 
Dunham  of  Lawton.  The  company  loads  grapes  at  Lawton,  Matta- 
wan,  Paw  Paw  and  Decatur.  During  the  past  season  it  shipped 
1,916  car-loads  of  grapes,  approximately  the  equivalent  of  5,750,000 
eight-pound  baskets. 

The  Michigan  Fruit  Exchange  was  organized  in  1901  and  in- 
corporated in  1904.  This  company  has  been  under  the  management 
of  A.  D.  Benway  since  its  organization.  During  the  season  of  1911, 
it  shipped  800  car-loads  of  grapes,  the  equivalent  of  2,500,000  eight- 
pound  baskets.  The  company  loads  at  the  same  points  as  the  South- 
ern Michigan  Association. 

During  the  season  of  1911,  there  were  shipped  from  Lawton 
1,132  car-loads  of  grapes,  the  equivalent  of  nearly  or  quite  4,000,- 
000  eight-pound  baskets  of  that  finest  of  fruit,  besides  large"  quan- 
tities of  other  fruits,  such  as  cherries,  pears,  plums,  berries,  etc. 
In  addition  to  this  there  were  shipped  numerous  car-loads  of  po- 
tatoes, grain  and  live  stock. 

The  village  had,  according  to  the  census  of  1910,  a  population  of 
1,042  people,  being  the  fifth  village  in  point  of  numbers,  among  the 
nine  incorporated  villages  of  the  county.  It  has  a  fine  brick  school- 
house,  valued  at  $13,000.  The  village  district  contains  228  persons 
of  school  age  and  has  a  school  library  of  925  volumes.  The  district 
has  a  bonded  debt  of  $2,500.  Eight  teachers  were  employed  dur- 
ing the  past  school  year  and  an  aggregate  of  sixty-three  months 
school  was  taught.     $3,862.88  were  paid  out  for  teachers'  salaries. 

There  are  two  churches  in  Lawton,  the  Baptist  and  the  Methodist 
Episcopal.  The  Baptist  church  was  organized  on  the  11th  day  of 
November,  1865,  by  the  late  Rev.  Edwin  S.  Dunham,  with  twelve 
members,  viz :  Rev.  and  Mrs.  E.  S.  Dunham,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas 
Barker,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  D.  Williams,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Stearns, 
Mr  and  Mrs.  Jonathan  Baughman,  Cynthia  Smith  and  Helen  M. 
Williams.  The  society  has  a  good  house  of  worship  with  a  seating 
capacity  of  about  250.    The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  J.  W.  Pincombe. 

The  Methodist  church  is  in  a  prosperous  condition,  has  a  com- 
modious house  of  worship,  that  will  seat  about  300  people.  The 
spiritual  welfare  of  this  church  is  looked  after  by  the  Rev.  F.  M. 
Cosner,  its  present  pastor. 

The  manufacturing  plants  of  the  village  comprise  a  basket  fac- 
tory putting  out  a  million  and  one-half  of  fruit  packages  per  year ;  a 
vinegar  plant,  chemical  works,  flouring  mill;  grape  juice  factor- 
ies, which  press  from  400  to  500  tons  of  grapes  for  unfermented 
grape  juice;  saw-mill,  two  pickle  processing  establishments,   and 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  419 

the  Michigan  Metal  Works,  the  object  of  which  is  the  manufacture 
of  metal  telephone  tablets  and  other  specialties. 

The  other  industries  of  the  village  include  a  bank,  clothing  store, 
two  drygoods  store,  two  hardware  stores,  four  groceries,  two  drug 
stores,  two  meat  markets,  two  lumber-yards,  variety  store,  furni- 
ture store,  and  an  agricultural  implement  depot,  three  real  estate 
dealers,  two  milliners,  one  newspaper  and  job  printing  office,  three 
barber-shops,  wagon  repair  shop,  two  blacksmith-shops,  two  physi- 
cians and  one  dental  surgeon. 

The  Michigan  Central  Railroad  maintains  large  ice  houses  at 
Lawton  for  the  icing  of  refrigerator  cars  during  the  fruit  shipping 
season,  and  the  Standard  Oil  Company  maintains  a  distributing 
station. 

Accommodations  for  public  meetings  are  excellent,  there  being  a 
fine  town  hall  that  will  accommodate  600  people,  as  well  as  a  smaller 
hall  owTned  by  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  with  a  seating  ca- 
pacity of  200. 

There  are  two  hotels  in  the  town  and  one  restaurant ;  the  streets 
of  the  village  are  shaded  with  rows  of  beautiful  maples  and  bor- 
dered with  fine  cement  walks;  there  is  a  first  class  municipal  elec- 
tric light  plant  and  waterworks,  and,  taken  all  in  all,  the  village 
is  well  supplied  with  the  up-to-date  improvements  of  modern,  twen- 
tieth century  life. 

Village  of  Matt  aw  an 

The  first  plat  of  the  village  of  Mattawan  was  made  on  the  9th 
day  of  November,  1850,  by  Lyman  Lawrence,  and  consisted  of  but 
four  blocks  on  the  north  side  of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad. 
Since  that  time  there  have  been  five  additions  made  to  the  town, 
to-wit:  Scott's  in  1855,  twelve  blocks;  Kinne's  in  1857,  of  nine 
blocks;  Scott's  2nd,  in  1870,  one  block;  Farr's  in  1871,  three  blocks; 
Sessions',  in  1872,  four  blocks;  so  that  now  the  little  burg  consists 
of  thirty-three  blocks.  It  is  situated  on  sections  thirteen  and  four- 
teen.    It  has  never  been  incorporated. 

While  the  Michigan  Central  Railway  was  in  course  of  construc- 
tion, Nathaniel  Chesebro,  who  was  attorney  for  the  railroad  com- 
pany, purchased  forty  acres  of  land  on  which  a  part  of  the  village 
of  Mattawan  is  now  situate.  It  is  said  that  he  laid  out  a.  town  there 
and  called  it  Mattawan,  after  a  village  of  that  name  on  the  Hudson 
river  in  the  state  of  New  York.  Be  that  as  it  may,  if  Mr.  Chesebro 
ever  platted  the  village,  his  plat  was  never  placed  on  the  records 
of  the  county.  Mattawan  is  also  a  station  on  the  " Fruit  Belt" 
line. 

In  1848,  Charles  Scott  donated  land  to  the  company  for  depot 


420  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

purposes,  on  condition  that  Mattawan  should  be  made  a  regular 
station  and  stopping  place  for  trains.  It  is  said  that  the  company 
ignored  this  condition  of  the  grant  and  that  £>cott  tried,  unsuc- 
cessfully to  recover  pay  for  the  land.  Whatever  may  have  been 
the  practice  of  the  road  as  to  stopping  trains  at  the  place  in  those 
early  days,  Mattawan  has  long  been  one  of  the  recognized  stations 
of  the  road  at  which  all  trains,  except  fast  through  trains,  make 
regular  stops. 

The  first  building  of  importance  in  the  place  was  a  grocery  store, 
put  up  by  John  Cronkhite  in  1850.  He  sold  the  place  to  Rev.  J.  J. 
Bliss,  a  Canadian  clergyman,  who  made  his  residence  on  the  first 
floor  and  opened  a  store  in  the  second  story.  Bliss  also  built  a 
warehouse,  which  he  sold  to  the  late  Morgan  L.  Fitch.  He  was  a 
man  of  considerable  versatility,  a  railroad  switchman,  a  preacher 
ms  well  as  a  trader,  and  occupied  his  time  when  not  engaged  in  his 
railroad  duties,  in  selling  goods  and  preaching  the  gospel,  at  first 
as  a  Protestant  Methodist,  afterward  as  a  Free-Will  Baptist.  He 
sold  his  business  to  Henry  Fitch,  whose  successors  were  Morgan  L. 
Fitch  and  C.  D.  Van  Vechten. 

The  first  hotel  in  the  place  was  built  on  Front  street,  in  1855,  by 
J.  F.  Parmenter,  and  was  called  the  "Antwerp  House,"  subse- 
quently the  "Willard  House."  This  building  was  destroyed  by 
fire  in  1873. 

Previous  to  this  Harry  Durkee  had  built  another  hotel  which  was 
known  as  the  k'  Union  House."  This  was  also  burned,  several  years 
prior  to  the  destruction  of  the  ' '  Willard. ' '  Durkee  then  put  up  an- 
other public  house,  which  was  kept  by  Chauncey  Bonfoey. 

A  post  office  was  established  at  Mattawan  in  1850,  and  Rev.  J.  J. 
Bliss  was  appointed  postmaster.  His  duties  as  a  representative  of 
"Uncle  Sam"  were  not  burdensome  and  a  cigar  box  served  him 
as  a  receptacle  for  the  mail  sent  to  his  office.  His  successors  have 
been  John  Smolk,  James  Murray,  Raper  Ward,  Abel  Brown,  L.  C. 
Fitch,  S.  S.  Rascoe,  Isaac  Stewart,  Miss  Nina  Goodrich,  A.  H. 
Campbell,  Will  C.  Mosher  and  Miss  Fannie  Bockius,  the  present 
post- mistress. 

At  one  time  in  the  later  sixties  Mattawan  enjoyed  a  brisk  trade 
in  lumber  and  shingles  and  other  forest  products,  but  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Pere  Marquette  Railroad  (it  was  then  called  the  Chi- 
cago &  West  Michigan)  and  the  Kalamazoo  &  South  Haven  (now 
a  branch  of  the  Michigan  Central),  which  cross  the  county  on  the 
north  and  west,  diverted  this  traffic  to  other  points  and  interfered 
materially  with  the  prosperity  of  the  town.  The  subsequent  devel- 
opment of  the  fruit  interests  have,  however,  restored  to  the  place  a 
degree  of  prosperity  that  is  very  gratifying.  The  town  is  sur- 
rounded by  some  of  the  finest  vineyards  to  be  found  in  the  "grape 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  421 

belt"  and  is  a  lively  place  during  the  gathering  and  marketing  of 
that  delectable  fruit. 

As  an  indication  of  the  progressive  character  of  the  citizens  of 
Mattawan  it  should  be  stated  that  that  village  has  the  only  school 
in  the  county,  known  as  a  consolidated  school.  The  statutes  of 
Michigan  provide  that  when  any  two  or  more  contiguous  school 
districts  have  in  the  aggregate  more  than  100  pupils  of  school  age — 
between  the  ages  of  five  and  twenty — they  may,  after  complying 
with  certain  conditions,  unite  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  graded 
school. 

The  preliminary  steps  for  the  formation  of  such  a  district  were 
taken  in  the  early  summer  of  1910,  the  result  being  that  four  rural 


.Mattawan  's    Consolidated    School 

districts  united  with  the  village  district,  combining  them  all  into 
one  district,  instead  of  live,  as  theretofore.  The  scholars  are  taken 
to  and  from  the  school  in  comfortable  covered  vehicles  by  men  who 
are  bonded  for  the  faithful  performance  of  that  duty.  This  is  one 
of  the  desirable  features  of  the  plan,  as  it  enables  the  pupils  from 
a  distance  to  easily  reach  the  school  and  insures  their  early  return 
to  their  homes.  Under  this  new  plan,  instead  of  each  school  teach- 
ing simply  the  "three  R's, "  with,  perhaps  a  few  occasional  outsidp. 
frills,  the  course  embraces  twelve  grades,  with  instruction  in  music, 
manual  training  and  ethics.  Library,  laboratory  and  class-room 
facilities  are  being  added  as  rapidly  as  possible.  In  view  of  the 
fact  that  the  students  are  drawn  from  so  large  an  area,  the  school 
is  a  subject  of  interest  to  a  good  many  people.  The  official  report 
for  the  school  vear  of  1910-1  shows  that  there  were  219  scholars 


422  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

in  the  consolidated  district,  two  schoolhouses,  valued  at  $7,000,  six 
teachers  employed  during  the  school  year,  an  aggregate  of  forty- 
five  and  one-half  of  months  of  school  taught,  and  $2,297  expended 
for  teachers '  wages. 

During  the  past  season,  there  were  461  carloads  of  grapes  shipped 
from  Mattawan,  which  would  be  equivalent  to  1,383,000  eight- 
pound  baskets.  There  is  a  grape  juice  factory  located  in  the  vil- 
lage that  pressed  1,356  tons  of  grapes  during  the  past  season,  mak- 
ing about  300,000  gallons  of  unfermented  grape  juice. 

Other  business  places  are  three  general  stores,  hardware  store, 
meat-market,  undertaking  establishment  and  real  estate  dealer, 
blacksmith-shop,  wood  working  shop,  livery,  two  pickle  processing 
factories,  hotel,  harness  and  shoe  shop,  large  railroad  ice  houses  for 
icing  fruit  cars  and  two  railroad  depots. 

There  are  two  churches  in  the  village,  the  Congregational  and 
the  Methodist  Episcopal,  each  of  which  have  fine  brick  houses  of 
worship,  that  will  seat  about  250  people. 

The  Congregational  church  was  organized  July  2,  1867,  at  the 
residence  of  J.  J.  Johnson.  The  following  members  were  received 
on  that  occasion :  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  J.  Johnson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  O. 
Elmore,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Kelsey,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Josiah  Hop- 
kins, Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Ward,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oliver  P.  Morton, 
Luther  J.  Hopkins,  Milo  Ward,  Samuel  Ward,  S.  N.  Mygatt,  Louis 
Hitchcock,  A.  Kellogg,  Mary  A.  Van  Winkle  and  Stephen  Morton. 
The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  J.  D.  Perrin. 

The  Methodist  church  was  organized  about  1854,  at  the  Fitch 
schoolhouse  north  of  Mattawan,  where  worship  was  held  for  the 
first  two  years,  when  the  meetings  were  transferred  to  Mattawan. 
At  that  time  the  class  was  a  part  of  the  church  at  Lawton.  A  house 
of  worship  was  built  by  the  society  at  Mattawan  in  1866.  The  pul- 
pit of  the  church  is  at  the  present  time  supplied  by  the  Rev.  F.  M. 
Cosner,  pastor  of  the  Lawton  M.  E.  church. 

Secret  orders  are  represented  in  Mattawan  by  Mattawan  Lodge 
No.  268,  F.  &  A.  M.,  which  was  instituted  on  the  13th  day  of  Janu- 
ary, 1870,  with  Dr.  Thos.  H.  Briggs,  as  master,  C.  D.  Van  Vechten 
as  senior  warden  and  Clinton  Fitch  as  junior  warden.  The  Macca- 
bees also  have  a  lodge  in  the  village. 

Retrospect 

Could  those  hardy,  brave  and  courageous  pioneers  of  the  early 
thirties,  who  first  set  foot  in  the  wilds  of  Antwerp,  return  to  the 
scenes  of  their  young  manhood,  they  could  not  but  be  astonished 
beyond  measure  to  see  the  changes  that  have  been  wrought.  Or- 
chards have  superceded  the  "  openings, ' '  vineyards  loaded  with  the 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  423 

most  luscious  of  fruit  in  its  season  have  taken  the  place  of  the 
grubs  and  brush  that  then  covered  the  landscape;  mansions,  such 
as  could  hardly  have  existed  even  in  the  wildest  dreams  of  the  first 
settlers,  have  displaced  the  wigwams  of  the  red  men;  domestic 
animals  feed  where  once  the  wild  beasts  of  the  forest  had  their 
dens ;  automobiles  have  succeeded  the  ox  teams  of  the  pioneer,  and 
all  is  most  wonderfully  changed.  The  luxuries  of  yesterday  have 
become  the  necessities  of  today,  and  yet  pessimists  sigh  for  the 
"good  old  times/ ' 


CHAPTER  XX 

TOWNSHIP  OF  ARLINGTON 

First  Election — First  Settler  Arrives — Major  Heath,  First 
Supervisor — The  Dangerous  Briggs  Brothers — Other  New 
York  Men — The  Hogmire  Family^Rugged  Work  of  the 
Pioneers — M.  H.  Hogmire  on  Pioneer  Times — New  Times  Bet- 
ter than  Old. 

When  the  county  of  Van  Buren  was  first  organized,  the  town- 
ship of  Arlington  constituted  a  part  of  Lawrence.  It  was  set  off 
from  that  townships  and  organized  into  a  separate  hody  by  an  act 
of  the  legislature  of  1842.  The  name  "Arlington"  was  suggested 
by  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  township,  James  Stevens,  a  Revolu- 
tionary soldier,  in  memory  of  his  native  town  in  the  Green  Moun- 
tain state.  The  township  is  centrally  located  in  the  county  and  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  the  township  of  Columbia,  east  by  Wa- 
verly,  south  by  Lawrence  and  west  by  Bangor. 

First  Election 

The  first  election  in  the  township  was  held  at  the  residence  of 
Allen  Briggs  on  the  first  Monday  of  April,  1842,  at  which  the 
following  officers  were  chosen:  Supervisor,  Major  Heath;  town- 
ship clerk,  Emory  O.  Briggs;  township  treasurer,  Allen  Briggs; 
highway  commissioners,  Alvinsy  Harris,  James  T.  Hard  and  Joseph 
Ives;  assessors,  Alvinsy  Harris  and  William  A.  Taylor;  justices  of 
the  peace,  James  T.  Hard,  Allen  Briggs,  William  Dyckman  and 
Major  Heath ;  constables,  William  A.  Taylor  and  James  G.  Coch- 
rane. 

So  few  were  the  inhabitants  of  the  new  township  at  this  time 
that  but  fourteen  electors  were  present,  viz:  William  N.  Taylor, 
James  G.  Cochrane,  Emory  0.  Briggs,  Joseph  Ives,  Morrison 
Heath,  Major  Heath,  James  Stevens,  Allen  Briggs,  William 
Bridges,  Alvinsy  Harris,  William  Dyckman,  William  IT.  Mc- 
George,  James  T.  Hard  and  Conrad  Hogmire. 


424 


II]  STORY  OF  VAN   BUR  EX  COUNTY 
Drainage,  Timber  and  Products 


425 


Arlington  is  watered  by  the  two  principal  rivers  of  the  county. 
The  Paw  Paw  river  passes  diagonally  through  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  the  township,  crossing  section  thirty-six  and  forming  a  part 
of  the  southern  boundary  of  the  town,  that  portion  of  such  section 
cut  off  by  the  river  having  been  attached  to  the  township  of  Law- 
rence. Black  river  crosses  section  six,  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
township.  There  are  also  several  small  lakes,  the  principal  one, 
Scott  Lake,  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  on  section  one,  extending 
nearly  across  the  section. 

The  township  was  orginally  heavily  timbered  with  whitewood, 
walnut,  beech,  maple,  ash,  oak  and  other  varieties  of  valuable  tim- 
ber, very  much  of  which  was  cut  down  and  burned  by  the  early 


'■^w^r^F 


r  Jm  M'  fit  w 


A  Glimpse  of  the  Fruit  Industry 

settlers  in  order  to  make  room  for  the  crops  necessary  for  their 
livelihood.  Owing  to  this  great  growth  of  timber  the  labor  of  clear- 
ing and  improving  the  land  and  fitting  it  for  the  production  of 
crops  was  much  greater  than  in  other  portions  of  the  county  known 
as  the  "oak  openings/' 

The  surface  of  the  township  is  somewhat  broken,  in  some  local- 
ities the  elevations  and  depressions  being  quite  abrupt  and  marked. 
The  soil  consists  quite  generally  of  a  loam  of  sand  and  clay  and 
is  exceedingly  rich  and  productive.  It  has  been  brought  to  a 
high  degree  of  cultivation  and  is  admirably  suited  to  the  produc- 
tion of  wheat,  corn,  oats  and  other  cereals,  as  well  as  to  the  grow- 
ing of  various  varieties  of  fruit,  which  is  produced  in  great  abun- 


426  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY 

dance.  It  is  especially  adapted  to  the  culture  of  the  apple  and 
some  of  the  finest  apple  orchards  in  the  county — and  that  means 
within  the  state  as  well — are  to  be  found  within  its  limits. 

First  Settler  Arrives 

The  first  settler  within  the  limits  of  the  township  was  William 
N.  Taylor,  a  young  man  of  twenty-two  years,  who  came  to  Michi- 
gan in  1835  with  a  party  from  Monroe  county,  New  York,  who  were 
seeking  a  home  in  what  was  then  the  territory  of  Michigan,  and 
most  of  whom  settled  in  the  adjoining  township,  now  Columbia. 
Practically  the  entire  party,  including  women  and  children,  made 
the  journey  from  Detroit  to  Van  Buren  county  on  foot,  following 
an  Indian  trail,  single  file,  as  was  the  custom  of  the  red  men  who 
made  the  pathway.  The  limited  possessions  of  the  party  were 
drawn  by  a  yoke  of  mismatched,  balky  steers,  which  they  pur- 
chased in  Detroit,  and  it  was  not  without  much  trouble  and  diffi- 
culty that  they  finally  reached  their  destination. 

Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  party  Mr.  Taylor  obtained  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  on  section  number  eight,  in 
township  number  two  south  of  range  number  fifteen  west,  which  was 
at  that  time  unorganized  and  which  became  a  part  of  the  township 
of  Lawrence  in  1837  and,  subsequently,  the  township  of  Arlington. 
Being  an  unmarried  man,  Mr.  Taylor  did  not  immediately  take  up 
his  residence  on  his  newr  "wildwood"  farm,  but  sought  employ- 
ment in  Kalamazoo  county  for  a  time,  returning  to  New  York  in 
the  winter  of  1836-7,  where,  at  Hinckleyville  in  the  county  of  Mon- 
roe, he  was  married  to  Miss  Philinda  Kelsey.  He  returned  to 
Michigan  with  his  wife  in  the  spring  of  1837,  leaving  his  bride  at 
Comstock,  Kalamazoo  county,  until  he  could  erect  a  bark  roofed 
shanty  on  his  Arlington  possessions,  which,  as  soon  as  completed, 
was  occupied  by  the  newly  married  couple.  It  is  reported  that 
the  only  crop  he  was  able  to  raise  that  season  was  a  small  lot  of 
turnips,  and  that  they  were  practically  destroyed  by  that  team  of 
balky  steers  that  he  had  driven  from  Detroit  on  his  first  journey 
to  Michigan  and  which  were  owned  by  some  of  the  party  in  the 
adjoining  township  of  Columbia. 

The  next  settler  in  the  township  was  James  T.  Hard,  who  lo- 
cated on  section  number  five  in  the  fall  of  1837  and  who  after- 
ward emigrated  to  the  state  of  California. 

Major  Heath,  First  Supervisor 

Major  Heath  was  another  of  the  first  Arlington  settlers.  Mr. 
Heath  was  a  native  of  Jefferson  county,  New  York,  and  came  to 
Jackson  county,  Michigan,  in  1837,  and  two  years  later  to  Van 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  427 

Buren  county.  He  entered  lands  on  sections  nineteen  and  thirty, 
selecting  the  latter  as  the  place  whereon  he  erected  his  first  resi- 
dence, a  primitive  house  of  logs,  but,  as  rendering  it  more  aris- 
tocratic and  pretentious  than  the  dwellings  of  the  other  pioneers, 
it  actually  had  a  board  door  made  from  a  sawed  board  which  Mr. 
Heath  secured  by  a  walk  of  six  miles,  carrying  it  home  on  his 
shoulders.  Mr.  Heath  was  very  active  in  the  affairs  of  the  new 
township  and  was  chosen  as  its  first  supervisor.  When  he  first 
arrived  upon  the  scene  of  his  future  residence,  no  roads  led  to  his 
new  possessions  and  they  could  only  be  reached  otherwise  than 
on  foot  until  with  his  brawny  arms  and  woodman's  axe  he  had 
hewed  a  pathway  through  the  dense  forest.  Major  Heath  became 
an  influential  citizen  of  the  county  and  was  greatly  interested  in 
all  matters  that  concerned  the  welfare  of  the  community  in  which 
he  resided.  He  subsequently  removed  to  the  state  of  Iowa,  but  re- 
turned to  Van  Buren  county  and  bought  a  farm  in  the  adjoining 
township  of  Bangor  where  he  lived  out  the  remainder  of  his  days. 
He  was  the  father  of  the  late  Charles  E.  Heath,  who  was  at  one 
time  clerk  of  Van  Buren  county,  an  office  which  he  filled  for  two 
successive  terms. 

The  first  death  in  the  township  was  that  of  Major  Heath's  wife, 
who  passed  away  in  the  winter  of  184.1. 

There  were  seven  taxpayers  within  the  boundaries  of  the  town- 
ship at  the  assessment  of  1839,  viz:  James  T.  Hard,  who  was  taxed 
$2.75;  R.  Gillman,  $2.70;  William  N.  Taylor,  $2.88;  Ransom 
Kellogg,  $3.84;  Major  Heath.  $3.75;-  S.  M.  N.  Brooks,  96  cents,  and 
Robert  Christie,  $1.60. 

Another  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  township  was  Allen  Briggs, 
who  was  a  native  of  the  state  of  Vermont.  With  his  parents  he 
removed  to  the  state  of  New  York  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  In 
1838  he  came  west,  visiting  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Michigan,  spending 
a  considerable  time  in  the  latter  state  prospecting  for  a  satisfactory 
location.  The  next  year  (1839),  in  company  with  his  two  sons, 
he  entered  forty  acres  of  land  on  section  nineteen  and  began  the 
arduous  task  of  hewing  out  a  home  in  the  forest.  Having  com- 
pleted the  usual  pioneer  log  cabin  he  sent,  the  next  year,  for  the 
remainder  of  his  family,  who  joined  him  after  a  tedious  journey 
by  canal  and  lake  to  Detroit  and  overland  from  that  city  to  their 
new  wilderness  home.  Mr.  Briggs  was  a  man  of  education  and 
ability  and  from  the  time  of  his  coming  into  the  county  occupied 
a  position  of  prominence  and  was  of  great  assistance  to  the  pio- 
neers, both  in  private  and  public  life,  filling  numerous  township 
offices  and  being  regarded  as  a  leader  in  public  affairs.  He  died 
at  his  Arlington  home  in  1868,  aged  eighty  years,  beloved  and  re- 


428  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

spected  by  all  with  whom  he  had  become  associated  during  a  long 
and  useful  life. 

The  Dangerous  Briggs  Brothers 

Two  of  the  sons,  Emory  O.  and  Duane  D.  Briggs  preceded  their 
father  to  their  new7  Michigan  home  by  a  few  months.  They  left 
their  home  in  New  York  in  the  month  of  February,  1839.  One 
horse  sufficed  to  carry  all  their  worldly  possessions,  including  pro- 
visions for  the  journey.  Their  route  was  from  Orleans  county, 
Newr  York,  to  Lewiston,  thence  across  the  Niagara  river  and 
through  the  dominion  of  Canada  to  the  city  of  Detroit.  The  "Pa- 
triot War"  wras  scarcely  ended  and  people  from  the  United  States 
coming  into  the  British  dominions  were  regarded  with  suspicion, 
and  so  these  two  beardless  youths,  aged  respectively  seventeen  and 
nineteen  years  and  wholly  unarmed,  were  promptly  arrested  by  a 
valiant  officer  in  "Her  Majesty's"  service,  as  characters  danger- 
ous to  the  British  government.  In  custody  of  an  armed  guard 
with  fixed  bayonets,  they  were  triumphantly  marched  through  the 
streets  of  Queenstown  to  the  headquarters  of  the  English  com- 
mander, by  whom  they  were  ordered  to  the  guard  house;  but  the 
order  was  countermanded  before  they  were  actually  imprisoned  and 
they  were  returned  to  the  presence  of  the  commander  by  whom 
they  were  questioned  and  ordered  searched.  After  considerable 
delay  they  were  permitted  to  continue  their  journey,  the  conclu- 
sion evidently  being  that  there  was  no  danger  of  the  overthrow  of 
the  British  empire  at  the  hands  of  these  two  American  boys.  How- 
ever, in  view  of  what  had  transpired  in  previous  disagreements 
between  Uncle  Sam  and  John  Bull,  no  blame  could  be  attached  to 
the  Canadian  authorities  for  exercising  proper  care  in  the  prem- 
ises.    There  was  no  telling  what  the  boys  might  do ! 

After  a  tedious  and  unpleasant  journey  these  two  youths  finally 
reached  their  destination.  The  first  money  they  earned  they  in- 
vested in  forty  acres  of  land  which  was  entered  in  the  name  of  their 
father,  Allen  Briggs. 

Young  Emory  was  a  lad  of  superior  education  for  those  primi- 
tive times  and  at  once  became  a  more  than  ordinarily  useful  mem- 
ber of  the  community.  During  the  winter  time  he  was  employed 
as  a  teacher  and,  being  versed  in  the  science  of  surveying,  he  found 
no  difficulty  in  securing  remunerative  employment  at  other  sea- 
sons of  the  year.  He  surveyed  many  of  the  roads,  not  only  in  Ar- 
lington, but  in  other  townships  of  the  county.  He  not  only  became 
prominent  in  township  matters,  but  was  looked  upon  as  an  ad- 
viser in  county  matters  as  well.  Politically,  he  was  a  strong  Demo- 
crat and  few  steps  were  taken  by  Van  Buren  county  Democrats 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  429 

without  his  advice  and  approval.  He  eventually  became  a  large 
landholder  in  the  township  where  he  first  settled.  He  not  only 
filled  many  of  the  local  offices  of  his  township,  but  was  elected  to 
the  office  of  register  of  deeds  in  1844,  and  wras  subsequently  three 
times  chosen  county  treasurer.  While  filling  such  official  position, 
Mr.  Briggs  and  his  family  became  residents  of  Paw  Paw,  returning 
to  the  Arlington  farm  at  the  close  of  his  official  career.  In  1866 
lie  again  took  up  his  residence  at  the  county  seat  and  became  one 
of  the  prominent  business  men  of  that  place,  being  at  one  time 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank,  the  first  banking  institution 
organized  in  the  county.  He  died  at  Paw  Paw,  in  1885,  in  his 
sixty-fifth  year.  His  death  was  the  result  of  an  accidental  fall. 
His  elder  son,  George  Allen  Briggs,  a  very  promising  young  man, 
at  one  time  the  superintendent  of  the  Paw  Paw  Union  schools, 
preceded  his  father  to  "that  bourne  whence  no  traveler  returns" 
by  a  period  of  about  four  years.  His  younger  son,  E.  Stanley 
Briggs,  is  now  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  Paw  Paw. 

In  1840,  Alvinsy  Harris  located  on  section  nineteen.  He  was  a 
man  of  much  force  of  character  and  of  good  judgment  and  was 
elected  by  his  fellow  citizens  to  numerous  local  official  positions. 
His  son,  the  late  Jefferson  D.  Harris,  succeeded  to  the  homestead 
after  the  death  of  his  father  and  added  to  it  by  the  purchase  of 
adjoining  lands.  He  represented  his  township  on  the  board  of  su- 
pervisors for  a  number  of  years  and  was  regarded  as  one  of  its 
most  valued  citizens. 

Morrison  Heath  was  likewise  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  the 
town,  coming  with  Mr.  Harris  in  1840,  and  locating  on  section 
thirty. 

Other  New  York  Men 

That  same  year  brought  several  other  additions  to  the  little  band 
of  hardy  pioneers  that  had  selected  homes  in  the  primeval  forests 
of  the  township.  William  Bridges,  who  came  from  Livingston 
county.  New  York,  in  1837,  and  first  located  in  the  adjoining  town- 
ship of  Columbia,  settled  on  section  eight  and,  like  those  who  had 
preceded  him,  built  a  log  cabin  in  the  midst  of  the  forest. 

James  Stevens,  the  step-father  of  Allen  Briggs,  came  from  the 
same  county  in  the  same  year  and  made  his  home  with  Mr.  Briggs. 
Mr.  Stevens  was  an  old  man  of  some  four-score  years  and  to  him 
was  accorded  the  honor  of  naming  the  township.    He  died  in  1847. 

Joseph  Ives  was  another  immigrant  from  the  state  of  New  York 
who  settled  in  the  same  township  in  1840,  locating  on  section 
twenty-nine.  He  was  one  of  the  electors  at  the  first  town  meeting 
held  in  the  newly  organized  township  and  was  chosen  as  one  of 
its  first  assessors. 


430  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

James  M.  Bierce  soon  afterward  settled  near  Mr.  Ives  and  built 
the  customary  pioneer  log  cabin,  which  he  followed  in  after 
years  by  a  comfortable  and  commodious  farm  house.  The  com- 
piler of  this  work,  in  his  younger  days,  was  an  employe  of  Mr. 
Bierce  upon  this  same  land  after  the,  proprietor  had  converted  it 
into  a  rich,  cultivated  and  highly  productive  farm.  Mr.  Bierce 
became  a  member  of  Company  C,  of  the  Fourth  Michigan  Cavalry, 
in  the  Civil  war,  giving  up  his  life  for  his  country.  He  died  at 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  in  the  month  of  January,  1863,  less  than  six 
months  after  his  enlistment.  For  a  considerable  number  of  years 
his  father,  Norman  Bierce,  whom  the  people  familiarly  called 
"Uncle  Norman,"  lived  in  the  same  vicinity. 

James  G.  Cochrane  was  another  man  from  Livingston  county, 
New  York,  who  settled  in  the  next  township  north  in  1838  and 
shortly  afterward  located  in  Arlington.  A  very  sad  incident  oc- 
curred in  the  pioneer  life  of  Mr.  Cochrane.  Samuel  Watson,  Mrs. 
Cochrane 's  father,  had  been  to  Paw  Paw,  and  on  his  way  home 
lost  his  way  in  the  forest  and  died  before  he  could  be  found  by 
parties  searching  for  him.  Andrew  M.  Cochrane,  son  of  James  G., 
was  the  first  white  child  born  within  the  limits  of  the  present  town- 
ship of  Arlington. 

William  Dyckman  was  another  of  the  1840  settlers  of  the  town- 
ship. He  settled  on  section  twenty-four,  where  he  cleared  up  and 
occupied  a  fine  farm  on  which  he  lived  for  many  years.  He  died 
at  Bangor  in  the  summer  of  1909,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
three. 

At  about  the  same  time  Evart  B.  D.  Hicks  located  on  section 
twenty-five.  Mr.  Hicks  became  one  of  the  most  successful  and 
prosperous  farmers  in  the  township. 

The  Hogmire  Family 

The  Hogmire  family,  while  not  among  the  first  settlers  of  the 
township,  nevertheless  are  entitled  to  be  counted  among  the  real 
pioneers.  Daniel  Hogmire  left  his  home  in  western  New  York  in 
1842,  coming  to  the  Van  Buren  wilderness,  selecting  Arlington  as 
his  future  dwelling  place,  and  making  an  entry  of  forty  acres  on 
section  nine.  Of  course  he  at  once  constructed  the  usual  pioneer 
log  cabin  wThich  was,  without  exception,  the  kind  of  architecture 
adopted  by  the  first  settlers.  Indeed,  there  was  little  opportunity 
for  any  other  style  of  dwelling.  Mr.  Hogmire  was  a  carpenter  and 
worked  at  his  trade  for  a  time,  but  soon  returned  to  New  York 
after  his  family.  He  afterward  became  interested  in  the  pineries 
of  Columbia  township  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  shingles 
for  which  there  was  a  continually  increasing  demand  as  the  popu- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  UlTREN  COUNTY  431 

lation  of  the  county  increased  in  numbers.  He  later  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  twenty-one,  where  he  erected  a  fine 
brick  mansion  which  he  occupied  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

Conrad  Hogmire,  another  resident  of  Livingston .  county,  New 
York,  came  to  Arlington  in  1842,  and  located  on  section  eight,  but 
did  not  long  survive  after  coming  to  Michigan. 

Henry  Hogmire  also  located  on  section  eight,  cleared  up  the  land 
and  eventually  erected  a  fine  residence.  He  afterward  removed 
to  Paw  Paw,  at  wThich  place  he  died. 

John,  another  member  of  the  Hogmire  family,  came  to  Arling- 
ton considerably  later,  in  1850,  and  settled  on  section  twenty.  He 
purchased  eighty  acres,  which  he  converted  into  a  fine,  productive 
farm. 

The  Bigelow  family  was  also  quite  prominent  in  the  annals  of 
the  township.  Rufus  Bigelow  came  in  1843  and  Calvin  J.  and 
Samuel  Bigelow  in  1845.  Calvin  bought  eighty  acres  on  section 
twenty,  and  Samuel  purchased  an  eighty  on  section  twenty-one. 

Among  other  early  settlers  of  the  township  were  George  Mea- 
bon.  Homer  Adams,  Ira  Orton,  Melancthon  Gage,  Daniel  Gage, 
Henry  Earl,  Samuel  Hoppin,  Amos  Hamlin  and  James  F.  Kidder. 

During  the  earlier  years  there  were  no  mills  in  Van  Buren 
county  and  to  procure  a  supply  of  provisions  required  a  journey 
of  upward  of  forty  miles  and  return.  It  took  seven  days  to  go  to 
mill  and  get  home  with  the  supplies. 

Rugged  Work  of  the  Pioneers 

The  present  generation  can  scarcely  realize  the  vast  amount  of 
labor  that  was  required  to  convert  the  densely  timbered  lands  of 
the  township  into  cultivated  farms.  Simply  to  cut  down  those 
monarchs  of  the  forest  that  covered  an  eighty-acre  tract  of  land, 
or  even  forty  acres,  was  no  light  task,  but  after  they  were  laid  low 
the  work  of  burning  them,  which  was  all  that  could  be  done  with 
them  before  the  days  of  saw-mills,  was  enough  to  discourage  any 
but  men  cast  in  the  heroic  mold  of  the  indomitable  pioneers ;  men 
who  never  feared  any  amount  of  hard  labor  and  to  whom  there 
was  no  such  word  "fail."  And  then  after  the  lands  were  cleared 
of  the  timber  it  was  covered  so  thickly  with  the  remaining  stumps 
that  it  was  a  difficult  matter  to  find  room  to  cultivate  sufficiently 
for  planting  any  kind  of  a  crop.  But  the  soil  was  fertile  and  only 
required  to  be  tickled  with  the  rude  implements  of  husbandry  of 
those  early  days  to  respond  with  a  bountiful  return  for  the  labor 
bestowed  upon  it.  Very  few  horses  were  to  be  found  in  the  pio- 
neer settlements,  the  work  of  breaking  up  the  virgin  soil  being  much 


432  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

more  easily  done  with  oxen,  which  in  these  modern  days  are  so 
scarce  as  to  be  real  curiosities. 

The  earlier  religious  services  were  held  at  the  residences  of  the 
first  settlers,  Elder  Knapp  being  the  expounder  of  Gospel  truths. 

The  earliest  surveyed  highway  in  the  township  was  known  as 
the  "Monroe  Road"  and  passed  diagonally  through  the  township, 
connecting  South  Haven  and  Paw  Paw.  Soon  afterward  the 
Bridges  and  the  Brown  and  Taylor  roads,  with  others,  were  sur- 
veyed and  eventually  made  passable,  but  it  was  a  considerable 
number  of  years  before  the  township  was  possessed  of  really  good 
highways. 

Through  the  labors  of  those  indomitable  pioneers  of  early  days, 
Arlington  for  years  has  been  one  of  the  best  townships  in  the 
county,  and  it  is  hard  to  realize  that  three-quarters  of  a  century 
ago  it  was  an  unbroken  wilderness  where  the  foot  of  the  white  man 
had  never  trod,  and  where  the  red  man  and  the  wild  beasts  of 
the  forest  had  roamed  at  will  from  time  immemorial. 

The  township  is  devoted  almost  wholly  to  agriculture  and  horti- 
culture ;  it  has  no  postoffice  within  its  limits  but  is  amply  covered 
by  rural  mail  routes.  It  has  only  a  piece  of  a  village,  Monroe 's  ad- 
dition to  the  village  of  Bangor  being  on  section  seven  of  the  town- 
ship. 

The  Pere  Marquette  Railroad  crosses  its  extreme  nort Invest  cor- 
ner, but  there  is  no  station  within  its  borders. 

Official  Records 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  gentlemen  who  have 
served  at  different  times  as  supervisors  from  the  date  of  the  organ- 
ization of  the  township  to  the  present  time:  Major  Heath,  Isaiah 
F.  Hunt,  Abram  Lewis,  Homer  Adams,  Alvinsy  Harris,  Sidney 
Fuller,  Emory  0.  Briggs,  Marquis  Woodward,  Arvin  Heath,  Jef- 
ferson D.  Harris,  Mitchell  H.  Hogmire,  Hiram  K.  Wells,  O.  E.  Cox, 
Frank  II.  Fuller,  IT.  B.  Smith,  Levi  Dellaven,  S.  E.  Monroe  and 
Frank  G.  Cleveland.  The  greater  number  of  these  gentlemen 
served  more  than  one  term,  some  of  them  several  terms  in  succes- 
sion. Mr.  Cleveland,  the  present  supervisor,  is  now  serving  his 
seventh  term. 

The  census  of  1910  gives  the  number  of  inhabitants  of  Arling- 
ton as  exactly  fifteen  hundred.  In  point  of  population  it  ranks 
as  tenth  among  the  townships  of  the  county. 

At  the  first  presidential  election  after  the  organization  of  the 
township,  held  on  the  5th  day  of  November,  1844,  twenty-four 
votes  were  polled,  to-wit:  twenty  for  James  K.  Polk,  Democrat, 
and  four  for  Henry  Clay,  Whig. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  433 

At  the  last  presidential  election  282  ballots  were  deposited,  as 
follows:  Taft,  Republican,  183;  Bryan,  Democrat,  ninety-three; 
Chafin,  Prohibitionist,  four;  Debs,  Socialist,  and  Hisgen,  Inde- 
pendent, each  one. 

The  assessed  valuation  of  the  township  in  1842  was  $19,025  and 
the  taxes  levied  were  $520.80.  The  non-resident  land,  and  that  in- 
cluded by  far  the  larger  part,  was  assessed  at  $1.25  per  acre.  No 
personal  property  appears  on  the  roll.  The  system  of  those  early 
days  seems  to  have  been  the  much  debated  single-tax  plan  of  these 
modern  days,  a  tax  on  land  values  only,  which  tends  to  the  verifi- 
cation of  the  adage  that  "there  is  nothing  new  under  the  sun." 

The  assessed  valuation  of  the  township  for  1911,  $824,040,  places 
it  as  the  eighth  in  rank  among  the  townships  of  the  county,  in 
point  of  wealth. 

The  first  school  within  the  limits  of  the  present  township  was 
taught  by  Mehitable  Northrop  in  a  log  schoolhouse  located  on  the 
southeast  corner  of  section  twenty-five. 

The  official  school  reports  for  1910-11  give  the  following  sta- 
tistics: Number  of  pupils  of  school  age,  455;  volumes  in  district 
libraries,  898;  estimated  value  of  school  property,  $11,300;  num- 
ber of  schoolhouses,  ten ;  indebtedness,  none ;  teachers  employed, 
eleven;  aggregate  months  school  taught,  ninety-five  and  one-half; 
teachers'  salaries  paid,  $3,858.75.  From  the  primary  school  fund 
of  the  state  the  township  was  apportioned  the  sum  of  $3,367.50. 

M.  H.  Hog  mire  on  Pioneer  Times 

The  following  quoted  paragraphs  are  taken  by  permission  of  the 
author,  Mitchell  H.  Hogmire,  from  an  interesting  paper  read  by 
him  at  a  meeting  of  the  County  Pioneer  Association,  at  Bangor, 
in  1906:  "Arlington's  natural  wealth  could  hardly  be  told  or  cal- 
culated. It  certainly  had  more  valuable  timber  than  any  other 
township  in  the  county,  such  as  whitewood,  ash,  elm,  blackwalnut, 
birch,  maple,  basswood,  oak,  pine  and  sycamore.  On  one  forty 
acres  on  section  nine,  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  whitewood 
trees  could  be  counted  that  would  measure  from  two  feet  up  to 
four  feet  across  the  stump,  with  a  body  from  sixty  to  eighty  feet 
in  length.  We  could  boast  of  having  the  largest  walnut  tree  in  the 
county.  It  grew  on  section  seventeen,  and  measured  thirty-five 
feet  and  ten  inches  in  circumference,  two  feet  from  the  ground. 

"In  addition  to  this  was  the  game  with  which  the  forests 
abounded,  such  as  deer,  bears,  turkeys  and  all  small  game,  which, 
with  the  two  streams  that  passed  through  the  town,  and  its  num- 
erous lakes,  furnished  the  early  pioneers  with  an  abundance  of 
meat  and  fish. 

Vol.  I—  2  8 


434  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUBEN  COUNTY 

"The  soil  is  all  that  could  be  wished,  from  a  heavy  clay  loam 
to  a  black,  sandy  loam ;  also  deposits  of  muck  that  have  proved  to 
be  of  great  value.  Arlington,  with  the  rest  of  Van  Buren  county, 
furnishes  as  great  a  variety  of  products  as  any  other  county  in 
the  United  States. 

"The  early  settlers  were  all  poor.  Many  of  them,  when  they  came 
here,  owed  debts  in  the  east,  and  I  know  of  many  who  paid  them 
after  they  were  outlawed,  thus  showing  their  honor. 

"A  large  per  cent  of  the  early  pioneers  came  from  Livingston 
county,  New  York.  They  were  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the  early 
settlers  of  that  county,  which  was  heavily  timbered,  so  they  were 
no  novices  at  the  task  that  was  set  before  them.  While  the  natural 
wealth  of  timber  was  great,  it  was  a  burden,  for  it  had  to  be  cleared 
away  before  the  settlers  could  raise  crops  on  which  to  live.  Even 
yet  there  are  to  be  seen  fence  rails  that  were  split  out  of  the  best 
of  walnut  and  the  finest  of  whitewood,  while  the  rest  was  burned 
to  get  it  out  of  the  way.  I  do  not  think  that  an  acre  of  the  heavy 
timbered  land  in  Arlington  was  ever  cleared  at  an  expense  of  less 
than  from  sixteen  to  twenty  dollars,  and  this  did  not  remove  the 
stumps.  Those  who  came  later  were  not  so  inconvenienced,  for  as 
the  town  developed  there  was  a  market  for  lumber,  which  helped 
to  pay  the  expense  of  clearing.  To  illustrate :  The  first  walnut 
log  sawed  at  Breedsville  was  hauled  to  the  mill  by  my  father,  Con- 
rad Hogmire.  It  was  worth  $1.25  per  thousand  in  the  log,  or  $2.50 
as  lumber.  Some  of  this  lumber  was  used  as  panels  in  the  doors 
to  the  house  he  built  and  some  of  it  was  used  to  make  the  coffin  in 
which  he  was  buried.  After  he  had  been  buried  twenty-four  years, 
I  removed  his  remains  to  the  cemetery.  The  coffin  was  in  perfect 
condition  showing  the  lasting  qualities  of  the  timber.  The  same 
lumber  would  sell  for  sixty  dollars  per  thousand  at  this  date. 

"The  early  settlers  were  of  a  hardy  class  of  men  and  women, 
who  had  come  to  this  new  country  to  build  homes  for  themselves 
and  their  children,  and  they  went  at  the  matter  with  the  will  and 
the  courage  that  win.  All  being  poor,  there  was  not  the  envy  and 
strife  that  now  exists.  All  were  interested  in  each  other's  welfare, 
and  as  a  whole,  they  were  morally  good,  God-fearing  citizens,  and 
lived  to  better  their  neighbors  as  well  as  themselves.  Let  me  illus- 
trate this  old  feeling  and  the  new :  I  was  two  years  old  when  my 
father  came  from  Livingston  county,  New  York,  in  1840.  Six 
years  later  he  died,  leaving  my  mother  with  three  small  boys  to 
care  for,  the  first  orphans  in  our  part  of  the  town.  Mother  lived 
with  my  grandfather,  William  Briggs.  When  he  killed  his  last  and 
only  shoat — and  it  was  not  corn-fed  either — it  was  divided  up  and 
I  carried  portions  to  the  neighbors  three  or  four  miles  away.  It 
was  just  the  same  when  a  deer  was  killed ;  but  how  is  it  now?    All 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  435 

we  get  from  one  who  butchers  his  hogs,  even  if  it  be  just  across 
the  way,  is  the  squeal ! 

"At  the  first  township  meeting,  held  at  the  residence  of  Allen 
Briggs,  on  the  5th  day  of  April,  1842,  there  were  fifteen  votes  cast, 
of  which  thirteen  were  Democratic  and  two  Whig.  The  township 
remained  Democratic  until  the  adoption  of  the  fifteenth  amend- 
ment to  the  constitution,  which  gave  it  thirty -three  additional 
voters.  Since  which  it  has  been  Republican,  but  the  people  have 
always  been  patriotic,  believing  that  the  majority  should  rule. 

"During  the  Civil  war  Arlington's  sons  responded  and  some 
of  them  were  among  the  first  to  enlist.  Some  died  in  southern 
prisons;  others  died  of  disease;  some  were  killed  in  battle;  others 
lived  to  return  home  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  the  victory  that  was 
so  dearly  won.  Your  humble  writer  was  one  of  the  last  mentioned 
and  let  me  say  that  it  took  no  little  nerve  to  kiss  a  wife  and  a  five- 
months  '  old  babe  good-bye,  and  bid  adieu  to  life-long  friends,  and 
go  forth  to  fight  the  battles  of  one's  country.  But  we  only  did  our 
duty  as  all  loyal  men  should.  I  am  thankful  that  the  All-wise  Ruler 
has  permitted  me  to  live  in  this,  the  most  eventful  period  this  na- 
tion has  ever  known.  When  I  look  back  sixty-six  years  and  see  Ar- 
lington as  it  was  at  that  time,  and  compare  it  with  its  present 
condition,  a  veritable  'Garden  of  Eden,'  I  feel  that  it  is  glory 
enough  for  us  old  pioneers,  and  that  we  can  truly  say  that  the 
world  is  better  for  our  having  been  here. 

"Arlington  has  never  sent  a  president  to  Washington,  nor  a 
governor  to  Lansing,  but  she  has  furnished  some  very  good  jurists, 
sent  some  capable  law-makers  to  the  state  capital  and  has  given, 
according  to  its  population,  the  largest  vote  in  favor  of  temperance 
at  the  last  two  local  option  elections,  of  any  township  in  the 
county.  As  'Uncle  Abe'  said  'we  are  just  honest,'  and  Arlington 
is  on  the  side  of  the  right.'' 

New  Times  Better  Than  Old 

In  a  letter  accompanying  the  foregoing  sketch,  Mr.  Hogmire 
says:  "Arlington  has  developed  her  resources  and  has  demon- 
strated her  progress  by  her  enterprising  inhabitants.  We  can  boast 
of  our  fruits,  such  as  apples,  peaches,  pears,  plums,  cherries,  and 
in  fact  all  varieties,  except  tropical  fruits,  and  their  flavor  is  not 
to  be  excelled.  There  are  farms  in  our  towrn  at  the  present  time 
that  wrould  pay  good  profit  on  $300  per  acre,  land  that  once  sold 
for  $1.25  per  acre.  We  have  peppermint  lands  that  produce  from 
sixty  to  seventy-five  pounds  of  oil  from  a  single  acre,  worth  from 
$2.00  to  $3.50  per  pound,  land  that  will  produce  1,200  bushels  of 
onions  per  acre,  and  celery  lands  that  cannot  be  excelled.     We 


436  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

have  raised  on  some  of  our  lands  as  high  as  sixty  bushels  of  wheat 
to  the  acre,  in  a  forty  acre  field.  I  myself  raised  last  year  a  crop 
of  corn  on  reclaimed  swamp  land  that  produced  thirty  tons  of  sil- 
age and  206  bushels  of  corn  per  acre.  This  may  seem  large,  but 
we  have  the  corn." 

Accompanying  this  communication,  was  a  letter  written  by  Mr. 
Hogmire's  mother  in  1842  to  her  New  York  relatives.  The  follow- 
ing  prices  quoted  by  her  are  of  interest  in  these  days  of  the  high 
cost  of  living.  She  says :  "  It  is  a  first  rate  time  for  those  who  have 
provisions  to  buy.  Wheat  is  twro  shillings  (that  would  be  twenty- 
five  cents — Editor)  per  bushel,  oats  eighteen  cents,  corn  eighteen 
cents  and  pork  one  and  a-half  cents  per  pound/ ' 

Ah,  well,  the  times  have  changed  since  those  good  old  days  that 
so  many  people  long  for  and  glorify,  but  it  is  distance  that  lends 
enchantment  to  the  view.  If  it  were  possible  for  those  who  have 
such  love  of  the  "old  times"  to  be  placed  in  the  same  conditions 
as  those  early  pioneers  were  placed,  they  would  soon  be  praying  to 
be  restored  to  these  twentieth  century  days,  the  best  days  in  the 
world's  history.     0  temporal  0  mores! 


CHAPTER  XXI 

TOWNSHIP  OF  BANGOR 

Natural  Features — Early  Settlers — Pioneer  Tax  Payers — 
Civil  and  Educational — Sketch  by  Hon.  John  S.  Cross — In 
the  Civil  War — Progress  and  Prosperity — Village  of  Ban- 
gor— Village  of  Deerfield. 

Bangor  is  one  of  the  interior  towns  of  the  county,  and  is  des- 
ignated by  the  United  States  survey  as  township  number  two 
south  of  range  number  sixteen  west.  The  adjoining  townships 
are  Geneva  on  the  north,  Arlington  on  the  east,  Hartford  on  the 
south  and  Covert  on  the  west.  The  northwest  corner  of  the  town- 
ship approaches  within  four  and  a  half  miles  of  Lake  Michigan 
and  it  has  convenient  railroad  connection  with  two  harbors  on 
that  body  of  water,  St.  Joseph  and  South  Haven ;  with  the  former, 
via  the  Pere  Marquette  Railway,  a  distance  of  twenty-seven  miles; 
with  the  latter,  via  the  Pere  Marquette  and  the  South  Haven  divi- 
sion of  the  Michigan  Central,  a  distance  of  seventeen  miles. 

Natural  Features 

The  principal  stream  in  the  township  is  tin4  Black  river,  which 
in  its  course  to  Lake  Michigan  enters  the  township  at  the  east  side 
of  the  village  of  Bangor  and  passes  across  the  northeast  corner 
of  the  township,  diagonally  through  sections  number  one  and 
two.  There  are  also  a  number  of  smaller  streams  and  numerous 
small  lakes,  those  large  enough  to  be  dignified  by  a  name  being 
Rush,  Van  Auken,  School  Section,  Pleasant  and  Duck.  Rush  and 
Van  Auken  lakes  are  beautiful  sheets  of  water,  each  being  about 
three  quarters  of  a  mile  in  length  and  well  stocked  with  fish  of 
various  varieties. 

The  surface  of  the  township  is  undulating,  with  few  abrupt 
declivities,  smooth  and  easily  tilled  land  prevailing.  It  was  origin- 
ally heavily  timbered  with  beech,  maple,  whitewood,  walnut,  elm, 
ash,  pine  and  hemlock,  but  these  primeval  forests  have  prac- 
tically yielded  to  the  woodman 's  axe  and  comparatively  little  timber 
remains.    The  soil  is  variable,  being  in  some  places  a  gravelly  loam, 

437 


438  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

in  others  on  the  sandy  order,  elsewhere  a  heavy  clay  loam  and 
in  some  localities  black  muck,  originally  the  beds  of  swamps  which 
have  been  drained  and  converted  into  rich,  productive,  tillable 
land.  This  muck  soil  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  cultivation  of 
peppermint,  which  is  extensively  grown  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  township  in  the  vicinity  of  the  village  of  McDonald.  The 
grower  sometimes  realizes  from  thirty  to  thirty-five  pounds  of 
peppermint  oil  per  acre,  which  is  worth  at  the  present  time  about 
$2.70  per  pound  and  has  sometimes  been  as  high  as  $4.00,  thus 
making  it  a  very  profitable  crop  to  raise.  Large  quantities  of 
onions  and  other  vegetables  are  also  produced  on  this  kind  of 
soil. 

Early  Settlers 

Charles  1 1.  Cross  was  the  first  man  to  locate  lands  within  the 
limits  of  the  present  township  of  Bangor.  He  settled  on  section 
twelve,  in  the  month  of  March,  1837,  although  he  first  came  to 
the  county  in  1834.  At  the  time  of  his  settlement  in  the  town- 
ship he  was  its  sole  resident.  Mr.  Cross  was  a  man  of  prominence 
in  the  affairs  of  the  new  settlement  and  did  much  toward  the 
development  of  the  township  and  of  the  village  of  Bangor  which 
was  subsequently  founded  and  of  which  he  remained  a  resident 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1872. 

The  second  party  to  locate  in  the  township  was  John  Smith,  a 
native  of  Orange  County,  New  York,  who  settled  upon  section 
eleven  in  June,  1837.  He  remained  for  some  time  with  Mr.  Cross, 
while  clearing  up  his  land  and  building  for  himself  a  pioneer 
cabin,  into  which  when  completed  he  moved  with  his  wife  and 
son,  who  had  joined  him  in  their  new  wilderness  home. 

John  Southard,  another  New  Yorker  from  Cayuga  county,  was 
the  next  of  Bangor's  pioneer  settlers.  He  came  in  November,  1837 ; 
entered  a  large  tract  of  land  on  section  twenty-five  and  proceeded 
at  once  with  the  business  of  preparing  a  home  for  himself  and 
his  family,  for  whom  he  returned  to  New  York  the  following 
spring. 

Caleb  Northrup  was  another  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the 
township  that  arrived  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1837.  He 
located  on  section  thirty-six  where,  after  the  manner  of  those 
early  settlers,  he  proceeded  to  make  a  home  for  himself  and  family 
and  where  he  resided  until  his  death. 

Mansel  M.  Briggs  came  to  Michigan  in  1836  and  settled  in  Ban- 
gor in  1838.  At  first  he  became  an  employe  of  Mr.  Southard, 
taking  a  contract  to  clear  a  tract  of  land  for  that  gentleman.  On 
the  completion  of  his  contract,  he  purchased  a  farm  on  section 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  439 

twenty-four  and  built  upon  it  a  very  comfortable  log  house,  where 
he  and  his  family  resided  for  about  fifteen  years. 

Near  the  close  of  the  year  1837  Daniel  Taylor,  from  Monroe 
county,  New  York,  located  on  section  fourteen.  Charles  A.,  one 
of  Mr.  Taylor's  sons,  had  previously  entered  a  half  section  of 
land  of  which  he  had  sold  all  but  hundred  and  twenty  acres  which 
lie  reserved  for  himself. 

Mr.  Taylor,  not  having  any  near  neighbors,  built  his  pioneer 
cabin  entirely  with  his  own  hands.  Like  the  other  early  settlers, 
he  had  to  go  to  Schoolcraft,  thirty-six  miles  distant,  for  grain 
and  then  take  it  to  Kalamazoo  to  be  ground.  Mr.  Taylor  was  the 
first  man  in  the  township  to  start  an  orchard,  which  he  did  by 
planting  seed  that  he  brought  with  him  from  the  state  of  New 
York. 

Perrin  M.  Northrup  was  another  pioneer  who  located  in  the 
township  at  an  early  date  and  who  was  prominent  among  the 
settlers  of  those  early  days. 

Pioneer  Tax  Payers 

The  tax  roll  for  1839  shows  that  there  were  eight  taxpaying 
residents  in  the  township  at  that  time,  viz: — 

Names.                                                   Section.  Acres.  Tax. 

Charles   U.    Cross 12  80  $  1.35 

Daniel   Taylor    14  160  3.59 

Charles   A.    Taylor 14  160  3.20 

John   Smith    11  40  .65 

John   Southard 25  467  10.02 

P.    M.   Northrup 36  141  2.83 

Caleb    Northrup    36  40  .78 

Mansel  M.  Briggs,  personal  estate _J?Q~ 

On  the  assessment  roll  of  the  township  for  the  current  year  the 
valuation  is  placed  at  the  sum  of  $1,062,700.  The  total  sum  of 
taxes  assessed  for  the  year  was  $21,115.81. 

Other  early  settlers  of  the  township  were  Thomas  and  William 
Kemp  (brothers),  Mason  Wood,  S.  W.  Bancroft,  Orlando  S. 
Brown  and  William  Jones. 

In  1845  there  were  twenty-two  taxpaying  residents  in  the  town- 
ship :  Thomas  Kemp,  William  E.  Kemp,  S.  W.  Bancroft,  H.  Pot- 
ter, J.  L.  Northrup,  Perrin  M.  Northrup,  Mansel  M.  Briggs,  J. 
Ball,  John  Southard,  William  Jones,  Charles  A.  Taylor,  Daniel 
Taylor,  John  Smith,  William  S.  Camp,  Mason  Wood,  William 
Henry,  Charles  U.  Cross,  S.  Hoppin,  Calvin  Cross,  Orlando  S. 
Brown,  William  H.  Hurlbut  and  Hial  Swan.    From  this  time  for- 


4,40      HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

ward  the  township  continued  to  have  a  moderate  growth  and  in 
1856  it  contained  nearly  a  hundred  taxpayers. 

Civil  and  Educational 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  on  the  third  day  of  April,  1854, 
at  which  the  following  officers  were  elected:  Mansel  M.  Briggs, 
supervisor;  Charles  U.  Cross,  township  clerk;  Perrin  M.  North- 
rup, township  treasurer ;  John  Smith  and  Daniel  Van  Auken,  high- 
way commissioners;  Charles  B.  Hurlbut,  school  inspector;  Man- 
sel M.  Briggs  and  William  H.  Hurlbut,  justices  of  the  peace; 
David  I.  Taylor,  Henry  Goss,  John  L.  Northrup  and  Francis 
Burger,  constables. 

The  following  named  gentlemen  have  served  as  supervisors  of 
the  township :  Mansel  M.  Briggs,  William  H.  Burlingame,  Charles 
IT.  Cross,  William  H.  Hurlbut,  Moses  S.  Hawley,  Daniel  Van  Au- 
ken, Samuel  A.  Tripp,  Ephraim  P.  Harvey,  Joel  Camp,  Charles  E. 
Heath,  Enoch  S.  Harvey,  Peter  J.  Dillman,  John  Mutchler,  and 
Frank  A.  Burger,  the  present  incumbent,  who  is  now  serving  his 
fourth  term.  Mr.  Dillman  had  the  honor  of  serving  longer  than 
any  other  of  the  gentlemen  named,  although  he  was  a  Democrat 
coming  from  a  strong  Republican  precinct.  He  was  first  elected 
in  1883  and  then  served  for  ten  successive  years.  He  was  again 
elected  in  1897  and  served  until  his  death,  twenty  years  altogether. 
He  died  July  28,  1907.  Other  somewhat  lengthy  terms  of  service 
were  Charles  E.  Heath,  nine  years,  and  John  Mutchler,  four  years. 

The  first  general  election  was  held  in  the  township  on  the  fourth 
day  of  November,  1856,  at  which  seventy-five  presidential  votes 
were  cast,  fifty  of  them  being  for  John  C.  Fremont,  the  Path- 
finder, and  twenty-five  of  them  for  James  Buchanan,  the  bachelor 
president.  At  the  last  presidential  election  held  on  the  third  day 
of  November,  1908,  there  were  532  votes  cast  for  president,  as 
follows-  William  H.  Taft,  Republican,  303;  William  Jennings 
Bryan,  Democrat,  196;  Eugene  W.  Chafin,  Prohibitionist,  eleven; 
Eugene  V.  Debs,  Socialist,  twenty-one;  Thomas  L.  Hisgen,  Inde- 
pendence party,  two;  Gilhaus,  Socialist  Labor,  one. 

The  first  school  in  the  township  was  taught  by  Miss  Adelia 
Barnes,  now  Mrs.  Allen  Rice,  who  is  one  of  the  very  few  of  the 
remaining  pioneers  of  Van  Buren  county.  A  description  of  this 
school,  written  by  Mrs.  Rice  herself,  appears  in  the  chapter  of  this 
work  devoted  to  educational  matters.  Another  school  was  opened 
in  1845,  of  which  Miss  Mehitable  Northrup  was  the  teacher. 
Neither  of  these  teachers  could  have  considered  school  teaching 
as  a  "get-rich-quick"  scheme,  as  they  received  a  weekly  wage  of 
eight  shillings,  which  means  in  Uncle  Sam's  currency  one  dollar 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  441 

per  week,  or  sixteen  and  two-thirds  cents  per  day — truly  a  munifi- 
cent remuneration  for  teaching  the  "young  idea  how  to  shoot." 
The  last  school  census  of  the  township  shows  that  there  were 
then  699  persons  of  school  age  in  the  township,  nine  school  houses, 
2,782  volumes  in  the  several  district  libraries,  estimated  value  of 
school  property  $32,800,  district  indebtedness  $2,000,  teachers  em- 
ployed eighteen,  aggregate  number  of  months  of  school  153,  paid 
for  teachers'  salaries  $8,860.65.  There  was  apportioned  to  the 
township  from  the  primary  school  fund  of  the  state,  for  the  cur- 
rent year,  the  sum  of  $5,250. 

Sketch  by  Hon.  John  S.  Cross 

The  following  interesting  historical  sketch  of  the  township  and 
village  of  Bangor,  was  written  by  the  late  Hon.  John  S.  Cross,  and 
read  by  him  at  a  meeting  of  the  Pioneer  Society  of  the  county,  at 
Bangor  in  June,  1898 : 

A  few  days  ago  from  my  office  window  I  sawr  one  of  the  original  pioneers 
of  this  county.  He  had  been  picked  up  along  the  roadside  by  a  farmer  and 
brought  to  town.  He  was  an  Indian;  I  do  not  know  his  name.  I  only  know 
that  he  was  poor,  sick,  decrepit,  aged  and  nearly  blind;  that  he  was  cared  for 
by  the  authorities,  fed,  warmed  and  sent  to  the  county  poor  house — a  bit  of 
driftwood,  on  the  current  of  civilization.  There  are  men  and  women  here  to- 
day who  were  alive  when  the  stately  forests  of  pine,  oak,  maple  and  hemlock 
which  covered  this  region,  knew  no  other  owner  than  this  man,  his  colleagues 
and  ancestors;  when  no  voices  but  theirs  and  the  beasts  of  the  forests  waked 
the  echoes  of  our  inland  lakes.  One  generation  has  not  wholly  passed  since 
the  treaty  of  Chicago  extinguished  the  Indian  title  to  southwestern  Michigan, 
and  the  strokes  of  the  axe  of  the  pioneer  broke  the  primeval  silence  which  had 
rested  upon  these  gloomy  forests  from  time  immemorial. 

If  the  mound  builders  developed  a  scheme  of  civilization,  and  it  is  certain 
that  they  possessed  some  knowledge  of  the  arts,  their  work,  except  as  indi- 
cated by  tools  and  fragments  of  pottery  in  their  burial  places,  has  been  over- 
grown and  obliterated  by  the  growth  of  the  dense  forests  of  later  ages. 

We  must,  perforce,  begin  our  story  where  the  original  pioneers  left  off, 
for  their  records  are  silent  and  forgotten.  It  is  fitting,  too,  that  this  meeting 
should  be  held  upon  this  historic  ground.  Here  was  the  home  of  Orlando 
Brown,  the  second  settler  to  locate  within  the  limits  of  the  present  village  of 
Bangor.  His  log  cabin  stood  yonder  near  the  bank  of  the  little  brook,  sur- 
rounded by  trees  upon  which  it  is  said  the  first  apples  w7ere  growTn  in  this 
township.  A  little  above  the  cabin  was  the  first  brickyard.  Mr.  Brown  and  C. 
A.  Taylor  were  the  joint  owners  of  the  first  threshing  machine  and  the  hum 
of  the  harvesting  machine  was  first  heard  upon  this  farm. 

A  half  mile  westward,  on  the  bank  of  Maple  Creek,  stood  the  first  temple 
of  learning,  the  ' i  little  red  school  house. ' '  There  on  the  3rd  day  of  May, 
1858.  was  organized  the  first  church  society,  a  class  of  Bible  Christians  con- 
sisting of  nine  members  under  the  leadership  of  E.  P.  Harvey,  the  founder  and 
first  pastor. 

In  1840  the  only  other  apparent  sign  of  civilization  was  the  Cross  homestead 
a  half  mile  to  the  northwest,  and  blazed  trees  then  marked  the  Monroe  road, 


442  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

which  was  surveyed  by  Jay  R.  Monroe  and  Charles  U.  Cross  in  1835  and  was 
undoubtedly  the  first  act  toward  the  improvement  of  the  township.  Here  Mr. 
Brown  lived  and  labored  for  forty  years.  He  was  an  enterprising  man,  a 
loyal  and  consistent  Christian,  a  kind  and  obliging  neighbor.  At  the  time 
of  Mr.  Brown 's  location,  there  were  eleven  residents  in  the  township,  viz : 
Chas.  U.  Cross,  Daniel  T.  Taylor,  John  Smith,  John  Southard,  P.  M.  Northrup, 
Caleb  Northrup,  Samuel  Bancroft,  A.  S.  Brown,  Mason  Wood  and  William 
Jones.  Together  they  owned  1,500  acres,  about  six  per  cent  of  the  entire 
township.  The  aggregate  tax  on  their  property  for  the  year  1839  was  $22.92. 
C.  U.  Cross'  proportion  on  eighty  acres,  comprising  what  is  now  the  principal 
business  part  of  the  village  of  Bangor,  was  $1.55.  (The  total  amount  of  taxes 
assessed  on  the  citizens  of  Bangor,  including  both  township  and  village,  for  the 
year   1911,  was  $26,423.91.— Editor.) 

The  township  of  Bangor  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  first  township 
in  the  county  to  be  organized  by  the  board  of  supervisors.  It  was  first  named 
Marion,  but  on  October  14,  1853,  five  days  after  the  passage  of  the  original 
resolution,  the  name  was  changed  to  Bangor.  The  name  Marion  was  unsatis- 
factory to  the  people  of  the  proposed  township.  The  name  Bangor  was  sug- 
gested by  a  member  of  the  board  who  had  been  a  citizen  of  Maine,  and  after 
consultation  with  residents  of  the  township  was  accepted  and  adopted  by  Mr. 
Hurlbut,  w,ho  was  the  author  of  the  original  resolution.  At  this  time  there 
were  less  than  one  hundred  people  residing  in  the  township,  and  then,  as  now, 
agriculture  was  their  principal  occupation. 

The  only  manufacturing  industry  in  the  township  at  that  time  was  a  little 
sawmill  owned  by  Calvin  Cross  and  W.  H.  Hurlbut,  with  its  old  fashioned, 
single,  upright,  sash  saw,  concerning  which  it  is  said  the  sawyer  would  start 
it  in  the  morning,  then  go  to  his  breakfast  and  get  back  in  time  to  wind  it  up 
for  a  new  start. 

The  sole  mercantile  business  was  conducted  by  M.  P.  Watson  and  Albert 
Comstock  in  the  front  part  of  Watson 's  dwelling,  afterward  a  part  of  the 
Sebring  House. 

The  advent  of  Joseph  H.  Nyman,  who  purchased  the  Watson  property  and 
moved  to  Bangor  with  his  family  from  Niles  in  1856,  marked  a  new  era  in  the 
history  of  the  town.  Mr.  Nyman  soon  made  his  means  and  influence  felt  in 
the  improvement  of  the  water  power.  He  built  a  saw  mill  and  in  1857  erected 
the  first  grist  mill,  followed  by  a  woolen  mill  in  1865.  He  caused  to  be  es- 
tablished the  first  post  route  and  was  the  first  postmaster. 

J.  D.  Kingston  has  the  distinction  of  having  been  the  pioneer  hotel  keeper. 
He  purchased  the  Watson  store  building  and  converted  it  into  a  hotel  in  1862. 
He  subsidized  the  stage  drivers  by  making  them  "star"  boarders,  thus  insur- 
ing the  patronage  of  passengers.  He  did  a  thriving  business  until  the  death 
of  his  wife  in  1864.  He  was  followed  by  Russell,  Breed  and  Palmer;  in  1869 
Horace  Sebring  became  the  proprietor,  and  in  his  family  the  property  has 
since  remained.  (It  has  passed  into  other  hands  since  the  above  was  written. — 
Editor.) 

Samuel  P.  Cross  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  the  township,  but  John 
Southard  is  the  oldest  native  born  child  who  has  been  a  continuous  resident. 

Among  the  many  enterprises  that  have  contributed  to  the  prosperity  of 
Bangor  was  the  coming  of  the  railroad  in  1870,  in  aid  of  which  the  citizens 
contributed  the  sum  of  $15,000  as  a  bonus.  This  was  like  the  dawning  of  a 
new  day.  The  Bangor  blast  furnace  which  followed  the  railroad  was  a  valu- 
able aid  in  the  development  of  the  resources  of  the  township.  In  the  eighteen 
years   of   its  existence,  nearly   half  a   million  cords   of   wood   in   the   form  of 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  443 

charcoal  was  consumed,  the  product  of  twenty  sections  of  land.  More  land  was 
brought  under  cultivation  in  those  eighteen  years  than  in  all  the  preceding 
forty  years  of  the  history  of  the  township. 

The  first  grain  elevator  was  erected  by  G.  W.  Smiley  and  O.  E.  Goodell  in 
1871.  In  1872,  Horace  Sebring  and  Mitchell  H.  Hogmire  built  the  Overton 
elevator  and  opened  the  stockyards. 

The  chemical  works  erected  by  H.  M.  Pierce  for  the  manufacture  of  wood 
alcohol  and  acetic  acid  were  at  that  time  the  largest  in  the  world. 

The  first  bank  was  established  by  E.  M.  Hipp  in  1872,  under  the  name  of 
the  Bank  of  Bangor. 

The  first  blacksmith  shop  was  conducted  by  Charles  B.  Hurlbut. 

The  pioneer  newspaper  wTas  the  Bangor  Journal,  established  by  Charles 
Gillett  in  1872. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  organized  in  1865,  and  in  1868  the 
society  built  a  church  on  the  north  side.  This  property  was  lost  to  the  church 
by  foreclosure  of  mortgage  in  1868.  The  present  building  was  erected  and 
dedicated  in  1873. 

In  the  Civil  War 

Bangor  was  well  represented  in  the  Civil  war.  The  first  man 
who  entered  the  service  from  this  town  was  Sergeant  Joseph  War- 
ren Craw,  who  enlisted  April  26,  1861,  in  the  Lafayette  Light 
Guard,  subsequently  Company  C,  Seventieth  New  York  Infan- 
try. He  was  also  the  first  Bangor  soldier  to  give  up  his  life  for 
his  country.  He  was  the  color  bearer  of  his  regiment  and  died  of 
wounds  received  at  the  battle  of  Williamsburg,  May  5,  1862.  He 
was  a  man  of  splendid  physique,  six  feet  four  inches  in  height, 
broad  shouldered,  a  little  awkward,  and  a  "perfect  devil  in  a 
fight."  The  first  general  enlistment  of  soldiers  from  the  town- 
ship was  on  the  17th  day  of  September,  1861,  when  the  following 
Bangor  boys  became  members  of  Company  C,  of  the  Third  Michi- 
gan Cavalry:  R.  C.  Nyman,  Orrin  W.  Cross,  James  B.  Travis, 
William  Worallo,  Samuel  P.  Harvey,  Clark  G.*  Russell,  Lyman  S. 
Russell,  John  P.  Goss,  Daniel  Wood,  Archibald  Abbott,  Lemuel  C. 
Mallory,  Benjamin  F.  Ewing,  and  Daniel  S.  Camp. 

These  names  are  mentioned  here  only  because  they  were  among 
the  first  to  enlist.  Before  the  close  of  the  war  fully  one-half  of 
the  men  liable  for  military  duty,  that  is  between  the  ages  of  eight- 
een and  forty-five,  were  fighting  for  the  "Flag  and  the  Union." 
The  names  and  service  of  the  others  will,  in-so-far  as  the  records 
disclose,  be  found  in  the  chapters  of  this  work  devoted  to  the 
military  history  of  the  county. 

Progress  and  Prosperity 

Although  Bangor  was  one  of  the  last  townships  in  the  county 
to  be  organized,  it  now  takes  rank  as  one  of  the  best  and  most 
prosperous.     In  point  of  population,  it  is  third,  being  exceeded 


444  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

only  by  Paw  Paw  and  Hartford,  and  in  assessed  valuation  stands 
as  fourth.  The  number  of  its  inhabitants,  according  to  the  last 
federal  census,  was  2,424. 

Forests  have  given  way  to  magnificent  orchards;  swamps  have 
been  drained  and  reclaimed  and  now  yield  rich  reward  to  the 
husbandman;  forests  have  disappeared  under  the  sturdy  blows  of 
the  woodman's  axe,  for  in  those  early  days  the  woodman  knew 
naught  of  the  command  that  bade  the  ' '  woodman  spare  that  tree, ' ' 
and  in  their  stead  are,  in  season,  beautiful  fields  of  waving  grain 
and  the  most  delectable  of  fruits.  Civilization  has  succeeded  bar- 
barism, the  wigwam  of  the  Indian  and  the  cabin  of  the  sturdy 
pioneer  have  been  replaced  by  the  comfortable,  elegant  and  luxuri- 
ous residences  of  those  who  followed  after  them.  Marvelous,  in- 
deed, have  been  the  changes  wrought  in  a  period  of  time  that  is 
but  as  yesterday. 

Village  of  Bangor 

The  village  of  Bangor  lies  partly  in  the  township  of  Bangor  and 
partly  in  the  township  of  Arlington.  It  was  first  platted  in  No- 
vember, 1860,  by  Joseph  Nyman,  and  surveyed  by  Almon  J.  Pierce. 
This  original  plat  was  wholly  within  the  boundaries  of  the  town- 
ship of  Bangor  and  was  situated  in  the  southeast  corner  of  sec- 
tion one.  Since  that  date  there  have  been  platted  six  different  ad- 
ditions to  the  village — Cross'  addition,  platted  in  1867;  South  Ban- 
gor, otherwise  known  as  Morrison's  plat,  in  1872;  Morrison's  addi- 
tion in  1874;  Monroe's  addition  in  1880;  Funk's  addition  in  1909; 
and  Hasting 's  addition  in  1910.  All  of  these  several  additions, 
except  Monroe's,  are  in  the  township  of  Bangor — that  is  in  the 
township  of  Arlington. 

Charles  U.  Cross,  who  was  the  first  settler  within  the  boundaries 
of  the  township,  was  likewise  the  first  man  to  locate  upon  the 
present  site  of  the  village.  A  son  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cross 
was  the  first  white  native  child  of  the  township.  The  site  of  the 
village  was  originally  covered  with  very  heavy  timber  of  various 
varieties,  some  of  the  trees,  especially  the  walnut  and  whitewood, 
being  of  enormous  size. 

Calvin  Cross,  a  brother  of  Charles  U.  Cross,  was  very  prominent 
in  the  development  of  that  part  of  the  township  which  subse- 
quently was  embraced  within  the  limits  of  the  village.  He  be- 
came a  resident  of  Bangor  in  1844.  Mr.  Cross  was  a  millwright 
and  in  1846,  in  connection  with  his  brother,  Charles  U.,  he  erected 
a  saw  mill  on  Black  river,  of  which  he  became  the  sole  owner  four 
years  later.  He  operated  this  mill  for  a  period  of  six  years,  when 
he  conveyed  it  to  M.  P.  Watson  and  in  1856  it  became  the  prop- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREX  COUNTY  445 

erty  of  Joseph  H.  Nyman,  the  original  proprietor  of  the  village4 
where  it  was  located.  Mr.  Cross,  after  disposing  of  his  mill  prop- 
erty in  Bangor,  removed  to  Paw  Pawr,  where  he  built  another  mill. 
Afterward  he  became  a  resident  of  Hartford  and  erected  a  mill 
on  the  Paw  Paw  river,  just  north  of  the  village  of  Hartford  in 
that  township.  Finally  he  settled  in  the  township  of  Lawrence, 
where  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  His  attention  was 
early  attracted  to  the  practice  of  the  law,  and  for  many  years  there 
were  few  suits  in  the  inferior  courts  of  his  neighborhood  in  which 
he  was  not  engaged.  He  eventually  became  a  full  fledged  lawyer 
and  was  admitted  to  the  practice  of  his  profession  by  the  circuit 
court  of  the  county.  He  departed  this  life  at  South  Haven  on  the 
20th  day  of  November,  1894,  aged  seventy-seven  years. 

In  1852,  M.  P.  Watson,  in  connection  with  Albert  Comstock, 
opened  the  first  general  store  in  Bangor,  but  there  wras  so  little 
trade  that  they  soon  closed  out  their  stock  and  abandoned  the 
venture. 

The  village  of  Bangor  was  incorporated  by  a  special  act  of  the 
legislature  of  1877  (found  on  page  62  of  the  volume  of  local  acts 
for  that  year). 

The  census  of  1910  gave  Bangor  a  population  of  1,158,  which  is 
exceeded  by  only  three  villages  in  the  county,  Paw  PawT,  Decatur 
and  Hartford. 

One  of  the  notable  high  schools  of  the  county  is  located  in  Ban- 
gor. At  the  school  enumeration  of  1911  there  were  336  persons 
of  school  age  residents  of  the  village  district.  There  were  eighty 
non-resident  pupils  in  attendance  of  the  school  during  the  school 
year  of  1910-11,  and  the  average  daily  attendance  was  300.  There 
were  1,650  volumes  in  the  district  library.  The  village  has  two 
schoolhouses  and  the  value  of  the  school  property  is  estimated 
at  $25,000.  There  is  a  bonded  indebtedness  on  the  district  of 
$2,000.  There  were  eleven  teachers  employed  during  the  school 
year  and  they  taught  an  aggregate  of  105  months  of  school  and 
received  as  salary  the  sum  of  $6,077.90. 

The  present  officers  of  the  village  are  as  follows:  President, 
Samuel  Martindale ;  clerk,  Charles  E.  Cross;  treasurer,  James  A. 
Yates;  assessor,  Willard  S.  Northrup;  trustees,  Edson  V.  Root, 
Lewis  McKinney,  Burtes  M.  Sherrod,  Lemuel  J.  Branch  and 
Frank  "W.  Palmer. 

There  are  four  churches  in  the  village — Methodist  Episcopal, 
Disciple  (sometimes  called  Christian)  Congregational  and  Advent- 
ist.  There  is  also  a  society  of  Christian  Scientists.  The  Methodist 
society  is  the  oldest,  having  been  organized  in  1865.  Its  present 
house  of  worship,  a  frame  structure  with  a  seating  capacity  of 
about  400,  was  erected  in  1873  and  wTas  remodeled  and  enlarged 


446  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

in  1900.  During  the  past  year  the  society  has  built  a  new,  modern 
parsonage  at  a  cost  of  about  $2,500.  The  membership  at  the 
present  time  is  about  180.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  C.  S.  Risley 
and  he  presides  over  one  of  the  leading  Methodist  churches  of  the 
county. 

The  Disciple  (or  Christian)  Church  was  organized  in  the  spring 
of  1876  by  the  late  Rev.  John  H.  Reese,  who  was  its  first  pastor 
and  under  whose  ministrations  the  church  soon  became  a  power  in 
the  religious  life  of  the  town.  Its  house  of  worship,  a  brick  struc- 
ture, was  remodeled  and  reconstructed  in  1905  and  is  the  finest 
church  building  in  the  town.  It  will  seat  about  450  people.  The 
Rev.  F.  Z.  Burkette  is  the  present  pastor. 

The  Congregational  society  is  also  well  represented  in  the  town. 
They  have  a  fine  church  edifice,  constructed  of  white  brick.  The 
church  is  prospering  in  all  its  departments,  under  the  ministra- 
tion of  its  present  pastor,  Rev.  H.  G.  Kent.  The  society  also  has 
a  parsonage  adjoining  the  church  property. 

The  Adventist  church  (Seventh  Day)  was  built  through  the  per- 
sonal effort  of  Rev.  L.  J.  Branch,  who  has  been  a  long-time  resi- 
dent of  the  place,  and  is  its  pastor. 

Outside  the  limits  of  the  village  there  are  several  other  churches : 
The  Adventists  (Sunday)  have  a  neat  little  chapel  about  two 
miles  west  of  the  village;  the  Congregationalists,  a  very  active 
church  about  four  miles  west  of  the  town;  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal society,  a  neat  church  building  in  what  is  known  as  the 
Hawley  district;  and  there  is  an  Evangelical  church  in  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  township. 

The  village  has  a  very  efficient  and  satisfactory  municipal  elec- 
tric light  and  water  system.  The  water  is  obtained  from  two 
eight-inch  wells,  sixty  feet  in  depth,  and  is  very  clear  and  pure. 
As  a  result  of  these  public  improvements,  the  town  is  bonded  in 
the  sum  of  $25,000. 

The  business  houses  of  the  place  are  five  large  department 
stores,  two  drug  stores,  one  furniture  and  undertaking  establish- 
ment, one  jewelry  store,  one  hotel,  two  bakeries  and  restaurants, 
two  harness  stores,  three  meat-markets,  one  weekly  newspaper  (the 
Bangor  Advance),  one  large  pickle  processing  plant,  one  vinegar 
factory,  two  flouring  mills,  one  lumber  yard  and  planing  mill,  one 
bank  (the  West  Michigan  Savings,  with  deposits  of  upwards  of 
$400,000),  one  saw-mill,  one  implement  depot  and  other  smaller 
business  plants.  There  are  three  resident  physicians,  one  dental 
surgeon  and  one  attorney. 

The  two  strongest  secret  societies  in  the  place  are  the  Masons  and 
the  Oddfellows.  Coffinbury  Lodge,  No.  204,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  has 
a  membership  of  132;  Bangor  Chapter,  No.   105,  R.  A.  M.,  has 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  447 

fifty-seven  members  and  Golden  Rule  Chapter,  No.  339.  0.  E.  S., 
160.  Tillotson  Lodge,  No.  165,  I.  O.  0.  F.,  has  upwards  of  150 
members  and  Sunnyside  Rebekah  Degree  Lodge,  No.  28,  about  125. 
In  addition  to  these,  there  are  the  Modern  Woodmen,  Grange,  A 
Lincoln  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  a  lodge  of  the  Royal  Neighbors. 

The  business  men  have  organized  as  the  Bangor  Business  Men's 
Club  and  the  ladies  have  several  literary  and  social  clubs,  the 
principal  one  being  "The  Argonauts. " 

The  township  of  Bangor  is  one  of  the  fruit-growing  townships 
of  the  county,  being  especially  adapted  to  the  raising  of  that  king 
of  fruits,  the  apple,  which  crop  alone,  during  the  season  of  1911, 
brought  into  the  Bangor  markets  approximately  the  sum  of 
$100,000;  and  no  better  quality  of  apples  is  produced  in  America. 
There  were  shipped  from  the  town,  during  the  past  season,  753 
full  carloads  of  various  kinds  of  commodities,  of  which  304  car- 
loads were  fruit,  forty-one  potatoes,  twenty-two  grain,  101  hay, 
forty  live-stock,  twenty  pickles,  thirty-eight  cider  stock  and  eighty- 
three  miscellaneous  produce. 

Village  of  Deerpield 

Deerfield  is  a  small  unincorporated  village ;  a  station  on  the 
line  of  the  Pere  Marquette  Railway,  midway  between  the  villages 
of  Bangor  and  Hartford.  It  is  more  generally  known  by  the  name 
of  McDonald  and  is  so  called  on  the  railway  map,  possibly  because 
there  is  another  Deerfield  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state.  How- 
ever, it  was  platted  as  Deerfield  and  is  known  only  by  that  name 
in  the  official  records  of  the  county.  It  was  laid  out  in  the  spring 
of  1871  by  Henry  Goss  and  James  J.  Clark,  and  since  that  date 
there  have  been  three  additions  to  the  little  embryo  city,  to- wit  : 
Goss'  addition  in  1874,  Hubbard's  addition  in  1890,  and  Goss' 
second  addition  in  1891.  While  the  town  is  small,  it  has  ample 
room  to  grow.  Tt  is  situated  in  the  midst  of  a  rich  agricultural 
region  and  has  a  railroad  station,  a  telephone  station,  a  creamery, 
a  saw-mill,  a  plant  for  the  distillation  of  peppermint  oil  (which  is 
produced  in  considerable  quajitity),  and  two  prosperous  general 
stores.     There  is  also  a  flourishing  Baptist  church  at  the  place. 


CHAPTEE  XXII 

TOWNSHIP  OF  BLOOMINGDALE 

First  Settlements  and  Settlers — Taxes  and  Township  Govern- 
ment— Population  and  Education — Village  of  Blooming- 
dale — Mr.  Haven's  Sketch  of  the  Village — Churches  and 
Societies — Village  of  Gobleville. 

We  acknowledge  our  indebtedness  to  Hon.  H.  H.  Howard  for 
a  considerable  portion  of  so  much  of  the  following  sketch  as  re- 
lates to  the  early  history  of  the  township  of  Bloomingdale. 

Bloomingdale  is  one  of  the  northern  tier  of  townships  of  the 
county  and  is  designated  by  the  United  States  survey  as  township 
number  one  south,  of  range  number  fourteen  west.  It  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  the  south  line  of  Allegan  county,  on  the  east  by 
the  township  of  Pine  Grove,  on  the  south  by  Waverly  and  on  the 
west  by  Columbia.  The  territory  embraced  within  its  limits,  to- 
gether with  the  townships  of  Pine  Grove,  Almena  and  Waverly, 
comprised  the  old  township  of  Clinch.  It  became  Waverly  in 
1842  when  the  township  of  Clinch  was  divided,  the  east  half  being 
named  Almena  and  the  west  half  Waverly.  In  1845  the  township 
of  Waverly  was  divided,  the  north  half  thereof  being  called  Bloom- 
ingdale. The  surface  is  rolling  and  was  originally  heavily  tim- 
bered with  pine,  hemlock  and  various  kinds  of  hardwood,  such 
as  are  indigenous  to  this  latitude.  The  soil  in  some  places  is  sandy 
and  in  others  consists  of  a  clay  loam,  exceedingly  fertile  and  well 
adapted  to  the  growing  of  grain  and  the  production  of  fruit.  A 
considerable  number  of  lakes  diversify  the  landscape,  beautiful 
sheets  of  water,  well  stocked  with  different  varieties  of  fish,  and 
affording  excellent  sport  to  the  disciples  of  Izaak  Walton.  Those 
which  are  of  sufficient  size  to  be  dignified  with  a  name  are  Great 
Bear,  which  extends  into  the  township  of  Columbia,  and  Muskrat, 
each  of  these  being  nearly  a  mile  in  length;  Sweet,  Twin,  Three- 
legged,  Mud,  Lake  Mill,  Thayer,  Little  Brandy  wine  and  Smith's. 

Mr.  Howard  says  that  the  first  township  meeting  in  the  new 
township  was  held  at  the  residence  of  L.  Jackson  Lacy,  which  is 
probably  correct,  although  the  statute  required  that  it  should  be 
held  at  the  house  of  Elisha  G.  Cox.     There  were  seventeen  votes 

448 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  449 

polled  at  this  election  and  the  following  named  officers  were  elected : 
Supervisor,  Mallory  H.  Myers;  township  clerk,  Hiram  T.  Hough- 
ton; township  treasurer,  Ashbel  Herron;  assessors,  Harviland 
Thayer  and  Orlando  H.  Newcomb;  highway  commissioners,  Mal- 
lory II.  Myers,  Joseph  Brotherton  and  Orlando  H.  Newcomb; 
school  inspectors,  William  H.  H.  Myers  and  Dennis  C.  Whelan; 
overseers  of  the  poor,  Ashbel  Herron  and  L.  Jackson  Lacy;  jus- 
tices of  the  peace,  William  II.  H.  Myers  and  Ira  S.  Prary. 

First  Settlements  and  Settlers 

During  the  bleak,  cold  days  of  December,  1837,  the  first  settle- 
ment was  made  within  the  limits  of  this  township  by  the  four 
Myers  brothers — Mallory  II.,  William  H.  H.,  Reuben  J.,  and  Mer- 
lin M.,  accompanied  by  their  mother  and  sister,  Sarah  O.  and  Ruth 
Ann  Myers.  These  first  settlers  of  the  township  were  from  Oneida 
county,  New  York.  In  the  spring  of  1836  two  of  the  brothers,  Mal- 
lory and  William  II.  II.,  started  out  on  foot  and  walked  the  entire 
distance  from  Genesee  county,  New  York,  via  Canada,  to  Michi- 
gan. For  six  months  Mallory  worked  in  Monroe  county  and  Will- 
iam at  White  Pigeon.  The  latter  then  returned  to  New  York  and 
brought  the  rest  of  the  family  to  White  Pigeon  where  they  were 
all  reunited.  The  next  year  they  decided  to  locate  permanently 
on  section  thirty-six,  the  extreme  southeastern  corner  of  the  town- 
ship of  Bloomingdale.  They  procured  the  services  of  Ashbel  Her- 
ron to  bring  them  to  their  new  location,  with  his  ox  team,  arriving 
at  their  future  home  on  the  22d  day  of  December,  1837,  no  other 
shelter  awaiting  them  than  that  afforded  by  the  tall  monarchs 
of  the  forest.  The  frozen  earth,  after  the  snow  had  been  melted 
away  by  a  roaring  fire,  afforded  them  a  resting  place  the  first 
night.  The  next  day  a  rude  cabin  was  built,  which  was  soon  after 
followed  by  a  substantial  log  house,  and  thus  was  commenced  the 
first  settlement  of  this  township,  now  one  of  the  best  in  the  entire 
county  of  Van  Buren. 

During  the  next  year  the  first  schoolhouse  was  erected,  Will- 
iam H.  H.  Myers  becoming  the  first  teacher  in  1838  and  1839. 

During  the  year  1838  Ashbel  Herron,  a  native  of  Cayuga  county, 
New  York,  and  Daniel  G.  Robinson  from  Ohio,  settled  near  the 
Myers  location,  and  Joseph  Peck,  from  Monroe  county,  New  York, 
located  on  section  six,  in  the  extreme  northwestern  corner  of  the 
township.  This  locality  was  known  for  years  as  ' '  Pecktown. " 
The  first  marriage  celebrated  in  the  township  was  that  of  James 
Scott  of  Decatur  and  Ruth  Ann  Myers.  Mr.  Howard  states  that 
this  marriage  was  solemnized  by  Elder  Warner,  but  in  this  he 
must  have  been  in  error  as  the  official  record  states  that  the  wed- 

Vol.  1—29 


450  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

ding  took  place  on  the  11th  day  of  April,  1839,  and  that  the  party 
officiating  was  Ashbel  Herron,  Esq. 

Orlando  H.  Newcomb  located  in  this  township  in  1839,  on  sec- 
tion number  thirty-six,  near  the  Myers  brothers.  One  of  the  events 
of  the  year  was  the  preaching  of  the  first  Gospel  sermon  by  Noah 

D.  Sweet,  fhe  service  being  held  in  the  schoolhouse.  W.  Brownell, 
a  young  shingle  maker  was  the  first  to  depart  this  life  in  the 
new  settlement.  John  Wesley  Herron  was  the  first  white  child 
born  within  the  limits  of  the  township.  During  this  same  year 
two  homes  of  the  settlers,  together  with  their  contents,  were  burned 
in  a  mysterious  manner.  Suspicion  pointed  to  the  Indians  who 
yet  remained  in  the  vicinity  in  considerable  numbers. 

Harviland  Thayer,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  settled  in  the  town- 
ship in  1840,  on  section  thirty-four.  Other  settlers  of  the  same 
year  were  Alanson  Todd,  Ira  S.  Frary,  N.  Kennedy  and  Dennis 

E.  Whelan.  Henry  Mower  of  Windsor  County,  Vermont,  removed 
to  Kalamazoo  in  1832.  From  that  date  until  1843,  he  traversed 
the  greater  portion  of  southern  Michigan,  acting  as  a  guide  to 
land  seekers.  In  the  latter  year  he  purchased  land  on  section 
number  twenty-three  in  this  township,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death  some  forty-five  years  thereafter.  He  was  present  at  the 
first  township  election  and  was  elected  township  clerk  in  1846,  an 
office  he  continued  to  hold  for  nine  successive  years. 

Thomas  Hudson  settled  on  section  number  thirty  in  1844. 
William  L.  Houghton  came  the  same  year  and  two  years  later  was 
married  to  Hannah  M.  Story.  Reuben  H.  Ward  located  on  sec- 
tion number  four  in  1845. 

The  persons  whose  names  appear  on  the  assessment  roll  as  resi- 
dent tax  payers,  during  the  year  that  the  township  was  organized, 
were  Ashbel  H.  Herron,  William  H.  Myers,  Joseph  Brotherton, 
Harviland  Thayer,  David  Loveland,  H.  T.  Houghton,  Dennis  E. 
Whelan,  Mallory  Myers,  Levi  Thayer,  Burroughs  Abbott,  0.  II. 
Newcomb,  Daniel  Robinson,  Peter  Valleau,  Alanson  Todd,  Ira 
Frary,  Robert  Moon,  Elisha  Cox,  Jackson  Lacy,  Melvin  Hogmire, 
Joseph  Peck  and  Daniel  Robinson  &  Co.  Additional  tax  paying 
residents  in  1846  were  Reuben  Ward,  Jonathan  Goodell,  William 
Houghton,  William  Story,  Alanson  Greanes,  Josiah  Sweet,  Daniel 
Jewell,  Henry  Whelpley  and  John  Wait. 

An  early  saw-mill  (water  power)  was  built  by  Daniel  G.  Robin- 
son on  section  number  sixteen  and  later  Messrs.  Myers  &  New- 
comb built  the  first  steam  mill.  In  1866  John  Hudson  built  the 
first  grist  mill  which  was  burned  about  three  years  after  it  was 
completed. 

Among  the  other  early  settlers,  were  Truman  Douglas,  Samuel 
Lane,    Zenas    Case,    Zenas   Howard,    Harvey    Howard,    Harrison 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  451 

Cooley,  John  Barnard,  Isaac  Knapp,  Chester  Barber,  Rufus  Brown, 
William  Merwin,  0.  M.  Bessey,  Arch  Bishop,  Alexander  Miller, 
Christian  Speicher,  Shadrack  Austin,  Matthew  Munn,  Timothy 
Cooley,  John  Baxter,  James  Baxter,  Milton  Healy,  Edmund 
Baughman,  Augustus  Haven,  Warren  Haven,  Henry  Killefer,  Eg- 
bert Cooley,  Austin  Melvin,  Carlos  Peck,  Elisha  Joy,  Greenwood 
Wait,  Pliny  Wait,  Eli  Bell,  George  Harvey  and  Eli  Smith. 

Previous  to  the  coming  of  Dr.  Barber,  when  in  need  of  medical 
advice  or  the  services  of  a  physician,  the  people  were  treated  by 
Dr.  Andrews  of  Paw  Paw.  Here,  as  in  all  other  newly  settled  re- 
gions, the  early  settlers  kept  open  house  and  the  weary  or  belated 
traveler  always  found  a  hearty  welcome  and  a  generous  enter- 
tainment for  both  man  and  beast.  "Hospitality  to  the  stranger" 
was  ever  a  marked  characteristic  of  the  pioneers  of  the  Peninsular 
state. 

Augustus  Haven,  from  Portage  county,  Ohio,  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Bloomingdale  in  1854.  There  were  then  about  forty  voters 
in  the  township,  and  Paw  Paw,  sixteen  miles  distant,  was  the  near- 
est postoffice.  The  only  religious  organization  at  that  time  was  the 
Methodist  and  their  meetings  were  held  in  Peck's  barn.  Mr. 
Haven  soon  became  a  man  of  prominence  in  the  affairs  of  the 
township,  and  as  a  farmer,  merchant,  business  man,  township 
official  and  religious  leader,  has  always  been  at  the  front.  He  is 
yet  a  resident  of  the  village  of  Bloomingdale,  honored  and  re- 
spected by  all  who  have  the  pleasure  of  his  acquaintance. 

The  entire  amount  of  the  taxes  spread  on  the  first  tax  roll  of 
the  township  was  $571.75,  being  $245.08  for  township  purposes, 
$168.52  for  schools,  $91.91  for  highways,  and  $66.24  for  county 
and  state  tax. 

Taxes  and  Township  Government 

As  an  illustration  of  the  changes  that  time  has  wrought,  the  tax 
assessed  on  the  township  for  the  year  1911  is  $11,545.96,  for  the 
following  purposes:  State  tax,  $4,025.78;  county  tax,  $2,741.37; 
township  tax,  $1,000 ;  school  tax,  $3,499.07 ;  special  taxes,  $1,139.99. 
The  valuation  of  the  township  at  the  last  assessment  was  $935,725. 

The  following  named  gentlemen  have  served  the  township  as 
supervisors,  a  considerable  number  of  them  for  two  or  more  terms : 
Elisha  C.  Cox,  L.  Jackson  Lacy,  Harviland  Thayer,  Ashbel  Her- 
ron,  Harrison  Cooley,  Isaac  L.  Knapp,  Harvey  H.  Howard,  Henry 
Killefer,  Timothy  Cooley,  Pliny  Wait,  Augustus  Haven,  James  M. 
Robertson,  William  Killefer,  Isaac  T.  Robertson,  David  H.  Smith, 
Robert  E.  Vickers  and  Milan  D.  Wiggins.    Supervisor  Smith  served 


452  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

for  nine  successive  terms  and  several  of  the  others  held  the  office 
nearly  as  long. 

The  township  is  traversed  by  the  South  Haven  branch  of  the 
Michigan  Central,  commonly  called  the  Kalamazoo  and  South 
Haven  Railroad,  which  crosses  the  township  diagonally  from  east 
to  west  dividing  it  into  two  very  nearly  equal  parts.  There  are 
two  stations  on  this  line  of  road  within  the  boundaries  of  the  town- 
ship, Bloomingdale  and  Gobleville,  both  nourishing,  incorporated 
villages. 

Population  and  Education 

The  census  of  1910  gives  the  number  of  inhabitants  of  the  town- 
ship as  2,011,  being  the  fourth  in  point  of  numbers  of  all  the  town- 
ships of  the  county  outside  of  the  city  of  South  Haven. 

There  are  nine  school  districts  and  nine  schoolhouses  in  the 
township.  Nineteen  teachers  were  employed  during  the  past  school 
year,  and  their  salaries  amounted  to  the  sum  of  $9,479.25,  the 
largest  sum  paid  by  any  township  outside  of  the  city  of  South 
Haven.  The  number  of  persons  of  school  age,  according  to  the 
school  census  of  1911,  was  620,  a  number  exceeded  only  by  the 
townships  of  South  Haven,  Hartford  and  Paw  Paw.  There  are  a 
thousand  volumes  in  the  various  district  libraries.  The  valuation 
of  school  property  in  the  township  is  $15,575.  District  No.  5,  the 
Gobleville  school,  has  a  bonded  indebtedness  of  $6,000.  The  other 
districts  are  free  from  debt.  The  nineteen  teachers  employed 
taught  an  aggregate  of  156  months  during  the  school  year  of 
1910-11.  The  state  primary  school  money  apportioned  to  these 
schools  during  the  past  school  year  was  the  sum  of  $4,657.50. 

At  the  first  general  election  held  in  the  township,  November  4, 
1845,  there  were  ten  votes  cast,  for  the  office  of  governor,  as  fol- 
lows: Five  for  Alpheus  Felch,  Democrat;  four  for  Stephen  Vick- 
ery,  Whig,  and  one  for  James  G.  Birney,  Liberty  party. 

At  the  last  presidential  election  the  voters  of  the  township  cast 
465  electoral  votes,  as  follows:  270  for  William  Howard  Taft,  Re- 
publican; 178  for  William  Jennings  Bryan,  Democrat;  thirteen 
for  Eugene  W.  Chafm,  Prohibitionist;  two  each  for  Eugene  V. 
Debs,  Socialist,  and  Thomas  L.  Hisgen,  Independent  party. 

The  present  officers  of  the  township  are  as  follows:  Robert  E. 
Vickers,  supervisor;  Emerson  D.  Spayde,  township  clerk;  J.  W. 
Brown,  treasurer;  Byron  G.  Wait,  Duvis  Button,  Franklin  Cooley 
and  Calvin  D.  Myers,  justices  of  the  peace;  B.  S.  Munn,  commis- 
sioner of  highways;  Fred  W.  Banks  and  H.  H.  Howard,  board  of 
review ;  Eber  Cooley,  Charles  Allen  and  A.  G.  Cheney,  constables. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BTTREN  COUNTY  453 

Village  of  Bloom  in  gd  ale 

The  village  of  Bloomingdale  was  platted  on  the  23d  day  of  May, 
1870,  by  Henry  Killefer,  Lucius  B.  Kendall  and  J.  M.  Reming- 
ton. What  is  known  as  Haven's  addition  was  platted  and  made  a 
part  of  the  village  on  the  15th  day  of  September,  1870.  The  vil- 
lage is  situated  on  the  line  of  the  South  Haven  branch  or*  the 
Michigan  Central  Railroad  and  is  located  on  sections  sixteen  and 
seventeen,  within  about  a  mile  of  the  center  of  the  township,  and  is 
perhaps,  the  most  important  business  place  between  Kalamazoo 
and  South  Haven.  The  census  of  1910  gives  it  a  population  of 
501. 

The  occupant  of  the  site  of  the  town  was  Henry  Kiliet'er,  or 
Kilheffer,  as  the  name  was  originally  spelled.  About  the  year 
1854  Davis  Haven  purchased  a  tract  of  land  that  included  the 
present  site  of  the  village,  and,  as  an  inducement  for  Mr.  Killefer 
to  settle  there,  he  conveyed  to  him  an  acre  of  land  on  which  the 
present  railroad  depot  is  situated. 


Michigan  Central  Depot,  Bloomingdale 

The  first  mercantile  establishment  in  the  place  was  opened  by 
Rufus  M.  Brown  and  Jesse  Merwin,  under  the  firm  named  of 
Brown  &  Merwin,  but  it  was  short  lived  and  soon  closed  up  and 
went  out  of  business.  This  first  effort  at  establishing  a  store  was 
followed  by  Mr.  Killefer,  who,  about  the  year  1857,  erected  a 
small  building,  the  upper  part  of  which  he  used  for  a  dwelling  and 
in  the  lower  story  of  which  he  placed  a  small  stock  of  boots,  shoes 
and  groceries.  This  establishment  of  Mr.  Killefer 's  was  the  first 
dwelling  house  built  within  the  limits  of  the  present  village. 


454  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

A  postoffice  was  established  soon  afterward  and  Mr.  Killefer  be- 
came the  first  postmaster.  He  was  succeeded  in  this  office  by 
William  Killefer,  his  father,  and  he  by  John  Killefer,  his  brother. 
Since  that  time  the  office  has  been  filled  by  Charles  Killefer  (John's 
son),  William  Harrison,  George  D.  Scofield  and  Gilbert  H.  Hud- 
son, the  present  incumbent. 

The  first  passenger  train  arrived  at  the  village  on  the  fourth 
day  of  July,  1870,  and  the  event  was  the  occasion  of  great  re- 
joicing  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  village  and  surrounding 
country. 

The  first  saw  mill,  steam  of  course,  as  there  is  no  water  power 
in  the  township,  was  set  up  by  Mr.  A.  W.  Torrey  in  the  fall  of 
1870. 

Dr.  L.  A.  Barber  was  the  first  resident  physician.  The  present 
resident  physicians  are  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Ransom  and  Dr.  William 
R.  Scott. 

The  village  of  Bloomingdale  became  an  incorporated  town  by 
act  of  the  state  legislature  in  1881.  Its  present  officers  are  Thomas 
H.  Ransom,  president;  Charles  E.  Merrifield,  clerk;  Sherman  D. 
Smith,  treasurer;  Edwin  J.  Merrifield,  assessor. 

Mr.  Haven's  Sketch  op  the  Village 

It  is  with  pleasure  that  we  acknowledge  our  indebtedness  to 
Augustus  Haven  for  most  of  the  facts  contained  in  the  following 
sketch. 

The  village  of  Bloomingdale  was  platted  on  the  23d  day  of 
May,  1876,  by  Henry  Killefer,  Lucius  B.  Kendall  and  J.  M.  Rem- 
ington. The  village  is  situated  on  the  line  of  the  South  Haven 
branch  of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  and  is  located  on  sec- 
tions sixteen  and  seventeen,  within  about  a  mile  of  the  center  of 
the  township,  and  is,  perhaps,  the  most  important  business  place 
on  that  line  between  Kalamazoo  and  South  Haven. 

In  1853  Daniel  G.  Robinson  built  a  saw-mill  on  the  outlet  of 
Mack's  la'ke  and  erected  a  frame  house  near  it.  These  buildings 
were  on  the  east  line  of  the  present  village.  In  the  summer  of 
1855,  Rufus  M.  Brown,  Jesse  W.  Merwin  and  Alexander  Miller 
each  erected  a  frame  house  in  the  new  village  and  Messrs.  Brown 
and  Merwin  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  principally  buy- 
ing shingles  and  hauling  them  to  Mattawan.  The  partnership 
was  short-lived,  being  dissolved  in  a  few  months. 

In  1856  Davis  Haven  of  Portage  county,  Ohio,  purchased  the 
north  half  of  section  seventeen,  and  as  inducement  for  Henry 
Killefer  (or  Kilheffer,  as  the  name  was  at  that  time  spelled)  to 
settle  there,  he  conveyed  to  him  one  acre  where  the  railroad  depot 


HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  455 

and  new  park  are  now  located.  Mr.  Killefer  had  a  frame  house 
erected  and  moved  his  family  to  his  new  location  in  1857.  In 
November  of  the  same  year,  Mr.  Killefer  commenced  business  with 
a  small  stock  of  groceries  at  Paw  Paw  and  had  a  small  consign- 
ment of  boots  and  shoes  shipped  in  from  Ohio.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning of  a  successful  mercantile  business  which  he  followed  in 
company  with  his  sons,  John  and  William,  for  about  thirteen 
years. 

As  early  as  1855,  there  was  a  postoffice  in  Cheshire  on  the  base 
line,  in  Allegan  county,  a  few  miles  north  of  Bloomingdale,  kept 
by  Jonathan  Howard.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Pratt  brought  the 
mail  from  Allegan,  going  on  to  Paw  Paw  one  day  and  back  the 
next,  but  there  was  no  postoffice  at  Bloomingdale  at  that  time, 
all  its  mail  coming  to  the  Paw  Paw  office,  sixteen  miles  distant. 
About  1859  or  1860  a  mail  route  was  established  between  Paw 
Paw  and  Bloomingdale,  with  John  Caughey  as  mail  carrier  and 
J.  P.  Howard  as  postmaster.  Mr.  Caughey  continued  on  this 
route  until  the  railroad  was  built  in  1870.  Mr.  Howard  was  post- 
master for  some  five  or  six  years  and  was  succeeded  by  John  Kil- 
lefer, and  he  in  turn  by  his  sons  William  and  John  and  his  grand- 
son,  Charles.  Following  the  Killefers  came  Frank  Hughes,  William 
Harrison,  G.  D.  Scofield  and  the  present  incumbent,  Gilbert  H. 
Hudson. 

The  line  of  the  railroad  was  located  through  the  village  in  1869 
and  the  depot  site  selected  in  May,  1870.  The  very  day  that  the 
site  was  definitely  decided  upon,  Mr.  Kendall  purchased  sixteen 
acres  of  land  on  the  southwest  corner  of  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  sixteen.  Mr.  Killefer,  in  the  meantime,  had  bought  a  few 
acres  on  section  seventeen,  and  on  the  23d  day  of  May,  1870,  they 
platted  the  village. 

The  first  passenger  train  arrived  on  the  fourth  day  of  July,  1870, 
and  was  the  occasion  of  great  rejoicing  among  the  inhabitants  of 
the  village  and  the  surrounding  country.  On  the  completion  of 
the  road,  the  village  was  imbued  writh  new  life,  wide  awake  busi- 
ness men  located  and  engaged  in  various  pursuits,  and  the  town 
has  continued  to  prosper  ever  since. 

The  village  became  an  incorporated  town  by  act  of  the  legisla- 
ture in  1881.  The  present  officers  are:  Thomas  H.  Ransom, 
president;  Charles  E.  Merrifield,  clerk;  Sherman  D.  Smith,  treas- 
urer; Edwin  J.  Merrifield,  assessor;  Edwin  J.  Merrifield,  Roy  D. 
Perkins,  Gardner  L.  Stew^art,  Charles  A.  Weidenfeller,  Charles  E. 
Trim  and  Charles  Linton,  trustees. 

The  village  schools  are  a  credit  to  its  enterprising  citizens,  rank- 
ing among  the  best  in  the  county.  The  last  school  census  shows  that 
there  was  169  persons  of  school  age  residing  in  the  village  district 


456 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


High  School,  Bloomingdale: 

and  that  during  the  last  school  year  there  was  an  enrolment  of 
thirty-five  non-resident  pupils.  The  district  library  contains  233 
volumes,  and  the  value  of  school  property  is  reported  at  $6,500. 
Six  teachers  were  employed  and  the  amount  paid  for  teachers' 
salaries  was  $3,703.75.  The  aggregate  number  of  months  taught 
was  seventy-two  and  three-quarters. 

Churches  and  Societies 


There  are  three  churches  in  the  village,  the  Methodist  Episcopal, 
the  Christian  and  the  Baptist.  The  Methodist  society  was  organ- 
ized in  the  winter  of  1856.  The  names  of  the  original  members 
were:  A.  Miller,  W.  C.  Wait,  F.  Miller,  H.  E.  Miller,  J.  A.  Wait, 
E.  Caughey,  Wm.  J.  Merwin,  T.  Merwin,  L.  E.  Cook,  M.  Cook  and 
M.  S.  Miller.  The  church  now  has  thirty-five  members  and  church 
property  worth  $4,000.  There  are  fifty  persons  members  of  the 
Sunday  school.    W.  R.  Kitzmiller  is  pastor. 

The  Christian  church  was  organized  in  April,  1858,  and  held 
its  early  meetings  in  a  schoolhouse  on  section  fifteen.  The  original 
members  were  Harrison  Cooley,  Azubah  Cooley,  Austin  Melvin, 
Frederick  Melvin,  Eli  Bell,  Margaret  Bell,  Russell  Loomis,  Re- 
becca Loomis,  W.  D.  Ensminger,  Polly  Ensminger,  George  Pierce, 
Henrietta  Pierce,  Augustus  Haven,  William  Armstrong,  Abby 
Killefer,  Corintha  Strong,  Lucretia  Browrn,  Marinda  Loomis,  Lou- 
isa Loomis,  Margaret  Corning,  M.  L.  Healy,  Maria  Healy,  R.  F. 
Loomis,  Mary  F.  Loomis  and  Julia  M.  Paxon. 

A  house  of  worship  was  erected  in  1871.     The  church  now  has 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  457 

a  membership  of  125  and  a  Sunday  school  of  120  members.  The 
church  property  is  valued  at  $4,500.  G.  W.  Daines  is  the  present 
pastor. 

The  Baptist  church,  W.  A.  Johnstone,  pastor,  has  a  membership 
of  122,  with  a  Sunday  school  of  100.  The  church  property  is 
valued  at  $4,900.  This  church  sprang  from  a  very  small  begin- 
ning. In  1853  the  Allegan  Baptist  church  granted  to  A.  B.  Eaton, 
Maria  Eaton,  Ann  E.  Palmer,  M.  E.  Eaton  and  L.  J.  Cannon, 
members  of  that  society,  the  privilege  of  associating  together,  as 
a  branch  church.  For  many  years  they  met  in  the  dwellings  of 
the  members,  and  were  occasionally  privileged  to  hear  ministers 
who  happened  among  them.  The  first  baptism  was  administered 
in  April,  1854,  when  Elder  II.  Hunger  baptized  his  son,  Harvey, 
and  Orrit  Lane  in  Eagle  lake.  From  this  small  beginning  the 
work  has  gone  forward  until  the  church  has  become  one  of  the 
prominent  religious  organizations  of  the  denomination  in  the 
county. 

The  following  are  societies  that  have  an  organization  in  the 
village:  Lodge  No.  221,  F.  &  A.  M.  has  130  members.  The  lodge 
has  about  $3,000  worth  of  property.  Its  members  are  building  a 
tine  hall,  the  upper  story  of  a  fine  new  brick  building  that  is  in 
process  of  construction  by  Trim,  Hodgman  &  Company  for  a  store 
building.  The  expense  to  the  lodge  will  be  about  $4,000,  and  will 
give  them  one  of  the  finest  lodge  rooms  in  the  county. 

Bloomingdale  Chapter,  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  was  organized 
August  6,  1895,  with  a  charter  membership  of  twenty-seven.  It 
now  numbers  104. 

Bloomingdale  Lodge  No.  161,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, 140  members,  has  property  valued  at  $3,000. 

Bonnefoi  Rebekah  Lodge  was  organized  March  25,  1902,  with 
hve  charter  members.     It  now  has  a  membership  of  102. 

Encampment  No.  176,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  has 
twenty -five  members. 

Bloomingdale  Camp,  No.  8159,  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
has  seventy  members. 

The  Maccabee  Lodge  has  thirty-five  members. 

Edwin  Coldwell  Post,  No.  23,  Grand  Army  of  Republic,  has 
twelve  members. 

A  Detroit  firm  at  this  place,  during  the  past  season,  put  up 
52,793  gallon  cans  of  fruit,  plums,  peaches,  cherries  and  small 
fruits,  made  1,083  cases  of  grape  and  currant  jellies,  converted 
33,185  bushels  of  apples  into  cider,  shipped  eleven  carloads  of 
apples  in  bulk,  made  420  Weir  jars  of  apple  preserves,  salted  16,- 
000  bushels  of  cucumbers,  paying  upwards  of  $7,000  for  help  and 
$28,000  for  stock. 


•458 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


North  Van  Bure.n  Street,  Bloom ingdale 


Spring  Street,  Bloomingdale 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUBEN  COUNTY  459 

The  Bloomingdale  Creamery  (successors  to  the  Haven  Cheese 
factory)  has  225  patrons,  with  a  yearly  output  of  185,000  pounds 
of  butter,  selling  for  $50,750. 

Shipping  live-stock  has  been  a  thriving  business.  Over  $100,000 
has  been  paid  during  the  year  for  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs  shipped 
to  outside  markets ;  $6,000  has  been  paid  for  apples,  and  the  farm- 
ers have  received  about  $8,400  for  their  potato  crop.  The  pros- 
perity of  the  place  is  indicated  by  the  following  list  of  business 
houses,  all  prosperous  and  each  one  a  credit  to  the  village:  One 
general  mercantile  store;  one  department  store;  one  clothing, 
shoes  and  grocery  establishment ;  one  hardware  and  grocery  store ; 
two  groceries ;  one  barber-shop ;  one  investment  company ;  one  gran- 
ite works ;  one  meat  market ;  one  produce  and  lumber  company ; 
one  hardware,  implement  and  undertaking  establishment;  oik4 
livery;  one  hotel  (the  Park  View)  ;  one  blacksmithing  and  wood- 
working establishment ;  one  millinery  shop ;  one  papering  and  deco- 
rating firm;  one  jewelry  store;  one  milling  company;  two  physi- 
cians; one  newspaper  (the  Bloomingdale  Leader)  ;  one  photograph 
studio;  one  bank  (the  Peoples);  two  telephone  lines  (the  Kibbie, 
with  123  members,  and  the  Citizens,  with  200  members)  ;  one  band, 
a  good  one ;  and  a  base  ball  team  that  is  noted  as  being  one  of  the 
very  best  amateur  clubs  in  the  entire  state. 

And  last,  but  by  no  means  the  least,  is  a  commercial  club  that 
is  interested  in  the  prosperity  of  the  town  and  that  misses  no  op- 
portunity to  advance  the  interests  of  its  citizens — an  organiza- 
tion that  has  already  accomplished  much  and  which  is  expected  to 
accomplish  much  more. 

Village  of  Oobleville 

The  village  of  Globleville  derives  its  name  from  the  Goble  family 
who  were  quite  early  settlers  in  the  vicinity  and  the  proprietors 
of  the  original  plat  of  the  village. 

The  hotel  known  as  the  Central  Hotel,  which  was  destroyed  by 
fire  since  this  chapter  was  first  written,  was  the  first  building  erected 
within  the  limits  of  the  present  village.  It  was  built  by  John  Goble 
about  the  year  1864,  on  the  highway  then  called  the  Allegan  state 
road,  and  being  about  midway  between  the  village  of  Paw  Paw  and 
the  village  of  Allegan,  in  Allegan  county,  it  made  a  very  convenient 
and  desirable  stopping  place  for  travelers  along  that  route,  of  whom 
there  were  a  considerable  number  in  those  early  days. 

In  1867  Hiram  E.  Goble  built  a  store  near  the  hotel  and  Fessen- 
den  &  Hayes  followed  with  a  blacksmith  shop.  Dr.  A.  E.  Bulson 
was  the  first  resident  physician. 

The  place   continued  to   grow  somewhat   moderately   until  the 


460  HISTORY  OF  VAN  HURBN  COUNTY 


Residence  Street  Scene  in  Gobleville 


Business  Street,  Gobleville 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  461 

railroad  from  Kalamazoo  to  South  Haven  was  built,  which  was 
completed  to  this  point  in  1870  and  which  gave  a  new  impetus  to 
the  embryo  village. 

A  postoffice  was  first  established  at  "Lake  Mills"  and  Arch  W. 
Bishop  was  appointed  postmaster.  In  1867  the  office  was  removed 
to  the  village  and  was  christened  "  Gobleville,' '  Hiram  E.  Goble 
becoming  postmaster;  his  successors  in  that  office  have  been  G.  B. 
Boughton,  Edward  Keeler,  George  W.  Myers,  Arvin  W.  Myers, 
David  D.  Wise,  Arthur  Webster  and  Lewis  E.  Churchill  (the 
present  incumbent). 

The  village  is  situated  partly  in  the  township  of  Bloomingdale 
and  partly  in  the  township  of  Pine  Grove.  It  was  first  laid  out 
and  platted,  on  the  sixteenth  day  of  April,  1870,  by  Hiram  Goble 
and  his  wife,  Susan  A.  Goble.  This  original  plat  was  of  lands  on 
section  twenty-five  in  the  township  of  Bloomingdale.  On  March 
12,  1872,  an  addition  called  Goble 's  was  platted  by  Warren  Goble 
and  his  wife,  Cordelia  E.  This  addition  is  situated  on  section 
thirty  of  the  township  of  Pine  Grove.  Another  addition  on  sec- 
tion twenty-five  of  Bloomingdale,  called  the  Lewis  addition,  was 
platted  on  the  14th  day  of  March,  1889,  by  Nathaniel  Lewis  and 
his  wife,  Celinda  Lewis,  and  afterward,  on  the  30th  day  of  July, 
1894,  William  Killefer  and  his  wife,  Emily  Killefer,  platted  a 
third  addition  called  Killefer 's  addition,  situated  on  section  nine- 
teen in  the  township  of  Pine  Grove. 

Gobleville  is  entitled  to  be  classed  as  one  of  the  prosperous  and 
thriving  villages  of  the  county.  The  two  most  important  towns 
on  the  line  of  the  South  Haven  division  of  Michigan  Central  Rail- 
road are  Gobleville  and  Bloomingdale. 

According  to  the  United  States  census  of  1910  there  were  537 
inhabitants  in  the  village  of  Gobleville,  thirty-six  more  than  in 
Bloomingdale.  Gobleville  is  situated  ^ve  miles  by  rail  southeast 
of  Bloomingdale.  Being  in  the  same  township,  of  so  near  the 
same  population  and  in  such  close  proximity,  there  is  quite  natur- 
ally a  considerable  spirit  of  rivalry  existing  between  the  two  vil- 
lages. 

Gobleville  is  distant  eighteen  miles  from  the  city  of  Kalamazoo 
on  the  east  and  twenty-one  miles  from  the  city  of  South  Haven 
on  the  west.  It  became  an  incorporated  town  by  act  of  the  state 
legislature  in  1893.  Its  present  officers  are  Charles  Overacker, 
president ;  John  T.  Bernius,  clerk ;  Edward  W.  Howard,  treasurer ; 
Robert  E.  Vickers,  assessor;  William  Day,  Othello  E.  Scarlett, 
Michael  Dorgan,  William  Miller,  Edwin  Covey  and  H.  E.  Elheny, 
board  of  trustees. 

One  of  her  institutions  of  which  the  village  is  justly  proud  is 
the  village  school,  which  is  one  of  the  eleven  high  schools  in  the 


462  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

county.  At  the  last  enumeration  of  the  district  there  were  165 
persons  of  school  age,  the  average  daily  attendance  during  the 
school  year  was  158.  There  were  fifty-nine  non  resident  pupils 
enrolled.  There  were  273  volumes  in  the  district  library.  The 
value  of  the  school  property  is  $15,000  and  there  is  a  bonded  in- 
debtedness of  $6,000.  Six  teachers  wrere  employed  and  the  ag- 
gregate number  of  months  taught  was  fifty-four.  There  was  paid 
for  teachers '  salaries  the  sum  of  $2,947.50. 

A  disastrous  fire  visited  the  town  in  1901,  destroying  eighteen 
of  the  business  places,  but  like  many  other  instances  of  the  same 
character  it  proved  a  blessing  in  disguise.  The  enterprising  busi- 
ness men  of  the  place  proceeded  at  once  to  rebuild  and  in  a  com- 
paratively short  period  of  time  the  burned  buildings  were  re- 
placed writh  new  ones,  much  better  than  the  old. 

There  are  two  churches  in  the  place,  the  Freewill  Baptist  and 
the  Methodist  Episcopal.  The  former  was  organized  about  the 
year  1866.  They  have  a  commodious  frame  house  of  worship 
which  was  completed  in  1877,  and  which  has  a  seating  capacity 
of  350.  The  present  membership  is  120.  C.  D.  Thornton  is  the 
pastor. 

The  Methodist  church  was  organized  in  1880  and  has  a  present 
membership  of  122.  The  house  of  worship  is  a  frame  structure 
with  a  seating  capacity  of  200.     G.  W.  Hawley  is  the  pastor. 

Hudson  Lodge,  No.  325,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
located  in  a  commodious  hall  over  the  Frank  Company's  store, 
is  in  a  flourishing  condition  and  has  a  present  membership  of  about 
150.  Easter  Lily  Chapter,  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  No.  230,  is 
adjunct  of  the  Masonic  Lodge. 

Gobleville  Lodge,  No.  393,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
own  their  hall,  which  is  large  and  commodious  and  fitted  up  es- 
pecially for  lodge  purposes.  Hazel  Dell  Rebekah  Lodge,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  is  another  branch  of  the  order  that 
is  in  a  very  prosperous  condition.  Both  of  these  lodges  of  Odd 
Fellows  have  a  large  and  increasing  membership.  The  Macca- 
bees are  also  represented  in  the  village  by  organizations  of  both 
ladies  and  gentlemen.  There  is  also  a  prosperous  Lodge  of  Mod- 
ern Woodmen,  Camp  No.  9132. 

The  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  also  has  an  organization  and 
adjunct  thereto  is  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps. 

Two  telephone  lines  have  exchanges  in  the  town — the  Kibbie 
and  the  Mutual  companies. 

The  village  contains  these  business  establishments:  One  marble 
company;  two  produce  dealers,  shippers  and  coal  dealers;  one 
opera  house,  seating  capacity  400;  one  grocery,  drug  and  crockery 
store;  one  boot  and  shoe  store;  one  jewelry  store;  one  restaurant 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


463 


and  soda  fountain ;  one  meat  market ;  one  general  hardware  and 
farm  implement  store ;  one  hardware,  carriages,  wagon  and  imple- 
ment dealer;  one  department  store;  one  bank,  the  Gobleville  Ex- 
change;  one  general  dry  goods,  boot  and  shoe  and  clothing  store; 
one  furniture  and  undertaking  establishment ;  one  barber  shop ;  one 
millinery  establishment;  one  drug  store  with  soda  fountain;  one 
agricultural  implement  store;  one  feed  store;  one  grocery  store; 
one  harness  shop;  two  blacksmith  shops;  three  physicians;  one  den- 
tist, and  one  shoe  shop. 


Lake  Mill,  Near  Gobleville 


The  Gobleville  Creamery,  which  does  a  large  business,  manu- 
facturing from  1,500  to  1,700  pounds  of  butter  per  day  during  the 
summer  season,  besides  selling  a  large  amount  of  cream  to  Kala- 
mazoo ice  cream  dealers. 

The  Gobleville  milling  establishment  which  is  equipped  with 
modern  machinery  and  does  a  large  business. 

The  enterprise  and  push  of  the  business  men  of  this  flourishing 
little  village  is  a  credit  not  only  to  themselves,  but  to  the  county 
in  which  it  is  so  pleasantly  located. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

TOWNSHIP  OF  COLUMBIA 

Physical  Features  and  Railroads — Site  of  Breedsville  Settled 
— Property  Holders  and  Taxes  (1839) — Settlers  Prior  to 
1845 — Civil  and  Political — Present  Village  of  Breedsville 
— Berlamont — Columbia — Grand  Junction . 

When  the  county  of  Van  Buren  was  first  organized,  Columbia 
formed  a  part  of  the  township  of  South  Haven,  indeed,  at  that  time 
nearly  all  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  township  resided  within  the 
present  boundaries  of  Columbia.  It  wras  not  until  1845  that,  by 
aet  of  the  legislature  of  the  state,  it  was  set  off  and  organized  into 
a  separate  township  under  its  present  name.  It  is  the  central  one 
of  the  north  tier  of  townships  of  the  county  and  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Allegan  county,  east  by  Bloomingdale  township,  south  by 
Arlington  and  west  by  Geneva.  It  is  officially  designated  as  town- 
ship number  one  south,  of  range  number  fifteen  west. 

Physical  Features  and  Railroads 

The  surface  of  the  township  is  generally  what  would  be  termed 
rolling,  being  diversified  by  irregular  ranges  of  low  hills  and  also 
by  numerous  lakes,  of  which  Saddle  lake  (so  named  from  its  pecul- 
iar shape)  is  the  largest.  This  body  of  water  lies  partly  on  four 
different  sections — ten,  fifteen,  sixteen  and  twenty-two.  From  its 
eastern  extremity  to  its  northern  end  is  a  distance  of  about  a  mile 
and  a  half.  The  other  lakes  that  are  dignified  by  a  name  are 
Jeptha's  (commonly  called  Jap)  lake,  which  is  one  and  a  half 
miles  in  length,  but  narrow,  varying  in  width  from  a  few  rods  to 
a  quarter  of  a  mile;  Lakes  Fourteen  and  Eleven,  so  named  from 
the  sections  on  which  they  are  located ;  North  lake,  Munson,  Dollar 
(or  Silver  as  it  is  called  on  the  later  maps).  Coffee,  Base  Line, 
Deer,  Mud,  Little  Bear  and  Great  Bear  lakes,  the  last  named  ly- 
ing partly  in  the  township  of  Bloomingdale. 

The  outlet  of  Great  Bear  lake  forms  the  south  branch  of  Black 
river  and  is  the  principal  stream  in  the  township.  It  flows  diagon- 
ally across  its  southern  part,  forming  a  considerable  water  power 

464 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  465 

at  the  village  of  Breedsville,  which  was  utilized  at  a  very  early 
date  in  its  history. 

The  township  possesses  a  variety  of  soil,  ranging  from  light 
sand  to  heavy  clay,  but  in  general  it  is  fertile  and  productive, 
yielding  abundant  crops  of  hay,  grain  and  fruits. 

Like  the  entire  northern  half  of  the  county,  Columbia  was  orig- 
inally covered  with  a  growth  of  heavy  timber  of  different  kinds, 
pine  and  hemlock  being  the  predominating  varieties.  As  a  natural 
consequence  the  manufacture  of  lumber  and  shingles  was  the  pre- 
vailing industry  of  the  earlier  years,  but  the  forests  have  prac- 
tically all  disappeared  and  in  their  stead  are  fine  farms  and  or- 
chards and  the  usual  accompaniments  of  prosperous  modern  rural 
life. 

The  township  has  excellent  railroad  facilities,  the  line  of  the 
Pere  Marquette  crossing  it  from  south  to  north  and  the  South  Ha- 
ven division  of  the  Michigan  Central  passing  through  its  northern 
part  from  east  to  west.  The  two  lines  intersect  at  the  village  of 
Grand  Junction.  Both  these  roads  wTere  completed  through  the 
town  in  1870.  Breedsville  and  Grand  Junction  are  stations  on  the 
Pere  Marquette,  and  Berlamont,  Columbia  and  Grand  Junction, 
on  the  South  Haven  line. 

Site  of  Breedsville  Settled 

In  May,  1835,  Rev.  Jonathan  N.  Hinckley,  in  company  with 
Barnard  M.  Howard,  both  from  Monroe  county,  New  York,  vis- 
ited the  region  that  afterward  became  a  part  of  the  township  of 
Columbia  and  made  entries  of  a  considerable  acreage  of  lands  near 
the  site  of  the  present  village  of  Breedsville.  At  this  time  they 
built  a  cabin  on  their  new  location,  preparatory  to  its  occupation, 
and  then  returned  to  Newr  York.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  a 
party  of  some  twenty-five  persons,  all  from  the  county  of  Mon- 
roe, New  York,  left  their  eastern  homes  with  the  intent  of  settling 
on  the  lands  purchased  by  Messrs.  Hinckley  and  Howard  and  of 
making  for  themselves  new  homes  in  the  Michigan  wilderness, 
which  was  then  considered  to  be  in  the  "far  west. "  Their  route 
was  by  way  of  the  Erie  canal  to  the  city  of  Buffalo;  thence  by 
way  of  Lake  Erie  to  Detroit.  At  the  latter  place  they  purchased  a 
yoke  of  oxen,  and  a  wagon  upon  which  they  loaded  their  house- 
hold goods  and  children,  and  thus  equipped  started  for  Paw  Paw 
by  way  of  the  Territorial  road,  the  major  portion  of  the  party 
making  the  journey  on  foot.  Although  their  destination  was  only 
about  eighteen  miles  from  the  last  mentioned  place  it  took  them 
two  days  to  reach  it.  The  party  consisted  of  Rev.  Jonathan  N. 
Hinckley,  William  N.  Taylor;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Silas  Breed  and  their 

Vol.  1—30 


466  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

four  children — Stillman,  Phoebe  Ann,  Hinckley  and  Joshua— and 
Sarah  Taylor,  an  adopted  daughter;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Watson 
and  his  three  children — Leonard,  Lyman  and  Sarah — and  a  grand- 
son ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jonathan  N.  Howard ;  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Amos 
S.  Brown  and  their  five  children — Elizabeth,  Amos  S.,  Jr.,  Wells 
G.,  Minerva  and  Jesse  R. 

The  cabin  which  had  been  erected  the  previous  spring  was  soon 
made  habitable.  The  next  domicile  was  built  for  the  Brown  fam- 
ily and  immediately  afterward  a  cabin  was  constructed  for  the 
occupancy  of  the  Watson  people.  These  three  primitive  dwellings 
served  to  shelter  the  entire  colony  during  the  first  winter,  includ- 
ing William  A.  Babbitt  who  had  joined  them.  About  the  first  of 
January,  however,  Elder  Hinckley  returned  to  the  state  of  New 
York  and  it  was  not  until  several  years  later  that  he  took  up  his 
permanent  residence  in  Van  Buren  county.  The  first  death  in  the 
little  colony  was  that  of  Sarah  Taylor,  who  passed  away  during 
that  first  winter.  The  next  year  Mr.  Howard  and  others  erected 
dwellings  for  themselves,  and  Silas  Breed  built  the  first  saw-mill 
in  the  new  settlement. 

The  following  season,  1837,  the  settlement  was  augmented  by 
the  arrival  of  Elijah  Knowles,  William  Bridges  and  George  Coch- 
rane, from  Livingston  county,  New  York ;  Dr.  Hervey  Manley  from 
Ashtabula  county,  Ohio,  and  Myron  Hoskins  from  Paw  Paw,  who 
had  settled  in  that  place  a  couple  of  years  before.  In  later  years 
Mr.  Hoskins  again  became  a  resident  of  Paw  Paw,  where  he  died, 
November  7,  1900,  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-nine  years.  He  was 
followed  by  his  widow,  Sarah,  on  the  13th  day  of  January,  1903, 
who  was  eighty-seven  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her  decease. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  new  settlement  was  Nancy,  a  daughter 
of  Jonathan  N.  Howard  and  wife,  and  during  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  the  second  death  occurred.  Samuel  Watson,  who  was  then  a 
man  of  some  sixty  years  of  age,  had  gone  on  foot  to  Paw  Paw,  to 
obtain  some  needed  medicine  for  his  family.  On  his  return  journey 
he  died  alone  in  the  forest,  where  after  a  diligent  search,  his  body 
was  found. 

The  first  marriage  solemnized  in  the  little  colony  was  that  of 
James  G.  Cochrane  and  Miss  Sarah  Watson.  The  wedding  took 
place  on  the  10th  day  of  June,  1840.  'Squire  Silas  Breed  was  the 
officiating  magistrate. 

In  1838  Elijah  Knowles  and  John  Barrows  erected  a  tannery, 
the  abundance  of  hemlock  bark  making  it  an  ideal  locality  for  that 
purpose.  Indeed,  for  many  years  thereafter,  the  traffic  in  hemlock 
bark  was  one  of  the  leading  industries  of  the  township,  large  quan- 
tities being  hauled  to  tanneries  located  in  Lawrence,  Decatur  and 
Paw  Paw,  or  to  South  Haven  and  shipped  across  Lake  Michigan. 


HISTOEY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  467 

The  colony  was  augmented  in  that  year  by  the  arrival  of  Jeph- 
tha  Waterman,  John  Barrows,  Horace  Humphrey  and  quite  likely 
by  a  few  others. 

For  quite  a  number  of  years  Paw  Paw  was  the  nearest  postoffice, 
so  it  may  be  well  be  believed  that  mails  were  rather  irregularly 
received  and  that  the  pioneers  knew  little  and  probably  cared  less 
about  receiving  a  newspaper  every  day,  or  even  once  a  week.  How- 
ever, a  postoffice  was  eventually  established  at  Breedsville  and 
Amos  S.  Brown  became  the  first  postmaster,  Jesse  E.,  his  son  be- 
ing the  first  mail  carrier  between  the  new  office  and  Paw  Paw. 

Property  Holders  and  Taxes  (1839) 

The  resident  taxpayers  of  the  township  in  1839,  the  number  of 
acres  assessed  to  each  and  the  sum  of  their  taxes  on  both  real  and 
personal  estate,  were  as  follows: 

Names                                                                       Acres  Tax 

Silas   Breed    80  $7.04 

Elijah   Knowles    160  4.65 

Hervey  Manley   240  4.98 

J.  N.  Howard   240  4.56 

J.  M.  Babbitt 160  3.33 

Myron  Hoskins    320  5.69 

Leonard  Watson   40  .91 

Amos  S.  Brown 160  4.94 

Luman  Brown   80  1.55 

J.  Waterman   69  .79 

H.  Humphrey    40  .78 

J.  Peck    80  1.55 

D.  C.  Ackley   80  1.55 

This  shows  that  the  total  amount  of  taxes  paid  by  the  resident 
taxpayers  for  that  year  was  $42.32. 

Of  the  above  named  parties,  one — Joseph  Peck — was  not  actu- 
ally a  resident  of  the  township,  as  he  lived  across  the  line  in  the 
township  of  Bloomingdale.  The  next  year,  1840,  the  only  changes 
that  appear  on  the  resident  tax  roll  are  that  the  name  of  J.  M. 
Babbitt  is  left  off  and  the  names  of  William  A.  Babbitt,  Henry  Bab- 
bitt  and  Dustin  Murch  are  added,  making  the  number  fifteen.  The 
taxes  paid  were  even  less  than  in  the  previous  year,  being  only 
$26.48. 

For  the  year  1911,  the  valuation  of  the  township  was  the  sum 
of  $453,790,  and  the  total  tax  levy  was  $11,725.96.  In  point  of 
wealth  Columbia  is  at  the  foot  of  the  list  of  townships  of  the 
county. 


468  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Settlers  Prior  to  1845 

Thomas  P.  Page  settled  in  the  village  of  Breedsville  in  1841, 
where  he  kept  open  house  for  the  accommodation  of  travelers  as 
did  others  of  the  early  settlers.  When  the  stage  line  was  estab- 
lished between  Paw  Paw  and  South  Haven,  which  was  about  the 
year  1848,  Page  opened  a  hotel  or,  as  it  was  called  in  those  days,  a 
tavern.  There  are  yet  a  considerable  number  of  people  living  in 
the  county  who  have  a  vivid  recollection  of  the  old  Page  tavern 
and  of  the  hilarious  scenes  that  occasionally — or  oftener — trans- 
pired therein. 

Charles  AY.  Luce  settled  on  section  twenty-three  the  same  year. 
Alexander  Lytle,  who  became  a  man  of  prominence  in  the  affairs 
of  the  township,  at  different  times  being  elected  as  township  treas- 
urer, settled  in  the  township  in  1842. 

Other  settlers  prior  to  1845  were  Peter  Smith,  Lyman  Loomis, 
Jethro  Barber,  Amos  E.  Barber,  Edmund  Sawtelle,  David  Barker, 
Hiram  Chappell,  James  Richards,  S.  N.  Pike,  A.  Bugsbee  and 
James  Moore. 

The  first  grist-mill  in  the  township  was  built  by  Mr.  Heath  in 
1858.  The  northern  part  of  the  township  was  but  slightly  settled 
until  about  the  time  the  railroads  were  projected  and  built. 

Civil  and  Political 

At  the  first  township  meeting,  held  on  the  first  Monday  of 
April,  1845,  the  following  officers  were  elected:  Supervisor,  Elem- 
uel  Sawtelle ;  township  clerk,  Jonathan  N.  Howard ;  justices  of  the 
peace,  Elijah  Knowles,  Hervey  Manley,  Horace  Humphrey  and 
David  Barker;  township  treasurer,  Amos  S.  Brown;  school  inspec- 
tors, Hervey  Manley  and  Elemuel  Sawtelle ;  overseers  of  poor, 
Hervey  Manley  and  Elijah  Knowles ;  assessors,  Lyman  Loomis  and 
Amos  S.  Brown ;  commissioners  of  highways,  Dustin  Murch, 
Thomas  P.  Page  and  David  Barker;  constables,  Dustin  Murch, 
Amos  S.  Brown,  Wells  G.  Brown  and  Jephtha  Waterman. 

The  following  named  gentlemen  have  served  the  township  in  the 
capacity  of  supervisor :  Elemuel  Sawtelle,  Horace  Humphrey,  Joel 
Camp,  Eusebius  Mather,  Amos  S.  Brown,  Elijah  Knowles,  How- 
ard S.  Allen,  H.  Chamberlain,  Doctor  H.  Anderson,  William  H. 
Knowles,  V.  F.  Randall,  Norman  H.  Adams,  Jonathan  N.  Howard, 
Amasa  M.  Brown,  Duane  D.  Briggs,  A.  D.  Enos,  Eri  Summy,  Da- 
vid Anderson,  James  M.  Gray,  Levi  Ackley,  Elisha  Abbott,  A. 
Throop  Anderson  and  Andrew  Gaynor.  Of  the  above  named, 
Supervisors  Camp  and  Doctor  H.  Anderson  each  served  three 
years;  Supervisor  Gray,  four  years;  Supervisor  Amos  S.  Brown, 
ten  years;  Supervisor  Amasa  M.  Brown,  eleven  years,  and  Super- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  469 

visor   Gaynor,   the   present    incumbent,   and   a   popular   Democrat 
from  a  Republican  town,  is  serving  his  thirteenth  term. 

At  the  first  general  election  held  in  the  township,  in  November, 
1846,  there  were  twenty-seven  votes  cast.  In  1847  the  number  in- 
creased to  thirty-six,  the  votes  being  equally  divided  between  the 
Whigs  and  Democrats.  At  the  first  presidential  election  held  in 
the  township  on  November  7,  1848,  forty-four  votes  were  polled — 
twenty-one  for  Taylor,  Whig;  twenty-two  for  Cass,  Democrat,  and 
one  for  Van  Buren,  Free  Soil. 

At  the  last  presidential  election,  November  3,  1908,  324  ballots 
were  cast:  211  for  Taft,  Republican;  ninety-three  for  Bryan, 
Democrat ;  eight  for  Chafin,  Prohibitionist ;  eight  for  Debs,  So- 
cialist, and  four  for  Hisgen,  Independent  party. 

According  to  the  census  figures  of  1910,  Columbia  ranks  as  the 
eleventh  among  the  townships  of  the  county ;  in  point  of  popula- 
tion, the  number  being  given  as  1,475. 

The  first  schoolhouse  was  built  in  the  Breedsville  settlement  in 
1838,  and  Lorenzo  D.  Gate  taught  the  first  school.  School  District 
No.  1,  including  within  its  limits  the  nine  sections  composing  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  township,  was  formed  in  January,  1845. 
In  1847  there  were  twenty-three  children  of  school  age  in  the  dis- 
trict and  the  apportionment  of  public  school  money  was  $7.36. 

The  apportionment  of  primary  money  for  the  current  year 
(1911)  was  $2,437.50  for  the  township.  Official  reports  of  edu- 
cational matters  for  the  school  year  of  1910-11  give  the  number 
of  persons  of  school  age  as  344;  volumes  in  the  several  district 
libraries,  1,336;  number  of  schoolhouses,  six;  estimated  value  of 
school  property,  $14,800;  district  indebtedness,  $2,500;  teachers 
employed,  ten;  aggregate  number  of  months  of  school,  seventy- 
nine;  sum  paid  for  teachers'  salaries,  $3,605. 

As   v  Resort  Region 

Numbers  of  people  from  across  Lake  Michigan,  within  the  past 
few  years,  have  invested  in  Columbia  real  estate,  attracted  thither 
by  the  many  pleasant  locations  and  the  numerous  attractions  to 
the  city  dwellers  to  whom  life  in  the  country  seems  a  desirable 
change  from  the  rush  and  turmoil  that  has  surrounded  them  in 
their  urban  homes.  Owing  to  this  immigration,  Columbia,  like 
other  of  her  sister  townships,  has  been  thinking  of  her  opportu- 
nities and  facilities  as  a  resort,  and  quite  recently  two  summer  re- 
sorts have  been  platted  into  lots,  one  on  the  shore  of  Saddle  lake 
and  the  other  on  the  bank  of  Silver,  or  Dollar  lake,  as  it  is  some- 
times called.     Both  of  these  are  "desirable  for  a  situation"  and 


470  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

are  quite  likely  to  become  popular  places  for  those  who  seek  sum- 
mer quiet  and  rest. 

And  so,  by  the  industry  and  the  diligence,  and  the  labors  of  the 
hardy  pioneers,  and  those  who  came  after  them,  a  township  has 
been  reclaimed  from  a  state  of  nature  and  converted  into  fertile 
fields;  the  forests  have  disappeared;  the  wilderness  has  been  re- 
deemed, and  the  highest  degree  of  modern  civilization  has  suc- 
ceeded to  barbarism  and  savagery,  and  all  this  within  the  memory 
of  living  men. 

Present  Village  of  Breedsville 

The  village  of  Breedsville,  which  occupies  the  site  of  the  oldest 
settlement  in  the  northern  part  of  Van  Buren  county,  derives  its 
name  from  Silas  A.  Breed,  who  was  one  of  the  first  men  to  locate 
lands  within  the  limits  of  the  present  township  of  Columbia,  which, 
at  the  time,  was  a  part  of  the  township  of  South  Haven.  It  was 
not  platted  until  1900,  although  it  has  been  known  as  Breedsville 
from  a  very  early  date  in  the  history  of  the  county.  Prior  to  1900 
all  property  in  the  village  was  described  by  metes  and  bounds.  It 
is  a  station  on  the  line  of  the  Pere  Marquette  Railway,  thirty  miles 
from  the  city  of  St.  Joseph  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan.  The 
first  tavern  in  the  place  was  opened  and  kept  by  Thomas  P.  Page 
and  the  first  store  was  opened  by  Painter,  Woodson  &  Company, 
who,  before  they  began  a  regular  mercantile  business,  had  been 
engaged  in  bringing  in  goods  and  exchanging  them  with  the  set- 
tlers for  shingles,  which,  in  those  early  days,  came  very  near  being 
the  only  circulating  medium. 

The  village  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  1883 
(Local  Acts,  1883,  p.  404).  Its  present  officers  are  as  follows: 
President,  Charles  M.  Cushman;  clerk,  Loren  D.  Townsend;  treas- 
urer, Frank  A.  Adams;  assessor,  Edwin  J.  Rugg;  board  of  trus- 
tees, Charles  G.  Chamberlain,  Andrew  Gaynor,  Jerome  R.  Niles, 
E.  K.  Cassada,  William  E.  Hollister  and  Edson  C.  Stickney;  street 
commissioner,  H.  B.  Johnson;  Marshal,  Ed.  Bailey;  poundmaster, 
Henry  J.  Scringer. 

The  population  numbered  219  souls,  according  to  the  figures  as 
given  by  the  census  of  1910.  The  first  officers  of  the  village  were 
as  follows:  President,  Norman  H.  Adams;  clerk,  E.  D.  Lockard; 
treasurer,  James  M.  Gray;  assessor,  N.  J.  Cranmer;  trustees,  F.  E. 
Sherwood,  E.  S.  Hogmire,  A.  D.  Enos,  Jay  P.  Gilman,  William  H. 
Wicksall,  William  Cushman;  street  commissioner,  N.  W.  Smith; 
constable,  Aaron  Miller;  marshal,  E.  Carter,  Jr.;  health  officer,  F. 
P.   Robertson;   fire   warden,   D.   M.   Miller;   poundmaster,   Henry 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  471 

Scrimger ;  special  assessors,  James  M.  Gray,  N.  W.  Smith  and  Solo- 
mon Snell. 

The  village  has  no  public  improvements,  such  as  a  lighting  sys- 
tem, waterworks,  etc. 

There  is  one  church  society  in  the  village — the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal, with  a  membership  of  about  forty.  They  have  a  very  good 
and  convenient  house  of  worship,  a  frame  building. 

Secret  societies  are  represented  in  the  town  by  the  Odd  Fellows 
and  the  Masons.  Headley  Lodge,  No.  163,  I.  0.  O.  F.,  was  insti- 
tuted on  the  31st  day  of  May,  1871.  The  charter  members  were 
Ahira  G.  Eastman,  Abner  D.  Enos,  Chester  C.  Leathers,  H.  C.  Kel- 
ley,  Samuel  Hoppin  and  T.  P.  Bewley.  The  present  membership 
of  the  lodge  is  about  fifty. 

Narcissus  Rebekah  lodge,  I.  0.  O.  F.,  is  also  a  prosperous  branch 
of  the  order,  having  about  the  same  number  of  members  as  the  sub- 
ordinate lodge. 

Bailey  lodge,  No.  287,  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  chartered  on  the  13th  day 
of  January,  1871.  Its  first  officers  were  Duane  D.  Briggs,  W.  M. ; 
P.  C.  Hathaway,  S.  W. ;  and  A.  P.  Dulerow,  J.  W.  The  lodge  now 
has  fifty-eight  members. 

There  is  a  ladies'  club  in  the  town  known  as  the  D.  M.  C.  club. 

The  business  places  of  the  village  consist  of  two  general  stores, 
one  drug  store,  one  hardware  store,  one  grocery  store,  one  grist- 
mill (water  power),  one  steam  saw-mill  and  one  meat  market. 

Village  op  Berlamont 

This  is  a  small  hamlet,  a  station  on  the  line  of  the  railroad  three 
miles  east  of  Columbia  and  two  miles  west  of  the  village  of  Bloom- 
ingdale.  It  was  originally  known  as  Bear  Lake,  or  Bear  Lake  Mills, 
on  account  of  its  proximity  to  the  lake  of  that  name,  but  the  name 
was  subsequently  changed  to  Berlamont.  It  is  situated  on  the 
town  line  between  Columbia  and  Bloomingdale  and  lies  partly'  in 
each  of  those  townships.     There  is  no  recorded  plat  of  the  place. 

It  was  anticipated  that  the  railroad  might  develop  the  burg  into 
a  somewhat  flourishing  town,  but  such  anticipations  were  never 
realized  and  it  is  altogether  unlikely  that  they  ever  will  be. 

D.  H.  Anderson,  from  Genessee  county,  New  York,  had  settled 
in  Breedsville  in  1855.  Two  years  later,  in  company  with  Amos 
S.  Brown,  he  built  a  saw-mill  operated  by  steam  power  on  the  shore 
of  Bear  Lake,  about  a  mile  south  of  the  present  village  of  Berla- 
mont, and  a  grist-mill  near  by  operated  by  water  power  from  the 
outlet  of  the  lake.  In  1866  his  brother,  Col.  David  Anderson,  a 
veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  became  a  partner.  In  1871  they  removed 
the  plant  to  the  village,  and  added  to  it  a  planing  mill.    The  grist 


472  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

mill  building  was  afterward  taken  down  and  removed  to  Fennville, 
in  Allegan  county,  where  it  was  reerected  and  continued  in  use  for 
the  same  purpose  for  which  it  was  originally  built.  About  the  year 
1874  the  property  passed  into  the  hands  of  Seneca  B.  Anderson,  a 
son  of  David,  who  converted  the  entire  plant  into  a  furniture  fac- 
tory and  did  a  very  successful  business  for  about  ten  years,  and 
until  the  property  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  the  month  of  April, 
1884.  The  plant  was  a  total  loss  and  a  large  quantity  of  finished 
furniture,  practically  ready  for  shipment,  was  also  consumed. 
This  not  only  put  an  end  to  the  plant  itself,  but  it  was  a  blow  to 
the  little  village  from  which  it  never  recovered. 

There  are  now  two  general  stores  on  the  Columbia  side  of  the 
town  and  a  feed  mill  on  the  Bloomingdale  side  that  does  a  good 
business. 

Village  of  Columbia 

Columbia  is  a  small  hamlet  one  mile  east  of  Grand  Junction,  on 
the  line  of  the  South  Haven  division  of  the  Michigan  Central,  and 
like  the  latter  place  owes  its  existence  to  railroad  building.  It  is 
a  station  on  that  road  and  was  platted  in  the  winter  of  1871  by 
Marvin  Hannahs,  William  F.  Dickinson  and  Samuel  Rogers.  There 
is  little  else  there  but  a  stopping  place  for  the  trains  passing 
through. 

Village  of  Grand  Junction 

The  village  of  Grand  Junction,  as  its  name  indicates,  is  situated 
at  the  intersection  of  the  two  railroads  that  pass  through  the 
township— the  South  Haven  branch  of  the  Michigan  Central  and 
the  Pere  Marquette — and  came  into  being  as  the  direct  result  of  the 
construction  of  those  roads.  It  is  situated  where  the  corners  of 
four  sections — five,  six,  eight  and  nine — come  together,  and  lies 
in  part  on  each  of  those  sections.  It  is  four  miles  north  of  Breeds- 
ville  and  ten  miles  east  from  the  City  of  South  Haven. 

The  village  was  platted  in  December,  1871,  by  Samuel  Rogers, 
Marvin  Hannahs,  Conrad  Crouse  and  George  W.  Chrouch.  Al- 
though it  has  developed  into  a  place  of  considerable  importance, 
it  has  not  yet  attained  the  dignity  of  being  an  incorporated  town. 

The  first  settlement  within  the  limits  of  the  village  was  made 
in  1869  by  David  Young,  who  had  been  for  a  number  of  years  pre- 
viously a  resident  of  the  adjoining  township  of  Geneva.  He  pur- 
chased six  lots  in  the  prospective  village  and  became  its  first  set- 
tler, his  nearest  neighbors  being  at  that  time  in  the  village  of 
Breedsville.  Soon  afterward,  being  confident  that  there  must 
eventually  arise  a  town  at  the  junction  of  the  railroads,  he  began 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  473 

the  erection  of  a  structure  which,  when  completed,  became  known 
as  Young's  hotel.  This  he  opened  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
traveling  public  in  1871.  The  second  individual  to  become  an  in- 
habitant of  the  prospective  village  was  a  colored  man  named  Hun- 
gerford. 

There  are  two  churches  in  Grand  Junction — the  Congregational, 
with  a  membership  of  twenty,  and  the  Catholic  with  thirty-five 
members. 

There  are  no  secret  societies,  and  no  clubs  or  other  similar  or- 
ganizations except  the  Congregational  Ladies'  Society. 

The  public  buildings  consist  of  the  churches  and  the  graded 
school  building.  There  are  ninety  children  of  school  age  residing 
in  the  village  district ;  564  volumes  in  the  district  library  and  one 
schoolhouse;  value  of  school  property,  $2,500.  The  two  teachers 
employed  during  the  last  school  year  taught  an  aggregate  of  eight- 
een months  and  $980  was  paid  for  teachers'  salaries. 

The  business  places  in  the  village  consist  of  one  glove  factory, 
one  meat-market,  two  grocery  and  provision  stores,  one  hardware 
store,  two  general  stores,  one  restaurant,  one  hotel;  the  postoffice 
building  with  stationary,  notions,  cigars,  etc. ;  one  blacksmith-shop, 
one  barber-shop;  one  bakery  and  confectionery  establishment;  a 
warehouse  with  feed,  hay,  coal  and  farm  implements  on  sale;  one 
cider-mill ;  one  saw-mill  and  lumber  yard  carrying  various  kinds  of 
building  material,  and  one  drug  store.  The  citizens  also  possess 
that  indispensable  adjunct  of  modern  life,  excellent  telephone  ser- 
vice. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

TOWNSHIP  OF  COVERT 

The  Original  Township — Physical  Features — Earliest  Set- 
tlers— Roads  and  Schools — Statistical  and  Political — The 
Village  of  Covert. 

The  township  of  Covert  is  officially  designated  by  the  govern- 
ment survey  as  township  two  south,  of  range  seventeen  west.  It  is 
situated  on  the  west  side  of  the  county  and  its  western  border  is 
washed  by  the  waters  of  Lake  Michigan.  It  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  the  township  of  South  Haven,  on  the  east  by  Bangor,  its 
southern  boundary  being  the  north  line  of  Berrien  county.  The 
township  is  fractional,  being  only  about  four  and  one-half  miles 
wide  along  its  northern  boundary,  while  on  the  south  it  is  about 
seven  miles  in  width.  This  is  occasioned  by  the  line  of  the  lake 
shore.  There  are  two  fractional  sections,  twenty-five  and  thirty- 
six  of  township  two  south,  of  range  eighteen  west  (all  there  is  of 
that  township)  that  form  the  south  west  corner  of  Covert. 

The  Original  Township 

The  township  was  first  called  Deerfield,  but  on  account  of  there 
being  other  towns  of  that  name  in  the  state,  the  name  was  changed 
to  Covert.  This  change  was  made  in  1876,  by  an  act  of  the  legisla- 
ture introduced  by  Hon.  William  O.  Packard,  at  that  time  a  repre- 
sentative from  Van  Buren  county  and  a  resident  of  the  township. 

Covert  was  originally  a  part  of  the  township  of  South  Haven, 
from  which  it  was  separated  and  organized  into  a  separate  township 
by  action  of  the  board  of  supervisors  at  their  October  session  in 
1855.  The  first  meeting  of  the  new  township  thus  formed  was  held 
at  the  house  of  Hiram  Fish  on  the  first  Monday  of  April  of  the  fol- 
lowing year.  W.  A.  Dell  was  chosen  supervisor  at  that  election. 
The  official  records  of  the  county  do  not  disclose  who  were  the  other 
officials  elected. 

The  following  named  gentlemen  have  served  the  township  in  the 
office  of  superivisor:  William  A.  Dell,  Miram  Fish,  George  H. 
Barker,  William  F.  Trafford,  George  Grant,  Orrin  S.  Shaw,  William 

474 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  475 

J.  Shattuck,  Robert  Bartley,  Cyrus  H.  Lewis,  Jacob  Gunsaul,  Tru- 
man A.  Lampson,  Shepard  H.  Shattuck  and  George  Hale. 

Those  who  served  more  than  two  years  were  Fish,  Barker  and 
Hale,  each  three  years ;  Grant,  five  years ;  Lampson,  six  years,  and 
Gunsaul,  nine  years.  S.  H.  Shattuck,  the  present  supervisor,  is 
serving  his  sixth  year. 

Physical  Features 

The  surface  of  the  township  in  general  is  comparatively  level, 
except  along  the  lake  shore  where  it  becomes  broken  and  uneven. 
Abrupt  and  picturesque  hills  line  the  shores,  some  of  them  almost 
worthy  of  being  called  mountains.  Indeed  one  of  them  bears  the 
name  of  "Thunder  mountain/'  from  which,  tradition  has  it  that 
in  an  early  day  the  strange  sounds  emanated  resembling  sub- 
dued thunder  and  about  which  weird  tales  are  related.  It  is 
said  that  the  vicinity  was  at  one  time  a  rendezvous  for  counter- 
feiters and  other  criminals,  but  these  stories  are  probably  all  imag- 
inary and  inspired  by  the  weird  surroundings  of  those  early  days. 
From  the  top  of  these  hills  a  fine  view  of  the  lake  is  to  be  obtained, 
as  well  as  of  the  inland  landscape  that  is  largely  covered  with  or- 
chards of  apples,  peaches,  pears  and  other  fruit  trees,  as  well  as 
with  large  tracts  of  small  fruits  for  the  cultivation  of  which  the 
township  has  long  been  noted,  being  located  well  within  the  bound- 
aries of  the  celebrated  Michigan  fruit  belt.  The  soil  in  places 
is  of  a  decidedly  sandy  character,  while  in  others  it  is  a  loam,  a 
mixture  of  sand  and  clay,  much  of  being  very  fertile  and  a  large 
part  of  it  peculiarly  adapted  to  fruit  culture.  Being  on  the  shore 
of  the  great  lake  that  forms  the  western  boundary  of  the  Lower 
Peninsula,  it  is,  like  other  localities  similarly  situated,  protected 
from  the  extreme  cold  of  winter  which  constitutes  one  of  the  fac- 
tors that  make  it  an  ideal  fruit  region.  There  are  numerous  small 
streams,  in  the  township,  but  none  of  importance,  neither  are  there 
any  inland  lakes  of  any  consequence. 

Earliest  Settlers 

While  the  township  has  some  seven  miles  of  lake  shore,  it  pos- 
sesses no  harbor,  although  there  formerly  was  a  pier  called  St. 
Paul's  near  the  south  line  of  the  town,  at  which  smaller  sail  vessels 
used  to  stop  in  an  early  day,  when  the  weather  would  permit,  to 
load  with  lumber,  of  which  there  was  formerly  a  large  quantity  cut 
in  that  vicinity.  A  large  part  of  the  township  was  originally  cov- 
ered with  hemlock  forest  with  considerable  pine  intermingled  with 
it,  while  other  parts  were  covered  with  different  varieties  of  tim- 
ber.    A  saw-mill  near  the  pier  was  operated  by  Chicago  parties, 


476  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

one  R.  P.  Toms  being  the  moving  spirit.  This  was  a  steam  mill  of 
considerable  size  and  containing  the  most  up-to-date  machinery  of 
those  days. 

The  writer  has  a  vivid  recollection  of  the  time,  considerably 
more  than  half  a  century  ago,  when  he  was  employed  as  a  "hand" 
in  that  mill.  At  that  time  there  was  a  large  boarding  house  and 
several  other  structures  at  the  place,  which  was  known  as  Paul- 
ville,  or  St.  Paul,  so  named  in  honor  of  a  member  of  the  mill  com- 
pany. But  the  forests  have  all  been  cut  down,  the  timber  has  dis- 
appeared and  so  has  the  "town,"  there  being  no  vestige  of  it 
remaining. 

In-so-far  as  its  settlement  is  concerned,  Covert  may  be  consid- 
ered as  the  newest  township  in  the  county.  Very  little  progress 
was  made  in  its  development  prior  to  1860.  Its  heavily  timbered 
land,  some  of  it  rather  low  and  wet,  and  other  portions  not  appear- 
ing as  fertile  as  they  were  subsequently  proven  to  be,  were  not 
attractive  to  the  early  pioneers.  There  was  no  spot  in  the  entire 
township  where  tillable  land  could  be  secured  without  the  hard- 
est kind  of  labor,  and  in  those  early  days  the  timber  was  a  hindrance 
instead  of  an  advantage ;  the  greatest  trial  of  the  first  settlers  was 
to  get  rid  of  it,  which  was  accomplished  by  burning  it  in  immense 
heaps  and  at  the  cost  of  the  hardest  kind  of  labor ;  and  it  was  not 
until  the  demand  for  lumber  from  the  city  of  Chicago  and  the 
denizens  of  the  great  Illinois  prairies  made  this  vast  quantity  of 
timber  a  source  of  revenue,  that  substantial  improvements  began 
to  be  made. 

The  first  party  to  locate  in  the  township  was  Benoni  Young,  who 
emigrated  from  the  Pine  Tree  state  and  settled  upon  a  quarter  sec- 
tion of  land  situate  on  section  twenty -one.  Here,  with  his  family, 
he  lived  for  seven  years,  the  solitary  settler  within  the  limits  of 
the  township.  His  nearest  neighbors  were  Mason  Wood,  who  lived 
in  the  adjoining  township  of  Bangor,  and  Isaac  Swain,  who  lived 
in  the  township  of  Watervliet  in  the  adjoining  county  of  Berrien. 
Mr.  Young  had  no  assistance  in  erecting  his  pioneer  cabin  or  in 
clearing  up  his  land,  but  by  his  indomitable  industry  he  soon  made 
matters  fairly  comfortable  for  his  family  and  cleared  up  a  portion 
of  his  land  and  proved  its  productiveness  by  the  abundant  crops 
it  yielded  under  his  skilful  hands.  Mr.  Young  remained  in  Covert 
until  1861,  when  he  removed  to  Hartford,  where  he  spent  the  re- 
maining years  of  his  life.  He  died  on  the  16th  day  of  August, 
1885,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  The  earliest  wedding  that 
occurred  in  Covert  was  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Young 's  daughter, 
Jane,  to  Allen  Fish.  The  ceremony  took  place  at  the  Young's 
home  in  1859. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  477 

The  next  settler  was  John  Peters,  who  located  on  section  thirty- 
two.  He  remained  but  a  short  time,  when  he  removed  to  Berrien 
county  and  afterward  enlisted  in  the  United  States  army  where 
he  died. 

.Matthias  Farnum  was  another  early  settler  of  the  township.  He 
settled  on  section  seven  and  built  a  saw-mill,  the  first  in  the  town- 
ship. The  mill  hereinbefore  mentioned  was  built  on  the  site  of 
this  primitive  mill  of  Mr.  Farnum 's. 

James  Dobbyn,  a  Canadian,  came  to  Covert  in  1854  and  entered 
280  acres  of  land  on  section  thirty-two.  The  Dobbyn  family,  which 
consisted  of  sixteen  persons,  was  warmly  welcomed  by  Mr.  Peters, 
until  such  time  as  its  members  could  construct  a  cabin  for  their  own 
shelter. 

When  the  Dobbyn  family  arrived  at  the  new  location  the  house- 
hold goods  consisted  solely  of  what  each  person  wore  or  carried,  so 
it  may  well  be  imagined  that  the  task  they  had  undertaken  of  mak- 
ing a  home  in  the  wilderness  was  no  light  one.  However,  game  was 
plentiful  and  served  to  keep  the  family  larder  well  supplied  with 
meat  and  the  surplus  could  be  shipped  from  South  Haven  to  Chi- 
cago, where  it  brought  remunerative  prices  and  lightened  the  bur- 
dens that  had  to  be  borne. 

John  Wygent  arrived  in  1854  and  settled  on  section  thirty-two, 
occupying  the  house  that  had  been  vacated  by  John  Peters  when 
lie  removed  from  the  township.  Mr.  Wygent  cultivated  and  im- 
proved his  land  until  it  became  valuable,  but  eventually  disposed 
of  it  and  emigrated  to  Nebraska. 

Hiram  Fish  came  to  the  township  in  1854  and  located  on  section 
twenty-one,  where  he  entered  a  tract  of  320  acres.  Mr.  Fish  soon 
became  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  township,  in  which  he  was 
deeply  interested. 

Quite  a  number  of  settler's  arrived  during  the  next  two  years, 
among  them  being  William  Kelley,  W.  W.  Lampson,  Frank  Beal, 
William  and  J.  McConnell. 

Roads  and  Schools 

One  of  the  first  things  that  called  for  the  attention  of  the  early 
settlers  was  the  laying  out  and  opening  up  of  highways.  The  first 
road  cut  through  the  forest  was  probably  the  one  leading  to  Far- 
num's  mill.  The  Dobbyns  and  their  neighbors  also  cut  an  early 
road  in  the  vicinity  of  their  own  homes.  As  late  as  1857,  the  road 
from  the  south  part  of  the  township,  near  the  lake  shore,  was  little 
more  than  a  trail  along  which  the  compiler,  in  company  with  sev- 
eral others,  got  lost  in  the  hemlock  forest  one  evening  while  "foot- 
ing it"  from  South  Haven  to  Paulville. 


478  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

The  first  schoolhouse  was  built  on  section  thirty-three  near  the 
Dobbyn  place  and  Miss  Geraldine  Taft,  herself  a  lass  of  only  four- 
teen years,  was  the  first  teacher.  Her  pupils  were  Josephine  Lee, 
William  Lee,  David  Lee,  Henry  Wygent,  Violetta  Wygent,  William 
Wygent,  John  Dobbyn,  Jane  Dobbyn,  Isabella  Dobbyn,  Sarah 
Dobbyn,  Emma  Dell,  Mary  Dell,  Lita  Fish  and  Solon  Ingraham. 

There  are  now  438  persons  of  school  age  in  the  township,  1,842 
volumes  in  the  district  libraries  and  six  schoolhouses ;  the  estimated 
value  of  school  property  is  $11,100  and  district  indebtedness,  $1,720 ; 
eleven  qualified  teachers  were  employed  during  the  school  year  of 
1910-11,  an  aggregate  of  ninety-five  months  school  was  taught  and 
$4,794  was  expended  for  teachers'  salaries.  The  sum  of  $3,670 
was  apportioned  to  the  township  during  the  past  year  from  the 
state  primary  fund. 

William  A.  Dell,  who  was  chosen  as  the  first  supervisor  of  the 
township,  purchased  an  eighty-acre  tract  on  section  twenty-nine, 
but  afterward  he  removed  to  Watervliet.  Reuben  Lee  was  another 
settler  of  the  same  year.  J.  Enlow,  from  Ohio,  settled  on  section 
twelve  in  1857.  The  previous  settlements  had  practically  all  been 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  township,  so  that  Mr.  Enlow,  while  hav- 
ing nearer  neighbors  than  some  of  those  who  preceded  him,  found 
himself  located  in  a  section  of  country  equally  as  wild  as  did  the 
first  comers. 

Like  other  towns  similarly  situated,  Covert  has  an  ambition, 
which  seems  likely  to  be  achieved,  to  become  a  popular  summer 
resort.  Two  places  for  that  purpose  have  been  surveyed  and  platted 
along  the  lake  shore,  on  sections  five,  seven  and  eight,  one  called  the 
Covert  Resort  and  the  other  Palisades  Park.  The  latter  is  a  park 
containing  640  acres  located  in  the  west  part  of  the  township,  on 
the  sand  bluffs  of  Lake  Michigan.  It  is  laid  out  with  beautiful 
grounds,  walks  and  drives  and  has  a  large,  modern  hotel  with  ac- 
commodations for  about  100  guests.  There  are  about  seventy-five 
cottages,  golf,  tennis  and  base-ball  grounds  and  a  fine  bathing 
beach. 

The  Covert  Resort  Association  has  a  beautiful  park  about  a  mile 
south  of  the  Palisades,  improved  by  elegant  grounds  and  cot- 
tages. It  is  not  as  large  as  the  Palisades  Park,  but  in  other  respects 
compares  very  favorably  with  that  beauty  spot. 

Statistical  and  Political 

The  population  of  the  township,  according  to  the  census  of  1910, 
was  1,522.  In  point  of  numbers  Covert  and  Pine  Grove  each  rank 
eighth  among  their  sister  townships,  the  last  United  States  census 
giving  them  the  same  population. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  479 

At  the  first  assessment  after  the  township  was  set  off  from  South 
Haven,  taken  in  the  spring  of  1856,  its  total  valuation  was  $84,640 
nnd  taxes  spread  upon  the  roll  amounted  to  $1,134.37.  In  1911  the 
assessed  valuation  of  the  town  was  $477,925  and  the  tax  spread 
was  $12,366.  In  point  of  wealth  the  township  ranks  as  next  to  the 
last,  only  the  township  of  Columbia  being  assessed  at  a  less  sum. 

At  the  first  general  election  held  in  the  township,  the  presidential 
election  of  1856,  thirty-five  votes  were  cast,  twenty-six  for  the  Re- 
publican ticket  and  nine  for  the  Democratic.  At  the  presidential 
election  of  1908,  280  votes  were  polled,  as  follows:  Taft,  Republi- 
can, 212;  Bryan,  Democrat,  50;  Chafin,  Prohibitionist,  ten;  Debs, 
Socialist,  six;  Hisgen,  Independent,  two. 

Although  this  township  was  so  late  in  becoming  improved,  a 
stranger  passing  through  it  at  the  present  time,  looking  upon  its 
fine,  modern  farm  residences,  viewing  its  magnificent  orchards,  see- 
ing its  up-to-date  schoolhouses,  beholding  its  beautiful  parks  and 
taking  in  its  one  thriving,  prosperous  little  village,  would  hardly 
imagine  that  but  little  more  than  half  a  century  ago  it  was  all 
an  unbroken  wilderness,  inhabited  only  by  the  red  man  and  the 
beasts  of  the  forest,  a  veritable  terra  incognita. 

The  Village  of  Covert 

The  village  of  Covert  is  centrally  located,  being  situated  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  fourteen  and  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  fifteen.  It  was  surveyed  by  Almon  J.  Pierce,  county  sur- 
veyor, and  platted  by  the  Messrs.  Packard  &  Sons  and  others,  in 
December,  1875,  and  is  the  only  village  in  the  township,  although 
there  is  a  little  hamlet  on  the  line  of  the  railroad  three  miles  to 
the  northward,  called  Packard. 

The  village  is  situated  on  the  Fruit  Belt  line,  about  midway  be- 
tween the  village  of  Hartford  and  the  city  of  South  Haven,  being 
eight  miles  from  the  latter  place.  While  the  village  has  been  so 
long  platted,  it  is  not  incorporated.  It  was  about  the  year  1866 
that  the  earliest  indications  of  improvement  were  manifested  in 
the  locality  now  occupied  by  the  village.  About  that  time  Messrs. 
Hawks  &  Lambert  became  interested  in  the  outlook  for  lumbering 
in  the  township  and  began  the  erection  of  mills  for  its  manufacture. 
After  three  years,  they  sold  out  to  Packard  &  Company.  These 
gentlemen  at  once  became  greatly  interested  in  the  development  of 
the  town  and  they  are  entitled  to  full  credit  for  the  great  improve- 
ment that  speedily  became  apparent.  Alfred  H.  Packard,  Jr.,  had, 
in  1868,  built  a  saw-mill  on  seetion  two  and  became  the  owner  of 
a  considerable  tract  of  timber.  Packard  &  Company  added  largely 
to  their  purchase  from  Hawks  &  Lambert  and  built  a  much  larger 


480  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

mill.  Eventually  they  became  interested  in  sawing  and  planing 
and  the  grinding  of  coarse  grain.  Their  mills  were  capable  of 
cutting  4,000,000  feet  of  lumber  per  year,  while  the  mills  of  Alfred 
H.  Packard  had  even  a  greater  capacity. 

In  order  to  be  able  to  ship  their  lumber  across  the  lake,  they  built 
substantial  piers  extending  into  the  lake  and  constructed  tram- 
ways operated  by  horse  power  from  their  mills  to  the  piers.  The 
Packards  also  carried  on  a  general  store  and  dealt  largely  in  wood 
and  in  hemlock  bark  for  tanning  purposes. 

One  of  the  efficient  high  schools  of  the  county  is  located  in  the 
village  of  Covert.  According  to  the  last  school  census  there  were 
184  pupils  in  the  district,  581  volumes  in  the  school  library,  the 
school  property  was  valued  at  $3,500,  an  aggregate  of  forty-five 
months  school  was  taught  during  the  school  year,  five  teachers  were 
employed  and  $2,385  were  expended  in  teachers'  salaries. 

The  Congregational  church  at  Covert  was  organized  on  the  27th 
day  of  September,  1870.  Its  earlier  membership  was  composed 
of  the  following  named  individuals:  Josiah  Packard,  Elizabeth 
Packard,  Perlia  Packard,  Pamelia  Packard,  Alfred  Packard,  Mary 
Packard,  William  O.  Packard,  Milan  Packard,  Margaret  Smith,  Ed- 
ward A.  Rood,  Thaddeus  Rood,  Martha  Rood,  Flora  Rood,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  E.  P.  Shaw,  W.  F.  Trafford,  Martha,  E.  Trafford,  Gordon  Sin- 
clair, D.  B.  Allen  and  Flora  Allen.  The  first  meetings  were  held  in  a 
barn  arranged  for  that  purpose,  then  in  the  schoolhouse,  afterward 
for  a  series  of  years  in  Packard's  hall.  A  parsonage  was  built  in 
1873  and  in  1878-9  a  fine  church  building  was  erected  at  an  ex- 
pense of  more  than  $4,000,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  400  people. 
The  building  was  dedicated  November  5,  1879.  The  church  now 
has  179  members.  A  Sunday  school  was  started  by  that  enthusias- 
tic veteran  Sunday  school  man,  D.  B.  Allen,  ten  years  prior  to 
the  organization  of  the  church. 

An  Adventist  church  was  organized  in  1888.  The  society  has  a 
small  house  of  worship  and  twenty-nine  members. 

The  Covert  postoffice  was  established  about  1866.  The  first  post- 
master was  D.  B.  Allen.  His  successors  have  been  as  follows :  Dr. 
Orley  M.  Vaughan,  Jacob  Gunsaul,  Dr.  Vaughan,  appointed  a  sec- 
ond time;  Jacob  Gunsaul,  a  second  time;  and  Charles  Gunsaul, 
the  present  incumbent. 

The  business  places  in  the  village  consist  of  one  drygoods  and 
clothing  store,  one  drygoods  and  grocery  store,  two  hardware  stores, 
one  drug  store,  one  private  bank,  one  grocery  store,  two  meat  mar- 
kets; one  nursery,  growing  and  dealing  in  fruit  trees  and  vines; 
one  hotel,  one  undertaking  establishment,  one  livery,  one  cooper 
shop,  one  coal  and  ice  establishment,  one  feed  mill,  one  coal  and 
lumber  yard,  one  warehouse,  one  wagon  shop,  one  shoe  shop,  one 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  481 

billiard  hall,  one  barber  shop,  one  dray  line,  one  blacksmith  shop ; 
two  pickle  factories,  which  put  up  21,000  bushels  of  cucumber 
pickles  during  the  past  season,  and  one  fruit  canning  establish- 
ment which,  in  1911,  canned  about  20,000  bushels  of  peaches,  9,000 
bushels  of  apples,  and  3,000  bushels  of  plums.  There  were  shipped 
out  of  Covert  and  used  in  the  cannery  during  the  season  about 
32,000  bushels  of  peaches,  20,000  bushels  of  apples,  12,000  bushels 
of  pears,  6,000  bushels  of  plums  and  20,000  cases  of  strawberries. 

The  following  secret  societies  are  represented  in  the  village: 
Covert  Lodge,  No.  328,  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
which  was  organized  May  27,  1879,  with  nine  members  and  now 
has  a  membership  of  seventy-five;  and  Star  Rebekah  Lodge,  No. 
61,  same  order,  which  was  organized  January  17,  1882,  with  nine 
members  and  now  has  a  membership  of  sixty-nine. 

A  lodge  of  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  was  instituted  on  the 
13th  day  of  April,  1899.    Its  present  membership  is  thirty-four. 

The  business  transacted  in  this  little  village  would  be  creditable 
to  a  town  of  much  larger  size. 


CHAPTER  XXV 
TOWNSHIP  OF  DECATUR 

First  White  Settler  of  the  County — First  Native  White 
Child — First  Gospel  Sermon  and  Pioneer  School — A.  B. 
Copley  on  Early  Days — Various  Pioneers — Civil  and  Polit- 
ical— Statistics — Village  of  Decatur — Retrospect. 

By  the  government  survey,  the  township  of  Decatur  is  officially 
designated  as  township  number  four  south,  of  range  number  four- 
teen west.  It  is  one  of  the  southern  tier  of  townships  of  the 
county.  Its  southern  boundary  is  the  line  between  the  counties  of 
Van  Buren  and  Cass,  and  it  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  town- 
ship of  Paw  Paw,  on  the  east  by  Porter,  and  on  the  west  by  the 
township  of  Hamilton. 

First  White  Settler  of  the  County 

The  first  white  settler  within  the  limits  of  Van  Buren  county 
was  Dolphin  Morris,  who  was  born  in  Loudon  county,  in  the  state 
of  Virginia,  where,  on  the  29th  day  of  March,  1825,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Nancy  Beaver.  In  the  fall  of  1828  he  started  with 
his  family  and  all  his  personal  effects  in  a  lumber  wagon,  des- 
tined for  Summerville,  Cass  county,  Michigan.  Their  route  lay 
through  dense  forests;  many  streams  were  to  be  forded  and  many 
obstacles  had  to  be  overcome.  He  finally  arrived  safely  at  his 
destination  and  spent  the  winter  with  his  cousin,  Joseph  Gardner. 
During  his  stay  at  Gardner's  he  located  in  the  south  half  of  sec- 
tion 35,  township  of  Decatur,  and  early  in  the  spring  of  1829 
erected  the  first  white  man's  residence  in  the  county,  and  made 
the  first  improvement.  His  home  was  a  typical  pioneer  cabin, 
built  of  logs  notched  at  the  corners  to  hold  them  in  place;  the 
crevices  wrere  chinked  with  split  basswood  and  daubed  with  clay 
to  make  the  cabin  warm  and  comfortable;  the  roof  was  made  of 
oak  shakes  which  were  held  in  place  by  weight  poles;  the  floor  was 
of  split  basswood  puncheons  several  inches  in  thickness,  smoothed 
slightly  on  the  upper  side  with  an  adze  or  axe.  There  were  three 
small  windows  below  and  one  in  the  gable ;  the  chimney  was  made 

482     . 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  483 

of  sticks  and  mud  and  thickly  plastered  inside;  the  fireplace  was 
capacious  and  wide,  admitting  of  huge  logs,  in  front  of  which  the 
cooking  was  done.  The  chamber  was  reached  by  a  ladder.  The 
door  was  put  together  with  wooden  pins,  hung  on  wooden  hinges 
and  provided  with  a  wooden  latch  with  a  latch  string  on  the  out- 
side. It  was  indeed  a  case  of  "pull  on  the  latch  string,  'twill  open 
the  door. ' '  An  axe,  a  saw,  an  auger  and  a  f roe  were  all  the  tools 
that  were  required  in  building  the  pioneer  residences.  "We  won- 
der how  many  of  the  rising  generation  have  ever  seen  a  froe,  or 
frow  (as  is,  perhaps  the  more  approved  orthography),  or  know 
what  kind  of  an  implement  it  is? 

First  Native  White  Child 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dolphin  Morris,  on  the  4th  day  of  August, 
1830,  was  born  a  son,  Lewis  Creighton  Morris,  the  first  native 
white  child  of  the  county.  This  babe  survived  only  until  the 
20th  day  of  the  next  December  and  was  the  first  person  buried  in 
what  is  known  as  the  Morris  and  Anderson  cemetery. 

First  Gospel  Sermon  and  Pioneer  School 

The  first  Gospel  sermon  ever  preached  in  the  county  was  in 
this  Morris  cabin  and  was  delivered  in  1830  by  Rev.  William 
Sprague,  a  young  Methodist  minister  who  afterward  became  a  pre- 
siding elder  and  later  a  member  of  congress,  defeating  the  Hon. 
Charles  E.  Stewart  of  Kalamazoo,  for  that  office.  As  soon  as 
suitable  accommodations  could  be  secured  the  circuit  rider  came, 
preaching  wherever  a  place  could  be  found,  either  in  the  Morris 
barn  or  elsewhere.  The  inhabitants  would  generally  attend  these 
services  coming  for  miles  on  horseback,  sometimes  riding  double,, 
sometimes  "riding  and  tieing."  Buggies  and  carriages  were  not 
then  in  use  among  the  hardy  pioneers.  The  preaching  was  usu- 
ally extemporaneous;  the  singing  was  congregational  and  con- 
sisted in  making  a  "joyful  noise' '  with  little  regard  for  tune  or 
melody.  Hymn  books  were  scarce  and  the  preacher  would  "line 
out"  the  hymns,  a  couple  of  lines  at  a  time,  and  when  the  people 
had  sung  them  the  process  would  be  repeated. 

The  first  school  in  the  county  was  taught  in  this  same  pioneer 
residence  by  William  Alexander.  A  fairly  good  schoolhouse  was 
built  as  soon  as  practicable  and  the  first  school  therein  was  taught 
by  G.  N.  Copley. 

The  Indians  who  at  that  time  inhabited  the  county  were  as  a 
rule  friendly,  some  of  the  squaws  being  exceptionally  kind.  There 
was,  however,  now  and  then  an  exception.  One  Indian,  known  as 
old  Shavehead,  who  was  somewhat  of  a  terror  to  the  community, 


484  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

was  looked  upon  with  suspicion  and  regarded  as  being  a  treacherous 
fellow.  It  is  generally  believed  that  he  was  shot  by  some  white 
man  as  he  suddenly  disappeared  and  nothing  was  ever  heard  of  him 
afterward.  His  name  is  borne  by  a  lake  in  the  southern  part  of 
Cass  county,  Shavehead  lake. 

The  log  cabins  of  the  pioneers  were  erected  without  regard  to 
section  lines;  in  fact,  such  lines  were  not  run  when  the  first  set- 
tlers arrived  and  their  claims  were  located  by  guess,  or  "stepped 
off."  The  field  notes  of  Decatur  township  say  that  its  boundaries 
were  surveyed  by  William  Brookfield  in  1827,  and  the  section  lines 
by  E.  H.  Lytle  in  1830.  Roads  were  laid  from  one  settler  to  an- 
other as  nearly  in  a  direct  line  as  the  conformation  of  the  ground 
permitted,  continually  changing  as  new  settlers  arrived  or  as  some 
farmer  desired  to  extend  his  fields.  Very  few  of  the  original  roads, 
as  at  first  laid  out,  are  in  existence  at  the  present  time,  and  but 
few  of  the  original  building  sites  are  now  occupied  as  such. 

A.  B.  Copley  on  Early  Days 

Writing  of  these  early  days,  Alexander  B.   Copley,  himself  a 
pioneer,  since  deceased,  says:  "My  father  left  Dayton,  Ohio,  on 
horseback,  to  make  a  trip  to  that  part  of  Michigan  territory  called 
the   St.   Joseph   country,   reaching  the  home  of  Dolphin  Morris, 
September  4,  1832.     From  his  journal  it  appears  that  up  to  that 
time  there  had  been  entered  at  the  land  office  sixteen  eighty-acre 
lots  in  the  township  of  Decatur,  four  in  Waverly,  and  five  in  La- 
Fay  ette   (now  Paw  Paw).     There  were  then  six  families  in  Van 
Buren  county,  namely,  Dolphin  Morris,  his  brother,   Samuel  H. 
Morris,  H.  D.  Swift,  George  Tittle,  David  Curry  and  LeGrand 
Anderson — but  for  nearly  two  years  Mr.  Morris  and  his  wife  were 
the  only  settlers  in  Van  Buren  county.     The  cabin  erected  by  Mr. 
Morris,  the  one  hereinbefore  referred  to,"  says  Mr.  Copley,  "was 
of  more  than  passing  interest,  aside  from  sheltering  the  first  white 
family  of  the  county.     Here  it  was  that  Daniel  Alexander  and 
Margaret  Tittle,  the  second  married  couple  in  the  county,  began 
housekeeping ;  and  here  it  was  also  that  Elias  Morris,  second  son 
of  Dolphin  Morris,  was  born,  and  who  up  to  the  time  of  his  death 
a  couple  of  years  ago  was  the  oldest  person  born  in  the  county. 
This  cabin  where  the  first  birth  and  the  first  death  occurred,  where 
the  germ  of  our  valued  school  system  was  planted ;  this  cabin 
that  served  for  both  schoolhouse  and  church  and  where  the  first 
family  altar  was  reared,  surely  deserves  to  be  kept  in  remembrance 
and  its  site  marked  to  commemorate  the  beginning  of  civilization 
in  our  beautiful  county.' ' 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  485 

Various  Pioneers 

Dolphin  Morris  remained  a  resident  of  Decatur  until  his  death 
which  occurred  January  7,  1870.  His  wife,  Nancy,  died  October 
4,  1877.  Henry  Morris,  his  youngest  son  and  his  wife,  Esther  Mor- 
ris, aged  respectively  thirty-two  and  twenty-six,  were  murdered; 
shot  to  death  in  the  night  of  the  28th  of  September,  1879,  while  in 
the  peaceful  occupancy  of  the  old  Morris  homestead.  Their  mur- 
derer was  unknown  and  was  never  brought  to  justice,  although  a 
large  reward  was  offered  by  the  public  authorities  for  his  appre- 
hension and  conviction.  Strong  suspicion  was  entertained  as  to 
the  perpetrator  of  the  dastardly  deed,  but  his  identity  was  never 
established  and  the  whereabouts  of  the  suspected  individual,  who 
immediately  disappeared  from  public  view,  has  never  been  made 
manifest. 

Dolphin  Morris  split  with  his  own  hands  the  first  rail  and  turned 
the  first  furrow  in  Van  Buren  county.  His  three  remaining  sons, 
Samuel,  Amos  and  Elias  are  all  deceased. 

Coming  to  Michigan  with  Mr.  Morris,  H.  D.  Swift  located  a 
claim  on  section  thirty-six,  in  the  township  of  Decatur,  which  he 
sold  to  LeGrand  Anderson  in  1831.  With  the  proceeds  of  the  sale 
he  purchased  another  tract  near  at  hand  where  he  lived  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life. 

George  Tittle,  who  was  Mr.  Morris'  brother-in-law,  came  from 
the  state  of  Ohio  in  1831  and  settled  on  section  thirty-five,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death  in  1866. 

Samuel  Morris,  a  brother  to  Dolphin,  came  to  Cass  county  in 
1829,  where  he  resided  for  a  couple  of  years  when  he  settled  on  sec- 
tion thirty-six,  near  his  brother,  and  where  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  days. 

LeGrand  Anderson  came  from  Ohio  to  Michigan,  in  the  spring 
of  1831,  and  purchased  a  tract  of  more  than  400  acres  in  Decatur 
township,  on  sections  twenty-six  and  thirty-six.  In  the  summer  of 
1832,  he  brought  his  family  from  Ohio  and  they  became  permanent 
residents  of  the  then  wilderness.  Mr.  Anderson  remained  on  his 
Decatur  farm  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  After  his  death 
it  passed  into  the  possession  of  his  son  LeGrand  R.  Anderson,  who 
continued  to  own  it  until  his  death  which  occurred  October  14, 
1909. 

David  Curry  was  one  of  Decatur's  leading  pioneers.  He  came 
from  Indiana  in  1830,  to  Cass  county,  where  he  remained  about  two 
years  when  he  entered  a  quarter  section  adjoining  the  Morris  land, 
built  thereon  a  log  cabin  eighteen  by  twenty  feet — quite  a  sumptu- 
ous residence  for  those  early  days,  although  it  was  sans  floor,  door 
or  window.    His  young  wife  would  not  permit  him  to  lay  a  "  punch- 


486  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

eon"  floor,  preferring  to  tread  on  "mother  earth"  until  she  could 
have  something  better.  The  next  winter  Mr.  Curry  secured  some 
rough  boards  from  the  adjoining  county  of  Cass,  with  which  he 
laid  the  floor  of  his  primitive  palace,  and  Mrs.  Curry  enjoyed  the 
distinction  of  having  the  only  "sawed"  floor  in  the  settlement 
(even  if  it  was  rough),  and  that  she  lived  in  the  best  house  on  the 
"prairie."  Mr.  Curry  died  in  1846  while  in  the  prime  of  life,  be- 
ing killed  by  a  fall  from  a  wagon. 

Joseph  Van  Hise,  a  native  of  Butler  county,  Ohio,  located  on 
section  thirteen  in  1835.  A  year  later  he  returned  to  Ohio  for  his 
family  and  with  them  came  his  brother,  William  O.,  and  their 
father  and  mother,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oakey  Van  Hise.  One  of  Jo- 
seph's sons,  William  K.  Van  Hise,  who  has  been  a  man  of  consid- 
erable prominence  in  township  affairs,  is  yet  living  on  a  farm  on 
section  thirteen  near  where  his  father  made  his  primitive  home. 

Another  of  the  early  settlers  was  John  Eckenberger,  who  sold 
his  farm  to  Jacob  Charles  of  Cass  county  and  removed  farther 
wrest,  but  eventually  returned  to  Decatur  and  died  there  as  did  Mr. 
Charles. 

Thomas  Scott  and  family  located  on  section  thirteen  in  1836, 
afterward  becoming  a  resident  of  the  township  of  Antwerp  and 
removing  to  the  state  of  Illinois.  John  W.  Scott,  a  nephew  of 
Thomas  Scott,  came  from  Ohio  to  Decatur  in  the  spring  of  1837 
and  worked  as  a  farm  laborer  until.  1842,  when  he  returned  to  his 
native  state,  married,  returned  to  Decatur  in  1844  and  made  that 
township  his  home. 

At  the  time  that  Mr.  Morris  settled  in  Decatur  there  were  In- 
dian traders  at  Bronson  (now  Kalamazoo)  ;  at  Grand  Rapids,  a 
trading  post  at  that  time  and  now  the  second  city  in  the  state ;  and 
west,  a  trading  post  at  St.  Joseph ;  nothing  else  east,  west  or  north. 
To  the  south  was  the  Carey  mission,  near  the  location  of  the  pres- 
ent city  of  Niles,  in  Berrien  county.  This  was  established  in  1820, 
in  accordance  with  the  treaty  made  by  General  Cass  with  the  Pot- 
tawattamies.  This  mission  was  the  means  of  opening  up  the  valley 
of  the  St.  Joseph  to  permanent  settlement. 

Civil  and  Political 

The  township  of  Decatur,  which  was  named  in  honor  of  Commo- 
dore Stephen  Decatur,  one  of  the  nation  's  naval  heroes,  was  organ- 
ized in  1837,  by  legislative  enactment  and  embraced  within  its 
limits  the  present  townships  of  Decatur  and  Porter — the  latter 
having  been  set  off  and  organized  into  a  separate  township  in  1845. 
The  first  township  meeting  was  held  at  the  schoolhouse  near  Little 
Prairie  Ronde.     At  this  .election  John  D.   Compton  was  elected 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


487 


clerk  and  Joseph  Van  Hise,  John  D.  Conipton,  George  S.  Freese 
and  Tinker  R.  Smith  were  elected  as  justices  of  the  peace.  The  of- 
ficial records  of  the  county  do  not  disclose  the  names  of  the  other 
officers  chosen  at  this  election. 

At  the  first  general  state  election  held  on  the  fourth  and  fifth 
days  of  November,  1839,  forty  gubernatorial  votes  were  cast, 
twenty-four  of  them  being  for  William  Woodbridge,  Whig,  and 
sixteen  for  Elon  Farnsworth,  Democrat.  (Woodbridge  was  the 
only  Whig  that  ever  occupied  the  chief  executive  office  of  the  state 
of  Michigan.) 


Town  Hall,  Decatur 


At  the  presidential  election  of  1908  there  were  497  presidential 
votes  cast  as  follows:  305  for  Taft,  Republican;  165  for  Bryan. 
Democrat ;  seventeen  for  Chafin,  Prohibitionist ;  five  for  Debs,  So- 
cialist, and  1\ve  for  Hisgen,  Independence  party. 

According  to  the  census  figures  of  1910,  Decatur  ranked  fifth 
among  the  townships  of  the  county  in  point  of  population,  hav- 
ing 2,106  inhabitants. 

George  S.  Freese  was  the  first  supervisor  of  the  township,  hav- 
ing been  elected  to  that  office  at  the  first  town  meeting  held  on  the 
first  Monday  of  April,  1837.  The  records  do  not  disclose  the  names 
of  the  supervisor  for  either  the  year  1838  or  1841.  John  McKin- 
ney  was  elected  in  1840.  With  the  exception  of  the  years  noted, 
the ,  following  is  a  complete  list  of  the  names  of  the  persons  who 
have  filled  that  office:  George  S.  Freese,  Joseph  Van  Hise,  John 
McKinney,  Stephen  Kinney,  Lyman  Sanford,  N.  Le  Fevre,  Wil- 


488  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BITREN  COUNTY 

liam  O.  Aran  Hise,  Jeremiah  Teed,  George  Bennett,  0.  T.  Welch, 
E;  Parker  Hill,  C.  Hollister,  Eri  Beebe,  Ransom  Nutting,  Marvin 
Hinckley,  William  K.  Van  Hise,  David  A.  Squier  and  Emory  IT. 
Squier  (present  incumbent).  Of  the  earlier  supervisors,  Lyman 
Sanford  held  the  office  seven  years,  possibly  more.  E.  Parker  Hill 
served  seven  years ;  Wrilliam  K.  Van  Hise,  ten  years ;  Ransom  Nut- 
ting, fifteen  years;  David  A.  Squier  was  elected  nine  times  in  suc- 
cession and  died  in  1902  while  holding  the  office,  and  his  son, 
Emory  H.  Squier,  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  his 
father's  death  and  has  been  continued  in  the  office  since. 

There  are  several  small  lakes  in  the  township,  the  principal  ones 
being  Lake  of  the  Woods,  which  is  within  sight  of  the  village  of 
Decatur  on  the  west  and  lies  partly  in  the  township  of  Decatur 
and  partly  in  the  township  of  Hamilton.  This  was  originally  a 
beautiful  sheet  of  water,  but  its  beauty  has  been  considerably 
marred  by  its  having  been  partially  drained  in  order  to  secure  a 
few  acres  of  tillable  land  around  its  shores.  A  small  lake  just 
south  of  the  corporation  line  of  the  village  is  dignified  by  the  un- 
euphonious  name  of  Mud  lake.  Pickerel  lake,  half  a  mile  south- 
east of  the  village,  was  originally  well  stocked  with  that  variety  of 
fish  from  which  it  takes  its  name.  Swift's  lake,  on  section  36,  in 
the  southeast  corner  of  the  township,  covers  about  one-fourth  of 
the  section.  Several  small  streams  take  rise  in  the  northern  and 
western  part  of  the  township  and  unite  to  form  what  is  known  as 
the  west  branch  of  the  Paw  Paw  river,  and  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  township  other  similar  streams  (the  principal  one  being  the 
outlet  of  Pickerel  lake),  form  the  Dowagiac  creek,  which  flows 
southeasterly  into  Cass  county. 

Statistics 

The  first  school  in  Decatur  was  taught  by  William  Alexander  in 
the  humble  cabin  of  Dolphin  Morris  in  the  winter  of  1834-5. 
There  are  now  seven  schools  in  the  township  and  eight  schoolhouses. 
The  number  of  persons  of  school  age,  according  to  the  enumeration 
of  1911,  was  613,  the  value  of  school  property  is  estimated  at 
$21,700;  the  number  of  teachers  employed  during  the  school  year 
of  1910-11  was  sixteen;  they  taught  an  aggregate  of  145  months 
and  received  in  wages  $7,065.25.  The  district  libraries  contain 
1,072  volumes.  $4,260  state  primary  school  money  was  apportioned 
to  the  schools  of  the  township  during  the  last  year. 

The  total  amount  of  taxes  levied  in  the  township  in  1837,  was 
$263.60.  No  assessment  of  personal  property  appears  on  the  tax 
roll,  but  the  tax  spread  was  just  four  cents  per  acre  throughout 
the  entire  township.    In  1911  the  amount  of  tax  spread  on  the  as- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUBEN  COUNTY  489 

sessment  roll  of  the  township  was  $14,002.75.  In  point  of  wealth, 
according  to  assessment,  Decatur  ranks  third  among  the  townships 
of  the  county,  being  assessed  at  $1,186,350,  which  is  exceeded  only 
by  Paw  Paw  and  Hartford. 

Village  of  Decatur 

The  original  plat  of  this  village  was  surveyed  in  the  spring  of 
1850.  Joseph  D.  Beers  and  Samuel  Sherwood  of  New  York  had 
become  the  owners  of  a  large  tract  of  government  land  in  which 
was  included  the  present  village  site.  These  gentlemen  donated 
the  site  of  the  depot  buildings,  which  were  erected  in  1848,  the 
same  year  that  the  railroad  was  completed  to  Niles,  in  Berrien 
county.  When  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  Company  began 
to  push  its  road  westward  from  Kalamazoo  these  gentlemen  con- 
ceived the  plan  of  laying  out  and  platting  a  village  along  the  line 
of  that  road,  which  they  did,  calling  it  Decatur  after  the  name  of 
the  township  in  which  it  was  situated.  Since  that  date  there  have 
been  no  less  than  fifteen  additions  to  the  original  plat.  The  last 
of  these  is  called  "Hastings'  Addition"  and  was  platted  in  the 
summer  of  1910.  In  1905,  the  common  council  of  the  village^aused 
a  resurvey  and  a  new  plat  to  be  made  covering  the  original  plat 
and  the  major  portion  of  the  various  different  additions.  This 
plat  is  commonly  known  as  the  Supervisors'  plat. 

As  at  present  constituted,  the  village  embraces  portions  of  sec- 
tions seventeen,  eighteen,  nineteen  and  twenty,  and  by  the  census 
of  1910  contained  a  population  of  1,286,  being  exceeded  in  num- 
bers by  no  village  in  the  county  except  Paw  Paw. 

There  had  been  some  indications  of  a  future  village  before  it 
was  platted.  Hiram  Lee  purchased  the  first  village  lot  in  1848. 
The  construction  of  a  road  across  the  swamp  south  of  the  village, 
which  was  completed  in  the  fall  of  1849,  opened  communication 
with  a  considerable  tract  of  country  that  had  been  theretofore 
practically  inaccessible.  This  gave  to  the  new  village  a  decided  im- 
petus. During  the  year  1849  C.  S.  Tucker  opened  a  boarding 
house,  and  stores  were  established  by  A.  H.  Dixon,  Goss  &  Dixon 
and  Theodore  E.  Phelps.  Before  these  business  places  were  opened, 
trading  wras  done  either  at  Paw  PawT  or  Kalamazoo. 

In  1851,  there  were  three  general  stores  in  the  village,  kept  by 
the  following  named  merchants:  A.  H.  Dixon,  Theodore  E.  Phelps 
and  E.  Ingalls.  Henry  Carroll  had  a  drug  store  and  the  boarding 
house  started  by  Mr.  Tucker  had  been  converted  into  a  hotel,  kept 
by  L.  R.  Barker  and  called  the  Decatur  House. 

At  that  time  Decatur  was  literally  "in  the  woods/'  being  sur- 
rounded by  the  forest  on  every  side,  in  which  various  kinds  of 


490  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

game  abounded.  A  steam  saw-mill  was  erected  by  Messrs.  Beers 
•&  Sherwood  in  1850,  near  the  village.  A  distillery  subsequently 
took  its  place,  but  it  was  short-lived. 

During  the  first  five  years  after  its  incorporation  the  village  in- 
creased in  growth  moderately  and  at  the  expiration  of  that  period 
there  were  about  seventy-five  buildings  within  its  boundaries. 

The  first  wedding  that  occurred  in  the  village  was  that  of  L.  T. 
Olds  and  Miss  Mary  Elliott,  which  was  solemnized,  May  18,  1850, 
by  Justice  George  Sherwood. 

Mr.  Olds,  who  settled  in  the  village  in  1849,  was  its  first  carpen- 
ter and  joiner. 

The  first  village  physician  was  Dr.  George  Bartholomew,  who 
erected  a  small  building  in  1848  and  occupied  it  as  an  office  and 
drugstore.  He  subsequently  became  a  resident  of  the  township  of 
Keeler  where  he  died,  September  20,  1887.  Dr.  John  T.  Keables 
located  in  Decatur  in  1851,  where  he  continued  the  practice  of  his 
profession  until  his  death,  about  forty  years  later,  November  1, 
1891. 

A  couple  of  years  after  the  platting  of  the  village  a.  post-office 
was  established.  George  Sherwood  was  the  first  postmaster.  Sub- 
sequent incumbents  of  the  office  have  been  "W.  N.  Pardee,  Charles 
N.  Poor  and  Theodore  Phelps,  who  died  while  holding  the  office, 
his  widow  being  appointed  as  his  successor;  following  her,  Eri 
Beebe,  J.  AY.  Rogers,  John  L.  Harrison,  Lyman  A.  Roberts,  Ran- 
som Nutting,  May  F.  Nicholson,  Theodore  Trowbridge,  William  H. 
White  and  Arba  N.  Moulton,  the  present  incumbent. 

The  village  was  first  incorporated  on  the  1.1th  day  of  October, 
1859,  by  resolution  of  the  county  board  of  supervisors.  It  was  re- 
incorporated by  legislative  action  in  1861,  and  again  by  the  legis- 
lature of  1883.  This  last  act  of  incorporation  is  found  in  the 
Local  Acts  of  that  year  on  page  17.  These  last  articles  of  incor- 
poration have  been  twice  amended.  (Local  Acts  of  1893,  p.  154, 
and  Local  Acts  of  1905,  p.  297.) 

The  first  officers  of  the  village  were  E.  Parker  Hill,  president; 
Charles  Shier,  recorder;  Hiram  Cole,  Myron  Hinkley,  J.  II.  Wal- 
lace, Carlton  Wheeler,  Charles  N.  Poor  and  John  Tarbell,  trus- 
tees. 

The  present  officers  are  Malcolm  S.  Carney,  president;  Stephen 
O.  Van  Hise,  clerk;  William  A.  High,  treasurer;  Edwin  L.  Cady, 
assessor;  Milton  E.  Knoll,  William  P.  Bope,  Horace  D.  Crane,  J. 
M.  Altha  and  B.  K.  Durkee,  trustees. 

The  first  schoolhouse  within  the  limits  of  the  present  village  was 
built  in  1848  and  the  first  school  was  taught  therein  during  the 
winter  of  1848-9  by  Miss  Sarah  Cook,  whose  pupils  numbered 
twenty. 


HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


491 


The  village  is  now  possessed  of  one  of  the  leading  high  schools 
of  the  county.  At  the  last  enumeration  there  were  420  persons  of 
school  age  in  the  village  district;  forty-seven  non-resident  pupils 
attended  the  school  during  the  school  year  of  1910-11;  the  dis- 
trict library  contains  500  volumes;  there  are  two  modern  school 
buildings  in  the  district;  ten  teachers  were  employed  during  the 
school  year;  the  aggregate  number  of  months  of  school  taught  was 
ninety-five,  and  the  sum  paid  for  teachers'  salaries  was  $3,924.64. 


Wf**«£^ 


Decatur  High  School 


There  are  six  churches  in  the  village,  to-wit:  Methodist  Episco- 
pal, Christian  or  Disciple,  Presbyterian,  Catholic,  Universalist  and 
Free  Methodist. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  organized  in  1860,  and  its 
house  of  worship  was  erected  in  1.861.  The  building  is  a  commodi- 
ous s^ucture,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  350.  Its  present  pastor 
is  Rev.  F.  W.  Nickel.     It  has  a  membership  of  150. 

The  Universalist  church  was  organized  in  1868.  Their  house  of 
worship  was  built  in  1881.  It  was  afterward  destroyed  by  fire  and 
rebuilt  in  1895.  It  is  a  brick  structure  capable  of  seating  two  hun- 
dred people.  The  church  now  has  a  membership  of  forty-eight, 
but  at  the  present  time  has  no  pastor. 

The  Christian  church  is  a  large,  commodious  brick  building  and 
the  society  is  one  of  the  leading  religious  organizations  of  the 
place.  Many  of  the  foremost  citizens  of  the  village  are  and  have 
been  connected  with  this  church,  which  has  been  among  the  leaders 
in  religious  matters.    This  church  was  organized  in  1885,  the  pres- 


492  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

ent  membership  is  about  sixty;  the  house  of  worship  was  built  in 
1887  and  has  a  seating  capacity  of  350.  The  present  pastor  is 
Elder  J.  J.  Terry. 

The  first  Presbyterian  church  of  Decatur  was  organized  in  1852 
by  Rev.  Mercus  Harrison,  with  the  following  members :  Lydia  Har- 
rison, Mrs.  Eli  Rich  and  Joseph  Mc Clint ock,  three  in  all.  Their 
house  of  worship  was  dedicated  in  1856,  the  dedicatory  sermon 
being  preached  by  Rev.  A.  C.  Tuttle  of  Paw  Paw.  It  now  has  a 
fine  frame  church  building,  and  the  society  ranks  high  in  the  re- 
ligious life  of  the  town. 

The  Free  Methodist  have  a  house  of  worship,  but  the  society  is 
numerically  rather  small. 

The  Catholic  church,  known  as  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Family, 
began  about  1855,  when  Rev.  Father  Koopman  of  Marshall  visited 
the  place  and  arranged  to  hold  services  once  in  three  months. 
Meetings  were  held  in  private  houses  or  public  halls  for  twenty 
years  or  more,  when  the  society  purchased  the  building  that  had 
formerly  been  occupied  by  the  Universalists.  There  are  at  the 
present  time  about  twenty-five  families  connected  with  the  church. 
Rev.  Father  Geo.  Clarson  of  Paw  Paw,  is  the  pastor. 

There  are  numerous  lodges  and  orders  represented  in  the  village. 
Decatur  lodge,  No.  99,  Free  &  Accepted  Masons,  was  instituted 
January  1,  1858,  and  at  the  present  time  has  seventy-six  members. 

Star  Chapter,  No.  336,  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  has  recently 
been  instituted  and  has  ninety  members. 

Burnside  Post,  No.  27,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  was  insti- 
tuted September  19,  1881,  and  now  has  twenty-seven  members. 

Decatur  Lodge,  No.  112,  Knights  of  Pythias,  was  organized  in 
1890.     It  has  a  present  membership  of  fifty. 

Sprague  Lodge,  No.  113,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  was 
instituted  on  the  28th  day  of  October,  1867,  with  five  charter 
members.     It  now  numbers  118  and  the  lodge  owns  its  own  hall. 

Ellen  A.  Sprague  Rebekah  Lodge  No.  6,  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  was  instituted  February  22,  1879,  and  has  a  nftmber- 
ship  of  eighty-eight. 

Decatur  Grange,  No.  346,  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  was  organized 
in  June,  1875,  with  sixty  members,  and  has  been  in  continuous 
operation  since  that  date. 

The  Modern  Woodmen  and  the  Order  of  Maccabees  also  have 
flourishing  lodges. 

A  prosperous  ladies'  literary  club,  known  as  the  Every  Tuesday 
Club,  is  one  of  the  institutions  of  the  town. 

The  business  places  of  the  village  consist  of  three  drygoods  and 
shoe  stores,  one  general  store,  two  clothing  stores,  two  drug  stores, 
two   jewelry   stores,   one   racket  store,   seven   grocery   stores,   four 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  493 

meat  markets,  one  exclusive  shoe  store,  one  wholesale  bakery,  two 
furniture  stores,  two  banks,  two  millinery  stores,  one  steam  laun- 
dry, three  restaurants  and  ice  cream  parlors,  one  garage,  two  agri- 
cultural implement  stores,  one  grain,  feed  and  produce  store,  two 
elevators,  one  cannery,  one  pickle  factory,  two  coal  yards,  one  lum- 
ber yard,  one  hoop  and  lumber  mill;  one  measure  factory,  where 
wooden  measures,  candy  and  tobacco  pails  and  crates  are  manufac- 
tured ;  one  flouring  mill,  one  saw-mill,  two  livery  stables,  and  vari- 
ous smaller  shops. 

The  public  buildings  are  a  town  hall  built  at  an  expense  of 
$12,000,  a  corporation  building,  water-works  and  electric  lights 
combined. 

The  village  owns  its  system  of  water-works  and  lights,  which  are 
modern  and  up-to-date.  There  are  two  schoolhouses  in  the  place, 
the  original  one  built  many  years  ago,  at  an  expense  of  $25,000 
and  a  new  one  costing  $12,000. 

The  yield  of  the  peppermint  crop,  produced  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  village  and  shipped  from  there  during  the  season  of  1911,  was 
about  50,000  pounds  of  oil,  which  sold  for  $2.75  per  pound. 

Large  shipments  were  made  of  celery  produced  on  muck  lands 
near  the  village.  This  was  of  a  superior  quality,  not  surpassed 
even  by  the  far-famed  Kalamazoo  article.  Celery  culture  is  largely 
carried  on  by  Hollanders,  and  the  Dutch  population  of  the  place 
is  increasing  from  year  to  year.  The  lands  on  which  peppermint 
and  celery  are  grown  were  formerly  regarded  as  practically  worth- 
less, consisting  of  swamp  too  low  and  wet  for  any  kind  of  agricult- 
ural purposes,  but  by  a  judicious  system  of  drainage  they  have 
been  rendered  available  for  use  and  are  now  among  the  most  valu- 
able lands  in  the  township,  selling  for  from  $85  to  $150  per  acre. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  carload  shipments  of  various  kinds  of 
produce,  via  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  for  the  year  1911 : 
Potatoes,  forty-eight  carloads;  beans,  two;  sugar  beets,  one;  flour, 
two;  onions,  sixteen;  canned  fruit,  eight;  apples,  nine;  pickles, 
five;  cider,  one;  celery,  seventy-seven;  grain,  eighty;  stock,  132; 
grapes,  290 ;  making  a  total  of  664  carloads  for  the  year,  a  pretty 
fair  business  for  a  town  of  its  size,  and  which  bids  fair  to  largely 
increase  in  the  near  future. 

Decatur  is  entitled  to  take  rank  as  one  of  the  liveliest,  hustling 
villages  of  its  size  anywhere  along  the  line  of  the  Michigan  Central 
Railroad  and  is  in  the  very  forefront  of  the  flourishing,  prosperous 
villages  of  Van  Buren  county. 


494  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Retrospect 

But  little  more  than  three-score  and  ten  years  have  elapsed  since 
Dolphin  Morris,  the  first  white  man  to  seek  a  home  in  Van  Buren 
county,  erected  that  little  log  cabin  near  the  southern  boundary 
of  the  county  in  the  township  of  Decatur,  but  what  wonderful, 
astonishing  changes  have  taken  place  since  that  early  day.  Had 
Jean  Nicolet,  the  first  white  man  to  set  foot  within  the  limits  of  the 
Peninsular  state,  returned  to  earth  and  visited  Van  Buren  county 
one  hundred  and  ninety  years  later  he  would  have  found  no 
change;  the  land  would  still  have  been  covered  with  the  primeval 
forest  tenanted  by  the  untutored  red  man  and  by  wild  beasts,  just 
as  it  had  been  for  ages  upon  ages  before.  But  from  that  time  un- 
til the  present  the  most  vivid  imagination  could  not  have  kept  pace 
with  the  reality.  Those  once  wild  and  uncultivated  forests  have 
been  converted  into  a  beautiful,  fruitful,  prosperous  country ;  into 
vineyards,  farms  and  orchards,  such  as  no  man  had  ever  dreamed 
of  at  that  date.  Within  considerably  less  than  a  century  the  rail- 
roads have  come;  telegraphs  and  telephones,  those  marvels  of  the 
modern  world,  have  been  invented ;  thriving  villages  almost  within 
a  stone's  throw  of  each  other;  schoolhouses  everywhere;  churches 
with  their  spires  pointing  heavenward,  in  recognition  of  the  Great 
Giver  of  all  good ;  the  automobile  instead  of  the  ox  team ;  factories 
on  every  hand ;  flocks  and  herds  dotting  the  hill  sides ;  aerial  navi- 
gation has  become  an  accomplished  fact;  time  and  distance  are 
almost  annihilated;  the  howl  of  the  wolf  and  the  scream  of  the 
panther  has  given  place  to  click  of  the  reaper,  the  hum  of  the 
thresher,  and  the  whir  of  machinery,  and  the  rude  wigwam  of  the 
red  man  has  been  supplanted  by  the  palatial  residence  of  his 
white  brother.  The  people  of  the  old  world  take  just  pride  in 
the  great  things  accomplished  by  their  ancestors  from  the  time  of 
William  the  Conqueror  to  the  reign  of  the  kindly  Queen  Victoria. 
But  here  in  our  own  Van  Buren  we  have  a  country  redeemed  from 
a  savage  wilderness,  transformed  into  ideal  perfection,  rich  in  the 
means  of  happiness  and  enjoyment,  and  abounding  in  advantages 
and  privileges  which  were  wholly  unknown  a  century  ago. 

Improvements  have  been  boundless,  progress  has  been  limitless, 
and  still  no  man  can  foresee  or  imagine  what  lies  beyond  in  the 
marvelous  years  of  this  wonderful  twentieth  century,  which  has 
but  closed  its  first  decade. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

TOWNSHIP  OF  GENEVA 

Roads  and  Physical  Features — Political  and  Educational — 
Pioneers  of  the  Township — Village  op  Lacota — Village  op 
Kibbie — -General  Township  Progress. 

Geneva  is  one  of  the  northern  tier  of  townships  of  the  county 
and  is  officially  designated  as  township  number  one  south,  of 
range  number  sixteen  west.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Alle- 
gan county,  on  the  east  by  the  township  of  Columbia,  south  by  the 
township  of  Bangor  and  west  by  the  township  of  South  Haven,  of 
which  latter  township  it  formed  a  part  from  the  organization  of 
the  county  in  1837,  until,  in  1845,  by  act  of  the  legislature,  it  was 
set  off,  together  with  township  number  one  south  of  range  num- 
ber fifteen  west,  and  organized  as  the  township  of  Columbia. 
Afterward,  January  5,  1854,  by  resolution  of  the  board  of  super- 
visors of  the  county,  it  was  detached  from  Columbia  and  organ- 
ized as  a  township  by  itself  under  the  name  of  Geneva. 

The  first  town  meeting  thereafter  was  held  on  the  first  Monday 
of  April,  1854,  at  the  residence  of  Nathan  Tubbs,  at  which  twenty- 
two  votes  were  polled  and  the  following  named  officers  were 
chosen:  Supervisor,  Nathan  Tubbs;  township  treasurer,  Philip  M. 
Brooks;  township  clerk,  Charles  N.  Hoag;  justices  of  the  peace, 
Eri  Bennett,  Leander  J.  Eastman,  Jesse  L.  Lane  and  Philip  Hoag; 
school  inspectors,  Hiram  Simmons  and  Francis  M.  Jones;  com- 
missioners of  highways,  Clark  Pierce,  Leander  J.  Eastman  and 
Jesse  L.  Lane;  directors  of  the  poor,  Eri  Eaton  and  Clark  Pierce. 

The  township  is  watered  by  the  Black  river  and  its  tributaries. 
The  river  enters  on  section  thirty-four  and  runs  in  a  north- 
westerly direction  across  the  township  to  its  northwest  cor- 
ner. Geneva  differs  somewhat  from  most  of  the  townships  of  the 
county  in  not  having  the  numerous  small  lakes,  such  as  abound  in 
other  localities,  the  only  one  named  being  Moon  lake,  a  small  body 
of  water  on  section  thirteen. 

495 


496  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Roads  and  Physical  Features 

The  South  Haven  division  of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad 
crosses  the  northern  tier  of  sections  and  this,  in  connection  with 
its  juxtaposition  to  the  city  of  South  Haven  and  the  steamship 
line  thence  to  Chicago,  affords  the  citizens  of  the  township  excel- 
lent transportation  facilities. 

Like  the  other  northern  townships  of  the  county,  Geneva  was 
originally  covered  with  dense  forests  of  heavy  timber  of  various 
kinds.  Its  surface  is  generally  level  or  slightly  undulating,  its 
soil  is  fertile  and  well  adapted  to  the  production  of  fruit,  especi- 
ally to  the  culture  of  the  peach,  large  quantities  of  which  have 
been  grown,  and  some  of  the  finest  peach  orchards  in  the  county 
have  been  located  in  the  township. 

The  first  laid-out  highway  in  the  township  was  the  Monroe  road, 
established  in  1833  by  Judge  Jay  R.  Monroe  and  Charles  U.  Cross 
running  from  Paw  Paw  to  South  Haven,  and  which  crossed  sec- 
tions thirty  and  thirty-two.  This  highway  is  still  one  of  the 
principal  roads  in  the  township.  When  Geneva  was  set  off  from 
Columbia,  the  records  of  that  township  showed  the  following  roads 
as  having  been  theretofore  established:  Murch  road,  surveyed 
June  29,  1839;  Stearling  road,  surveyed  June  22,  1846;  Eaton's 
road,  surveyed  June  25,  1846;  Pierce  road,  surveyed  December 
14,  1846;  Tubbs  road  surveyed  October  5,  1852. 

Political  and  Educational 

The  first  general  election  held  in  the  township  after  its  organ- 
ization was  on  the  7th  day  of  November,  1854,  at  which  fourteen 
votes  were  cast,  twelve  Democratic  and  two  Republican. 

At  the  presidential  election  held  two  years  later,  November  4, 
1856,  the  number  of  votes  polled  was  thirty-three,  twenty-six  for 
John  C.  Fremont,  and  seven  for  James  Buchanan. 

At  the  last  presidential  election,  November  3,  1911,  307  electors 
expressed  their  choice  at  the  ballot  box,  as  follows:  197  for  Taft, 
Republican ;  ninety  for  Bryan,  Democrat ;  fifteen  for  Chafin,  Pro- 
hibitionist, and  one  for  Hisgen,  Independent. 

The  following  named  gentlemen  have  filled  the  office  of  super- 
visor of  the  township :  Nathan  Tubbs,  0.  H.  Burrows,  Jerome  B. 
Watson,  Abel  Edgerton,  Varnum  H.  Dilley,  Gideon  Hall,  S.  M. 
Trowbridge,  William  R.  Tolles,  Goodwin  S.  Tolles,  Gilbert  Mit- 
chell, James  T.  Tolles,  Milton  L.  Decker,  Ralph  F.  Watson,  W.  W. 
Wenban,  Frank  E.  Warner  and  G.  S.  Tolles  (present  incumbent). 

The  following  named  gentlemen  held  the  office  for  more  than 
two  years  each:  Watson,  ten  years;  Mitchell,  eight;  Dilley,  six; 
Mitchell,  J.  T.  Tolles  and  Warner,  each  four  years. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  497 

The  first  school  in  the  township  was  taught  by  Mrs.  Caroline 
Miner,  about  the  year  1848,  in  her  home.  The  only  pupils  were 
the  Eaton,  Eastman  and  Miner  children.  The  next  year,  in  the 
winter  of  1849-50,  Laura  Rogers  taught  a  school  in  Clark  Pierce's 
log  house.  A  schoolhouse  was  built  by  Marvin  Hannah,  at  Hun- 
ter, better  known  as  Jericho,  but  no  school  was  taught  there  for 
considerable  time  afterward.  Ellen  Fish  was  the  first  teacher  in 
that  house.  In  the  northeastern  part  of  the  township  a  school 
was  taught  in  1853  by  Mrs.  Orrin  S.  Hoag,  in  a  rough  shanty  near 
Eri  Eaton's  place.  Not  long  afterward  a  schoolhouse  was  built  in 
what  was  afterward  known  as  the  Lull  district.  Mrs.  Harriet 
Hoag  and  Miss  Augusta  Smith  (subsequently  Mrs.  Benjamin 
Knowles),  were  among  the  early  teachers  there. 

The  first  school  district  was  formed  soon  after  the  organization 
of  the  township,  and  in  the  winter  of  1855  a  second  district  was 
created  by  dividing  district  No.  1.  District  No.  3  was  organized 
about  the  same  time,  and  in  1855  there  were  reported  forty-six 
pupils  of  school  age — at  that  time  between  the  ages  of  four  and 
eighteen — in  the  three  districts. 

Following  is  a  list  of  those  licensed  to  teach  in  the  township 
for  the  earlier  years  after  its  organization: 

1855 — Fanny  Kidder,  Angeline  Foster,  Amvietta  Blood,  Helen 
M.  Fish. 

1856— William  M.  Welch,  Israel  P.  Boles. 

1857— Ruth  Hunt,  Mary  E.  Welch. 

1858 — Augusta  Smith,  Lucinda  E.  Young. 

1859 — E valine  Fellows,  Sarah  Shaver,  Sarah  Young. 

1860 — Henry  C.  Rowman,  Francis  M.  Jones. 

1861 — Mary  H.  Briggs,  Sarah  Peacock,  Amanda  Rawen,  Aldena 
Hoag,  Aurelia  Ellsworth,  Helen  Ailsworth,  James  Southard. 

1862— Eliza  Clark,  Adaline  Deming,  Kate  C.  Peters,  Martha  E. 
Grover. 

1863 — Mary  A.  Rowland  (then  and  now  the  wife  of  the  compiler), 
Rebecca  A.  Burlingame,  Emily  A.  Loomis,  Helen  M.  Poole. 

1864 — Georgia  Williams,  Cordelia  Worrallo,  Hannah  Cross, 
Laura  Pierce,  Aurelia  Stilwell,  Aristine  E.  Metcalf. 

1865 — Susan  A.  Cassidy,  Janet  Hurlbut,  Gideon  Hall,  Carrie 
Longwell,  Marion  Balfour. 

According  to  the  official  report  for  the  year  1911,  there  were 
304  persons  of  school  age  (between  five  and  twenty)  in  the  town- 
ship; 792  volumes  in  the  district  libraries;  eight  school  houses, 
estimated  value  of  school  property,  $10,900;  district  indebtedness, 
$120;  eleven  teachers  employed  during  the  year;  aggregate  num- 
ber of  months'  school,  seventy-six;  paid  for  teachers'  salaries, 
$3,597.25.      The    township    was    apportioned,    from    the    primary 


498  HISTOKY  OF  VAN  BUBEN  COUNTY 

school  fund  of  the  state,  the  sum  of  $3,270,  very  nearly  a  sufficient 
amount  to  pay  all  the  teachers  employed;  and  money  so  appor- 
tioned could  be  lawfully  used  for  no  other  purpose. 

Pioneers  op  the  Township 

The  territory  embraced  in  the  present  township  of  Geneva  was 
a  wilderness  long  after  settlements  had  been  made  in  other  parts 
of  northern  Van  Buren  county.  Clark  Pierce,  an  emigrant  from 
the  Green  Mountain  state,  was  the  first  to  locate  within  the  bound- 
aries of  the  township.  He  became  a  resident  of  Michigan  in  1833 
and  for  a  considerable  time  lived  at  St.  Clair.  When  Van  Buren 
county  was  organized,  in  1837,  he  came  to  South  Haven,  of  which 
the  township  of  Geneva  was  a  part,  and  purchased  a  quarter  sec- 
tion of  land  along  the  Monroe  road  on  section  thirty-two.  Upon 
this  land,  he  built  a  log  cabin  and  kept  "bachelor's  hall"  for  a 
couple  of  years,  his  nearest  neighbor  being  at  Breedsville.  In 
1839  he  and  his  brother,  Daniel  Pierce,  rented  a  farm  in  School- 
craft, county  of  Kalamazoo,  where  they  remained  until  1842, 
when  Clark  having  become  a  married  man,  he,  with  his  wife,  babe 
(now  Almon  J.  Pierce,  of  South  Dakota),  and  household  goods, 
returned  to  his  "log  cabin  home,"  where  they  passed  two  years 
as  the  sole  residents,  there  being  no  other  settler  in  the  township 
until  1846. 

In  the  meantime  the  lands  where  the  present  city  of  South  Ha- 
ven is  located,  having  passed  into  the  possession  of  a  company  that 
proposed  to  build  a  mill  and  make  other  improvements  at  that 
place,  Mr.  Pierce  was  engaged  to  move  there,  open  a  boarding  house 
and  take  charge  of  the  property.  In  1845  he  took  up  his  residence 
there  with  his  family,  which  at  that  time  consisted  of  his  wife  and 
two  sons,  the  youngest  of  whom  was  Irving,  the  first  white  child 
born  in  the  township.  They  remained  there  until  June  of  the  next 
year,  when  they  returned  to  their  Geneva  farm.  Irving,  the  son, 
still  resides  on  the  old  homestead. 

From  1837  till  February,  1846,  nobody  but  Mr.  Pierce  and  fam- 
ily had  settled  in  the  township.  At  that  date  Eri  Eaton  and  An- 
drew Miner  came  in  and  settled  near  the  center  of  the  town.  Mr. 
Pierce  afterward  removed  to  Illinois,  but  returned  to  Geneva  in 
1858,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  March 
30,  1900,  in  his  eighty-sixth  year. 

Mr.  Eaton  and  his  son-in-law,  Leander  J.  Eastman,  settled  on 
section  fifteen  and  Mr.  Miner  on  section  three. 

Messrs.  Miner  and  Eaton  both  lived  in  the  township  until  their 
decease.     Mr.  Miner  died  March  7,  1887,  in  his  sixty-sixth  year 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  499 

and  Mr.  Eaton  followed  him  a  couple  of  years  later,  April  4,  1887, 
aged  eighty-five  years. 

Other  somewhat  early  settlers  of  the  township  were:  Philip 
Hoag,  1848 ;  Nathan  Tubbs  (first  supervisor  of  the  township),  1849 ; 
Charles  N.  Hoag,  a  brother  of  Philip,  1851;  James  Bates,  1851; 
Charles  Davey,  winter  of  1851-2 ;  Moses  Welch,  1852 ;  James  Kelly, 
1852;  Orrin  G.,  another  of  the  Hoag  brothers,  1852;  Philip 
Brooks,  1853 ;  Benjamin  Knowles,  who  came  with  his  father  to  the 
towTnship  of  Columbia  in  1837,  settled  in  Geneva  in  1852 ;  Samuel 
Lull,  1854;  Charles  Brott,  1855;  Daniel  and  Mahlon  Funk,  1856; 
William  Miller  and  George  McKenzie,  about  the  same  time.  Be- 
ginning with  the  early  sixties  the  township  began  to  settle  up  quite 
rapidly. 

In  1847  Marvin  Hannah  as  the  name  was  spelled  in  those  early 
days  (it  has  since  added  a  final  "s"),  of  the  village  of  Albion, 
Michigan,  opened  up  a  settlement  on  section  eighteen,  where  he 
built  a  saw-mill,  the  first  one  in  the  township  on  the  Black  river, 
and  also  a  boarding  house,  which  he  placed  in  charge  of  Henry 
Hogmire.  The  next  year  he  built  a  large  tannery,  the  locality  be- 
ing peculiarly  adapted  to  the  tanning  business  on  account  of  the 
great  hemlock  forests  that  covered  no  inconsiderable  part  of  the 
township.  The  demands  of  the  tannery  for  hemlock  bark  after- 
ward furnished  employment  to  quite  a  good  many  laborers  and 
when  they  had  any  spare  time  from  their  own  matters,  the  set- 
tlers employed  it  in  working  for  Mr.  Hannahs.  Bark  peeling  was 
a  real  help  to  the  people  at  that  time  and  "bark  peelers"  numer- 
ous. Mr.  Hannahs,  who  wras  regarded  by  the  settlers  as  a  capi- 
talist, also  built  a  schoolhouse  and  made  other  improvements,  as 
an  inducement  for  people  to  locate  in  the  neighborhood.  He  placed 
Eri  Bennett  in  charge  as  his  foreman.  Mr.  Bennett  afterward 
served  as  supervisor  of  the  town. 

Mr.  Hannahs  named  the  settlement  " Hunter,"  but  his  em- 
ployes nicknamed  it  "Jericho."  There  are  few  people  that  re- 
member anything  about  Hunter,  but  even  to  this  day  the  locality 
is  known  as  Jericho  although  there  is  nothing  remaining  to  indi- 
cate the  business  that  was  transacted  there  in  those  primitive  days. 
Mr.  Hannahs  himself  did  not  become  a  resident  of  the  township, 
but  remained  in  Albion.  He  had  other  large  interests  in  the  county, 
having  at  one  time  a  grist-mill  on  the  Paw  Paw  river  at  Lawrence, 
which  for  years  was  the  only  establishment  of  the  kind  between 
South  Haven  and  Paw  Paw  and  which  did  a  very  large  business, 
as  the  compiler  of  this  work  knows  by  reason  of  having  been  em- 
ployed therein  in  his  youthful  days  in  connection  with  his  father, 
Eber  Rowland,  who  was  a  miller  by  trade,  as  was  the  son  at  that 
time.     George,  a  son  of  Marvin  Hannahs,  subsequently  settled  at 


500  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

South  Haven,  where  he  was  identified  with  large  business  interests 
and  became  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  the  county,  serving 
at  one  time  as  a  senator  in  the  state  legislature.  He  subsequently 
removed  to  California,  where  he  resided  until  his  decease. 

Statistic  al  and  Physical 

According  to  the  Federal  census  of  1910  Geneva  contained  1,420 
inhabitants,  being  the  twelfth  among  the  townships  of  the  county 
in  point  of  population. 

In  1854,  the  year  the  township  was  organized,  its  assessed  valu- 
ation was  $72,361,  and  the  entire  amount  of  taxes  levied  was  the 
sum  of  $1,106.10.  The  valuation  of  the  township  in  1911  was 
$514,640,  being  the  fourteenth  township  in  point  of  wealth.  The 
tax  levied  for  all  purposes  in  the  latter  year  amounted  to  $11,855.51. 

The  surface  of  the  township  is  generally  level,  or  somewhat  un- 
dulating, and  the  soil  is  fertile  and  well  adapted  to  fruit,  especi- 
ally to  the  culture  of  the  peach,  large  quantities  of  which  have 
been  grown,  and  some  of  the  finest  peach  orchards  in  the  county 
have  been  located  in  the  township.  A  few  years  ago  a  severe  and 
unusual  October  freeze  injured  the  peach  business,  practically  de- 
stroying many  of  the  orchards;  but  new  orchards  have  been 
planted  and  the  business  is  again  flourishing. 

Village  of  Lacota 

There  is  no  incorporated  village  in  the  township  of  Geneva.  In 
November,  1870,  Almon  J.  Pierce,  county  surveyor,  at  the  request 
of  Enoch  M.  Pease,  the  proprietor,  surveyed  a  village  plat  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  one,  consisting  of  seven  blocks,  and 
named  the  proposed  village  Irvington,  by  which  name  it  was 
known  for  some  twenty  years,  and,  indeed,  is  still  so  called  on  the 
official  records  of  the  county. 

In  August,  1892,  Varnum  H.  and  Marshall  Dilley  caused  an- 
other plat,  consisting  of  five  blocks,  to  be  surveyed  on  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  two  and  adjoining  the  previous  plat.  This 
new  survey  was  named  Lacota,  by  which  the  two  surveys  are  usu- 
ally known.  This  is  also  the  name  of  the  railroad  station  and  the 
postoffice.  The  village  is  an  enterprising,  prosperous  little  town, 
and  has  one  good,  general  store,  one  hardware  store,  two  groceries, 
a  livery,  a  cider  and  vinegar  factory,  a  blacksmith  and  wagon  shop 
for  the  manufacture  of  fruit  wagons,  a  lumber  and  wood  yard,  a 
postoffice,  a  railroad  depot,  and  two  churches  (the  Christian  and 
the  Methodist  Episcopal).  The  Methodist  church  was  instituted 
about  the  same  time  that  the  township  was  organized.  A  house  of 
worship  was  erected  at  Irvington  in  the  summer  of  1876.  The  Chris- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  501 

tian,  or  Disciple  church,  is  of  a  later  date.  That  society  also  has 
a  good  meeting-house.  Both  these  churches  are  in  very  prosperous 
condition. 

There  is  also  a  school  in  the  place  which  is  a  credit  to  its  en- 
terprising patrons.  There  were  ninety-two  pupils  in  the  district 
at  the  last  enumeration.  The  school  property  is  valued  at  $3,000. 
Two  teachers  were  employed  during  the  last  school  year,  each  of 
whom  taught  nine  months  of  school  and  were  paid  salaries  amount- 
ing to  $945. 

Village  of  Kibbie 

There  is  another  little  burg  in  the  township,  on  the  line  of  the 
railroad  about  midway  between  the  village  of  Lacota  and  the  city 
of  South  Haven,  being  four  miles  from  the  latter  place.  It  has  a 
postoffice  and  one  general  store. 

General  Township  Progress 

Although  Geneva  did  not  become  an  organized  township  until  at 
a  comparatively  late  date,  only  the  township  of  Covert  succeeding 
it,  its  progress  has  been  rapid  and  its  improvements  of  the  most 
substantial  character.  To  one  who  was  familiar  with  it  in  its  orig- 
inal state  when  it  was  covered  with  dense  forests  of  giant  hemlocks 
and  other  varieties  of  timber,  the  change  is  indeed  wonderful  and 
the  labor  required  to  effect  it  is  almost  incomprehensible.  Instead  of 
forests  there  are  now  orchards  and  cultivated  fields ;  instead  of  the 
log  cabins  of  the  pioneers,  the  landscape  is  dotted  with  modern 
farm  houses,  convenient  and  up-to-date;  instead  of  the  scream  of 
the  panther  and  the  howl  of  the  sneaking  wolf  is  heard  the  roar 
of  the  railroad  train  and  the  whistle  of  the  locomotive;  and  in- 
stead of  the  roving  red  man  the  land  is  occupied  by  a  happy,  thriv- 
ing prosperous  people,  who  are  in  the  enjoyment  of  many  modern 
necessities  and  luxuries  of  life  that  had  never  even  been  dreamed 
of  when  the  first  settlements  were  made  in  the  township.  Great 
as  the  progress  has  been,  none  can  tell  what  the  future  will  de- 
velop. Doubtless  the  changes  of  the  twentieth  century,  although 
along  different  lines,  will  be  as  wonderful  and  as  marvelous  as 
have  been  those  of  the  nineteenth. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

TOWNSHIP  OF  HAMILTON 

Civic  and  Political  Matters — Physical  Features — Taxpayers 
and  Taxes  of  1839 — First  Building  and  First  Permanent 
Settler — Also  Settled  Prior  to  1844 — Illustrative  of  the 
Pioneers  and  Their  Times — Schools,  Then  and  Now — The 
Hamilton  Township  Fair. 

When  the'  county  of  Van  Buren  was  organized  in  1837,  it  con- 
tained seven  townships.  By  act  of  the  legislature  of  that  year, 
townships  four  south,  or  ranges  fifteen  and  sixteen  west,  as  they 
were  officially  designated  in  the  United  States  survey,  were  organ- 
ized into  a  separate  township  by  the  name  of  Covington.  Just 
why  Covington,  does  not  appear,  and  the  name  was  not  of  long 
duration  and  is  remembered  by  very  few  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
county  at  the  present  time. 

Civic  and  Political  Matters 

Pursuant  to  the  legislative  act  organizing  the  county,  an  elec- 
tion was  held  on  the  second  Monday  of  April,  1837,  for  the  purpose 
of  choosing  county  officers.  The  statute  organizing  the  township 
of  Covington  provided  that  this  first  election  should  be  held  at 
the  Keelerville  postoffice,  which  was  situated  at  about  the  center 
of  the  west  half  of  the  township,  which  was  subsequently  organ- 
ized as  a  separate  township  under  the  name  of  Keeler.  Twenty- 
seven  votes  were  cast  at  this  election.  There  seems  to  have  been 
but  one  ticket  in  the  field ;  at  least,  there  was  but  one  set  of  candi- 
dates voted  for.  The  official  records  recite  that  at  this  election 
James  Conklin,  Eobert  Nesbitt,  James  A.  Hill  and  George  S. 
Bishop  were  elected  as  justices  of  the  peace,  and  E.  H.  Keeler  as 
township  clerk.  No  other  local  officers  are  mentioned.  A  subse- 
quent entry  for  the  same  year  recites  that  at  a  special  election, 
Benjamin  F.  Chadwick  and  Philotus  Haydon  were  elected  justices 
of  the  peace,  in  place  of  James  A.  Hill,  deceased,  and  James  Conk- 
lin, removed. 

The  poll  list  for  this  election  is  not  preserved  among  the  rec- 

502 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  503 

ords,  but  at  the  general  election  held  the  next  November,  the  fol- 
lowing named  persons  exercised  their  right  of  suffrage:  Philotus 
Hay  don,  E.  Lombard,  W.  H.  Keeler,  E.  Staples,  A.  Barney,  Ben- 
jamin F.  Chadwick,  Lyman  Hill,  R.  Johnson,  W.  S.  Hill,  Lewis 
Johnson,  Freeman  Foster,  S.  A.  Keeler,  S.  T.  Howell,  M.  Lewis, 
E.  Geer,  C.  Bartlett,  Robert  Nesbitt,  Tobias  Byers,  John  Comley, 
R.  Comley,  G.  Geer,  W.  S.  Sanart,  C.  Field,  Jr.,  J.  M.  Lombard, 
L.  T.  Ball,  Zebina  Stearns,  E.  Smith,  A.  W.  Ensign,  H.  S.  Wright 
and  Ira  Foster. 

The  township  of  Covington  had  only  a  two  years'  lease  of  life. 
The  legislature  of  1839  passed  an  act  providing  that  township  four 
south,  of  range  fifteen  west,  which  was  the  east  half  of  Covington, 
should  be  set  off  and  organized  into  a  township  by  the  name  of 
Alpena,  and  that  the  first  town-meeting  in  the  new  township 
should  be  held  at  the  house  of  Henry  Coleman  in  said  township. 
The  records  of  that  meeting  show  that  Henry  Coleman,  Ralph 
Mason,  Calvin  Fields  and  Robert  Nesbitt  were  elected  justices  of 
the  peace;  Henry  Coleman,  township  clerk,  and  Ebenezer  Lom- 
bard, collector. 

The  first  general  election  in  the  newly  organized  township  was 
held  on  the  fourth  and  fifth  days  of  November,  1839.  At  this 
election  thirty-four  votes  were  cast,  equally  divided  between  the 
Whig  and  the  Democrat  parties. 

At  the  first  presidential  election  which  was  held  on  the  second 
and  third  days  of  November,  1840,  there  were  thirty-nine  votes 
polled  in  the  township ;  twenty  for  Martin  Van  Buren,  Democrat, 
and  nineteen  for  William  Henry  Harrison,  Whig. 

At  the  presidential  election  of  1908,  the  voters  of  the  township 
cast  183  ballots :  ninety-eight  for  Taf t,  Republican ;  eighty-one  for 
Bryan,  Democrat ;  two  for  Chafin,  Prohibitionist ;  and  one  each  for 
Debs,  Socialist,  and  Hisgen,  Independent. 

The  name  " Alpena' '  did  not  prove  satisfactory  to  the  citizens 
of  the  township,  and  in  1840  the  legislature,  on  request,  enacted 
that  "The  name  of  the  township  of  Alpena,  in  the  County  of  Van 
Buren,  shall  hereafter  be  altered  and  changed  to  that  of  Hamil- 
ton.' '  Not  a  very  happily  worded  statute,  but  it  accomplished  its 
design,  and  Hamilton  it  has  ever  since  been,  in  honor  of  Alexander 
Hamilton,  one  of  the  great  American  statesmen  of  early  days. 

The  first  township  officers  chosen  after  the  division  of  the  town- 
ship of  Covington  were  George  A.  Bentley,  supervisor;  Henry  Cole- 
man, clerk;  Marcus  Merriman,  treasurer;  Ralph  Mason,  Philotus 
Haydon  and  Henry  Coleman,  assessors;  Ebenezer  Lombard,  con- 
stable and  collector;  Ralph  Mason,  Calvin  Fields,  Jr.,  and  James 
Nesbitt,  school  inspectors;  Joshua  Comley  and  Aaron  Barney,  di- 
rectors  of   poor;    Jackson  Pratt,    Philotus   Haydon   and   Zebina 


504  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Stearns,  commissioners  of  highways;  Henry  Coleman,  Robert  Nes- 
bitt,  Calvin  Fields  and  Ralph  Mason,  justices  of  the  peace. 

The  following  named  gentlemen  have  officiated  as  supervisors  of 
the  township:  O.  A.  Bentley,  Philotus  Haydon,  Palmer  Earl, 
Henry  Coleman,  Robert  Nesbitt,  Truman  Foster,  George  G.  B. 
Yeckley,  Calvin  Fields,  Solomon  B.  Hagar,  Abram  S.  Wise,  John 
H.  Collins,  James  E.  Maxwell,  James  M.  Weeks,  M.  F.  Phillips, 
C.  W.  Byers,  Amos  B.  Wagner,  Austin  D.  Conway,  and  Waldo  E. 
Phillips  (who  is  now  serving  his  second  term). 

Those  supervisors  who  served  more  than  two  years  were  M.  F. 
Phillips,  three  years ;  Bentley  and  Foster,  each  four  years ;  Nesbitt 
and  Collins,  each  five  years;  Conway,  six  years;  Yeckley,  seven 
years ;  Hagar  and  Byers,  each  eight  years,  and  Haydon,  ten  years. 

Physical  Features 

The  surface  of  the  township  is  generally  level  or  slightly  undu- 
lating, and  the  soil  is  rich  and  productive.  The  northern  part 
Avas  originally  covered  with  heavy  timber,  while  the  southern  por- 
tion was  mostly  what  is  termed  "oak  openings.' '  In  the  south- 
eastern part  there  is  a  considerable  low  land,  originally  somewhat 
swampy,  but  this  has  practically  all  been  reclaimed  by  an  extensive 
system  of  drainage  and  is  now  among  the  valuable,  high-priced 
lands  of  the  town. 

There  are  several  creeks  and  small  streams  within  the  township, 
the  principal  ones  being  Brush  creek,  a  branch  of  the  Paw  Paw 
river  which  crosses  the  northwestern  corner  of  the  town  in  a  north- 
erly course,  and  a  branch  of  the  Dowagiac  creek  which  takes  its 
rise  in  the  Lake  of  the  Woods  and  crosses  the  southeastern  corner 
of  the  town  in  a  southerly  direction.  There  are  also  several  small 
lakes,  the  principal  one  being  Lake  of  the  Woods,  which  lies  partly 
in  Hamilton  and  partly  in  Decatur.  The  name  seems,  at  the  pres- 
ent time,  to  be  somewhat  of  a  misnomer,  as  the  " woods' '  by  which 
it  was  originally  surrounded  have  all  disappeared  and  in  their 
stead  are  cultivated  fields  with  the  village  of  Decatur  within  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  of  its  eastern  shore.  Originally  this  was  a 
handsome  sheet  of  water,  but  its  beauty  has  been  somewhat  marred 
by  having  been  partially  drained,  thus  lowering  its  surface  and 
diminishing  its  area.  However,  there  is  some  compensation  for 
this  in  the  increased  area  of  arable  land  rendered  tillable  by  the 
draining  of  the  lowlands  adjacent  to  the  lake.  Other  lakes  in 
the  town  that  have  been  considered  of  sufficient  importance  to  bear 
distinctive  names  are  Pond  Lily,  Pine,  Knickerbocker,  Osborn,  and 
Johnson. 

The  southeastern  corner  of  Hamilton  is  crossed  by  the  line  of 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  505 

the  Michigan  Central  Railroad,  but  there  is  no  station  within  its 
limits.  Hamilton  has  no  village,  no  postoffice,  and  neither  store 
nor  church  building.  Its  nearest  market  town  is  Decatur,  situated 
within  about  a  mile  of  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  town,  although 
considerable  trading  is  done  in  other  places.  The  city  of  Dowagiac 
is  about  six  miles  south  of  the  southwest  corner  of  the  township ; 
the  village  of  Lawrence,  four  miles  north  of  its  north  line;  the 
little  town  of  Keeler,  three  miles  west  of  the  west  line,  and  the 
village  of  Hartford,  about  six  miles  northwest.  So  that  the  people 
do  not  have  to  travel  far  in  any  direction  to  find  a  market  place. 
The  population  of  the  township,  as  given  by  the  census  of  1910, 
was  952,  Almena  being  the  only  township  in  the  county  with  a 
less  number  of  inhabitants. 

Taxpayers  and  Taxes  of  1839 

The  resident  taxpayers  of  the  township  in  1839,  when  the  first 
assessment  was  taken  were  as  follows:  George  S.  Bishop,  Calvin 
Fields,  Aaron  Barney,  Marcus  Merriman,  Samuel  Bradt,  Elisha 
Geer,  John  Comley,  Daniel  Evans,  Samuel  Gunton,  W.  H.  Keeler, 
Truman  Foster,  G.  W.  Geer,  F.  Pitcher,  A.  W.  Broughton,  James 
Brooks,  William  L.  Butterfield,  "William  Lake,  James  Nesbitt, 
Ralph  Mason,  Jackson  Pratt,  Joseph  Pratt,  Colcott  Pratt,  Joseph 
McClintock,  James  M.  Lombard,  G.  A.  Bentley,  Henry  Coleman, 
Zebina  Stearns,  Sidney  Stearns,  Hale  Wakefield,  Caleb  Bartlett, 
Silas  F.  Howell,  Lewis  Johnson,  Robert  Nesbitt,  Philotus  Haydon 
and  Alexander  Sloan. 

The  assessment  of  the  above  named  residents  was  the  sum  of 
$19,642,  of  which  $15,962  was  on  real  estate  and  $3,680  on  person- 
alty. Non-resident  lands,  which  comprised  by  far  the  greater  por- 
tion of  the  town,  were  assessed  at  the  sum  of  $54,456,  making  the 
total  valuation  of  the  township  $74,098.  Practically  all  lands  were 
assessed  at  four  dollars  per  acre,  which  was  a  liberal  valuation  for 
those  days.    The  total  tax  levy  for  the  year  was  $522.94. 

The  valuation  of  the  township  at  the  assessment  taken  in  1911 
was  $621,600  and  the  tax  levy  was  for  the  sum  of  $9,613.36.  The 
town  ranks  as  eleventh  in  wealth  among  the  townships  of  the 
county. 

First  Building  and  First  Permanent  Settler 

It  is  said  that  the  first  building  ever  erected  within  the  present 
boundaries  of  Hamilton  was  a  hunter's  cabin  on  section  thirty- 
three,  built  by  Benjamin  Reynolds  and  Joel  Clark,  two  Kalama- 
zoo county  Nimrods  who  were  accustomed  to  visit  the  vicinity  oc- 
casionally on  hunting  excursions.     The  story  is  related  that  Reyn- 


506  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

olds  intended  to  make  a  settlement  in  the  township  and  that  in  1834 
he  brought  his  wife  with  him  to  the  cabin  with  the  intention  of 
remaining.  Shortly  afterward,  while  the  lady  was  looking  for 
their  cow  that  had  strayed  into  the  forest,  she  became  lost  in  the 
woods.  Her  cries  for  help  were  unheard  and  it  was  not  until  the 
following  morning  that  she  was  discovered  several  miles  from 
home  in  an  adjoining  township.  Her  experience  was  so  unpleasant 
that  she  declared  she  would  not  stay ;  that  she  would  not  live  where 
she  could  not  take  a  walk  out  of  sight  of  the  house  without  getting 
lost.  She  was  as  good  as  her  word,  and,  notwithstanding  the  en- 
treaties of  her  husband,  she  shook  the  dust  of  Hamilton  from  her 
feet  and,  of  course,  that  ended  his  plan  to  become  a  permanent 
resident  of  that  locality.  Not  long  afterward,  they  settled  in  the 
township  of  Porter  where  the  forests  were  not  quite  so  dense,  and 
there  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 

The  first  entry  of  land  in  Hamilton  was  made  by  Robert  Nesbitt, 
who  located  a  tract  on  section  four  in  the  spring  of  1835,  and  at 
once  settled  there  and  began  his  improvements  The  history  of 
Hamilton  with  no  mention  of  Robert  Nesbitt,  would  be  like  the 
play  of  Hamlet  with  Hamlet  left  out.  Previous  to  coming  to  Ham- 
ilton with  his  brothers,  John  and  James,  he  had  been  living  in 
Kalamazoo.  Mr.  Nesbitt  had  theretofore  been  interested  in  the 
building  of  mills  in  the  state,  and  one  inducement  for  the  selec- 
tion of  his  new  location  was  the  fact  that  Brush  creek  ran  through 
his  land  and  afforded  an  eligible  site  for  the  construction  of  a 
fairly  good  water  power.  He  lost  no  time  in  taking  advantage  of 
the  situation  and  at  once  proceeded  in  the  erection  of  a  saw-mill. 
He  had  to  haul  all  his  lumber  and  other  supplies  from  Prairie 
Ronde,  but  so  energetically  did  he  proceed  with  his  undertaking 
that  his  mill  was  ready  to  begin  operations  early  in  the  summer  of 
1836.  For  a  number  of  years  this  mill  was  the  only  one  for  miles 
around,  and  when  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  was  built  through 
the  county  it  did  a  rushing  business  and  was  kept  running  night 
and  day  to  supply  material  for  the  railway  construction.  For 
many  years  thereafter  the  mill  continued  to  do  a  profitable  busi- 
ness. 

In  1856  Mr.  Nesbitt  erected  a  flouring  mill  on  the  same  site  and 
continued  to  operate  as  long  as  he  lived.  To  his  other  extensive 
business  interests,  he  added  that  of  a  land  agent  and  in  that  ca- 
pacity bought  and  sold  thousands  of  acres  of  land,  being  himself, 
at  one  time,  the  owner  of  upwards  of  2,500  acres.  Mr.  Nesbitt  died 
at  his  Hamilton  home,  on  the  11th  day  of  April,  1888,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-eight  years.  The  people  of  the  township  are  now  enjoy- 
ing the  fruits  of  his  pioneer  labor.  He  was  a  man  of  great  energy ; 
an  excellent  business  man,  honorable  and  upright;   a  good  all- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  507 

around  man  and  citizen.  His  life  was  a  fine  illustration  of  the  char- 
acter of  the  sturdy  pioneers  who  transformed  Van  Buren  county 
from  a  wilderness  into  a  garden,  from  an  almost  impenetrable 
forest  into  a  land  of  beautiful  farms  and  elegant  homes. 

Also  Settled  Prior  to  1844 

In  1835,  Zebina  Stearns  came  to  Hamilton,  taking  up  his  quar- 
ters in  the  Reynolds  hunters'  shanty.  Mr.  Stearns  afterward  en- 
tered land  on  section  seventeen  and  remained  a  resident  of  the 
town  until  his  death  in  1846.  He  was  joined  by  his  son  Sidney, 
who  had  previously  been  engaged  in  the  business  of  driving  stage 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state.  He  remained  a  resident  of  Hamil- 
ton until  his  decease  which  occurred  on  the  4th  day  of  May,  1885, 
in  the  seventy-second  year  of  his  age. 

James  Nesbitt,  a  brother  of  Robert,  removed  from  Keeler  in  1835 
and  located  lands  on  sections  thirteen  and  fourteen.  He  lived 
there  until  1849,  when,  one  day,  he  was  found  dead  at  the  bottom 
of  his  well.  There  were  some  suspicions  of  foul  play,  but  investi- 
gation failed  to  throw  any  light  on  the  manner  of  his  death,  the 
mystery  of  which  was  never  solved. 

In  1835  Lewis  Johnson  came  to  Hamilton  from  the  eastern  part 
of  the  state  along  with  his  father  and  Zebina  Stearns.  He  settled 
on  section  eighteen  and  remained  and  continued  to  reside  there 
until  he  died  in  1872.  The  elder  Johnson  returned  to  the  state  of 
New  York,  which  had  been  their  former  place  of  residence,  after 
remaining  in  Hamilton  for  about  three  years. 

Aaron  Barney,  from  the  state  of  New  York,  was  also  a  settler  in 
the  township  in  1835.  He  located  on  section  thirty-eight.  He  lost 
his  wife  in  1838  and  he,  himself,  died  in  1858. 

A  man  named  Lyon,  who  also  came  to  the  township  in  1835, 
remained  but  one  year.  He  sold  his  possessions  to  Philotus  Hay- 
don,  who  became  a  man  of  prominence,  not  only  in  Hamilton  but 
in  the  county.  He  was  somewhat  eccentric  and  many  anecdotes  are 
related  of  him,  some  of  which  may,  perhaps,  be  genuine,  but,  as  is 
apt  to  be  the  case,  it  is  probable  that  most  of  them  are  imaginary. 
Mr.  Haydon  took  quite  an  active  part  in  the  politics  of  his  day 
and  served  ajb  different  times  in  the  state  legislature,  both  as  a  rep- 
resentative and  as  a  senator.  He  died  at  his  farm  on  section  eight- 
een, in  1866.  He  was  probably  the  most  prominent  and  noted  man 
that  ever  lived  in  the  township.  His  son,  Arthur  W.,  is  yet  a  resi- 
dent of  Hamilton  and  is  well  and  favorably  known  throughout  the 
county,  and,  like  his  father,  is  somewhat  prominent  in  political 
circles. 


508  HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Other  settlers  of  the  township,  who  came  in  1836,  were  James  M. 
Lombard,  Henry  C.  McClure  and  his  son,  Henry;  John  Comley; 
George  Geer  and  his  brother,  Elisha;  S.  T.  Howell,  Hale  Wake- 
field, Caleb  Bartlett,  and  Joseph  McClintock.  In  1837  other  set- 
tlers were  Henry  Coleman,  Samuel  Bradt,  Jackson  and  Colcott 
Pratt,  George  S.  Bishop,  Marcus  Merriman,  Calvin  Fields  and 
James  Brooks. 

Fields  removed  to  Kansas  and  Merriman  eventually  took  up  his 
residence  in  Paw  Paw,  where  he  died  on  the  22d  day  of  January, 
1892,  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years  and  nine  months. 

James  Brooks,  with  his  wife  and  two  children,  settled  on  sec- 
tion thirty-three,  where  he  resided  on  the  same  place  until  his 
death  in  1876.  It  is  related  of  him  that  he  was  once  so  completely 
lost  in  the  forest  that  he  could  not  find  his  way  out  and  that  he 
was  rescued  by  a  searching  party  after  wandering  four  days  in  the 
woods.  Leonard  Tisdale  and  Solomon  B.  Hagar  wrere  also  promi- 
nent among  the  early  settlers  of  the  township.  The  latter  served 
as  its  supervisor  for  eight  consecutive  years. 

George  A.  Bentley,  Alexander  Sloan,  and  Palmer  Earl  were 
among  the  settlers  of  1838-9.  Truman  Foster  came  in  1840.  He 
was  both  farmer  and  school  teacher.  He  taught  in  the  adjoining 
township  of  Lawrence  and  wTas  the  second  teacher  to  be  employed 
in  that  town. 

Thomas  Harris  came  from  the  state  of  New  York  in  1842,  with 
a  Rooseveltian  family  of  fourteen  children.    He  died  in  1863. 

George  Bennett  was  also  an  early  settler  of  the  town.  He  removed 
to  the  village  of  Decatur  where  he  died  at  an  advanced  age. 

Stephen  Osborn  settled  in  the  town  in  184.3,  just  north  of  Os- 
born  Lake,  together  with  his  wife  and  ten  children.  The  lake 
takes  its  name  from  the  Osborn  family.    He  died  in  1853. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  the  township  wTas  Mason  Wake- 
field, wrhose  birthday  was  the  fifth  day  of  July,  1836.  The  sec- 
ond birth  was  that  of  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Robert  Nesbitt,  in 
September,  1837.  She  died  in  the  morning  of  life,  just  before 
reaching  the  age  of  twenty  years. 

The  first  marriage  of  Hamilton  residents  was  that  of  Robert  Nes- 
bitt and  Maria,  daughter  of  John  Comley.  The  ceremony  was  per- 
formed in  the  township  of  Lawrrence,  on  the  first  day  of  December, 
1836,  by  John  D.  Freeman,  a  justice  of  the  peace. 

Illustrative  of  the  Pioneers  and  Their  Times 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Mr.  Knickerbocker,  who  with  his 
family  located  on  the  bank  of  the  lake  that  bears  his  name  in  1835. 
He  died  as  the  result  of  exhaustion  and  exposure  and  the  hard- 


HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY       50» 

ships  endured,  within  a  few  days  after  he  had  occupied  his  un- 
finished pioneer  cabin.  The  circumstances  connected  with  this 
death  were  peculiarly  harrowing.  Plearing  of  the  matter,  Robert 
Nesbitt  and  Zebina  Stearns  wrent  to  the  premises  and  found  a  most 
distressful  scene.  The  dead  man  lay  in  one  corner  of  the  floorless, 
roofless  shanty,  while  the  weeping  widow  and  children,  gathered 
around  a  smouldering  fire  in  another  corner  of  the  hut,  completed 
a  picture  of  utter  wretchedness.  Stearns  at  once  started  for  Paw 
Paw,  some  fourteen  miles  distant,  and  in  due  time  returned  with 
Peter  Gremps  of  that  village  and  Elder  Junia  Warner,  who 
preached  the  funeral  sermon.  Mr.  Gremps  provided  the  coffin  and 
in  accordance  with  the  request  of  the  dying  man,  he  was  buried  on 
the  island  in  the  lake  which  bears  his  name,  and  there  his  bones 
still  rest.  After  her  husband's  decease,  the  widow  returned  to 
her  friends  in  the  east. 

A  story  related  by  Sidney  Stearns  is  illustrative  of  the  indomit- 
able energy  and  pluck  that  characterized  those  hardy  settlers  of 
early  days.  There  came  along  one  day,  said  Mr.  Stearns,  to  his 
father's  cabin,  two  foot  travelers,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewis  Johnson; 
he  carrying  an  axe  on  his  shoulder  and  leading  a  cow,  and  she 
carrying  a  bundle,  which,  with  another  bundle  borne  by  her  hus- 
band, represented  the  entire  worldly  possessions  of  the  worthy 
couple.  It  was  but  a  limited  outfit  for  the  beginning  of  strenuous 
pioneer  life,  but,  like  many  others  under  similar  circumstances,  they 
did  not  fear  hardship  or  short  allowances.  Johnson  knew  that  with 
his  good  axe,  he  could,  if  health  was  spared,  hew  his  way  to  success 
and  prosperity,  and,  with  the  help  of  his  equally  brave  wife,  he 
struggled  for  even  the  commonest  necessaries  of  life  until  at  last 
grit  and  perseverance  won  success. 

In  1837  Henry  D.  Coleman  built  a  tavern  in  the  township  on 
the  line  of  the  Territorial  road  some  four  or  five  miles  from  the 
present  village  of  Decatur.  Travel  by  stage  was  very  brisk  along 
that  highway  prior  to  the  completion  of  the  Michigan  Central 
Railroad,  and  as  long  as  the  stage  route  was  continued  Coleman  did 
an  extensive  and  profitable  business.  He  had  put  all  his  means 
into  this  enterprise,  but  shortly  afterward  borrowed  a  few  hun- 
dred dollars,  with  which  he  purchased  a  small  stock  of  goods  and 
opened  up  a  mercantile  business  on  a  limited  scale  in  one  corner 
of  his  tavern.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  matter  of  Gb- 
taining  a  postoffice  for  the  town,  which  he  succeeded  in  doing  and 
was  himself  appointed  postmaster.  When  the  stage  route  was 
abandoned,  the  office  was  abolished  and  Coleman  removed  to  a 
farm  on  section  four,  where  he  died  in  1857.  He  was  a  man  of  some 
prominence  and  was  elected  as  associate  judge  of  the  circuit  court 
in  1842.     After  his  removal,  the  tavern  became  known  as  Brown's 


510  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Tavern  and  acquired  rather  an  unsavory  and  undesirable  reputation. 
Charles  N.  Poor,  a  blacksmith  in  Keeler,  removed  his  shop  to  Cole- 
man's new  location,  where  he  remained  and  stuck  to  Ids  bellows 
as  long  as  the  stages  stuck  to  the  road,  after  which  he  removed  to 
California. 

Aaron  W.  Broughton,  who  came  to  Hamilton  in  1839,  brought 
with  him  a  considerable  stock  of  merchandise,  opened  up  quite  a 
pretentious  store  near  the  residence  of  Philotus  Hay  don,  and  for 
a  considerable  time  transacted  a  flourishing  business.  Mr.  Brough- 
ton removed  to  Paw  Paw,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  became  an  influential  citizen  of  the  county,  and  in  1846  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  judge  of  the  county  court. 

Schools  Then  and  Now 

There  were  no  grist  mills  easy  of  access  to  the  early  settlers  of 
Hamilton,  and  as  "going  to  mill"  was  no  pleasant  task  not  infre- 
quently the  home  made  mill  on  the  top  of  fc  hollowed  out  stump 
was  brought  into  requisition  for  a  temporary  supply  of  corn  meal, 
or  l ' johnny-cake  timber,' '  as  it  was  sometimes  called. 

About  the  year  1837  or  1838  Mrs.  Millard,  who  lived  with  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  Bennett,  taught  a  day  school  and  a  Sunday  school 
at  her  mother's  house.  Not  long  afterward  Robert  Nesbitt  pro- 
cured the  services  of  Miss  Litchfield,  who  came  from  Pennsylva- 
nia to  teach  his  children.  The  first  public  school  was  taught  in  the 
Little  Red  Schoolhouse  near  Coleman's  tavern  in  1837,  and  was 
patronized  by  some  twenty  pupils. 

The  condition  of  the  public  schools  of  the  township  at  the  pres- 
ent time  is  shown  by  the  following  official  figures :  Total  number 
of  pupils  of  school  age,  266;  volumes  in  school  libraries,  1,061; 
number  of  schoolhouses,  nine ;  estimated  value  of  school  property, 
$7,600;  district  indebtedness,  $150;  teachers  employed,  nine;  ag- 
gregate number  of  months  school  taught,  seventy-three;  sum  paid 
for  teachers'  salaries,  $3,065.  To  the  township  was  apportioned  the 
sum  of  $2,032.50  from  the  primary  school  fund  of  the  state  for  the 
year  1911. 

While  there  are  no  church  edifices  in  Hamilton,  the  people  are 
not  without  religious  privileges.  There  are  two  Methodist  Epis- 
copal societies  holding  regular  meetings  and  there  are  three  Sun- 
day schools. 

The  secret  societies  are  Hamilton  Grange,  Patrons  of  Husbandry, 
which  has  upwards  of  seventy  members ;  the  Modern  Woodmen,  and 
two  societies  of  the  Gleaners.  The  ladies  have  a  club  of  their  own, 
not  secret. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  township  are  practically  all  engaged  in 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  511 

the  pursuit  of  agriculture  and  horticulture.  The  grape  industry 
is  becoming  of  some  importance,  there  being  several  hundreds  of 
acres  of  vineyard  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  township,  while  celery 
is  extensively  cultivated  on  the  low  lands  in  the  south-eastern  por- 
tion. 

The  Hamilton  Township  Fair 

An  unique  feature  in  the  history  of  the  township,  which  is  worthy 
of  special  notice,  is  the  Hamilton  Township  Fair.  The  following 
sketch  of  the  origin  and  growth  of  that  institution  was  written  by 
Arthur  W.  Haydon,  at  the  request  of  the  compiler  of  this  work: 
"In  the  spring  of  1876,  a  party  of  Hamilton  farmers  went  to  a 
sheep  shearing  festival  at  the  home  of  B.  G.  Buel,  on  Little  Prairie 
Ronde.  At  the  next  grange  meeting  the  writer  spoke  of  the  good 
time  they  had  and  of  the  value  of  such  meetings  in  general  and 
suggested  that  the  Hamiltonians  hold  an  annual  sheep  shearing  and 
organize  a  township  fair.  Captain  Josiah  Hendryx,  Henry  Smith 
and  others  spoke  in  favor  of  the  plan,  and  from  this  beginning  the 
first  fair  was  held  at  the  grange  hall. 

"It  began  as  a  township  fair,  but  soon  claimed  jurisdiction 
throughout  the  world. 

"As  it  finally  developed,  it  differed  essentially  from  the  ordinary 
fair  in  that  it  was  entirely  free  as  to  entries  and  admission,  and 
its  premiums  consisted  of  honorary  cards  or  ribbons.  The  neces- 
sary funds  to  cover  expenses  were  secured  by  a  moderate  charge 
for  booths,  games,  amusements,  etc. 

"It  styles  itself  'The  Great  Free  Fair;'  dear  to  the  hearts  of 
the  children  and  also  to  the  'grown  ups,'  who  like  to  take  a  day 
off,  meet  friends  and  have  a  good  time. 

' '  It  has  been  addressed  from  year  to  year  by  noted  men,  govern- 
ors, congressmen  and  candidates  for  high  public  position,  who  come 
gladly  and  without  pay  to  meet  the  'dear  people'  of  Hamilton  and 
vicinity. 

"It  is  at  the  present  time  less  of  a  fair  and  more  of  a  reunion, 
and  its  continued  popularity  is  evidenced  by  an  attendance  of 
from  one  thousand  to  five  thousand  people.  The  township  has 
purchased  forty  acres  of  land  adjoining  the  grange  hall  property 
for  the  present  use,  at  least,  of  the  fair.  Ultimately  this  may  be- 
come Hamilton's  'Picnic  Park/  if  the  forest  trees  growing  thereon 
can  be  protected  from  fires. 

"Taking  a  retrospective  glance  over  the  history  of  Hamilton, 
the  greatest  benefits  seem  to  have  come  from  the  advent  and  the 
influence  of  the  grange,  the  fair,  and  later  the  Woodmen,  the 
Gleaners  and  the  Woman's  club. 


512  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

"Though  without  a  village  as  a  business  center,  we  have  the 
Grange  Hall,  suitable  for  church  and  funeral  services;  also  used 
as  a  town  hall,  for  caucuses,  rallies  and  elections ;  for  the  fair,  en- 
tertainments, socials,  lectures,  parties,  theatricals,  etc.  These  ad- 
vantages, together  with  the  great  work  done  within  the  various 
societies,  have  resulted  in  concentrating  and  developing  social  ties 
and  friendships,  and  building  up  an  interest  and  pride  in  Hamilton 
among  its  citizens." 

Mr.  Haydon  speaks  none  too  enthusiastically  of  the  township 
of  which  he  has  been,  ever  since  arriving  at  years  of  maturity,  an 
influential  and  highly  respected  citizen. 

A  spring  time  or  early  summer  drive  along  some  of  the  fine 
highways  of  the  town,  between  rows  of  magnificent  shade  trees, 
with  elegant  farm  buildings  on  either  side,  fertile  farms  covered 
with  bountiful  crops,  orchards  in  full  bloom,  filling  the  air  with 
fragrance,  thrifty  vineyards  clothed  in  a  dress  of  emerald  green, 
presents  a  scene  greatly  to  be  enjoyed.  While  Hamilton  is  not 
among  the  most  populous  of  the  townships  of  the  county,  it  is  one 
of  the  best  and  its  thrifty,  intelligent  people  keep  fully  abreast  of 
the  developments  of  these  twentieth  century  days. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

TOWNSHIP  OF  HARTFORD 

First  Things  and  Events — Allen's  Paper  Town — First  Ac- 
tual Settlers — Territorial  and  Official — "When  the 
World  Goes  Wrong  With  Me" — The  Village  of  Hartford — 
Educational  and  Professional — Churches  and  Societies — 
Business  and  Industries. 

Nearly  all  have  passed  away, 

Our  pioneers  we  knewT  so  well, 
Before  whose  steady,  sturdy  strokes 

The  mighty  forests,  prostrate  fell. 
The  winter  blast  that  sweeps  the  sky, 

No  more  disturbs  their  calm  repose 
Than  Summer  evening's  latest  sigh, 

That  o'er  them  gently  blows. 

As  the  present  generation  is  enjoying  their  heritage  in  this  fruit- 
ful land  bequeathed  to  them  by  pioneers  of  stalwart  worth,  they 
should  pause  and  consider  whence  came  the  fine  development  of 
their  inheritance,  and  be  not  like  the  animals  that  roamed  the 
primeval  forests,  partaking  of  the  food  they  found  in  such  abun- 
dance, without  ever  looking  up  to  see  whence  it  came. 

Michigan  first  became  known  to  the  white  man  some  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  years  ago.  It  was  then  occupied  by  the  Miami  In- 
dians, who  afterward  migrated  to  the  eastward.  Their  camp  fires 
had  scarcely  ceased  to  burn  before  the  ancestors  of  the  present 
Pottawattamies  swept  south  around  Lake  Michigan  from  Ouiscon- 
sin  (Wisconsin)  taking  possession  of  this  beautiful  land. 

Michigan  is  an  Indian  word  signifying  " monstrous  lake."  The 
Ottawas  say  it  was  pronounced  by  them  ' '  Mi-chi-gum. ' ' 

Named  and  Organized 

The  township  of  Hartford  was  organized  in  1840,  by  act  of  the 
legislature.  Ferdino  Olds,  Burrill  A.  Olney,  Thomas  Conklin  and 
some  others  settled  in  the  southern  part  of  the  township  as  early 
as  1837.  Ferdino  Olds,  being  the  first  settler,  was  permitted  to 
name  the  town  which  he  did,  calling  it  Hartland,  after  his  native 

513 

Vol.  1—33 


514  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

town  in  the  state  of  New  York,  but  learning  of  another  town  of 
the  same  name  in  the  state,  at  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Olney,  the 
name  was  changed  to  Hartford. 

After  the  first  election,  nearly  every  man  in  the  township  was 
filling  one  or  more  offices.  The  officers  chosen  at  that  first  town 
meeting  as  follows:  Supervisor,  Joseph  Ruggles;  township  clerk, 
Burrell  A.  Olney;  township  treasurer,  Joseph  Ruggles;  assessors, 
Thomas  Conklin,  Richard  B.  Everitt  and  Alexander  Newton ;  high- 
way commissioners,  Richard  B.  Everitt,  Cornelius  Williams,  Alvah 
De  Long  and  Alexander  Newton;  constables,  Alexander  Newton, 
Richard  B.  Everitt,  Smith  Johnson  and  Burrell  A.  Olney. 

First  Things  and  Events 

The  first  schoolhouse,  built  of  logs,  was  erected  in  the  southeast 
part  of  the  township.  There  were  five  pupils,  and  the  school  was 
taught  by  Olive  Poole  who  received  the  munificent  salary  of  $1.25 
per  wreek. 

The  first  Protestant  sermon  preached  in  the  township  was  by 
Rev.  John  Hammond,  a  Baptist  traveling  missionary,  father  of 
the  late  Henry  Hammond  and  Mrs.  Brodhead. 

The  first  wedding  was  that  of  Mehitable  Cone  to  Thomas  Kemp. 
The  next  day  Lucy  Allen  and  James  Griffin,  and  Abigail  Mellen 
and  Edward  Eber  wTere  married  at  the  home  of  Ira  Allen.  This 
double  wedding  was  conducted  by  two  magistrates,  William 
Thomas  and  Burrell  A.  Olney,  each  marrying  one  couple  and  di- 
viding the  honors  and  the  fees.  No  cards  were  issued,  no  wedding 
bells  were  rung  and  few  presents  wrere  given.  At  that  time  there 
was  but  a  trail  between  Hartford  and  Watervliet,  in  Berrien 
county,  along  which  the  bridal  party  passed  in  single  file,  in  order 
to  be  present  at  a  dance  and  supper  gotten  up  by  the  two  bride- 
grooms at  the  latter  place. 

In  1852  Wilkes  and  Fowler  built  a  house  on  what  is  nowT  the 
southwest  corner  of  Main  and  Center  streets  in  the  village  of 
Hartford.  Wilkes  raised  a  small  crop  of  wheat,  took  it  to  Niles 
and  traded  it  for  whiskey  and  soon  afterward  the  place  was  nick- 
named "Bloody  Corners."  Hartford  postoffice  and  a  semi- weekly 
mail  between  Paw  Paw  and  St.  Joseph  was  established  in  1855. 
James  Griffin  was  the  first  postmaster. 

Mr.  Engle  says:  "I  came  to  Hartford  in  the  fall  of  1855  and 
built  a  log  cabin  ten  by  twelve  feet,  one  mile  east  of  Stough ton's 
Corners,  where  I  lumbered  during  the  winter;  returned  the  fol- 
lowing year  accompanied  by  my  sister,  Mrs.  P.  A.  Travis.  I  was 
married  in  1857  and  again  returned  with  my  wife  and  my  brother, 
the  late  Dr.  W.  A.  Engle,  and  built  in  what  is  now  the  village  of 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  515 

Hartford.  Weare  Hilliard  and  Roswell  Hart,  who  had  settled  here 
two  years  before,  were  our  nearest  neighbors — Roswell  and  I 
owned  one  partnership  dog.  I  well  remember  how  all  the  cattle 
of  the  surrounding  country  used  to  congregate  at  night  on  the 
main  corner  to  rid  themselves  of  the  flies  and  how  the  jargon  of 
fifty  cow  bells — more  or  less — disturbed  our  slumbers,  until,  in  our 
wrath,  we  would  arise  and  let  loose  the  dog  which  never  failed  to 
scatter  them  like  autumn  leaves  before  the  wind." 

The  lands  embraced  in  the  present  township  of  Hartford  were 
first  opened  for  settlement  in  1829.  In  1834,  a  noted  hunter  and 
trapper,  the  first  white  man  ever  known  to  come  to  Hartford,  built 
a  log  shanty  one  mile  east  of  the  present  village  of  Hartford  and 
covered  it  with  bark.  Here  he  spent  his  winters  hunting  and  trap- 
ping, returning  to  Niles  in  the  county  of  Berrien,  which  place  he 
made  his  summer  headquarters.  His  cabin  was  called  the  "Half- 
way House,"  being  about  equidistant  from  Dowagiac  creek  and 
Black  river.  His  habitual  dress  was  trousers  of  deer-skin,  a  blouse 
and  a  slouch  hat.  He  continued  to  occupy  his  shanty  until  1844. 
This  cabin  remained  for  a  good  many  years  and  was  designated  as 
the  "Hunter  House." 

Allen's  Paper  Town 

In  1835  John  Allen  opened  business  in  Brush  Creek  (Lawrence) 
on  the  credit  system,  and  made  a  failure.  Being  of  a  speculative 
turn,  he  conceived  the  idea  of  platting  a  village  and  disposing  of 
the  lots  to  strangers  in  the  east. 

* '  Could  we  with  ink  the  ocean  fill, 
Were  Earth  of  parchment  made, 
And  every  single  stick  a  quill, 
Each  man  a  scribe  by  trade, 

To  write  the  tricks  of  scheming  men 

Would  dip  the  ocean  dry." 

At  that  time  Waterford  (Watervliet)  was  in  its  infancy.  Hog 
Creek  was  about  half  way  between  Brush  Creek  and  Waterford, 
and  so  our  pioneer  speculator  located  his  imaginary  village  on  the 
stream  referred  to,  a  few  rods  north  of  where  it  emptied  its  wa- 
ters into  the  Paw  Paw  river,  naming  it  Middletown,  and  proceeded 
with  Yankee  shrewdness  to  make  sale  of  lots  to  people  in  his  former 
Green  Mountain  home.  At  that  time  the  late  Luther  Sutton, 
then  but  a  lad,  was  one  of  the  parties  to  a  practical  joke  in  con- 
nection with  Allen's  paper  town.  Some  half  dozen  families  who 
had  gathered  at  Brush  Creek — its  original  name  was  Mason,  but 
it  was  then  better  known  as  Brush  Creek — and,  supposing  Middle- 
town  to  be  quite  a  village,  planned  to  make  it  a  visit.     The  com- 


516  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

pany  consisted  of  some  half  dozen  ragged  men  and  as  many  bare- 
foot boys.  One  of  the  company,  John  Miller,  a  Mohawk  Dutch- 
man, being  rather  more  destitute  of  clothing  than  the  others,  was 
ashamed  to  go  among  strangers  so  scantily  arrayed,  and  so  Humph- 
rey Barnum — the  Barnums  were  all  noted  for  being  great  jokers — 
lent  the  Dutchman  his  coat.  Bent  on  reaching  the  town,  the  party 
started  westward,  past  Mud  and  Sutton's  lakes,  through  the 
brush  and  over  logs,  finally  reaching  a  small  stream  where  they 
halted  to  partake  of  their  lunch.  Mr.  Barnum  then  informed  them 
that  he  would  take  them  to  the  Public  Square  and  introduce  them 
to  the  leading  citizens  of  the  place,  and  piloting  them  up  the  bluff 
bank  of  the  creek,  he  said  "Here  they  are  boys,  the  residents  of 
the  place  are  all  cannibals  (mosquitoes).  Flee  for  your  lives." 
The  joke  was  appreciated  by  the  company  and  was  the  source  of 
much  merriment  for  a  long  time  afterward. 

The  site  of  this  paper  village  was  covered  by  a  dense  forest  for 
years  thereafter.  It  was  finally  cleared  off,  with  the  expectation 
of  converting  it  into  a  skunk  farm,  but  skunk  skins  declined  in 
value  and  so  the  place  escaped  being  called  Skunkville.  Some  ten 
or  twelve  years  ago  it  was  purchased  by  a  Chicago  party  and  con- 
verted into  a  duck  and  goose  farm,  but  the  venture  did  not  prove 
to  be  a  paying  investment  and  it  was  abandoned. 

It  is  said  that  what  caused  the  name  of  the  stream  to  be  changed 
from  "Middletown  Creek' '  to  "Hog  Creek' '  was  the  following  cir- 
cumstance :  A  gentleman  having  heard  that  the  waters  of  the  creek 
were  strongly  impregnated  with  medicinal  properties  decided  to 
make  an  investigation  and  if  he  found  the  report  to  be  true,  his 
intention  was  to  establish  a  sanitarium.  He  drank  freely  from  the 
stream  and  was  very  much  encouraged.  He  found  that  the  water 
had  a  brackish  taste,  very  like  the  waters  he  had  drank  at  different 
watering  places,  but  on  looking  around,  he  discovered  a  decaying 
hog  in  the  stream,  just  above  his  place.  He  left  suddenly,  feeling 
somewhat  "sea  sick"  and  sought  the  aid  of  a  doctor,  and  so  Hart- 
ford lost  a  prospective  sanitarium. 

For  several  years,  the  site  has  been  owned  by  Dr.  Parker,  who 
has  planted  several  acres  with  different  varieties  of  roses  down  to 
the  very  water's  edge,  and  so  the  name  of  the  locality  has  been  re- 
deemed and  it  is  now  known  as  ' '  Roseville. ' ' 

The  prospect  is  that  during  the  coming  season,  the  springs  at 
the  head  of  this  creek  will  be  piped  to  the  village,  which,  if  done, 
will  supply  the  community  with  abundance  of  as  pure  spring  wa- 
ter as  can  be  found  anywhere  in  the  state. 


HISTOEY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY  517 

First  Actual  Settlers 

The  first  actual  settlers  within  the  present  limits  of  the  town- 
ship of  Hartford  were  Ferdino  Olds  and  family  who  located  on 
section  twenty-nine.  Mr.  Olds  had  a  family  of  ten  children,  most 
of  them  born  after  he  came  to  Hartford.  He  departed  this  life 
in  1856.  A  little  later  two  of  his  brothers  settled  in  the  township, 
Hezekiah  and  Orson.  The  Olds  family  have  been  prominent  in 
the  development  of  both  the  township  and  the  village  of  Hartford. 
Henry  Hammond  was  the  next  settler.  He  located  on  section 
thirty-four  and  erected  a  cabin  for  temporary  use  in  1837.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  bent  their  energies  to  the  construction  of  a  better 
and  more  commodious  dwelling,  and  soon  had  a  comfortable  log 
house  which  they  occupied  as  soon  as  completed.  Here,  on  the  3d 
day  of  January,  1838,  a  daughter  was  born  to  them,  the  first  white 
child  born  in  the  township.  This  was  Catharine  Hammond,  after- 
ward the  wife  of  Hiram  E.  Stratton.  (We  used  to  call  her  "Kate," 
when  she  was  a  schoolmate  of  the  compiler.) 

The  first  white  male  child  born  in  the  township  was  Luke  Conk- 
lin,  son  of  Thomas  Conklin,  born  in  1838.  Thomas  Conklin  came 
to  Kalamazoo  from  New  York  in  1834,  but  did  not  remain.  In 
the  fall  of  1836,  in  company  with  his  brother  James,  he  came  back 
to  Kalamazoo — then  Bronson —  and  while  there,  in  behalf  of  him- 
self, his  brother,  Mr.  Sellick,  James  Spinnings  and  Burrill  A. 
Olney,  he  entered  and  paid  for  about  a  thousand  acres  of  govern- 
ment land.  In  the  winter  of  1837  the  two  brothers  and  Sellick 
built  log  cabins  on  sections  five  and  six  in  the  township  of  Keeler. 
Olney  and  Spinnings  came  the  next  spring,  arriving  in  Hartford 
on  the  14th  day  of  March,  1837.  Spinnings  lived  with  Olney.  He 
died  on  the  2d  day  of  May,  1841,  being  the  first  death  in  the  town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Olney  was  a  man  of  great  energy  and  ambition,  and  was 
possessed  of  a  high  degree  of  business  ability.  After  clearing  up 
his  farm  and  cultivating  it  for  twenty-five  years  or  more  he  en- 
tered into  a  large  lumbering  business  at  Watervliet,  in  the  adjoin- 
ing county  of  Berrien,  the  firm  with  which  he  was  connected  being 
known  as  Swain,  Olney  &  Company.  The  business  was  very  suc- 
cessful and  profitable.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  Mr.  Olney  was 
regarded  as  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  the  county.  His  son, 
Horace  M.  Olney,  is  the  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Paw  Paw  and  also  of  the  Olney  National  Bank  at  Hartford,  the 
only  two  national  banks  in  the  county.  Thomas  Conklin  remained 
a  resident  of  Hartford  until  his  death  which  occurred  January  28, 
1888. 
Eufus  Sayres  located  lands  on  section  twenty-four  at  an  early 


518  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

day,  but  did  not  become  a  resident.  He  sold  his  place  to  Horace 
Dowd  in  1843.  Mr.  Dowd  became  a  permanent  resident  and  was 
active  in  the  organization  of  the  Baptist  church  in  the  village  of 
Hartford.    He  died  on  the  fourth  day  of  July,  1870. 

Smith  Johnson  was  also  a  settler  in  1843.  He  sold  out  to  Will- 
iam Thomas,  who  became  a  man  of  some  prominence  in  the  com- 
munity. He  served  a  term  in  the  state  legislature  in  1875  and 
filled  numerous  local  official  positions. 

Alvah  DeLong  was  a  settler  of  the  town  in  1839.  He  removed 
to  California  where  he  died.  Two  of  his  brothers,  Asher  and 
Allen,  became  residents  of  the  towrnship.  Their  father,  a  Revolu- 
tionary soldier,  lived  with  his  sons.  He  died  at  the  extreme  age 
of  one  hundred  and  two  years. 

In  the  fall  of  1837  William  Everitt  and  his  son,  Richard  B., 
settled  on  section  twenty-six  and  about  the  same  time  Alexander 
Newton  settled  on  section  thirteen.  In  1839  Joseph  Ruggles  and 
family  came  from  Huron  county,  Ohio,  and  located  on  section 
thirty-one. 

Ira  Allen,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  located  in  Hart- 
ford in  1839,  having  previously  been  a  resident  of  Lawrence.  He 
died  about  1875.  Charles  P.  Sheldon  was  also  a  prominent  early 
citizen  of  the  township  and  was  the  first  settler  on  the  north  side 
of  the  Paw  Paw  river.  He  was  several  times  elected  as  supervisor 
and  was  chosen  as  representative  in  the  legislature  in  1853. 

Fabius  Miles,  another  somewhat  noted  man,  located  three  hun- 
dred acres  on  section  twelve  in  1844.  He  also  served  as  a  member 
of  the  state  house  of  representatives  for  the  session  of  1859-60. 

Adoniram  J.  Dyer  came  to  Hartford  about  1850  and  engaged 
in  teaching.  In  1853,  with  a  small  company,  he  crossed  the  plains 
to  California,  with  ox  teams.  They  were  six  months  in  reaching 
the  Pacific  coast,  but  since  that  time,  Mr.  Dyer  says,  he  has  sev- 
eral times  passed  over  nearly  the  same  route  in  three  or  four  days. 
He  was  instrumental  in  building  the  first  store  in  the  village  of 
Hartford,  which  was  afterward  remodeled  and  fitted  up  for  a  hotel 
and  was  widely  known  as  the  Rassette  House.  The  postoffice  block 
now  occupies  the  same  site.  Returning  from  California  in  1855, 
Mr.  Dyer  became  the  manager  of  Cross  &  Andrews  saw-mill,  some- 
times shipping  as  much  as  150,000  feet  of  lumber  in  cribs,  floated 
down  the  Paw  Paw  river  to  St.  Joseph,  thence  across  the  lake  to 
Chicago.  Millions  of  feet  of  lumber  and  logs  have  been  thus 
floated  down  that  stream.  Mr.  Dyer  and  his  late  brother,  Andrew 
J.,  vouch  for  the  following  anecdote:  On  a  trip  to  his  father's 
place,  southeast  of  the  town,  he  saw  a  large  flock  of  wild  turkeys 
settle  down  behind  a  fallen  tree.  Young  A.  J.  crept  cautiously  up 
to  the  tree,  and,  seeing  a  .number  of  turkeys'  feet  on  the  opposite 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  519 

side,  he  carefully  introduced  his  hand  under  the  log,  grasped  the 
patriarch  of  the  flock  by  the  legs  and  held  him  until  his  brother 
dug  a  hole  under  the  log  large  enough  to  draw  the  old  gobbler 
through.  When  dressed,  his  captive  bird  weighed  twenty-one 
pounds  and  the  Dyer  family  and  their  neighbors,  who  were  invited 
to  partake,  as  was  the  custom  in  those  days,  enjoyed  a  great  feast. 
After  that,  Adoniram  was  considered  to  be  the  family  Nimrod.  A 
few  years  later  he  caught  a  live  deer  that  was  being  held  at  bay 
by  a  dog*.  Dyer  never  would  admit  that  he  failed  to  get  any  veni- 
son on  that  occasion,  but  those  who  were  acquainted  with  the  abil- 
ity of  a  wild  deer  as  a  fighter,  declare  that  he  came  home  nearly 
naked  and  bleeding  from  the  numerous  wounds  inflicted  by  his 
quarry. 

A  Soldier  of  the  Revolution 

Perhaps  the  only  Revolutionary  soldier  who  ever  lived  in  Van 
Buren  county  was  Francis  DeLong,  who  was  born  in  1760  and  died 
in  1862,  at  the  extreme  old  age  of  one  hundred  and  two  years  and 
eight  months.  He  and  his  wife  came  to  the  township  of  Hartford 
in  1854  and  lived  with  their  children. 

Mr.  DeLong  enlisted  in  the  American  army  on  the  13th  day  of 
September.  1777.  He  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  English  forces  at 
Charleston.  South  Carolina,  and  was  held  as  a  prisoner  for  five 
months :  he  was  then  taken  to  the  island  of  Jamaica,  where  he  was 
held  for  six  years,  when  he  was  transferred  to  Halifax  and  detained 
for  a  year :  then  sent  to  Montreal,  and  three  months  afterward  he 
and  his  comrades  in  captivity  were  sent  to  the  West  Indies  to  fight 
the  natives,  but  not  being  of  the  requisite  stature  of  an  English 
soldier,  he  was  discharged,  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land,  without 
money  and  without  friends.  He  finally  succeeded  in  working  his 
way  to  Northern  New  York,  where  he  was  married  and  raised  a 
family  of  eight  children. 

When  the  old  veteran  was  told  that  Fort  Sumter  had  been  bom- 
barded and  captured  by  the  rebel  forces,  he  wept,  but  when  told 
that  Lincoln  had  called  for  troops  to  put  down  the  rebellion,  he 
roused  up  like  one  from  sleep  and  said :  i '  Eighty-one  years  ago  I 
volunteered  and  fought  to  save  Charleston  from  being  captured  by 
the  English  army,  and  I  am  now  ready  to  volunteer  again  and  do 
all  I  can  to  save  my  country  for  whose  liberty  I  fought  and  dragged 
out  so  many  of  the  years  of  my  youth  in  British  prisons.' ' 

The  old  veteran  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Hartford  cemetery,  in 
military  style,  in  the  presence  of  friends,  relatives  and  a  few  sol- 
diers, who  had  just  been  sworn  into  the  United  States  service  by 
C.  H.  Engle.  The  scene  was  an  impressive  one.  "We  are  con- 
signing to  his  grave,' '  says  Mr.  Engle,  "in  the  presence  of  the 


520  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

young  soldiers,  one  of  the  last  of  the  Revolutionary  heroes  who 
fought  for  the  liberty  that  was  secured  to  us  by  such  loyal  souls  as 
Francis  DeLong. " 

' '  Soldier,  Rest  thee  from  a  hundred  years  of  toil ; 
Rest  thee:  Nobly  thou  didst  fight  for  Freedom's  soil. 
We'll  go  forth  and  battle  for  our  Country's  cause, 
Until  all  traitors  shall  obey  our  union's  laws." 

Three  grandsons  of  the  old  hero  were  in  the  Civil  war — Silas, 
Henry  and  Nathan  DeLong.  The  first  two  were  wounded  and 
Silas  was  a  prisoner  iri  Libby  prison  for  more  than  a  year.  Free- 
man Stowe,  a  great-grandson,  was  also  a  soldier  and  was  also 
wounded  during  his  service.  Numerous  descendants  of  the  old 
veteran,  grandchildren  and  great-grandchildren,  are  residents  of 
the  townships  of  Hartford  and  Bangor. 

Nathan  DeLong  was  a  great  hunter,  known  as  the  "Nimrod" 
of  the  family.  The  following  anecdote  is  related  in  his  own  words : 
"I  had  been  out  hunting  one  day,  and  as  I  was  returning  home, 
just  south  of  the  Jackson  Hotel  (now  the  site  of  the  Postoffice 
block),  a  big  buck  jumped  up  within  a  few  feet  of  me.  I  fired  and 
he  fell  as  if  dead,  but  when  I  came  to  where  he  lay,  I  saw  that  the 
ball  had  broken  off  one  of  his  horns  close  to  his  head.  I  com- 
menced to  reload,  but  found  there  was  not  a  ball  in  my  pouch.  I 
grabbed  a  rope  that  I  always  took  with  me  while  hunting,  tied  it 
about  his  neck  and  hitched  him  to  a  staddle  close  by.  I  had  no 
sooner  done  this  than  he  recovered  from  the  shock  and  sprang  to 
his  feet,  and  of  all  the  pitchings,  divings,  and  gyrations  that  that 
buck  went  through  was  a  'sin  to  snakes;'  it  beat  any  circus  per- 
formance I  ever  did  see.  I  ran  half  a  mile  to  my  home  in  the 
pinery,  reloaded  my  gun  and  returned  as  quickly  as  I  could. 
My  prisoner  was  as  quiet  as  a  lamb,  but  when  he  saw  me  the  circus 
again  began  in  earnest.  I  fired.  The  circus  was  ended.  When 
dressed,  that  buck  weighed  two  hundred  pounds." 

Territorial  and  Official 

When  the  county  of  Van  Buren  was  organized  in  1837  and  di- 
vided into  seven  townships,  what  is  now  the  township  of  Hartford 
was  a  part  of  Lawrence  and  remained  so  until  1839,  when  it  was 
set  off  from  that  township  and  made  a  part  of  Keeler.  The  next 
year,  1840,  the  legislature  enacted  that  township  three  south,  of 
range  sixteen  west,  should  be  set  off  and  organized  into  a  township 
by  the  name  of  Hartford  and  that  the  first  official  meeting  should 
be  held  at  the  house  of  Smith  Johnson. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  521 

At  the  following  presidential  election,  held  November  2  and  3, 
1840,  eighteen  votes  were  polled  in  the  township,  twelve  Demo- 
cratic and  six  Whig.  The  citizens  wTho  exercised  their  right  of 
franchise  on  that  occasion  were  Alexander  Newton,  Cornelius  Wil- 
liams, Peter  Williamson,  Henry  Hammond,  Smith  Johnson,  Bur- 
rill  A.  Olney,  Richard  B.  Everitt,  and  Joseph  Euggles,  who  de- 
posited their  ballots  on  the  first  day  of  the  election,  and  Ira  Allen, 
Fernando  C.  Ruggles,  Caleb  Johnson,  Hezekiah  Olds,  Martin  Allen, 
Paul  Wilcox,  Clark  A.  Lapham,  Thomas  Conklin,  James  Spinning 
and  Ferdino  Olds,  on  the  second  day. 

At  the  presidential  election  of  1908  the  vote  of  the  township  had 
increased  to  583,  as  follows:  Taft,  Republican,  316;  Bryan,  Demo- 
crat, 242;  Chafin,  Prohibitionist,  sixteen;  Debs,  Socialist,  four; 
Hisgen,  Independent,  five. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  names  of  those  who  have  filled  the  of- 
fice of  supervisor  of  the  township :  Joseph  Ruggles,  Burrill  A.  Ol- 
ney, Charles  P.  Sheldon,  Sylvester  G.  Easton,  William  Thomas, 
Roswell  Hart,  Lyman  Bridges,  Rowland  C.  Taylor,  Thomas  J. 
Johns,  Jesse  Thomas,  Stephen  Doyle,  Henry  Spaulding,  Archi- 
bald P.  McWilliams,  Howard  Lobdell,  John  S.  Thorn,  Walter  0. 
Gage,  John  Ryan,  John  McAlpine,  Jasper  H.  Thompson  and 
Charles  E.  Anderson  (present  incumbent). 

Of  the  foregoing  named  gentlemen  the  following  served  more 
than  two  years :  Messrs.  Olney  and  McWilliams,  three  years  each ; 
Lobdell,  four  years ;  McAlpine  died  while  serving  his  fifth  year, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Thompson  to  fill  vacancy ;  Hart  served  eight 
years. 

The  first  mail  route  through  the  township  was  established  in 
1854,  between  St.  Joseph  and  Paw  Paw.  The  mail  was  carried  on 
horseback  but  no  mail  was  delivered  in  Hartford  until  the  next 
year,  when  a  postoffice  was  established  at  Hartford  Center,  as  it 
was  then  called,  nowT  the  village  of  Hartford.  The  first  school  was 
taught  in  the  spring  of  1837  by  Mrs.  Martha  Conklin,  wife  of 
Thomas  Conklin,  in  their  own  house.  The  first  school  house,  built 
of  logs,  was  erected  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  township,  and 
the  first  school  therein  was  taught  by  Miss  Olive  Poole,  who  re- 
ceived $1.25  per  week  for  her  services. 

The  official  educational  records  for  1911  are,  in  part,  as  follows : 
Number  of  pupils  of  school  age,  681 ;  number  of  volumes  in  dis- 
trict libraries,  1,995;  ten  schoolhouses ;  estimated  value  of  school 
property,  $24,200;  district  indebtedness,  $2,601.72;  aggregate 
number  months  of  school,  167 ;  number  teachers  employed,  twenty ; 
sum  paid  for  teachers'  salaries,  $8,153.50.  Amount  of  moneys 
awarded  to  the  township  from  the  primary  school  fund  of  the 
state,  $5,160. 


522  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

The  assessed  valuation  of  the  township  in  1840,  the  year  of  its 
organization,  amounted  to  $31,678.75,  as  follows:  Resident  realty, 
$2,262.50 ;  personal  estate,  $521.00 ;  non-resident  realty.  $28,895.25. 
The  sum  total  of  taxes  levied  for  that  year  was  $401.52.  The 
names  of  the  resident  taxpayers  appearing  on  the  roll  were  Alex- 
ander Newton,  C.  Williams,  Hezekiah  Olds,  Ferdino  Olds,  Alvah 
DeLong,  Smith  Johnson,  Caleb  Johnson,  Henry  Minor,  Ira  Al- 
len, Joseph  Ruggles,  Fernando  Ruggles,  Burrill  A.  Olney,  Thomas 
Conklin,  Henry  Hammond,  Richard  B.  Everitt  and  Peter  William- 
son. 

The  valuation  of  the  township,  including  the  village,  for  the 
year  1911,  was  $1,197,800,  and  the  total  of  taxes  levied  was  the 
sum  of  $19,853.97. 

The  population  of  the  township,  according  to  the  census  of  1910, 
was  2,597,  only  one  other  township  in  the  county — Paw  Paw — 
having  a  greater  number,  not  including  the  city  of  South  Haven. 
It  also  ranks  second  in  point  of  wealth,  Paw  Paw  being  first. 

"When  the  World  Goes  Wrong  With  Me'? 

The  following  little  poem  written  by  Mrs.  Mary  L.  Hall,  one  of 
our  devoted  pioneer  mothers,  entitled  "When  the  World  Goes 
Wrong  with  Me/'  voices  the  sentiment  that  actuated  the  heroic, 
self-sacrificing  women  who  so  nobly  struggled  in  the  primitive  wil- 
derness to  assist  their  husbands,  brothers  and  fathers  in  securing 
a  livelihood  and  educating  their  children  so  that  they  might  become 
upright,  God-fearing  men  and  women,  an  honor  to  their  parents, 
to  the  community  and  to  themselves. 

Wild  birds  swiftly  find  their  nests, 

When  the  storm  beats  hard  abreast. 
Honey  bees  spin  home  in  haste, 

When  black  the  clouds  threaten  waste: 
Oh!   then  I  gladly  fly  to  Thee, 

When  the  world  goes  wrong  with  me. 

Tracked  by  hounds,  the  helpless  fawn. 

Sleeping  in  the  early  dawn, 
Wakes  to  hear  the  cruel  bay 

Of  her  foes  not  far  away. 
Little  fawn,  I  'm  scared  like  thee, 

When  the  world  goes  wrong  with  me. 

Lord,  perhaps  there's  in  thine  eyes, 

Nothing  living  to  despise; 
Love,  forgiving,  fond  and  true, 

Always,  always  dwells  with  you: 
Why  should  I  not  flee  to  Thee, 

When  the  world  goes  wrong  with  me? 


HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  523 

The  Village  of  Hartford 

The  village  of  Hartford,  the  only  village  in  the  township,  is  lo- 
cated on  sections  fifteen  and  sixteen,  so  near  to  the  center  of  the 
township  that  it  was  formerly  called  "Hartford  Center."  It  was 
platted  on  the  3d  day  of  March,  1859,  by  Truman  Stratton,  W.  W. 
Shepard,  Weare  Hilliard,  James  Wolcott,  Roswell  Hart,  J.  C. 
Crandall  and  James  Smith.  Since  the  original  plat  was  made, 
there  have  been  sixteen  additions  to  the  town.  It  was  incorporated 
by  a  special  act  of  the  legislature  in  1877  (Local  Acts  of  1877,  p. 
99).  It  covers  about  one  square  mile  of  territory  and  has  between 
five  and  six  miles  of  streets,  on  either  side  of  which  are  the  best 
of  cement  walks,  shaded  by  beautiful  maples. 

The  population  in  1910  was  1,268,  making  it  third  in  number 
among  the  villages  of  the  county,  being  exceeded  only  by  Deca- 
tur and  Paw  Paw. 

The  growth  of  the  village  was  quite  moderate  until  the  build- 
ing of  the  Pere  Marquette  railway  in  1870,  since  which  time  there 
has  been  a  constant,  steady  increase  of  both  population  and  of 
business.  The  construction  of  the  narrow  gauge  road  from  Law- 
ton  to  South  Haven,  intersecting  the  Pere  Marquette  at  Hartford, 
which  road  has  since  been  converted  into  a  standard  gauge,  and  is 
now  known  as  the  "Fruit  Belt"  line,  gives  the  town  excellent 
transportation  facilities;  none  better  in  the  entire  county,  except 
the  city  of  South  Haven,  which,  in  addition  to  two  railroads,  has 
direct  steamboat  connection  with  the  cities  on  the  other  side  of 
Lake  Michigan.  * 

There  are  sixteen  daily  passenger  trains  passing  through  and 
stopping  at  the  village  and  a  greater  number  of  passengers  it  is 
claimed,  get  on  and  off  the  trains  there  than  at  any  other  station 
on  the  Pere  Marquette  railway  between  New  Buffalo  and  Grand 
Rapids.  There  are  also  twelve  daily  freight  trains  on  the  Pere 
Marquette  and  four  on  the  Fruit  Belt  line  and  more  than  four 
thousand  carloads  of  produce  and  merchandise  are  handled  yearly. 
There  are  upwards  of  three  miles  of  side  tracks  and  yet  they  are 
often  crowded  for  lack  of  sufficient  room. 

The  first  store  in  the  village  was  built  by  Willard  Stratton,  who 
did  a  small  mercantile  business.  He  was  succeeded  by  Henry 
Baird,  who  found  the  business  to  be  neither  very  extensive  nor 
profitable.  C.  H.  Engle  says  that  Baird  told  him  that  a  mouse 
that  he  had  tried  in  vain  to  catch  had  eaten  up  all  his  profits,  and, 
adds  Mr.  Engle,  "I  believed  it." 

In  1858  Cyrus  Boynton  opened,  a  store  in  the  Rassette  House. 
He  brought  on  a  large  number  of  sacks  of  coffee  and  some  other 
goods.    After  he  had  been  doing  business  for  a  while  he  remarked 


524  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY 

that  where  he  had  kept  store  "out  west"  everybody  wanted  coffee 
and  not  much  of  anything  else,  but  in  Hartford  they  seemed  to 
want  everything  else,  but  not  much  coffee. 

The  following  incidents  related  by  Mr.  Engle  are  interesting 
and  will  not  be  out  of  place  here:  "Along  in  the  sixties,  during  the 
time  when  we  had  state  prohibition,  Harvey  Tamblin  ran  a  groc- 
ery store  and  saloon  near  the  present  site  of  Bennett's  hardware 
store.  One  evening  an  old  soak  known  as  Plutarch  called  at  his 
place  and  wanted  his  quart  bottle  filled  with  whiskey.  Tamblin 
refused,  saying  he  had  twice  been  fined  by  'Squire  Engle  for  sell- 
ing liquor  in  violation  of  law  and  that  if  he  were  to  be  again  con- 
victed, he  would  be  sent  to  jail  sure.'  Finally  he  told  him  that 
if  he  would  not  take  the  bottle  out  of  his  pocket  until  he  was  five 
miles  from  town,  he  would  fill  it  for  him. 

"  'Oh,  Mr.  Tamblin,  you  are  a  good  man,  I  will  not  touch  it  in 
ten  miles  of  Hartford/  said  old  Plutarch.  Tamblin  then  filled 
the  bottle  with  kerosene  and  blackberry  juice.  The  old  fellow  put 
it  into  his  pocket  saying,  'and  sure  Mr.  Tamblin,  you  are  a  good 
man  and  I'll  not  betray  you,'  and  started  east  in  the  direction  of 
the  village  of  Lawrence. 

"Tamblin,  anxious  to  witness  the  result,  followed  him.  Plu- 
tarch went  but  a  short  distance  when  he  sat  himself  down  in  a 
fence  corner.  Tamblin  unnoticed  crawled  into  an  adjacent  cor- 
ner. Plutarch  took  out  the  bottle,  saying  'Ah,  my  good  friend,  it 
is  you  and  I  for  it  now,'  and  began  to  guzzle  down  the  mixture; 
but  as  he  got  a  fair  taste  of  the  dose  he  began  to  gag  and  spit; 
then  holding  up  the  bottle  in  the  light  of  the  full  moon,  in  won- 
der and  surprise  he  said,  'Will  the  Gott  of  the  universe  tell  me 
what  that  is  ? ' 

"In  1861,  after  our  first  soldiers  had  gone  to  the  front,  several 
boys  from  thirteen  to  fifteen  years  of  age  used  to  parade  the 
the  streets  with  fife  and  drum,  as  the  soldiers  had  done  before 
them.  During  the  last  years  of  the  war  most  of  these  boys  enlisted. 
I  swore  them  into  the  service  and  I  do  not  know  one  of  them  that 
lived  to  return  home.  I  can  never  recall  this  sad  fact  without  say- 
ing in  my  heart,  'Oh,  the  cruelty  of  war.'  " 

"During  the  war,"  continued  Mr.  Engle,  "I  was  called  on  to 
marry  a  couple  some  distance  north  of  the  village.  The  groom  ar- 
rived on  the  scene  very  late  in  the  evening,  and  then  astonished 
and  disappointed  the  bridal  party  by  refusing  to  marry  the  girl. 
I  asked  him  what  he  meant  by  such  action.  He  started  for  the 
door  and  beckoned  me  to  follow.  When  we  were  on  the  outside 
he  said  he  was  engaged  to  the  girl  before  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war,  but  so  many  had  enlisted  that  men  were  getting  scarce  and, 
said  he,  'I  am  now  sure  I  can  do  better.'    I  was  dumfounded  and 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  525 

told  him  that  there  was  no  punishment  known  to  the  law  that  was 
adequate  to  his  case.  I  learned  afterward  that  he  was  drafted  and 
hustled  off  to  the  front,  but  it  was  near  the  close  of  the  war,  and 
he  soon  returned  home  and  had  the  cheek  to  again  ask  that  girl's 
hand  in  marriage;  but  the  plucky  maiden  replied,  'No,  sir,  the 
volunteer  boys  are  now  home  and  I  can  do  better.'  " 
Educational  and  Professional 

The  first  school  in  what  is  now  the  village  district  was  taught 
by  Miss  Antoinette  Stoughton,  in  the  dwelling  house  of  Harvey 
Tamblin.  The  first  schoolhouse  in  the  district  was  built  the  next 
year,  by  William  Shepard. 

The  present  schoolhouse  was  erected  in  1903,  at  a  cost  of  $16,- 
000,  besides  fixtures  which  are  all  modern  and  up-to-date.    It  con- 


High  School,  Hartford 

tains  ten  commodious  rooms,  one  of  which  is  occupied  by  the  Nor- 
mal class.  The  building  is  heated  by  two  furnaces  of  modern 
type  and  is  centrally  located  in  a  grove  of  three  acres.  The  school 
ranks  among  the  best  of  the  graded  schools  of  the  county.  Its 
graduates  are  admitted  to  the  Michigan  University  on  presentation 
of  diploma  and  without  additional  examination.  Under  the  man- 
agement of  Professor  George  S.  Foster,  who  has  been  its  efficient 
superintendent  for  the  past  six  years,  the  school  has  been  ex- 
ceedingly prosperous.  The  official  figures  for  the  school  year 
of  1910-11  reveal  the  following  items:  Number  of  pupils  in  dis- 
trict between  the  ages  of  five  and  twenty,  341;  non-resident  pu- 
pils attending  school,  sixty-eight;  average  daily  attendance,  276; 


526  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

volumes  in  school  library,  835 ;  value  of  school  property,  $15,000 ; 
district  indebtedness,  $2,500;  teachers  employed,  ten;  aggregate 
number  of  months  of  school,  nine ;  salaries  paid  teachers,  $5,032.50. 

Dr.  Milton  F.  Palmer  settled  in  Hartford  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  medicine  in  1857.  He  was  the  second  postmaster  in 
the  place  and  a  great  sportsman.  He  killed  several  deer  in  the 
vicinity,  and  ducks,  wild  turkeys  and  squirrels  without  number. 
His  gun  was  named  the  ' '  Rodlong. ' '  He  planted  an  apple  orchard 
in  the  center  of  the  village,  and  said  at  the  time  that  the  fruit  it 
would  produce  would  be  much  better  for  the  children  than  his 
medicine,  all  of  which  was  verified  in  time.  At  least,  it  cost  them 
less  than  his  pills,  for  he  was  never  known  to  drive  a  child  out  of 
his  orchard. 

Dr.  W.  A.  Engle  settled  in  the  place  soon  after  Dr.  Palmer  and 
the  two  practiced  their  profession  there  for  more  than  forty  years. 
Dr.  Engle  was  postmaster  for  several  years.  He  was  somewhat  of 
a  poetical  turn  of  mind,  published  two  very  creditable  volumes  of 
poems  and  had  a  third  volume  nearly  ready  for  the  press 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  at  Hartford,  on  the  20th 
day  of  November,  1907,  in  his  eighty-second  year. 

The  first  lawyer  to  settle  in  the  village  was  Alonzo  II .  Chandler, 
who  is  yet  practicing  his  profession  in  the  place.  Not  long  after- 
ward Cenius  H.  Engle  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  for  several 
years  they  were  the  only  practitioners  in  the  town. 

The  first  saw-mill  in  the  township  of  Hartford  was  erected  in 
1855,  on  the  Paw  Paw  river,  one  mile  north  of  the  village,  by  Cal- 
vin Cross  and  John  Andrews.     In  1870  it  was  purchased  by  Will- 


Anderson's  Mill,  Hartford 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  527 

iam  Anderson,  who  converted  a  part  the  structure  into  a  grist- 
mill, and  for  a  number  of  years  ran  the  two  in  connection.  Since 
the  death  of  their  father,  which  occurred  in  the  spring  of  1900, 
the  property  has  been  managed  by  two  of  his  sons,  Julian  H.  and 
Edgar  A.  Anderson.  A  few  years  ago,  the  brothers  greatly  im- 
proved the  water  power  and  started  an  electric  plant  which  sup- 
plies the  village  with  both  street  and  inside  lights.  They  are  en- 
titled to  much  credit  for  their  venture,  which  has  been  a  success, 
as  at  the  time  of  the  construction  of  the  plant  neither  of  them 
had  had  any  experience,  or  knowledge,  practical  or  theoretical,  of 
the  business.  At  the  present  time,  Marion  0.,  son  of  Julian  H. 
Anderson,  has  immediate  charge  of  the  working  of  the  plant.  He 
is  a  graduate  of  one  of  the  best  electrical  schools  in  the  country 
and  thoroughly  qualified  for  the  work. 

The  first  steam  grist-mill  in  the  village  was  built  in  1878  by 
E.  J.  Walker  and  is  still  in  operation  in  connection  with  a  hoop 
and  heading  mill. 

The  first  livery  in  the  place  was  established  by  Jacob  Craiger, 
who  ran  a  daily  line  of  stages  between  St.  Joseph  and  Paw  Paw 
until  the  completion  of  the  Pere  Marquette  Railway,  after  which 
he  continued  the  line  between  Hartford  and  Paw  Paw  until  the 
opening  of  the  "narrow  gauge "  in  1883.  Craiger  was  a  very 
energetic  man ;  no  storm  prevented  him  from  being  on  time  if  pos- 
sible. "No  lion  was  ever  in  his  way."  His  old  livery  barn  was 
torn  down  a  few  years  ago  and  one  of  the  finest  residences  in  the 
town  erected  on  its  site,  owned  and  occupied  by  George  Oeobock 
and  his  wife,  Craiger 's  youngest  daughter. 

Hartford  has  one  of  the  most  beautiful  parks  in  the  state,  cer- 
tainly the  finest  in  the  county.  It  contains  about  three  acres  of 
ground  and  is  situated  midway  between  the  main  part  of  the  vil- 
lage and  the  railroad  depot.  The  park  is  a  great  resort  for  pas- 
sengers in  the  summer  season  while  waiting  for  trains.  They  are 
often  heard  to  say  "We  are  glad  we  did  not  make  connections,  for 
this  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  charming  places  in  the  state  of 
Michigan;"  and  they  are  right  about  it.  It  is  not  only  a  park, 
but  it  is  a  regular  botanical  garden  as  well ;  a  perfect  beauty  spot, 
adorned  as  it  is  with  an  almost  endless  profusion  of  flowers  of  all 
varieties  and  colors.  The  park  was  presented  to  the  village  by 
Horace  M.  Olney,  one  of  its  foremost  citizens,  and  is  called  "Ely 
Park,"  in  memory  of  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Ely. 

Hartford  has  also  a  neat  Opera  House. 

The  town  has  an  excellent  fire  department,  which  was  installed 
in  1899.  The  water  tower  is  of  sufficient  height  so  that  a  stream 
can  easily  be  thrown  to  the  top  of  the  highest  buildings  in  the  town. 

There  is  a  first  class  weekly  paper,  the  Hartford  Day  Spring, 


528 


HISTOKY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


published  in  the  village.  A  more  extended  notice  of  this  sheet 
will  be  found  in  the  chapter  of  this  work  devoted  to  the  press  of 
the  county. 

There  are  two  banks  in  the  village,  the  Olney  National  and  Mer- 
riman's  banks,  the  latter  a  private  institution. 

The  postoffice  is  located  in  what  is  known  as  the  Postoffice  block, 
on  the  southeast  corner  of  Main  and  Center  streets.  The  building 
was  erected  in  1906  by  Horace  M.  Olney.  It  is  a  fine  two  story 
structure  sixty  feet  square,  of  marbleized  Portland  cement.  The 
ground  floor  is  occupied  by  the  Olney  National  Bank,  the  post- 
office  and  the  office  of  the  Hartford  Bay  Spring.  The  second  floor 
is  used  for  office  purposes.  The  building  is  modern  in  every  re- 
spect, steam  heated  and  elegantly  furnished.  The  National  Bank 
quarters  seem  to  have  been  fitted  up  regardless  of  expense  and  the 


Ely  Park,  Hartford 

postoffice  is  one  of  the  very  best  in  the  county.  Thirteen  mails  per 
day  are  handled — during  Christmas  week  of  1911,  279  pouches 
and  sacks  of  mail  matter  were  disposed  of.  Four  rural  mail  car- 
riers are  employed  throughout  the  country  adjacent  to  the  town 
and  they  travel  one  hundred  and  thirteen  miles  each  day,  Sundays 
excepted.  V.  W.  Olds,  postmaster,  and  Estella  M.  Olds,  his  as- 
sistant, are  about  closing  their  eighth  year  in  the  office.  During 
their  administration  the  receipts  of  the  office  have  increased  forty- 
five  per  cent. 

Churches  and  Societies 


When  the  good  people  of  Hartford  desire  to  attend  public  wor- 
ship,  they  have   the   choice  of   five   church  organizations:     The 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  529 

Methodist  Episcopal,  the  Christian,  the  Congregational,  the  Bap- 
tist and  the  Latter  Day  Saints. 

A  Methodist  society  was  formed  as  early  as  1859  and  used  the 
old  schoolhouse  as  a  meeting  place.  Among  the  first  members  were 
Charles  Doty,  the  first  class  leader;  Sarah  Doty,  John  and  Maggie 
Van  Ostrom  and  Fanny  Goodenough.  Some  of  the  early  clergy- 
man  who  attended  the  charge  were  Revs.  J.  Hoyt,  C.  C.  Kellogg, 
H.  H.  Joy,  T.  T.  George,  G.  A.  Buell,  J.  W.  Miller,  F.  I.  Beard, 
J.  W.  Webster  and  J.  P.  Force.  The  church,  however,  was  not 
recognized  as  a  separate  charge  until  1873,  when  Rev.  E.  A.  Tan- 
ner became  its  pastor.  For  a  number  of  years  afterward  the 
churches  at  Hartford  and  Lawrence  were  united  as  one  charge 
under  the  ministration  of  the  same  preacher.  Since  1874  the  fol- 
lowing pastors  have  served  the  church:  Revs.  S.  C.  Woodard,  N. 
M.  Steele,  F.  I.  Bell,  V.  G.  Boynton,  L.  W.  Earl,  L.  S.  Matthews, 
H.  H.  Parker,  W.  W.  Lamport,  W.  A.  Prouty,  J.  R.  Oden,  A.  E. 
Hawley,  H.  L.  Potter,  G.  F.  Craig,  G.  D.  Draper,  H.  A.  Lyon, 
Geo.  Killian,  R.  E.  Quant  and  F.  L.  Niles  (present  pastor).  The 
church  now  has  200  members  and  the  Sunday  school  has  an  en- 
rolment of  190.  The  first  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school 
was  C.  H.  Engle,  who  acted  in  that  capacity  for  thirty-five  years. 

The  First  Baptist  church  was  organized  in  the  old  district  school- 
house, on  the  17th  day  of  November,  1858,  by  Rev.  Harvey  Hun- 
ger, with  seventeen  members.  The  present  membership  is  119. 
Since  the  pastorship  of  Elder  Munger  the  church  has  been  served 
by  the  following  named  ministers :  Rev.  Albert  Gore,  whose  min- 
istrations were  terminated  by  his  enlistment  in  the  Civil  war; 
Revs.  W.  M.  Simons,  W.  Gates,  P.  S.  Dean,  J.  F.  Ross,  J.  G.  Port- 
man,  S.  Hendricks,  Samuel  Jackson,  L.  W.  Olney,  Charles  Bailey, 

Walker,  Armstrong,  Chappell,  J.   Howard,  

Dean,  Charles  Rock,  E.  E.  Branch,  C.  B.  Kendall,  C.  A.  Salyer,  — 

McConnell,  F.  A.  Carlisle,  J.  B.  Reynolds,  Preston,  and  the 

present  pastor,  D.  C.  Henshaw.  There  is  a  flourishing  Sunday 
school  in  connection  with  the  church  with  a  membership  of  about 
100.  J.  D.  Stewart  is  the  superintendent.  The  first  Sunday  school 
was  organized  soon  after  the  church  with  forty  scholars  and  Jefferson 
Dowd  as  its  superintendent.  The  present  officers  of  the  church  are 
as  follows:  Deacons,  Henry  Brown,  Kendrick  Smith  and  Arthur 
Dowd;  deaconesses,  Mrs.  Freeman  Stowe,  Mrs.  L.  Prichard  and 
Mrs.  George  Webster;  trustees,  Ed.  Ewald,  Henry  Brown,  and 
James  Clark.  During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  F.  Ross,  in  the 
early  seventies,  the  present  house  of  worship  was  purchased  of 
the  Universalist  society,  which,  for  a  time,  had  been  in  quite  a 
flourishing  condition,  but  was  finally  abandoned,  disposed  of  its 
church  property  and  went  out  of  existence. 


530  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

The  Congregational  church  was  organized  in  1885  with  twelve 
members,  among  whom  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  W.  Spaulding,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Van  Vrankin,  A.  J.  Dyer,  Mrs.  Smith  and  others.  The 
following  year  the  society  built  a  fine  house  of  worship  on  South 
Maple  street.     The  church  now  has  forty-five  members. 

The  Christian,  or  Disciple  church,  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  was 
organized  in  Reynolds'  hall,  now  the  town  hall,  in  the  spring  of 
1886,  after  a  series  of  meetings  held  by  Elder  Levi  Dewey  of 
Dowagiac,  who  was  its  first  pastor  and  who  served  the  church  for 
about  four  years.  A  house  of  worship  was  erected  in  1887,  on  Shep- 
ard  street.  The  church  started  with  a  charter  membership  of 
about  fifty,  mostly  men  and  women  in  middle  life.  The  following 
pastors  have  served  it  during  the  twenty-five  years  of  its  history : 
Levi  Dewey,  J.  H.  Hammond,  J.  H.  Reese,  Nathan  Fellows,  Garry 
L.  Cook,  Willard  McCarthy,  F.  F.  Schultz,  Frank  A.  Taylor  and 
James  A.  Brown,  the  present  pastor,  who  has  been  its  minister  for 
the  past  five  years.  The  church  has  a  flourishing  Sunday  school, 
is  free  from  debt  and  the  future  outlook  is  very  promising. 

The  local  congregation  of  the  reorganized  Church  of  Latter  Day 
Saints  is  known  as  the  Hartford  branch.  It  was  organized  on  the 
6th  day  of  September,  1885,  with  sixteen  members,  Henry  Manea 
as  president  (pastor),  and  George  Conolly  as  secretary.  The  pres- 
ent membership  is  forty-four.  Francis  Earl  is  president  and 
secretary.  The  church  building  is  located  at  the  corner  of  Mary 
and  Barnard  streets. 

The  town  is  also  well  represented  by  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  of 
mystic  grips,  signs  and  pass-words.  Charter  Oak  Lodge,  No.  231, 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  was  instituted  on  the  7th  day 
of  May,  1874.    The  lodge  now  has  a  membership  of  about  100. 

Hartford  Rebekah  Lodge,  No.  281,  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  was  organized  on  the  22d  day  of  February,  1879,  by  au- 
thority of  Grand  Master  James  M.  Servoss.  The  lodge  now  has 
115  members. 

Florida  Lodge  No.  309,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  was  instituted  Jan- 
uary 17,  1873,  with  E.  C.  Hurd  as  worshipful  master,  Thomas  J. 
Johns,  senior  warden,  and  James  C.  Crandall,  junior  warden.  The 
lodge  has  137  members  at  the  present  time. 

Benevolence  Eastern  Star  Lodge,  No.  46,  wras  instituted  on  the 
third  day  of  October,  1877,  with  Allie  Manley  as  worthy  patron. 
A  year  later  the  name  was  changed  to  Benevolence  Eastern  Star 
Chapter  and  the  number  changed  to  19.  After  a  time  the  chap- 
ter, by  reason  of  lack  of  interest,  ceased  to  exist  and  was  dormant 
until  January  30,  1902,  when  it  was  revived  with  twenty-nine  char- 
ter members  and  rechristened  as  Benevolence  Chapter,  No.  46, 
Order  of  the  Eastern  Star.     Since  the  reorganization,  it  has  been 


HISTOEY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  531 

prosperous  and  now  has  a  membership  of  156.  One  of  its  members, 
Mrs.  Emma  Ocobock,  has  filled  the  position  of  worthy  grand  matron 
of  Michigan  and  at  the  general  grand  chapter  meeting  at  Jack- 
sonville, Florida,  was  elected  to  the  office  of  grand  worthy  con- 
ductress. 

A  tent  of  the  Knights  of  the  Modern  Maccabees,  No.  230,  was 
organized  on  the  15th  day  of  August,  1890,  by  authority  of  W. 
S.  Linton,  great  commander,  and  Major  N.  S.  Boynton,  grand  rec- 
ord keeper.     They  now  have  about  seventy  members. 

Business  and  Industries 

The  village  business  is  transacted  at  one  department  store,  two 
general  dry  goods  stores,  four  groceries,  two  clothing  and  furnish- 
ing stores,  three  meat  markets,  three  hotels,  three  eating  rooms, 
one  saw-mill,  two  stave  and  heading  mills,  two  jewelry  stores,  two 
furniture  stores,  three  shoe  and  repair  shops,  one  bazaar,  one  5 
and  10-cent  store,  three  canning  factories,  three  cider  mills,  two 
grain  elevators,  three  blacksmith-shops,  one  feed  store,  one  grist- 
mill, two  lumber  yards,  one  garage,  two  machine  shops,  two  livery 
barns  and  two  banks,  while  five  doctors  look  after  the  physical 
well  being  of  its  citizens  and  three  lawyers  settle  the  few  disputes 
that  arise  among  a  happy  and  prosperous  community. 

Of  the  three  canning  factories,  the  one  known  as  the  Traver 
factory  is  built  of  stone  and  is  one  of  the  largest  and  best  equipped 
plants  of  the  kind  in  the  state  of  Michigan.  From  eighty  to  one 
hundred  hands  are  employed  for  about  six  months  in  the  year. 
What  is  known  as  the  Traxler  factory  was  built  some  time  prior 
to  the  "  Traver "  and  employs  practically  the  same  number  of 
people  during  the  same  time.  Arrangements  have  been  made  to 
run  what  is  called  the  "Old  Dunkley  factory/'  the  first  cannery 
erected  in  the  town,  to  its  full  capacity  during  the  coming  year. 
A  large  pickle  factory  is  projected  for  1912. 

These  canning  factories  not  only  put  up  many  varieties  of  fruit, 
berries,  peaches,  plums,  cherries,  apples,  pears,  etc.,  but  can  large 
quantities  of  various  kinds  of  vegetables.  The  proprietor  of  the 
Traxler  factory  reports  that  he  did  $90,000  worth  of  business  last 
season,  paid  out  $8,000  for  help,  and  put  up  and  shipped  half  a 
million  cans  of  fruit,  mostly  in  gallon  cans,  and  the  Traver  fac- 
tory was  equally  busy.  It  can  readily  be  seen  that  such  a  busi- 
ness is  of  immense  advantage  to  the  farmers  and  fruit  growers  of 
the  surrounding  country. 

Another  firm  shipped  forty-four  carloads  of  apples,  thirty-six 
of  peaches,  six  of  grapes,  four  of  pears,  besides  local  shipments  of 
not  less  than  five  carloads  of  different  varieties  of  fruit. 


532  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

One  of  the  elevator  firms  reports  twenty-five  carloads  of  beans 
shipped  out,  fifty  carloads  of  wheat  and  rye,  sixty  of  grapes  and 
other  fruits,  and  shipped  in,  ten  carloads  of  flour,  seeds  etc., 
seventy  carloads  of  coal  and  thirty  of  fruit  baskets. 

The  other  elevator  reports  shipments  out  and  in  as  follows: 
Shipped  out,  175  carloads  of  grain  and  500  bushels  of  clover  seed ; 
shipped  in,  3,000  tons  of  coal  and  fifteen  carloads  of  fruit  baskets. 

At  one  lumber  yard  eighty-eight  carloads  of  lumber  and  other 
building  material  were  received  and  at  the  other  forty-five  cars  of 
like  material  were  delivered.  Another  buyer  purchased  last  fall, 
50,000  bushels  of  apples  and  shipped  thirty-eight  carloads  of  cider. 

At  one  meat-market  nearly  a  hundred  head  of  beef  cattle,  fifty 
sheep,  one  hundred  calves  and  over  a  thousand  chickens  were 
slaughtered  for  local  consumption,  and  this  was  at  only  one  of 
the  three  markets  that  supplied  the  people  with  meats  of  various 

kinds. 

The  foregoing  brief  resume  of  the  business  of  the  village  serves 
to  show  the  energy  and  push  of  its  live  business  men  and  places 
the  town  in  the  foremost  rank  of  the  hustling,  thriving  towns  of 
the  county. 

It  seems  but  a  few  years,  indeed  it  is  no  I  so  very  many,  since 
all  the  business  places  in  the  town  were  inferior  wooden  struc- 
tures, and  the  houses  of  the  people  of  the  most  ordinary  character, 
but  now  its  rows  of  fine  brick  business  houses  on  either  side  of  the 
principal  streets,  and  its  numerous  modern,  up-to-date  dwellings 
that  are  to  be  seen  in  all  parts  of  the  thriving  town,  most  forcibly 
impress  the  beholder  with  the  immense  progress  that  has  been  made 
within  the  last  half  century.  None  can  even  imagine  what  will 
be  the  developments  and  improvements  of  the  next  fifty  years. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

TOWNSHIP  OF  KEELER 

Lakes  and  Resorts— Civil  Organization— First  Settlers  of 
Township — Wolcott  H.  Keller — Settlers  of  1836-44 — Tax- 
payers, Property  and  Schools — Keeler  and  Other  Towns — 
General  View. 

Keeler  is  the  southwestern  corner  township  of  Van  Buren 
County  and  is  designated  by  the  United  States  survey  as  township 
four  south,  of  range  sixteen  west.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  the  township  of  Hartford,  on  the  east  by  the  township  of  Hamil- 
ton, on  the  south  by  the  township  of  Silver  Creek  in  the  county  of 
Cass,  and  on  the  west  by  the  township  of  Bainbridge  in  the  county 
of  Berrien. 

The  act  of  the  legislature  organizing  the  county  of  Van  Buren, 
approved  March  11,  1837,  divided  the  county  into  seven  town- 
ships, of  which  Covington  comprised  township  four  south,  of  ranges 
fifteen  and  sixteen  west,  being  the  present  townships  of  Keeler  and 
Hamilton.  Two  years  later  Covington  was  blotted  from  the  map, 
the  territory  embraced  within  its  limits  being  equally  divided,  the 
east  half  being  called  Alpena  and  the  west  half,  together  with 
township  three  south  of  range  sixteen  west  being  organized  into 
a  new  township  under  the  name  of  Keeler.  The  north  half  of 
Keeler  as  then  organized  is  now  the  township  of  Hartford  and 
had  been  theretofore  a  part  of  the  township  of  Lawrence,  as 
originally  organized.  The  township  was  named  in  honor  of 
Judge  Wolcott  H.  Keeler,  one  of  its  earliest  settlers  and  most 
prominent  citizens.  He  was  elected  as  one  of  the  associate  judges 
of  the  circuit  court  at  the  first  election  held  in  the  county,  March 
18,  1837. 

Keeler  contains  some  of  the  very  finest  farming  lands  in  the 
county,  which  have  been  brought  to  a  very  high  degree  of  cultiva- 
tion. The  surface  is  quite  generally  level  and  originally  was  tim- 
bered mostly  with  scattering  oaks,  constituting  what  was  then 
known  as  the  "oak  openings."  The  soil  is  a  peculiarly  rich,  sandy 
loam  and  is  practically  all  under  cultivation,  there  being  no  waste 
land  in  the  township.  For  agricultural  purposes  Keeler  is  not  sur- 
passed by  any  township  in  the  county. 

533 


534  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Lakes  and  Resorts 

There  are  no  important  streams  in  the  township,  but  there  are  a 
number  of  handsome  lakes,  some  of  them  unsurpassed  for  beauty. 
The  principal  ones  of  these  are  Round,  Crooked  and  Magician 
lakes,  the  latter  two  lying  partly  in  Keeler  and  partly  in  the  town- 
ship of  Silver  Creek,  in  the  county  of  Cass.  Other  lakes  that  have 
been  deemed  worthy  of  a  name  are  Keeler,  Brown,  Sikes  and  Red. 
Round  and  Crooked  lakes  are  usually  spoken  of  as  Sister  lakes 
and  they  constitute  one  of  the  beauty  spots  of  the  county.  The 
names  of  the  lakes  indicate  their  general  outline.  Round  lake  is 
about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  across,  while  Crooked  is  double  that 
distance  from  one  end  to  the  other.  The  two  lakes  approach  with- 
in a  few  rods  of  each  other ;  the  ground  between  them  is  high  and 
dry  and  covered  with  a  beautiful  grove.  Between  the  two  is  lo- 
cated one  of  the  popular  pleasure  places  of  the  county  known  as 
Sister  Lakes  resort  wThich  is  largely  patronized  during  the  resort 
season.  Another  resort  is  also  platted  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
lake  called  Hield's  subdivision,  and  adjoining  the  original  resort 
is  a  plat  called  Bowling's  subdivision.  On  the  north  shore  of  Round 
lake  is  yet  another  platted  resort  called  Benton  Beach.  All  these 
places  are  so  near  each  other  that  they  might  well  be  considered  as 
one.  They  are  located  on  sections  thirty-one  and  thirty-two.  A 
postoffice  is  located  there  called,  after  the  name  of  the  resort, 
"Sister  Lakes. "    It  is  the  only  postoffice  in  the  township. 

Another  resort  on  the  north  side  of  Magician  lake  on  section 
thirty-four,  called  Gregory's  addition  to  Magician  Beach,  is  a 
popular  place  in  summer  time. 

At  the  first  township  meeting  held  in  the  newly  organized  town- 
ship there  were  twenty-nine  votes  cast,  and  the  following  named 
officers  were  chosen:  Supervisor,  James  Hill;  township  clerk,  E. 
H.  Keeler;  justices  of  the  peace,  Lyman  G.  Hill,  Benjamin  F. 
Chadwick,  Burrill  A.  Olney  and  Richard  B.  Everitt;  collector, 
Thomas  Conklin;  highway  commissioners,  Wolcott  H.  Keeler, 
Richard  B.  Everitt  and  Tobias  Byers. 

Civil  Organization 

In  1840  the  legislature  detached  township  three  south,  of  range 
sixteen  west  and  organized  it  into  that  of  Hartford,  leaving  Keeler 
as  it  has  remained,  township  four  south,  of  range  sixteen  west. 

At  the  town  meeting  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  April,  1840, 
the  first  one  after  Hartford  and  Keeler  were  separated,  the  officers 
elected  were  as  follows:  Supervisor,  Benjamin  F.  Chadwick; 
township  treasurer,  James  Hill;  township  clerk,  E.  H.  Keeler;  as- 
sessors, E.  H.  Keeler,  S.  C.  Hill  and  Adam  Manley;  commissioners 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  535 

of  highways,  William  Green,  Benjamin  Hungerford  and  W.  H. 
Keeler;  collector,  William  B.  Green;  school  inspectors,  George  W. 
Springer,  Wolcott  H.  Keeler  and  Stephen  Hungerford ;  constables, 
William  B.  Green,  H.  S.  Wright,  Andrew  Harrison  and  Zenas 
Sikes. 

The  following  named  gentlemen  have  served  the  township  in  the 
office  of  supervisor:  Benjamin  F.  Chadwick,  Theodore  E.  Phelps, 
Lyman  G.  Hill,  James  A.  Lee,  Charles  Duncombe,  Albert  E.  Greg- 
ory, Charles  G.  George,  Isaac  J.  Cox,  William  Tuttle,  Jr.,  Orendo 
M.  Sikes,  John  Baker,  John  V.  Rosevelt,  Henry  S.  Keith,  Lucius 
E.  Buck,  John  Mc Alpine,  Fred  H.  Baker,  Adolph  Danneffel, 
D wight  Foster,  George  J.  Danneffel  and  George  Heagy.  Of  the 
foregoing  those  who  served  more  that  two  years  were  Hill  and  Mc- 
Alpine,  each  three  years;  Phelps,  four  years;  Duncombe,  Foster 
and  Adolph  Danneffel,  each  six  years;  George  Danneffel,  seven 
years.  George  Heagy,  the  present  incumbent,  is  serving  his  sec- 
ond term. 

At  the  first  general  election  after  Keeler  became  a  towrnship  by 
itself — the  presidential  election  of  1840 — thirty-two  votes  were 
polled,  twenty-four  Democratic  and  eight  Whig.  At  the  presi- 
dential election  of  1908  the  vote  had  increased  to  227,  divided  as 
follows:  Taft,  Republican,  128;  Bryan,  Democrat,  eighty-six; 
Chafin,  Prohibitionist,  eight;  Debs,  Socialist,  four;  Hisgen,  In- 
dependent, one. 

The  old  Territorial  road  passed  from  east  to  west  through  the 
central  part  of  the  township,  and  prior  to  the  completion  of  the 
Michigan  Central  Railroad  a  large  traffic  was  carried  on  over  that 
route  between  Detroit  and  St.  Joseph,  the  latter  city  being  only 
about  thirteen  miles  from  the  west  line  of  Keeler.  In  those  early 
days  the  little  village  of  Keelerville  was  a  place  of  some  import- 
ance. 

Keeler  is  one  of  the  three  townships  in  Van  Buren  County  that 
is  untouched  by  a  railroad.  It  was  on  the  direct  route  of  the 
Michigan  Central,  as  that  road  was  originally  planned  and  sur- 
veyed and  had  the  route  of  the  road  not  been  changed  the  history 
of  the  town  would  have  been  materially  different  from  what  it  is. 

First  Settlers  of  Township 

While  the  townships  along  the  lake  shore  were  visited  at  an 
early  day  by  parties  in  search  of  eligible  locations  for  the  manu- 
facture of  lumber,  the  shipment  of  wood,  etc.,  and  who  were  not 
intending  to  make  any  permanent  settlement,  the  localities  back 
from  the  coast  were  not  even  sparsely  settled  until  some  years 
later. 


536,       HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

About  the  years  1833-4  parties  began  to  come  from  the  east 
seeking  locations  in  the  then  unbroken  wilderness  of  western 
Michigan.  The  first  white  man  to  settle  in  the  county,  as  has  been 
heretofore  related,  was  Dolphin  Morris,  who  located  in  Decatur, 
the  second  township  east  of  Keeler,  in  the  spring  of  1829.  It  was 
five  years  later  that  the  first  settlement  was  made  in  Keeler.  The 
first  white  men  to  locate  within  its  present  boundaries  were  John 
and  James  Nesbitt,  natives  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  who  entered  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  government  land  on  section  four- 
teen in  the  summer  of  1834.  Their  dwelling  place  was  of  the  rud- 
est and  most  primitive  construction.  It  consisted  simply  of  two 
crotched  sticks  driven  into  the  ground,  a  pole  across  the  top  and 
other  poles  down  the  sides,  tent-shaped,  and  the  whole  structure 
thickly  covered  with  marsh  grass.  This  shelter  they  occupied  until 
the  summer  of  1835,  when  they  sold  their  claim  to  Wolcott  H. 
Keeler.  John  Nesbitt  became  a  resident  of  Porter  township,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  while  James  located  in  the 
adjoining  township  of  Hamilton  and  was  afterward  found  dead 
in  the  bottom  of  his  well,  under  somewhat  mysterious  circum- 
stances that  were  never  made  clear. 

The  next  settler  in  Keeler  was  Tobias  Byers.  He  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  but  when  quite  young  had  become  a  resident 
of  Livingston  county,  New  York.  He  left  his  eastern  home  late 
in  the  winter  of  1835,  and  went  to  the  state  of  Illinois,  where  he 
remained  a  few  months  when  he  came  to  what  is  now  the  town- 
ship of  Keeler  and,  being  favorably  impressed  with  the  outlook, 
went  to  the  land  office  at  Bronson — now  Kalamazoo — and  located 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  on  section  nineteen  and 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  on  section  thirteen.  After  locating 
his  land  he  returned  to  New  York,  returning  to  Michigan  in  the 
fall  of  the  same  year.  His  brother,  David,  and  Isaac  De  Long  came 
with  him  on  his  return.  David  Byers  afterward  settled  in  the 
adjoining  township  of  Bainbridge,  Berrien  county.  For  some  fif- 
teen years  Tobias  was  principally  occupied  in  locating  land  for 
settlers  and  in  clearing  and  breaking  up  land  for  other  parties. 
He  was  married  in  1856,  to  Jeannette  Wilson.  He  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  in  Keeler,  where  he  died  on  the  21st  of  Jan- 
uary, 1898,  being  at  the  time  of  his  death  within  a  few  days  of 
ninety  years  of  age.  He  was  a  quaint,  shrewd  and  somewhat  ec- 
centric man,  but  greatly  respected  by  all  who  knew  him,  of  whom 
the  writer  was  one.  He  was  a  man  of  influence  in  the  community 
and  was  chosen  to  fill  numerous  important  local  offices. 


HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  537 

Wolcott  H.  Keeler 

Wolcott  II.  Keeler  came  to  the  township  that  bears  his  name  only 
one  week  later  than  Mr.  Byers.  He  purchased  the  Nesbitt  claim  of 
forty  acres  on  section  fourteen  and  also  eighty  acres  on  section 
thirteen,  and  then  went  to  Bronson  and  located  three  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  section  twenty-four,  thus  becoming  the  owner 
of  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  government  land.  Mr. 
Keeler  was  from  the  Green  Mountain  state,  to  which  he  returned 
soon  after  securing  his  claims.  In  the  fall  he  came  back  to  Michi- 
gan, bringing  with  him  his  son,  Eleazer,  and  his  daughter,  Almina. 
They  erected  a  log  cabin  on  section  thirteen,  and  after  the  house 
was  completed  Mr.  Keeler  again  returned  to  Vermont.  Another 
son,  Simon,  in  the  winter  of  1835,  drove  through  with  a  team 
and  a  load  of  household  goods,  from  Vermont,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1836  Mr.  Keeler  and  his  wife,  and  another  daughter,  Ursula, 
journeyed  around  by  way  of  the  lakes  to  St.  Joseph;  thence,  by 
way  of  the  newly  surveyed  Territorial  road,  to  their  new  wilderness 
home.  Mr.  Keeler,  laid  out  a  village  under  the  name  of  Keeler- 
ville  around  his  home  and  converted  his  house  into  a  tavern.  For 
a  time  the  place  bade  fair  to  become  a  town,  but  it  was  such  only 
on  paper.  The  tavern  wTas  for  a  time  a  stopping  place  for  the 
stages  that  traveled  across  the  state  along  the  Territorial  road,  but 
after  Henry  Coleman  opened  his  tavern  in  the  adjoining  township 
of  Hamilton  the  patronage  of  the  Keeler  place  fell  away  to  a  con- 
siderable extent.  A  postoffice  was  established  at  the  place  in  1836 
and  Mr.  Keeler  was  made  the  first  postmaster.  The  office  re- 
mained there  until  1856,  when  it  was  removed  to  the  village  of 
Keeler,  which  is  located  a  couple  of  miles  farther  wrest  at  the  cen- 
ter of  the  township,  where  it  remained  until  it  was  superseded  by 
the  rural  free  delivery.  A  store  was  opened  by  Mr.  Keeler  in 
1836,  and  a  blacksmith-shop  was  operated  the  next  year  by  Harlow 
Wright.  Mr.  Keeler  (Judge  Keeler,  as  he  was  called  by  reason  of 
having  been  elected  to  the  office  of  associate  judge  of  the  circuit 
court  in  1838)  was  a  man  of  prominence  and  influence  in  the 
community. 

Settlers  of  1836-44 

James  Hill  and  his  family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  four  chil- 
dren, settled  on  section  eleven  in  1836.  Mr.  Hill  was  supervisor 
of  the  township  for  several  years.  His  son,  Justus  Hill,  came  from 
Vermont  in  1840  and  settled  on  a  part  of  his  father's  farm.  As  late 
as  that  date  the  place  was  practically  a  wilderness.  In  the  north 
were  Henry  Hammond,  Richard  B.  Everitt  and  Peter  Williamson, 
their  location  being  within  the  limits  of  the  present  township  of 


538  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Hartford.  Theodore  Phelps  was  living  on  section  twenty-five  and 
William  Earle  on  section  twenty-eight.  On  the  south,  beyond  the 
center  of  the  township  and  on  to  Cass  county,  the  wilderness 
was  unbroken  and  no  settlements  had  been  made. 

Ira  Foster,  a  New  Yorker,  with  his  wife  and  child  and  his 
brother  Truman,  settled  on  section  fifteen  in  1837. 

The  same  year  Benjamin  Hungerford  came  from  Livingston 
county,  New  York,  with  his  wife  and  a  large  family  of  children, 
first  occupying  the  cabin  that  had  been  built  by  Tobias  Byers  on 
section  nineteen,  which  was  used  by  other  early  settlers  until  such 
time  as  they  could  erect  cabins  of  their  own.  Mr.  Byers '  resi- 
dence was  on  his  other  place  on  section  thirteen.  Hungerford 
bought  six  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  on  sections  seventeen, 
twenty  and  twenty-eight  and  occupied  the  premises  with  his  wife 
and  thirteen  children  for  a  considerable  number  of  years.  None 
of  the  family  has  resided  in  the  township  for  more  than  thirty 
years. 

Dr.  Zenas  Sikes  located  in  Keeler  in  the  summer  of  1837.  He 
entered  lands  on  sections  eighteen,  nineteen  and  twenty.  The 
Sikes  family  became  prominent  in  township  affairs.  One  of  the 
sons,  Orendo  M.  Sikes,  was  at  one  time  supervisor  of  the  town- 
ship. 

Other  settlers  of  the  township  in  1836-7  were  Adrian  Manley, 
Calvin  Hathaway  and  Jeremiah  Johnson. 

In  the  winter  of  1835-6  Matthew  Fenton,  a  cousin  of  Judge 
Keeler,  was  killed  by  a  falling  tree.  He  was  the  first  person  buried 
in  the  township,  although  his  was  not  the  first  death,  which  was 
that  of  a  laborer  engaged  in  breaking  and  clearing  up  the  land 
along  the  line  of  the  Territorial  road,  who  was  taken  sick  and 
died.     He  was  buried  at  St.  Joseph. 

In  1838  Samuel  Pletcher  from  eastern  New  York  located  on 
section  nineteen.  His  wife  was  a  sister  of  Tobias  Byers.  Mr. 
Pletcher  died  in  1845.  His  daughter  married  Dr.  J.  Elliott  Sweet, 
late  of  Hartford. 

Captain  Marshall  Lewis  was  another  settler  of  1838.  He  was  a 
civil  engineer  and  had  been  in  charge  of  some  of  the  most  im- 
portant work  of  constructing  the  Erie  canal.  He  also  designed 
the  "plan  for  the  locks  of  the  Welland  canal  and  was  employed  to 
superintend  their  construction.  In  1837  he  came  to  Lawrence  and 
the  next  year  removed  to  Keeler. 

General  Benjamin  F.  Chadwick,  w7ho  was  a  somewhat  noted  man 
in  the  history  of  Van  Buren  county,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts, 
but  wrent  to  the  state  of  New  York  with  his  parents  at  an  early 
age.  When  a  young  man  of  twenty-one  years  he  went  to  Canada, 
where,  in  company  with  Captain  Lewis,  whose  daughter  he  mar- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  539 

ried,  he  erected  a  foundry.  In  1836  he  came  to  Michigan  and  lo- 
cated a  tract  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  what 
is  now  the  township  of  Lawrence,  and  in  April,  1837,  with  his 
family,  accompanied  by  Captain  Lewis,  he  arrived  at  the  resi- 
dence" of  Judge  Keeler  at  Keelerville.  The  next  day  they  went 
to  the  lands  they  had  entered  in  Lawrence,  where  they  put  up  a 
shanty,  cleared  a  small  piece  and  lived  there  until  the  next  fall 
when  they  sold  their  claim  to  Judge  Broughton.  Chadwick  then 
purchased  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Keeler,  on 
section  twenty-five.  Captain  Lewis  and  General  Chadwick  were 
residents  of  Keeler  for  about  three  years,  when  they  traded  their 
land  with  Theodore  Phelps  for  mill  property.  Captain  Lewis  died 
in  1844.  General  Chadwick  was  appointed  by  President  Pierce 
superintendent  of  public  works  at  St.  Joseph  while  the  govern- 
ment was  building  and  repairing  the  piers  at  that  harbor.  After 
he  had  been  there  two  years  he  was  appointed  as  keeper  of  the 
light  house,  a  position  which  he  held  for  six  years.  He  subse- 
quently returned  to  Van  Buren  county  where  he  spent  the  re- 
maining years  of  his  life. 

Palmer  and  William  Earle  settled  in  Keeler  in  1839,  Ira  Gould 
in  1842,  and  an  Englishman  named  John  Duncombe  about  the 
same  time.  Palmer  Earle  and  Duncombe  located  near  Magician 
lake.  Duncombe  went  to  California  in  1846,  and  died  there  soon 
after  his  arrival.  Daniel  J.  Osborne  settled  on  section  seventeen 
about  1842.  Marvin  Palmer  settled  on  section  thirty-six,  made 
some  improvements,  sold  out  and  went  to  California,  where  he 
was  fairly  successful.  He  came  back  to  Michigan  and  purchased 
a  farm  in  Cass  county,  but  again  sold  out  and  returned  to 
California. 

Other  settlers  in  the  early  forties  were  Thomas  Arner,  Linus 
Warner,  Ebenezer  Lyon,  Samuel  Robinson,  William  Green,  Thomas 
Green  and  James  Lee.  As  late  as  1844,  the  roads  in  the  town- 
ship were  the  Territorial,  running  east  and  west,  a  diagonal  road 
from  the  Sikes  settlement  southeasterly  to  Magician  lake,  and  a 
mail  road  from  Keelerville  to  Cassopolis,  Cass  county. 

About  1844  the  population  of  the  township  began  to  increase 
as  the  tide  of  immigration  from  the  east  became  greater.  Among 
those  who  came  to  Keeler  about  that  date  were  Ormon  Rosevelt, 
John  and  Lucius  Buck,  Samuel  Gordon  and  Henry  S.  Keith. 

Dr.  George  Bartholomew  settled  in  the  town  in  1846  and  after 
a  residence  of  a  couple  of  years  went  to  Paw  Paw,  afterward  to 
Decatur.  After  that  he  went  to  Central  America  where  he  spent 
five  years  in  the  employ  of  the  Panama  Railroad  Company.  He 
then  returned  to  Keeler  where  he  spent  the  remaining  years  of  his 
life. 


540  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

In  1844  Moses  Duncombe  came  from  Canada  and  located  lands 
that  are  now  a  part  of  the  village  site.  Mrs.  Duncombe,  and 
Charles,  Caroline,  William  and  Stephen  W.  Duncombe,  came  later. 
Charles  and  Stephen  W.  became  somewhat  noted  in  political  mat- 
ters, both  being  ardent  Republicans  after  the  organization  of  that 
party.  Few  men  were  more  frequently  consulted  in  reference  to 
matters  that  concerned  the  welfare  of  their  party  then  they  were. 
Charles  was  a  member  of  the  constitutional  convention  in  1867, 
and  Stephen  W.  was  county  treasurer  for  six  years  and  register 
of  deeds  for  four  years. 

Tax  Payers,  Property  and  Schools 

There  were  twenty-six  resident  taxpayers  in  the  township  at  the 
first  assessment  taken  after  Keeler  and  Hartford  were  made  sep- 
arate townships,  viz:  Marshall  Lewis,  Benjamin  P.  Chadwick, 
Samuel  Pletcher,  Tobias  Byers,  Zenas  Sikes,  Orendo  M.  Sikes, 
George  Parrish,  Benjamin  Hungerford,  Hiram  Hungerford, 
Stephen  Hungerford,  H.  S.  Wright,  Wolcott  H.  Keeler,  James  A. 
Lee,  Ira  Foster,  Calvin  Hathaway,  L.  G.  Hill,  W.  S.  Hill,  James 
Hill,  William  Green,  G.  W.  Springer,  W.  B.  Green,  John  Palmon- 
teer,  Thomas  H.  Green,  James  Spinnings,  Adrian  Manley  and  Eli 
Hill.  Their  total  valuation,  personal  and  real,  was  $12,979.  The 
non-resident  lands  were  valued  at  $16,291.50.  The  total  tax  levy 
was  $449. 

The  valuation  of  the  township  at  the  assessment  of  1911  was 
$772,830,  ranking  it  as  ninth  in  point  of  wealth.  The  total  tax 
levied  for  the  same  year,  not  including  a  small  amount  of  school 
tax  not  reported,  was  $12,690.49.  The  number  of  its  inhabitants, 
as  given  by  the  census  of  1910,  was  1,037,  making  it  the  fifteenth 
township  in  point  of  .population. 

The  first  school  in  the  township  was  taught  about  1839  by  Miss 
Woodman.  In  1842,  Mrs.  Prudence  Williamson  taught  a  school 
in  a  house  belonging  to  James  Hill  that  had  been  previously  oc- 
cupied by  his  brother,  Lyman  G.  She  had  twelve  pupils  in  at- 
tendance. An  annual  report  made  by  school  inspectors,  David 
Poster  and  Orendo  M.  Sikes,  in  1845,  shows  that  at  that  time  there 
were  five  school  districts  in  the  township.  Reports  were  made  by 
only  three  of  the  five.  In  those  three  there  were  seventy-four  chil- 
dren of  school  age.  Three  qualified  teachers  were  employed  and  an 
aggregate  of  nineteen  months  school  was  taught.  There  were  one 
hundred  and  twenty-nine  volumes  in  the  township  library  and 
twenty-five  dollars  was  raised  for  library  purposes.  A  list  of  the 
school  books  in  use  will  be  of  interest,  especially  to  the  older  in- 
habitants of  the  county.     They  were  as  follows:     Webster's  El- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BURBN  COUNTY  541 

ementaiy  Spelling-book,  English  Reader,  Hale's  History  of  the 
United  States,  Olney's  Geography,  Kirkham's  Grammar,  Daboll's 
and  Adams'  Arithmetics.  The  following  teachers  were  granted 
license  to  teach  in  1846 :  Mary  A.  Bragg,  Harriet  McKein,  and 
Charles  A.  Bush. 

The  official  school  reports  for  the  school  year  of  1910-11  give 
the  following  figures :  Number  of  persons  of  school  age,  326 ; 
volumes  in  district  libraries,  1,729;  number  of  schoolhouses,  ten; 
value  of  school  property,  $7,900;  district  indebtedness,  $80;  quali- 
fied teachers  employed,  ten ;  aggregate  number  of  months  taught, 
seventy-five;  paid  for  teachers'  salaries,  $3,538.50.  The  township 
received  from  the  state  primary  school  fund  the  sum  of  $2,295. 

While  the  township  of  Keeler  was  a  great  grain  producing  re- 
gion and  its  citizens,  at  first,  were  largely  engaged  in  that  branch 
of  agriculture,  of  late  years  they  have  turned  their  attention  quite 
largely  to  fruit  growing.  Its  proximity  to  Lake  Michigan  and  its 
fertile  soil  make  it  well  adapted  to  peach  culture  as  well  as  such 
other  fruits,  as  apples,  pears,  grapes  and  small  fruits  which  are 
all  produced  abundantly. 

Keeler  and  Other  Towns 

Secret  orders  are  represented  in  the  little  village  of  Keeler  by 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Keeler  Lodge,  No.  204, 
with  a  membership  of  sixty-five;  Keeler  Rebekah  Lodge,  No.  349, 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  with  some  twenty -five  or  thirty 
members;  Knights  of  Maccabees  with  twenty-two  members;  and 
the  Modern  "Woodmen  with  a  membership  of  fifty-two.  The  orders 
all  own  their  own  halls.  There  is  also  a  Ladies'  club  that  has 
twenty-eight  members. 

As  early  as  1840  a  class  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was 
formed  at  the  residence  of  Samuel  Pletcher,  on  section  nineteen, 
near  the  town  line.  The  members  of  the  class  were  Ira  Foster, 
Carolina  Foster,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adrian  Manley,  Thomas  Conklin, 

Martha   Conklin,   Mrs.   Ferdino   Olds   and   Mr.   and  Mrs.  

Griffin.  The  first  preacher  on  the  circuit  through  that  region  was 
Rev.  Henry  Worthington.  During  the  earlier  years  meetings  were 
held  at  the  schoolhouses  in  the  Haynes  and  Hill  neighborhoods. 
The  first  meeting  at  Keeler  Center,  as  the  place  was  then  called, 
were  held  in  the  schoolhouse,  and  Revs.  John  Hoyt,  Thomas  T. 
George  and  Henry  M.  Joy  were  among  the  ministers  that  served 
the  church  at  such  meetings.  In  1860,  during  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  Colwell,  a  commodious  house  of  worship  was  erected,  which 
was  dedicated  in  1861.  This  house  is  yet  in  good  condition  and 
well   adapted   to   religious   purposes.     The   church   now   numbers 


542  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

fifty-six  members.  The  Free  Methodists  also  have  a  small  house 
of  worship  and  a  limited  membership.  There  was  formerly  a 
Congregational  church  in  the  township,  with  a  commodious  house 
.  of  worship,  but  the  society  has  gone  out  of  existence  and  their 
house  has  been  torn  down. 

The  business  places  of  the  village  consist  of  three  general  stores 
carrying  good  assortments  of  goods,  one  feed-mill  and  a  black- 
smith-shop. 

Other  market  towns  that  are  more  or  less  accessible  to  the  in- 
habitants are  Hartford,  three  miles  north  of  the  north  town  line ; 
Lawrence,  six  miles  northeast  of  the  northeast  corner  of  the  town- 
ship; Decatur,  seven  miles  west  of  the  west  town  line;  Dowa- 
giac,  in  the  county  of  Cass,  eight  miles  south  of  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  the  town  and  Benton  Harbor  and  St.  Joseph,  county  of 
Berrien,  some  thirteen  or  fourteen  miles  west  of  the  west  town 
line. 

General  View 

Only  three-quarters  of  century  ago,  the  township  of  Keeler  was 
a  wilderness,  unknown  to  civilization,  and  its  soil  unpressed  by 
the  foot  of  the  white  man.  Since  first  the  continent  made  its  ap- 
pearance above  the  waters  that  enveloped  the  earth;  during  all 
the  bygone  ages  that  had  theretofore  come  and  gone,  these  lands, 
like  the  rest  of  the  great  western  world,  had  been  in  the  course  of 
preparation  for  the  dwelling  place  of  an  enlightened  race  of  man- 
kind. It  is  but  as  yesterday  that  the  change  from  savagery  to 
civilization  began.  What  scenes  had  transpired  on  these  fair 
plains  in  those  ages  of  long  ago,  no  man  knoweth.  But  what  a 
change  a  few  short  years  have  wrought!  No  fairer  region  may 
be  found  than  that  which  is  now  embraced  within  the  limits  of  this 
township.  Its  highly  cultivated  farms,  its  bountiful  orchards,  its 
wide  spreading  vineyards,  its  elegant  farm  dwellings,  with  all  the 
comforts  and  conveniences  of  life  in  these  modern  days,  make  it 
indeed  ll beautiful  for  a  situation." 


CHAPTER  XXX 

TOWNSHIP  OF  LAWRENCE 

Streams  and  Lakes — Early  Pioneers  and  Settlements — The 
Branch  Family — Judge  Jay  R.  Monroe — First  Marriage, 
Birth  and  Death — Roads  and  Mails — Flat-Boat  Traffic — 
Paper  Town  of  Van  Buren — Civil,  Educational  and  Polit- 
ical— Looking  Backward — Village  of  Lawrence — Churches 
and  Societies — Business  and  General  Features. 

The  township  of  Lawrence  was  one  of  the  original  seven  town- 
ships into  which  Van  Buren  county  wras  divided  at  its  organiza- 
tion. The  act  of  the  legislature  by  which  the  township  was  organ- 
ized was  approved  by  Governor  Stevens  T.  Mason,  the  first  gov- 
ernor of  the  state  of  Michigan,  on  the  11th  day  of  March,  1837. 
Its  territory  at  that  date,  embraced  not  only  the  present  township 
of  Lawrence,  but  the  townships  of  Hartford  and  Arlington. 

By  the  government  survey,  Lawrence  is  designated  as  township 
number  three  south,  of  range  fifteen  west.  It  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  the  township  of  Arlington,  east  by  Paw  Paw,  south  by 
Hamilton  and  west  by  Hartford.  It  contains  within  its  boundaries 
thirty-six  full  sections  of  land  and  a  fractional  section  in  the 
northeast  corner  taken  from  section  thirty-six  of  the  township  of 
Arlington.  This  division  of  a  section  was  made  so  that  the  Paw 
Paw  river,  which  runs  diagonally  across  such  section  in  a  south- 
westerly course,  might  form  a  part  of  the  boundary  line  between 
the  two  townships. 

The  surface  of  the  township  is  generally  level,  or  slightly  un- 
dulating, and  the  soil  is  rich  and  productive.  It  was  originally 
covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  timber,  consisting  of  whitewood, 
basswood,  oak.  ash,  elm,  beech,  walnut,  maple  and  other  varieties, 
but  these  have  practically  all  disappeared  and  in  their  stead  are 
now  to  be  seen  some  of  the  finest  farms  and  farm  residences  to  be 
found  anywhere  in  the  county  or  state. 

Streams  and  Lakes 

The  township  is  well  watered.  The  Paw  Paw  river  crosses  its 
northern  portions  from  east  to  west,  and  Brush  creek,  one  of  the 

548 


544  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

river's  principal  tributaries,  passes  through  it,  near  the  center  of 
the  township,  from  south  to  north,  emptying  into  the  main  stream 
at  the  village  of  Lawrence.  The  latter  furnishes  the  water  power 
for  a  grist  mill  that  is  one  of  the  prominent  industries  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Lawrence.  There  was  formerly  a  water  power  on  the 
Paw  Paw  river  that  furnished  power  for  a  grist  mill  and  a  saw 
mill,  but  it  is  unimproved  at  the  present  time.  It  is  really  a  more 
valuable  powrer  than  the  one  that  is  now  in  operation  and  will, 
some  day  without  doubt,  be  again  put  into  operation ;  for  in  these 
modern  days  people  are  but  just  beginning  to  realize  the  great 
value  of  the  numerous  water  powers  of  the  country. 

In  addition  to  these  streams,  there  are  several  beautiful  lakes  in 
the  township.  The  finest  of  these  is  Prospect  lake,  often  spoken 
of  as  Christie's  and  sometimes  as  Crystal  lake,  on  account  of  its 
clear  waters.  Reynolds'  lake  is  called  on  some  of  the  maps  of  the 
township  Lake  George;  Taylor's  lake  is  sometimes  called  Shafer's, 
and  there  are  several  smaller  lakes,  among  which  are  Baker's, 
Hall's,  Pitcher's  and  Monroe's.  All  of  these  lakes  originally 
abounded  in  different  varieties  of  fish  and,  although  not  as  abund- 
ant as  in  pioneer  days,  there  are  enough  of  them  left  to  afford  fine 
sport  for  the  angler. 

Some  of  these  lakes,  especially  Prospect,  have  become  popular 
places  of  summer  resort.  On  the  north  shore  of  this  last  mentioned 
lake  have  been  built  numerous  cottages,  which  are  seldom  unoccu- 
pied during  the  summer  season.  This  pleasant  spot  is  designated 
by  the  dolco  far  nicnte  name  of  "Sleepy  Hollow." 

Early  Pioneers  and  Settlements 

The  first  settlement  ever  made  within  the  boundaries  of  the 
township  is  said  to  have  been  made  on  the  west  shore  of  Prospect 
lake,  in  1835,  by  one  Stephen  Fountain,  an  unmarried  man.  But 
Mr.  Fountain's  stay,  if  he  ever  located  there,  was  very  brief,  for 
he  soon  disappeared  and  all  further  trace  of  him  was  lost ;  he  was 
consigned  to  oblivion. 

The  first  permanent  settlements  in  the  township  were  made  in 
the  summer  of  1835,  not  long  after  Fountain's  temporary  so- 
journ on  the  banks  of  Prospect  lake.  It  was  in  June,  1835,  that 
John  Allen  founded  the  village  of  Mason,  so  named  in  honor  of 
Governor  Mason,  but  which  was  afterward  platted  and  called 
Lawrence. 

Among  the  earlier  pioneers  of  the  township  were  John  R. 
Haynes,  Thomas  S.  Camp,  George  Reynolds  and  John  Reynolds. 
Mr.  Haynes  became  quite  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  new 
township,  holding  numerous  local  official  positions.     He  was  for 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BIJREN  COUNTY  545 

a  time  one  of  the  associate  judges  of  the  circuit  court  of  the  county 
and  was  postmaster  at  the  village  of  Lawrence  for  quite  a  number 
of  years.  He  was  a  resident  of  the  village  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1856.  Mr.  Camp,  who  was  a  Connecticut  man,  also 
lived  in  the  township  on  a  farm  just  north  of  the  village  limits  until 
his  decease.  He  was  drowned  in  Monroe's  lake  on  July  12,  1861, 
while  engaged  in  fishing  with  one  Orestes  A.  Brown,  a  lawyer,  who 
was  a  resident  of  Lawrence  for  a  short  time. 

Haynes  located  on  section  ten,  just  south  of  the  present  village 
limits,  Camp  on  section  four  and  the  Reynolds  family  on  section 
thirteen.  It  was  from  the  last  named  that  Reynolds'  lake  takes 
it  name.  The  family  consisted  of  the  father,  George  Reynolds, 
and  four  sons,  John,  George,  William  and  Burr.  The  elder  Rey- 
nolds built  a  log  tavern  on  the  Territorial  road  which  ran  along 
the  north  shore  of  the  lake,  which  for  many  years  was  known  as 
the  "Old  Reynolds  Tavern."  His  sons  lived  with  him  for  some 
time,  but  all  except  John  moved  out  of  the  township.  John  had 
been  engaged  in  boating  on  the  Ohio  river,  although  he  was  a 
baker  by  trade.  From  the  fact  of  his  experience  as  a  boatman,  he 
was  for  a  time  engaged  in  flat-boating  on  the  Paw  Paw  river,  an 
occupation  that  did  not  prove  very  remunerative  to  those  who  un- 
dertook it.  While  engaged  in  this  occupation  he  acquired  the 
title  of  ' '  Captain. ' '  He  eventually  left  Lawrence  and  settled  on  a 
farm  in  the  township  of  Paw  Paw,  where  he  remained  until  his 
decease  in  1892. 

In  the  fall  of  1835,  James  Gray  and  his  family  located  on  sec- 
tion eleven.  He  came  from  Lenawee  county,  Michigan,  driving 
two  yoke  of  oxen  hitched  to  a  lumber  wagon  and  bringing  with  him 
his  wife  and  six  children.  It  took  him  ten  days  to  make  the  trip,  a 
journey  that  might  now  be  made  in  much  less  than  ten  hours.  The 
cabin  of  the  Grays  was  a  log  structure,  in  size  ten  by  fifteen  feet, 
and  roofed  over  with  boughs  cut  from  the  surrounding  trees,  which 
answered  very  well  in  fair  weather,  but  was  little  protection  from 
storms.  Its  floor  was  the  virgin  soil,  good  for  agricultural  pur- 
poses, but  not  especially  desirable  for  the  floor  of  a  dwelling,  es- 
pecially when  thoroughly  drenched  with  the  November  rains.  The 
only  opening  in  the  walls  of  the  cabin  was  a  doorway  cut  in  the 
logs  and  over  which  was  hung  a  blanket  that  served  as  a  door,  a 
handy,  but  not  very  substantial  arrangement.  Gray  farmed  in- 
dustriously, worked  at  carpentry  considerably,  and  tried  flat  boat- 
ing on  the  Paw  Paw  river,  but  his  ventures  were  not  crowned  with 
great  success.  He  eventually  disposed  of  his  farm  and  removed  to 
the  village  of  Breedsville  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  but 
afterward  returned  to  the  village  of  Lawrence  where  he  died  in 
1873. 

Vol.  1—35 


546  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

The  Branch  Family 

Eaton  Branch  came  to  Lawrence  from  Ann  Arbor  the  same 
year  (1835),  and  was  employed  by  John  Allen  in  the  work  of 
making  roads  and  clearing  off  the  site  of  the  village  of  Mason- 
now  Lawrence — and  doing  such  other  work  as  came  to  his  hands. 
During  this  time  he  occupied  a  house  that  had  been  previously 
built  by  one  Ephraim  Palmer  and  left  unoccupied  when  he  went 
farther  west.  The  next  year  after  coming  to  Lawrence,  Mr.  Branch 
entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  number 
four,  adjoining  the  plat  of  the  present  village  of  Lawrence  on  the 
northwest,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  death 
occurred  on  the  7th  day  of  January,  1891.  Three  of  his  sons, 
Elam,  Francis  and  Luther,  were  soldiers  in  the  Civil  war. 

Mr.  Branch  was  an  influential  man  in  local  affairs  and  served 
several  terms  as  commissioner  of  highways  and  while  occupying 
that  office  laid  out  a  number  of  the  original  roads  of  the  township. 
He  was  also  prominent  in  religious  matters,  being  for  many  years 
a  deacon  in  the  Congregational  church,  of  which  body  he  was  an 
honored  member.  Many  of  the  present  and  former  residents  of 
the  township,  of  which  the  writer  is  one,  have  a  kindly  remem- 
brance of  "Deacon"  Branch,  as  he  was  familiarly  called  by  his 
friends  and  acquaintances.  Others  of  the  Branch  family  among 
the  Lawrence  pioneers  were  Israel  Branch,  a  cooper  by  trade  and 
a  brother  of  Eaton,  who  came  to  Lawrence  in  1836  and,  for  some 
time,  worked  at  his  trade,  eventually  settling  on  section  four,  where 
he  died  in  1873.  Luther  Branch,  another  brother,  came  to  Law- 
rence in  1837  and  worked  at  coopering  for  a  while.  He  located  on 
section  fourteen,  but  removed  to  section  five  where  he  died  in  1845. 
Vine  Branch,  father  of  the  three  brothers,  Eaton,  Israel  and  Lu- 
ther, became  a  resident  of  the  township  in  1836,  making  his  home 
with  his  son,  Eaton.     He  died  in  1852. 

Orrin  Sutton  came  to  Lawrence  in  1836  and  located  in  the  vil- 
lage of  "Mason."  He  helped  John  Allen  build  the  first  saw-mill 
in  the  township,  which  was  erected  near  the  mouth  of  Brush  creek 
in  the  then  village  of  Mason.  He  settled  on  section  seven  and 
afterward  removed  to  the  village  of  Hartford,  where  he  died  in 
1868.  Mr.  Sutton  was  the  first  township  clerk  of  Lawrence  and 
also  served  in  several  other  official  positions.  His  son,  Luther  Sut- 
ton, established  the  Hartford  Bay  Spring  at  Hartford,  the  first 
newspaper  to  make  its  appearance  in  that  enterprising  village. 

Horace  Stimson,  another  of  the  early  settlers  of  Lawrence,  lo- 
cated on  section  one  in  1836.  He  was  the  first  postmaster,  but  did 
not  long  remain  a  resident  of  the  township. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  547 

Judge  Jay  R.  Monroe 

Judge  Jay  R.  Monroe  was  for  forty  years  closely  identified  not 
only  with  the  interests  of  the  township  of  Lawrence,  but  with  the 
entire  county  as  well.  In  1826,  when  a  young  man  of  but  twenty 
years,  he  was  engaged  with  Messrs.  Cass  and  Campau,  in  locating 
western  lands.  He  was  originally  from  the  state  of  New  York,  to 
which  he  returned  in  1828.  In  1830  he  undertook  an  exploration 
of  Michigan,  making  his  home  at  Prairie  Ronde.  In  1833  he  en- 
tered the  land  upon  which  the  present  flourishing  city  of  South 
Haven  is  situated  and  in  1835,  with  Charles  U.  Cross,  laid  out 
what  wras  subsequently  called  the  "Monroe  road"  between  Prairie 
Ronde  and  South  Haven.  This  road  passed  through  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  township  of  Lawrence  and  crossed  the  Paw  Paw 
river  on  section  one.  The  first  house  in  the  city  of  South  Haven 
was  erected  by  Mr.  Monroe.  He  settled  in  the  township  of  Law- 
rence in  1836  on  section  two,  through  which  the  Monroe  road 
passed.  This  farm  was  his  home  during  nearly  all  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  He  died  at  South  Haven,  October  30,  1876.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  associate  judges  of  the  circuit  court  of  the  county 
and  occupied  the  judicial  bench  with  Judge  Epaphroditus  Ran- 
som at  the  first  session  of  the  court  that  was  ever  held  in  Van 
Buren  county.  He  was  one  of  the  county  board  of  superintendents 
of  the  poor  for  twenty-five  years  and  was  the  first  president  of 
the  Van  Buren  County  Pioneer  Association,  which  was  instituted 
in  1872,  and  occupied  that  honorable  position  until  his  decease. 
His  son,  Hon.  Charles  J.  Monroe,  is  now  president  of  the  associa- 
tion. 

Judge  Monroe  became  a  large  landholder  and  was  a  man  of 
prominence  and  influence  in  the  community.  The  following  anec- 
dote is  related  of  him  while  he  was  filling  the  position  of  superin- 
tendent of  the  poor.  One  day  while  at  work  cutting  a  ditch  on 
his  farm  he  was  accosted  by  a  man  who  appeared  to  be  a  wander- 
ing pauper — he  would  be  called  a  tramp,  or  a  "Weary  Willie''  in 
these  days — with  the  following  inquiry:  "Where  is  the  poor- 
master's  house?" 

The  Judge  pointed  it  out  without  telling  his  querist  that  lie  was 
the  man  for  whom  he  was  looking. 

"Do  you  work  for  him?"  asked  the  weary  traveler. 

"Yes,"  replied  the  judge. 

' '  What  does  he  give  you  for  your  wrork  ? ' '  was  the  next  question. 

"Oh,"  answered  the  Judge,  "he  gives  me  just  what  he  has  him- 
self— pork  and  beans,  potatoes,  johnnycake  and  his  old  clothes." 

"Well,"  replied  the  seeker  for  an  easy  berth,  "if  that's  all  a 
fellow  can  expect,  I'll  be  gol-darned  if  I  stop  with  the  old  hog!" 


548  HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

and  he  at  once  took  up  his  weary,  wandering  way  in  search  of  a 
"softer  snap.'' 

In  1838  Uriel  T.  Barnes  left  his  home  in  Calhoun  county,  Michi- 
gan, where  he  had  been  a  resident  for  a  number  of  years,  and,  with 
his  family,  came  to  Van  Buren  county.  Arriving  at  Paw  Paw, 
they  stopped  at  the  Dodge  tavern  and  on  being  asked  where  they 
were  going  Mrs.  Barnes  replied  "To  Brush  Creek. "  "Brush 
Creek !"  exclaimed  the  interrogator,  "why,  you'll  starve  there/' 
Mrs.  Barnes  replied  that  she  had  had  four  years'  pioneer  experi- 
ence and  that  she  thought  they  would  not  starve  right  away.  It 
should  be  remembered  that  at  that  time  the  popular  name  for 
what  is  now  the  pleasant  village  of  Lawrence  was  ' '  Brush  Creek, ' ' 
and  that  name  clung  to  it  with  a  considerable  degree  of  tenacity 
for  years  afterward.  Mr.  Barnes  moved  into  an  abandoned  log 
cabin  on  what  was  afterward  known  as  the  * '  Baker  and  Richards ' ' 
farm,  a  short  distance  east  of  the  village  site.  Shortly  after- 
ward he  purchased  an  eighty-acre  tract  of  land  of  Eaton  Branch, 
located  on  section  five,  built  a  frame  house  thereon  and  occupied 
it  with  his  family  as  soon  as  practicable.  Branch  had  cut  a  road 
from  the  village  site  to  his  place  and  Barnes  continued  it  to  his 
new  location.  Mr.  Barnes  occupied  this  place  until  his  death 
which  occurred  in  1853,  after  which  it  was  owned  and  occupied 
by  his  son,  Anson  U.  Barnes,  who  is  now  a  resident  of  the  village 
of  Lawrence  and  who  has  been  a  man  of  prominence  in  the  affairs 
of  the  township,  having  served  as  supervisor  of  the  township  for 
several  terms  and  having  filled  other  responsible  positions.  Har- 
low G.  Barnes,  a  brother  of  Uriel  T.,  for  many  years  owned  and 
occupied  a  farm  just  across  the  road  from  his  brother's  place.  He 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  a  member  of  Birge's  Western 
Sharpshooters.  After  his  discharge  from  the  army  he  resumed  his 
residence  on  his  farm,  being  one  of  the  foremost  farmers  of  the 
township.    He  died  at  the  village  of  Lawrence,  May  25,  1907. 

Mrs.  Allen  (Adelia)  Rice,  a  daughter  of  Uriel  T.  Barnes  who 
is  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  work,  says  that  when  her  people 
came  to  Lawrence  there  were  but  four  families  in  the  village — 
those  of  J.  R.  Haynes,  Dexter  Gibbs,  John  Allen  and  Israel 
Branch.  A  saw-mill  had  been  built  and  also  a  schoolhouse.  Mrs. 
Rice  attended  the  school  which  was  taught  by  Truman  Foster  of 
Keeler. 

Mrs.  McKnight,  a  widow  lady,  sister  of  John  and  Joseph  Haynes, 
came  to  Lawrence  in  1838,  and  for  some  time  kept  house  for  her 
brother  Joseph.  One  son  and  two  daughters,  Jane  and  Mary 
Nancy,  came  with  her.  Jane  became  the  wife  of  Dr.  Albert  S.  Has- 
kin.  Both  she  and  her  husband  are  yet  living  in  the  village  of 
Lawrence,  and  both  have  passed  their  four-score  mark.    Dr.  Has- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  549 

kin  was,  for  many  years  one  of  the  leading  physicians,  not  only 
of  the  township,  but  of  the  county  as  well.  He  has  been  a  man  of 
wide  influence  in  the  community,  a  Republican  in  politics  and 
prominent  in  the  counsels  of  the  party.  The  other  daughter  mar- 
ried Henry  Mainer,  a  farmer  living  near  the  village.  Mrs.  Mainer 
died  on  August  15,  1904. 

Ephraim  Taylor,  a  native  of  the  state  of  New  York,  came  to 
Lawrence  in  1836  and  settled  on  a  farm  on  section  thirty,  where 
he  died  in  1877. 

Alexander  H.  Phelps  was  also  an  early  resident  of  the  village. 
In  company  with  his  brother,  Theodore  E.,  he  built  what  was 
known  as  the  Chad  wick  mill  situated  on  Brush  creek,  some  dis- 
tance south  of  the  village.  He  subsequently  engaged  in  milling 
and  other  business  in  the  village,  in  company  with  Horatio  X. 
Phelps.  He  was  known  as  a  fur  trader  and  dealt  very  largely  with 
the  Indians.  He  lived  in  Lawrence  for  a  period  of  forty  years, 
his  death  occuring  in  1877.  The  Phelps  family  were  all  influen- 
tial and  highly  respected  citizens. 

Humphrey  P.  Barnum  was  one  of  the  ablest  and  best  of  Van 
Buren  county's  surveyors.  He  first  settled  in  the  county  in  1835 
and  three  years  later  became  a  resident  of  Lawrence,  locating  on 
section  eleven  where  he  lived  until  his  death  which  occurred  in 
1851.  Mr.  Barnum  did  a  large  amount  of  surveying  not  only  in 
Lawrence,  but  elsewhere  throughout  the  county. 

Richard  B.  Danks  came  from  Washtenaw  county  in  1836  and 
for  a  time  worked  for  John  Allen,  but  subsequently  purchased  a 
farm  on  section  nineteen,  west  of  Taylor's  lake.  He  afterward 
removed  to  Hartford,  where  he  resided  during  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  He  was  a  very  eccentric  man,  a  firm  believer  in  Spiritual- 
ism; delighted  in  controversy  and  debate;  illiterate,  but  fond  of 
speaking  in  public.  He  used  to  attend  the  lyceums  of  those  days 
— debating  schools,  they  were  called — and  was  never  "backward 
about  coming  forward"  and  taking  a  conspicuous  part.  On  one 
occasion  when  the  writer,  then  a  youth  of  nineteen,  was  teaching 
— possibly  it  would  be  more  correct  to  say  attempting  to  teach — 
a  school  in  an  adjoining  district — some  question  was  being  de- 
bated at  an  evening  school,  Mr.  Danks  being  present,  as  usual. 
He  took  the  floor  and  in  his  usual  grandiloquent  way  began  his 
speech.  "When  we  look  away  back  into  the  distant  future/ '  were 
his  opening  words.  That  is  all  we  remember,  but  they  were  char- 
acteristic of  the  man.  With  all  his  crudeness  and  eccentricities, 
he  was  a  shrewd  man,  a  good  neighbor  and  respected  in  the  com- 
munity where  he  lived. 

Nelson  S.  Marshall  was  another  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Law- 
rence.    He  came  from   Oakland  county,   Michigan,  in  1838.     In 


550  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

company  with  his  brother,  Harvey  Marshall,  he  purchased  a  farm 
on  section  seventeen,  which  they  managed  jointly  for  some  years. 
Nelson  eventually  removed  to  Hartford,  where  he  died  in  1863. 
One  of  his  sons,  Hannibal  M.  Marshall,  was  for  many  years  a  lead- 
ing merchant  in  the  village  of  Lawrence.  He  now  resides  in  the 
city  of  Ludington,  Michigan,  where  he  is  engaged  in  business. 
Another  son,  Jerome  B.  Marshall,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war; 
a  member  of  Company  C,  Third  Michigan  Cavalry.  He  after- 
ward occupied  the  Marshall  homestead  and  died  at  Lawrence, 
February  1,  1905.  Harvey  Marshall  retained  possession  of  the 
farm  as  long  as  he  lived.  When  Nelson  Marshall  came  to  the 
township,  there  were  within'  the  boundaries  of  the  village  the  Gibbs 
tavern,  and  the  houses  of  Orrin  Sutton,  Joseph  R.  Haynes  and 
Watson  Poole.  At  the  time  when  Mr.  Marshall  took  up  his  resi- 
dence on  his  farm  Peter  Dopp  was  living  on  section  seventeen, 
some  four  miles  distant.  When  there  was  need  of  the  services  of 
a  physician  in  the  family,  Mrs.  Dopp  would  walk  through  the 
woods  to  the  Marshall  place  to  get  Harvey  to  ride  to  Paw  Paw 
after  a  doctor.  Harvey  was  about  the  only  one  who  owned  a 
•horse  and  often  was  called  upon  to  render  this  service  for  his 
neighbors.  All  who  lived  within  a  day's  journey  in  those  prim- 
itive days  were  neighbors.  Amos  Dopp,  a  son  of  Peter's,  was  an- 
other member  of  Company  C,  of  the  Third  Michigan  Cavalry. 
He  died  on  February  2,  1908. 

Other  pioneers  living  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  township 
in  1840  were  David  and  James  Dopp,  brothers  of  Peter,  Cyrus 
Bateman,  Hosea  Howard  and  Roderick  Irish.  These  all  came 
to  the  township  in  1836. 

Samuel  Gunton,  the  first  man  elected  to  the  office  of  sheriff  of 
the  county,  settled  on  the  Territorial  road  about  a  mile  south  of 
Prospect  lake.    He  returned  to  the  state  of  New  York  in  1839. 

Other  early  settlers  of  the  township  were  John  Andrews,  who 
located  on  section  fourteen  just  east  of  Baker's  lake,  and  who  af- 
terward removed  to  Hartford  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  days.  Thomas  Price  and  his  widowed  mother  came  from  New 
York  in  1836,  in  company  with  David  Dopp,  Mrs.  Price's  son-in- 
law.  In  the  same  year  John  Mellen,  with  his  wife  and  ten  chil- 
dren, located  on  section  seventeen,  where  both  he  and  his  wife 
died  in  1843.  Joseph  Haynes,  a  carpenter,  also  came  to  Law- 
rence in  1836  and  settled  on  section  fifteen  where  he  died  in  1843. 

Watson  Poole,  likewise  a  carpenter,  came  to  the  village  of  Mason 
in  1838,  and  besides  working  at  his  trade  cultivated  a  few  acres  on 
what  is  now  St.  Joseph  street.  The  old  Poole  place,  with  which 
all  the  citizens  of  Lawrence  have  been  familiar  since  those  early 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  551 

days,  has  recently  been  remodeled  and  is  now  one  of  the  finest 
places  in  the  village  of  Lawrence. 

Volney  A.  Moore,  a  nephew  of  Harvey  Marshall,  came  into  the 
township  in  1838  and  settled  on  section  thirty,  living  there  until 
his  death.  Leonard  Watson,  who  settled  in  the  township  of  Co- 
lumbia in  1835,  removed  to  Lawrence  in  1838,  where  he  married 
one  of  Judge  John  R.  Haynes'  daughters.  He  died  in  Cass  county. 
Warren  Van  Fleet  located  on  section  thirteen  in  1838,  where  he 
lived  out  the  remainder  of  his  days.  One  of  his  sons,  William 
Norris  Van  Fleet,  became  totally  blind  as  a  result  of  service  in  the 
Civil  war.  For  many  years  he  was  a  familiar  sight  to  the  people 
of  Lawton,  Paw  Paw  and  Lawrence  as  he  went  about  the  streets 
with  nothing  to  guide  him  except  his  cane,  never  losing  his  way 
and  seemingly  never  at  a  lost  to  know  just  where  he  wanted  to  go. 
He  died,  not  very  long  ago,  in  the  city  of  Kalamazoo,  where  he 
spent  the  later  years  of  his  life.  Barney  and  Daniel  Evans  also 
came  to  Lawrence  in  1838,  and  located  near  Prospect  lake. 

First  Marriage,  Birth  and  Death 

The  first  couple  to  embark  on  the  matrimonial  sea  were  William 
R.  Williams  and  Elizabeth  Gibbs,  but  as  there  was  neither  a  min- 
ister nor  a  justice  in  the  township,  they  went  to  Schoolcraft  in 
Kalamazoo  county  to  have  the  ceremony  performed.  The  first 
wedding  that  actually  occurred  in  the  township  was  that  of  Eph- 
raim  Taylor  and  Emeline  Gibbs.  They  were  married  at  the  Gibbs 
(log)  tavern.  It  is  said  that  they  were  married  by  Judge  Jay  R. 
Monroe,  which  may  or  may  not  be  correct.  There  is  no  public  rec- 
ord of  their  marriage,  nor  of  any  marriage  ceremony  having  been 
performed  in  those  early  days  by  Judge  Monroe.  Indeed,  it  no- 
where appears  on  the  records  of  the  county  that  the  Judge  ever  oc- 
cupied a  position  that  would  authorize  him  to  solemnize  marriages, 
but  that  does  not  signify,  as  the  records  of  those  early  days  are  by 
no  means  complete. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  the  township  was  Sarah,  daughter 
of  John  and  Jane  Reynolds.     She  died  in  her  youth. 

The  first  death  that  occurred  among  those  early  pioneers  was 
that  of  Mrs.  Dexter  Gibbs,  who  died  in  April,  1838.  Her  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Ephraim  Taylor,  did  not  long  survive  her  mother,  her 
death  occurring  only  three  months  after  the  latter 's  decease. 
Mr.  Gibbs  followed  them  in  October  of  the  same  year,  and  father, 
mother  and  daughter  were  all  buried  on  the  banks  of  Brush  creek, 
just  beyond  the  eastern  limits  of  the  village. 


552  HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

The  Food  Problem 

"Going  to  mill"  in  those  early  days  was  no  small  undertaking, 
as  it  meant  a  journey  to  Kalamazoo,  Flowerfield  or  Whitmanville, 
and  sometimes  to  Three  Rivers,  places  from  twenty-five  to 
forty-five  miles  distant.  Such  a  trip  through  the  woods 
and  over  the  rough  roads,  perchance  with  an  ox-team,  was  any- 
thing but  a  pleasure  jaunt;  but  there  was  no  alternative.  The  tree 
stump  corn  mill — which  was  a  hollowed  out  stump  in  which  the 
corn  was  pounded  and  ground  until  it  would  serve  for  the  manu- 
facture of  johnnycake  or  mush — was  a  valuable  adjunct  to  the 
preparation  of  the  daily  rations  of  a  hungry  family.  This  condi- 
tion of  things  was,  however,  of  short  duration.  In  1838  John  R. 
Haynes  put  in  a  small  run  of  stones  in  his  saw-mill  in  the  village, 
which  superseded  the  holes  in  the  stumps. 

The  first  real  grist  mill  was  built  by  Marvin  Hannah  in  1850. 
This  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1862,  since  which  time  the  river  wa- 
terpower  has  remained  unused. 

In  common  with  all  the  early  settlers  of  Michigan,  the  pioneers 
of  Lawrence  were  greatly  annoyed  by  wolves  and  other  wild  ani- 
mals, but  they  occasioned  no  serious  trouble.  The  wolves,  al- 
though appearing  to  be  savage  and  fierce,  were  cowardly  curs 
unless  traveling  in  packs.  The  greatest  damage  suffered  by  the 
settlers  was  the  carrying  off  of  sheep,  calves  and  pigs  by  the 
marauding  beasts.  However,  there  was  some  compensation  for 
this.  The  forests  abounded  with  various  kinds  of  game,  the  wa- 
ters swarmed  with  fish,  so  that  to  obtain  a  full  supply  of  fish,  flesh 
or  fowl,  one  did  not  need  a  steel  or  split  bamboo  rod  and  a  reel, 
nor  did  he  require  anything  but  a  muzzle-loading  rifle  or  shot 
gun  to  keep  the  larder  well  supplied  with  that  for  which  men  in 
these  later  days  sometimes  travel  hundreds  of  miles  to  obtain, 
and  sometimes  fail  even  then. 

Roads  and  Mails 

The  first  road  laid  out  in  the  township  was  what  was  then  called 
the  i  i Waterf ord ' '  (not  Watervliet)  road,  a  thoroughfare  leading 
west  from  the  village  of  Lawrence  through  the  township  of  Hart- 
ford to  the  village  of  Watervliet  in  Berrien  county.  James  Gray 
and  Eaton  Branch  were  the  highway  commissioners  and  Humph- 
rey P.  Barnum  the  surveyor.  The  construction  of  highways  in 
those  primitive  days  was  no  light  task  and  when  it  is  considered 
that  the  township  embraced  not  only  the  present  territory  of 
Lawrence,  but  also  the  townships  of  Hartford  and  Arlington,  it 
may  well  be  supposed  that  the  office  of  commissioner  of  highways 
was  no  sinecure. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  558 

A  road  from  the  village  of  Mason  toward  Keeler  was  surveyed 
in  1836  by  Jesse  L.  Church  and  opened  the  next  year.  About  the 
same  time  another  road,  called  No.  4,  was  laid  out  from  the  south- 
east corner  of  section  thirty-two  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section 
sixteen. 

The  river  (Paw  Paw)  road,  leading  north  from  the  village,  one 
from  the  south  side  of  section  four  and  one  from  the  southwest 
corner  of  section  nineteen  to  the  southwest  corner  of  section 
twenty,  were  laid  out  in  1837. 

Other  highways  laid  out  in  1838  were  called  the  Breedsville, 
Hand's,  Phelps',  Olds',  Hammond's,  Taylor's,  Barnes'  and 
Branch's  roads. 

In  1839  there  were  the  town-line  road  between  the  townships  of 
Lawrence  and  Alpena  (now  Hamilton)  ;  Heath's,  Briggs',  Mellen's 
and  Clark's  roads  and  some  others. 

Until  1839  Eaton  Branch  and  James  Gray  were  the  commis- 
sioners of  highways,  and  until  1841,  Mr.  Branch  was  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  work  of  laying  out  and  opening  the  highways  of  the 
township.  Humphrey  P.  Barnum  laid  out  a  great  many  of  these 
roads,  although  Jesse  L.  Church  and  E.  II.  Keeler  performed  a  con- 
siderable share  of  the  business. 

The  Territorial  road,  which  reached  across  the.  entire  state  from 
Detroit  to  St.  Joseph,  passed  through  the  southeastern  part  of  the 
township.  This  was  an  important  route  of  travel  prior  to  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Michigan  Central  Railway,  great  numbers  of  stage 
coaches  and  freight  wagons  passing  over  it  in  those  early  days. 

In  1836  John  Allen,  the  proprietor  of  the  village  of  Mason,  had 
the  government  contract  for  transporting  the  mails  from  Kalama- 
zoo to  St.  Joseph,  and,  being  desirous  of  favoring  his  own  location 
as  far  as  possible,  he  changed  his  route  so  as  to  pass  through  his 
own  town  to  Keeler,  instead  of  following  the  Territorial  road.  The 
Lawrence  postoffice  was  not  established,  however,  until  1837,  when 
Horace  Stimson  was  appointed  as  the  first  postmaster.  John  R. 
Haynes  succeeded  him  and  held  the  office  continuously  until  his 
death  in  1856.  His  successor  was  John  B.  Potter,  who  held  the 
office  until  1865.  He  was  succeeded  by  B.  F.  Chadwick,  who  held 
the  office  but  a  couple  of  years,  when  Mr.  Potter  was  again  ap- 
pointed and  continued  to  hold  the  office  until  1873,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  George  A.  Cross.  The  successors  of  Mr.  Cross  have 
been  Newell  Crissey,  Sylvester  M.  Hess,  Newell  Crissey  (for  a 
second  time),  Allie  Wiggins,  John  F.  Barrows  and  Byron  H.  Col- 
burn  (present  incumbent). 

There  was  formerly  a  postoffice  at  Prospect  Lake,  but  since  the 
advent  of  free  country  mail  delivery  this  has  been  discontinued 


554  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

and  the  only  postoffice  in  the  township  is  at  the  village  of  Law- 
rence. 

Flat-Boat  Traffic 

The  Paw  Paw  river,  prior  to  the  completion  of  the  Michigan 
Central  Railroad,  was  utilized  to  a  considerable  extent  as  a  route 
of  transportation  between  Lawrence  and  St.  Joseph,  even  as  far 
up  the  stream  as  Paw  Paw ;  but  its  navigation  above  the  mouth  of 
Brush  creek  was  attended  with  considerable  difficulty  and  uncer- 
tainty. John  R.  Haynes  built  a  warehouse  for  the  reception  of 
freight  and  the  village  became  a  place  of  shipment  for  the  sur- 
rounding country.  Flour  and  other  goods  were  hauled  from  Kala- 
mazoo and  shipped  down  the  river  to  St.  Joseph  and  thence  across 
the  lake  to  Chicago. 

This  flat-boat  traffic  continued  with  more  or  less  regularity  until 
1848.  For  a  considerable  number  of  years  after  that  lumber  manu- 
factured at  Lawrence  was  rafted  down  the  river  to  St.  Joseph,  as 
the  writer  knows  by  experience  in  the  business  in  his  youthful 
days.  The  decreasing  supply  of  timber  put  an  end  to  this  traffic. 
For  many  years  no  further  attempts  at  converting  the  river  into 
a  navigable  stream  have  been  made  and  its  waters  have  been  per- 
mitted to  flow  untroubled  on  their  way  to  Lake  Michigan  and 
thence,  partly  by  way  of  Chicago's  drainage  canal,  to  the  Missis- 
sippi river  and  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  and  partly  by  way  of  the 
straits  of  Mackinac,  the  great  lakes,  Niagara  Falls  and  the  St. 
Lawrence  river  to  the  broad  Atlantic. 

The  first  public  house  of  entertainment  in  Lawrence  was  Dex- 
ter Gibb's  old  log  tavern. 


Old  Tavern  at  Lawrence 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  555 

The  second  one  was  built  in  1849  by  Horatio  N.  Phelps,  sub- 
sequently widely  known  as'  the  Mather  House.  This  hotel  occu- 
pied one  corner  of  the  principal  street  crossing  in  the  village  and 
stood  for  many  years.  It  was  eventually  destroyed  by  a  disas- 
trous fire.  The  site  is  now  occupied  by  the  Farmers'  and  Mer- 
chants' Bank. 

There  were  two  log  taverns  on  the  line  of  the  Territorial  road 
within  the  limits  of  the  township  of  Lawrence,  and,  as  long  as  the 
stages  continued  to  run  along  that  route,  they  were  features  in  the 
history  of  the  township.  The  first  one,  near  Reynolds'  lake,  was 
kept  in  operation  for  about  ten  years.  South  of  that  hostelry 
and  on  the  banks  of  Prospect  lake,  Horatio  N.  Phelps  opened  a 
stage  house  in  1837,  and  as  it  was  a  place  where  the  stages  changed 
horses,  it  was,  at  that  time,  of  considerable  importance.  But  the 
usefulness  of  both  these  houses  as  places  of  public  entertainment 
ceased  when  the  Territorial  road  ceased  to  be  a  stage  route. 

Paper  Town  of  Van  Buren 

During  the  flush  times  of  1837-8,  caused  by  the  reckless  and 
practically  unlimited  issue  of  "wild  cat"  currency,  John  D.  Free- 
man conceived  the  idea  of  having  a  town  on  the  banks  of  Pros- 
pect lake  and,  having  entered  an  eighty  acre  tract  on  section 
twenty-six  where  one  Moody  Emerson  had  previously  squatted 
and  put  up  a  shanty  against  a  side  hill,  which  Freeman  occupied 
as  a  stable,  he  proceeded  to  lay  out  a  town  which  he  named  the 
"Village  of  Van  Buren."  Mr.  Freeman  even  had  an  idea  that 
the  county  seat  might  be  located  there.  Those  who  are  acquainted 
with  the  locality,  and  most  Van  Buren  county  people  are,  will  ad- 
mit that  it  was  an  ideal  spot  for  a  town,  lacking  nothing  but 
buildings  and  people  to  make  it  a  success.  It  was  an  ambitious 
village  containing  two  hundred  and  thirty-eight  lots.  Its  princi- 
pal thoroughfares  were  named  Water,  Broad,  Park  and  Forest 
streets.  A  lot  for  the  court  house  was  staked  out  and  shown  on 
the  plat,  which  adjoined  the  lake  and  showed  a  fine  steamer  cruis- 
ing thereon.  Numbers  of  lots  were  actually  sold  to  speculators, 
some  of  them  for  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  apiece.  Mr.  Phelps, 
landlord  of  Phelps'  tavern,  become  the  purchaser  of  quite  a  number 
of  them ;  Robert  Christie  and  Charles  Chadwick  of  others. 

The  assessment  roll  of  the  township  for  1839  shows  that  the  en- 
tire plat  of  the  proposed  town  was  assessed  at  the  sum  of  $1,190, 
the  valuation  of  the  assessing  officers  being  five  dollars  per  lot  and 
the  tax  imposed  for  all  purposes  being  four  cents  per  lot.  But, 
as  the  poet  Burns  says  "The  best  laid  plans  o'  mice  and  man 
gang  aft  agley,"  and  Van  Buren  never  attained  to  any  greater 


556  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

dignity  than  a  town  on  paper.    The  plat  of  the  proposed  town  was 
never  placed  on  the  public  record. 

Robert  Christie  and  his  family,  on  his  wTay  to  Hartford,  from 
Washtenaw  county,  stopped  at  the  lake  in  a  building  that  had 
been  abandoned,  proposing  to  remain  until  he  could  prepare  a 
residence  on  his  Hartford  lands,  of  which  he  had  purchased  a 
considerable  tract.  Christie  finally  exchanged  his  Hartford  prop- 
erty with  Phelps  for  the  tavern  and  Phelps'  interest  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Van  Buren.  Christie  took  possession  and  converted  the 
village  lots  into  farm  property  and  such  it  has  ever  since  remained. 

John  H.  Stoddard  came  to  Lawrence  the  next  year  after  Mr. 
Christie,  who  was  his  father-in-law,  but  soon  afterward  removed 
to  Paw  Paw,  where  he  became  a  person  of  some  prominence,  being 
at  one  time  sheriff  of  the  county. 

Other  of  the  early  settlers  whose  names  should  be  mentioned 
in  this  connection  were  Oliver  Witter,  Rodolphus  Howe,  Cyrus 
Rathbun  and  Hosea  Howard.  The  latter  gentleman  came  from 
the  Green  Mountain  state  and  settled  on  section  thirty-two  in 
1839. 

Civil,  Educational  and  Political 

The  first  township  meeting  was  held  at  the  residence  of  Horace 
Stimson,  on  the  3d  day  of  April,  1837,  the  following  officers  being 
elected:  John  R.  Haynes,  supervisor;  Orrin  Sutton,  township 
clerk;  Hiram  Hilliard,  collector;  Joseph  Haynes,  John  Reynolds, 
Horace  Stimson,  assessors ;  John  D.  Freeman,  James  Gray  and 
Eaton  Branch,  commissioners  of  highways ;  Dexter  Gibbs,  Richard 
B.  Danks  and  Alvinzy  Harris,  justices  of  the  peace ;  Hiram  Hilliard 
and  William  R.  Williams,  constables;  George  S.  Reynolds  and 
Dexter  Gibbs,  directors  of  the  poor. 

The  following  named  gentlemen  have  served  the  township  in 
the  capacity  of  supervisor :  John  R.  Haynes,  John  Reynolds,  Ben- 
jamin P.  Chadwick,  John  Andrews,  Humphrey  P.  Barnum,  Thom- 
as B.  Irwin,  Enoch  Southwell,  Nelson  Rowe,  John  B.  Upton,  John 
B.  Potter,  Chandler  Richards,  William  W.  Bass,  Charles  Rock- 
well, Isaac  Monroe,  Thomas  C.  Tyner,  Anson  U.  Barnes,  Francis 
Branch  and  Amos  C.  Benedict  (present  incumbent).  Of  the  above 
named  gentlemen,  Supervisor  Tyner  served  four  years;  Super- 
visors Barnum,  Potter  and  Branch,  each  five  years;  Supervisor 
Rowe,  six  years;  Supervisor  Rockwell,  eleven  years,  and  Super- 
visor Benedict,  although  a  Democrat  from  a  Republican  township, 
is  now  serving  his  twelfth  successive  year. 

The  population  of  the  township  is  given  by  the  census  of  1910 
as  1,764,  being  the  sixth  in  point  of  numbers  outside  of  the  city 
of  South  Haven. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  557 

The  assessment  rolls  of  those  earlier  years,  as  returned  to  the 
county  treasurer,  contain  only  a  list  of  the  non-resident  lands, 
which  embraced  by  far  the  greater  part  of  the  township  and 
which  were  uniformly  valued  at  three  dollars  per  acre  and  the 
tax  assessed  being  at  the  rate  of  four  cents  and  a  fraction  per 
acre.  The  total  assessed  valuation,  of  the  township  in  1911  was 
$950,650  and  the  total  tax  levied  on  the  same,  $19,064.30.  In  point 
of  wealth  Lawrence  ranks  as  the  sixth  township  in  the  county. 

The  first  schoolhouse  erected  in  the  township  was  on  the  east 
side  of  what  is  now  known  as  Paw  Paw  street  in  the  village  of 
Lawrence  and  was  erected  by  James  Gray  in  the  spring  of  1837. 
The  building  was  subsequently  converted  into  a  blacksmith-shop. 
The  first  school  was  taught  by  Miss  Elizabeth  Camp  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1837  and  she  was  followed  by  Truman  Foster  the  next 
winter. 

There  are  now  eight  schoolhouses  in  the  township;  and  the 
estimated  value  of  the  school  property  is  $11,900.  There  were  420 
persons  of  school  age  at  the  last  enumeration  and  there  are  1,928 
volumes  in  the  school  libraries.  The  amount  of  school  district 
indebtedness  is  less  than  $200.  Fourteen  teachers  were  employed 
during  the  last  school  year,  an  aggregate  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-four  months  was  taught,  and  $6,320  were  expended  for 
teachers '  salaries.  The  township  received  from  the  state  during 
the  year  the  sum  of  $3,060  in  primary  school  money. 

At  the  first  presidential  election  held  after  the  organization  of 
the  township,  in  1840,  there  were  forty-eight  votes  cast,  equally 
divided  between  the  two  political  parties,  Harrison,  Whig,  and 
Cass,  Democrat,  each  receiving  twenty-four  votes.  At  the  presi- 
dential election  of  1908  there  were  410  votes  cast:  239  for  Taft, 
Republican;  157  for  Bryan,  Democrat;  twelve  for  Chafin,  Pro- 
hibitionist; one  each  for  Debs,  Socialist,  and  Hisgen,  Independent 
party. 

With  the  last  few  years,  various  localities  in  Van  Buren  county 
have  become  somewhat  noted  as  summer  resorts  and  Lawrence,  not 
to  be  left  out  of  the  procession,  has  put  in  her  claim  for  recogni- 
tion along  that  line.  "Sleepy  Hollow' '  has  been  heretofore  men- 
tioned, and  on  the  north  shore  of  Reynolds'  lake  Mrs.  Ellen  Van- 
derveer  has  platted  an  embryo  resort  under  the  somewhat  ambi- 
tious name  of  "Ocean  View."  To  be  sure  the  ocean  is  not  large, 
nor  are  its  waters  disturbed  by  any  of  the  great  steamships  of 
the  world,  but  nevertheless  it  is  a  pleasant  spot  and  will  doubtless 
come  into  a  degree  of  popular  favor. 


558  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Looking  Backward 

Only  about  three-quarters  of  a  century  has  elapsed  since  Law- 
rence township  was  an  unbroken  wilderness,  as  it  had  been  during 
all  the  ages  that  had  gone  before.  There  are  yet  men  living  who 
were  born  before  its  soil  had  ever  been  pressed  by  the  foot  of  a 
civilized  man;  and  in  this  comparatively  short  space  of  time  it 
has  been  changed  into  one  of  the  most  productive  townships  in 
Van  Buren  county ;  and  when  we  say  in  Van  Buren  county  we  mean 
in  the  state  of  Michigan  as  well,  for  as  an  agricultural  and  horti- 
cultural county  Van  Buren  has  no  superior  in  the  entire  state. 
In  place  of  the  giant  trees  that  constituted  the  forests  that  covered 
the  face  of  the  land,  there  are  now  cultivated,  fertile  fields,  or- 
chards and  vineyards;  in  lieu  of  the  trails  of  the  aborigines  there 
are  now  fine  graveled  highways,  and  instead  of  the  howl  of  the 
wolf  and  the  screech  of  the  panther  is  heard  the  whistle  of  the 
locomotive  and  the  hum  of  busy  marts  of  trade.  And  all  this 
wonderful  change  has  been  wrought  in  such  brief  period  of  time 
that  it  seems  but  yesterday. 

Village  of  Lawrence 

In  June,  1835,  John  Allen  of  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  entered 
a  forty  acre  tract  of  land  on  section  ten  in  the  township  of  Law- 
rence, upon  which  he  laid  out  a  village,  naming  it  Mason  in  honor 
of  the  then  governor  of  the  state.  Its  location  was  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Paw  Paw  river  near  the  junction  of  Brush  creek  with  the 
river,  either  of  the  two  streams  being  available  for  a  good  water 
powrer.  At  that  time,  Mr.  Allen  entertained  no  idea  of  becoming 
a  resident  of  his  new  paper  town,  the  plat  of  which  wTas  never 
placed  on  the  official  records  of  the  county.  He  employed  one 
Ephraim  Palmer  to  go  to  the  premises  and  look  after  the  improve- 
ment of  the  same.  Palmer  put  up  a  log  cabin,  but  did  not  long 
remain,  going  with  his  wife  farther  west.  After  •  Palmer's  de- 
parture the  cabin  was  next  occupied  by  John  Reynolds  and  his 
brother  George.  On  the  15th  of  November,  1835,  a  delegation  of 
eleven  persons  arrived  to  settle  in  the  new  location.  These  people 
were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eaton  Branch;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dexter  Gibbs, 
with  five, children;  John  Allen  and  William  Williams.  They  all 
stopped  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reynolds,  because  there  was  no  other 
place  where  they  could  stay.  The  room  they  occupied  was  twelve 
feet  square,  so  they  were  somewhat  crowded.  The  only  other  room 
was  "all  out  doors,' '  and  that  the  gentlemen  occupied  for  a  dress- 
ing room. 

They  did  not  remain  long  without  other  accommodations,  for 
Allen  soon  put  up  a  double  log  house  and  called  it  a  tavern,  which 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


559 


Lawrence  Town  Hall  and  Water  Works 


The  Big  Beech,  Lawrence 


560  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

was  afterwards  known  as  the  "Gibbs  Tavern/'  Allen  built  a 
saw-mill  on  Brush  creek  in  1836  which  was  a  help  to  the  village, 
but  the  towTn  grew  so  slowly  that  in  1843  it  contained  but  ten 
families,  to- wit:  John  Allen,  its  proprietor;  Watson  Poole,  car- 
penter ;  Alexander  Newton,  farmer ;  Norman  Bierce,  cabinet  maker ; 
John  R.  Haynes,  miller;  Joseph  Haynes,  farmer;  Israel  Branch, 
cooper;  Alexander  H.  Phelps,  fur  trader;  John  P.  Fisk,  black- 
smith ;  Benjamin  Dunning,  blacksmith ;  and  Rodolphus  Howe, 
stock  dealer. 

At  that  time  the  village  was  generally  known  as  "Brush  Creek" 
and  the  name  Mason  was  passing  into  oblivion.  Indeed,  not  many 
of  its  present  inhabitants  are  aware  that  it  ever  bore  that  name, 
but  all  remember  Brush  Creek.  John  R.  Baker,  a  Paw  Paw 
lawyer,  who  had  come  into  possession  of  a  large  part  of  the  vil- 
lage by  foreclosing  a  mortgage  given  by  Allen,  replatted  it  in 
1846  and  christened  it  Lawrence.  A  characteristic  anecdote  is  re- 
lated of  Lawyer  Baker  as  follows :  Being  asked  by  a  traveler  for 
directions  to  find  Brush  Creek,  he  directed  the  inquirer  to  Chad- 
wick's  mill,  which  was  located  on  the  creek  some  miles  south  of  the 
village.  "I'll  teach  him,"  said  Baker,  "not  to  call  my  pretty  little 
village  by  the  ugly  name  of  Brush  Creek. ' '  And  in  this  connection, 
it  might  be  noticed  that  Chadwick  used  to  say  that  people  spoke 
of  his  mill  indifferently  as  "Chad's  old  mill"  or  "old  Chad's 
mill." 

Since  the  original  plat  by  Baker,  there  have  been  four  additions : 
Phelps',  in  1849;  Gage's,  in  I860;  Phelps  &  Ridlon's,  in  1870,  and 
Ryan's,  in  1911.  These  additions  are  all  on  section  nine,  the  original 
plat  being  on  section  ten,  the  section  line  running  north  and  south 
through  the  village  and  dividing  it  very  nearly  into  two  parts. 
When  Mr.  Baker  made  the  original  plat  he  devoted  block  number 
six  to  public  purposes,  calling  it  the  Public  Square.  This  was 
subsequently  made  the  subject  of  a  bitter  litigation  between  the 
village  and  Baker,  which  ended  in  the  supreme  court  of  the  state, 
the  village  retaining  title  to  the  square,  which  is  now  the  beauty 
spot  of  the  town  and  the  pride  of  its  citizens. 

The  village  was  first  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in 
1869  (Laws  of  1869,  vol.  3,  p.  996).  It  was  reincorporated  in  1879 
(Local  acts  of  1879,  p.  31).  This  latter  act  was  amended  in  1887 
(Local  acts  of  1887,  p.  292). 

The  population  of  the  village,  as  shown  by  the  last  United 
States  census,  was  663. 

One  of  the  fine  high  schools  of  the  county  is  located  in  this  en- 
terprising little  village,  which,  according  to  the  latest  school 
census,  contained  186  persons  of  school  age.  There  were  fifty  - 
three  non-resident  pupils  in  the  schools  during  the  last  year  and 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  561 

the  average  daily  attendance  was  172.  Two  schoolhouses,  one  of 
them  a  fine  brick  structure,  accommodate  these  pupils.  The  esti- 
mated value  of  the  property  is  $4,500.  The  district  is  entirely  out 
of  debt  and  has  642  volumes  in  its  school  library.  Eight  teachers 
were  employed  during  the  school  year,  taught  an  aggregate  of 
seventy-two  months,  and  were  paid  the  sum  of  $4,145  in  salaries. 
Dr.  J.  L.  Marvin  was  the  first  physician  to  locate  in  the  village. 
He  came  there  in  1844.  Previous  to  that  time  the  nearest  medical 
assistance  that  could  be  obtained  was  at  Paw  Paw.  A  few  years 
later  came  Dr.  Nelson  Rowe,  Dr.  Sylvanus  Rowe  and  Dr.  Joel 
Camp,  followed  still  later  by  Dr.  Albert  S.  Haskin,  who  is  the  only 
survivor  of  these  earlier  physicians. 

Churches  and  Societies 

There  are  four  churches  in  the  village,  the  Congregational, 
Baptist,  Methodist  Episcopal  and  Free  Methodist. 

An  old  church  record  of  August  19,  1837,  recites  that  at  a 
meeting  duly  called  it  was  resolved  "that  the  time  has  arrived 
when  it  is  our  duty  to  organize  ourselves  into  a  church."  The 
name  chosen  was  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Lawrence,  and 
it  continued  to  be  known  as  such  for  the  first  seven  years  of  its 
existence  when  the  name  was  changed  to  "Congregational."  The 
original  members  were :  John  R.  Haynes,  Margaret  Haynes,  Will- 
iam Haynes,  Vine  Branch,  Abigail  Branch,  Betsey  Branch,  Eaton 
Branch,  Amanda  Branch,  Peter  Dopp,  Isabel  Dopp,  James  Dopp, 
Margaret  Dopp,  Harriet  Bateman,  Thomas  S.  Camp,  Elizabeth 
Camp,  Horace  Stimson,  Cynthia  M.  Stimson  and  Anna  Mellen. 
Rev.  Luther  Humphrey  was  the  first  pastor  of  the  new  church. 
Meetings  were  held  in  the  schoolhouse  and  in  the  Baptist  church 
until  1858,  when  the  society  built  a  commodious  brick  house  of 
worship  with  a  seating  capacity  of  300,  which  they  still  occupy. 
The  present  membership  is  sixty-five. 

A  Baptist  organization  was  effected  at  Paw  Paw  on  the  21st 
day  of  April,  1838,  under  the  name  of  the  First  Baptist  church 
of  La  Fayette.  In  1841,  at  a  meeting  held  near  the  village  of 
Lawrence,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Orrin  Sutton,  Peter  Clark  and  Simeon 
Brooks,  all  of  Lawrence,  were  received  into  membership  and  the 
name  of  the  church  was  changed  to  "Van  Buren  County  church, 
located  at  Paw  Paw  and  Brush  Creek."  The  following  resolution 
in  part,  adopted  at  that  meeting,  is  worthy  of  preservation  as  an 
expression  of  those  early  Christians  on  the  question  of  the  liquor 
traffic:  "We  believe  it  to  be  inconsistent  with  a  profession  of 
religion  to  vend  or  use  any  intoxicating  liquors,  except  as  a  medi- 
cine or  for  mechanical  purposes."    In  1851,  the  name  was  changed 

Vol.  T—  3fi. 


562  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

to  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Lawrence.  A  house  of  worship 
was  begun  in  1853  and  opened  for  services  the  next  year,  but  it 
was  not  dedicated  until  1865.  It  is  a  frame  structure  and  has  a 
seating  capacity  for  200  people. 

The  early  records  of  the  Methodist  church  are  not  to  be  found, 
if  any  were  ever  kept.  The  church  was  organized  somewhere  in 
the  forties  and  its  early  meetings  were  held  in  the  schoolhouse. 
When  the  village  district  built  a  new  school  building,  some  forty 
years  ago,  the  old  schoolhouse  became  the  property  of  the  Method- 
ists, remodeled  for  religious  purposes  and  used  for  such  for  a  con- 
siderable number  of  years.  As  the  society  increased  in  member- 
ship and  in  financial  ability,  however,  a  new,  modern  brick  house 
of  worship  was  built  with  seating  room  for  400  people,  one  of  the 
finest  church  structures  in  the  county.  The  present  membership 
of  the  church  is  about  150. 

The  Free  Methodists  have  a  church  building  capable  of  seating 
about  100  people.  The  organization  has  been  in  existence  since 
the  early  seventies,  but  has  never  had  a  large  membership.  At 
the  present  time  it  has  but  ten  members. 

The  Masonic  bodies  of  the  village  are  Rising  Sun  Lodge,  No. 
119,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  with  about  125  members; 
Lawrence  Chapter,  No.  93,  wTith  about  100  members;  Lawrence 
Council,  No.  43,  which  has  a  membership  of  about  140,  and  Law- 
rence Chapter,  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  No.  256,  with  about  150 
members. 

The  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  have  a  prosperous  lodge, 
Shady  Grove,  No.  499,  organized  in  1902,  with  117  members. 

Maple  Orove  Rebekah  Lodge,  No.  388,  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  was  organized  not  long  after  the  subordinate  lodge, 
and  has  been  prosperous  from  the  start.  It  has  about  seventy-five 
members. 

A  lodge  of  Modern  Woodmen  was  organized  in  1895  and  at 
present  has  eighty-two  members. 

Wadsworth  Post,  Grand  Army  of  Republic,  was  organized  in 
1882,  and  has  twenty-three  members. 

Wadsworth  Women's  Relief  Corps  was  organized  in  1889  and 
has  a  membership  of  thirty-two. 

Maple  Camp  of  Royal  Neighbors,  which  now  has  fifty-four  mem- 
bers, was  instituted  in  1897. 

A  lodge  of  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  was  instituted  in  1889 
and  has  a  present  membership  of  eighty-eight. 

The  Ladies  of  the  Maccabees  lodge  was  organized  in  1892; 
present  membership  eighty. 

Besides  the  foregoing  secret  organizations,  there  should  be  men- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  563 

tioned  the  Ladies  Longfellow  and  the  Woman's  Literary  clubs, 
each  of  which  has  about  forty  members ;  not  secret. 

Business  and  General  Features 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  business  establishments  in  the  vil- 
lage: Creamery,  cider  and  jelly  factory,  bakery,  harness  shop, 
garage,  wagon  shop,  blacksmith  shop,  planing  mill,  saw  and  head- 
ing mill,  flouring  mill,  pickle  factory,  elevator  (stock  company), 
canning  factory,  lumber  yard,  two  telephone  lines  (the  Kibbie 
and  the  Mutual),  two  department  stores,  two  hardware  stores, 
hotel  (the  Lawrence  House),  grocery  and  clothing  store,  drug 
store,  notion  store,  grocery,  crockery,  boot  and  shoe  store,  furni- 
ture and  undertaking  establishments,  implement  store,  trading 
company,  produce  and  coal  dealer,  two  cooper-shops,  livery,  two 
shoe-shops,  photograph  studio,  two  millinery  establishments,  meat 
market,  candy  kitchen,  bank  (Farmers  and  Merchants),  two  bar- 
ber shops,  newspaper  (the  Lawrence  Times),  real  estate  dealer, 
four  physicians  and  surgeons,  dentist,  veterinarian  and  two  pool 
rooms. 

The  village  has  a  fine  town  hall,  built  of  brick ;  an  excellent  sys- 
tem of  water  works  installed  in  March,  1894,  the  water  being 
supplied  by  wells  and  being  pure  and  of  excellent  quality; 
and  a  system  of  gas  lighting,  both  public  and  private,  was  in- 
stalled at  the  same  time.  The  village  likewise  has  a  base  ball  park 
and  an  excellent  team  of  amateur  players,  the  delight  of  the  local 
fans.  With  all  these  modern  accessories  and  improvements,  and 
with  her  hustling  business  men,  the  village  is  fully  abreast  of  the 
times.  Indeed,  the  towns  of  its  size  are  not  numerous  that  can 
compare  with  it  in  enterprise,  push  and  prosperity. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

TOWNSHIP  OF  PAW  PAW 

Original  Township  of  La  Fayette — Becomes  Paw  Paw  Town- 
ship— Lakes — The  Hardy  Pioneers — "Mr.  and  Mrs."  Pe-pe- 
yah — David  Woodman  's  Pioneer  Pictures — The  Paw  Paw 
Irrevocably  Crooked — Statistical,  Political,  Horticultural 
— Village  of  Paw  Paw. 

The  county  of  Van  Buren  was  first  described  and,  set  off  by  its 
present  metes  and  bounds  by  act  of  the  legislative  council  of  the 
territory  of  Michigan  approved  October  29,  1829,  and  it  thus  re- 
mained without  further  organization,  except  that  by  another  act 
of  the  same  year  it  was  attached  to  and  made  a  part  of  the  county 
of  Cass  and  as  such  remained  until  its  complete  organization  by  act 
of  the  legislature  of  the  state  approved  March  18,  1837. 

Original  Township  of  La  Fayette 

Two  years  previous  to  this  latter  act,  the  legislative  council  de- 
creed that  the  entire  county  of  Van  Buren  should  be  a  township 
by  itself  and  was  given  the  name  of  that  illustrious  patriot,  the 
Marquis  de  La  Fayette,  and  that  the  first  township  meeting  should 
be  held  at  the  schoolhouse  near  Paw  Paw  Mills.  On  the  4th  day 
of  April,  1836,  at  this,  the  first  township  meeting  that  was  ever 
held  in  Van  Buren  county,  Peter  Gremps  was  chosen  as  supervisor, 
Daniel  O.  Dodge  as  township  clerk,  and  Edward  Shultz  as  collector. 

By  act  of  the  legislature  of  the  newly  created  state,  approved 
March  11,  1837,  township  number  three  south,  of  range  number 
fourteen  west,  was  made  one  of  the  seven  original  townships  into 
which  the  county  was  divided  at  its  organization  and  retained  the 
name  of  La  Fayette.  This  is  the  same  territory  that  is  embraced 
within  the  present  township  of  Paw  Paw,  except  that  by  resolu- 
tion of  the  board  of  supervisors  at  their  October  session  of  1871, 
they  detached  section  thirty-one  and  the  west  half  of  section  thirty- 
two  from  the  township  of  Waverly  and  attached  the  same  to  Paw 
Paw,  thus  making  it  the  largest  township  in  the  county. 

564 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  565 

Becomes  Paw  Paw  Township 

The  name  La  Fayette  was  retained  until  it  was  changed  by  leg- 
islative enactment  in  1867,  to  Paw  Paw,  taking  the  name  from  the 
village,  which  was  named  from  the  river,  and  the  river  from  the 
pawpaw  fruit  and  trees  that  formerly  grew  in  great  abundance 
along  the  banks  of  the  stream. 

The  township  is  watered  by  the  Paw  Paw  river,  the  west  branch 
of  which  enters  the  township  on  the  south  side  of  section  thirty- 
three  and  flows  in  an  easterly  and  northerly  course  to  the  village 
of  Paw  Paw  where  it  unites  with  the  east  branch  of  the  same  river, 
and  continues  its  flow  northward,  leaving  the  township  near  its 
north-east  corner,  whence  it  takes  a  westerly  course  across  the 
township  of  Waverly,  being  joined  on  its  course  by  another  stream, 
the  north  branch  of  the  river,  and  again  entering  the  township 
of  Paw  Paw,  it  flows  across  that  portion  that  was  annexed  from  the 
township  of  "Waverly,  as  above  noted. 

Lakes 

Paw  Paw  has  a  number  of  tiie  handsomest  of  the  numerous  lakes 
in  the  county,  the  principal  ones  being  Maple,  Three  Mile,  Eagle 
and  Lake  Cora,  or  as  it  was  originally  named  and  is  more  fre- 
quently called,  Four  Mile  lake,  and  Pugsley's  lake. 

Maple  lake  is  an  artificial  lake,  created  by  a  dam  across  the  Paw 
Paw  river.  It  lies  partly  within  the  limits  of  the  village  of  Paw 
Paw.  It  is  irregular  in  shape,  with  hard  banks  all  around  it  and 
is  nearly  two  miles  in  length,  with  the  Paw  Paw  river  flowing 
through  it.  It  is  situated  on  sections  twelve  and  one  in  Paw  Paw 
and  section  thirty-six  in  Antwerp.  The  citizens  of  Paw  Paw,  with 
good  reason,  claim  it  to  be  the  handsomest  body  of  water  in  Van 
Buren  county. 

Three  Mile  lake  is  about  a  mile  and  a  quarter  long  by  a  mile  in 
width.  It  lies  on  portions  of  five  different  sections,  sixteen,  twenty, 
twenty-one,  twenty-eight  and  twenty-nine.  In  recent  years  it  has 
become  a  favorite  summer  resort  and  numerous  beautiful  cottages 
have  been  built  along  its  finely  shaded  eastern  shore. 

Lake  Cora  covers  portions  of  sections  eighteen  and  nineteen  and 
is  also  another  highly  prized  place  of  resort.  Many  handsome 
summer  cottages  adorn  its  high  wooded  banks  all  of  which  are  occu- 
pied in  summer  time,  largely  by  people  from  Chicago  and  other 
cities  who  have  purchased  building  lots  on  the  margin  of  the  lake. 

Eagle  lake,  which  covers  a  part  of  sections  twenty-nine,  thirty, 
thirty-one  and  thirty-two,  is  another  pretty  body  of  water  and  is 
also  a  place  of  summer  resort. 

Pugsley's  lake  is  on  the  north  line  of  the  township  and  is  situated 


566  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

on  portions  of  sections  two  and  three.  On  the  east  side  of  this 
Jake  is  another  popular  summer  resort  known  as  Lake  Park,  which 
is  largely  patronized  by  local  people  as  well  as  by  people  from 
abroad. 

All  of  these  lakes  are  well  stocked  with  fish  of  various  varieties, 
bass,  perch,  pickerel  and  sunfish,  popularly  called  ' '  blue  gills, ' '  be- 
ing the  principal  kinds,  and  wThich  afford  fine  diversion  to  such  as 
take  pleasure  in  piscatorial  sports,  and  who  does  not? 

The  Hardy  Pioneers 

In  1832,  Rodney  Hinckley  and  family,  from  the  state  of  New 
York,  located  on  a  tract  of  land  now  covered  by  the  northern  part 
of  the  village  of  Paw  Paw.  Mr.  Hinckley  was  a  kind  of  tinker,  a 
handy  man  with  tools,  and  he  erected  a  slab  shanty  calling  it  a 
blacksmith  shop.  Previous  to  this  a  sawmill  had  been  built  by  out- 
side parties,  wThich  was  situated  near  where  the  Briggs  mill  elec- 
tric power  is  now7  located. 

Not  long  afterward  this  mill  property  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Lyman  Daniels  of  Schoolcraft  and  Peter  Gremps  of  the  state  of 
New  York.  After  the  purchase  of  the  mill  property  and  a  quan- 
tity of  land  in  the  vicinity,  Mr.  Gremps  returned  to  the  east,  where 
he  remained  until  1835,  when  he  came  back  to  Paw  Paw,  bringing 
his  family  with  him. 

In  1833  Enosh  L.  Barrett  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  Paw 
Paw.  Mr.  Barrett  put  up  a  small  frame  dwelling — probably  the 
first  one  in  the  county — which,  in  1835,  he  sold  to  Dr.  Warner,  who 
moved  it  to  a  place  adjoining  the  village  of  Paw  Paw  on  the  east, 
just  across  the  line  in  the  township  of  Antwerp,  where  it  is  yet 
standing  and  occupied  as  a  dwelling  house.  Mr.  Barrett  took  es- 
pecial pride  in  oxen  and  one  time  owned  a  * '  breaking  team, ' '  con- 
sisting of  nine  yoke  of  cattle  with  which  he  yearly  broke  a  large 
acreage  of  new  lands.  As  there  were  no  pastures,  except  the  wild 
ranges,  breaking  teams  had  to  be  turned  loose  at  night  that  they 
might  forage  in  the  forest.  A  large  bell  was  strapped  around  the 
neck  of  one  of  the  oxen,  by  means  of  which  the  team  could  be  lo- 
cated in  the  morning,  possibly  a  couple  of  miles,  more  or  less,  distant. 
It  certainly  was  a  "man's  work"  to  tramp  miles  through  the  wet 
brush  in  the  early  morning  hours  and  get  the  team  together  for  an- 
other day's  plowing. 

Few  of  the  present  generation  have  ever  seen  a  "breaking  team" 
of  from  six,  eight  or  ten  yoke  of  oxen,  hitched  to  a  mammoth  break- 
ing plow,  one  man  to  hold  and  one  to  drive.  The  motive  power  was 
slow  but  sure  and  strong.  It  took  power  to  turn  for  the  first  time 
the  virgin  soil  that  had  lain  in  a  state  of  nature  for  untold  ages, 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  567 

filled  as  it  was  with  the  tough  roots  of  trees  and  " grubs' '  as  the 
young  second  growth  oak  and  other  young  trees  were  called. 
And  to  hold  and  guide  the  plow  was  a  task  that  tried  the  strength 
and  muscle  of  the  hardiest  of  the  hardy  among  those  early 
settlers.  The  breaking  up  of  this  new  land  was  a  complete  and  per- 
fect exemplification  of  the  proverb  that 

' '  He  who  by  the  plow  would  thrive, 
Must  either  hold  the  plow,  or  drive. " 

Captain  Barrett,  as  he  was  known,  drove  the  first  team  from  Paw 
Paw  to  Little  Prairie  Ronde  and  while  returning  had  the  exciting 
experience  of  being  chased  by  a  panther.  He  also  drove  the  first 
team  from  Paw  Paw  to  Breedsville.  After  living  a  few  years  in 
the  village,  he  located  on  his  farm  north  of  the  town,  subsequently 
settling  on  section  thirty-six. 

In  1833  John  Agard  located  on  section  one  east  of  the  Paw  Paw 
river,  where  he  established  a  trading  post  and  did  a  thriving  busi- 
ness trading  with  the  Indians  for  furs,  maple  sugar,  etc.  He  had 
on  his  place  a  dozen  or  more  log  huts  in  which  he  stored  his  goods, 
and  as  long  as  he  lived  his  post  was  a  famous  Indian  resort  and 
usually  presented  a  busy  scene.  In  1835  Mr.  Agard  died  suddenly 
of  heart  disease  and  was  buried  on  his  claim. 

In  1833  William  Gunn  and  William  Ackley  settled  on  section 
one,  south  of  Agard 's,  near  the  brook  on  the  Allegan  road  north 
of  the  village  of  Paw  Paw,  which  was  the  outlet  to  a  small  lake  on 
section  six,  in  the  township  of  Antwerp.  The  brook  bore  the  name 
of  Ackley  brook  and  the  lake  the  name  of  Ackley  lake,  until  they 
were  merged  into  Maple  lake  a  few  years  ago  by  the  erection  of  the 
dam  across  the  river  below  the  mouth  of  the  brook.  It  wras  Ackley 
and  Rodney  Hinckley  who  dug  the  race  for  the  "big  mill"  known 
as  the  Paw  Paw  Flouring  Mill,  in  1838,  and  which  is  still  one  of  the 
thriving  enterprises  of  the  village  of  Paw  Paw. 

In  1833  or  1834  Archibald  Buys  settled  a  short  distance  north- 
east of  the  village  on  land  afterward  owned  by  the  late  Hon. 
Jonathan  J.  Woodman.  Mr.  Buys  was  a  shoemaker  by  occupation 
and  was  the  first  of  that  trade  to  settle  in  the  township.  His  son, 
Simeon  Buys,  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  Paw  Paw  and  is  yet 
a  resident  of  the  township  where  he  has  resided  all  his  life,  except 
Avhen  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war.  He  is  now  seventy-five  years  of 
age. 

In  1834  Daniel  0.  Dodge  opened  a  tavern  on  what  is  now  block 
No.  7,  of  the  village  of  Paw  Paw.  He  began  business  in  a  small, 
rough  building,  which  he  subsequently  replaced  with  quite  a  com- 
modious structure,  which,  in  these  modern  days,  would  be  digni- 
fied as  a  hotel,  although  in  those  primitive  times  it  was  simply  a 


568  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

tavern— " only  that  and  nothing  more."  Two  years  later  his  wife 
died,  hers  being  the  first  death  in  the  village  and  the  second  in  the 
township.  Some  years  afterward  the  tavern  was  burned  and  Mr. 
Dodge  went  out  of  business. 

In  June,  1835,  John  Lyle  and  John  K.  Pugsley,  who  lived  near 
Utica,  New  York,  started  together  for  that  great  unknown  region 
known  at  that  time  as  "the  West,"  intending  to  look  for  a  loca- 
tion in  the  state  of  Illinois.  They  journeyed  by  way  of  the  lake  to 
Detroit,  whence  they  traveled  on  foot  over  the  Territorial  road  to 
Paw  Paw.  Just  before  they  reached  Abbe's  tavern  east  of  Paw 
Paw,  in  the  township  of  Antwerp,  they  overtook  Edwin  Barnum, 
who  was  bound  for  that  place.  They  stopped  at  Dodge's  tavern 
for  the  night.  Barnum  remained  in  Paw  Paw,  and  after  a  while 
settled  on  lands  a  mile  and  a  half  west  of  the  village,  and  opened 
up  "bachelor's  hall,"  while  Lyle  and  Pugsley  kept  on  for  Illinois, 
skirting  the  lake  and  finally  reaching  Chicago.  They  were  not 
pleased  with  the  appearance  of  the  prairie  country,  around  Chi- 
cago and  came  back  to  Paw  Paw  where  they  both  took  up  govern- 
ment lands  on  section  two. 

Pugsley,  who  was  a  bachelor,  proceeded  at  once  to  build  a  cabin, 
while  Lyle  returned  to  the  east  for  his  family,  which  he  brought  to 
Paw  Paw  in  1836,  moving  into  Pugsley 's  cabin,  where  they  found 
Hugh  Jones  who  was  in  Pugsley 's  employ  and  who  shortly  after- 
ward entered  a  tract  of  land  just  west  of  Pugsley 's,  where  he  lived 
until  his  death. 

Pugsley 's  cabin  consisted  of  but  one  room,  but  within  that  room 
Pugsley,  Jones,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lyle  and  nine  children,  thirteen  per- 
sons in  all,  managed  to  live  until  Lyle  could  put  up  a  cabin  for 
himself. 

Both  Pugsley  and  Lyle  remained  residents  of  Paw  Paw  until 
they  died.  Lyle  died  on  the  4th  day  of  December,  1869,  aged  sev- 
enty-eight years,  and  Pugsley  passed  away  January  29,  1882,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-five  years. 

The  Lyle  children,  ten  in  number  (one  having  been  born  in  Mich- 
igan), five  sons  and  five  daughters,  were  all  among  the  most  highly 
respected  and  influential  people  of  the  township. 

Edwin  Barnum,  above  mentioned,  who  married  a  daughter  of 
John  Lyle,  became  a  man  of  prominence,  not  only  in  the  town  but 
in  the  county.  He  was  a  minister  of  the  Christian  church,  and 
served  the  county  from  1866  to  1872  as  county  treasurer.  Politi- 
cally, he  was  a  stalwart  Republican  and  was  regarded  as  one  of  the 
leaders  of  that  party  in  the  county.  He  died  at  Paw  Paw  on  24th 
day  of  August,  1875,  aged  sixty-one  years. 

Anthony  Labadie  and  his  wife  came  to  Paw  Paw  in  1836  and 
during  the  next  year  lived   in   a   house   previously   occupied   by 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  569 

Lawson  Grout,  who  moved  to  section  twenty-two,  where  he  died. 
Mr.  Labadie  and  his  wife  settled  on  a  farm  on  section  twenty-two, 
belonging  to  Williamson  Mason,  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Labadie,  where 
they  resided  until  1842,  when  Labadie  purchased  a  farm  of  Peter 
Gremps,  on  section  twenty-one,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in 
1860. 

In  June,  1835,  Asa  G.  Hinckley  of  New  York,  with  his  wife  and 
five  children  came  to  the  township  of  Paw  Paw  and  settled  on  sec- 
tion fourteen,  the  land  having  been  previously  entered  by  his  father, 
Elder  Jonathan  Hinckley,  who  came  a  few  months  before  and  set- 
tled in  Breedsville.  In  1846  Asa  moved  to  a  farm  near  Eagle 
Lake,  where  he  died  in  1871. 

In  the  spring  of  1835,  there  were  seven  families  living  in  La- 
Fayette — now  Paw  Paw.  In  1836  eleven  families  settled  in  the 
township  and  the  total  number  of  inhabitants  was  between  seventy 
and  eighty. 

In  the  summer  of  1835  Richard  Hutchins,  with  his  wife  and  two 
children,  located  on  section  two,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  which 
occurred  in  1870.  Henry  W.  Rhodes  was  also  among  the  settlers 
of  that  same  year.     He  located  on  section  eight. 

John  Barber,  a  Vermonter,  located  on  section  eight  in  1836,  and 
died  two  years  later. 

Loyal  Crane  and  family,  from  Cayuga,  New  York,  settled  in 
Paw  Paw  in  1837,  his  father  having  been  in  the  town  the  previous 
year  and  made  a  location  of  land.  Loyal  settled  on  sections  ten  and 
eleven  where  he  lived  until  1865,  when  he  took  up  his  residence  in 
the  village  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  widow, 
Jane  Crane,  his  second  wife,  is  yet  a  resident  of  Paw  Paw.  Mr. 
Crane's  father,  James  Crane,  became  a  settler  of  the  town  in  1840, 
and  kept  a  store  in  the  village  in  1842.  He  died  in  1869  while  on 
a  visit  to  friends  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania. 

Alonzo  Crane  located  on  section  ten  in  1840  and  died  there  in 
1847. 

Oramel  Butler  came  from  western  New  York  in  1836  and  made 
his  home  on  Prairie  Ronde  until  1843,  when  he  removed  to  Paw 
Paw  and  settled  on  section  ten.  His  son,  "William  K.,  settled  on 
section  eight.  The  father  died  in  Paw  Paw  on  the  12th  day  of 
September,  1869,  aged  eighty-three  years.  The  son  died  on  the 
4th  day  of  June,  1893,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight. 

Nathaniel  M.  Pugsley,  under  the  advice  of  his  uncle,  John  K., 
who  was  already  located  in  Paw  Paw,  came  directly  from  England, 
his  native  country,  and  located  on  section  ten.  Subsequently,  he 
removed  to  the  village  of  Paw  Paw,  where  he  lived  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  on  the  21st  day  of  November,  1893,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  years.     His  brother,  Henry  M.  Pugsley,  settled  on 


570  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

section  seven  and  remained  a  resident  of  the  township  for  the 
remainder  of  his  life.    He  died  April  22,  1903. 

Albert  R.  Wildey  first  came  to  Paw  Paw  in  1835  and  eventually 
settled  on  section  nine.  He  was  a  man  of  some  prominence,  both 
in  business  and  political  circles.  He  died  on  the  20th  day  of  May, 
1904,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years.  Two  of  his  sons  are  still 
residents  of  this  vicinity — William  C.  Wildey,  who  is  the  manager 
of  the  Paw  Paw  Fruit  Growers'  Union,  and  Edwin  A.,  who  was  at 
one  time  commissioner  of  the  State  Land  Office. 

Benjamin  F.  Murdock  came  to  Kalamazoo  in  1836  and  to  Paw 
Paw  in  1842.  Mr.  Murdock  was  a  school  teacher  in  his  youthful 
days.  When  he  came  to  Paw  Paw  he  worked  at  the  carpenter's 
trade.  He  died  in  the  village  of  Paw  Paw,  on  the  29th  day  of 
November,  1895,  aged  eighty  years.  His  widow  still  resides  in  the 
village  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty -seven. 

Abraham  Ball  came  to  Pawr  Paw  in  1837  and  started  a  brick  yard 
on  the  farm  of  Edwin  Barnum,  the  first  attempt  at  the  manufacture 
of  brick  in  the  county.  He  followed  that  business,  making  a  most 
excellent  article,  until  1849.  He  died  in  1855,  while  on  a  visit  to 
Coldwater,  Michigan. 

Edmond  Hayes,  a  tailor,  and  Rufus  Currier,  a  carpenter,  made  a 
trip,  from  Pennsylvania  to  Paw  Paw  in  1836,  returning  east  the 
same  year.  They  were  so  favorably  impressed  with  the  country  that 
in  the  fall  of  1838,  accompanied  by  William  H.  Lee,  they  returned  to 
Van  Buren  county.  They  proceeded  by  way  of  the  lake  to  Detroit 
and  then  by  the  most  primitive  means  of  locomotion,  their  own 
stalwart  legs,  to  Paw  Paw.  Hayes  and  Currier  remained  in  the 
village  to  ply  their  respective  trades,  while  Lee  went  to  Asa  G. 
Hinckley's  place  and  engaged  to  work  for  him — threshing  wheat 
and  having  for  his  remuneration  every  eighth  bushel.  Of  course 
there  were  no  threshing  machines  in  those  days,  the  usual  method 
being  to  prepare  a  smooth  place  of  earth,  spread  out  the  bundles 
of  grain  thereon  and  then  use  the  flail  and  "elbow  grease"  to  ac- 
complish the  work.  Lee  returned  to  Pennsylvania  in  the  winter 
of  1839  for  his  family,  coming  back  to  Paw  Paw  in  the  month  of. 
February  of  the  same  year,  making  the  entire  journey  by  wagon 
and  arriving  at  his  destination  with  a  foot  and  a  half  of  snow  on 
the  ground.  Mr.  Lee  departed  this  life  on  the  22d  day  of  February, 
1883.  His  father,  James  Lee,  and  his  mother,  and  his  brother, 
Uriel  C.  Lee,  came  to  Paw  Paw  in  1841.  The  father  died  in  1852. 
The  brother  Uriel  C,  died  October  28,  1894. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  571 

"Mr.  and  Mrs."  Pe-pe-yah 

Mr.  Lee  related  the  following  anecdote  of  his  early  life  in  Paw 
Paw:  He  was  accustomed  to  get  sugar  for  his  family  use  by 
doing  plowing  for  Pe-pe-yah,  an  old  Indian,  who  was  said  to  have 
been  at  one  time  a  prominent  Pottawattamie  chief,  and  who  had 
a  farm  on  section  twenty-two,  which  is  known  to  this  day  as  the 
Pe-pe-yah  farm.  Some  of  the  Indians  owned  small  pieces  of  land, 
but  Pe-pe-yah  was  about  the  only  one  that  approached  the  dignity 
of  being  a  farmer,  and  his  operations  w7ere  confined  principally  to 
making  maple  sugar  and  growing  small  crops  of  corn.  Lee  was 
accustomed  to  take  his  dinner  with  him  when  he  went  to  work  for 
the  old  chief.  One  day,  at  noon,  he  discovered  that  the  dogs  had 
got  the  start  of  him  and  had  devoured  his  luncheon.  Going  to  the 
"wigwam"  he  told  Mrs.  Pe-pe-yah  that  her  dogs  had  stolen  his  din- 
ner and  that  he  must  have  some  from  her.  Handing  him  a  wooden 
ladle,  she  pointed  to  a  kettle  of  boiled  corn  and  told  him  to  help 
himself.  Pretty  soon  the  dogs  joined  him  in  his  repast.  He  un- 
dertook to  drive  them  away,  but  they  would  not  be  driven.  Lee 
was  hungry,  and  the  lady  (?)  of  the  house  assured  him  that  it 
was  customary  for  the  dogs  to  eat  from  the  same  dish  as  the  fam- 
ily, and  so  he  proceeded  to  finish  his  dinner,  regardless  of  his  un- 
accustomed and  unwelcome  messmates. 

When  the  government  was  endeavoring  to  procure  the  removal 
of  the  Indians  of  this  vicinity  to  the  west,  Pe-pe-yah  conceived  the 
idea  that  he  would  be  compelled  to  remove,  despite  the  fact  that 
he  was  a  landholder,  and  fled  to  Canada  with  his  wife  and  child. 
He  died  there  and  his  widow  returned  to  the  farm  with  her  child. 
She  afterward  sold  the  place  to  John  R.  Baker,  a  Paw  Paw  lawyer, 
and  moved  to  the  township  of  Hartford,  where  there  were  consid- 
erable numbers  of  the  Pottawattamies.  Some  of  their  descendants 
still  reside  in  the  same  vicinity,  but  they  have  become  thoroughly 
civilized  and  are  now  recognized  as  citizens. 

David  Woodman,  a  brother  of  Elder  Joseph  Woodman  settled  in 
Antwerp  in  1838,  afterward  becoming  a  resident  of  Paw  Paw  where 
he  resided  until  he  was  about  ninety  years  of  age  and  then  re- 
moved to  Kansas  where  he  died,  being  at  the  time  of  his  death 
within  a  few  weeks  of  one  hundred  years  of  age. 

David  Woodman  's  Pioneer  Pictures 

David  Woodman  2d,  as  he  was  called  during  the  life  of  his  Uncle 
David,  came  to  Van  Buren  county  in  May,  1835,  and  was  at  first 
a  resident  of  the  township  of  Antwerp,  where  his  father,  Elder 
Joseph  Woodman,  had  located  on  section  7  of  that  township.  The 
young  man,  however,  soon  struck  out  for  himself.    His  experience, 


572  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

told  in  his  own  words,  as  follows,  was  not  different  from  that  of 
others  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  township. 

' '  I  commenced, ' '  said  Mr.  Woodman  in  a  paper  read  before  the 
Van  Buren  County  Pioneer  Association,  June  14,  1899,  "on  what 
is  now  my  old  farm  on  the  west  side  of  Three  Mile  lake,  in  the 
spring  of  1839,  and  made  the  first  beginning  in  southwest  Paw 
Paw,  and  I  have  had  some  experience  in  keeping  'bachelor's  hall.' 
While  it  was  not  the  most  desirable  way  of  living,  in  some  cases  it 
became  a  necessity;  and  so  the  young  man  marches  bravely  into 
the  forest  where  he  erects  his  little  cabin.  As  the  sound  of  his 
axe  and  the  crash  of  falling  timber  resounds  through  the  forest, 
they  seem  to  arouse  the  occupants  of  the  wilderness,  who  warn  him 
to  desist  from  disturbing  their  peaceful  abode.  The  owl  wants 
to  know  'Who,  Who'  this  intruder  is?  The  partridge  notifies  him 
to  '  Quit. '  The  old  moderator,  Mr.  Bullfrog,  seems  to  say  '  Get  out. 
Get  out.'  The  catbird  says  'You  can't  stay  here.'  The  crows  says 
'  If  you  do,  I  '11  pull  your  corn. '  The  ague  promises  to  shake  him, 
and  the  fever  to  roast  him,  and  the  mosquitoes  are  on  hand  to 
serenade  him;  immediately  afterwards  sending  in  their  'bills.' 
Finally,  the  jay  birds  call  out  'Caleb,  Caleb,'  and  the  blackbirds 
make  friends  with  him  by  calling  him  'Uncle  Ebert,'  after  which 
he  is  lulled  to  sleep  by  the  sweet  notes  of  the  whippoorwill. " 

"The  cabin  of  our  bachelor  was  usually  adorned  with  a  mud 
chimney  and  furnished  with  a  wild-cat  bedstead,  a  rough  table, 
a  stool,  perhaps  a  chair,  a  kettle,  a  frying  pan,  tea  kettle,  *  Dutch' 
oven,  a  few  dishes  and  bed  clothes,  all  of  which  completed  his  house- 
hold outfit.  He  had  his  keen  axe  and  knew  how  to  use  it.  This 
lone  man  was  a  kind  of  Robinson  Crusoe.  He  was  monarch  of  all 
his  surroundings;  he  was  'boss'  and  all  hands.  He  was  chief  cook, 
housekeeper,  chambermaid,  wash  woman,  barber  and  cobbler.  Let 
not  the  young  man  of  today  imagine  there  was  much  fun  in  swing- 
ing the  axe  all  day,  except  while  doing  his  housework,  and  I 
opine  he  would  cry  out  '  may  the  good  Lord  deliver  me. ' 

' '  There  being  no  necessity  for  highways  at  that  time,  there  were 
none  laid  out.  The  first  settlers  were  guided  to  their  cabins  by 
' blazed'  trees  or  by  following  some  Indian  trail. 

"But  the  glory  of  conquering  the  wilderness,  belonged  not  to 
the  men  alone.  Their  wives  and  children  stood  bravely  by,  ready 
to  lend  a  helping  hand,  or  to  submit  cheerfully  to  the  hardships 
they  had  to  encounter.  If  it  was  necessary  that  the  family  should 
live  in  a  little  log  cabin,  miles  from  neighbors,  contentment  dwelt 
there  also.  If  they  had  to  climb  a  ladder  to  reach  the  loft  in  their 
humble  dwelling,  it  was  all  the  same  as  though  they  ascended  by 
a  winding  stair.  If  they  reposed  on  'wildcat'  bedsteads,  their  sleep 
was  just  as  sweet  as  though  they  rested  on  walnut  or  mahogany. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  Rl'TREN  COUNTY  573 

If  they  warmed  their  cabins  by  huge  fireplaces  and  cooked  their 
frugal  meals  over  a  blazing  fire,  the  food  was  just  as  tasty  as  if 
cooked  on  a  forty  dollar  range.  If  the  kitchen  had  to  answer  the 
purpose  of  a  parlor  and  often  a  sleeping  room,  it  was  a  necessity 
and  was  satisfactory.  Our  musical  instruments  were  of  God's 
own  invention,  our  wives  and  children,  and  their  music  was  the 
most  cheering  within  the  hearing  of  those  early  pioneers.  If  their 
children  were  rocked  in  home-made  cradles,  or  toted  about  in  a 
vehicle  costing  a  couple  of  hours'  labor,  they  were  fully  up  to 
those  of  the  present  day  in  intelligence  and  far  ahead  in  vigor. 
The  wives  of  the  pioneers  were  their  own  cooks,  chambermaids, 
dress-makers  and  milliners;  they  did  their  own  laundering,  were 
proficient  in  the  use  of  the  spinning  wheel,  loom  and  other  house- 
hold utensils  of  that  early  day. 

"If  it  was  necessary  for  the  wife  or  daughter  to  walk  four  or 
five  miles  to  do  shopping,  visit  neighbors  or  attend  Divine  wor- 
ship, they  were  both  ready  and  willing  to  perform  the  task.  Al- 
though the  pioneer  schoolhouse  might  be  a  log  cabin,  situated  in 
the  forest  or  on  the  plain,  the  pupils  made  good  progress  in  their 
studies,  and,  although  those  rude  structures  were  used  as  houses 
of  worship,  no  doubt  the  worship  was  just  as  acceptable  to  the 
Heavenly  Father  as  that  from  gilded  pulpits  accompanied  by  the 
melodious  sound  of  organs,  horns  and  fiddles.  It  was  a  common 
practice  for  some  Christian  families  in  the  township  to  go  five 
miles  or  more  with  ox  teams  to  attend  Sunday  worship. 

k '  Previous  to  the  completion  of  the  Paw  Paw  mills  in  1839,  Flow- 
er-field, Comstock  and  then  Kalamazoo  were  the  nearest  grist  mills. 
1  often  went  to  the  old  current  wheel  mill  located  on  the  east  side 
of  the  Kalamazoo  river,  in  the  then  little  village  of  Bronson, 
usually  making  the  trip  with  oxen  in  two  days.  The  mill  with  its 
splashing  wheel  disappeared  more  than  fifty  years  ago. 

"The  sickly  season  of  1838  was  the  severest  ordeal  the  early 
settlers  had  to  endure.  Sickness  prevailed  to  an  alarming  extent, 
until  there  were  not  enough  well  people  to  properly  care  for  the 
suffering  ones,  and  one  after  another  was  gathered  in  by  the 
grim  reaper.  It  was  during  that  year  that  the  land  for  the  'Old 
Cemetery '  in  the  north  part  of  the  village  was  purchased  and  pre- 
pared for  the  reception  of  those  who  had  finished  their  labors  in 
this  then  wilderness  country.  I  recognize  a  few  persons  in  this 
audience  who  passed  through  that  trying  season.  Though  young 
then,  they  are  old  now,  for  that  was  sixty-one  years  ago,  and  the 
youth  of  that  period — the  few  that  remain — are  the  old  pioneers 
of  today." 

Mr.  Woodman  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  farmers  of 
Van  Buren  county  and  at  one  time,  when  the  Greenback  party 


574  HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

was  in  the  zenith  of  its  strength,  he  was  chosen  as  its  candidate  for 
governor  of  the  state  of  Michigan,  but,  as  a  matter  of  course,  failed 
of  an  election,  Michigan  Republicans  being  too  strongly  entrenched 
to  be  ousted. 

Jason  Woodman,  one  of  the  associate  editors  of  this  work,  a  son 
of  David  Woodman,  is  prominent  in  the  order  of  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry and  was  a  member  of  the  state  senate  for  four  years.  He 
is  a  graduate  of  the  Michigan  Agricultural  College  and  is  a  scien- 
tific and  successful  agriculturist.  His  elder  brother,  Edson  Wood- 
man, is  a  Civil  war  veteran,  and  has  been  a  noted  breeder  of  Per- 
cheron  horses. 

Others  who  were  not  among  the  earliest  settlers,  but  yet  came 
early  enough  to  be  called  pioneers  were  John  Sherrod,  Jonas  Har- 
rison, Henry  Wilson,  Philip  Sherrod,  and  probably  others  whose 
names  are  not  now  recalled. 

The  Paw  Paw  Irrevocably  Crookep 

Before  the  days  of  railroads  the  subject  of  water  transportation 
between  Paw  Paw  and  Lake  Michigan  was  a  matter  of  importance. 
The  Paw  Paw  river  was  utilized  for  this  purpose  after  a  fashion 
and  different  plans  and  schemes  were  devised  to  make  that  stream 
a  navigable  river.  Early  settlers  eventually  went  so  far  as  to 
dream  of  some  day  seeing  the  river  made  a  highway  for  steam- 
boats. The  legislative  council  of  1833  for  the  purpose  of  promot- 
ing access  to  the  "forks  of  the  river' '  between  the  villages  of  Paw 
Paw  and  Lawrence,  which  was  then  supposed  to  be  the  head  of 
navigation,  authorized  the  construction  of  roads  from  that  point 
to  different  places  in  Van  Buren,  Cass,  Kalamazoo  and  Barry  coun- 
ties. The  "landing"  in  the  township  of  Lawrence  afterward  be- 
came a  place  from  which  considerable  freight  was  shipped  down 
the  river  to  St.  Joseph.  Probably  there  is  not  a  more  crooked 
stream  in  the  state  of  Michigan  than  the  Paw  Paw  river,  and 
while  it  is  but  thirty-five  miles  by  rail  to  that  city  from  Paw  Paw, 
it  is  probably  more  than  three  times  that  distance  by  way  of  the 
river.  Feeble  efforts  were  at  one  time  made  to  straighten  the  stream, 
but  nothing  was  of  importance  accomplished  except  to  use  up  the 
appropriation  of  public  lands  made  for  that  purpose. 

In  1840  Isaac  W.  Willard  built  two  large  flatboats  and  loaded 
them  with  flour  at  Paw  Paw  and  sent  them  down  the  river.  One 
of  these  boats  was  named  the  "Daniel  Buckley' '  and  was  com- 
manded by  Capt.  A.  R.  Wildey,  the  other  was  called  the  "Wave" 
and  was  placed  in  charge  of  William  H.  Hurlbut.  They  succeeded 
in  making  the  trip,  but  the  difficulties  encountered  and  the  time 
occupied  made  the  venture  an  unremunerative  one.     Other  sim- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  575 

ilar  attempts  were  made  from  time  to  time,  but  the  traffic  was 
eventually  abandoned  as  being  unprofitable.  It  may  well  be 
imagined  that  the  journey  down  the  stream  when  there  was  a  fair 
stage  of  wrater  could  be  made  with  comparative  ease,  but  the  labor 
of  poling  the  heavy  boats  back  to  Paw  Paw  against  the  swift  cur- 
rent must  have  been  exceedingly  tedious  and  severe.  And  so  the 
crooked  Paw  Paw  remains  and  is  likely  to  remain,  a  beautiful, 
meandering  stream  bordered  with  forests  and  fertile  fields,  with 
vineyards  and  orchards  and  an  occasional  water  power.  The 
writer  speaks  with  knowledge  of  its  beauties,  as  he  has  traversed 
it  from  Paw  Paw  to  its  mouth,  where  it  empties  into  the  St.  Joe 
river,  almost  at  the  shore  of  Michigan's  great  lake. 

Statistical,  Political,  Horticultural 

The  amount  of  taxes  spread  upon  the  roll  of  the  township  in 
1839  was  $530.98.  The  entire  valuation  of  the  township,  includ- 
ing the  village,  was  the  sum  of  $53,540. 

This  valuation  wTas  divided  as  follows :  Resident  farm  and  per- 
sonal, $15,091 ;  village  property,  $9,914 ;  non-resident  realty, 
$27,725. 

In  1911  the  assessed  valuation  of  the  township,  including  the 
village,  was  $1,555,800.  Paw  Paw  stands  at  the  head  of  the  list 
of  townships  in  the  county,  not  including  the  city  of  South  Haven, 
in  point  of  wealth,  being  assessed  at  $358,000  more  than  the  town- 
ship, of  Hartford  which  ranks  as  second.  The  taxes  spread  on  the 
roll  for  the  same  year  were  $32,793.81.  These  figures  show  that 
while  the  valuation  of  the  township  has  increased  almost  thirty- 
fold  in  the  last  seventy-two  years,  the  taxes  have  increased  sixty- 
fold.  In  other  words,  the  tax  rate,  in  proportion  to  valuation,  has 
doubled.  This  is  accounted  for  in  some  degree  by  reason  of  the 
liberal  sums  voted  by  the  people  for  public  improvements  for  which 
they  are  now  paying. 

According  to  the  census  of  1910,  the  township  also  stands  at 
the  head  of  the  list  as  to  population,  the  number  of  its  inhabitants 
being  given  as  2,779 ;  Bangor  being  second  with  2,424. 

Since  its  organization  the  following  named  gentlemen  have  served 
the  township  in  the  capacity  of  supervisor:  D.  O.  Dodge,  Peter 
Gremps,  Joshua  Bangs,  J.  H.  Simmons,  S.  J.  Foote,  J.  B.  Barnes, 
J.  K.  Pugsley,  I.  W.  Willard,  Loren  Darling,  Benoni  Hall,  P.  H. 
Stevens,  G.  B.  Sherrod,  Elisha  Durkee,  Edwin  Barnum,  R.  Avery, 
Charles  Selleck,  L.  B.  Sheldon,  G.  J.  Hudson,  Loyal  Crane,  E.  M. 
Glidden,  O.  D.  Glidden,  Thomas  L.  Ross,  E.  O.  Briggs,  John  W. 
Free,  David  Woodman,  Chas.  W.  Young,  E.  A.  Wildey,  William 
Killefer,  J.  C.  Warner,  W.  C.  Wildey,  L.  E.  Shepard  and  Merle  H. 


576  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Young.  Of  the  foregoing  those  who  officiated  for  more  than  two 
years  were  Selleck,  Free  and  Killefer,  each  four  years;  Barnum 
and  C.  W.  Young,  each  five  years;  W.  C.  Wildey,  six  years;  Briggs, 
seven  years,  and  Warner,  nine  years.  Merle  H.  Young,  the  present 
incumbent  of  the  office,  is  now  serving  his  third  consecutive  year. 

At  the  first  general  election,  held  in  the  county  after  the  ad- 
mission of  the  state  into  the  Union,  there  were  181  votes  polled,  of 
which  thirty-three  were  polled  in  the  township  of  La  Fayette  (Paw 
Paw).  The  returns  on  governor  for  that  year  are  missing  from  the 
official  files,  but  the  congressional  return  is  still  preserved.  That 
shows  that  the  vote  was  practically  all  Democratic.  At  the  presi- 
dential election  of  1840,  seventy-one  voters  cast  their  ballots,  forty- 
three  being  for  Van  Buren,  Democrat,  and  twenty-eight  for  Har- 
rison, Whig. 

At  the  last  presidential  election  689  electors  registered  their 
choice  at  the  ballot  box,  as  follows:  450  for  Taft,  Republican;  215 
for  Bryan,  Democrat;  twelve  for  Chafin,  Prohibitionist;  nine  for 
Debs,  Socialist;  and  three  for  Hisgen,  Independent. 

Formerly  the  citizens  of  the  township  were  very  largely  en- 
gaged in  the  raising  of  grain,  hay  and  stock,  but  in  recent  years 
the  fruit  industry,  especially  the  culture  of  the  grape,  largely  pre- 
dominates. There  are  few  places  in  the  township,  outside  the 
limits  of  the  village,  where  one  can  travel  along  any  highway 
and  be  out  of  sight  of  a  vineyard.  There  are  thousands  of  acres 
of  that  delectable  fruit  and  the  quality  produced  is  unsurpassed. 
The  principal  varieties  grown  are  the  Concord,  Delaware,  Worden, 
Moore's  Early  and  Niagara,  but  the  Concord  largely  exceeds'  all 
other  varieties  combined. 

Other  fruits,  such  as  cherries,  apples,  pears,  plums,  peaches  and 
small  fruits  are  cultivated,  some  of  them  being  produced  in  great 
abundance. 

Some  of  the  more  progressive  farmers  have  made  a  specialty  of 
growing  potatoes  for  a  few  years  past  and  have  met  with  good 
success.  Indications  are  that  the  cultivation  of  this  tuber  will  as- 
sume a  prominent  place  in  the  agriculture  of  the  township  in 
the  near  future. 

Village  of  Paw  Paw 

The  village  of  Paw  Paw,  the  county  seat  of  Van  Buren  and 
the  only  village  within  the  limits  of  the  township,  is  situated  on 
the  " Fruit  Belt  line,"  four  miles  from  the  Michigan  Central.  It 
was  first  surveyed  and  platted  by  Peter  Gremps,  Isaac  W.  Wil- 
lard  and  Lyman  I.  Daniels,  in  the  spring  of  1838.  This  plat  was 
located  on  sections  twelve  and  thirteen,  on  the  east  side  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  VAX  BUREN  COUNTY 


577 


North  Kalamazoo  Street,  Paw  Paw 


Grape  Shippers  of  Paw  Paw 


578  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY 

Paw  Paw  river  just  below  the  confluence  of  the  east  and  west 
branches  of  that  stream.  It  was  quite  an  ambitious  village  in  its 
inception  and  contained  fifty-one  blocks. 

In  1846  Judge  Evert  B.  Dyckman  and  Eev.  Joseph  Woodman 
platted  an  addition  of  sixteen  blocks  adjoining  this  original  plat 
on  the  east.  In  the  spring  of  1848,  the  village  was  resurveyed  with 
some  additions  to  the  original  plat,  the  principal  one  of  which 
was  Willard's  addition  on  section  eleven  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river.  Other  minor  additions  have  since  been  platted  and  the 
village  is  now  a  mile  and  a  half  in  extent  from  east  to  west  and  a 
mile  in  width  from  north  to  south. 

The  village  was  first  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  of 
the  state  in  1859  (S.  L.  1859,  p.  292).  This  act  of  incorporation 
was  repealed  in  1863  (S.  L.  1863,  p.  65).  Another  act  of  incor- 
poration was  enacted  by  the  legislature  of  1867  (S.  L.  1867,  Vol  2, 
p.  1115).     This  act  was  amended  in  1869;  also  in  1873. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  township  of  Paw  Paw  was  made 
within  the  limits  of  the  present  village  in  1832,  when  Rodney  Hinck- 
ley located  on  a  piece  of  land  that  is  within  the  northern  part  of 
the  town.  In  that  same  year  Pierce  Barber  of  Prairie  Ronde  began 
the  erection  of  a  saw  mill  on  the  river  in  what  is  now  the  western 
part  of  the  village.  In  1833  this  property  passed  into  the  posses- 
sion of  Peter  Gremps  and  Lyman  I.  Daniels.  These  gentlemen, 
who  had  come  to  Paw  Paw  on  a  prospecting  tour,  bought  the  mill 
and  a  considerable  tract  of  land  adjoining,  upon  which,  in  conjunc- 
tion with  Isaac  W.  Willard,  they  platted  the  village  as  above 
noted.  Daniels  never  became  a  resident  of  Paw  Paw.  Gremps, 
who  came  from  the  Mohawk  valley,  returned  east,  but  came  back 
in  1835,  became  a  permanent  settler  on  his  Paw  Paw  property,  and 
lived  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  the  village,  dying  at  his  home  in 
1874  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years. 

Shortly  after  his  return  from  the  east  in  1835,  he  sent  to  Stone 
Arabia,  in  the  state  of  New  York,  and  induced  Dr.  Barrett  to 
come  west  and  settle  in  Paw  Paw.  He  was  the  first  physician  in 
the  place.  He  remained  about  four  years  and  then  removed  to 
Kalamazoo,  where  he  ended  his  days  not  long  afterward. 

It  was  early  evident  to  Mr.  Gremps  that  the  Territorial  road 
would  pass  through  Paw  Paw,  and,  recognizing  that  that  route 
would  become  a  great  thoroughfare  across  the  state,  he  wanted  a 
public  house — a  tavern — established  in  his  new  village.  Meeting 
Daniel  0.  Dodge  at  Schoolcraft  one  day  in  1834,  prior  to  his  re- 
turn east,  he  offered  to  give  him  an  entire  block  and  build  a  board 
house  upon  it  if  he  would  come  and  "keep  tavern"  in  the  place. 
Dodge  accepted  the  offer  and  opened  an  inn  which  became  one  of 
the  most  noted  public  houses  in  southwest  Michigan.     "Dodge's 


HISTORY  OF  VAX  BURBN  COUNTY  579 

Tavern"  was  known  far  and  wide,  it  being  one  of  the  principal 
stopping  places  along  the  whole  line  of  that  famous  thoroughfare, 
which  is  known  to  this  day  as  the  "Territorial  road."  This  tavern 
was  a  board  shanty  containing  four  rooms  and  measured  about 
sixteen  by  twenty-four  feet.  It  was  enlarged  in  1835  and  rebuilt 
in  1836.  Travel  by  stage  along  the  route  was  very  brisk.  It  is 
said  that  sometimes  Dodge  had  as  many  as  a  hundred  people  to 
entertain  and  Mrs.  Dodge  did  the  cooking  for  all  of  them.  The 
tavern  stood  on  what  is  now  the  south  side  of  Main  street  and 
was  nearly  hidden  by  trees.  Indeed,  trees  were  so  abundant  in 
Paw  Paw,  that  even  after  the  village  was  platted  travelers  often 
passed  through  it  without  knowing  there  was  any  village  there, 
and  frequently  inquired  at  the  tavern  for  the  location  of  the 
town. 

During  Dodge's  career  as  a  landlord,  Dr.  Warner  opened  an- 
other public  house  in  the  village,  but  it  had  only  a  brief  exist- 
ence. James  Crane  put  up  the  Exchange  Hotel  on  the  site  of  the 
present  Dyckman  House,  which  latter  was  built  by  Judge  E.  B. 
Dyckman  and  John  Smolk,  after  the  destruction  of  the  Exchange 
by  a  disastrous  conflagration  that  burned  a  number  of  the  busi- 
ness places  of  the  village. 

Judge  Evart  Brown  Dyckman,  from  whom  the  hotel,  the  prin- 
cipal public  house  in  the  village,  takes  its  name,  who  was  of  the 
old  Knickerbocker  stock,  was  born  on  the  25th  day  of  September, 
1799.  He  assisted  in  the  construction  of  the  Erie  canal,  and  when 
that  work  was  completed  he  established  a  boat  yard  and  carried 
on  the  business  of  boating  and  an  extensive  coopering  establish- 
ment for  a  number  of  years.  He  came  to  Detroit  in  1836,  where 
he  purchased  a  pony  and  rode  across  the  state  on  the  Territorial 
road  to  St.  Joseph.  Receiving  discouraging  reports  of  the  country 
beyond  the  lake,  he  concluded  to  settle  in  Michigan,  buying  about 
a  thousand  acres  of  land  in  Van  Buren  county.  His  wife  died  in 
1838,  and  the  following  autumn,  with  his  seven  children,  his  father 
and  mother,  two  nephews  and  two  nieces,  he  settled  on  lands  near 
Paw  Paw,  where  he  began  farming  operations.  He  was  elected  an 
associate  judge  of  the  circuit  court  in  1841.  He  married  his  sec- 
ond wife  in  1839,  who  lived  less  than  a  year.  In  1841  he  was  again 
married,  and  changed  his  residence  to  Schoolcraft,  in  the  county  of 
Kalamazoo,  where  he  died  at  a  ripe  old  age.  Judge  Dyckman  was 
the  grandfather  of  Evert  S.  Dyckman,  who  was  the  first  mayor 
of  the  city  of  South  Haven  and  who  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  that  prosperous  "City  by  the  Lake." 

Another  improvement  that  Mr.  Gremps  desired  to  have  was  a 
store,  and  so  he  procured  the  services  of  Williamson  Mason,  a  young 
man  from  Wayne  county,  New  York,  who  had  been  working  in 


580  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

the  west  at  his  trade  as  a  carpenter,  to  build  him  a  store.  Mason 
at  once  proceeded  to  erect  a  substantial  building',  which  stood  just 
west  of  Dodge's  tavern  on  the  corner  of  what  is  now  Main  and 
Gremps  streets.  Mr.  Gremps  occupied  a  part  of  the  building  as  a 
residence  and  opened  a  store,  the  first  one  in  the  place,  and  be- 
gan business  with  Edward  Shultz  as  his  clerk. 

Mason  took  up  his  residence  in  the  village  where  he  became  one 
of  its  business  men.  He  died  at  his  Paw  Paw  home  on  the  18th 
day  of  September,  1890.  Rodney  Hinckley  had  built  a  black- 
smith shop,  but  there  was  little  work  done  in  it  and"  so  Gremps  got 
Craig  Buys,  a  brother-in-law  of  Hinckley's,  to  come  and  open  a 
shop.  Buys  occupied  a  shop  which  Gremps  had  Mason  build  for 
him.  He  plied  his  trade  there  for  about  six  years  and  then  moved 
to  Ohio. 

The  first  shoeshop  was  opened  in  1836  by  Charles  G.  Harring- 
ton, who  subsequently  removed  to  Lawton  where  he  followed  his 
trade  for  many  years. 

Madison  Eastman,  a  carpenter,  came  to  the  village  in  1835.  He 
afterward  removed  to  Decatur,  but  returned  to  Paw  Paw,  where 
he  died. 

Myron  Hoskins  came  to  Paw  Paw  in  1836.  He  afterward  became 
a  resident  of  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  but  returned  to  Paw 
Paw  where  he  died,  November  7,  1900,  aged  eighty-nine  years. 

The  second  store  in  the  village  ,was  opened  by  Nathan  Mears, 
who  afterward  became  a  merchant  in  Chicago.  Edwin  Mears  and 
James  Crane  were  also  among  the  earlier  ones  to  engage  in  the 
mercantile  business. 

Mr.  Gremps,  in  company  with  Isaac  W.  Willard,  opened  a  store 
in  1838  on  Main  street.  Willard  afterward  bought  out  Gremps' 
interest  and  took  in  Edward  Shultz  as  a  partner.  Later  the  firm 
was  Willard  &  Moffat.  Willard  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
village  of  Paw  Paw,  and  was  a  man  of  note,  not  only  in  the  im- 
mediate community,  but  had  a  wide  reputation  both  in  the  county 
and  state.  He  was  chosen  as  a  member  of  the -second  ''convention 
■  of  assent"  which  met  at  Ann  Arbor  in  December,  1836,  to  take  ac- 
tion oh  the  admission  of  Michigan  into  the  Union.  He  was  also 
a  member  of  the  constitutional  convention  of  1850.  Mr.  Willard 
was  a  very  peculiar  man  and  many  anecdotes  are  related  of  his> 
eccentricities.  He  was  a  friend  to  a  man  whom  he  liked,  but 
wanted  nothing  to  do  with  a  person  to  whom  he  took  a  dislike.  The 
writer  is  glad  that  he  bore  very  friendly  relations  with  Mr.  Wil- 
lard after  forming  his  acquaintance  several  years  prior  to  his  death. 
Mr.  Willard  was  a  bachelor,  which  may,  to  some  extent,  account 
for  his  personal  peculiarities.  He  was  closely  identified  with  the 
interests  of  Paw  Paw  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.     He  was  the 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  581 

moving  spirit  in  the  organization  of  the  Prospect  Hill  Cemetery 
Association  and  was  its  first  president.  This  cemetery  is  located 
about  a  half  mile  south  of  the  village  and  is  one  of  the  finest  ceme- 
teries to  be  found  in  the  state  of  Michigan,  consisting  of  a  series 
of  hills  rising  one  above  another.  A  fine  view  of  the  town  can  be 
obtained  from  the  summit  of  some  of  these  hills.  During  the  lat- 
ter years  of  Mr.  Willard's  life  this  cemetery  was  his  especial  care 
and  pride.  He  erected  a  wooden  tower  on  its  topmost  pinnacle, 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet  in  height,  which  was  visible  for 
many  miles  around.  This  tower  was  christened  by  some  irreverent 
ones  as  "Willard's  folly."  It  stood  as  a  landmark  for  several 
years,  and  until  its  builder  was  laid  to  rest  almost  at  its  foot,  when 
one  morning,  the  elements  having  weakened  its  foundation,  it 
fell  to  the  ground  with  a  mighty  crash. 

Other  early  business  men  of  the  village  were  Alonzo  Sherman, 
E.  J.  House,  II.  L.  Dickinson,  F.  H.  Stevens,  Loren  Darling,  Capt. 
Edmund  Smith  and  William  R.  Hawkins.  Mr.  Hawkins  was  an- 
other somewhat  eccentric  man.  He  was  for  a  time  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business,  but  eventually  became  a  broker  and  built 
up  a  very  successful  and  profitable  business  in  that  line.  He  was 
familiarly  known  as  Colonel  Hawkins.  He  died  at  his  Paw  Paw 
home  on  the  21st  day  of  February,  1895,  aged  eighty-seven  years. 

Captain  Smith,  who  came  to  the  village  in  1843,  built  one  of  the 
most  successful  mercantile  establishments  in  Van  Buren  county. 
Starting  a  general  store,  he  converted  it  into  a  gentlemen's  fur- 
nishing establishment,  and  E.  Smith  &  Company's  "Long  Brick 
Store"  was  well  known  throughout  the  county.  It  is  still  con- 
ducted under  the  same  firm  name,  although  its  founder  has  been 
dead  for  nearly  eighteen  years. 

Peter  Gremps  was  the  first  postmaster  of  Paw  Paw,  his  appoint- 
ment dating  from  1835.  He  was  succeeded  in  1842  by  George  L. 
Gale,  who  was  followed  successively  by  John  McKinney,  John 
Smolk,  A.  J.  Goodrich,  F.  H.  Stevens,  James  M.  Longwell.  Joseph 
W.  Huston,  E.  J.  House,  A.  J.  Sortore,  0.  F.  Parker,  Thomas  B. 
Irwin,  George  AY.  Matthews,  Dr.  L.  K.  Woodman,  Robert  O.  Beebe, 
Peter  Mackellar,  Kirk  W.  Noyes,  William  Killefer  and  Bangs  F. 
Warner,  who  is  now  rounding  out  his  third  consecutive  four  years 
term. 

It  is  usually  considered  that  the  postoffice  receipts  are  a  fair 
indication  of  the  prosperity  of  the  community.  Judging  by  this 
standard,  the  residents  of  Paw  Paw  have  little  reason  for  com- 
plaint. A  communication  received  by  the  compiler  from  the  auditor 
of  the  postoffice  department  at  Washington  says:  "The  earliest 
record  of  business  transacted  at  Paw  Paw  is  that  of  the  quarter 
ending  September  30,  1836,  in  which  the  gross  postal  receipts  were 


582  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

$31.21.  The  gross  receipts  of  each  decennial  year  from  1840  to 
1910  are  as  follows :  1840,  $261.28 ;  1850,  $807.42 ;  1860,  $1,131.60 ; 
1870,  $2,504.05;  1880,  $3,219.96;  1890,  $3,502.37;  1900,  $4,068.70; 
1910,  $8,647.64.' '  The  receipts  of  the  office  for  the  fiscal  year 
ending  June  30,  1911,  amounted  to  $9,256. 

The  lawyers  and  doctors  of  the  village  are  mentioned  in  the 
chapters  of  this  work  devoted  to  the  Bench  and  Bar  and  the  Med- 
ical Profession.  The  various  newspapers  that  have  been  pub- 
lished in  the  town  and  that  are  now  in  existence  will  be  found  in 
their  appropriate  place  in  the  chapter  dedicated  to  the  Press. 

The  first  flouring  mill  of  the  town  was  built  for  Willard  & 
Gremps  in  1838,  and  called  the  Paw  Paw  Mills,  which  are  still 
doing  business,  having  been  thoroughly  remodeled  and  converted 
into  a  modern  plant  in  all  respects.  It  was  built  by  Stafford  God- 
frey, a  millwright,  together  with  R.  E.  Churchill,  the  same  par- 
ties who  built  Van  Buren  county's  first  courthouse.  Mr.  Godfrey 
continued  to  make  Paw  Paw  his  home  until  his  decease  which  oc- 
curred November  2,  1889,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years. 

The  first  wedding  in  Paw  Paw  was  that  of  Miss  Hannah  Mead 
and  one  Bellfontaine,  in  1833.  The  bride  was  a  "hired  girl" 
in  the  employ  of  John  Thomas  and  the  groom  wras  one  of  the 
sawmill  "hands,"  an  employe  at  Job  Davis'  sawmill.  There  was 
neither  minister  nor  civil  magistrate  to  be  had  to  perform  the 
marriage  ceremony,  but  Davis  declared  that  he  had  once  been  a 
justice  of  the  peace  and  thought  it  would  be  all  right  if  he  mar- 
ried them,  and,  as  they  agreed  with  him,  he  married  them.  They 
afterward  removed  to  Indiana,  and  for  aught  that  is  known,  they 
lived  as  happily,  or  unhappily,  as  the  case  may  be,  as  though  there 
had  been  pronounced  over  them  a  legalized  ministerial  or  judicial 
ceremony. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  the  wife  of  Daniel  O.  Dodge  who  died 
in  1837.  She  was  buried  in  the  tavern  garden,  but  her  body  was 
afterward  removed  to  the  cemetery  in  the  north  part  of  the  vil- 
lage. 

On  the  last  day  of  December,  1835,  Peter  Gremps  moved  into 
his  new  house,  which  is  still  known  as  the  Gremps  house.  That 
evening  he  was  informed  by  his  clerk,  Shultz,  who  had  learned 
something  of  Indian  customs,  that  the  red  men  would  make  him  and 
his  family  a  New  Year's  call  the  next  day,  and,  somewhat  to  the 
trepidation  of  the  ladies,  a  delegation  of  some  twenty-five  Indians, 
decked  out  in  paint  and  feathers,  made  the  promised  call.  It  was 
their  manner  of  ratifying  friendship  with  the  whites  for  another 
year.  The  braves  insisted  on  kissing  the  women,  despite  the 
violent  protests  they  made.  It  was  rather  a  jolly  affair,  notwith- 
standing the  kissing;  but  Mrs.  Dodge  donned  her  war  paint  when 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  583 

the  visitors  called  on  her  and  offered  to  kiss  her,  and  drove  them 
from  the  house  at  the  point  of  the  rolling  pin. 

The  first  fourth  of  July  celebration  was  held  in  1836.  The 
ceremonies  of  the  day  included  a  patriotic  oration  by  Hon.  F.  C. 
Annable,  of  Almena ;  a  written  address  to  the  three  veterans  of  the 
War  of  1812  who  were  present,  which  was  presented  by  a  daughter 
of  Peter  Gremps,  afterward  Mrs.  Alonzo  Shultz ;  anvil  salutes  fired 
by  Rodney  Hinckley,  and  a  banquet  to  everybody.  The  affair  took 
place  in  an  open  space  in  the  woods  just  west  of  the  old  courthouse 
grounds,  which  was  then  dignified  with  the  name  of  "Public 
square. ' ' 

Paw  Paw  has  an  up-to-date  system  of  electric  lights,  and  mod- 
ern water  works  and  sewers.  The  first  attempt  at  lighting  the 
town  was  made  a  number  of  years  ago  by  a  private  company.  This 
did  not  prove  to  be  entirely  satisfactory  and  so  the  municipality 
purchased  one  of  the  water  powers  (of  which  there  are  three  in- 
side the  corporation  limits  and  two  more  just  outside),  and  pro- 
ceeded to  construct  an  electric  plant  of  its  own.  This  was  first 
put  in  operation  in  1903  and  was  continued  for  five  years.  As  the 
demands  for  domestic  lights  increased,  the  power  proved  inadequate 
and  it  was  found  necessary  to  devise  some  other  means  of  furnish- 
ing the  needed  lights,  both  public  and  private.  "While  there  were, 
at  the  time,  five  good  water  powers  accessible,  they  were  all  of  them 
located  on  a  single  branch  of  the  river,  no  attempt  ever  having  been 
made  to  build  a  dam  across  the  stream  below  their  junction.  A 
survey  was  made  and  it  was  found  that  at  a  place  about  half  a 
mile  beyond  the  corporation  line  a  dam  could  be  constructed  that 
would  not  only  afford  ample  power  for  lighting  the  town,  but  also 
for  operating  the  water  works,  which  latter  had  theretofore  been 
operated  by  steam  power.  And  not  only  this,  but  at  the  same  time 
a  handsome  lake  would  be  created,  which  would  extend  between 
high  banks  through  the  center  of  the  village ;  and  this  was  the  origin 
of  beautiful  Maple  lake,  which  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  features 
of  the  town.  After  a  full  investigation  of  the  matter,  the  citizens 
of  the  place  appropriated  the  sum  of  $50,000  for  the  purpose  of 
putting  this  plan  into  operation.  The  work  was  completed  in  the 
summer  of  1908  and  has  proved  to  be  all  that  was  hoped  and  ex- 
pected. Not  only  has  the  power  been  ample,  but  the  lake  has 
become  so  attractive  that  cottages  have  been  constructed  on  its 
banks,  and  resort  grounds  bordering  on  the  lake  have  been  platted 
around  it.  Water  of  the  purest  quality  is  piped  to  all  parts  of 
the  town.  It  is  pumped  from  wells  that,  before  so  large  a  demand 
was  made  upon  them,  were  natural  springs  or  flowing  wells. 

The  public  buildings  of  the  town  are  the  fine  courthouse  and  jail, 


584  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

a  fine  and  commodious  sehoolhouse,  churches,   Opera  House  and 
corporation  hall. 

The  schools  rank  among  the  very  best  in  the  state.  The  official 
figures  for  the  last  school  year  are  as  follows:  Number  of  per- 
sons of  school  age  in  the  district,  335;  number  of  non-resident 
pupils  in  attendance,  seventy-three ;  average  daily  attendance,  309 ; 
number  of  volumes  in  school  library,  2,000 ;  value  of  school  prop- 
erty, $25,000;  indebtedness,  none;  teachers  employed,  thirteen; 
amount  paid  for  teachers '  salaries,  $5,427.25.  Since  the  filing  of 
the  above  report,  the  district  has  purchased  the  Free  Baptist 
church  building  and  converted  it  into  a  gymnasium  for  the  use  of 
the  school. 

Paw  Paw  is  fairly  well  supplied  with  churches  for  a  town  of 
its  size,  in  fact  it  might  well  be  claimed  that  it  is  over-churched. 

The  first  preaching  of  the  Gospel  in  the  town  was  by  Rev.  Junia 
Warner,  in  1835.  Services  were  held  in  Hinckley's  blacksmith 
shop.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  a  Methodist  class-  was  organized. 
David  Thorp  was  the  first  class  leader  and  for  a  time  services  were 
held  in  his  log  chair-shop,  afterward  in  a  house  belonging  to 
Myron  Hoskins,  and  then  the  village  sehoolhouse.  In  1844  a  house 
of  worship  was  erected,  which  wras  occupied  until  1876,  when  it 
was  sold  to  George  W.  Longwell,  removed  to  another  site  and 
converted  into  an  opera  house,  for  which  purpose  it  is  yet  used. 
A  new  and  commodious  building  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the 
old  one  and  dedicated  on  the  16th  day  of  December,  1876.  The 
church  now  has  about  200  members  and  is  in  charge  of  Rev.  Alex. 
Luther. 

The  First  Baptist  church  was  organized  on  the  8th  day  of 
August,  1844,  with  eight  members.  Meetings  were  held  rather  ir- 
regularly for  a  number  of  years  thereafter.  The  corner  stone  of 
the  present  church  building  was  laid  in  September,  1857,  and  the 
building  was  completed  in  due  time  thereafter.  A  couple  of  years 
ago  the  Free  "Will  Baptists,  who  had  had  an  organization  in  the 
town  since  1841,  transferred  their  membership  to  the  First  Bap- 
tist, increasing  its  numbers  until  the  present  membership  of  the 
church  is  130.  At  one  time  the  Free  Will  Baptists  were  among  the 
most  prosperous  of  any  of  the  churches  in  the  town,  but  removals, 
deaths  and  changes  of  population  had  weakened  the  organization 
until  it  was  thought  wise  to  consolidate  the  two  churches  into  one 
strong  organization. 

The  Christian  church,  sometimes  called  the  Disciple  church,  was 
first  organized  about  the  year  1842.  The  present  house  of  worship 
of  the  society  was  erected  in  1861.  The  frame  of  the  building  was 
raised  by  the  help  of  the  La  Fayette  Light  Guard,  the  first  com- 
pany from  Van  Buren  county  to  enter  the  military  service  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  585 

Civil  war  and  which  wras  subsequently  known  as  Company  C,  of 
the  Seventieth  New  York,  one  of  the  regiments  of  the  famous 
Sickles  brigade.  The  church  record  at  the  close  of  1861  states  that 
the  membership  was  234;  that  101  had  been  received  during  the 
year,  and  that  eleven  had  "gone  to  war."  The  church  now  has 
about  150  members. 

The  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  in  the  fall  of  1843  at 
the  residence  of  Capt.  Edmund  Smith.  For  a  time  after  its 
organization  worship  was  held  in  dancing  room  of  the  Exchange 
hotel.  In  1845  a  house  of  worship  was  erected  near  the  courthouse. 
This  building  was  burned  in  1856  and  a  couple  of  years  afterward 
the  present  church  building  was  built.  A  few  years  ago  this 
building  was  remodeled  and  is  now  the  finest  arranged  church 
building  in  the  town.  The  society  at  the  present  time  is  under 
the  pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  M.  L.  Marshall  and  has  a  membership 
of  about  1.25. 

St.  Mark's  Protestant  Episcopal  church  was  organized  in  1851. 
Its  house  of  worship  was  erected  in  1876.  The  membership  of  the 
church  is  small  and  services  are  held  only  occasionally. 

St.  Mary's  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  (Catholic) 
has  a  commodious  house  of  worship,  which  wTas  completed  in  1872. 
As  early  as  1848  Father  Barron,  of  South  Bend,  Indiana,  used  oc- 
casionally to  visit  Paw  Paw  for  the  benefit  of  Pe-pe-yah  and  other 
Indians  and  their  families.  In  1855,  there  being  several  Catholic 
families  in  the  village.  Father  La  Belle,  of  Kalamazoo,  held  oc- 
casional services,  generally  at  the  residence  of  James  Bennett. 
The  church  now  has  a  membership  of  about  125  and  is  under  the 
pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Father  George  Clarson. 

There  is  also  a  Second  Adventists'  church  in  the  town.  They 
have  a  small  church  building  and  a  limited  membership.  Reg- 
ular services  are  not  held  at  the  present  time. 

The  Christian  Scientists  also  hold  meetings  in  one  of  the  pub- 
lic halls  of  the  place,  having  no  house  of  worship. 

Of  secret  orders,  Paw  PawT  has  its  full  complement  Paw  Paw 
Lodge,  No.  18,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  was  instituted 
November  19,  1846,  with  the  following  charter  members:  John 
McKinney,  Emory  0.  Briggs,  Frank  Taylor,  C.  R.  Moffit  and  John 
Smolk.  It  has  had  its  times  of  prosperity  and  of  adversity,  but 
is  now  in  a  very  flourishing  condition  having  160  members. 

Paw  Paw  Encampment,  No.  30,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, was  instituted  March  26,  1868.  The  following  named  gentle- 
men were  the  charter  members:  C.  M.  O'Dell,  B.  O'Dell,  C.  Lich, 
S.  H.  Blackman,  T.  W.  Melchor,  E.  Martin  and  J.  M.  Brown.  Of 
these  only  B.  O'Dell  survives.  He  still  belongs  to  the  institution, 
which  now  numbers  forty-four  members. 


586  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Fidelity  Rebekah  Lodge,  No.  70,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, is  also  a  prosperous  branch  of  the  order  and  has  a  mem- 
bership of  113  at  the  present  time. 

The  Odd  Fellows  own  their  own  hall,  which  is  commodious  and 
well  equipped  with  all  the  furniture  and  paraphernalia  required 
for  successful  work. 

Paw  Paw  Lodge,  No.  25,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
was  instituted  under  dispensation  on  the  6th  day  of  May,  1848. 
On  the  first  day  of  the  next  year  a  charter  was  issued  A.  W. 
Broughton,  B.  F.  Chadwick,  D.  0.  Dodge,  Peter  Gremps,  Hub- 
bell  Warner,  Oliver  Warner  and  John  McKinney.  The  lodge 
has  its  own  finely  equipped  lodge  room  and  has  a  membership  of 
172. 

Paw  Paw  Chapter,  No.  34,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  was  instituted  on 
the  19th  day  of  January,  1865.  It  has  a  membership  of  129  at  the 
present  time. 

Paw  Paw  Chapter,  No.  257,  Eastern  Star,  is  also  a  prosperous 
factor  in  the  order  and  has  a  present  membership  of  about  180. 

Paw  Paw  Grange,  No.  10,  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  was  organized 
on  the  31st  day  of  December,  1872,  with  a  membership  of  about 
twenty.  It  lias  been  in  continuous  operation  ever  since  its  organiza- 
tion and  has  had,  at  some  periods  in  its  history,  a  large  membership, 
but  at  present  it  is  no  greater,  numerically,  than  when  it  was  first 
instituted. 

Of  the  more  modern  societies,  combining  insurance  features  with 
the  fraternal,  there  are  the  Knights  and  the  Ladies  of  Maccabees, 
Modern  Woodmen  and  the  Royal  Neighbors,  Mystic  Workers,  Mod- 
ern Romans,  Fraternal  Brotherhood,  and  possibly  some  others; 
if  not  there  probably  will  be  as  soon  as  some  promoter  can  formu- 
late plans. 

The  principal  club  in  the  village  is  a  ladies'  club,  called  the 
"Coterie."  This  is  a  literary  'club  and  has  been  in  existence  for 
several  years.  The  ladies  have  a  convenient  club  house  of  their 
own  which  is  situated  on  Kalamazoo  street  near  the  center 
of  the  town.  This  club  is  not  a  secret  society  in  the  usual 
acceptation  of  the  term,  yet  its  meetings  are  only  for  its  mem- 
bers and  invited  guests,  except  when  public  entertainments  may 
be  given.  The  programs  are  devoted  to  literature,  music,  art, 
science,  education,  etc.  The  club,  like  other  similar  clubs  in  dif- 
ferent localities  of  the  county,  is  a  member  of  the  State  Federation 
of  Women's  Clubs  and  derives,  as  well  as  confers,  benefits  from  this 
membership. 

The  Maple  City  Club  is  a  gentlemen's  club  and  was  organized 
and  exists  mainly  for  amusement.  The  club  meets  in  its  own 
room  in  the  postoffice  block. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BITREN  COUNTY  587 

The  Fellowship  Club  is  also  a  gentlemen's  club,  organized  and 
carried  on  not  only  for  entertainment,  but  for  instruction  and 
study  as  well.  Its  programs  are  literary,  historical,  musical,  scien- 
tific, etc.  This  club  holds  its  meetings  at  the  residence  of  some  one 
of  its  members. 

The  manufactories  of  the  village,  all  of  which  are  doing  a  suc- 
cessful business,  are  as  follows:  The  Paw  Paw  Grape  Juice  Fac- 
tory, an  institution  that  crushed  800  tons  of  grapes  during  the 
past  season  and  made  100,000  gallons  of  grape  juice;  two  large 
pickle  processing  establishments ;  one  basket  and  fruit  package  fac- 
tory, manufacturing  fruit  baskets  by  the  hundreds  of  thousands; 
two  flouring  mills,  one  operated  by  water  power,  the  other  by 
electric  power;  one  saw  and  planing  mill,  one  fruit  and  vegetable 
cannery;  one  steam  power  heading  mill;  one  cigar  factory;  one 
steam  laundry ;  and  one  artificial  bait  factory,  called  the  Moonlight 
Bait  Company.  This  company  makes  various  kinds  of  artificial 
lures  for  the  enticement  of  the  finny  tribe,  but  its  specialty  is  a 
luminous  bait  to  be  used  in  the  night,  a  patented  article  invented 
by  the  promoter  of  the  company.* 

There  are  four  warehouses  in  the  town,  principally  used  for  the 
storage  of  fruit  baskets  and  other  fruit  packages.  Some  idea  of 
the  demand  for  fruit  baskets  may  be  formed  when  it  is  known  that 
there  were  shipped  from  Paw  Paw  during  the  fruit  season  of 
1911,  1,122  carloads  of  grapes,  the  equivalent  of  3,366,000  eight- 
pound  baskets,  which  is  the  ordinary  size,  although  some  are  shipped 
in  larger  baskets  called  "jumbos' '  and  some  in  four-pound  baskets 
called  " ponies/'  Besides  this,  there  were  large  quantities  of  ber- 
ries of  various  kinds,  cherries,  peaches,  pears,  etc.,  some  of  these 
being  packed  in  crates,  some  in  small  baskets  and  much  of  the  tree 
fruit  in  bushel  baskets.  There  are  also  two  very  large  ice  houses 
containing  many  hundred  of  tons  of  ice  used  for  refrigerating  pur- 
poses in  the  shipment  of  fruit. 

The  Paw  Paw  Fruit  Growers  Union  is  one  of  the  incorporated 
companies  that  handle  the  immense  fruit  crop  that  is  grown  in 
Paw  Paw,  Antwerp  and  some  of  the  adjoining  towns.  During  the 
past  fruit  season  this  company  shipped  a  thousand  cars  of  grapes 
and  other  fruit ;  479  carloads  of  grapes  were  shipped  by  the  man- 
ager from  the  station  at  Paw  Paw,  and  the  balance  from  Lawton, 
Mattawan,  Decatur,  Lawrence,  Hartford,  Kendall  and  a  few  cars 
from  other  places.  W.  C.  Wildey  has  been  manager  since  the  com- 
pany was  organized. 

Many  car  loads  of  potatoes  and  other  produce  were  also  shipped 


*Since  the  above  was  written  and  put  into  type,  and  on  Sunday,  February 
11,  1912,  at  two  o'clock  a.  m.,  the  cannery  mentioned  was  totally  destroyed 
by  fire.     It  will  probably  be  rebuilt. 


588 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


View  on  Maple  Lake,  Paw  Paw 


Log  Cabin,  Maple  Lake,  Paw  Paw 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  589 

from  this  place.  It  has  not  been  practicable  to  ascertain  the  num- 
ber of  cars  that  have  been  loaded  at  the  station  during  the  past 
year,  but  there  are  very  few  towns  of  its  size  in  the  state  that  have 
done  as  great  business  along  this  line  as  has  Paw  Paw. 

There  are  upwards  of  thirty  mercantile  establishments  in  the 
village,  including  general  stores,  furnishing  stores,  furniture  and 
undertaking;  hardware  and  drug  stores;  wholesale  and  retail  bak- 
ery, merchant  tailoring  establishment,  cigar  and  tobacco  stores, 
markets,  millinery  store,  feed  store,  fruit  and  notion  stores,  etc. 
There  are  two  newspapers,  two  banks,  two  hotels,  two  garages,  three 
barbershops,  five  liveries,  one  of  them  an  auto  livery,  an  opera 
house,  two  restaurants,  a  moving  picture  theater,  a  telephone  ex- 
change— local  and  long  distance — a  photograph  studio,  three  physi- 
cians, three  dental  surgeons,  one  osteopathic  practitioner  and  one 
chiropractic.  Besides  these  there  are  the  usual  number  of  shops 
of  various  kinds,  soda  fountains  and  soft  drink  establishments  in 
their  season — no  intoxicating  beverages  are  dispensed,  as  Van 
Buren  county  has  been  prohibition  territory  for  more  than  twenty- 
one  years.  Another  unique  industry  has  recently  been  established — 
the  manufacture  of  "stickum,"  a  preparation  intended  to  put 
around  the  bodies  of  trees  and  grape  vines  to  prevent  cut-worms 
and  other  crawling  enemies  from  reaching  the  buds  or  fruit.  It  is 
a  newly  invented  preparation  and  is  manufactured  in  large  quan- 
tities and  meets  a  ready  sale  among  the  fruit-growers. 

Paw  Paw  was  the  first  village  founded  in  the  county,  and  with 
the  exception  of  the  city  of  South  Haven  that  had  the  advantage 
of  being  a  lake  port  within  less  than  eighty  miles  from  the  great 
city  of  Chicago,  it  has  always  remained  at  the  head  of  the  list  of 
Van  Buren  county  towns,  both  in  wealth  and  in  population.  The 
census  of  1910  gave  it  1,643  inhabitants,  Decatur  being  the  second 
in  size  with  1,268. 

It  is  no  exaggeration  to  say  that  there  is  no  handsomer  town, 
great  or  small,  in  the  entire  state  of  Michigan.  Lying  as  it  does 
on  either  side  of  beautiful  Maple  Lake,  its  highways  all  bordered 
on  each  side  with  rows  of  magnificent  maples,  planted  by  the  first 
settlers  of  the  place,  and  which  have  grown  to  such  size  that,  in 
1«he  summer  time,  they  completely  arch  the  streets,  so  that  a  birds- 
eye  view  of  the  town,  which  may  be  had  from  the  pinnacle  of  the 
courthouse,  is  like  looking  down  upon  a  forest,  with  the  clear  water 
of  the  lake  sparkling  in  the  rays  of  sunlight.  It  has  miles  of 
graveled  streets  and  cement  walks,  a  drive  around  the  lake,  fine 
public  buildings,  modern  residences  and  all  the  up-to-date  con- 
veniences of  twentieth  century  life.  One  over-enthusiastic  visitor, 
on  viewing  the  beauties  of. the  place,  exclaimed  "Paw  Paw!  Paw 


590  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Paw!     You  ought  to  change  the  name.    You  should  call  it  Para- 
dise !" 

And  yet  there  are  persons  still  living  who  were  born  years  be- 
fore a  white  man  ever  saw  the  place,  before  there  was  any  such 
place  as  Paw  Paw,  before  there  was  any  Van  Buren  county;  yes, 
before  the  soil  of  the  county  was  ever  trod  by  the  foot  of  a  white 
man,  when  the  Indian  and  the  wild  beasts  of  the  primeval  forest 
that  covered  the  land  were  its  only  inhabitants.  The  changes  that 
have  been  wrought  are  simply  wonderful.  And  it  is  all  owing  to 
those  indomitable  old  pioneers  whose  labors  insured  to  us,  their 
descendants,  this  beautiful  heritage. 

"Brave  men  of  old,   we'll  surely  own 
The  greatness  of  your  fame, 
We  know,  to  you  and  you  alone, 
We  owe  the  joys  we  claim.' ' 


CHAPTER  XXXII 

TOWNSHIP  OF  PINE  GROVE 

Township  Organized — Shingles  as  Legal  Tenders — Marital  and 
Legal — Kalamazoo  and  South  Haven  Railroad — General 
Progress — Gobleville — Pine  Grove — Kendall — Mentha. 

When  the  ancient  township  of  Clinch  was  first  organized,  seventy- 
five  years  ago,  the  territory  embraced  by  the  present  township  of 
Pine  Grove  was  an  unbroken  wilderness  without  a  single  civilized 
inhabitant.  At  that  time  Van  Buren  county  consisted  of  but 
seven  townships,  Clinch,  situated  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
county,  being  twelve  miles  square  and  embracing  the  present  town- 
ships of  Pine  Grove,  Almena,  Bloomingdale  and  Waverly.  In 
1842  the  township  was  divided,  the  name  "Clinch"  passing  into 
oblivion.  The  west  half,  after  such  division,  was  called  Almena 
and  the  east  half  Waverly.  These  two  newly  formed  townships 
were  each  six  miles  in  width  and  twelve  miles  in  length.  There 
was  quite  a  number  of  settlers  in  the  south  end  of  these  two  town- 
ships at  the  time  of  such  division,  and  the  non-resident  owners  of 
lands  in  the  north  part  were  taxed  to  help  build  schoolhouses  and  cut 
out  roads  in  the  south-end  settlements.  This  matter  of  taxation 
came  near  leading  to  serious  difficulty  a  few  years  later,  when 
people  began  rapidly  to  settle  in  the  territory  that  now  comprises 
the  township  of  Pine  Grove.  In  1849  the  land  owners  and  pioneer 
settlers  of  the  * '  north  woods, ' '  as  the  country  was  then  designated, 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  would  be  preferable  for  them  to  have 
a  township  of  their  own  so  that  the  taxes  paid  by  them  might  be 
expended  in  their  own  vicinity.  The  feeling  over  this  question  of 
taxation  was  very  bitter  and  became  so  intense,  just  after  the 
township  of  Pine  Grove  was  organized,  that  a  suit  was  threatened 
to  be  instituted  against  the  township  of  Almena  to  recover  a  pro 
rata  portion  of  the  taxes  that  had  been  previously  paid.  This  liti- 
gation was  averted  only  because  the  township  records  of  Almena 
mysteriously  disappeared,  leaving  no  basis  upon  which  such 
action  might  be  founded. 


591 


592  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BURBN  COUNTY 

Township  Organized 

By  act  of  the  legislature  of  1849  township  number  one  south 
of  range  number  thirteen  west  was  set  off  from  Almena  and  or- 
ganized into  the  township  of  Pine  Grove.  The  first  town-meeting 
was  directed  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  Henry  F.  Bowen,  in  said 
township,  at  which  election  the  following  named  officers  were  chosen ; 
Supervisor,  Charles  M.  Morrill;  township  treasurer,  Aaron  S. 
Dyckman;  township  clerk,  DeWitt  C.  Lockman ;  justices  of  the 
peace,  Henry  F.  Bowen,  DeWitt  C.  Lockman,  Thomas  Southard 
and  Horace  H.  Hadley ;  highway  commissioners,  Evart  B.  D.  Hicks, 
Peter  Valleau  and  Uriah  Stevens;  school  inspectors,  Chauncey  B. 
Palmer  and  Ephraim  Taylor;  constables,  John  Pettibone,  Benjamin 
P.  Walcott,  Robert  Love  and  James  Clark.  The  voters  evinced 
their  public  spirit  by  making  an  appropriation  of  $400,  one  half 
for  general  purposes  and  the  other  half  for  the  improvement  of 
the  highways.  This  was  a  very  generous  provision  for  the  few 
voters  embraced  within  the  township  at  that  time. 

Shingles  as  Legal  Tender 

The  first  settlement  within  the  limits  of  the  township  was  made 
in  1836  by  William  Stone,  the  first  white  man  who  ever  lived 
within  its  boundaries.  Harrison  Stevens  visited  the  locality  in 
1837  and  found  Mr.  Stone  with  his  wife  occupying  a  log  house 
in  the  center  of  a  little  clearing  where  the  village  of  Pine  Grove 
is  now  situated.  At  that  date  there  were  several  shingle  camps 
in  the  vicinity,  the  manufacture  of  shingles  being  one  of  the  in- 
dustries of  that  day.  These  so-called  "shaved  shingles"  were 
made  in  the  most  primitive  manner,  the  pine  timber  that  abounded 
in  the  vicinity  being  split  into  bolts  which  were  again  split  into 
the  proper  thickness  with  a  frow  and  afterwards  shaved  to  an 
edge  with  a  drawing  knife ;  a  sawr,  an  axe,  a  frow,  a  drawing 
knife  and  a  shaving  bench  being  all  the  tools  or  implements  re- 
quired by  these  "shingle  weavers"  as  they  were  called.  The 
manufacture  was  not  quite  as  rapid  a  process  as  by  modern 
methods,  but  the  finished  product  was  of  much  better  quality  than 
could  be  turned  out  in  any  other  way. 

A  road  had  been  "blazed"  through  from  Paw  Paw  to  Allegan 
and  each  year  a  portion  was  being  chopped  out  on  the  Paw  Paw 
end  of  it,  so  that  by  1844  a  considerable  part  was  cut  out  for  the 
first  seven  miles ;  and  that  year  there  was  a  strip  chopped  and 
logged  from  Brandywine  corners  to  within  a  mile  south  of  the 
present  village  of  Gobleville.  At  that  time  there  were  not  more 
than  a  half  a  dozen  clearings  from  Paw  Paw  along  the  entire 
route. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  593 

As  an  illustration  of  the  manner  of  life  in  those  pioneer  days, 
there  was  not  a  stove  in  the  township  previous  to  1844  and  some 
of  the  early  settlers  occupied  their  cabins  for  years  without  other 
floor  than  the  surface  of  "mother  earth." 

Several  families  having  come  into  the  township  during  the  year 
1844,  it  was  decided  that  a  schoolhouse  had  become  a  necessity. 
Schoolhouses  were  about  the  first  things  considered  by  the  pioneers 
after  they  had  secured  shelter  for  themselves  and  cleared  a  little 
spot  of  ground  sufficient  to  produce  bread  and  vegetables  for 
family  use.  A  site  was  selected  within  the  boundaries  of  what  is 
now  the  village  of  Gobleville,  a  well  was  dug  by  Henry  Whelpley 
and  Daniel  G.  Robinson;  the  next  year  a  "bee"  was  made  and  a 
log  schoolhouse,  sixteen  by  twenty  feet,  was  built  near  the  well, 
and  that  year  a  two  months'  term  of  school  was  taught  in  the 
new  house,  by  Miss  Elizabeth  Hoffman,  who  was  paid  the  sum  of 
one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  per  week  for  "teaching  the  young 
idea  how  to  shoot."  She  also  taught  the  winter  term  of  1846-7,  her 
immediate  pedagogical  successors  being  Hiram  Houghton  and 
Julia  Barber.  The  residents  of  the  school  district  when  the  first 
school  was  opened  were  Peter  T.  Valleau,  William  Story,  John 
Coffinger,  Henry  Moore,  Samuel  Robinson  and  Al.  Greaves. 

The  first  writing-school  ever  held  in  the  township  was  held 
in  this  schoolhouse  and  was  taught  by  Mr.  Gale  of  Paw  Paw. 
His  charge  was  half  a  thousand  shingles  per  pupil  for  the  term, 
shingles  at  that  time  being  practically  a  legal  tender. 

The  first  Sunday  school  was  held  in  this  same  schoolhouse  in 
1854.  It  was  called  the  "North  Woods  Sunday  School"  and  was 
instituted  by  Elder  Barney  of  Kalamazoo.  Mr.  Barber  was  the 
superintendent. 

A  saw  mill  was  started  in  1848  by  Messrs.  Morrill  &  Dyckman 
on  section  thirty-two,  since  known  as  "Old  Pine  Grove,"  and  a 
store  was  opened  at  the  same  time,  the  first  store  in  the  township. 
The  settlers  had  been  doing  their  trading  at  different  places,  and 
although  they  needed  but  comparatively  few  supplies,  it  was  not 
easy  to  obtain  them,  as  shingles  were  practically  the  only  circulat- 
ing medium.  On  occasion  the  whole  neighborhood  would  unite  in 
the  purchase  of  a  barrel  of  salt,  which  they  could  buy  at  St. 
Joseph  at  that  time  for  six  dollars,  and  a  barrel  of  pork  for  forty 
dollars,  and  it  required  a  week  to  drive  to  that  town  and  return. 

A  second  schoolhouse  was  built  at  "Old  Pine  Grove,"  the  first 
school  being  taught  there  in  1849,  with  Miss  Selina  Downing  as 
the  teacher. 


594  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BURBN  COUNTY 

Marital  and  Legal 

The  first  marriage  in  the  township  was  on  the  29th  day  of  July, 
1849,  the  contracting  parties  being  David  Barrington  and  Emily 
Gray.  The  ceremony  was  performed  by  Thomas  Southard,  justice 
of  the  peace.  The  boys  from  far  and  near  gathered  and,  as  was 
the  custom  of  those  days,  gave  the  newly  wedded  pair  a  rousing 
charivari,  or  as  it  was  then  popularly  called,  a  "horning."  The 
occasion  was  marred  by  a  most  unfortunate  accident,  James  Clark 
being  wounded  in  the  breast  by  a  shot  from  a  gun  in  the  hands 
of  Bob  Ivey.  The  gun  was  heavily  loaded  with  powder  and  wad 
and  the  matter  was  very  serious.  Mr.  Clark,  however,  recovered 
from  his  wound,  which  was  probably  a  good  thing  for  the  boys, 
as  well  as  a  great  satisfaction  to  them.  They  were  so  frightened 
over  the  matter  that  they  omitted  the  customary  ceremony  when 
DeWitt  C.  Lockman  and  Miss  Jane  Y.  Stevens  were  married  only 
four  days  afterward. 

The  first  law  suit  in  the  township  was  when  Jim  Hall  was  ar- 
rested on  a  charge  of  misusing  his  wife.  He  had  pulled  her  bon- 
net off  her  head  and  added  insult  to  injury  by  actually  kicking 
it.  Just  think  of  a  man  daring  to  kick  a  woman's  head  gear! 
The  case  was  tried  before  Justice  Newel  Nash,  A.  P.  Conant  and 
G.  R.  Palmer  acted  as  prosecuting  attorneys,  while  Mr.  Condlin 
appeared  for  the  defense.  This  matter  was  the  occasion  of  a 
good  deal  of  excitement  and  a  large  part  of  the  community  were 
sworn  as  witnesses  on  the  trial.  The  magistrate  found  the  re- 
spondent guilty  and  imposed  a  fine  of  ten  dollars,  but  as  he  did  not 
know  what  disposition  to  make  #of  the  money,  he  gave  it  to  the 
woman  in  the  case  thus  keeping  the  cash  in  the  family. 

A  saw-mill  was  built  by  the  Clements  in  1852,  located  about  a 
mile  and  a  half  east  of  the  present  village  of  Gobleville,  and  a 
schoolhouse  was  built  in  the  same  neighborhood  the  next  year, 
Miss  Mary  E.  Murray  being  the  first  teacher  at  a  salary  of  $1.50 
per  week.    It  will  be  noticed  that  teachers'  wrages  were  advancing. 

In  1854  Levi  Thayer,  Henry  Whelpley  and  Philip  Strong  took 
the  job  of  cutting  out  the  Paw  Paw  and  Allegan  road  for  a  fur- 
ther distance  of  three  miles  north  and  also  a  similar  job  on  the 
road  running  east  through  what  is  now  the  village  of  Pine  Grove. 
Seth  Munn  was  killed  by  a  falling  tree  while  working  on  that 
job,  about  a  mile  nortn  of  what  was  known  as  Camfield's  corners. 

In  1864,  Messrs.  Kendall,  Thistle  and  Arms  bought  a  tract  of 
pine  land  three  and  one  half  miles  west  of  Gobleville  and  built  a 
saw  mill  and  stave  mill  and  opened  a  store  and  the  surrounding 
country  began  a  rapid  development.  'This  enterprise  was  the 
beginning  of  the  present  flourishing  village  of  Kendall,  which  has 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  595 

grown  up  around  the  site  first  occupied  by  these  improvements  of 
the  above  named  firm. 

Kalamazoo  and  South  Haven  Railroad 

The  Kalamazoo  and  South  Haven  Railroad,  a  branch  of  the 
Michigan  Central,  passing  through  the  township  from  east  to 
west,  was  completed  in  1870  and  has  been  a  large  factor  in  the 
prosperity  and  development  of  the  township.  The  taxpayers  con- 
tributed liberally  to  this  enterprise,  voting  to  bond  the  township 
in  the  sum  of  $12,000  to  aid  in  the  construction  of  the  road.  These 
bonds  were  issued  in  1869,  bearing  interest  at  the  rate  of  ten  per 
cent,  payable  annually.  One  half  that  rate  is  now  the  legal  rate 
in  Michigan,  although  as  high  as  seven  per  cent  may  be  taken  by 
special  contract. 

Some  of  these  bonds  becoming  overdue  and  remaining  unpaid, 
suit  was  brought  in  the  Federal  court  for  the  western  district  of 
Michigan  to  recover  the  sum  due  and  unpaid  on  certain  of  the 
bonds.  The  supreme  court  of  the  state  had  held  and  still  holds 
the  doctrine  that  statutes  authorizing  such  aid  are  unconstitutional 
and  it  was  thought  that  any  tax  levied  for  the  payment  of  such 
bonds  would  be  invalid.  The  court  rendered  judgment  in  favor 
of  the  bondholders  and  the  case  was  appealed  to  the  supreme  court 
of  the  United  States  where  the  judgment  of  the  lower  court  was 
affirmed,  the  federal  courts  holding  exactly  the  opposite  doctrine 
from  that  enunciated  by  the  state  court.  And  so  the  bonds  were 
eventually  all  paid,  together  with  the  costs  assessed  against  the 
township  a  tax  levied  to  satisfy  the  judgment  rendered  by  the 
highest  court  in  America  was  entirely  legal,  even  if  a  tax  to  pay  the 
bonds  were  invalid.  It  was  rather  a  costly  way  to  "whip  the 
devil  around  the  stump,"  so  to  speak,  but  it  probably  could  not 
have  been  avoided.  The  same  course  was  adopted  afterward  by 
the  township  of  Paw  Paw,  which  had  issued  similar  bonds  in  aid 
of  another  railroad  enterprise,  except  that  the  township  made  no 
defense  and  permitted  judgment  to  be  rendered  against  it. 

There  are  no  important  streams  in  Pine  Grove,  but  it  contains 
numerous  small  lakes,  the  principal  ones  being,  Clear,  Long,  Musk- 
rat,  Brandywine,  Pond  Lily,  Story,  Duck,  Twin  and  North,  the 
latter  being  partly  in  the  township  of  Almena.  Some  of  these 
are  beautiful  sheets  of  water,  pure  and  clear,  and  are  well  stocked 
with  fish  of  various  species. 

General  Progress 

The  citizens  of  the  township  have  given  much  attention  to  the 
matter  of  good  roads  and  claim  to  have  more  miles  of  graveled  high- 


596  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

ways  than  any  other  township  in  the  county  and  propose  to  con- 
tinue the  good  work. 

As  an  exemplification  of  the  great  progress  that  has  been  made 
along  educational  lines,  as  well  as  in  other  directions,  since  the 
primitive  days  when  teachers'  salary  was  a  dollar  a  week,  board 
around,  take  shingles  for  pay  and  collect  wages  by  rate  bill,  the 
following  educational  statistics  are  interesting:  At  the  enumera- 
tion of  pupils  in  1911,  there  were  found  to  be  in  the  township  343 
persons  between  the  ages  of  five  and  twenty;  993  volumes  in  the 
district  libraries;  ten  school  houses;  school  property  valued  at 
$8,900;  no  district  indebtedness;  twelve  teachers  employed,  who 
taught  an  aggregate  of  102  months  and  received  in  salaries  the 
sum  of  $4,821.  There  was  paid  to  the  township  from  the  primary 
school  fund  of  the  state  during  the  current  year  the  sum  of  $2,580. 

The  first  general  election  in  the  township  was  held  November  6, 
1849,  at  which  sixteen  votes  were  polled.  At  the  presidential  elec- 
tion of  1852,  twenty-seven  freemen  registered  their  will  at  the 
ballot  box,  nineteen  of  them  voting  for  Pierce,  Democrat,  and 
eight  of  them  for  Scott,  Whig.  At  the  last  presidential  election 
held  after  a  lapse  of  fifty-six  years,  330  votes  were  cast,  211  of 
them  for  Taft,  Republican;  104  for  Bryan,  Democrat;  thirteen  for 
Chafin,  Prohibitionist,  and  two  for  Debs,  Socialist. 

The  majestic  forests,  the  beautiful  "pine  groves' '  from  which 
the  township  derives  its  name,  have  all  disappeared,  and  in  their 
stead  are  now  to  be  seen  highly  cultivated  farms,  fields  and  or- 
chards, modern  residences  and  all  that  pertains  to  the  comforts 
and  luxuries  of  life  in  this  twentieth  century — a  period  that  bids 
fair  to  mark  the  most  wonderful  epoch  since  the  fiat  of  the  Al- 
mighty spoke  this  world  of  ours  into  existence. 

The  township  divides  honors  with  Covert  for  the  eighth  place 
among  the  townships  of  the  county,  each  having  at  the  last  census, 
1,522  inhabitants.  At  the  assessment  of  1849,  the  first  taken  after 
the  township  was  organized,  the  valuation  of  the  town  was  $16,222 
and  the  taxes  spread  on  the  roll  were  $443.82.  In  1911  the  assess- 
ment was  $606,635,  and  the  township  taxes  were  $10,512.60. 
The  township  takes  rank  as  12th  in  point  of  wealth. 

GOBLEVILLE 

The  village  of  Gobleville,  which  is  situated  partly  within  the 
township  of  Pine  Grove  and  partly  within  the  township  of  Bloom- 
ingdale,  is  mentioned  more  particularly  in  the  history  of  the 
latter  township.  The  Methodist  church  there  spoken  of  is  on  the 
Pine  Grove  side  of  the  line,  as  are  one  of  the  telephone  exchanges, 
the  flouring  mill,  printing  office,  quite  a  number  of  the  business 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  597 

places,  etc.  The  principal  street  of  the  village  runs  through  the 
business  portion  of  the  town,  on  the  line  between  the  two  town- 
ships, dividing  it  into  two  nearly  equal  parts. 

Pine  Grove 

Pine  Grove  is  a  small  hamlet  (unincorporated)  on  the  line  of  the 
railroad,  one  mile  east  of  Gobleville.  It  contains  a  couple  of  stores 
and  a  blacksmith-shop. 

Kendall 

Kendall  is  another  station  on  the  line  of  the  South  Haven  divi- 
sion of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad,  about  three  miles  east  of 
Gobleville.  It  was  platted  in  the  winter  of  1870,  by  Lucius  B.  Ken- 
dall (from  whom  it  takes  its  name)  and  others.  When  the  town 
was  founded  the  railroad  had  just  reached  that  point  from  Kala- 
mazoo, and  for  some  time  thereafter  it  was  a  place  of  considerable 
importance.  At  the  present  time  it  contains  about  200  inhabitants. 
It  has  a  fine  brick  town  hall,  and  one  church,  the  Congregational, 
with  a  membership  of  about  thirty.  The  house  of  worship  is  built 
of  brick  and  will  seat  about  200  people.  There  are  also  several 
secret  societies — the  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Maccabees,  the  Glean- 
ers and  Yeomen.  The  Maccabees  have  a  hall,  but  the  Ladies  meet 
in  the  town  hall.  The  principal  business  places  consist  of  two  gen- 
eral stores,  a  postoffice,  a  feed-mill  and  two  blacksmith  shops.  The 
town  has  never  been  incorporated. 

Mentha 

Mentha,  two  miles  east  of  Kendall  and  on  the  same  line  of  rail- 
road, is  a  place  of  recent  origin.  Perhaps,  as  yet,  it  can  hardly 
be  classed  as  a  village,  although  it  is  a  regular  station  on  the  line 
of  the  road.  It  owes  its  existence,  as  well  as  its  name,  to  the 
fact  that  it  is  situated  in  one  of  the  greatest  peppermint  produc- 
ing regions  of  the  wTorld. 

The  country  'round  about  was  originally  a  swamp,  and  re- 
mained for  many  years  wholly  unimproved.  The  situation  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  Hon.  A.  M.  Todd,  of  Kalamazoo,  who  has 
acquired  the  well  deserved  title  of  the  world's  "Peppermint  King." 
The  swamp  has  been  ditched  and  drained  and  is  now  one  of  the 
greatest  peppermint-producing  sections  in  existence.  The  oil  is 
distilled  on  the  premises  and  brings  very  remunerative  prices. 
There  are  also  raised  on  portions  of  this  same  swamp  land  im- 
mense quantities  of  onions.  Once  considered  practically  worthless, 
these  lands  are  now  among  the  most  valuable  in  the  county. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII 

TOWNSHIP  OF  PORTER 

First  Settlements  and  Settlers — The  Kinney  Settlement— 
The  Adams  Family — Township  Named  and  Organized — Educa- 
tional and  Political — A  Retrospect. 

The  township  of  Porter  is  situated  in  the  southeastern  corner  of 
Van  Buren  county  and  is  officially  known  as  township  number  four 
south,  of  range  number  fifteen  west.  Its  boundaries  are  the  town- 
ship of  Antwerp  on  the  north,  Kalamazoo  county  on  the  east, 
Cass  county  on  the  south  and  the  township  of  Decatur  on  the 
west.  The  township  boasts  of  no  postoffice ;  it  has  no  village  within 
its  boundaries,  but  has  one  flourishing  general  store  and  two 
churches,  both  of  the  Protestant  Methodist  denomination.  Its 
enterprising  citizens  are  practically  all  engaged  in  agriculture  and 
horticulture,  raising  hay  and  grain  and  growing  large  quantities 
of  fruit  of  the  finest  quality.  In  these  respects  it  is  unexcelled  by 
any  town  in  the  entire  county.  It  is  watered  almost  wholly  by 
numerous  small  lakes,  which  in  the  spring  and  summer  are  like 
gems  of  crystal  set  in  frames  of  emerald.  The  largest  and  more 
important  of  these  beautiful  sheets  of  sparkling  water  are  Bank- 
son's,  Huzzy,  Grass,  Cedar  and  Gravel  lakes. 

First  Settlement  and  Settlers 

The  first  settlement  within  the  boundaries  of  Porter  township 
was  made  in  1833  when  Abner  Mack  located  a  portion  of  section 
13  and  built  himself  a  cabin  upon  it.  Mr.  Mack  did  not  long  re- 
main a  resident  of  the  township,  but  made  an  exchange  with  Jonas 
Barber  for  land  in  the  county  of  Kalamazoo  and  moved  away.  In 
1835  James  Young,  his  half-sister,  Elizabeth  Gibson,  and  her  sons, 
Washington  and  Robert,  moved  from  Prairie  Ronde  and  settled  on 
section  fourteen,  bordering  on  Bankson's  lake. 

The  Kinney  Settlement 
The  founder  of  that  portion  of  the  township,  for  many  years 
known  as  the  "  Kinney  settlement, ' '  was  Elijah  Kinney,  who  came 

598 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  599 

from  Ohio  in  1835  with  a  large  family.  Nelson  and  Sanford  Corey 
came  in  1836  and  were  employed  by  others  until  1840,  when  each 
purchased  land  on  section  twenty-six.  Among  the  pioneers  at  the 
Kinney  settlement  in  1836  were  George  Wilson  and  Matthew  Lewis. 
Stephen  Kinney,  brother  of  Elijah,  came  from  Ohio  in  1838  with 
a  family  of  eight  children.  Another  of  the  settlers  at  that  time 
was  Moses  Monroe,  who  was  considered  to  be  the  most  useful  man 
in  the  settlement.  He  was  the  only  mechanic  among  them  and 
would  turn  his  hand  to  anything  from  carpentry  to  shoe-making, 
being  exceedingly  clever  at  any  kind  of  mechanical  work.  Luke 
Munger  came  to  the  township  in  1840  and  James  Maxam  in  1844. 
Menasseh  Kern  located  on  section  thirteen,  in  1846.  His  neigh- 
bors at  that  time  were  the  Wilsons,  Longcors,  Harpers  and  Lockes. 
S.  V.  T.  Bradt  came  in  1848  and  the  same  year  Jacob  Markle  set- 
tled on  section  three.  In  1852  William  H.  McLain  came  from  St. 
Joseph  county  and  located  on  section  fifteen. 

Settlements  in  the  central  part  of  the  township  were  made  as 
early  as  1835,  when  Benjamin  Reynolds  came  from  Ohio  with  a 
large  family  and  located  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section 
fifteen.  Daniel  Alexander,  also  from  Ohio,  bought  two  hundred 
acres  of  government  land  in  1836,  on  sections  twenty,  twenty-nine 
and  thirty.  In  the  summer  of  1836  Roderick  Bell  settled  near 
Gravel  lake,  whither  also  came  the  next  year  Nathan  Cook,  George 
Freese  and  John  B.  Compton.  About  1840  came  Thomas  Alexan- 
der and  the  Nelsons,  the  latter  of  whom  sold  out  to  Silas  Gould 
and  moved  away.  In  January,  1840,  John  Van  Sickle,  Elias  Har- 
mon and  Jacob  Stilwell  came  into  the  town  and  settled  there,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1840  L.  II.  Weldin  located  on  section  twenty- 
eight. 

John  Nesbitt,  originally  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  township  of 
Keeler  where  he  and  his  brother  turned  the  first  furrow  in  1834, 
came  to  Porter  in  1837  and  bought  land  on  section  five.  In  1846 
Mr.  Nesbitt  changed  his  location  to  section  nine  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life. 

As  an  indication  of  the  newness  of  the  country,  even  at  that 
date,  it  might  be  noted  that  when  Mr.  Nesbitt  moved  to  his  new 
farm  in  1846,  he  was  compelled  to  make  his  own  road,  while  his 
wife  drove  the  ox  team  that  was  hauling  his  worldly  goods  and 
chattels.  Isaac  Hall,  father  of  James  H.  Hall,  came  to  Porter  in 
1842,  and  his  brother  Amos  in  1846.  They  located  near  Grass 
and  Cedar  lakes.  The  other  settlers  in  that  neighborhood  at  that 
time  were  Silas  Gould,  L.  H.  Weldin  and  David  Gilson.  Thomas 
Fletcher,  a  Virginian,  came  into  the  township  soon  afterward. 
Samuel  D.  Harper  came  in  1843,  and  Jeremiah  Barker,  a  New 


600  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

Yorker,   came   in  1845,   with  his   family,   and  settled  on  section 
nine.     In  1848  Mr.  A.  H.  Hathaway  settled  in  the  township. 

The  Adams  Family 

Horace  H.  Adams  and  family  were  likewise  among  the  earlier 
settlers  of  the  township,  locating  on  section  thirteen  about  the 
year  1837.  He  lived  but  few  years  after  coming  to  Porter,  but 
during  his  life  he  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  new 
township,  being  one  of  the  first  justices  of  the  peace  elected  and 
afterwards  serving  as  supervisor.  He  was  the  father  of  the  late 
Franklin  B.  Adams,  one  of  the  prominent  business  men  of  Law- 
ton  and  who  was  at  one  time  president  of  The  Toledo  and  South 
Haven  Railroad  Company.  At  the  time  of  his  death  in  1910,  in 
his  eighty-fourth  year,  he  was  Porter's  oldest  pioneer. 

Mr.  Adams  would  occasionally  relate  to  his  intimate  friends  in- 
cidents of  those  early  days  that  were  of  great  interest.  Among 
them  is  the  following,  which  is  worthy  of  preservation :  Some  time 
about  the  year  1840,  in  pursuance  with  treaty  stipulations  the 
government  began  to  gather  the  Indians,  preparatory  to  removing 
them  to  then  far  west ;  that  is,  beyond  the  Mississippi  River.  Mr. 
Adams  related  that  a  stockade  or  corral  had  been  constructed  near 
his  father's  place  in  which  the  Indians  of  the  region  were  gathered 
together,  under  the  direction  and  charge  of  a  young  officer  of  the 
United  States  Army  named  Rosecrans.  This  same  young  officer 
afterward  became  known  to  the  world  as  General  W.  S.  Rosecrans 
of  Civil  war  fame. 

Harvey  Barker,  one  of  the  pioneer  preachers  of  the  county, 
settled  in  the  township  in  1839,  erected  a  cabin  and  at  once  began 
improvements  on  the  land  he  had  entered.  His  place  became  the 
head-quarters  for  the  circuit  riders  of  those  early  days.  His  son, 
Wesley  T.  Barker,  himself  a  pioneer,  a  lad  of  about  four  years 
at  the  time  he  came  to  Michigan,  is  yet  a  resident  of  the  township. 

Township  Named  and  Organized 

For  a  number  of  years  Porter  formed  a  part  of  the  township  of 
Decatur,  from  which  it  was  set  off  in  1845.  To  Mrs.  Harriet 
(Cook)  Van  Antwerp  belongs  the  honor  of  naming  the  new  town- 
ship. After  it  had  been  decided  to  divide  the  township  of  Deca- 
tur, a  consultation  was  held  at  the  residence  of  her  father,  Nathan 
Cook,  to  decide  upon  a  name.  At  that  time  Miss  Cook  was  very 
much  interested  in  reading  Cooper's  "Naval  Heroes' '  and,  im- 
pressed by  the  career  of  Commodore  Porter,  she  suggested  that 
as  Decatur  had  been  named  in  honor  of  one  naval  hero,  the  new 
township   should   likewise   honor   Commodore   Porter.      This   sug- 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  601 

gestion  on  the  part  of  the  young  lady  commended  itself  to  those 
who  had  the  matter  in  charge  and  was  immediately  adopted.  Ad- 
miral Porter,  who  rendered  such  distinguished  service  in  the  Civil 
war,  was  a  son  of  Commodore  Porter  from  whom  the  township 
takes  its  name. 

The  first  township  meeting  held  in  the  newly  organized  town- 
ship was  held  on  the  first  Monday  of  April,  1845,  at  the  school- 
house  near  the  residence  of  Benjamin  Reynolds,  at  which  the  fol- 
lowing named  officers  were  chosen:  Supervisor,  Harvey  Barker; 
township  clerk.  Isaac  Hall;  school  inspectors,  Warren  S.  Corey 
and  Harvey  Barker;  commissioners  of  highways,  "William  L.  Bar- 
ker, John  Nesbitt  and  William  J.  Finch;  justices  of  the  peace, 
Harvey  Barker,  Samuel  D.  Harper  and  H.  H.  Adams;  directors 
of  the  poor,  Ira  Harman  and  Benjamin  Reynolds;  constables, 
Miles  Van  Sickle,  John  Bennett  and  Richard  Wilson. 

Porter  is  situated  in  the  midst  of  the  celebrated  fruit  belt  of 
western  Michigan  and  produces  large  quantities  of  the  finest 
quality  of  fruit  of  various  kinds.  It  might  be  said  that  it  was  one 
of  the  pioneer  townships  in  the  development  of  grape  culture,  a 
business  that  has  grown  into  enormous  magnitude  in  Van  Buren 
county.  At  present  there  are  several  thousand  acres  of  vineyard 
in  the  township,  and  the  production  of  that  delectable  fruit  amounts 
annually  to  several  hundred  thousand  baskets. 

Educational  and  Political 

The  first  school  teacher  that  anybody  seems  to  remember  was 
Warren  S.  Corey,  a  brother  of  Nelson  Corey,  who  taught  a  school 
in  the  Kinney  settlement. 

The  official  returns  of  educational  matters  for  the  school  year 
of  1910-11  shows  the  following  facts  relative  to  the  township: 
Total  number  of  persons  of  school  age  (between  five  and  twenty), 
171 ;  number  of  schoolhouses,  nine ;  estimated  value  of  school 
property,  $6,100 ;  indebtedness,  none ;  number  of  teachers  employed 
during  the  year,  eleven;  aggregate  number  of  months  of  school, 
seventy-four;  sum  paid  for  teachers'  salaries,  $2,318. 

The  first  general  election  was  held  in  the  township  on  the  fourth 
day  of  November,  1845,  at  which  thirty  votes  were  cast  for  the 
office  of  governor  of  the  state;  nineteen  Democratic,  ten  Whig 
and  one  Free-Soil. 

At  the  presidential  election  of  1908,  219  votes  were  cast:  157 
for  Taft,  Eepublican;  fifty-nine  for  Bryan,  Democrat;  two  for 
Chafin,  Prohibitionist,  and  one  for  Debs,  Socialist. 

The  federal  census  of  1910  gives  the  population  of  Porter  as 


602  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

994,  being  the  sixteenth  township  in  point  of  numbers,  Almena 
and  Hamilton  only  having  a  less  number  of  inhabitants. 

The  assessment  of  1846,  the  next  year  after  the  organization  of 
the  township,  gives  the  township  a  valuation  of  $28,600  and  the 
total  tax  for  that  year  amounted  to  $335.92. 

For  the  current  year  the  valuation  of  the  township  was  $762,950 
and  the  total  tax  spread  upon  the  roll  was  the  sum  of  $12,752.79. 
In  point  of  wealth  Porter  takes  rank  as  the  tenth  township  of  the 
county. 

The  following  named  gentlemen  have  served  the  township  in  the 
capacity  of  supervisor:  Harvey  Barker,  Uri  Kinney,  John  Mc- 
Kinney,  Orrin  Sisson,  Menasseh  Kern,  Luther  Kinney,  W.  S. 
Corey,  Asahel  Bryant,  Sanford  Corey,  John  Barker,  Chauncey 
Hollister,  William  Anderson,  Franklin  B.  Adams,  Orsimus  Will- 
iams, Charles  A.  Van  Riper,  John  C.  McLain,  Elijah  Warner, 
George  D.  Boyce,  John  Marshall,  John  H.  Cornish,  and  Elver  E. 
Waldron  (present  incumbent).  Supervisors  J.  Barker,  S.  Corey 
and  Warner,  each  served  three  years;  Supervisors  McKinney, 
Boyce  and  McLain,  each  four  years;  Supervisor  Williams,  five 
years;  Supervisor  Cornish,  eight  years;  Supervisor  Marshall,  nine 
years,  and  the  present  supervisor,  Waldron,  is  now  serving  his 
sixth  successive  year. 

A  Retrospect 

We  can  scarcely  realize  the  changes  that  time  has  wrought  since 
the  formation  of  this  township.  It  seems  hardly  possible  when  we 
see  the  fine  modern  residences  and  magnificent  farms,  the  beauti- 
ful orchards  and  the  splendid  vineyards  which  now  cover  the  land- 
scape, that  there  are  yet  living  people  who  knew  the  township 
when  it  was  practically  an  unbroken  wilderness ;  people  who  toiled 
and  endured  privation  in  order  to  make  possible  the  comforts  and 
luxuries  enjoyed  by  the  present  generation.  We  can  hardly  realize 
that  when  the  first  settlements  were  made  in  Porter,  Chicago  ex- 
isted only  in  name;  railroads  were  wholly  unknown,  except  a  few 
short  experimental  lines  near  the  eastern  seaboard ;  telegraphs  were 
undreamed  of;  Michigan  was  yet  a  territory,  and  all  the  inven- 
tions that  have  been  brought  forth  during  the  past  seventy-five 
years — inventions  that  contribute  so  much  to  the  convenience  and 
comfort  of  modern  life — had  remained  undiscovered  since  the 
world  began.  It  scarcely  seems  possible  that  those  hardy  pioneers 
who  made  the  wilderness  blossom  as  the  rose  had  to  come  with 
teams  from  their  eastern  homes,  weeks  being  required  for  the 
journey  that  can  now  be  made  in  palatial  cars  in  a  few  hours! 
When  we  think  of  the  indomitable  courage  displayed  and  the  hard- 
ships endured  by  these  early  settlers  of  our  beautiful  county  we 
cannot  but  exclaim,  "All  honor  to  the  old  pioneers!" 


CHAPTER  XXXIV 

TOWNSHIP  OF  SOUTH  HAVEN 

Early  Elections  and  Officials — Property  and  Population — 
Jay  R.  Monroe,  First  White  Settler — Clark  and  Daniel 
Pierce — A.  S.  Dyckman's  Story — Pioneer  Steam  Sawmills — 
First  Institutions  and  Pioneers — Village  (now  City)  of 
South  Haven- — The  Summer  Resort  Business — Schools, 
Churches  and  Societies — Municipal  and  Business  Matters — 
pomological  society  and  board  of  trade. 

The  township  of  South  Haven,  as  originally  organized  in  1837 
by  an  act  of  the  first  legislature  after  the  admission  of  Michigan 
into  the  Union,  comprised  the  present  townships  of  South  Haven, 
Geneva,  Columbia,  Covert  and  Bangor  and  it  was  not  until  October, 
1855,  when  the  board  of  supervisors  adopted  a  resolution  setting 
off  and  organizing  the  township  of  Deerfield,  now  Covert,  that  the 
township  was  made  to  consist  only  of  its  present  territory,  township 
number  one  south,  of  range  number  seventeen  west. 

It  contains  eighteen  full  sections  and  seven  fractional  sections 
along  the  shore  of  the  lake.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Allegan 
county,  on  the  east  by  the  township  of  Geneva,  on  the  south  by 
Covert  and  on  the  west  by  Lake  Michigan.  Along  the  shore  of  the 
lake  are  bluffs  from  thirty  to  fifty  feet  in  height,  which  were  orig- 
inally crowned  with  forests  of  hemlock  and  pine.  Its  principal 
stream  is  Black  river,  which  flows  across  the  northern  part  of  the 
township  and  empties  into  the  lake  at  the  city  of  South  Haven. 

Early  Elections  and  Officials 

At  the  first  town  meeting  held  in  the  township  as  first  organized, 
the  records  show  that  Charles  U.  Cross  was  elected  clerk,  Silas 
Breed,  supervisor,  and  Amos  S.  Brown,  Charles  U.  Cross,  Jay  E. 
Monroe  and  Silas  Breed,  justices  of  the  peace.  If  any  other  officers 
were  chosen,  the  record  does  not  disclose  their  names,  notwith- 
standing the  fact  that  the  statute  in  existence  at  that  time  pro- 
vided for  assessors,  highway  commissioners,  etc. 

The  names  of  the  supervisors  of  the  township  for  the  years  1837 

603 


60  i       HISTORY  OP  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


Typical  South  Haven  Orchards 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  605 

and  1838,  are  not  to  be  found  on  the  official  records  of  the  county. 
With  the  exception  of  those  two  years  the  following  is  the  list  of 
the  names  of  the  gentlemen  who  have  served  in  that  capacity :  Silas 
Breed,  William  H.  Hurlbut,  Jesse  Ball,  Mansel  M.  Briggs,  William 

B.  Hathaway,  Randolph  Densmore,  Aaron  S.  Dyckman,  Barney  H. 
Dyckman,  Stephen  B.  Morehouse,  Kirk  W.  Noyes,  George  B. 
Pomeroy,  John  Andrews,  Charles  J.  Monroe,  Albert  Thompson, 
Samuel  P.  Wilson,  David  F.  Moore,  Benjamin  F.  Hunt,  Henry  E. 
Dewey,  James  II.  Johnson,  John  S.  Malbone,  Milford  T.  French, 
Clarence  E.  Place  and  Orlo  Westgate.  Those  who  filled  the  office 
for  more  than  two  years  were  Malbone,  three  years;  Hunt,  Wilson 
and  Dewey,  each  four  years ;  Northrup,  Hurlbut,  Noyes  and  John- 
son, each  five  years,  and  Westgate,  the  present  incumbent,  who  is 
now  serving  his  fifth  consecutive  year. 

At  the  first  election  for  county  officers,  which  was  held  in  April, 
1837,  there  were  ten  votes  cast  in  the  township.  The  poll  list  of  the 
township  at  the  next  general  election,  held  on  Monday  and  Tues- 
day, November  5  and  6,  1837  (elections  were  held  on  two  successive 
days  at  that  early  date),  was  as  follows:  John  Smith,  William 
Taylor,  James  T.  Hard,  Russell  Gillman,  Silas  Breed,  Amos  S. 
Brown,  Jonathan  N.  Howard,  Charles  U.  Cross,  Reuben  L.  Ackley, 
Cornelius  Osterhout,  Myron  Hoskins  and  William  N.  Babbitt.  The 
vote  for  governor  at  that  election  was  Stevens  T.  Mason  4,  Charles 

C.  Trowbridge  7. 

At  the  first  presidential  election,  held  in  1840,  twenty-nine  bal- 
lots were  polled,  twenty  Democratic  and  nineteen  Whig.  At  the 
general  election  of  1908,  there  were  cast,  including  both  township 
and  city,  1,006  votes.  The  vote  of  the  township  was  as  follows: 
Taft,  Republican,  148 ;  Bryan,  Democrat,  forty-six ;  Chafin,  Prohi- 
bitionist, six;  Debs,  Socialist,  six.  In  the  city,  which  is  located 
wholly  within  the  boundaries  of  the  township,  the  vote  was  as  fol- 
lows :  Taft,  512;  Bryan,  211;  Chafin,  twenty-eight;  Debs,  forty- 
six;  Hisgen,  Independent,  three. 

Property  and  Population 

The  assessed  valuation  of  the  township  in  1856.  the  first  assess- 
ment taken  after  it  was  organized  as  at  present,  was  $100,558,  and 
the  taxes  spread  on  the  roll  for  that  year  were  $1,941.14.  The 
assessed  valuation  for  1911,  including  the  same  territory  (both 
city  and  township),  was  $2,429,359;  that  is,  the  wealth  of  the 
people  has  been  multiplied  twenty-four  and  one-half  times  in  fifty- 
five  years. 

The  total  of  taxes  spread  on  the  roll  in  1856  was  the  sum  of 
$1,941.14.     In  1911  the  tax,  including  town  and  city,  was  $44,- 


606  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

956.19.  In  point  of  wealth,  the  township  of  South  Haven,  ex- 
elusive  of  the  city,  ranks  as  fourteenth  among  the  townships  of 
the  county ;  including  the  city,  it  stands  at  the  head  of  the  list  by 
more  than  $800,000. 

The  population  of  the  township,  outside  the  city,  as  given  in 
the  census  of  1910,  was  1,218,  the  thirteenth  township  of  the  county 
in  point  of  numbers. 

Jay  R.  Monroe,  First  White  Settler 

For  many  of  the  facts  given  in  the  following  sketch  of  the  pioneer 
history  of  the  township  the  writer  desires  to  acknowledge  his  obli- 
gation to  Hon.  A.  S.  Dyckman,  who  embodied  them  in  a  paper 
read  before  the  Van  Buren  County  Pioneer  Association  in  1894. 

Father  Marquette  and  other  adventurous  missionaries  had 
coasted  the  eastern  shore  of  Lake  Michigan;  United  States  sur- 
veyors had  meandered  every  navigable  stream,  cut  the  land  into 
squares  and  driven  sectional  stakes,  witnessed  by  letters  and  fig- 
ures inscribed  upon  living  tree  bodies.  Otherwise  there  was  an 
unbroken  forest,  occupied  by  the  red  man  and  by  wild  beasts  and 
fowls. 

Into  this  vast  wilderness  came  a  young  man,  a  "land  looker" 
from  the  White  mountains  of  New  Hampshire,  following  an  In- 
dian trail,  through  gulches,  across  fords,  over  the  hills  and  through 
the  valleys,  alone,  perhaps  repeating  to  himself  the  words  of  the 
poet 

"Oh,  for  a  lodge  in  some  vast  wilderness, 
Some  boundless  contiguity  of  space;" 

and,  having  reached  his  destination,  looking  for  one  inspiring  mo- 
ment out  upon  the  waters  of  the  grand  old  lake,  and  then  going 
down  to  the  beach — the  sandy,  gravelly  beach — to  pick  up  speci- 
mens of  coral,  agate  and  shell;  and  then,  mayhap,  while  the  last 
rays  of  the  setting  sun,  which  was  sinking  to  rest  in  the  blue  waves 
beyond,  were  glimmering  and  glancing  through  the  leaves  of  the 
forest  that  bordered  the  beach,  standing,  perhaps,  on  the  river  bluff, 
watching  the  waters  that  eddied  and  foamed  and  swirled  about 
the  boughs  of  the  giant  hemlocks  that  drooped  into  the  rippling 
waters  beneath : — Possibly  his  attention  was  arrested  by  the  shrill 
cry  of  the  whip-poor-will,  the  lonesome  "too-whoo"  of  the  owl,  or 
the  dismal  howl  of  the  prowling  wolf,  coming  to  his  listening  ears 
from  out  of  the  shadowy,  darkening  forests  through  which  his 
course  had  led  him.  Possibly  he  exclaimed  "Here,  right  here,  is 
the  fair  site  of  a  future  city.  I  will  enter  into  this,  the  promised 
land,  and  on  this  bluff  overlooking  the  great  waters,  now  kissed 
by  the  glory  of  the  good-night  sun,  will  I  build  my  cabin. ' ' 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  607 

And  so  it  was  fulfilled,  for  this  young  explorer  was  the  pioneer 
white  settler  of  South  Haven,  afterward  prominent  in  the  history 
of  the  county  and  known  to  the  people  as  Judge  Jay  R.  Monroe, 
whose  name  is  closely  linked  with  the  development  of  this  part 
of  the  state  and  whose  honored  descendants  yet  occupy  prominent 
positions  among  their  fellow  citizens  of  this  great  county — a  county 
which,  in  many  respects,  is  second  to  none  in  the  Peninsular  state. 

It  was  in  1831,  six  years  before  the  state  of  Michigan  was  born, 
that  young  Monroe  arrived  at  the  present  site  of  the  flourishing 
city  of  South  Haven,  now  the  metropolis  of  Van  Buren  county. 
Four  years  later,  the  "Monroe"  road  was  located  by  him,  in 
conjunction  with  Charles  U.  Cross  and  Rodney  Hinckley.  This 
road  ran  direct  from  South  Haven  to  Big  Prairie  Ronde,  the 
shortest  thoroughfare  from  the  fertile  grain  fields  of  the  interior 
to  the  prospective  South  Haven  harbor. 

Clark  and  Daniel  Pierce 

But  the  advent  of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad,  sweeping 
around  the  southern  extremity  of  Lake  Michigan  opened  up  a 
new  and  more  speedy  line  of  traffic  and  destroyed  the  prospective 
benefit  and  importance  of  the  Monroe  road,  a  great  portion  of 
which  has  been  taken  up  and  relaid  on  the  section  lines. 

Clark  Pierce,  one  of  the  first  to  permanently  settle  in  this  part 
of  Van  Buren  county,  located  on  this  road  some  seven  miles  out 
from  the  lake.  He  came  in  1838,  his  brother  Daniel,  accompany- 
ing him.  He  built  his  cabin  on  section  number  fourteen  of  this 
township  and  began  to  clear  up  a  farm.  Daniel  was  a  mighty 
hunter  and  coined  money  by  shooting  wolves  and  disposing  of 
their  scalps  for  the  bounty  of  thirteen  dollars  each.  But  the 
wolves  also  hunted  Daniel  and  would,  no  doubt  have  eaten  him, 
but  for  the  batten  door  of  "shakes"  securely  barred.  As  evidence 
of  this,  it  is  reported  that  one  night  they  devoured  his  boots  which 
he  had  inadvertently  left  outside  the  cabin  door.  After  this  experi- 
ence Daniel  left  Michigan,  tested  his  luck  on  the  golden  shores  of 
the  Pacific,  on  the  rich  grain  lands  of  Kalamazoo  county  and  on 
the  no  less  fertile  prairies  of  Wisconsin,  but  eventually  returned 
to  the  old  South  Haven  homestead  where  he  spent  his  declining 
years  until  the  final  summons  came  for  him  to  "go  up  higher." 
He  died  February  24,  1882,  aged  seventy-four  years. 

In  the  fall  of  1838,  a  vessel,  the  ' '  La  Porte ' '  commanded  by  Cap- 
tain Webster,  was  wrecked  at  the  South  Haven  harbor.  Clark 
Pierce  transported  their  baggage  to  Paw  Paw,  while  the  sailors 
themselves,  made  the  journey  on  foot. 

On  the  18th  day  of  November,  1840,  the  two  masted  schooner, 


608  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

"Florida,"  hailing  from  Buffalo  and  bound  for  Milwaukee,  went 
on  the  beach  just  north  of  the  mouth  of  the  river.  A  terrible  snow 
storm  was  raging  and  the  crew  nearly  perished  in  finding  their 
way  to  Bangor.  The  vessel  was  laden  with  apples  and  hardware. 
W.  H.  Hurlbut,  who  lived  at  Bangor  at  that  time,  afterward 
planted  an  orchard  of  seedlings  from  the  apples  procured  from  this 
vessel.  One  of  the  trees  proved  to  be  very  valuable,  producing  a 
large,  yellow,  fall  apple,  with  a  slight  blush  on  the  sunny  side  and 
having  a  pleasant,  sub-acid  flavor.  Mr.  Hurlbut  named  the  apple 
the  "  Florida/ '  in  commemoration  of  the  wrecked  vessel. 

About  1841  an  attempt  was  made  to  establish  a  postoffice  at  South 
Haven.  Mr.  Harrison  of  Gourdneck  Prairie  was  to  bring  the 
mail  weekly  and  Daniel  Pierce  was  appointed  as  postmaster,  but 
refused  to  act  in  that  capacity.  In  those  early  days  it  would 
seem  the  office  sought  the  man  instead  of  the  man  the  office  as  is 
the  method  pursued  in  these  modern  times. 

In  1845  Louis  A.  Booth  and  Clark  Pierce,  with  his  wife  and 
two  sons,  A.  J.  and  Irving,  became  possessed  of  the  Monroe  cabin 
and  proceeded  to  erect  the  first  frame  house  ever  built  in  the  town- 
ship. They  brought  the  necessary  lumber  from  Uncle  Jimmie 
Hale's,  fifteen  miles  down  the  lake  and  from  Breedsville,  and  on 
the  18th  day  of  July  in  that  year,  the  new  residence  was  occu- 
pied by  Mr.  Pierce  and  his  family. 

In  the  winter  of  1845,  Dr.  Abbott,  of  the  city  of  New  York,  visited 
the  place  and  made  preparation  for  building  a  mill  near  the  mouth 
of  the  river,  but  for  some  unexplained  reason  the  enterprise  was 
a  failure  and  the  material  was  shipped  away. 

A.  S.  Dyckman 's  Story 

Several  different  parties  occupied  this  house  for  brief  periods, 
subsequent  to  its  occupation  by  Mr.  Pierce.  In  1847  a  Hollander 
by  the  name  of  Shawfinch  lived  in  it,  but  left  at  the  end  of  the 
season.  Mr.  Dyckman  says  that  he  first  visited  South  Haven  in 
the  month  of  March,  1848,  in  company  with  Frank  Bowen  and 
Evart  B.  D.  Hicks,  and  found  shelter  in  this  same  house,  which 
was  then  vacant,  for  two  stormy  days.  A  yawl  was  driven  ashore 
containing  two  passengers,  so  that  they  had  a  party  of  five  weather- 
bound adventurers.  "We  found,' '  says  Mr.  Dyckman,  "evidence 
of  recent  occupation  in  the  hole  of  potatoes  in  the  garden,  the 
store  of  unshelled  beans  in  the  chamber,  the  culinary  utensils,  in- 
cluding a  very  useful  dish  kettle  and  numerous  wooden  shoes  scat- 
tered about.  On  the  first  morning,  which  I  think  quite  remarkable, 
two  prairie  chickens  seemed  to  fly  out  of  the  stormy  lake  and  light 
on  a  large  whitewood  tree  standing  near.    Evart  Hicks'  rifle  shot, 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BURBN  COUNTY  609 

as  he  stood  by  the  door  of  the  house,  which  brought  down  one  of 
the  birds,  was  equally  remarkable.  Our  marine  companions  had 
salt  pork,  which,  with  the  prairie  chicken,  the  potatoes  and  the  beans 
which  Providence  seemed  to  bestow  (our  manna  in  the  wilderness) 
furnished  an  elegant  stew,  and  a  bunch  of  shaved  shingles,  for 
which  we  could  see  no  other  use,  was  drawn  upon  for  plates  and 
spoons. 

"My  cousin,  since  known  as  Capt.  B.  H.  Dyckman,  had  written 
me  from  Cascade,  Iowa,  requesting  an  investigation  of  the  probable 
profits  if  two  young  men  should  come  here  to  engage  in  the  wood 
trade  between  this  port  and  Chicago.  When  you  know  that  after 
the  storm  was  over  we  could  walk  across  the  channel  dry-shod,  I 
need  not  tell  you  what  my  report  recommended.  As  seemed  likely, 
from  the  personal  property  remaining,  the  Holland  families  (I 
think  there  were  two  of  them)  returned  here  for  another  season's 
residence.  During  the  summer  of  1848  they  had  severe  sickness 
and  lost  two  of  their  children,  who  rest  in  unknown  graves  near 
the  lake  and  river  bluffs.  This  gave  occasion  for  the  exercise  of 
the  highest  Christian  charity.  Mrs.  Charles  Hamlin,  who  had  no 
horse,  would  walk  four  miles  to  McDowell's;  thence  she  would  ride 
.McDowell's  horse,  while  he  walked  the  remaining  six  miles,  and 
they  returned  home  in  the  same  manner.  This  they  did  every 
day  for  two  weeks,  to  wait  upon  the  two  sick  families.  They  were 
certainly  neighbors  to  the  sick  in  the  highest  and  most  practical 
Christian  sense." 

The  year  1849  was  notable  for  the  first  Fourth  of  July  celebration 
ever  held  in  the  township.  Clark  Pierce  and  his  family,  Mr.  Wood 
and  his  wife  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  U.  Cross,  on  an  ox  sled  drawn 
by  a  team  of  horses  came  to  this  same  vacant  house,  and  there  on 
the  shady  bluff  overlooking  the  blue  waters  of  Lake  Michigan  they 
dedicated  the  land  to  American  Independence. 

Pioneer  Steam  Sawmills 

In  August,  1850,  Joseph  Sturgis,  foreman  for  Marvin  Hannahs, 
of  Albion,  Michigan,  in  company  with  Ai  Blood,  Joseph  Dow  and 
Horace  Thomas,  came  down  Black  river  from  Jericho  (a  locality 
so  called,  in  the  present  township  of  Geneva)  cutting  out  the  numer- 
ous obstructions  in  the  stream  until  they  emerged  into  the  open 
meadow  at  the  forks.  Thence  they  floated  along  leisurely  between 
the  flower-crowned,  forest-lined  banks,  describing  Hogarth's  "line 
of  beauty"  until  they  reached  their  destination  on  the  river  banks 
near  the  center  of  the  present  city  of  South  Haven.  Here  they 
erected  the  first  steam  sawmill  in  the  township,  which  afterward 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Dyckman,  Sturgis  &  Company,  and  which 


610.      HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUEEN  COUNTY 

was  eventually  town  down  to  give  place  to  the  (Quaker)  Halleek 
mill,  which  never  materialized.  The  story  of  how  Mr.  Halleek  built 
a  firm  foundation  for  the  proposed  structure,  how  he  shipped  his 
machinery  and  merchandise  from  New  York,  all  the  way  by  water, 
through  the  St.  Lawrence  river  and  around  the  lakes,  only  to  have 
it  go  to  wreck  and  ruin  on  the  beach  south  of  St.  Joseph,  is  a 
sad  reminiscence  in  the  history  of  South  Haven.  The  name  of 
Halleek  should  be  remembered  for  what  he  attempted  to  do  for 
the  place.    His  failure  was  his  misfortune  and  not  his  fault. 

In  1852  Messrs,  Alpha  and  Nelson  Tubbs  built  another  steam 
sawmill  which  was  located  on  the  north  side  of  the  river.  The  next 
winter,  in  February,  1853,  A.  S.  Dyckman,  Joseph  S.  Wagner  and 
Warren  Pratt  arrived  in  South  Haven  laden  with  supplies  for 
building  another  and  larger  mill  on  the  south  bank  of  the  river  on 
the  point  of  land  near  where  the  river  bridge  now  rests,  and  which 
was  formerly  used  by  the  Indians  as  a  landing  place,  convenient 
for  reaching  the  sugar  bushes  and  pure  spring  water  to  the  south- 
east. The  first  partnership  name  was  Dyckman,  Sturgis  &  Com- 
pany, afterward  changed  to  Dyckman,  Hale  &  Company  and  finally 
to  Hale,  Conger  &  Company. 

The  author  has  a  vivid  recollection  of  the  time  when  he  was  em- 
ployed in  this  mill  in  the  spring  of  1857,  beginning  his  labor  at 
midnight,  ending  the  day  at  noon  (the  mill  was  kept  running  night 
and  day),  and  receiving  for  his  work  one  dollar  per  day  and  pay- 
ing three  dollars  per  week  for  his  board  at  the  old  ' '  Pacific  House ; ' ' 
(here  were  no  eight-hour  days  at  that  time ;  even  the  ten-hour  day 
had  scarcely  been  heard  of,  and  yet  there  was  no  thought  of  hard- 
ship in-so-far  as  the  hours  were  concerned.  No  "walking  dele- 
gates" ever  came  around  to  tell  the  laboring  man  how  badly  he 
was  treated  and  to  order  a  strike  if  conditions  were  not  changed, 
and  no  such  order  would  have  been  obeyed  by  the  sturdy  young 
Americans  who  operated  the  mills  of  those  primitive  days.  At 
the  time  of  which  the  writer  is  speaking,  "Pete"  Davis  and  "Bill" 
Plummer  were  the  expert  "head  sawyers,"  and  they  thoroughly 
understood  their  business,  they  had  no  superiors. 

First  Institutions  and  Pioneers 

The  first  boat  trading  regularly  with  the  port  of  South  Haven 
was  the  "Lapwing,"  in  1853,  the  capacity  of  which  was  a  dozen 
or  so  cords  of  wood  or  of  hemlock  bark  for  the  Chicago  market,  or 
its  equivalent  in  lumber.  Captain  Mitchell,  a  rugged  and  kindly 
old  Norwegian,  was  her  master  and  himself  and  one  small  boy 
comprised  the  entire  crew. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


611 


The  first  merchant  was  S.  B.  Morehouse;  the  first  physician  was 
Dr.  William  B.  Hathaway;  the  first  lawyer  was  A.  H.  Chandler; 
the  first  settled  minister  was  Rev.  Nathaniel  Grover,  who  was  or- 
dained here  and  whose  signature  graces  the  marriage  certificate  of 
the  compiler  of  this  work,  given  to  him  fifty  years  ago. 

The  first  schoolhouse  wTas  on  the  donated  Monroe  plat  and  the 
first  teacher  was  Ella  Barnes. 

Outside  the  city,  the  school  population,  according  to  the  school 
census  of  1911,  is  354;  volumes  in  district  libraries,  868;  school- 
houses,  six ;  value  of  school  property,  $9,700 ;  number  of  teachers 
employed,  eight ;  aggregate  number  of  months  school  taught,  sixty- 
two  ;  sum  paid  for  teachers'  wages,  $3,042;  apportioned  from  the 
primary  school  fund  of  the  state,  $2,812.50. 


mmtmsm*? 


-m-jkm 


South  Haven's  Busy  Fruit  Merchant 


The  first  peaches  brought  to  the  South  Haven  market  were  small 
seedlings  from  Clark  Pierce's  place  in  Geneva.  Since  that  date 
many  thousands  of  bushels  of  as  luscious  peaches  as  wrere  even  grown 
have  been  shipped  from  this  place,  both  by  steamer  and  by  rail. 

The  first  bank  was  organized  May  1,  1867,  by  S.  R.  Boardman 
and  C.  J.  Monroe.  In  July,  1871,  this  bank  was  reorganized  as 
a  National  Bank ;  Silas  R.  Boardman  being  its  president ;  George 
Hannahs,  vice  president,  and  Charles  J.  Monroe,  cashier.  Since  that 
date  the  bank  has  again  been  reorganized  as  a  state  bank,  under  the 
general  banking  law  of  the  state  of  Michagan,  and  is  one  of  the 
solid  financial  institutions,  not  only  of  the  county,  but  of  the 
state  as  well. 

The  first  literary  society  was  organized  in  the  winter  of  1*56-7. 


612  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

at  the  house  of  Joseph  S.  Wagner,  (afterward,  and  until  it  was 
destroyed  by  fire,  the  residence  of  D.  B.  Williams),  organized,  not 
by  the  glare  of  gas  light  or  the  glow  of  an  electrolier,  but  by  the 
dim  rays  of  a  single  tallow  candle,  the  "light  of  other  days."  This 
society  was  christened  the  South  Haven  Literary  Club  and  was 
the  rallying  point  for  the  literati  of  the  place  for  many  years  there- 
after. 

John  AVilliams  owned  the  first  livery  equipment  and  used  to 
make  himself  solid  with  the  lads  and  lasses  by  driving  them  to  spell- 
ing schools  and  lyceums  on  his  "bobs"  drawn  by  a  yoke  of  fast 
trotting  Devonshire  cattle. 

Rodney  Hinckley,  one  of  the  first  white  settlers  in  the  county, 
here-in-before  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  laying  out  of  the 
.Monroe  road,  had  been  stricken  with  the  gold  fever  that  was  so 
prevalent  in  1849,  and  a  few  subsequent  years  had  been  to  the 
Golden  State  in  search  of  his  fortune,  returned  here  in  1853  and 
located  on  land  just  south  of  the  then  village  of.  South  Haven. 
Everybody  spoke  of  him  familiarly  as  "Uncle  Rodney"  and  of  his 
wife  as  "Aunt  Rodney."  Mrs.  Hinckley  was  a  great  lover  of 
flowers  and  had  wonderful  knowledge  of  the  native  flora.  She 
knew  the  Indians,  too,  almost  as  well  as  she  did  her  "posies"  and 
could  speak  the  Pottawattamie  dialect  as  though  she  were  a  born 
aborigine.  Uncle  Rodney  meandered  the  first  lake  shore  road  south, 
over  and  around  the  hills  as  far  as  to  what  was  afterward  called 
St.  Paul,  subsequently  known  as  Paulville,  in  which  vicinity  At- 
torney John  R.  Baker  of  Paw  Paw,  once  owned  a  considerable 
tract  of  hemlock  land,  afterward  sold  to  R.  P.  Toms  &  Company 
and  which  was  converted  into  lumber  by  a  steam  sawmill  erected 
by  the  firm  at  that  place.  These  Baker  lands  were  formerly  in  the 
township  of  South  Haven,  but  when  the  organization  of  the  county 
was  complete,  in  1855,  they  became  a  part  of  the  township  of 
Deerfield  (now  Covert). 

Uncle  Rodney's  son,  Isaac,  who  came  within  six  weeks  of  be- 
ing the  first  white  child  born  in  the  county  north  of  Decatur,  was 
a  fur  trader  and  a  mighty  * '  Nimrod ' '  and  used  to  supply  the  ' '  For- 
est House"  and  other  boarding  houses,  with  game.  The  "boys" 
finally  got  tired  of  venison  at  two  cents  a  pound,  and  so  when  Isaac 
came  in  with  his  trophies  of  the  chase,  they  clubbed  together  and 
bought  him  out  and  dumped  his  meat  into  the  river.  This  worked 
very  well  until  the  landlady  found  out  the  cause  of  the  interrupted 
supplies.    Venison  at  two  cents  per  pound,  just  think  of  it ! 

And  now,  after  all  the  labor  clearing,  grubbing,  firing,  snagging, 
planting,  pruning  and  tilling,  we,  at  the  present  day,  are  reaping 
the  reward.  The  city  of  South  Haven  facing  the  grand  old  lake 
on  the  west,   and  surrounded  on  the  north,   west   and  south  by 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  613 

magnificent  orchards  of  peaches,  plums,  apples,  cherries  and  pears, 
by  vineyards  and  small  fruits  of  all  kinds  that  are  indigenous  to 
this  latitude,  situated  in  the  very  heart  of  the  celebrated  Michigan 
Fruit  Belt,  known  from  one  end  of  the  land  to  the  other— South 
Haven  is  indeed  "beautiful  for  a  situation,"  a  veritable  reminder 
of  that  wonderful  garden  planted  by  the  Lord  Himself  and  where 
"He  made  to  grow  every  tree  that  is  pleasant  to  the  sight  and  good 
for  food." 

Village  (now  City)  of  South  Haven 

The  village  of  South  Haven  was  first  platted  on  the  15th  day  of 
November,  1851,  by  Thomas  C.  Sheldon  and  his  wife  Eleanor,  of 
Detroit,  Michigan,  and  William  A.  Booth  and  his  wife,  Louisa,  of 
the  city  of  New  York.  As  originally  laid  out,  the  village  was  lo- 
cated entirely  on  the  northwest  fractional  quarter  of  section  ten. 
There  have  since  been  placed  on  record  twenty-three  additions  and 
subdivisions  and  the  city  now  covers  the  major  part  of  section  ten 
and  also  a  part  of  section  three.  It  is  a  mile  and  three  quarters  in 
length,  from  north  to  south,  and  about  a  mile  in  width. 

The  village  was  incorporated  by  an  act  passed  in  January,  1869, 
and  an  organization  was  effected,  but  it  was  found  so  imperfect 
that  it  was  reincorporated  in  1871,  under  the  name  of  the  "village 
of  South  Haven,"  with  a  president,  treasurer,  three  trustees  and 
an  assessor.    Later  the  clerk  was  also  made  an  elective  officer. 

The  first  officers  were :  President,  George  Hannahs ;  clerk,  Alonzo 
M.  Haynes ;  treasurer,  William  H.  Andrews ;  trustees,  Daniel  How- 
ard, Albert  Thompson,  Levi  E.  Brown,  George  L.  Seaver,  William 
P.  Bryan  and  Barney  H.  Dyckman. 

South  Haven  was  incorporated  as  a  city  of  the  fourth  class, 
under  the  general  laws  of  the  state,  in  1902.  The  first  mayor  was 
Evert  S.  Dyckman,  elder  son  of  A.  S.  Dyckman,  who  was  so  actively 
associated  in  the  development  of  the  fruit  industry  and  the  general 
upbuilding  of  the  community  in  every  way  for  betterment. 

South  Haven  is  the  western  terminal  of  two  railroads;  one,  the 
South  Haven  division  of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad,  runs  from 
Kalamazoo  through  the  northern  part  of  Van  Buren  county;  the 
other,  the  Kalamazoo,  Lake  Shore  and  Chicago,  runs  from  Kala- 
mazoo through  the  central  part  of  the  county.  At  the  time  of 
writing,  the  latter  system  is  operated  as  a  steam  road  under  lease 
bv  the  Michigan  United  Railways,  owning  and  operating  electric 
lines,  throughout  central  Michigan,  and  the  expectation  is  that  it 
will  soon  be  converted  into  an  electric  railway.  By  the  census  of 
1910,  the  city  is  given  a  population  of  3,767,  which  is  materially 
augmented  during  the  resort  season. 


614 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  HUREN  COUNTY 


Library,  South  Haven 


Michigan  Avenue,  South  Haven 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 


615 


Chicago,  only  seventy-six  miles  to  the  southwest,  is  reached  by 
a  fleet  of  steamers  throughout  the  season  of  navigation.  This  readi- 
ness of  access  from  the  great  metropolis  of  the  middle  west,  together 
with  the  delightful  climate  of  South  Haven  and  vicinity  in  summer, 
resulted  in  the  remarkable  development  of  the  summer  resort  busi- 
ness in  this  territory,  that  business  ranking  second  only  to  the  fruit 
industry  in  importance. 

The  Summer  Resort  Business 

Mrs.  H.  M.  Avery  was  the  pioneer  of  the  summer  resort  busi- 
ness, and  the  little  group  of  guests  that  enjoyed  her  hospitality  a 
generation  ago  has  expanded  into  a  crowd  numbering  into  the  hun- 


At  the  South  Haven  Docks  in  Summer 


dreds  of  thousands  that  annually  sweeps  into  the  city  and  over- 
flows into  the  surrounding  country  for  a  radius  of  twenty  or  thirty 
miles. 

Black  River,  with  its  branches,  furnishes  miles  of  attractive 
scenery  and  cozy  resorts  easily  reached  either  by  row  boats  or 
launches,  and  during  the  resort  season,  large  numbers  of  people 
spend  their  summer  vacations  in  boating,  fishing,  bathing  and  other 
recreation  along  this  stream  and  on  the  beach  of  the  lake  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river.  These  visitors  come  from  the  middle  west, 
south  and  southwest,  for  sojourns  from  a  single  day  to  many 
months.  Many  of  them  have  purchased  homes  in  the  city  or  sur- 
rounding country,  and  have  become  valued  residents  for  a  sub- 
stantial part  of  each  year. 

The  earlier  growth  of  the  summer  resort  business  was  through 


616  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

boarding  houses  and  hotels,  the  first  of  the  latter  having  been  the 
"Avery  Beach,"  built  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  M.  Avery.  This  was 
gradually  enlarged  so  that  it  retained  the  position  of  the  largest 
and  best-known  of  the  summer  hotels  of  South  Haven  until  its  de- 
struction by  fire  shortly  after  the  close  of  the  summer  season  a  few 
years  ago. 

The  next  stage  in  the  development  was  by  means  of  cottages,  the 
pioneer  in  which  branch  was  Lyman  S.  Monroe  who  built  nearly 
thirty  cottages  in  "Monroe  Park,"  which  is  still  the  most  important 
center  of  cottages  used  for  summer  residences. 

Schools,  Churches  and  Societies 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  Miss  Ella  Barnes,  an  adopted 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  B.  Morehouse,  in  a  frame  schoolhouse, 
about  18  by  24  feet,  built  near  the  lake  in  the  summer  of  1852. 
There  were  seven  pupils, — Joseph  Sturgis,  Jr.,  Julia  and  Harriet 
Morehouse,  three  children  of  Nelson  Tubbs,  and  "Tip"  Ormsby. 

The  schools  were  graded  in  1879,  under  Professor  Burkett,  and 
the  first  graduates,  Miss  Maud  Loveday  and  Edward  E.  Cain,  re- 
ceived their  diplomas  in  1881.  The  schools  now  comprise  twelve 
grades,  in  which  are  taught  all  the  usual  studies,  besides  manual 
training,  domestic  science  and  agriculture.  Graduates  are  admitted 
without  examination  to  the  colleges  and  universities  of  eighteen 
states. 

The  school  buildings  now  comprise  a  Central  building,  in  which 
are  quarters  for  the  high  school  and  lower  grades,  and  three  ward 
buildings,  accommodating  grades  up  to  the  eighth.  Work  is  soon 
to  commence  on  a  modern  high  school  building  to  cost  about  $45,- 
000  and  to  accommodate  three  hundred  students.  Bonds  to  pay  for 
this  building  were  authorized  by  the  taxpayers  of  the  district  by 
overwhelming  majority  at  a  special  election  held  in.  November. 
1911.  The  schools  of  the  city  were  apportioned  the  sum  of  $6,930 
from  the  primary  school  fund  of  the  state  for  the  school  year  of 
1910-11,  on  a  basis  of  924  persons  of  school  age. 

Religious  services  were  first  held  in  April,  1852,  by  a  Baptist 
minister  at  the  home  of  Joseph  Sturgis,  and  a  few  weeks  later  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Doughty,  a  Methodist  clergyman,  preached  at  the  More- 
house home.  Notices  had  been  given  of  these  services  which  were 
well  attended. 

Now  the  following  religious  organizations  hold  regular  services 
in  their  own  houses  of  worship:  Baptist,  Congregational,  Metho- 
dist Episcopal,  Free  Methodist,  Episcopalian,  Roman  Catholic, 
Dutch  Reformed,  German  Lutheran  and  German-English  Luth- 
eran.    The   Christian   Scientists  hold   regular  services   in   rented 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  617 

quarters,  and  there  are  Watch-Tower  and  Spiritualist  societies  that 
meet  at  irregular  intervals. 

There  is  also  a  hospital  supported  by  the  people  that  renders  ex- 
cellent service.  The  Masonic  fraternity  is  represented  in  four  of 
its  departments,  viz:  The  Blue  Lodge,  the  Chapter,  the  Coun- 
cil and  the  Eastern  Star,  all  prosperous ;  the  Odd  Fellows  by  Nep- 
tune Lodge,  No.  297,  with  a  membership  in  the  neighborhood  of 
150,  and  Jewel  Rebekah  Lodge,  No.  127,  with  about  the  same  num- 
ber of  members.  There  is  also  a  prosperous  lodge  of  Knights  of 
Pythias,  the  largest  in  the  county,  numerous  other  more  modern 
fraternal  organizations,  and  other  social,  literary  and  musical  so- 
cieties. Troop  "  A , ? '  a  cavalry  company  of  the  Michigan  National 
Guard,  is  also  an  organization  in  which  the  citizens  take  a  just 
degree  of  pride. 


Scott  Club  Building,  South  Haven 

The  South  Haven  Scott  Club  was  organized  in  April,  1884,  when 
its  meetings  were  held  in  the  parlors  of  a  few  progressive  ladies. 
The  reading  of  Scott's  works  was  the  first  effort  of  the  organiza- 
tion, thereby  suggesting  the  name  of  Scott  Club  which  it  bears. 
It  was  incorporated  in  April,  1894.  Its  fine  stone  building  was 
then   in   progress. 

The  object  of  the  club  has  been  a  progressive  one  from  its  in- 
ception, and  it  is  now  the  nucleus  of  all  literary  work  in  the  vil- 
lage. Its  programs  have  included  literature,  art,  science  and  edu- 
cation, music  and  miscellaneous  topics,  with  current  events  and 
questions  of  the  day.  Its  social  days  and  annual  banquets  are 
memorable  events.     Its  membership  is  now  over  one  hundred  and 


618  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BIJREN  COUNTY 

includes  the  best  of  talent.  The  club  has  united  with  the  State 
Federation  of  Women's  Clubs  and  derives  much  benefit  from  its 
connection  with  this  organization. 

The  Scott  Club  has  nearly  succeeded  in  paying:  off  the  old  debt 
and  is  justly  proud  of  the  beautiful  stone  building  on  the  corner 
of  Phoenix  and  Pearl  streets.  The  interior,  on  the  second  floor,  is 
furnished  with  oak  with  two  fine  mantels  in  the  parlors.  The 
building  is  heated  with  a  furnace  and  lighted  with  electricity. 
Two  beautiful  windows,  containing  Sir  Walter  Scott's  and  Henry 
Longfellow's  portraits,  cost  nearly  $200.00  each,  one  being  a  gift 
from  Mr.  Bates  of  New  York  and  the  other  from  the  members  of 
the  old  literary  society.  The  regular  meetings  are  held  on  Tuesday 
afternoon  from  2  to  4  P.  M.,  opening  the  first  Tuesday  of  October 
and  closing  the  last  Tuesday  of  May. 

Municipal  and  Business  Matters 

Following  two  fires  that  swept  considerabie  portions  of  the  busi- 
ness district  in  the  early  nineties,  was  a  period  of  building  activity 
that  resulted  in  the  erection  of  a  number  of  modern  buildings  in 
the  business  section,  and  many  residences  in  all  parts  of  the  city. 
Despite  the  prevailing  depression  in  business  over  so  much  of  the 
nation  in  the  early  part  of  that  decade,  this  period  wTas  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  in  the  history  of  this  city  and  community. 

The  city  is  now  served  by  municipal  electric  lighting  and  water 
plants,  with  ample  equipment  for  producing  the  current  and  pump- 
ing the  water  located  in  a  power  house  on  the  beach.  There  are 
more  than  twelve  and  one-half  miles  of  water  mains,  nearly  ten 
miles  of  sewers,  cement  walks  over  the  greater  part  of  the  city, 
brick  pavements  in  the  business  district  and  macadam  pavements 
on  the  avenues  leading  into  the  city. 

A  large  sum  of  money  has  been  expended  on  the  South  Haven 
harbor  within  the  last  year  or  two  and  it  is  expected  that  the 
government  will  make  further  appropriations  and  continue  the  work 
until  the  harbor  shall  be  what  its  importance  warrants,  one  of  the 
best  on  the  east  side  of  Lake  Michigan. 

Among  the  private  industries  are  a  gas  company,  two  piano  fac- 
tories, a  pipe  organ  factory,  wood-carving  factory,  two  planing 
mills,  foundry,  canning  and  preserving  factory,  plant  for  prepar- 
ing spraying  materials,  two  machine  shops,  one  of  them  also  mak- 
ing spraying  machinery,  and  other  manufacturing  establishments 
and  shops,  besides  two  state  banks  and  a  loan  and  trust  company, 
and  the  mercantile  establishments  needed  to  serve  a  community 
of  the  population  and  resources  that  centers  in  and  about  South 
Haven. 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  619 

POMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY   AND  BOARD  OF  TRADE 

The  Pomological  Society,  which  was  organized  in  1870,  is  an- 
other institution  that  has  been  of  invaluable  service  to  the  people. 
Perhaps  this  ought  not  to  be  classed  as  a  city  society,  although  many 
of  its  members  are  residents  of  the  municipality.  It  reaches  out,  how- 
ever, into  the  adjoining  country  and  embraces  in  its  membership, 
the  fruit  growers,  not  only  of  South  Haven,  but  of  adjoining  town- 
ships, both  in  Van  Buren  and  Allegan  counties. 

The  South  Haven  Board  of  Trade  is  another  organization  that 
has  been  and  still  is  of  great  service  to  the  place.  It  has  a  large 
membership  and  includes  practically  all  the  business  and  profes- 
sional men  of  the  city.  It  has  done  a  good  deal  of  very  important 
and  efficient  work  in  securing  manufacturing  plants  for  the  town 
and  in  advertising  it  as  a  place  of  summer  resort. 


CHAPTER  XXXV 

TOWNSHIP  OF  WAVERLY 

Physical  Features — Township  Named — The  Myers  Family- 
First  Wedding  Between  Pioneers — Covey  Hill — John  Scott 
— Other  Early  Settlers — From  the  Official  Records — Vil- 
lage of  Glendale. 

Waverly  was  originally  of  the  ancient  .township  of  Clinch, 
which  contained  four  of  the  present  townships  of  the  county — 
Waverly,  Almena,  Pine  Grove  and  Bloomingdale.  In  1842,  by  act 
of  the  legislature  of  the  state,  Clinch  was  divided  into  two  equal 
parts,  the  eastern  half  being  called  Almena  and  the  western  half 
Waverly,  thus  constituting  two  townships  of  seventy-two  sections 
each;  and  this  arrangement  continued  until  1845,  when  the  legis- 
lature made  another  division,  setting  off  the  north  half  of  the 
township  under  the  name  of  Bloomingdale.  As  left  after  this  legis- 
lation, the  township  comprised  thirty-six  sections  of  land,  but  by 
action  of  the  board  of  supervisors  of  the  county  at  their  October 
session  of  1871,  section  thirty-one  and  the  west  half  of  section 
thirty-two  were  set  off  and  attached  to  the  township  of  Paw  Paw. 

Physical  Features 

Waverly  is  officially  designated  as  township  number  two  south, 
of  range  number  fourteen  west,  Its  boundaries  are  Blooming- 
dale on  the  north,  Almena  on  the  east,  Paw  Paw  on  the  south  and 
Arlington  on  the  west.  Like  the  township  of  Almena,  Waverly 
formerly  contained  a  large  tract  of  swamp  lands,  but  this  has  been 
practically  all  drained  and  brought  under  cultivation,  so  that  at 
the  present  time  there  is  little  waste  land  in  the  township.  It  was 
originally  covered  wTith  very  dense,  heavy  forests,  but  comparatively 
little  timber  remains  at  the  present  time.  The  soil  is  generally  a 
heavy  clay  loam,  very  rich  and  productive,  and  some  of  the  finest 
farms  in  the  county  are  to  be  found  within  its  limits.  It  is  es- 
pecially adapted  to  the  growing  of  hay  and  grain.  Fruit  culture 
also  obtains  to  a  considerable  extent.     The  surface  of  the  town- 

620 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  621 

ship  is  generally  level,  or  gently  undulating,  although  there  are 
here  and  there  a  few  rather  deep  valleys  and  abrupt  hills. 

Township  Named 

The  honor  of  naming  the  township  belongs  to  the  Hon.  Fernan- 
do C.  C.  Amiable,  who  at  the  time  it  was  christened  was  a  member 
of  the  lower  house  of  the  Michigan  legislature.  He  was  an  ad- 
mirer of  the  writings  of  Sir  Walter  Scott,  author  of  the  Wa- 
verly  novels,  and  it  was  in  his  honor  that  the  name  was  bestowed 
upon  the  newly  organized  township. 

The  Paw  Paw  river  flows  from  east  to  west  across  the  southern 
part  of  the  town,  the  two  main  branches  of  the  river  coming  to- 
gether on  section  twenty-seven.  There  are  also  several  small  lakes, 
the  principal  one  being  School  Section  lake,  which,  as  its  name  in- 
dicates is  situated  near  the  center  of  the  township,  on  section  six- 
teen. This  lake  is  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  in  length  and  has 
always  largely  been  a  fisherman's  paradise,  abounding  in  many 
varieties  of  the  finny  tribe,  such  as  pickerel,  bass,  perch,  etc.  The 
other  lakes  that  have  been  deemed  of  sufficient  importance  to  the 
distinguished  by  name  are  Simmons,  Round,  Shaw,  Allen,  McFarlin 
and  Scott.  The  latter  is  much  larger  than  any  of  those  men- 
tioned, but  it  lies  almost  wholly  in  the  township  of  Arlington. 

Waverly  is  one  of  the  three  townships  of  the  county  that  is  not 
touched  by  a  railroad;  neither  is  there  a  postoffice  or  an  incor- 
porated village  within  its  limits.  The  only  approach  to  a  village 
is  the  little  hamlet  of  Glendale  on  section  sixteen. 

The  Myers  Family 

Settlements  were  made  within  the  present  boundaries  of  Wa- 
verly at  about  the  time  the  county  of  Van  Buren  was  organized. 
In  the  fall  of  1836  four  brothers,  Mallory  H.,  Merlin  M.,  Reuben 
J.  and  William  H.  H.  Myers,  with  their  mother  and  two  sisters, 
came  from  Genesee  county,  New  York,  to  White  Pigeon,  Michi- 
gan. The  next  spring  three  of  the  brothers  came  to  Van  Buren 
county  on  a  prospecting  tour.  They  found  lands  in  the  township 
of  Clinch  that  suited  them  and  determined  to  make  that  their 
future  home.  Reuben  selected  a  tract  on  section  two  in  the  pres- 
ent township  of  Waverly,  while  the  other  brothers  located  north 
of  him  in  what  subsequently  became  the  township  of  Blooming- 
dale.  The  entire  family  came  on  from  White  Pigeon  and  for  a 
time  lived  together  in  a  cabin  erected  by  Mallory  on  his  new  loca- 
tion. Reuben  immediately  began  clearing  up  his  place,  and  in 
1838  built  a  substantial  log  house  and  moved  into  it  with  Ruth 
Ann,  one  of  his  sisters,  as  his  house  keeper.     This  arrangement, 


622  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

however,  was  short  lived,  for  Miss  Myers,  in  1839,  married  James 
Scott,  a  "shingle  weaver "  who  had  been  employed  in  the  vicinity. 

This  marriage,  which  was  solemnized  by  Ashbel  Herron,  a 
justice  of  the  peace,  was  the  first  marriage  of  a  resident  of  the 
township,  and  in  this  case,  only  the  bride  lived  in  Waverly,  the 
groom  being  a  resident  of  Decatur.  While  Reuben  and  his  sister 
were  living  together,  they  were  the  only  white  persons  in  the 
township,  and  when  Miss  Myers  became  Mrs.  Scott  and  removed 
into  another  locality,  Reuben  was  left  solitary  and  alone,  although 
he  had  neighbors  in  the  adjoining  townships  of  Almena  and  Bloom- 
ingdale, both  being  at  that  time  part  of  the  township  of  Clinch. 

Soon  afterward,  Merlin  Myers  changed  his  residence  from 
Bloomingdale  to  Waverly.  He  located  on  section  one,  not  far  from 
Reuben,  where  he  lived  until  1857,  when  he  removed  to  Illinois. 
Reuben  remained  an  inhabitant  of  Waverly  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  November  14,  1890,  in  his  seventy-second  year. 

In  the  same  year  settlements  were  made  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  township  by  Loring  Hurlbut  and  Jacob  Finch,  both  of  whom 
selected  locations  on  section  thirty-five.  Hurlbut  died  in  Paw 
Paw  in  1877  and  Finch  removed  to  the  far  west  after  a  limited 
stay  in  Michigan. 

Isaac  Brown  settled  on  section  thirteen,  in  1839.  lie  came  from 
Washtenaw  county,  Michigan,  and  at  the  time  of  his  settlement 
his  nearest  neighbor  was  two  and  a  half  miles  distant.  In  the  early 
sixties  Mr.  Brown  removed  to  Paw  Paw,  where  he  died  in  1865. 
His  son,  John  I).  Brown,  was  the  first  white  (mild  born  in  Wa- 
verly. 

In  the  same  year  Zell  Taylor  located  on  the  same  section  with 
Brown,  so  that  he  was  not  long  entirely  neighborless.  Taylor  did 
not  remain  a  resident  of  the  township  for  any  great  length  of  time. 

Rezin  Bell  was  another  of  the  early  settlers.  He  first  came  to 
Michigan  in  1833,  and  was  a  resident  of  Adrian  until  1837,  when 
he  came  to  Van  Buren  county  and  selected  a  location  on  section 
two  in  the  township  of  Waverly,  but  he  did  not  immediately  oc- 
cupy the  premises,  being  a  resident  of  the  adjoining  township  of 
Almena  for  two  years  before  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Waverly. 
He  removed  to  the  township  of  Bloomingdale  in  1854,  where  he 
died  in  1865. 

First  Wedding  Between  Pioneers 

Another  of  the  early  settlers  was  William  Murch,  a  young  man 
who  came  from  the  Empire  state.  He  made  an  entry  on  section  two 
in  1839,  but  did  not  become  a  resident  of  Waverly  until  the  fol- 
lowing year,  when  he  married  Miss  Sarah,  the  other  of  the  Myers 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  623 

sisters.  This  was  the  first  wedding  in  which  the  contracting 
parties  were  both  numbered  among  the  pioneers  of  the  township; 
It  took  place  at  the  residence  of  Mallory  H.  Myers  in  the  adjoin- 
ing township  of  Bloomingdale  (although  it  was  all  Clinch  at  the 
time)  and  Elder  Junia  Warner  was  the  officiating  clergyman. 

The  first  death  in  the  township  was  that  of  Josiah,  a  six  years 
old  son  of  Rezin  Bell.  He  died  in  1840  and,  there  being  no  public 
place  of  burial  at  that  time,  the  child  \\ras  buried  in  Almena,  near 
the  residence  of  Elder  Warner. 

Philo  Herron,  a  Newr  Yorker,  settled  on  section  three  in  1841, 
but  afterward  removed  to  Pine  Grove  and  died  there.  Two  broth- 
ers, Almon  and  Amon  Covey,  first  coming  to  Almena,  located  in 
Waverly  in  1841  on  section  twelve. 

Covey  Hill 

''Covey  Hill,"  on  the  line  between  these  two  townships,  which 
is  now  occupied  by  a  Free  Baptist  church  building  and  a  grange 
hall,  both  on  the  Almena  side,  takes  its  name  from  the  Covey 
family.  Amon  married  and  removed  to  Almena;  Almon  became 
a.  resident  of  Arlington  where  he  died  in  1878. 

Jonah  Austin,  who  had  been  a  resident  of  Oakland  county, 
Michigan,  had  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on 
section  twenty-four  and  became  a  resident  of  Waverly  about  1842. 
He  resided  there  until  his  death  in  1869,  when  the  place  passed 
into  the  possession  of  his  two  sons,  Alexander  and  Jasper.  The 
latter  died  in  1904.  Alexander  is  still  in  the  occupancy  of  a  por- 
tion of  the  old  homestead. 

.John  Scott 

John  Scott  came  from  New  York  in  1843  and  settled  on  section 
six.  He  became  a  man  of  prominence  and  of  wide  acquaintance. 
While  getting  his  own  place  ready  for  a  habitation,  he  and  his 
family  made  their  home  at  Ashbel  Herron 's.  Mr.  Scott  soon  had 
a  substantial  log  cabin,  eighteen  by  twenty-four  feet,  into  which 
he  moved  as  soon  as  it  was  ready.  His  pioneer  experience  is  in- 
teresting, but  not  materially  different  from  that  of  all  the  early 
settlers  of  the  county.  He  said  that  when  he  had  his  primitive 
cabin  completed  he  had  just  eighteen  cents  in  ready  cash  left  at 
his  command.  "But,"  said  he,  "I  never  borrowed  any  trouble, 
never  went  hungry,  and  had  no  complaint  to  make.  I  always 
kept  up  a  stout. heart  and  so  prospered."  His  nearest  neighbor 
was  Philo  Herron,  three  and  a.  half  miles  away. 

In  that  heavily  timbered  region  roads  were  not  easily  made. 
Journeys  on  foot,  through  the  unbroken  forests,  with  nothing  to 


624  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

guide  the  pedestrian  except  the  woodman's  sense  of  direction,  or 
perhaps  following  some  Indian  trail,  was  the  ordinary  means  of 
travel,  and  if  it  became  indispensable  that  a  wagon  should  be 
used  a  road  must  be  cut  out,  which  was  a  slow  and  tedious 
operation. 

At  that  time  Paw  Paw,  nearly  ten  miles  distant,  was  the  market 
place  and  milling  point — as  it  is  yet  for  a  large  proportion  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  township — and  it  was  no  unusual  thing  for  Mr. 
Scott,  who  wras  a  very  athletic,  muscular  man,  to  take  his  grist 
on  his  back,  tramp  to  the  mill  and  return  with  his  flour,  meal  or 
other  supplies  in  the  same  manner.  The  Paw  Paw  river  had  to  be 
crossed  and  the  only  bridge  was  a  fallen  tree,  so  great  caution  had 
to  be  exercised  to  save  his  supplies  and  himself  from  an  untimely 
dip  in  the  stream. 

Other  Early  Settlers 

Joseph  Cox,  of  Monroe  county.  New  York,  came  to  Waver ly  the 
same  year  as  Mr.  Scott,  settling  on  section  twenty-two.  He  was 
taken  with  the  California  gold  fever  in  1849  and  undertook  the 
journey  to  the  then  new  El  Dorado,  but  died  en  route  leaving  his 
bones  to  bleach  on  the  western  plains. 

Isaac  Spaulding  became  a  settler  of  the  town  in  1844.  The  deer 
were  so  plenty  at  that  time  that  they  did  grievous  injury  to  the 
growing  crops  and  so  Mr.  Spaulding  built  a  rail  fence  around  his 
wheat  field,  eight  feet  in  height.  Tradition  is  silent  as  to  whether 
or  not  it  served  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  designed. 

Peter  T.  Valleau,  a  kindly  old  gentleman,  as  is  evidenced  by 
the  fact  that  people  usually  called  him  "Uncle  Peter,"  settled  on 
section  twenty-two  in  1844.  He  passed  the  later  years  of  his  life 
with  his  son,  Theodore,  who  located  in  Waverly  in  1858  and  who 
now  resides  on  section  thirty-one,  township  of  Pine  Grove,  and 
whom  his  numerous  friends  and  acquaintances  familiarly  call 
"Dora." 

Hubbard  Westcott  and  T.  W.  Thayer  came  to  the  township  in 
1845  and  Reuben  Mather  a  few  years  later.  During  the  fifties  there 
was  a  considerable  increase  in  the  number  of  the  inhabitants; 
among  whom  were  George  Carr,  Orson  A.  Breck,  0.  M.  Alger, 
Joseph  and  William  Rogers,  Benjamin  Smith,  Zeri  Skinner,  B. 
G.  Stanley  and  John  McKnight. 

The  first  township  officers  elected  after  the  township  of  Bloom- 
ingdale  had  been  set  off  in  1845  were  as  follows :  Supervisor,  Reu- 
ben J.  Myers;  township  clerk,  Elisha  Marble;  township  treasurer, 
Rezin  Bell;  assessors,  William  Murch  and  Joseph  Cox;  commis- 
sioners of  highways,  William  Murch,  Loring  Hurlbut  and  Joseph 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  625 

Cox;  school  inspectors,  Isaac  R.  Brown  and  Joseph  Cox;  justices 
of  the  peace,  Isaac  Brown,  Loring  Hurlbut  and  Philo  Herron; 
constables,  Ebenezer  Armstrong  and  Henry  Whelpley;  overseers 
of  the  poor,  William  Mureh  and  Almon  B.  Covey. 

From  the  Official  Records 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  several  gentlemen  wTho 
have  served  the  township  in  the  capacity  of  supervisor:  Mallory 
H.  Myers,  William  H.  H.  Myers,  Rezin  Bell,  Joseph  Cox,  Reuben 
J.  Myers,  Isaac  Brown,  William  Mureh,  E.  Armstrong,  George  P. 
Smith,  II.  Caldwell,  David  H.  Smith,  Chauncey  W.  Butterfield, 
Prenett  T.  Streator,  M.  J.  Blakeman,  Luther  C.  Balch,  William 
H.  Adriance,  William  R.  Sirrine,  Edwin  A.  Chase,  Reuben  E.  Al- 
len, David  E.  Rich  and  John  Gault.  Those  of  the  above  named 
supervisors  who  served  more  than  two  years  are:  George  P. 
Smith,  three  years;  William  Mureh,  four;  M.  J.  Blakeman,  six; 
Reuben  J.  Myers,  nine ;  Edwin  A.  Chase,  eleven ;  Prenett  T.  Strea- 
tor, fifteen,  and  John  Gault  (present  incumbent),  now  serving  his 
fifth  year. 

At  the  general  election,  held  on  the  fourth  day  of  November, 
1845,  twelve  votes  were  cast — three  Democratic,  three  Whig  and 
six  for  the  Liberty  party. 

The  first  presidential  election  thereafter  was  held  on  the  seventh 
day  of  November,  1848.  At  this  election  there  were  twenty-five 
votes  polled,  eleven  for  Zachary  Taylor,  Whig;  nine  for  Lewis 
Cass,  Democrat,  and  five  for  Martin  Van  Buren,  Free  Soil. 

At  the  presidential  election  held  on  the  third  day  of  November, 
1908,  224  electors  registered  their  choice  at  the  ballot  box,  as  fol- 
lows :  140  for  Taft,  Republican  ;  eighty  for  Bryan,  Democrat ;  three 
for  Chafin,  Prohibitionist,  and  one  for  Debs,  Socialist. 

The  assessed  valuation  of  the  township  in  1845  was  $33,109,  the 
resident  real  estate  being  valued  at  $2,846  and  the  non-resident 
realty  at  $29,520.  Personal  estate  was  assessed  at  $743.  Philo 
Herron  was  assessed  $105  on  his  personal  estate,  being  the  only 
person  who  reached  the  hundred-dollar  mark,  which  clearly  indi- 
cates that  the  pioneers  were  not  rolling  in  wealth.  Practically 
all  the  land  in  the  township  was  assessed  at  $1.50  per  acre.  The 
amount  of  taxes  levied  for  all  purposes  was  $598. 

The  names  of  the  resident  tax-payers  appearing  on  the  roll 
were  as  follows:  Loring  Hurlbut,  Jacob  Young,  Joseph  Cox,  Jr., 
E.  Graves,  Jonah  Austin,  William  Markillie,  Isaac  Brown,  E.  Arm- 
strong, Almon  B.  Covey,  E.  Marble,  Merlin  M.  Myers,  William 
Mureh,  Reuben  J.  Myers,  Rezin  Bell,  Henry  Whelpley,  Philo  Her- 
ron and  John  Scott. 

Vol.  1—40 


626  HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY 

At  the  last  assessment,  made  in  the  spring  of  1911,  the  valua- 
tion of  the  township  was  $649,250,  showing  that  the  township 
ranks  twelfth  among  the  eighteen  townships  of  the  county  in  point 
of  wealth.    The  taxes  levied  for  the  current  year  were  $10,716. 

In  point  of  numbers,  Waverly  ranks  fourteenth  among  her 
sister  townships,  the  census  of  1910  giving  the  population  as  1,095. 

The  first  school  accessible  to  the  inhabitants  of  Waverly  was 
taught  in  the  town  line  schoolhouse,  located  in  the  present  town- 
ship of  Bloomingdale  just  north  of  the  dividing  line  between  the 
two  towns.  This  was  in  1838  and  the  first  school  was  taught  by 
William  H.  H.  Myers,  who  had  an  enrollment  of  eight  pupils. 
The  second  teacher  was  his  sister,  Miss  Sarah  Myers. 

From  the  official  educational  reports  of  the  township  for  the 
school  year  of  1910-11,  we  find  that  there  were  at  the  last  enumera- 
tion 322  pupils  of  school  age ;  640  volumes  in  the  school  libraries ; 
nine  schoolhouses,  no  district  indebtedness;  value  of  school  prop- 
erty $7,000;  nine  teachers  employed  during  the  school  year;  sev- 
enty-three and  one-half  months  of  school  taught ;  and  $2,905  paid 
for  teachers'  salaries.  During  the  current  year  the  sum  of  $2,520 
was  apportioned  to  the  several  districts  of  the  township  from  the 
primary  school  fund  of  the  state,  very  nearly  sufficient  to  meet  the 
entire  expenditure  for  teachers'  wages. 

Village  of  Glendale 

Glendale  is  a  thriving,  unincorporated  little  village  situated 
near  the  center  of  the  township.  It  was  originally  called  Lemont 
and  that  was  the  name  of  the  postoffice  first  established  there, 
which  was  subsequently  changed  to  Glendale.  Rural  free  delivery 
did  away  with  the  office  several  years  ago. 

There  is  one  house  of  worship  in  the  village,  the  Methodist 
Episcopal,  wiiich  is  the  only  church  building  in  the  township. 
This  church  has  a  membership  of  about  seventy-five  and  is  pre- 
sided over  by  Rev.  Kitzmiller. 

The  following  secret  societies  are  represented:  The  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  has  a  prosperous  lodge  of  sixty-five  mem- 
bers; the  Modern  Woodmen,  with  a  membership  of  one  hundred; 
have  paid  for  a  hall,  lodge  room  above  and  an  opera  house  below, 
with  a  seating  capacity  of  350;  the  Mystic  Workers  are  also  re- 
presented with  a  lodge  of  forty  members. 

There  is  one  mercantile  establishment  in  the  village,  the  general 
store  of  Allen  Brothers.  There  is  also  a  blacksmith  and  wood  re- 
pairing shop;  the  Smith  crate  factory  which  manufactures  about 
10,000  potato  crates  per  year,  and  the  Glendale  Creamery  which 


HISTORY  OF  VAN  BUREN  COUNTY  627 

makes  about  177,000  pounds  of  choice  butter  per  year,  its  output 
selling  for  about  $52,000. 

The  public  buildings  of  the  place  consist  of  a  modern  school- 
house,  a  town  hall,  the  church  and  Woodmen's  building  above  men- 
tioned. 

Glendale  is  surrounded  by  as  fine  an  agricultural  region  as 
there  is  in  the  county ;  the  farmers  around  the  little  town  are  pro- 
gressive; the  farm  buildings  are  up-to-date  and  clearly  show  the 
prosperity  of  their  occupants. 

A  drive  through  the  township  of  Waverly  in  the  season  of  grow- 
ing crops  forcibly  reminds  one  of  the  changes  that  time  and  the 
hand  of  man  have  wrought  since- Reuben  Myers,  its  first  settler, 
selected  his  wilderness  home  therein  seventy-five  years  ago. 


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